Chapter Ninety-six It was late afternoon when she crawled out of bed to use the bathroom. Walking carefully through unfamiliar territory, she still managed to stub her toe in the dark hallway. Stifling her cry of pain, she quickly hobbled into the cramped toilet closet and went about doing her business. Luckily, her toe wasn't bleeding. When she stood up to wash her hands, Bryn looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. Her eyelids were swollen from crying the previous night. It made her eyeballs look sunken, frightening. Once her hands were clean and dry, she looked in the full-length mirror behind the door. Hands sliding down her belly, she let them rest just below her navel. Covering the spot that would've begun to swell, had she been pregnant. Curiously, she wasn't as saddened by that revelation today. If anything, she was heartbroken for Anton. She wanted to make him smile again Slowly navigating her way back to bed, she settled down next to Anton and pulled the covers over her once more. A little smile tugged at her lips as his arm automatically reached out to find her. He went back to contentedly snoring as soon as their skin made contact. Lying there in the dark, watching his silhouette, she couldn't help but wonder why she'd been so upset the night before. When she finally thought she knew the real answer, she felt increasingly foolish. Grieving for Caroline had nothing to do with her feeling so insecure. Her parents, however, did. Bryn mentally sighed. Maybe renting a place out here wasn't such a good idea after all. Scooting closer to Anton, she gently kissed him on his stubbly cheek. "You don't even have an obligation to put up with my family, like I do," she murmured, caressing his face with her gaze. "Before this life is over, you may just qualify for sainthood." "I'm not so sure I like that idea, my dear. Aren't saints supposed to be chaste?" Anton opened her eyes and looked at Bryn. She looked puffy eyed from crying, but seemed more centered emotionally than she had the night before. He pulled her closer to his side, half rolling so that she was under him. So she felt protected and loved. "Feeling better, Bryn?" She nodded, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her thigh over his hip. "I feel silly about last night. Talk about a major mood swing. I'm sorry I freaked out on you. I realized when I got up that I didn't really start feeling so insecure until we came back here. I mean, I've been uncomfortable spending money for a long time, but I don't usually go into hysterics about it." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Maybe staying in a hotel when we're here isn't such a bad idea after all." He gently stroked her hair, letting it wrap around his fingers. "If you want, Bryn, I'll make a reservation right now." He kissed her forehead. "It's okay for your to freak out. I know that part of it was stress." Nuzzling her cheek, he lightly kissed her. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?" "You already are. You make me feel better just by holding me. I don't know if this is a compliment or not, but I never cried so much before I met you." She smiled, letting out a small laugh. "I think it's because I never felt safe enough to express my emotions without being ridiculed and feeling like I was being childish. You always let me be myself and that means the world to me." Leaning closer, she softly kissed his mouth. "I'd love it if we could make love again." "I think that could be arranged, my dear." He looked over to check on Max, who was sound asleep next to him. "Let me put Max into his crib." Getting out of bed, he gently picked up his son and then put him into the travel crib. Turning back to Bryn, he sat down on the edge of the bed. "What would you like me to do, my dear? How would you like me to please you?" "Any way you want, sugar. I just want you." Sitting up, she leaned closer to kiss him, teasing his tongue with hers, her hand resting on his thigh. "I felt so good this morning, after we came. Even when you weren't inside me anymore, I could still feel you. The way you'd been so deep inside me." Sliding her hand up the inside of his thigh, she gently cupped his balls in her palm. "I want to make you feel that good. I wish I could get deep inside you and never find my way out." "You already have, my dear." He tugged her until she was straddling his lap, resting on his thighs. "You're in here," he said, lightly resting one of her hands on his heart. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her forward, kissing her at first lightly, and then more and more intensely. She let out a soft purr, sliding her hand up from his chest to trace her thumb over and around his scar. She could feel him hardening against her thigh, and her breath quickened in anticipation. After a few hours of sleep, it was surprising how much clearer things seemed, and she knew she'd overreacted the night before, when she got upset. Now she wanted nothing more than to forget. "I love you, sugar. Please let me feel how much you love me. I need you as my friend now, as well as my husband and lover." "I love you so much, my dear. You are so many things to me. Friend." He kissed her right cheek. "Wife." He kissed her right cheek. "Lover." He kissed between her eyes. "Soul mate." He claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss, his fingers clutching at her back and digging in slightly as he stroked down to her ass. His tongue explored every corner of her mouth, tasting and licking eagerly. Bryn whimpered, his grip on her pulling her even closer on his lap. She wiggled her hips against him, sliding the mound of her sex against the underside of his cock. She wasn't about to admit it, but she felt a bit sore from the morning. Still, the slight ache she felt only made her want him even more. Tilting sideways, she pulled him down on the bed with her, giving him a soft smile, before turning until her head faced his feet instead. Running her hands up the inside of his thighs, she opened her mouth and slowly lapped at the head of his cock. The heat and wetness of her mouth was incredible. Anton let out a pleased rumble before parting her thighs with a slightly ticklish touch. He inhaled deeply before gently lapping at her sex. Moaning deeply, he began to lick her in earnest as she swallowed more of his cock. Bryn pulled her mouth off of him, moaning as he lapped at the sore lips of her sex. She felt a hot gush of fluid leave her, followed by his even firmer licks. The tight opening of her sex was overly sensitive and she couldn't keep still for a moment. Pushing him on to his back, Bryn rolled with him until she was lying on his body and sucked his cock back into her mouth. She barely sucked him, using the chance to lap his skin and lubricate him with saliva. Unlike other times, she didn't want him to cum in her mouth. She wanted to ride him instead. But there was nothing saying they couldn't have a little fun first. Anton gently probed between her lips, reminding himself that this wasn't a race. They could take their time and enjoy each other. At least until Max started crying. Slowly he rubbed his hands over her ass, relishing the feel of her smooth skin. All the time giving tiny thrusts into her mouth. Bryn relaxed even more on top of him, letting her legs slide apart on the sheets until they held no tension. She pushed her hands under Anton's ass, allowing his shallow thrusts to move easily in and out of her mouth. Fingers curling, she gently pulled apart the cheeks of his ass, lightly probing the cleft with feathery movements, barely brushing over his tight anus. Anton moaned trying to push harder against her fingers. But that pulled his cock further out of her mouth. Making a slightly frustrated noise, he held still, letting her do what she wished to him. But not completely motionless - his tongue still made little cat swipes over the opening of her sex, lapping at the moisture gathering there. Breathing rapidly through her nose, she added a small amount of suction as she moved up the length of his cock. She began opening and closing the mouth of her sex, almost as if trying to capture his tongue and hang on to it. Anton continued to lap at her sex . One hand lightly slipped down over her ass along her spine and then around her front to tease the side of her breast. He teased as much of her breast as he could, now focusing his tongue on her clit. Unable to stand it anymore, she released him from her mouth and quickly climbed off of him. Turning around, she leaned down to kiss his mouth, and straddled his hips, guiding his hard cock inside her. Bryn let out a soft whimper, sinking down completely and remaining still as he grabbed her hips. She continued to kiss him, slowly, lingering, sharing the taste of each other's bodies. The familiar flavor was rich and exciting, delicious. She couldn't help but nibble at the tip of his tongue, taking as much as she could get. Unable to stand it anymore, she released him from her mouth and quickly climbed off of him. Turning around, she leaned down to kiss his mouth, and straddled his hips, guiding his hard cock inside her. Bryn let out a soft whimper, sinking down completely and remaining still as he grabbed her hips. She continued to kiss him, slowly, lingering, sharing the taste of each other's bodies. The familiar flavor was rich and exciting, delicious. She couldn't help but nibble at the tip of his tongue, taking as much as she could get. He eagerly kissed her back, tongue exploring her mouth as avidly as it had been exploring her sex. He tried to twitch up into her sex, but she held him fast. His hands slowly moved up and down her spine, lightly tracing the patterns of her muscles. Slowly he nibbled on her lower lip, pulling her body tighter against his. Settling firmly against his body, she stretched her arms out above his head. She gave him a soft smile, watching his eyes. Sometimes she felt overwhelmed by the emotions expressed in his gaze, by the adoration that was so obvious on his face. And she gave a little shiver, squeezing her eyes shut as she pressed her face against his neck. "The way you love me scares me sometimes. I've never encountered anything that powerful before. It's like trying not to be intimidated by the ocean or a hurricane. At once something so incredibly beautiful, and also a bit terrible because of the ease with which it sweeps me away. It's so easy for me to get lost in you." He continued to stroke her back, tracing her fingers along her spine. "So easy to lose myself in you, too, Sabryn. So easy to wake up while you're still asleep and watch you, waiting for the moment when you open your eyes and I can lose myself in their depths. So easy to want to stay beside you, inside of you, that it's painful to be away from you, even for a moment." She let out a soft moan, returning her mouth to his to kiss him needfully. She began to move upon, lifting only a small bit before sinking down once more. Even though the power and depth of his emotions was a bit intimidating, she'd never relinquish a bit of it. Never sacrifice a minute of it. She needed it so much, needed to be loved they way she should've been from the very start. And she was more than willing to every bit as much in return. Willing to shower him with adoration and affection until he couldn't possibly want for more. Couldn't even look at another woman without thinking of her, wanting her instead. Yet she knew it was that way already, that she'd gotten to him so completely, that he'd rip his own heart out if she asked it of him...and it thrilled her to no end. "I want to be lost in you. I don't ever want to find my way out." Her slight movements were driving him mad. "In you I lose myself," he murmured. "Without you I am lost again." The words engraved on his wedding ring were never truer. His hands clutched her shoulders, and then slid down to interlace his fingers with hers. "I love you so much, Bryn. More than I can ever say," he whispered. He pushed up into her wet sex, trying to get in deeper and deeper. Groaning, she lifted up a bit more with her thrusts, sinking even more firmly on to his cock with every plunge. The way he was lifting his hips felt so good she was sure she had a dreamy expression on her face. "I love you just as much, sugar. Always." Leaning closer, she kissed him again, sucking on his tongue. When she pulled back, she was smiling. "I bet we could get my mom watch Max for a little while, so we could take a shower...together." "Uggghhhh...I don't know that I'd be up to that. Not with how good you feel right now." On her next pass by his face, he cupped the back of her head, keeping her close so he could kiss her at his will. His other hand began teasing her nipple. He nibbled on her upper lip before firmly sucking on it, his hips starting a counter-rhythm to hers. Tightly gripping his shoulders, she panted as he sucked on her. She could feel her nipple starting to leak, reminding her that Max hadn't fed yet and was due to wake up at any time. Hoping he slept just a few minutes longer, maybe ten or fifteen, she started squeezing with her muscles, pulling on Anton's cock. She didn't move any faster--she may have even slowed down. Despite yearning for an orgasm, she didn't want this time with him to end. He bit his lip and hissed slightly. She felt magnificent on him, the play of her muscles bringing him along further than just her thrusts alone. Fingers slippery with her milk, he lifted them to his lips and slowly began to lick them clean, hooded eyes staring into hers. She quivered watching him, and finally leaned down and extended her tongue, lapping at one of his fingers along side him, moaning softly at the eroticism of the act. She could feel his breath quicken against her face, and turned her head to meet his lips. Fucking his mouth with her tongue. Part of her wanted to tell him to roll on top of her and pin her to the bed, to make her scream the way only he knew how. But she couldn't seem to form the words. She could only keep moving upon him, each mesh of his groin against hers an almost unbearable agony. Giving up on trying to hold back, Anton gripped her hips and guided her her rhythm. Still kissing her, he pushed up into her harder starting to guide her to her side. He wanted to get deep inside of her, like he had been earlier in the day. He wanted to feel her spread out beneath him, a feast for the senses. He wanted to watch her face glow with ecstasy as she came. She let him guide her willingly, knowing whatever he did would feel just as good to her as it did to him. He was always considerate that way--sometimes she thought he worked harder to make her cum than he did himself. Intently watching his face, she shivered as he settled first on his side, pulling her leg tightly over her hip and thrusting deeply, then rolling on top of her. His lunges pushed her thighs apart, and she pulled them up towards her chest to get him even deeper. She felt breathless, smothered beneath him, and she loved every second of it. He was panting now, breath leaving his lungs in explosive gusts. He pushed harder and deeper inside of her, feeling the tingling in his groin build even more. He was getting close to cumming, but he still tried to hold off, wanting to watch her cum first. His hand forced its way between her legs, fingers slipping in her moisture as he rubbed her clit. Bryn squealed, biting her lip at the last moment to keep from waking Max. Her thighs twitched, trembling, before a heavy shudder traveled through her entire body. Each sweep of his fingers made her hips buck against him, and she tossed her head as her muscles seized around him, fluttered, and finally let go. Panting, she looked up at him through the spider web of messy hair covering her eyes. Managing to pull at him with the last of her strength, knowing it wouldn't take much for him to find his own bliss. He let out a muffled cry, feeling her sex contract around him. He shuddered as his own spasms raced through him, and his eyes rolled in the back of his head. Slowly he sank down on top of her, nuzzling her skin and kissing her neck. He reached up and pushed her hair back on her head, so he could get a better look at her beautiful blue eyes. He gave her a sated, slightly sleepy smile. She smiled back, letting her legs go slack. She felt dreamy, snugly warm, and wished they could go back to sleep for a couple more hours...days. Sliding her foot up and down his calf, she softly kissed his lips. Her mouth closed and eyes open. "That was very nice--and I guess we only have to do it eight or nine more times to make up for falling asleep last night." She grinned at him. Lifting her hand to his jaw, she rubbed her thumb over the stubble on his cheek. "Would you let me shave you today?" Anton nodded. "Certainly, my dear." He did give a bit of a sigh. "Of course, that means we need to get up." Which meant facing the outside world with all its sorrows and worries and fears. Something Anton didn't want to do just quite yet. But they couldn't hide for much longer. "I think the sun's down by now. We should feed Max and then go check in with your parents. She groaned, nestling her face against the curve of his neck. "Don't remind me." Quiet for a moment as she breathed in the scent of his skin, she finally said, "Jolie's going to be in there. I'm honestly not sure how she's going to handle this. And I feel horrible for not calling in such a long time." Letting her head fall back against the mattress, she gave him a bleak look. "I should probably talk to my mom, too. Figure out if Vanessa needs any help with Caroline's funeral arrangements. I certainly know Dad isn't going to be any help, and Mom's probably too busy fussing over John. I feel sorry for him even more now." Anton groaned. "And somewhere in that mess, I'm going to need to sneak away to feed." He stretched against Bryn. "Is Vanessa Caroline's mother?" He made a hmmphing noise when Bryn nodded. "Funeral arrangements can be a big strain, Bryn. Especially if John and Caroline wanted one thing, and her parents want another. Do you want me to help with them?" "I don't know, sugar. It might be too much of an imposition for even me to ask, but I guess we'll find out. Thank you for the offer," she said, kissing him again. Glancing over at the travel crib, she frowned a bit. "He slept all night long. I was beginning to wonder if he had it in him. Maybe all of that running around yesterday wore him out. Think we should wake him up?" He glanced at the crib as well. "No, let him sleep as long as he can. We'll probably regret that when we try to put him to bed tomorrow morning, though." Kissing her mouth lightly, he stroked her hair again. "Have I said lately how much I love you, Bryn?" "Yeah," she said, smiling brightly at him. "But it's always nice to hear it again. Especially if it's just as much as I love you, which is enormously huge. Ad Infinitum. That great big, scary hurricane kind of love. And it grows stronger every day." He smiled at her. "That is the only hurricane I want to hear is gaining power, my dear. And my love for you grows stronger every day. It scares me how much I love you sometimes. I would follow you into the sun if you asked me, without hesitation." He lightly pressed his lips to hers. She didn't allow him to keep the contact light. Pulling him closer, she opened his mouth to her kiss, greedily taking everything he had to offer, and giving everything in return. Finally murmuring, "This is the only sunshine I'd ever lead you into, sugar. I promise." Lindy checked her appearance in the mirror, making sure the few locks of hair that wouldn't fit into her ponytail were tucked behind her ears. Checked that her suit jacket was on straight and evenly buttoned. Took one last look at the black heels in her closet and decided to stick with the the flats she was wearing. Smiled one last time at her reflection in the mirror, finally feeling completely back to normal. Feeling so normal, she decided to take that last step to returning her life to how she was before. She walked downstairs with a little bounce in her step. She went into the kitchen where Nate was trying to feed Liam Cheerios. "I think I'm ready to go on to work," she said, grabbing her purse off the counter. She started looking through it to find her keys. He barely glanced at her as he hovered the spoon enticingly in front of Liam's face. The miniature werewolf turned up his nose and went back to playing with the napkin. Sighing, Nate sprinkled some sugar on the cereal and their son quickly regained interest. Feeding him the sweetened Cheerios, Nate said, "We still have ten minutes. Why don't you make yourself some toast?" "Because I already brushed my teeth, for one thing...and for another, I think it's time I drive myself to work." Still not looking at her, Nate let out an abrupt laugh, said, "Good one," and quickly snuck a spoonful of Liam's cereal for himself. Lindy arched her eyebrow. "What do you mean 'good one,' Nate? I can't expect you to drive me to work for the rest of our lives." Finding her keys, she leaned against the counter, smoothing down her skirt. "Anyway, you're busy feeding Liam. I can get to work a little early and be home that much sooner." He frowned, finally looking up at her--completely missing the moment when Liam stuck his hand in the bowl of milk and decided to go fishing for Cheerios. "I don't think it's a good idea, Lindy. Not yet. We still don't know what the deal is with Marrok. When I asked Alex, he gave me some bullshit story and I'm still not entirely sure he told me the whole tale. I know he would do anything to keep you safe, but I just feel better doing this myself. If you want to leave now, we can go now." Sighing, Lindy grabbed a tea towel and pulled Liam's hand out of the bowl. "I know it's a risk, Nate," she said as she started wiping off his fingers. "But I want my life back. I appreciate you wanting to go with me, but I want to be able to do this myself." She cocked her head to one side to look at him. "What am I supposed to do if I need to go to work and you aren't home and everyone else is busy? Just sit around and wait?" Nate rubbed his forehead, as if the whole discussion was giving him a monumental headache. In actuality, that wasn't far from the truth. Thinking about all of the things that could happen to her--that *had* happened to her--made his head pound with every pulse beat, like heavy dance-floor bass. "I wish you would at least wait until that stun gun is ready to be picked up. It should be at the dealer by the end of the week, Monday or Tuesday at the latest." It was clear she wasn't going to take that for an answer. Liam, getting annoyed that no one was paying attention to him, kicked his legs repeatedly, bouncing in his chair. "Ma ma ma ma!" Lindy looked at Liam, smile spreading across her face, instantly distracted from her and Nate's discussion. "Did you say mama, Liam? Did you hear that, Nate?" she asked with a trace of surprise and awe. "Come on, say it again," she coaxed. Nate watched eagerly as well, the cereal forgotten. Excited at being the center of attention, Liam bounced in his chair again, giggling, and smacked the tray with both hands. "Can you say 'mama'?" Lindy asked again, her excitement clear in her voice. Eyes wide and confused, Liam turned his attention to Nate--as if to ask what on earth his mother was talking about. Nate shook his head and let out a soft grunt. "I think once a day must be his limit. Hopefully you'll be able to get it out of him tomorrow." "Yeah, hopefully," Lindy said with a small sigh. She ruffled her son's hair affectionately. "You're a man of few words, aren't you Liam?" She looked over at Nate, aware that their disagreement about going to work had only been sidelined for a moment. Especially now that she was going to bring it up again. "I think I had better get going. I've got a lot of work waiting for me." Nate let out a heavy sigh. He could see that she wasn't about to give up easily, and, although he thought he could probably win, he wasn't in the mood to fight with her at the time. Especially since he was likely to come off sounding like an ass. "I want you to get out your cell phone right now and check the battery. Keep it on the seat next to you, and *call me* at the first scent of trouble. Even if there isn't any, I want you to call as soon as you park the car and keep me on the line until you're safely in the building. Okay?" "I'll do you one better. I'll leave it on the charger during the drive." She pulled it out of her purse and flipped it open so he could see the battery level. "I promise I'll call you if I even think that there's anything wrong." Although she understood his concern, she still couldn't help but feel a little irritated at his overprotectiveness, even if she was a bit flattered by it. He noticed the slightly biting edge to her words and although he cast her a dry look, he decided not to comment. "I guess you better go then." He thought about it for a minute, then added, "How much gas do you have? If you need to fill up, I'd rather you do it in San Francisco. If it can be helped." "I've got a full tank already, Nate. But I'll top it off before I come home." She felt more like a little kid seeking permission to go outside and play than a grown woman trying to go to work. "May I go now?" Certain that Liam was finished with the cereal, Nate stood up and took the bowl to the sink, saying over his shoulder, "Go ahead. No one's stopping you. I'm not your guardian, Lindy. You could've left a long time ago." He poured himself a glass of water, taking long swallows, half hoping she'd be gone by the time he turned around. Then he wouldn't have to look at that smugness on her face now that she'd "won". Lindy rolled her eyes. She hated when Nate got stubborn like this. There was no reasoning with him then, in her opinion. She conveniently ignored the fact that she was being equally stubborn. "I'll call you when I get there," she said to Nate, kissing Liam goodbye. Without another word, she walked out to the living room and out the front door to her waiting car. Gritting his teeth, he firmly set down his glass with a loud clunk on the counter top. Releasing a gust of air through his nose, he turned around and headed back to the table, where he grabbed a chair and turned it around, straddling it. "Liam, I think it's time you learned a new word." It was well after dark when Anton and Bryn left the motorhome for John's house. They would be heading to the hospital shortly, but first they were going to check in with the family. And have a chance to see Jolie before it got too much later in the evening. Anton sighed slightly. He knew a bit of how Jolie must feel with her mother now gone. But he couldn't imagine how he would have felt if he had lost Katerina when he was so young. It had been hard enough as an adult, but a child... He squeezed Bryn's hand as he pushed open the screen door to let them in. Bryn was a bit grateful that Anton had been the one to hold Max, because she knew she wanted to hug her niece. As they walked in the door, she saw her father and Jolie sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. Rather, he was eating dinner and she was staring morosely at the plate. Bryn smiled widely at her niece, even as her heart constricted at the sight of her. She looked miserable, tired, and entirely too lethargic for her own good. "Hey Jo," Bryn said, stopping just inside the kitchen. Her smile faded a bit when Jolie said and did nothing in return. "Do I get a hug? I've missed you." Quietly leaving her chair, Jolie straightened her pajamas and softly padded over to Bryn. Her subdued greeting wasn't something Bryn was going to allow. Picking up the little girl, she hugged her tightly and let out a soft sigh of relief as Jolie wrapped her legs around her waist and rested her head on her shoulder. "I missed you so much, bug. So much." Anton couldn't help but smile sadly. Poor Jolie looked absolutely miserable. "Hey there, Jolie," Anton said softly. When the child didn't react, Anton turned to Bryn's father. "Good evening, Steven," he said quietly. He took a seat near the man. "Has there been any change?" Steven let out a soft burp and then excused himself. "John had a chance to go see Chris tonight. Couldn't stay long, because his ribs started hurting him the minute he got out of bed. But he insisted on going. He said Chris squeezed his fingers, but I don't know 'bout that. Might be wishful thinking." Cutting another piece of meat off the bone, he nodded towards the opposite side of the kitchen. "There's some dinner in there for the two of you. Keeping warm in the oven. Pork chops and mashed potatoes. I think Bennie even opened up a jar of apple sauce. But you're welcome to search through the cupboards if you'd rather have something else." Anton nodded. Seeing that Bryn was busy holding Jolie, he handed Max to Steven for a moment. He got up then and opened the oven, grabbing a few mitts hanging on the hook on the well. He pulled the plates out and settled both on the table, allowing Bryn to choose if she wanted to eat. "Where is Bernadette?" he asked as he sat back down and took Max back. "At the hospital?" Nodding, Steven said, around a bite of pork, "She'll pro'ly be home soon." He swallowed. "I think she was gonna make a pie tonight, and take a piece in for John tomorrow." Bryn crouched down to set Jolie back on her feet. "You want to see your baby cousin?" Jolie didn't look like she was going to respond, but finally gave a timid nod. Although she wasn't quite sure why, Bryn had the feeling that Jolie saw her as more of a stranger now than the aunt and friend she'd been when she lived here. And she couldn't help but feel guilty. It was her own fault for not keeping in touch, for not calling or at least writing. Hoping she could at least make up for it a little bit, while they were here, Bryn took Jolie's hand and led her over towards Anton. Her niece looked up at him shyly, a slight blush forming on her cheeks. [She thinks he's cute,] Bryn thought to herself, trying not to grin like a fool. Looking up at Anton, she said, "Why don't you introduce Max, sugar?" Anton turned in the seat so he and Max were both facing the eight year old. He held Max, who was looking around at the activity, down to her level. "Jolie, this is your cousin Max," he said. Max looked up at the little girl, bright eyes curious. He was watching Steven for his reactions as well as Bryn, checking that she was bearing up okay. Jolie looked at the baby curiously, reaching out to touch his fist. Max looked almost cross-eyed at her hand, before grabbing on to her finger. Bryn grinned as Jolie giggled. The little girl turned slightly, so she could whisper in her aunt's ear. "Can I hold him?" "Sure. Why do you go sit down on the couch and I'll bring him over there, okay?" Jolie nodded, carefully pulling free of Max's grasp, and ran with bare feet into the living room. Standing up, Bryn made sure to keep her voice low as she talked to her dad. "How is she doing?" After swallowing a swig of his beer, Steven said, "That was the most action I've seen out of her all day. I was a bit surprised." Rubbing her hand across Anton's shoulders, Bryn said, "She wants to hold Max, so I'm going to take him in there. Give you a chance to eat." She suppressed the urge to ask him if he'd be okay alone with her dad, but the question was on the tip of her tongue. "We shouldn't be too long, I don't think." "Well, I'd appreciate it if you put her to bed afterwards," Steven said, making Bryn bite her tongue. She knew Jolie would want a story, possibly more. And although she wasn't hungry, she wasn't so sure Anton would be either after getting stuck with her dad for so long. "I'm sure we can handle that," Anton said. He wasn't particularly happy about being alone with Steven, given the man's disdain for what he was. But Jolie needed the time with Bryn, time to ground the child and know she wasn't overlooked in the tragedy involving the rest of her family. "Bring me Max before you put Jolie to bed." "Okay," she said, giving him a soft smile. She squeezed his shoulder in gratitude as she bent to kiss him. Lingering against his lips, not giving a damn what her father thought. "Love you, sugar," she murmured, taking Max from him. "Love you, too, my dear." Anton watched her settle Max against her shoulder before walking in to the living room. His gaze shifted to Steven, who was looking at him as well...but eventually looked away. Softly clearing his throat, Anton went back to eating thus starting an uncomfortable silence between them. When Steven finally did speak, his voice was conversational and a bit unexpected. "I was, uh, watching a documentary on the building of the San Francisco Bridge the other night. Interesting, the work that went into it. I think they said there's enough cable holding up that bridge to circle the earth eight times." He took another drink of his Michelob. "Did you get a chance to see any of that? Not the documentary, but the construction itself?" "No, unfortunately, although I would have liked to seen it." Not wanting alcohol to affect his mind for the majority of his 'day' to come, Anton had opted just to drink water at the moment. "I was back east then, in New York. I didn't come to San Francisco until the mid seventies. I did get to see, however, the construction of the Empire State Building." He thought back to then. "It was amazing to watch it go up on the sight of the old Waldorf-Astoria hotel. No one was certain that it could be done, and some questioned why something so large was being built during the Depression. But I watched, fascinated as they managed to get over 80 floors done the first year, the rest being completed the next." He felt more comfortable, talking of something neutral like this. Steven shook his head. "I haven't even seen that in the present day." He ran his finger around the rim of his beer bottle, as if uncomfortable looking Anton in the eye. "It must've been interesting, seeing the way things changed in America over the years--in the world, for that matter. Technology has changed so much in just the past few decades. It's certainly made me feel my age." He cleared his throat, then took another swallow. "Do you...feel your age?" Anton nodded, eyes hooded thoughtfully as he stared at the rim of his glass. "Many times. I look at how much things have changed, and yet how basic humanity hasn't over time. I see what man has accomplished as a race, how easily he can descend into barbarism and petty cruelty. I've seen the flashes of light in darkness. And I feel...old." He looked over at Steven, a slight smile on his face. "But Bryn makes me feel young." He met Anton's gaze, smiling in return. "That's good. I used to know what that felt like it. Back when I first married. I've become more cynical now." He was quiet for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "And I realize that's clouded my judgment where you're concerned. I think about all of the differences between you and Ama--between you and Sabryn. Age, your background, the...vampire thing. I honestly can't imagine how you could last. Bennie and I had so much going for us, and now look at us." "Bryn and I have discussed this before. About how different our life experiences are. And as long as we keep discussing that, keep our feelings out in the open, we will last." He paused to take a sip of water and a bite of applesauce. "What happened, if I may ask?" He was curious, wondering if this could have something to do with some of Bryn's difficulties. He let out an mirthless laugh. "We grew apart. The stress of raising two headstrong children. Realizing just how different we were to begin with. And I got tired of Bennie's Mother Hen routine. I don't want to be married to my mother; I'd had enough of her growing up." Slouching in his chair, he stared out the window. His growing belly settled against the table. His face was unshaven, his stubble heavily gray. He was probably once a handsome man, Anton thought, but now he just looked old and tired. "I'm sure Bennie thinks the opposite of me...I haven't exactly helped around the house. She thinks I drink too much, and obviously doesn't find me attractive. Hasn't for a long, long time. We don't even share a bedroom anymore." Anton wasn't sure what to say. He had never experienced anything like that, or at least to that degree. Yes, there had been times where he and his wives had difficulties, but they had always found their way back to each other for the most part. Even when Alexandra had left, there was still a feeling of passion, even if he thought it was unrequited. Not this...acceptance of a loveless life. Steven opened his mouth to say more, but stopped as he heard Bryn walking towards them. Sitting up a little straighter, he took another swallow of his beer...as if hoping she wouldn't expect him to talk if he had his mouth full. Lightly bouncing Max in her arms, Bryn smiled at Anton. "I guess Jo's ready for bed now. She really likes Max. Which isn't really surprising--she always wanted to help take care of Chris when he was a baby." Settling their son in Anton's arms, she glanced between him and her father, noticing that although they didn't look particularly hostile, neither of them was talking. "So...I guess I'll be down the hall. Um...do you need anything before I go?" "No, I think we'll be fine," Anton said as he looked down at Max. His son was alert and looking around curiously. "After Jolie's to bed, do you want to head to the hospital?" He'd need to feed also, but he wasn't about to bring that up in front of Bryn's father. "Okay, that's probably a good idea. Then I call Vanessa and you can go out when we get back." Although her father looked confused by that comment, all he said was, "Call Vanessa?" "Yeah, I'm going to ask if she needs any help with funeral arrangements." "You're going to have to work on your brother first. I haven't had the heart to talk to him yet about her parents and their mausoleum." Bryn sighed, narrowing her eyes at him. "Great. I get to do it. Thanks, Dad." Without another word, she turned and headed for the hallway." Waiting until she was out of earshot, Steven muttered, "She reminds me more of her mother every time I see her." Anton shook his head, not certain if Steven meant it as a compliment. "She's very much her own person," he said. "Although I'll bet there's some of you lurking in there somewhere." And he couldn't help but wonder how much of Ivan there was in him. Yes, the elder vampire hadn't been his biological father, but he knew that children modeled some of their behavior of their father figures, and Ivan had definitely had been his. "Are you planning to go back to the hospital? I can wait here until someone arrives. Jolie shouldn't be left alone." "Uh, no, I've been at the hospital long enough today. I'll probably watch TV in the media room. They have quite a few movies I haven't seen. I'm sure I'll fall asleep on the couch." Although Anton had the urge to laugh about John's "movie collection", he managed to get away with clearing his throat and smiling. Getting up from his chair, Steven took his plate towards the sink and left it sitting on the counter. He drank down the rest of his beer and then tossed the bottle in the garbage. "I guess this is goodnight, then. You're both welcome to use my car tonight." "Thank you, Steven," Anton said. "We'll try to be quiet when we come back in. Rest well." Anton watched as Bryn's father left the room. He doubted he'd ever feel truly comfortable around the man. Although he was trying hard to be accepting about what Anton was, he felt that there would always be 'the vampire thing' hanging between them. With a slight sigh, he got up and placed Bryn's plate back in the oven and his in the sink, balancing Max on one hip. Then he walked over to the stairway, waiting for Bryn to come back downstairs. It seemed like he'd waited forever and finally decided to go find her. When he quietly eased the door to the little girl's room open, he saw them both lying on the bed, Jolie under the covers and hugging a stuffed animal, with Bryn lying next her--her arm wrapped around Jolie. And although an open book lay forgotten between their legs, it was obvious the story hadn't been necessary. They were both sound asleep. He couldn't help but smile at the picture they made. One that he hated do disturb, but needed to. Quietly walking to the bed side and hoping Max didn't cry and startle them both, Anton lightly shook Bryn's shoulder. "Wake up, my dear," he whispered in her ear. He put his finger to her lips when she started to ask a question, gesturing to Jolie with his head. Bryn glanced at the little girl and blinked. She didn't even remember being sleepy, let alone having Jolie fall asleep next to her. Carefully leaning over, she kissed Jolie on the cheek and then gingerly climbed off the bed. Following Anton out of the room, she shut off the light and closed the door. In the hallway, she continued to whisper. "How long were we in there?" "Maybe ten, fifteen minutes," Anton whispered back. The walked down the stairs gingerly, like two teenagers trying to sneak out of the house. "Your father's staying her for the night and has offered us the use of the car. Do you want to go to the hospital now, or try calling Vanessa first?" She walked over to look at the clock in the kitchen. "I think it's too late to call her now. I should probably wait until just before we go to bed." Hiding a yawn, she said, "Is it okay if I eat before we go?" "Of course. Can I get something for you?" "No, you've got the sweet pea. I can do it." Grabbing a pot holder, she opened the oven to get her plate. She breathed in deeply, smiling. "If there's one thing Mom does better than anyone else, it's cooking. This looks wonderful." "I thought she'd be home by now." Bryn nodded. "She's probably still sitting with Chris. She should be here before we leave, though." Carrying the warm plate and her silverware back to the table, she sat down. "So, how did things go with my dad? I'm sorry for leaving you alone so long." "It's okay, my dear." Anton took a seat near her, but guided Max's hands away as he reached for the shiny knife by Bryn's plate. "We talked some. He wanted to know if I had seen the Golden Gate Bridge being built. And we talked about some personal questions. Like if I ever felt my age. About our marriages." He didn't know if Bryn wanted him to go into detail or not. She gave him an odd look, arching her eyebrow. "You talked about marriages with my dad? Did we suddenly stumble into the Twilight Zone?" Shaking her head, she cut apart her meat. "So, what exactly did you say to each other?" "Mostly it was your father," Anton said. "I had said something about how we try to talk about our problems, and he opened up, or at least as much as a man like him can. I think it came down to they both stopped trying." Bryn frowned. "I expected as much. I can't really remember much of them being happy together. But I do know when the change occurred--after my abduction." She didn't say more on the subject, but instead ate her dinner and watched Max play with the quilted place mat in front of him. After a short while, curiosity got the best of her. "What else did you say about us?" "That you make me feel young." He looked Bryn in the eyes, his voice quiet with emotion. "And it's the truth. You are the one who gives me hope when I want to despair. You are the light in my life, Bryn. You always have been, and you always will be." She smiled widely, reaching across the table for his hand. "You aren't going to start singing, are you? You Light Up My Life, or maybe You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Stevie Wonder?" She couldn't help but giggle as he frowned, reaching up to smooth the lines from his forehead. "I'm just kidding, Anton. I know exactly what you mean, and you're right--I always will be that for you. I'll keep trying that hard to please you for the rest of my life." Anton grabbed her hand and squeezed. "And I promise to do the same, my dear. And that's why we're going to make it. Because we will always keep trying." He raised her hand and kissed the back of it. "We are going to love each other and be together forever. I have no doubts about that, Bryn." "Me either." Nate was zipping up his coat and reaching for his car keys when he heard her car pull into the driveway. Nostrils flared and eyes flaming, he looked up at the clock. Thirty-two minutes. It had been thirty-two minutes since she called, already on the road, saying she was on her way home. From where she'd been, it should only have taken her ten minutes--at the most--to get home. And yet he'd spent over twenty minutes more wondering where she was, why she hadn't called, if he should call the police, an ambulance, if he should drive there himself, hire a tow truck, have a helicopter fly over, or Goddamnit call the fucking Navy Seals to come rescue her. He'd imagined tons of different scenarios, dangers, hazards, and culprits. He'd called her cell phone, but it was either turned off, had low batteries, or had been crushed under the foot of her savage captor. Finally, with Liam spending the night at his grandparents, he'd decided to go out and find her himself. He'd been about go find Alex and Walter, and tell them the bad news. All for naught. Without a care in the world, Lindy was casually sauntering up the front walk. She felt a bit silly, heading towards the house. As she had been trying to leave, Steve had cornered her to catch up on office gossip. And when she got into the car and tried to turn on the cell phone, she had found the battery had been drained, and didn't want to charge. Unable to call her husband, and not wanting to spend another twenty minutes talking with Steve, she decided it would be best to just drive back home. Reaching into her purse for her keys, she grabbed the doorknob. And abruptly had it yanked out of her hand. Suddenly looming over her like the villain in a monster movie, Nate stood there glaring at her. She could see that even in the darkness, because his eyes were glowing brilliant green, like phantom light, witches brew, or will-o'-the-wisp. Although he hadn't opened his mouth yet, she was pretty sure his fangs would be sharpened as well. "I know I'm late--" "Where have you been?" She'd expected him to lash out in anger when she saw him standing there, but was surprised to hear something more like anguish in his voice. "Jesus, Lindy..." he said, his voice very quiet. "You scared me half to death." "I'm sorry," she said contritely. "After I called you, Steve wanted to talk." She pulled out the cellphone to show it to Nate. "And the battery won't charge, so I couldn't call you." She couldn't help but feel guilty at the expression on his face, only now realizing how frightened he must have been. "I thought it would be better for me to come right home instead of risking getting delayed another twenty minutes," she explained. He let out a sigh and turned back to the foyer, stripping off his coat as he headed for the kitchen. He could hear her step inside and lock the door behind her, which settled him somewhat. He would've been even more settled if he'd driven her to work himself, but that hadn't been his choice. "Where's Liam?" she said, setting down her keys and purse. "At your parents' house. I took him there a couple of hours ago because Amanda wanted him to spend the night." She could still hear the tension in his voice. "Nate, I'm sorry about what happened." Stopping it front of the sink, he braced his hands on the counter top on either side. He was angry...and frustrated, relieved, annoyed, and still just a twinge alarmed. For those twenty minutes--which had seemed like hours--he'd worried that he'd lost her again. That this time it was his fault because he should've known better. He wanted to yell at her, to bitch her out scaring the shit out of him. All he finally managed was, "I know." She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his shoulder. "You have every right to be mad at me, Nate," she said softly. "Especially after I gave you such a hard time about letting me drive alone. I should have gone back inside and called you." She gently squeezed his waist. "I didn't even think about what you must have been going through. I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out before turning in her grasp to squeeze her in return. Pressing his face to her hair, he breathed in deeply to catch her sweet scent. "I don't know about you, but suddenly a hot bath sounds nice. Something to unwind some tense muscles." "Sounds good to me." She pulled back slightly and took both of his hands in hers. Walking backwards so she could see her face the whole time, she guided him upstairs and to the master bathroom. Once there, she started the bath running, taking time to toss in a handful of sandalwood bathsalts. Turning back to Nate, she felt another wave of contrition. Although he wasn't saying a word, she could see how worried he had been, and how relieved she was home. And she wanted to make it up to him. Walking over to him, she placed her hands flat on his chest and leaned forward and kissed him. His hands came up to cup her face, mouth opening to hers. The steam rising from the bath clung to their skin, surrounding them with the scent of the bath salts, and he was suddenly so grateful for the moment that he lifted her off her feet and crushed her to his chest. Sucking and pulling on her lips, teasing her tongue with his. Shifting her arms, she wrapped them as well as her legs tightly around him. Lindy's fingers tangled in his hair as she pressed herself closer to him, trying to reassure him that she was here and not going anywhere without him. When the kiss broke, she pressed her lips to his neck just behind his ear. "I'm sorry," she whispered one more time. "Shh." He gripped her even tighter, if possible. "It's over now. I know you'll call next time. And I'll give you my cell phone tomorrow. We can get a new battery for yours this weekend." Glancing over at the tub, he saw that the water had risen halfway up the side. Gently loosening her grip on him, he set her on her feet. Then his hands rose to unbutton her blouse. "If you really feel guilty...you can always make it up to me in the bath." She couldn't stop the slight smirk that crossed her face. "I intended to do that all along," she said. While his hands were occupied with her blouse, she began unfastening his jeans, easing the fabric down over his hips. She could take care of his gray polo shirt later. "You want me to blow bubbles on you?" Nathaniel's eyebrows rose. "Blow bubbles on me? Sounds kinky. Don't we need some bubbles in there first?" Once he'd unbuttoned the cuffs of her sleeves, he carefully pulled her blouse off and hung it on the hook on the back of the door so as not to wrinkle it. "Not that I'm complaining, though. I like kinky." With a smirk, he moved to unhook her front-clasping bra, deliberately brushing her breasts with his hands. "But I guess you probably noticed that." Lindy looked up at him with wide eyed innocence. "You do?" She giggled at the dark look he gave her. Smiling, she pulled back long enough to work his shirt over his head. Once it was off him and neatly folded on the sink, she plastered herself against his chest, rubbing against all the bare skin she could find, undoing her own slacks at the same time. "Is there something special you want to do, Nate? "Mmm..." He slid his hands over her back, nipping at the side of her neck. "Nothing in particular. Why don't you surprise me?" "Okay." Helping him keep his balance as he stepped out of his slacks, Lindy then led him over to the bathtub, which was just about full. "Go ahead and get in," she said. Smiling as she watched Nate's ass lower into the water, Lindy grabbed a set of matches to light one of the candles decorating the sink. Grabbing one of the plush washcloths, she started towards Nate, a slightly feral grin on her face. Surprising Nate, she knelt by the bathtub instead of climbing in. "Lie back, beloved. Relax." She dipped the cloth into the tub, making sure it was damp before she started to rub it against his chest. He glanced over the side of the tub, noting that she was kneeling on a plush rug instead of the hard floor. He felt slightly better about that. "When I said you could make it up to me, I didn't mean you had to kneel before me like a servant." "Nate...don't talk." Sighing, he reached behind him and grabbed the bath pillow, resting his head on the terrycloth surface. The fabric scrubbing over his chest made his nipples stand at attention, tightening in the cool air. He wanted to drag her wrist down further, but kept his fingers clasped on the edge of the tub. Allowing himself to be tortured for a little while. She smiled when she saw he was going to comply, if only for a few minutes. Moving a little further forward, she gently drew the cloth directly over his left nipple, teasing the tight peak. She watched as his breathing quickened. She leaned over the edge of the tub so she could kiss him, sucking lightly on his lower lip. "Have I ever done this for you before?" she whispered, curious. He swallowed, shaking his head. "N--She wouldn't let you. She forbade you to come anywhere near me once she realized you had feelings for me. I think she wanted to torture you. But we managed to find ways around it several times." He leaned his head forward to kiss her again, enjoying the heat of her mouth and the warmth of the washcloth as her hand stilled on his chest. He could feel the head of his cock breaking the surface of the water, and he shivered lightly as cold air washed over it. "Yay for us," she said softly when the kiss broke. She glanced down at his groin, smiling a bit brighter when she saw the state he was in. Her hand started moving on his chest again, this time wandering lower, teasing his navel. "I wish I could remember every intimate moment we spent together. I would treasure each as a precious jewel." Glancing down at his groin again, she leaned down and took the head of his cock in her mouth, just to where it broke the water line. Arching his head back, Nate let out a whimper and tried to thrust up in to her mouth. Yet when he did, she teasingly pulled away. "Come on, Lind..." "Not yet," she said, obviously enjoying herself. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes, even as he settled his ass on the tub floor once more. He watched her as she went back to scrubbing his stomach, getting closer and closer to his groin. "When are you going to get in with me?" "When you're ready," Lindy replied in a teasing tone. "I'm ready now." "No," she disagreed. "I don't think you are." The washcloth dragged along his line of pubic hair and then over his upper thigh, sliding to the inside. "You're still able to string two words together coherently." Now the washcloth started moving upwards. "But you might not be able to soon." He wanted to drain the tub water. Or maybe just drag her in with him. Since she wouldn't allow either, he let her continue her ministrations while he did a little teasing of his own. Casually lifting his hand from the rim of the tub, brushing the underside of her breast. Just a little stroking motion with the back of his finger that made her give him a warning glance. Undeterred, he turned his hand over and lightly cupped her while he rolled his thumb over her pink nipple. Lindy shifted slightly so she was resting her weigh on her leg and hip, moving her breasts out of reach of his hands. However, that left her hand in the perfect position to continue to stroke him. Giving him the same devilish grin she had been on the receiving end of so many times, she lightly ran the washcloth over his balls. Pleased by how he squirmed, she wrapped the washcloth around his cock and slowly started stroking up and down, making sure he could feel every nub of the fabric. His hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes closing at the overwhelming sensation. Swallowing heavily, he wrapped his hands even tighter on the tub, lifting his hips a bit with each stroke, thrusting himself into her grip. The water swirled and sloshed over his stomach, the sound echoing in the open space. "Lind..." "Shhh..." Lindy soothed. "Just let go and cum. We've got all day for more." She continued to stroke his cock, lightly squeezing him. "I just want to see your beautiful face when you cum, Nate. I want to watch you in your pleasure." Her strokes became firmer, faster. "Just let go for me..." Panting heavily, he moved his hips even faster and opened his eyes to watch. Even with the water, he could clearly see the precum leaking from his cock. And seeing her hand pull him so hard his balls lifted was all he needed. With a loud cry, he jerked in her hand, the first small burst of cum short enough to cover her fingers. The next burst was longer, milky white in color, and splattered over his belly and chest. He continued to jerk his hips, two more long bursts of hot liquid speeding out of his shaft like molten lava. He trembled, letting out a shaky sigh, and sank back against the pillow, his body going limp. She smiled at him. Gently she kissed the tip of his cock, tongue lapping away the remaining bead of cum before she let him go. Eyes still locked on his, she climbed into the tub, refolding the washcloth so she could clean off the spatters on his torso. And when she was done, she leaned forwards, supporting her weight on her arms on either side of his shoulders, and kissed him, pressing her body full length against his. He kissed her a bit lazily in return, still trying to catch his breath. Hands sliding up from her thighs, over her ass, and to her waist, he gripped her firmly, as if she might otherwise slip away. The water was starting to cool a bit, but her body was warm. Soft. He began kissing her more firmly, opening her mouth to his tongue. Sucking on her lips and squeezing her breasts tight to his chest. Lindy kissed him back lazily. The lukewarm water swirled around her body, but all she felt was the heat of her husband's body. The softness of his skin. She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it back and away from his forehead. Her nipples were tight, and she was wet from watching him cum, but she still took it slow, wanting to savor every moment. Moaning against her mouth, he slid his hands down once again, dipping his fingers into the water, before trickling it over her skin. Bending his knees, he let his body slip lower in the water while keeping hers still, lapping away the water that had beaded on her chest, not yet touching her breasts. He sucked hungrily at her skin, soft slurping sounds escaping his mouth. Unbelievably, he could feel his body reacting to her already, the muscles in his belly tightening in anticipation. Her arms trembled as he continued to kiss her upper chest, tongue and lips delineating her clavicles and sternum. She moaned softly as he nudged her slightly higher so he could more easily reach her breast. But instead he blew against the damp nipple, making her squirm. Part of her was ready for him to impale her, even though he wasn't yet. But he soon would be. He could smell her. Lifted slightly out of the water, she was dripping sandalwood saltwater and smelt musky with arousal. Hands sliding over her hips, he grasped her ass and lightly pulled the cheeks apart, teasing her anus and perineum with the tips of his fingers, making her whimper. It was close to what she wanted, but not quite close enough...and he stilled her attempts to tilt her hips forward and bring his touch closer. "You like that, baby? What if I push my finger inside your ass while you're riding me...would you like that, too?" "Yes," she whimpered softly. Trembling, she couldn't do anything but let him rub her, tease her, make her wetter. She pressed her nose against his chest, inhaling his scent deeply as he continued to stroke her anus, gently pressing against it. Just when she thought he would slip his fingertip inside, he'd back off, and it was driving her mad. Licking his lips, he watched her squirm and tried to keep from doing so himself. Ducking his head, he lapped at her left nipple and felt the stiff peak get impossibly harder against his tongue. He worried and rolled it with his tongue, finally sucking it into his mouth and pulling continuously. The moan she let out made his cock jump in excitement. She couldn't keep quiet, couldn't stop squirming. Unable to take her weight off of her arms, she lowered herself so that her sex was pressed against his cock, rubbing the length of it. Her eyes were shut and her mouth open, an expression of ecstasy on her face. Nate looked up at her, grinning, before shifting his attention to her other breast. Giving it the same loving treatment. Meanwhile, he slid one of his hands even lower, just barely skimming the lips of her sex, coating his fingertip with her juices. He worked the digit against her anus, gently pushing inward. At the same time his finger slid deep inside her, he lifted her slightly to center her on his cock, and impaled her sex, making them both gasp and tremble. "Jesus, Lind...you're so hot!" She swallowed, concentrating on staying relaxed. On not tightening up right away. On staying loose so she could move easily. Slowly she lifted up and then sank down on him, whimpering at the double stimulation. Her hand tightened on the edge of the tub, knuckles turning white. Shuddering heavily, he used his free hand to guide her, watching her face, and feeling the water splash against his chest. Between her intense heat surrounding him, the cooling water covering his lower body, and the cold air chilling his skin, he had goose bumps all over him. Gently, he began working his finger in shallow thrusts inside her. Teasingly pushing inward towards his cock. Stimulating her as well as himself. She felt so damned good that he wanted to scream...but he settled for a low, echoing moan instead. She shuddered when she heard his moan. The contrast between his cock and finger radiating heat inside her and the cool water surrounding him was incredible. Leaning forward some, she kissed him, not quite slipping her tongue into his mouth. She concentrated on licking his lips, barely brushing his teeth with the tip. He leaned forward, trying to capture her tongue with very few results. Using his feet and shoulders for leverage, he began thrusting upwards with his hips, trying to fill her completely, grunting with each move. Despite having already cum once, he could feel his climax building again like stirred coals in his belly. He panted, his finger pushing hard against the forward wall of her rectum, muscles straining to pull her along with him. Her eyes were still shut when she suddenly sat back, moving faster and harder on him. Her breath started coming in quick gasps as she tightened around his cock and finger. She was already tingling, and the tingles were growing stronger and stronger. Moving his hand from her hip to her groin, he began rapidly rubbing her clit in time to his thrusts. He was so close that the second she tightened her muscles around him he cried out and flooded her. His body arched like a bow beneath, held tightly in place, and only his fingers kept moving for her pleasure. Needing to feel her orgasm every bit as much as she did. She shrieked, tossing her head back. Her sex and anus tightened around him as she let out a loud moan. Panting, she then collapsed to rest against his chest, her hair falling forward to screen her face out of his sight. She could still feel aftershocks racing through her body as he twitched. She wrapped her arms around his body. Settling lazily against the pillow once more, he gently eased his finger out of her and massaged her stretched muscles. He didn't pull his cock out of her, though. He was fairly certain if she moved it would slip out on its own, but he kept her immobile above him, wanting nothing more than to lay there for the rest of the night, like happy pigs in a wallow. Grinning as that image came into his head, he lightly rubbed her back. "That, gorgeous, was impressive. I think we may have to sleep here, because I can't move." "You were the one doing all the work, Nate." Lindy grinned. "You know, I thought it was supposed to be a punishment if a woman made her husband sleep in the bathtub." She winced as he swatted her ass lightly. "You sure you don't want to head back to our warm bed? Or at least run some warmer water in here?" "Mmm...some warmer water sounds nice. Then we can just lay here and prune up for a while, and snuggle up in the bed later." He pressed his lips to her forehead, lingering there for a while before whispering, "I love you, Lindy. More than anything in the world. And I always will." End Chapter Ninety-six <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->