Rick caught her hands in his as they shared a grin; he leaned in to assure eye contact. “There are lots of rewards to living with a vampire.”
“Oh?”
“First of all, no cooking involved!”
Anna felt a wash of humorous obstinacy, “What if I like to cook?”
“You saw my kitchen; I’ve thrown some killer parties with top chefs entertaining my mortal friends. I’m sure you’ll find something to like in all that stainless steel.”
“Maybe. You said my vamp awareness was superficial—go on, educate me.” Anna flipped her head and smacked Rick in the face with a wave of titian hair.
Rick rose to sit beside her. “I can show you all the best nightlife! You like art history? I’ve lived art history!”
“Yeah, I noticed that just looking for a pen at your place.”
Rick reached under the curtain of her hair to fondle her neck and draw her into him. His lips rested against hers as he assured her, “And I’m inexhaustible in bed.” He kissed her soundly.
“Is that a vamp trait or a Hiatt trait?”
“If I told you it was a vamp trait, you might run off and look for another vamp.” Rick played the crushed suitor.
Anna’s gut twisted as she tried to separate the romance from the truth. We feel it all; we felt the rise before this fall.
“Aw, Fitz, talk is cheap. As an art history professional, I believe I need a challenging examination of this historical artifact.” Anna ran one arm around his back in a sweeping caress while she slid her hand into the front of his gaping robe. Rick’s eyes widened when her fingers danced lightly over his nipple. His grin was huge.
“How in-depth is this examination?”
“Skin to skin; I’ll leave the depth up to the artifact.” Anna dropped her hand onto his waiting cock, and smiled slyly as their gazes met.
They rose together, and Rick’s gaze drank her in. “You look delicious, my Cupcake! I didn’t even shower before I rested. I’d hate to wash all that pampering away, but I cannot bear to leave you for a shower.”
Anna giggled, “You know the spa is open seven days a week. I can always go back…”
Rick caught her hand and nearly dragged her to the master bathroom. He began the job of adjusting all the shower controls, and fragrant steam rolled out of the stall.
I thought I had a humongous bathroom! Good golly, I’ve never seen a shower with so many gadgets. Anna’s hands began to unbutton her shirt and Rick flew to her assistance.
“A gentleman never makes a lady work.” Rick began to bless her flesh with light kisses as each button opened. Anna luxuriated in the heated rush only his lips engendered. Her back arched, throwing her body into his petting. Her wrists rested on his broad shoulders where her hands could caress his strong jaw.
Rick peeled back her blouse, dispatching it with grace. He moaned at the sight of her ripe breasts, flushed with arousal. Rick drew his index finger from her navel straight up her tingling body and raised her chin to taste those inviting cherry lips.
Anna fell into his embrace breathlessly, and his hands deftly released her lacy brassiere. Finally, they were breast to chest.
How can I leave his embrace to lose the rest of my clothes? His arms are too heavenly. Anna nuzzled into Rick’s neck. This isn’t a dorm room, this isn’t the back of a limo. This is the real deal. Her confidence fell away with her bra. Between them, there could be no failure. Would she be a worthy lover in his skilled embrace?
“Oh, Cupcake… you are such a naughty little temptress. I’m drawn to your scent. I’m so turned on.” He placed her hand around his pulsing erection. “I taste your lips and you make me hungry for more.”
Anna searched her limited experience and failed to find any man who had claimed her body and her heart. Had any man ever spoken to her like this?
Is this his Dom act?
“No games, Rick.” Her forehead fell on his shoulder.
Rick’s hand froze on the drawstring of her linen pants, and he frowned. “Do you want me to stop?”
Anna heard the unmistakable disappointment in his voice. Her hands fell to his chest, separating them by half an arm’s length. “Those dangerous lips, that magnificent cock of yours…”
Rick grimaced. “Your words sound complimentary, but the message I’m getting isn’t a good one.” Stepping back, he re-wrapped his robe, tying it tightly. His hand ran through his hair before he spoke, and he licked his tongue slowly over his bottom lip. “Go on…” He stood stiffly, hands on hips, waiting for her verdict.
In a sudden stroke of modesty, Anna covered her breasts with a bath towel. “Your first rule to Matt was don’t get involved romantically with mortal women. Am I some kind of five-hundred-year itch? Do you want to find a steam grate so I can stand on it and titillate you?” Anna’s pain resonated through every word.
“Is this about trust?” Rick’s head fell back, looking anywhere but her face. He leaned over the vanity to watch Anna in the expansive mirror.
Anna watched his tense, wounded posture from the back, as well as his reflection. “Partially. You’re trouble in trousers, or out of them. Rick, you know your game, your role as a Dom. A year from now—”
“A year from now? How about five years from now?” he interrupted.
“It’s your nature to feed and fuck and forget mortals. Who will I be to you in a year?” Anna pulled at the end of the towel to wipe her tears away.
Rick spun to face her. “Anna, you need to know a few things about me. I’m particular, I’m opinionated, I can be exceptionally covetous and I don’t suffer fools. But one thing I can say about myself after five hundred years, I know my own mind.”
Anna let the aspects of his self-appraisal pinball in her brain. Her brows knit as she tightly closed her eyes, breathing deeply to gather her words, “And this affects me how?”
“When we met, our worlds collided. Since we’ve been involved, I’ve not had the urge for those past predilections. In Heaven’s name, Cupcake, you’ve changed the behaviors of a five-hundred-year-old vampire.”
Anna felt his sincerity, yet her inferiority floated to the top of her reasoning. “When the conquest is over, am I enough for you, Fitz?”
“That’s what you think? I’m here for another notch on my belt? Do you know how long it’s been since I stopped counting those?”
Anna shook her head, beginning to feel chagrined.
“You call me Fitz? I guess I deserve that… I do seem to be giving you fits. Since we met, has anything been easy? No, but we’ve been shoulder to shoulder fixing the things that some malcontent fouled up.”
Anna sighed deeply and shook her head, “I don’t want to play Dr. Watson.”
“I don’t need a Dr. Watson, Cupcake; I need you for the rest of my eternity.”
Anna began to tremble. Is this a proposal? She was suspicious that love found too easily would be of little value in the long run. Could she trust their mutual trials to make her a prize in his heart? Anna’s head rose seeking his gaze. “Your eternity, with me?”
“You bring so much life to me, Cupcake. I can’t exist unless I’m living with you.” Rick’s words were emphasized by a nod. Anna flew into his powerful embrace, the protective towel long forgotten. “I’ll love every particular, opinionated day with you, and we can be fools together.”
Rick released her just enough to pull that drawstring on her linen pants, “Cupcake, I’m up to bat with two strikes. Pitch the next ball so I can hit a homerun, okay?”
* * * *
Rick held Anna in a wicked embrace standing in the middle of the humongous shower stall. He lapped at the water sheeting off her soft shoulders. Anna’s sighs syncopated with the motions of Rick’s tongue against her quivering flesh. His thick cock pressed tightly against her flat belly. He took a half step away from her and she gasped at the loss of his close throbbing. Anna delighted in Rick’s questing tongue along her shoulder and the lithe length of her arm.
The steely silk of his length b
obbed at her as Rick’s lips moved from thumb to finger to finger to finger. Anna fell under his wicked charm as his nibbles turned into sensual suckling of her index finger. His gaze mesmerized her. Anna’s body quaked, and arched boldly into Rick’s. The sensations were delicious.
Rick released her finger. “I can’t slow down. I can’t hold back. I wish I could.” At vamp speed, he caught her up in a spin and rapidly pressed her back against the marble wall, catching her wrists in his hands high above her head.
“Let me wash you, Rick, let my hands roam over your entire body.”
“How can I turn down that request?” Rick’s brow arched playfully, then grabbed for the velvety washcloth and soap. Despite his assertion otherwise, Rick was reluctant to rush her.
Anna assumed a dominating posture and wondered if she could pull this off. “Stand back, don’t touch me while I’m washing you.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Rick replied wryly, standing feet apart, his fists resting on his hips.
His reply empowered Anna to begin at the top of his head, standing on tiptoe, her breasts bobbing in his face. “No playing with me, Mr. Hiatt.” Her lips fought her emerging smile. Fingertips massaged Rick’s head and neck, her soapy fingers swirling around his ears. Pleasure burned within her belly as her hands skated the curves of his muscled torso. Soap bubbled in the dusting of golden hair on his pecs and flowed alluringly down his treasure trail. Running circles around his navel, she debated about how long to tease him. Once or twice? Maybe four times?
“Turn around, Mr. Hiatt.” Anna’s hands on his shoulders pivoted the tall man before her. I’ve got to get that tremendously inviting dick out of my face or I’ll be tempted to end this all too soon. Must… take… time…
Anna sucked in a calming breath. Rick loomed large, palms flat above his head, feet spaced wide on the mosaic marble floor. Sheets of water sluiced over his athletically broad shoulders. Bravely, Anna stole the hand wand off the holder, plotting to tease Rick with the pulsing stream. There ain’t no rest for the wicked ’til we close our eyes for good. She leaned within an inch of his long torso, close enough for Rick to feel her heat. Dashing the stream over his head, she read his pleasure as he arched his back seeking her breasts and hips against him. Did it tickle him under the arms? Is he sensitive there?
“Anna…”
“Patience, Mr. Hiatt!” Anna’s admonition was for both of them.
One hand circled the soapy washcloth down Rick’s spine as the other rinsed away his tension. Did he growl when I soaped up his bum? Anna tested with the other cheek. Oh, yes, I do hear a bit of a rumble from that damn fine chest.
“Anna… I appreciate your stepping up the discipline, but I really do need to ravish you soon.” They laughed together as Rick spun around to grab his prized woman. Anna’s legs wrapped around his trim waist.
“I thought you’d never ask…” Anna confessed with a kiss on his ear.
* * * *
They tumbled together into bed. Wrapped in the bath sheet, they rolled to and fro, drying themselves. Rick savored the feel of her damp, fragrant skin as much as he enjoyed the warmed bath sheet’s velvety texture. He sank into her silken embrace. The truth of his love burned within him. Time had freed his mourning heart. He was a vampire reborn to love again. Anna’s devotion deserved only his most fervent and worshipful touch.
Rick threw back the comforter and tenderly drew her face to face on the fresh sheets. His lips gravitated to her breasts, kissing first one, then the other. She moaned under his touch, then caught her breath as his lips embraced her aching nipple. He worshipped that succulent flesh, licked it, stroked it with his tongue, drew on it like the hungry soul he was. At the same time, his fingers danced along the lively flesh of her hips.
“Is this really happening?” she whispered dreamily. His hands stroked the long column of her back, setting a fire in her flesh.
“Finally? Yes, it’s really happening.” Rick’s hand slipped slyly to lovingly cup her firm buttock.
“Please, don’t stop!”
He chuckled low in his chest. “What makes you think I could?” Rick asked as he rolled her onto her back.
His eyes adored the slopes and plains of her luscious body. His palm rested softly on her belly, a touch away from her mound. Rick inhaled deeply, savoring the punch of pheromones his touch elicited.
He whispered in her ear. “Tell me what you like.” He punctuated his question with a soft inhalation.
Anna shuddered in expectation. “Everything you do.”
Rick’s confession was a throaty growl. “But I haven’t even gotten started.” His clever fingers probed at her slick sex and he withdrew them to taste her. “My God, you’re spun sugar!”
Keening, she grabbed his hand and pressed it back to his loving task. “Cupcake, don’t forget to breathe, I don’t want you passing out…yet.” Rick left her embrace to slide to the end of the bed. “I want to see you.”
Anna sat up, knees to her breast. She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Rick…”
“Shh. It’s okay. You can’t deny me this.” Rick reached for each foot and slowly drew them apart. He realized she’d never had the satisfaction a lover should give.
“What is this? What do you want?”
Rick scented her fear. “I want to see your beauty close up. I want to taste you. I want to drive you mad with ecstasy.” His gaze hungrily caressed her hidden prize, when he suddenly realized there might be more to her hesitation. He looked up at her. “Has anyone hurt you there?”
Anna blushed furiously. “No! But why would you want to look at me?”
Rick leaned up on his elbows and smiled boyishly. “You are a delicate flower. You have drawn me in with your enticing fragrance.” He drew in an appreciative breath. “I told you, you taste like spun sugar. Did you think I fibbed?”
Anna stared, awestruck, as Rick softly stroked from her feet to her knees. “I want to see you because this old heart of mine doesn’t get many opportunities to race.” He inched further up the bed, and stroked from her knees to her thighs. “You know you make my dick rock hard. I want to see the part of you that’s going to strangle my cock into submission.” Anna relaxed into the mountain of pillows, her gaze riveted on his sensual advance. Rick reverently parted the folds of her sex. He held perfectly still, drinking in her beauty. Anna shivered. Slowly, he lowered himself down to her.
* * * *
Rick placed teasing kisses away from her sex. Anna moaned, surprised by her disappointment. He persevered, his lips making their way back up again. He did it again, down the other leg, making sure he touched her sex with the lightest glance of his lips. Anna’s entire body tensed with need. This is exquisite torture. When will he just do it? Rick turned on the action with one strong lick from her center to her clit. He lifted his head. “Do you like to watch me?”
Anna flopped her head back and giggled. “All the time.”
“Can you see how much I enjoy you?”
Anna smiled girlishly. “Do you know how much I enjoy you?”
Rick’s crooked grin grew. “Well, let me get back to us enjoying each other.” He found her clit with slow, harder strokes and sped up gradually.
Anna arched with need fully into his mouth. “How do you know exactly how to touch me?” she moaned, breathlessly.
Rick’s moan vibrated through her sex. She ground back into him at the sensation. Rick got straight back to that hardening clit.
Anna fisted the bed sheets, her knees widening in invitation, her eyes clinched shut. His tongue dove into her pussy, heightening her excitement. Her fingers released the sheets and slid into his hair, holding him exactly where his tongue could fuck her hard. She was so close to something unknown. Sweat beaded on her chest. A tornado spiraled within her.
Taking her to the next level, Rick slid one long finger into her tight, wet pussy. With a come-hither motion on her g-spot, her eyes popped open. Their gazes met, and her thighs tightened, evidence of her rising orgasm. Rick moved with he
r, his cool mouth delivering a steady beat of his tongue. Anna hung on to him as his lips nibbled on her clit.
“Don’t let go! Don’t let go! Don’t let go!” Anna’s screams became a mantra. The symphony of their bodies working together came to a crescendo. Anna’s mantra became an exultation, “Rick! Rick! Rick,” growing softer and slower with each exclamation. Her total satisfaction, a low moan, played out on her lips.
* * * *
Rick watched her unwind into loose-limbed relaxation. Brimming with pleasure at her response, he pulled the sheet with him as he crawled up to her side. Embracing all the wonderful aspects of her humanity, he held her and savored her racing heart. He kissed at the beads of hard-earned sweat and coveted her flush of color. Listening to the music of her quieting breaths, Rick held her along his body, stroking and kissing her heated flesh. She was almost asleep, and that was fine with Rick. His turn would come in the next round. Right now, he gloried in her surrender to his touch. This was tender; this was mutual and profoundly hot. This is not vanilla.
Chapter 12
Adam stood behind a mirrored viewing window, watching Veronique seated at the interrogation table. She was flanked by her high-powered attorney. Adam’s job was technically over, but he couldn’t resist watching Veronique’s circus unfold. He had refrained from flaming her. He’d rather the Council draw out her suffering.
George Bellamy, Veronique’s attorney, made his living off other’s tears. George sat as tall as his below-average height allowed, sausaged into his forty-six regular Hugo Boss suit. What George lacked in style and grace he made up for with courtroom cunning. Like sharks, George never slept.
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