“I love you.”
Chapter Eleven
They stayed entwined and silent for several minutes after Phil left and closed the door. A tear fell to Tegonni’s lip as Fernando leaned back to look into her eyes.
“Tegonni.” He stroked the tear away. “I am not often thunderstruck, but I hardly know what to say.”
Pleased, she leaned forward to brush her lips against his, sweet and delicate. “Then let me speak first.”
“All right.” He looked more at peace than she’d ever seen him outside of the blissful expression he’d had at the church the first time she’d met him there.
She smoothed her hands down the rough texture of his linen V-necked shirt, delighting in the feel of him strong and firm underneath. “I haven’t been a very good counselor or friend to you.” He frowned, and she rushed on. “No, Fernando, I haven’t. I assumed vampires are inherently evil, and you are different. You are certainly special.” She cupped his face. “But I think your desire to be a good person is not unique among the vampires.”
He glanced toward the door to the hallway where Phil sat. “Yes, true enough.”
“I should have asked if you had friends.”
“I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“Still, I should have asked. To know you better.”
He smiled. “Well, you know now. And you love me.”
Grinning, she hugged him tight. “Yes, I do.”
“Then I should stop being a rude host.” As he stepped back, he took her hands and spread them out to the sides. He took in her bare legs from the plum-painted toes all the way up to where her thighs disappeared beneath the miniskirt. His gaze wandered over the curves hidden by her top. His eyes were heated by the time they focused on hers. “Breathtaking.”
A warm quiver passed through her. She loved the sweet word on his lips.
He gestured to his right. “Please come in.”
As they left behind the view out the picture window, she was happy to put worrying thoughts aside for the moment. Like the fact that although he was clearly pleased to have her love, he hadn’t revealed his feelings toward her nor whether he would continue with his suicidal plans. They’d return to those weighty matters soon enough. For now, she was curious to see more of his home.
They walked down an entrance hall, which ran parallel to the common hallway outside until it opened up on a two-story living room sporting panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. The view of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan was glorious. She loved the sight of the colorful lights of a Ferris wheel along a pier. Buildings of various shapes—boxes and domes—were packed in a row in front and behind the big wheel. The brightly lit red-and-blue sign across the front building read NAVY PIER. “Amazing view, but isn’t it a problem during the day?”
“We all go unconscious during the day, but sunlight is only a problem for the sired.”
“The vampires who used to be human?”
“Yes. They, as the legends suggest, ignite in open sunlight. We have protections of course.” He strolled over to a panel in the wall, his graceful stride drawing her eye. His ass was tight and round in his snug beige pants. He pressed some buttons, and the room fell into pitch darkness. She gasped. The lights returned to normal. “Forgive me,” he said. “I didn’t intend to startle you. The windows are double-paned Smart glass. They darken when an electric current is applied.”
She turned from the now opaque, smoky windows. Concerned, she frowned.
He laughed. “Inside the glass. Don’t worry, you won’t get shocked if you touch them.”
“Fancy.” She did a pirouette to survey the rest of the place. “Your home is amazing. Just gorgeous.”
Fernando trailed her as, open-mouthed, she meandered around the glass coffee table surrounded by a semicircular couch. The black-and-silver pillows echoed the color theme throughout. The dull-silver floor was a tad spongy under her sandals, yet her heels left no impression. She approached the fire dancing in the four-sided fireplace. The enclosed hearth was nestled between a black tile column above and a shiny onyx platform below, giving the appearance of a transparent cube on fire. It wasn’t a fireplace, it was art.
She inspected the high ceiling. It was black with fairy lights glowing in various places. Such whimsical lighting somehow softened the metallic-looking walls and meshed the decor into a masculine, futuristic theme that was not homey, but at least inviting.
She wandered over to the bar and looked through the glass wall next to it. A small room held a seven-foot rack of bottles. “A wine cellar?”
“Ah, yes. Climate-controlled. An extravagance, but one not wasted. As you know, I’m fond of wine. I’ve decanted a Cabernet Sauvignon from my Clan’s California vineyards. Unless you prefer tea?”
“Wine sounds wonderful.” She went on to gawk at the next marvel: a beautiful silver-railed, glass spiral staircase. It ascended to the second level, which covered the back half of the penthouse. Considering the place was nearly an entire half of a floor, that still left quite a bit of upstairs space. Even as spacious as the living room was, she guessed it only took up a quarter of the main level. “How many people live here?”
“Five, at the moment. Both of my personal guards have their own rooms. And Hanna lives here. I have human guards as well, but they quarter on the floor below.”
Tegonni pursed her lips in a mock pout. “Cohabitating with a woman?”
He gave her a slow, sultry smile, the curve of his mouth begging to be kissed. “You have nothing to be concerned about there. She shares a room with her lover and treats me more like a younger brother than the aged vampire I am.”
Pleased, she chuckled. Good to know Ms. Preston’s feelings were merely sisterly. “I’m glad you’re here. Please, have a seat while I pour the wine.”
Casual talk is over. The time to continue serious discussion had come. He gave her a gentle smile, his amber eyes melancholy, and she knew she would not like all he had to say.
While he walked over to the wet bar, she settled on the plush sofa. Her leg started a nervous bounce and she stilled it. He returned and handed her a glass of wine before sitting, his body angled toward her. Tegonni clasped the stem, too nervous to drink.
“I apologize for my abominable behavior Wednesday evening,” he said. “Father Morgan says I was testing you. It took me a few days of soul-searching to see it, but I have realized he’s correct. Your support of me over the last months has meant so much, yet I did not feel deserving. When you ran from me, I thought you decided you had been wrong all this time. Part of me felt relief you accepted the truth and another part suffered.”
She put her wine on the glass coffee table. “And when I told you the real reason I ran was because I was afraid of what others would say, you were angry?”
He stared out the window at the expansive lake. “A little, but I appreciated hearing the truth. Mostly I was sad because I believed if you knew the whole truth of what feeding entailed, you would finally change your mind about me. I needed to know your real opinion.” He turned and regarded her with a solemn-looking face. “I didn’t mean for it to go so far, especially not in the confessional. I just…got caught up in you.”
Her lip trembled. “I hope you realize now that I believe in you one hundred percent.”
“I know. Your words, that you have faith in me, prove I was wrong.” He set his wine on the table. “Your continued faith and love are gifts I will never doubt again.”
His eyes shimmering, he said, “I love you, Tegonni.”
Her belly tightened and her heart thumped at the caress of the delicious words. He cupped her face and moved closer, and she gave in to heady anticipation, allowing her eyes to flutter shut. The brush of his lips against hers was light, tickling her skin and eliciting a full-body quiver.
He loves me.
She’d hoped he did, but hadn’t been sure he’d admit it. Whether out of not feeling worthy of her as he’d said on their “not date” at the wine bar or because of his deat
h wish. She just hadn’t been sure. Knowing for certain made her laugh with joy. She didn’t want to end this perfect moment, but had to ask, “What about the ceremony tomorrow?”
He stroked her back. “I won’t leave you. Even if I am not worthy in Heaven’s eyes and cannot have their love, I have yours.”
Remembering her promise to Father Morgan, she searched his eyes. “Is it enough? I don’t want you to suffer anymore.”
“I don’t have redemption, but I finally have peace. More than many can say.”
She hugged him tight. “You’re right. I never imagined things working out this way.”
“Things rarely do.” He chuckled.
A feeling of elation made her feel light-headed. She’d done it. She’d saved his life. He may not have all he wanted, but he accepted himself. She tickled him. “Well then, there’s one final thing to discuss.”
He nuzzled her nose. “What is that?”
Slipping from his arms, she leaned back on the couch until she was supporting herself on her elbows. She reached down with one hand and inched her skirt up her bare legs. Tossing her head to expose the vulnerable curve of her throat, she said, “Neck or thigh?”
He surveyed the length of her body, and his eyes flashed molten hot. Mouth parted, he ran his tongue over his bottom lip and one exposed fang. She saw desire and restraint as, trembling, he shook his head.
Even as he declined, he caressed her knee and teased up the inside of her thigh. She shivered with her growing need to have his mouth and fangs teasing her skin. “I accept you as you are. This need is a part of you. I don’t fear it.” She let her mouth curl up in a sweet, reassuring smile and let her eyes show her faith, her confidence, and her love. “I want it. Please.”
She saw the quiver throughout his torso as he groaned. The corners of his mouth twitched up in a smile before he crawled over her and pushed her flat to the sofa. She opened to him and slipped her arms around his waist. He lowered his head for a proper kiss. It started gently, with sweet kisses along her jaw and cheek, but he soon took possession of her mouth with an exploring tongue and soft lips.
She slid her hands under his shirt and rubbed her palms across his deliciously smooth, muscled abs. She delved her tongue between his lips, and traced the tip of a fang. His low moan let her know he liked having her flesh tease the sharp point.
“Straddle me.”
Tegonni wasted no time in complying. They switched places. When she hovered over him, he slid his fingers under the hem of her skirt and pushed it up toward her waist. Then his smooth palms caressed her naked thighs in light, slow circles. She quivered with delight.
“You sure are talented for a devout Catholic boy.”
“Well, I thought,” he said, his sensual accent rolling over her, “being a vampire, fornication was the least of my sins.”
“Uh-huh.”
He silenced her with another lingering taste of his mouth. He trailed a line of kisses across her jaw, then stopped for a nibble behind her ear before arriving at her neck. With lips only, he sucked at the skin and muscle. When he grazed her neck with sharp tips, Tegonni encouraged him with a muffled groan.
He laughed and lifted his head. “Patience. No skipping to the end. I want to savor you.” His amber eyes smoldered with desire and adoration as he led her up the glass spiral stairs. “I trust you don’t mind having dinner a bit late?”
“And I trust your talents are good enough to ensure dinner is very late.”
His answering grin was smug. He swept her in his arms and carried her along a balconied hall, which looked out over the living room. She barely glanced around as he took her through a comfortable study and sitting area and into his bedroom. She paid more attention to these surroundings.
The room wasn’t huge, just spacious enough for the king-size bed and a couple of end tables. She assumed the two closed doors led to a closet and a bathroom. The decor was simple and homier than the modern downstairs. Solid chocolate-brown, tan, and gold colored the carpet and bedding.
He set her on the high bed and moved to the wall to set the lights on dim. Music with a sensuous, hypnotizing melody filled the room from unseen speakers. “Nice. Very new agey,” she said as she began unbuckling her sandals.
“No, please don’t. I wish to undress you, if I may.”
That sounded intriguing to Tegonni, so she lay back on the soft comforter and inclined her head like a queen granting a servant’s request. Fernando gave her a sultry smile, a small curl of his lips, as he sauntered to the foot of the bed. He didn’t reach for her. Instead, he stopped and ran his hands up the front of his buttonless shirt. His fingers reached the collar, and he pulled it off over his head. As he bared the planes and ridges of his chest and abs, she bit her bottom lip. He shuffled side to side—presumably removing his footwear—before bringing his hands to his fly.
A zing buzzed through her. This is the good part! He unfastened and unzipped his pants, then slid them down his thighs, not teasingly slow, but not hurriedly. More like he was revealing a gift. Either he’d pulled his underwear off with the pants or he hadn’t been wearing any. Whatever the case, Tegonni was suddenly presented with her first view of a naked Fernando.
She looked down his narrow waist to the sparse hairs on his muscular thighs, to the large package of goodness standing erect between them. It was average length, but thick, and she licked her lips as she contemplated how much of it she could get in her mouth. Her pussy contracted in a demand to be the first hole filled.
He gave her a knowing smile as he kicked aside the pants and did a slow turn. The movement exposed his flexing ass. She groaned. His butt was perfection. The hard, muscular cheeks were high and round, and she itched to knead the delicious flesh with her hands.
“You like?” he asked, facing her again.
“Oh yeah. A man’s backside is definitely my favorite body part.” She sat up with an eager grin as he walked the edge of the bed.
“May I undress you now?” The heat and certainty in his voice indicated he knew her answer, but he made no move as he waited for her consent.
Such a gentleman. Swoon. “Please do.” She tried to force herself to calmness as her fevered skin demanded to have his hands all over her that very moment.
Fernando inclined his head. “Thank you.” He climbed onto the bed and arranged pillows behind her. “Please sit back and relax while I explore you.”
She let him nestle her against the pillows, then watched as he crawled, naked, to her feet. “Mmmm.” She purred, enjoying the view. Unbuckling a sandal, he laid a chaste kiss on her ankle. The light touch sent a pleasant shiver along her leg. More kisses followed, trailing down her foot to her big toe as he slipped off the shoe. The tip of each of her perfectly pedicured toes received a kiss as he massaged her instep. The attention made her a little self-conscious but felt wonderful. A swipe of his tongue below the inside of her ankle made her catch her breath.
His eyes twinkled as he watched her. He gave her other foot the same attention, then dropped both sandals on the carpet before bending her leg so he could kiss his way up the inside of her calf. He took his time, keeping the kisses light and adoring, with a stroke of his tongue only when he reached her knee. Damp and cool, its rough texture teased her delicate skin, making her squirm. The anticipation of him moving on to even more responsive parts of her body was as arousing as his current explorations. Normally, she didn’t have the patience for teasing, but Fernando’s rapt attention to each inch of her skin as he tasted it was so reverent, she knew he was not teasing. He was adoring. The act honored her, and she’d never tire of him doing it.
His eyes closed, he finished his explorations of her other knee and moved up to her inner thighs. Here he added light bites between kisses, inching his way ever so slowly to the inferno between her legs. She dug her fingers into the bedclothes beneath her. He lifted her leg and pressed her thigh against her stomach. He swooped down and licked across the crease between leg and buttocks, before blowing a gentle
breath over her damp skin.
Tegonni shuddered. “I like that.”
He did it again before nibbling on her exposed cheek. Little shocks jumped through her, setting fires that needed to be put out. Fernando, however, didn’t seem like he’d be relieving her just yet. He switched to the other thigh, putting it through the same delectable torture. Her skirt bunched up around her hips.
Fernando pressed his nose into the front of her lace panties and inhaled deeply. “You smell divine.” She squirmed under the contact, anticipating more. However, after placing a chaste kiss over the shiny material covering her clit, he pulled up her shirt and licked her bare belly.
Growling her impatience, she ran her fingers through his short hair with the intention of pushing his mouth back where she wanted it. The silkiness of his locks distracted her, and she stroked the baby-soft curls. By the time she refocused on demanding attention for her aching clit, Fernando had pushed her top up over her breasts. He placed kisses on the mounds peeking through the French lace on her bra. He straddled her legs, and his cock bounced at her. She stroked the head.
He shuddered, and then brushed her hand aside as he pulled off her top. “Ladies first. Besides, if you do that, I’m not sure how long I will last.”
She raised an eyebrow. From his performance so far, she couldn’t believe control would be a problem.
His smile was coy as he leaned down and pushed aside the lacy fabric of her bra before sucking a bared nipple into his mouth. He grazed it with a fang, and the swollen nub tingled. “I’ve chosen to focus my sinful behavior on giving pleasure rather than receiving. My personal idea of penance.”
Tegonni arched into his mouth as he continued suckling at her breasts. He managed to unhook her bra one-handed, and tossed it toward the pile of clothes on the floor. “So it’s been a long time since a lover pleasured you?” she managed to ask.
“Yes. Or since I’ve taken my release in a lover’s body.”
Counselor of the Damned Page 11
