He groaned, pushing deeper into her as he came. She realized even though she enjoyed what he did to her, it was even more fun watching him climax, knowing he loved her, knowing she was bringing him that pleasure.
It was a power she didn’t mind having, for once.
He stood there for a few moments, not moving. When his legs quit trembling he hugged her to him. “I’m sorry you didn’t come.”
She shushed him with her lips on his then stepped away, under the water. “It’s okay. Consider it a thank-you for what you did last night. That was absolutely amazing.”
Chapter Sixteen
With the exception of two security guards manning the front gate, no one else was home Wednesday afternoon when Taz returned a little early from the office. She knew Matthias and Albert were on their way home from the office, and Robertson was most likely grocery shopping. She changed into an oversized shirt and pair of flannel SpongeBob pajama pants, comfy lounging clothes.
She was settling in with her laptop to finish some e-mails when the doorbell rang.
“Crap.” She went to the front door and used the peep hole. Her jaw dropped and she had the door unlocked and opened before she remembered how she was dressed. She stammered a welcome to the unexpected guest.
Donald Sutherland, one of her favorite actors, stood before her.
“Hi, uh, sorry for how I’m dressed. I wasn’t expecting company. Please, come in.”
“I’m here to see Matthias. I’m—”
She grinned. “I know who you are. I’m a huge fan of your work. You’re amazing! I’m Anastazia Proctor, Matthias’ fiancée.”
Donald Sutherland walked in, an odd smile on his face, obviously used to weird fans. Or at least, weirdly dressed ones. They shook hands and she led him into the library. She moved her laptop from where she’d left it on the sofa and motioned for him to sit.
“I absolutely loved you in M*A*S*H. And Dirty Sexy Money is a fantastic show!” God, she was acting like a babbling idiot. Why was this actor different from any others? Why did he set her heart fluttering and her stomach twisting?
He sat and smiled. “Thank you very much. That’s very kind of you.”
“Matthias should be home any moment. I left the office before he did. Oh my God, I’ve worked with celebrities before, but this is an honor to meet you, sir. You look so much younger in person than you do on TV.” He did, too. He looked at least fifteen to twenty years younger in person. She knew TV supposedly added pounds, but didn’t know it added years, too.
He seemed at ease, his playful blue eyes gleaming. “None taken. I’m honored you appreciate my work so much.” Even his voice sounded sexy. Damn, he was cute. So what if he was older than her, he was a hottie! If it wasn’t for Matthias…
Taz shivered, trying to squelch that thought. No wonder he was such a great actor, his charisma just washed from him in waves.
She finally remembered to offer him something to drink, and he was regaling her with a story when Matthias walked in. She heard him and stood, turning to face him.
“Matthias! Why didn’t you tell me we had company coming over? Do you know who this is? This is—”
“Hello, Grandfather.” Matthias smiled. “Let me guess, you let her go on, didn’t you?”
Taz fell silent and looked from Matthias to their guest, a growing sense of idiocy washing over her. “What?”
Robertson entered the room. “Ah, Tobias. You’re early. Good to see you again.”
Taz looked at Robertson and swallowed. Looked at Matthias, who smiled, then to Tobias-slash-apparently-not-Donald Sutherland. “Huh?”
Matthias laughed. “I’m sorry, darling. You’re not the first person he’s pulled this with. I should have warned you.”
The man, who apparently wasn’t Donald Sutherland, laughed. The deep, mellow sound sent her heart into convoluted flutters. “Matthias, why did you dash her illusions? She’s my biggest fan.”
Taz’s face flushed beet red. She looked at the floor. “I am the. Biggest. Idiot. Ever.” Now she understood why his blue eyes turned her into a babbling moron. It was his vampire mojo. She hadn’t put up a strong barrier, not realizing he was a vampire.
“No, Taz, Grandfather is practical joker. I’m sure he’s been laid more times than he can remember over the past couple of decades by women thinking they had the real thing.”
“Now, Matthias my boy, that’s not a very nice thing to say to your grandfather.” He even sounded just like the actor.
“Is it true?” Matthias asked, and his grandfather grinned.
“Of course it’s true, but it’s still not very nice.” He walked over to Taz and held out his hand. “I’m sorry, dear, but you were so cute and so sweet, I couldn’t resist. Tobias Hawthorne. Yes, I’m Matthias’ grandfather, and no, I’m not Donald Sutherland. Although as you yourself noted, he looks a damn sight like me.”
Without looking at him she shook hands. “Pleased to meet you,” she mumbled, thoroughly embarrassed and feeling like a total idiot. “Excuse me while I go to the kitchen to find a knife to kill myself with,” she snarked.
Robertson caught up with her while she was rooting through the grocery bags on the counter for her mint tea. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”
She looked up, spotted his amused smile, and went back to her hunt. “All right, you snot. Where’s my tea?”
He laughed and found it for her. She snatched the box from him, grumbling her thanks.
“Taz, you are far from the first or even the hundredth person he’s pulled that with. Ten thousandth, that might be close. He’s a stinker. Nice man, but with a very wide playful streak.”
She ripped open the box of tea bags and fixed a mug. It was something to do, because to go up to the bedroom she’d have to pass through the living room again, and she wasn’t ready to do that yet.
Robertson finished putting the groceries away and left her alone. She stared at the spoon she’d used to stir sugar into her tea, trying to clear her mind. Once she calmed down, and got over her disappointment and embarrassment, she’d go out and start over with Tobias-slash-not-Donald Sutherland.
Why does this kind of stuff happen to me? Before she met Matthias Hawthorne, her life didn’t hold many surprises. Ever since he came into her life, it was one fun-house horror after another.
She tried to calm down and focused on the silver spoon. Real silver. Robertson’s theory was why own it if you didn’t use it? She always loved the look and feel of real silver flatware, remembered sitting with him at the table and polishing their silver service when she was a kid. She may have had rich parents, but Robertson made her do chores. As an adult she looked back and thanked him for that lesson in work ethic.
Then the spoon moved. Not a lot, just a little, rocking back and forth on the bowl.
She opened her mouth to call for Robertson and stopped. It could have been a coincidence. Even though she knew she didn’t bump the table, a heavy, pine beast that wasn’t the least wobbly.
She focused on it again, trying to make it move. Nothing.
Something tickled at her mind, but she picked the spoon up and rinsed it, not wanting to investigate further. She had too much going on right now to worry about weird new powers, if that’s what it even was. Most likely she breathed heavy and it wobbled. That’s all. Or her imagination. She was feeling a little normal, why rock an already freakishly unstable boat?
After all, a woman who hears the voice of her fiancé’s dead cousin in her head was certainly capable of imagining a wobbling spoon, right?