She broke the suction just long enough to tell him she loved him out loud and to swirl her tongue around his girth a few times.
“I love you too, darling. So much,” he murmured.
Whether he called her “baby” or “honey” or “darling,” she felt the sincerity of his words. It was almost too much. She sucked him harder, longing to bring him the same joy she felt.
He pushed gently against her shoulders until he popped out of her mouth. “I’ll have nothing left if you finish me now.”
“That’s not true,” she said.
He laughed. “You know me well. But I want to give you what you need too.”
“Right now, all I need is you,” she said and reached for him again.
He stepped aside, scooped her up, and tossed her onto the middle of the bed. She gasped, then giggled as she bounced. He leaped onto the bed and braced himself on either side of her. Gently lowering his weight, he captured her lips and kissed her thoroughly.
Claudia wrapped her arms around his waist and stroked his back. He was still wearing his shirt and shoes, and his pants were around his ankles, but she could stroke his buttocks and give them a good squeeze.
He sat up just long enough to pull his shirt off over his head and kick off his shoes and slacks. Then he assisted her with her skirt and bra. She was still wearing her red lace panties, but they proved no barrier at all.
He stroked her mons over the panties, then slipped his finger beneath them. He found the little bud of sensitive flesh and rubbed. She arched her back and moaned. The intense sensations at her epicenter grew white hot. Before she knew it, she exploded in an earth-shattering orgasm. Her moans turned to screams of ecstasy, and her thighs vibrated wildly.
When he had taken her to her last aftershock, she felt completely boneless. She was glad she’d given him his blow job first, because she doubted herself capable of it now.
Anthony easily slipped off her panties and positioned himself between her legs. She was about to raise her knees so she could lift her buttocks and meet his thrusts, but instead, he hoisted her legs over his shoulders.
“Is this the proverbial legs-behind-the-ears position?” she joked.
“Oh, gods. I didn’t think of that.” He began to slip her legs off, but she clasped her ankles around his neck. “No. I want to try this,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“God’s, yeah,” she said, teasing.
He grinned. “I think you’ll like it.”
He cradled her bottom and then entered her inch by delicious inch. They gazed into each other’s eyes the whole time. Claudia felt so complete. She always did when she and Anthony made love, but this…
He began his rhythm and she cooed her pleasure. Her eyes closed of their own volition and she used the darkness to simply feel. His thrusts and parries were slow and sensuous. She let him pick the pace and was glad of that. She’d never have guessed he liked it slow.
“I love you so much, Claudia,” he whispered.
Her name rolled off his lips, sounding like a caress. She didn’t want to do anything to break the spell, so she answered him telepathically.
I love you too.
She continued to concentrate on the glorious sensations of his intimate strokes. She felt a flutter from deep within. She’d never had an orgasm without direct contact to that little exposed bundle of nerves, but she’d heard that the clitoris was much larger on the inside of the body. That must have been what he was stroking.
Before she knew it, she climaxed in a way she never had before. Subtler, deeper, more… She abandoned thought and let the new sensation wash over her. As her inner muscles fluttered, Anthony stiffened and jerked a few times. She opened her eyes and watched his face as he climaxed. Eyes closed, he let his head fall back and his mouth opened. He let out a long breath and stilled.
Then he looked down at her and his smile warmed her heart. She felt tears brimming in her eyes. Would he know she was crying from happiness?
He must have. He slid out slowly and gently lowered her bottom to the bed. Then he lay beside her and gathered her in his arms. He wrapped himself around her as if sheltering her from the world and all its storms.
She let out a long sigh and enveloped him with her free arm. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The gift of yourself.”
Anthony woke to the sound of female voices. One was definitely Claudia’s, but he couldn’t quite place the other one. It sounded familiar.
He knew he could lie there and eavesdrop, but that wouldn’t be right.
What time is it? He rolled toward the bedside table on which Claudia kept her old-fashioned alarm clock. She said she didn’t trust digital clocks because when the power went out, the alarm wouldn’t get her up. More reason to love her. She wouldn’t let him down by being late to work.
The battery-operated analog clock said 10:30, but was that a.m. or p.m.? Either he’d slept a few minutes or several hours. When had he last had any Vampire Vintage? Its effects were temporary, and judging by his total lack of bloodlust, he was still enjoying its neutralizing effect. It must be the same evening. Besides, Claudia would be at work if it were morning.
Anthony got out of bed and dressed quickly.
When he rounded the corner, he was surprised to see one of his former waitresses from when the place was a bar. Bliss. Of course, he knew Claudia and Bliss were friends, but he hadn’t seen her since the fire.
He cleared his throat to let the women know he was there. They glanced his way at the same time.
“Anthony. So nice to see you.” Bliss rose.
“You too,” he said. “You look well, Bliss.”
She grinned. “I couldn’t be any better if I tried.”
He didn’t hug his waitstaff while they worked for him, but this was Claudia’s friend and no longer his employee. He strode to her and extended his arms. She looked surprised but took the cue and hugged him.
“Wow. Claudia, you’ve really loosened him up.”
Anthony’s browns rose. What did she mean by that?
Claudia answered him telepathically. “She remembers you as reserved and serious.”
Ah, yes. Back when he was worried about Ruxandra’s jealousy, he’d kept all his female employees at arm’s length…if not farther. He hardly smiled then.
He suddenly realized what a difference Claudia had made in his life. And now that Ruxandra was truly remorseful for her former behavior, he might be able to relax even more. “How’s Drake?”
“Good. Although he’s being more careful on the job now that he chose to give up his immortality for me.”
“He did that?” Anthony didn’t mean to sound so shocked. He’d certainly do it, if it meant not having to survive without Claudia. “How?”
Bliss worried her lip, then whispered, “I’m not allowed to tell. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Then in her normal voice she said, “Damn it. I’m such a blurter.”
Anthony realized who had to be behind it. There was no other explanation. “Gaia did that for him?”
“Shhh…” Bliss glanced around the room furtively as if expecting the goddess to show up.
“Sorry,” Anthony said. “I know we’re not supposed to tell anyone who doesn’t know, but we already do.”
Bliss’s brows rose. “Both of you know?”
Claudia chuckled. “Yes. At first I was told she was Anthony’s business partner, which was weird because he’d never mentioned having one. Later on, she told me the truth.”
Bliss’s mouth hung open.
“Tell me more about what she did for Drake,” Anthony said. Perhaps there’s a way I can convince her to do the same for me.