And as he had that first time, he carried me to my bedroom and then stripped my clothes from me, again leaving me bare. I didn’t shy away from it, try to hide, and instead watched him as he did the same, his physical body beautiful, the glimmers of the man that body housed even more so.
He stood in front of me once his clothes were gone, and we watched each other. I realized this was yet another first, only, I would share with him. I’d never shared myself, all of myself, with anyone. But now that there were no more secrets, Anton knew all there was to know of me, body and soul.
Arm extended, he stepped toward me, caressed my cheek softly. I turned into his touch, pressed a kiss against his palm. He broke away and pushed me back to lie on the bed. He lingered for a moment and then joined me.
He kissed my lips softly and then moved down, ghosting over my collarbones, then down to catch the hard tip of my breast in his mouth. At the first swipe of his tongue against the tight bud, I laced my fingers in the hair at the base of his strong neck, wanting to pull him closer, not sure that I could withstand it if he moved.
As he sucked and nipped at the tight bud, he palmed my other breast in his big hand, squeezing with just enough pressure to send me jerking up against him. He didn’t move, though, kept his mouth sealed around one nipple as he tormented the other with his fingers.
I missed him, but I’d never dreamed of him, wouldn’t allow my mind to go there when I knew anything I could imagine would pale in comparison to the reality of him. The reality of him was better than I remembered.
He released my breast with a wet-sounding pop, but then quickly kissed me again, moving down my stomach, lower, where he placed a light trail of kisses on my mound. I tightened my grip on his hair, then froze when he pulled away and met my gaze.
Without breaking it, he settled a hand on the inside of my thigh and slowly pushed. I let him lead me and spread my legs, the cool air hitting my hot core and setting off a wave of shuddering tingles. Eyes still on mine, he trailed his fingers up my thigh until they rested at the crease between my leg and pussy.
Then he slicked his thumb down my slit, gathering the wetness that flowed from me freely. That wetness was replaced by more, the heat of his gaze, his warm breath against my skin, sending the need even higher.
When he finally broke my gaze, he leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss against my core.
“Anton,” I called out on a whisper.
He kissed me again. “I wanted to taste you, didn’t think I’d ever have the chance,” he said.
He kissed me again, then again, my breathy sighs coming out harder, faster with each hot kiss. I peeled my eyes open and looked down. The most sensual, decadent sight met my gaze, Anton’s broad, muscled shoulders bunched tight, his dark head between my thighs. The way his tongue stroked inside me, his thumb working my clit, sent me spiraling on a wave of pleasure.
He kissed me through the climax, then climbed up until we were face-to-face. I opened to accommodate him automatically, settling my thighs on either side of his waist.
He entered me, filling me completely in one smooth stroke, my moan and his both filled with the words we could not speak.
As he moved inside me, pleasure built, but I kept my eyes open, watched his face, trying to etch it into my memory, focused on every stray caress, the soft sound of his low breaths as he emptied himself inside me.
Later, he lay atop me, balancing himself on his elbows, and though my body ached, his weight was a welcome burden. I tangled my fingers in his hair, locked my eyes with his.
“I’m happy you’re here, Anton,” I said.
“Are you?” he replied, eyes hooding, hiding his emotions from me.
“Yes,” I said.
“Even though I am who I am? Your enemy’s bastard son, one of the men you dedicated your life to destroying.”
“Yes,” I said.
He looked like he believed me, or like he wanted to, but something held him back.
“You saw what I’m capable of, Lily. That hasn’t changed. That won’t change,” he said, his voice a tortured whisper.
“I know,” I said.
His eyes widened and then narrowed. “And you’re happy I’m here anyway?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“You might change your mind, decide you want your vengeance after all,” he said.
I shook my head, reached up to grab his face, searched his gaze with mine, imploring him to believe me. “I don’t need vengeance, Anton, not when I have you.”
He captured my lips in a kiss.
Prologue
“How is he this week?” the woman asked the orderly, her voice low, though she knew the patient probably couldn’t hear her, wouldn’t respond if he did.