Realization of where she was located dawned upon me as I spied the bubbles at the edge of the image.
Biting my lip to stop myself from smiling, I silently entered the apartment. Bracing the door, I tried to muffle the sound of the latch as it clicked shut. I waited, ears straining. There was no indication she’d heard me.
Holding my breath, I eased the bags down at the entrance then took off my shoes and jacket, and in my socks moved across the cool tile.
The sound of water dripping, and the occasional splash as she moved in the tub, echoed around the tiled room and made its way out to me. I stood in the doorway watching her. Her head faced the opposite direction, inward toward the far wall, hair up in a loose bun. I couldn’t wait to see the shock on her face when I surprised her. Beside her the phone rested precariously on the edge, and by its side a half-drained wine glass.
I stepped a foot inside, a few paces away from her, then when I was within reach, crouched down and brought cupped hands over her head and placed them on her eyes, blindfolding her.
She stiffened, hands clinging to the edge of the tub, sending the phone flying across the room. Her legs straightened in the water, making waves.
“Guess who?” I whispered.
Anna visibly relaxed, and I took my hands away to kiss her angled mouth. She returned the kiss with eagerness… had she forgiven me for this morning’s upset? I hoped so, because my cock was like a raging bull in my trousers at the sight of her. At that moment I didn’t care about whatever lies she’d told. I knew I needed her.
I set the wine glass down on the floor and my hands found their way down her neck to her breasts. They were round and heavy, floating above the water’s surface. Cupping her and taking slippery handfuls I gave them a playful squeeze. The edges of my cuffs soaked up the scented water.
Anna let her head fall back against my torso, moaning as I massaged her more.
“Did you miss me?” I asked. She merely nodded, put her shoulders back and puffed out her chest, rising, eager for more. Her knees pressed together and I watched for a second as she clenched her thighs, trying to pleasure herself.
Without a word, I rolled up my sleeves, revealing my thick forearms and put my hands back in place, this time pushing her breasts together and rolling her nipples between my thumbs and fingers. Her arms flopped into the water and one hand gradually slipped between her still-clenched thighs.
“Let me,” I offered, kissing her face as I let my fingers trail down her stomach, following in her wake. I lifted her hand away and replaced it with my own, caressing her soft mound before sinking a finger between her folds.
With a breathy sigh, Anna rolled her hips to meet my rhythm as I entered her.
I shifted my position slightly, moving along the edge of the bath so I was beside her now instead of behind. This was so I could watch her face as I thrust my fingers inside her. Her perfect rosy mouth popped open, exhaling then drawing a new steamy breath.
The water splashed as I moved my arm, as I sought out her depths, making her shut her eyes as she responded positively to my attentiveness.
“Yes,” she moaned, bit her lip, repeating the word until it held no meaning. The S turning into a never-ending hiss.
Redoubling my efforts, I added another finger inside her.
She gripped the handles molded into the side of the bath, and parted her thighs, leaving herself wide open for me and I couldn’t resist adding a third digit.
Violent waves traveled up and down the confines of the bath. Sometimes cresting over the edge, wetting the tiles with loud plops.
Anna tried to spread her legs wider and ended up hooking a leg over the side as I added my remaining finger inside her as she stretched and lifted her ass off the base of the tub, clamoring for more.
Now including my thumb, my hand was tight inside her, her pink pussy blossoming open like a flower as a torrent of rain splashed all around us. Her tits bobbed like two drifting islands, thrashing wildly amongst stormy seas.
Her walls clenched around my fist and she began to pant, not getting enough air. Her mossy green eyes widened. Then her whole body went rigid as Anna threw her head back, hair coming loose.
She came with a violent shudder, her thighs slamming tight onto my arm and hand.
I grinned as I watched her for several moments continuing to ride her orgasm and my arm, my fist still inside her. I moved with her, creating shallow pulses to match her own fluttering squeezes, wondering if I could get her to come again.
This time she kept her eyes open, locking them with mine as she too was determined to seek out more pleasure, wanting to reach the unreachable.
Helping her along, I shifted my concentration from her breasts, parting her pussy lips to rub her clit.
Anna was breathing so hard, pelvis rising and falling, grinding herself against my hand.
“You’re nearly there, baby,” I whispered and bent my head to her breast, wrapping my lips around her erect nipple and sucking on her fiercely, sending her over the edge of the world.
She sighed and let out a long exhausted but happy breath. Occasionally she shuddered, courtesy of the aftershocks. Finding her mouth, my tongue swirled lazily against hers, taking my time to kiss her.
Easing myself out of her below, I scooped her drained body up into my arms, bracing her against my chest, barely paying any attention to the waterfall that soaked my shirt, drenched my trousers and the floor. But I needed to have her, my cock was so fucking hard, painful even, especially when her weight brushed against my length as I carried her out of the bathroom to the bed.
Anna lay with her arms stretched out wide, a delirious sleepy smile on her face, eyelids heavy and sated. Finding some remaining energy she wiggled a bent finger, beckoning me to her.
I stripped myself of my tie, shirt, and suit trousers and covered her wet, warm body with mine. Kissing her damp skin, I shrugged out of my boxers, moving my lips closer to my goal. I tongued her swollen clit, running circles around the bundle of nerves. She cried out but didn’t push me away, quite the opposite. I lapped her up, flattened the meaty part of my tongue and vibrated my head from side to side between her thighs.
Then when I couldn’t bear to wait anymore, I spread her sensitive pussy open and buried my cock inside her, nestling it deep, hissing at the overwhelming bliss, and not wanting it to be over so quickly.
I had to regain my composure. She felt so good, so warm, so deliciously soft, like a pillow the perfect size and shape. Made for me…
Urgently I pulled out, breathed hard through my nose, the head of my cock nudging at her entrance, desperate to get back in, as if it were an unruly drunk thrown out of the best club in the world.
Anna pulled me down, her arms wrapped around my neck, stroking my back. Her plump lips captured my earlobe, the tip of her tongue teasing the shell of my ear.
“Make love to me,” she breathed, with barely a hint of her foreign accent.
Holding her tight against me, her body contouring to mine, I breached her entrance. I rocked slowly, hips barely moving. I watched with amazement as her pupils dialed, her breath hitching, as she began to climax again so quickly. I hurried my strokes to keep pace, burrowing deeper and deeper, but I needn’t have worried about lagging behind. Together we were transported to paradise, clinging to each other. Our steamy breaths, our cries, almost indistinguishable as our bodies merged.
Chapter Sixteen
Anna
Under the covers Sebastian stroked my back as I nestled up against him, my head tucked under his chin. I’d never experienced anything remotely close to what I had when this man took me. He managed to learn and then intuit exactly what I needed and then did it, as if he was able to read my mind.
It was probably a good thing that he couldn’t though. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t ever want to touch me ever again… and for the second time that day, I wasn’t sure I could bear losing him.
“Anna, are you awake?” he asked softly, above me.
I
replied with a murmur and slid my hand into his, our fingers threading together.
“I know you must be feeling lonely, and possibly out of sorts, but I want you to know you can tell me anything. Even if it’s bad… I won’t hold anything against you.”
I held my breath, wondering where the hell this had come from. Did he know all my secrets? I thought I’d been so careful… or was he on a fishing expedition, suspicion driving him? I had to be careful with my answers, yet I was at a loss at what to say.
Sebastian continued speaking before I came up with a reply. “I also know how difficult it might be trying to translate what you’re feeling into a language you’re not fluent in… so I thought we could sign up for classes together. What do you think? It’s a good idea, right? I can take Russian, and you can take English.”
I pulled back to glance at him, needing to see the expression on his face, wondering if this was a test. But there was that sparkle in his eye, and the sweet smile on his lips. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“It would only be fair if I learned some Russian, to make you feel more at home?”
My heart melted at his thoughtfulness even if his plan would expose me instantly. But that he was willing and even considering doing something like that made me realize he was special, a one of a kind… and I was going to screw everything up.
“Well, don’t thank me all at once. Cat got your tongue?” he said with a chuckle, deliberating pointing out my silence. Moving his mouth closer to my ear, he said, “You know, if you ever want to talk dirty to me in your own language, I won’t mind one little bit.”
Blushing, I shook my head, hiding away from his penetrating gaze and kissed his chest.
“Just a thought,” he continued, and I could tell he was smiling by the lilt in his voice. “You hungry?”
Glad that he was on to another subject I nodded.
“Good, cause I have reservations for us at eight at this new place. I’m going to take you out, show you off, then bring you back here to devour you all over again.”
He kissed the top of my head and slipped out of bed, then the room, leaving me to wonder what on earth I was going to wear. It wasn’t like I had a wardrobe full of restaurant-worthy clothes, unless that restaurant was a burger place.
Sitting up in the middle of the bed I considered that maybe this was the time to let him know, to finally come clean. But then he burst back through the door, a wide grin on his handsome face as he held up several bags. He set them down on the edge of the bed in front of me.
“Go on, take a look. They’re for you.”
Tentatively I investigated the offerings. I recognized the store’s logo on the side of the bags, a high-end fashion boutique.
“I did a little shopping on your behalf. I hope you don’t mind. I noticed you didn’t bring much with you, so…” He trailed off as I pulled out jeans, sweaters, tops, even lingerie. A whole new wardrobe awaited me in these bags, and I had difficulty hiding my shock and gratitude. “Anything that doesn’t fit or that you hate, we can take back. I had one of the store assistants help pick stuff out. And next time you can choose everything once you’re feeling more adventurous and up for going out without me.”
I sat on my knees, staring at him. Amazed. How did I get so lucky to find this man?
“And this,” he said as he pulled a thin box from around his back, “is for tonight. God, I hope you like it.”
He presented it to me, and I lifted the lid with trepidation. Pulling back the tissue paper, revealed a sinfully expensive black dress with a plunging neckline. When I took it out of the box and held it up, I gasped. It was gorgeous.
“Here, try it on,” Sebastian said, taking my hand and helping me off the bed and to my feet. My naked body slipped from the sheets, but I did nothing to cover myself, around Sebastian I felt like I didn’t have to hide… which only made me want to tell him everything even more. To reveal myself fully.
Sebastian took the dress and I lifted my arms. The fabric trickled down my body, making my nipples pucker.
“Stunning,” he breathed when it finally settled. I turned to show him. I discovered then it also had a high slit up one leg. Sebastian, as if he was unable to resist, teased the opening and let his hand drift up my thigh. Before me he stiffened and I quickly stepped away, shaking my head with teasing smile.
“Later,” I said, my voice hoarse. Our earlier activities had strained my vocal cords and I couldn’t help but think that was a blessing. Now I would have a legitimate excuse to keep my mouth shut.
“Fine,” he huffed. “But I can’t promise I won’t keep my hands off you at the restaurant.”
With the limited supply of makeup I possessed, I was able to create a sultry smoky eye. I left my hair loose and long, but when I glanced in the mirror in the bedroom, I frowned as my eyes lingered at the empty space where my necklace used to be.
Behind me in an elegant black shirt and grey tie, Sebastian studied me.
“There’s something different about you,” he said as lines appeared on his brow. He titled his head as if that would help him solve he puzzle. Then his eyes flashed and locked with mine in the reflection.
I glanced away, unable to bear his scrutiny.
“Anna,” he said as his hands landed lightly on my bare arms. His left hand trailed down, cupping my elbow and lifting up my arm. “Anna, where’s your ring?”
I reclaimed my arm and skirted around him, as if by not looking at him I could ignore his question, and hide the tears in my eyes. After pawning the necklace, I couldn’t bear to look at the engagement ring. I was too consumed with guilt.
“Did you lose it?” he continued to ask. “Anna you have to speak to me. Try.”
I rushed into the bathroom, shaking my head. I’d left it right there on the side of the sink. I was sure I had. But it was gone. I stuck my finger down under the plug, into the opening. Had I knocked it and went down the drain?
If the guilt had been bad, the panic that twisted my insides, like coiling snakes devouring themselves, was a hell of lot worse.
My mind whirled, this was it, this was the moment I would lose him. He wouldn’t want someone so careless, so stupid as to lose an engagement ring. I’d chosen him over the memory of my mom, and now I would be left with nothing. Both of them gone.
Suddenly my throat tightened and the world shifted, tilting on its axis. I was spinning out of control. All the lies, all my conflicting emotions, they were catching up to me. Suffocating me.
I opened my mouth to speak, Sebastian at the bathroom door with a perplexed look on his face, waiting for an answer.
“Anna? What’s wrong?” His eye wide, his tone disturbed.
I shook my head, my hand clutching my throat. Clawing at it. If only I could make an opening…
“Can’t breathe,” I croaked.
Sebastian disappeared from sight… he was abandoning me, and the bathroom spun again. Coming in and out of focus so fast I thought the room felt like it was closing in on me, like I was going to be crushed. Squeezed until I was no more.
I clutched my chest, my lungs burning. I scrunched my eyes shut trying to force air down my windpipe but there was only a trickle of relief.
Suddenly a supportive hand was on my back, Sebastian at my side, holding up a paper bag to my lips.
“Breathe into this, Anna,” he said his voice firm, urgently but calm. “You’re having a panic attack. Just breathe.”
I tried to push him away but he was too strong, unmovable. He stepped into my line of sight, and locked eyes with me.
“Look at me. Concentrate on me. In and out, Anna. That’s it, in and out. You’re going to be okay, baby. I’m here. Keeping breathing. One breath at a time.”
Watching him, I was able to find a semblance of purchase. I clung to the feeling of safety like it was a life raft. The warmth in his eyes and voice reassuring me, kept me steady and finally I was able to take a full lungful of air without it feeling like was strangling me.
Once I’d ca
lmed down and was breathing normally again, Sebastian scooped me up from where we’d tumbled to the floor, and deposited me back on the bed. He disappeared for a second, hunting through the purchases he’d shown me before then came back to my side.
Patiently he moved my weak limbs, removed the dress. Seconds later he was dressing me again, but this time covering my body with a long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of comfortable sleeping shorts.
I must have looked a mess. Eyeshadow no doubt smudged into panda-like circles on my face, hair an absolute knotty mess. Yet Sebastian glanced at me like none of that mattered to him, like he could see past the carnage to the underside of my soul.
He dropped to his knees at the edge of the bed, his hands on my dangling legs, then held my knotted hands on my lap.
“Baby, do you want to tell me what that was about?” he said, tone light, not pressuring me, merely full of concern.
I wanted to tell him everything. Wanted the truth to ooze out of me, so I didn’t have to speak the damning words. How I’d fallen so hard for him but also knowing how I’d betrayed him. His trust, his kindness.
I shook my head.
“That’s okay. You don’t have to. But I’m here if you change your mind. You know, my mom used to have panic attacks. Sometimes stress brought it on, but sometimes they would come out of the blue. We’d be sitting there, doing regular stuff, eating or at the park—only me and her—and suddenly she’d collapse like the whole world no longer had air.”
I watched his eyes as he told me about his mom. Glimmering with pain, yet tinged with a subtle wonderment. It was obvious his mom meant a lot to him.
“It was scary,” he continued. “Being twelve and not knowing what to do when your mom, who’d always been so strong, so fierce, was crippled by anxiety. I was helpless, couldn’t do a thing to help then, and it only got worse.”
My hands went to his cheeks, trying to give him comfort where I could. “What happened?” I croaked.
Sebastian gave a strained smile. “It all seemed to snowball. One minute we were okay, the next I was living with my mom’s best friend, Stephanie Moran, and her son. Mom lost her job, tried to get help, but it never worked. The attacks got worse, the depression became insurmountable. And she died a year or so later.” He took a deep breath through his nose as I pulled him to me, hugging him. Hoping to transfer as much love as I could to him, share with him my own pain when I lost my mom.
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