‘Anna,’ he sighed.
‘More,’ she gasped and clutched his back, pulling him towards her, wrapping her legs around him. ‘More.’
With a lunge, he pushed deeper and set a driving pace which she met, hip thrust to hip thrust, glorying in the sensations flooding her, the rasp of the hairs on his chest on hers, the chafe of his legs against hers, the breathless gasps that came from both of them as the pleasure rose and peaked.
Lost to everything but sensation, they matched each other. Their sighs and moans, a language of their own, urging and straining, pushing each other on, closer and closer to the elusive finishing line that felt forever just beyond them.
Anna felt Leo tense and tighten, felt him try to hold back. ‘Leo!’ she ground out. ‘Don’t stop.’ She pulled him close and then felt the hot fierce flood of her own release as he drove into her one last time, calling her name with a long low cry.
They lay sprawled together, his hand stroking her cheek, her fingers on the small of his back, until their breathing finally settled and conscious thought returned.
Leo turned and kissed her along her jaw. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance we can cancel dinner tonight.’
‘No,’ groaned Anna.
‘It’s going to be interminable.’
‘It is,’ she agreed.
‘Whose bright idea was it to invite everyone?’
‘Yours,’ she said with a laugh as he burrowed into her neck, his head shaking with laughter.
‘How quickly do you think we can get rid of everyone?’
‘Leo! It will be fun. And it was your idea.’
‘Yes, but this is more fun.
‘This is going to have to wait. We need to get ready.’
‘Getting ready involves shower time,’ said Leo, immediately perking up and giving her a quick grin.
Anna laughed. She might have known he’d still find a silver lining.
* * *
Anna felt so lit up that she was pretty sure she glittered like aTwilightvampire. It was ridiculously fanciful, but in this moment it was if the sunshine had come out inside her, shedding light into every corner, igniting little pockets of joy, suffusing her with happiness.
Definitely the Leo effect, she decided, as she heard him greeting someone downstairs.
‘We’re pretty much there,’ she said to herself. Everything was under control. All the dishes were prepared and the table laid.
She went through into the living room and surveyed the table.
‘False alarm,’ called Leo, tripping up the stairs with a case of beer and a bottle of wine. ‘Jan wanted to drop these off early so we could get them in the fridge.’
She laughed. ‘I hope you didn’t tell him his timing sucked.’
Leo grinned. ‘Not in so many words, although Michaela will probably guess. She’s been desperate for us to get back together. It wouldn’t surprise me if she hadn’t deliberately put a hole in that mattress.’
‘Leo! She wouldn’t.’ Anna shook her head and fussed with one of the napkins.
‘Don’t worry. Michaela will approve,’ said Leo, touching the pretty yellow linen tablecloth, his hand grazing hers, sending a fresh tingle up her arm. ‘Of the table settings, I mean.’
‘It’s not for Michaela,’ said Anna. ‘It’s for me. Just looking at the table makes me happy. I hope it makes all the guests feel happy and see that we’ve made an effort for them.’
‘Just need some flowers,’ said Leo. He leant down and from one of the chairs tucked beneath the table produced a bunch of orange and yellow roses. ‘These are for you madam. I got them earlier when you were out having your hair done but they were forgotten in the heat of the moment.’
