He lifted her arms over her head and laced their fingers together. She wanted to stay this way until the sun came up—their two bodies joined together as one without a care in the world, but then reality would set in and pull them from their bubble.
With every part of their bodies touching, he moved at a slower pace, unlike the frantic lovemaking of earlier. This time his paced slowed and became more intimate in every way. She loved the weight and the heat from his body on hers.
“Oh, God…Garrett.” Her body began to shudder with each deep stroke. She moaned and lifted her hips, and he increased the pace. Waves of pleasure curled up her spine, making every nerve ending tingle. Sensations moved through her with each roll of her hips. When it became too much, she turned her head.
“Gillian, stay with me,” he said in a commanding voice, touching her chin. “I need to see your face when you come.” He reared up, altering the angle without slowing his pace, and they both let out a groan.
He kept his gaze locked on hers. The edge of her climax raced through her. Her body began to undulate from the heat and the friction. Her nerve endings sparked with pleasure and pain. “I’m close. I’m going to—” She gripped his broad shoulders for dear life.
“Come with baby, that’s it.” His words elicited another gasp from her lips.
A rainbow of light and color filled her vision and she broke apart.
He repeated her name and lifted her hips, driving into her with one last thrust. His face twisted into an expression of pure bliss. With a roar, he spilled inside her. After a few minutes, he continued to breathe hard with his face buried in her neck. He eventually lifted his head and kissed her softly on the lips, then rolled off her.
“You undo me, Gillian.” His words made her heart flutter.
Sated and happy, she turned and touched his jaw. “I’ve always secretly wondered if the legends about vampires are true, the ones about being able to go all night long?”
In one quick movement, he pinned her to the mattress with the weight of his body. A sinful gleam flared in his blue eyes. “Baby, I’m only just getting started.”
* * *
Hours later, after ravishing each other God knew how many times, they sat tangled together, soaking in his clawfoot tub. Candlelight flickered from just about every surface of his bathroom. Enveloped in steam, he glanced up at the skylight and the view of the night sky.
“I could get used to this,” Garrett whispered close to Gillian’s ear. His gaze moved to her neck. He brushed the hair off her nape and massaged her shoulders.
In response, Gillian lifted her leg, and one pink, painted toenail darted out to crank on the faucet to add a little hot water. “Me too. Except for the part where we get all pruney.” She lifted her hand to show him and rested her head against his shoulder. He had no intention of going anywhere.
The scent of shampoo and body wash lingered in the air, along with the intoxicating fragrance of her sweet musk. Her lovely ass stayed nestled against the ridge of his erection. Needless to say, he’d been hard from the moment they got into the bath. He wrapped his arms around her body, loving the silky texture of her skin. As long as he lived he could honestly admit without hesitation that nothing compared to this. Every minute he spent with Gillian moved him beyond words.
“I think I like getting pruney with you.” He smoothed her hair back and kissed her temple. “Tell me a secret about yourself. I want to know you, Gillian, for real this time.” There was no sense in holding back anymore.
“Tonight when I was out there all alone, I couldn’t stop thinking if something happened to me, I’d never see you again.” Her words made his chest tight.
She somehow managed to scoop out all the ugliness and death he’d seen over his lifetime and fill it with lightness and beauty. And the thought of anything happening to her threatened to let it all back in. But nothing would, nothing could, as long as she stayed in his arms. A warm, fuzziness spread from his head to his toes.
“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” The statement felt completely out of character for him, considering his pattern with women. Never getting too close meant that no one got hurt, and yet, the idea of losing Gillian made panic settle into his limbs like wet concrete.
He reached his hand between her thighs, gliding his fingers in her moist flesh. She opened for him on a sigh, splashing water over the sides of the tub. He loved making her squirm. “There will be puddles leaking into the basement if we keep this up,” he said with a chuckle.
“Is this how you persuade all your witnesses to talk?” she asked, sliding her hand out to poke him in the ribs.
“Only the gorgeous ones.” He moved his hands to rest on either side of the tub and stared over her head to the window, wondering what repercussions he’d face for getting involved with a witness. “I’m kidding. Overall my lifetimes, I’ve never done something like this before. I plan to email my boss and take full responsibility. I value my professional life.”
“I didn’t plan on this happening either, Garrett.” After a tense moment, she sat up and hugged her knees to her chest.
“No, baby, I didn’t mean it to come out sounding harsh. For the past hundred or so years, my career was all I had. I value it, but I value you more.” He rubbed her back. “Okay, back to my question, I believe you were about to tell me a secret that you’ve never told anyone.”
She relaxed against his chest. “After everything you’ve been through, I’m afraid it may sound insensitive.”
“Hey, you should never be afraid to speak your truth, no matter what.” He stroked her wet hair. “In this scenario, how about we assume I’m a flesh and blood man.”
“Well, in that case, I do have a secret I’ve never told anyone. Ever since my mom died, I’ve dreamed about having a large family of my own. Growing up without any siblings was lonely, especially on holidays. I always imagined my children would resemble my mom in some way. Everyone told us we looked so much alike. For me, it would be like getting a piece of her back to treasure every day. Does that sound cheesy to you?”
He remained silent. Her words cut through him like a knife. No matter how much he cared about her, it would never be enough. He couldn’t give her what she wanted, what she deserved. Whatever foolish hopes he held onto evaporated like mist. He swallowed the lump now clogging his throat. “Not at all. I think it’s a beautiful sentiment.”
“Your turn for a secret. Have you ever been in love?” she asked in a tentative voice. The question filled him with regret.
