Authors: Maya DeLeina
Instead, Steffan lay back.
Propping his head up with his elbow, he faced Anya and placed his other hand on her hip. “This was never supposed to happen. Anya, you must know that this wasn’t my intention. I want us to be more than just sex. We need to work on our control with each other.”
“You want it to be more than just sex? Where are you from? How were you raised? I’ve never met a man who could stop like that in the heat of passion.”
“I’m far from dignified, Anya. You terrify me. It took everything in me not to take you.”
“I terrify
you
?
You
terrify me. My ability to lose myself in you is so effortless and natural. You’re so familiar to me.” Anya traced her finger around his lips.
“There is no denying that our sexual attraction to one another is strong. But I think we owe it to ourselves to find out how deep our other connections run, why we were being drawn to each other in the first place.” Steffan caught her fingers and lightly planted his kisses on them.
“I agree,” Anya stated. “Do you think we’re the first couple to do what we just did? I mean to have an orgasm without flesh to flesh contact, without intercourse, did you ever have that before?”
“I can say that this is a first for me. Wait! Actually, no. There was the time when you were in my driveway.”
Anya sat up. “Wait, are you saying you had an orgasm the day I was outside your house?”
“Yes. Eilian said you looked if you were going into seizure in the driveway just as I was…’’ Steffan trailed off as he sat up in realization of the moment.
“That’s exactly what I was experiencing in your driveway! Seems we both had it at the same time,” Anya said, shaking her head.
“I had no idea.” Steffan reached up to caress her face. “Anya, do you have any plans for this evening?”
“Yes. I am spending it with you. Why don’t you clean up in the bathroom, and I’ll make us some tea. You like chai?”
“My favorite.” Steffan gathered his trousers around his waist in attempt to pull the material of the pants away from his soaked briefs and reached for his shirt.
“And Steffan?”
“Yes, Anya?”
“You wouldn’t have, by chance, brought your violin with you today, did you? I mean, after all, you are here for music lessons, correct?”
“I am so glad you asked. I’ll retrieve it from the car along with a pair of jeans I think I left in the backseat.” Steffan turned to head toward the door.
“One more thing…” said Anya as Steffan turned back to look at her. “Seeing that it’s warm out, maybe you don’t really need the shirt?”
Steffan smiled and let the shirt drop to the ground in an instant.
* * * *
Steffan stood in nature’s spotlight as the last few rays of the sunset spilled through the windows. He played a collection of self-composed music for Anya. He stood tall, bare chested, with his violin tucked firmly under his chin.
Anya watched Steffan, her eyes shining in complete veneration.
Darkness fell, and Steffan lit the candles in the hanging lanterns.
It was his turn to watch Anya.
He sat on the floor, mesmerized by each movement. The Moroccan motif designs glowed, projecting delicately on Anya’s body. She sat in her chair, her skirt high on her thigh and her long, smooth legs molding around the cello. Steffan was entranced, propped up on one elbow as he spread out on the floor pillows. He admired the beauty that she was and the beauty she was creating.
Their musical chemistry radiated in absolute harmony.
They were lost in conversation, the hours passing like seconds. Without any effort, they spoke and shared as if they were longtime friends. And when they played in unison, their music was enchanting. They were two dynamic resonances, dominant on their own, yet blending effortlessly, complimenting each other with sweet magic.
As they retired their instruments, Steffan calculated that he had two hours left on Consumption and suggested they order food, knowing Anya would be famished.
They decided on Chinese and had it delivered to the studio.
Anya sat between Steffan’s legs on the floor pillows, her back against his bare chest, feeding directly from the take-out cartons, no utensils needed. The sensuality of feeding each other by the candlelight was a first-time experience for both of them. Their tools of seduction were carefully selected—noodles, egg rolls, and dumplings.
Steffan knew neither one of them would ever look at Chinese food quite the same ever again.
At the end of their meal, Steffan reached in the bag to retrieve their fortune cookies. “They only put one in here,” he said with disappointment as he pulled out the cookie that was wrapped in a simple plastic bag.
“Then this will be for the two of us,” said Anya.
Steffan broke open the cookie and laid the two broken pieces and the small white paper in his hand. He fed one half to Anya as she fed him the other. Anya turned over the white paper as they both leaned in to read it together.
Those who have love and happiness, have wealth beyond measure
Anya looked over her shoulder at Steffan.
“I will have to agree with that,” Steffan said.
“As do I,” replied Anya.
Steffan bowed his head to Anya’s shoulder and planted a kiss.
* * * *
Steffan stood behind Anya as she locked the outside door to the building. They walked hand in hand to the parking lot.
Anya took a long, deep breath and looked up at the sky. “Such a nice evening out. And tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful as well. How would you feel about doing an outside session tomorrow?”
Steffan’s mind raced. She was suggesting an outdoor activity. He would have to calculate the time perfectly to assure coverage with the injections. He would not have the safety of a darkened corner of a building to shield him if he didn’t plan everything well.
“How early are you thinking?”
“Well, I already promised Michelle I would work until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, so sometime shortly thereafter?”
Steffan calculated the time. 8:00 p.m. deadline. He would be fine. But the long days of summer were fast approaching.
A pang ignited in his stomach.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep the pretense going for very long and choosing to stay away from Anya was not an option.
She would have to know who he really was, what he really was, soon.
“Perfect. Why don’t I have Vaughn drive you into town in the morning, and I’ll pick you up at the shop after your shift? I would drop you off in the morning myself, but I’m working at that time.”
“Not a problem. Are you sure Vaughn won’t mind?”
“Of course not.”
“Great. Then you can meet Michelle tomorrow!”
Michelle. The mere mention of her name hit Steffan like a speeding train. He’d forgotten to calculate her into the equation.
How close did her ties to Anya run? Was she just an employer? Was she a close friend? Did she remember him?
The questions fired in Steffan’s mind, making him sick to his stomach. How to effectively deal with her would undeniably take careful planning and precise timing. But if there was a silver lining to be had, tomorrow could at least answer the question that weighed on his mind about Michelle Ocsil.
“I’ll race you up the mountain,” Steffan said jokingly as he opened the door of the SUV for Anya.
Anya slid into the driver seat. “Race me? Looks like you could roll right over me and my Lexus in that! Steffan, are you sure you don’t want to come over for a nightcap?”
“Anya, I think for our safety, we should call it an evening rather than put anymore temptation in front of us,” Steffan said as he gave Anya a long, deep kiss. “I’m thinking that both of us will have very vivid dreams to share with one another tomorrow that will even further test our strength and willpower.”
“And why again aren’t we just giving in?”
Steffan laughed and pecked her on the forehead. If only she knew how hard he was fighting for control. “I will stop in front of your house and give you a proper goodnight, how’s that?”
“I’ll settle for that.”
“Anya, you will never have to settle, I assure you of that.”
Chapter Eleven
Rhys and Eilian shot questionable glances at each other as they stood with Ryan at the outside entry of Steffan’s castle.
The Hummer had long since disappeared from their view.
In the distance, Vaughn carefully maneuvered the limousine into the gated entrance.
“Yes, her name is Anya. Why do you ask?” Eilian asked Ryan
“I like it. Anya—it’s a very sexy name. I like women with exotic beauty and style. I’m growing tired of the selections available in the late-night bar scene. It’s the same ol’ song and dance. There’s the recently divorced, the blabbering alcoholic, or the midlife-crisis mess.”
“Gentlemen, Vaughn is here with our guest. I believe we should take our places below,” stated Eilian as the three men made their way back into Steffan’s house. They quickly headed to the underground passages of Ambrose Heights.
“So Ryan, you haven’t seen Anya around the house?” Rhys probed further.
“Well, you guys tell me to only use the tunnel systems for now, so I never had the pleasure of meeting her. Why? Did you all meet her? Did Steffan leave me out, not want me to meet her or something?” Ryan asked with a slightly flustered look.
“No, no the family has yet to meet her. Steffan just started his mate quest with her.”
Eilian paused prematurely, deliberating whether or not to reveal Anya’s connection to Ryan without Steffan present. But with Ryan’s reintroduction tomorrow and Steffan’s focus absorbed in Anya, this seemed like as good a time as any to broach the subject.
Ryan shot a suspect glance at Eilian but remained silent.
As they reached the entry of the dining room, Eilian stopped in his tracks and looked at Rhys for reassurance that this was the right time to tell Ryan. Understanding his look, Rhys responded by nodding.
“Okay, what is up?” asked Ryan now in a pronounced agitated voice as he watched the exchange between Rhys and Eilian.
“Steffan wanted to talk to you about your past. But he’ll be with Anya for the rest of the evening, and this seems like a good opportunity to talk since your reintroduction is tomorrow. Let’s have a seat. Vaughn and our guests can wait for us a little while,” Eilian said as he motioned for Rhys and Ryan to take a seat with him at the dining room table.
“Know about what? He and I talked for many hours, days even, about my past. I told him I can recall everything, clear as a bell. I’ll be fine for tomorrow,” Ryan said.
“I’m not talking about your recollection of your professional life. I’m talking about things we’ve learned about you, of your personal life,” Eilian responded and started quickly in his explanation to Ryan. “The night that Steffan found you, you were in an accident.”
“Yeah, I remember. I fucked up a brand new Mercedes. I assure you that will not happen to the replacement Steffan got for me.”