Page 26 of Sassy Embrace

She arched off the couch as she met his gaze, and bit her lower lip as a moan slipped out. “Fuck…Claude…” was all she managed before waves of pleasure swept over her and she screamed his name.

Claude’s movement became erratic as he felt his own release approaching. He growled low in his throat as he watched Leigh unravel beneath him

He moved within her with a primal urgency. His eyes never left hers as he emptied himself inside her while he shouted out incoherently.

Their shared sweat cooled on their bodies in the chill air of the room. Their sounds of pleasure were now replaced by the sound of labored breathing and the quiet ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance.

After some time, Claude finally broke the silence. “You know,” he said softly, as he traced lazy patterns on the shifter’s bare skin. “I could get used to this.”

Leigh laughed at his words, a soft sound that filled his heart with unknown warmth. “Oh, really?” she countered playfully.

“Yes, really,” he replied as he moved her hair from her face.

“I mean, I’m not opposed to your arrangement,” she stated. “But it can’t interfere with work at the club.”

“I agree,” Claude responded as he offered his outstretched hand to the wolf shifter for a handshake.

She rolled her eyes and jumped off the couch, gathering his clothes in the process.

“Wait, are you kicking me out already?” he asked as he shuffled to right himself on the couch.

“Uh, I’m honoring our pact we just made,” she said while she threw his clothes to him. “It’s two a.m., and we both have to work tomorrow… You staying here any longer will interfere with work. Duh,” she said with a lazy smile.

“That’s just your excuse not to spend the night with me.” Claude grinned and got up from the couch to put his clothes on. “It’s okay, Leigh, just say you can’t handle another round of this. I won’t judge.” He gave her his best devilish grin.

She walked to him, grabbed him by the jaw, and kissed him passionately. He thought she was about to prove him wrong again, something she loved to do.

“I guess you’ll never know.” She winked as she turned and beckoned toward the door. “Goodnight, Casanova, see you at work tomorrow. Be sure to lock up.” She gave a small wave as she quietly closed the door to her bedroom and left him sitting on the couch.

Claude realized he missed her already and she was still in the same vicinity. There was no way this woman couldn’t be in his life. He was addicted.

THIRTEEN

LEIGH

In her apartment one week after she and Claude started hooking up regularly, Leigh readied for the press conference regarding the reopening. She and the vampire continued to work in a professional environment when it came to getting Embraced up and ready for its grand opening, but behind closed doors, they were all over each other.

To Leigh, it felt natural. Her hands went to his chest and neck, her mouth to his, like a magnet. The pleasure he gave her was ethereal and transcendent, boosting her confidence not only in the success of the club, but in herself. She felt sexy again. His touch was magic.

Leigh wore a tight, gleaming red sweater and taut dress pants with bright white running shoes. She wanted to look corporate and proper, but casual at the same time. The weather wasn't quite gloomy, but not quite luminous either. A lingering chill in the air gave her a foreboding feeling, but the wolf ignored it.

She needed to be focused with a sunny disposition for the cameras and the subsequent reports on social media. The pressure on women to straddle the line of politeness and assertiveness was undignified, but she knew it was all a part of what she signed up for.

Leigh left the apartment at eleven for the press conference at noon. She and Claude had been texting about what was going to be said, and who would say it. It took a lot for her to let go of some control, as Aria was adamant about Claude being involved. After all, the club was meant to be open tobothwolves and vampires.

There was confidence in her stride; an upright posture, a shining and excited smile as she greeted Claude at the entryway. All of the decorating had been finished, the bar polished and twinkling under the soft neon glow.

The name of the bar was placed overhead, the sign built in custom cherry oak and painted dazzling cobalt blue. A crafted mouth hung open with dripping red blood, to signify the inclusion of the species.

Despite it being daytime, it hummed with reverent incandescence. Claude and Leigh stood inside, waiting as cameras were set up and reporters assumed their positions.

Leigh found herself to be remarkably tranquil.

“You ready to go?" she asked, giving Claude a playful elbow.

Her vampire boyfriend, on the other hand, was astonishingly apprehensive, wound up like a wire. When she elbowed him, he jumped.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m fine. Just not used to all of the attention. I’m usually one to stick to the shadows.”

---