Page 84 of Her Dark Salvation

“Two orgasms? I’d call that remarkable.”

I frowned. “Like I said, you’ve been dating the wrong men.”

She laughed. “No kidding.”

She tickled my chest with a light brush of her fingertips. It made me shiver. My body relaxed. My breathing slowed. Peace and contentment were the center of my world.

“You’re so calm,” she said.

She was right. The tension that normally gripped my insides and kept me alert, that maintained the cold calculation I needed to run my empire, it melted in Anna’s arms.

“It’s you,” I whispered. “You do this to me.”

She nuzzled her face into my shoulder, and my fingers continued their soothing journey up and down her back.

“We were irresponsible,” she said quietly.

“How so?”

“We didn’t use protection.”

I looked down at her, surprised. “Do you need to get a morning after pill?”

“No.” She lifted her head, and her lips curved into a sad, resigned smile. “I’m not worried about that.”

“You’re on the pill?”

“No. I—I can’t get pregnant.” The words were quiet, but matter-of-fact.

“I’m sorry,” I said, no idea what I’d walked into. After what my sister went through, I knew the subject of children and pregnancy had the potential to carry a lot of baggage.

“It’s okay. I mean… It wasn’t. For years, it wasn’t. But I came to terms with it a long time ago.”

Her strength never ceased to amaze me. I kissed her forehead. “Then, what are you worried about?”

She widened her eyes and lifted her eyebrows.

I searched her face for an answer. Realization dawned, and I snorted. “I’m immortal, Anna. I don’t get diseases.”

“Ahh,” she sighed, and laid her head back down on my shoulder. She traced the fading scratches on my chest. “I scratched you.”

“You did. It was hot as hell.”

“They’re almost gone. Same thing, I suppose.”

“Yes. Same thing.”

“And aging?”

“Yes. That too.”

“What I wouldn’t give to have my butt and stomach from ten years ago.”

“What’s wrong with your butt and stomach?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“My butt is nowhere near as perky as it used to be. It’s… kinda saggy.” She squirmed with each defeated word. “So is the skin on my stomach. Saggy and crepey.”

I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and tipped her head up to level her with a stern look. “First of all, don’t you dare say anything bad about your ass. I love your ass. It’s fantastic. It’s plump and ripe. The perfect size for me to grab onto while I’m fucking you.” She laughed, and her eyes sparkled with gratitude and pride. “Second, at what point this morning did I give you any indication I didn’t adore every inch of your body? Hm?”

---