In more ways than he knew. She kicked off her boots and slid her arms around his waist to pull him closer. She didn’t want to think at all, but simply feel and forget. He was muscu
lar and lean, fit as he’d claimed, and his solid warmth was so good to rest against. This wasn’t a pose for a camera, but real, and she meant every tender caress.
He picked her up to slide her pants down over her hips and found her purple thong. “I swear I thought you’d wear black boxer shorts.” He tugged her pants over her knees and let them drop on the floor.
“The Goth image needn’t go that far.” She nibbled his earlobe and kissed the smooth hollow behind his ear. She helped him peel off his shirt and licked his collarbone.
He shivered. “Where did you learn that?”
“Trial and error,” she purred against his lips. She’d studied with a master, but clung to Alejandro rather than her memories. “Tell me what you like.”
“Everything,” he murmured. He unhooked her bra, tossed it over his shoulder and bent down to kiss her pale pink breasts. He sucked the rosy crests and rolled them between his fingertips. “You’re so pretty.”
She pinched his flat nipples and felt him flinch. “You’re a very handsome man, tall enough for me, and you make me laugh.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and squeezed tightly. They fit together remarkably well, like lost pieces of a puzzle found at last. He pushed down his jeans, pulled on the condom with shaky hands, and she drew her thong aside to welcome him.
He entered her with a slow push, and watched with a fascinated glance as he withdrew and surged into her again. He thumbed her clit. “You feel so hot and good.”
She leaned into him, cupped his balls and stroked them gently with her thumb. “I can make it feel even better.” She tightened her muscles to pull him deeper with every stroke. She rocked against him, savoring his touch as he slid on her wetness. She breathed deeply, floating on the growing pleasure until she felt him gasp. She pressed her knuckles against the smooth skin behind his balls to hold back his orgasm with a firm touch, and then raised her hand to let it rocket through him. His last thrust caught her too, and she hugged him tight to glory in it.
It took him a long while to form words. “That was…” he began.
She touched his lips. “You don’t need to describe it. I felt it too.”
He tossed the used condom in the wastebasket, hiked up his pants and picked her up. “Let’s use the futon and rest a minute. I think I can walk that far.”
He put her down on her feet, and she took his hand to pull him along. They nearly fell into the thick futon and snuggled together in a languid heap. She could have lain there forever, but she’d eventually have to tell him the truth. She rested her head on his shoulder and waited for his breathing to slow before she slipped from his embrace. His thick black hair fell in his eyes, a dreamy smile graced his lips, and he looked as though he might sleep until dawn. She wished she could stay, but couldn’t. She went to the worktable to gather up her clothes, pulled on her pants, buttoned up her blouse, but left the lacy purple bra where it lay. She grabbed her bag and camera, and carried her boots out the door to pull them on outside in the hall.
She used the stairs rather than the moaning elevator. On the second floor, she passed a young man on his way up. She dipped her head as she passed him and mumbled a greeting. She looked as though she could have been visiting any artist in the building and hoped he wouldn’t ask questions Alejandro would be embarrassed to answer.
Walking home at a near sprint, she didn’t slow to a stately walk until she reached her condo. As she came through the door, she saw the pet carrier at the security desk. She blamed herself for not being empathic with Juan the day before, but if he’d accepted something for her, she wasn’t going to be happy. “Please tell me whatever is in the pet carrier isn’t for me.”
Juan leaped to his feet. “The man who brought them said they’d been chosen especially for you. They came with everything, feeding bowls, cat box, litter, food, a little bed. They’re a brother and sister. Don’t you want them?”
Ana bent down to look into the kittens’ sweet little faces. One was black and the other white. They were pressed close to the grid in the carrier door and begging for attention with faint high-pitched meows. Her heart fell. “Was there a note with them?”
“Instructions you mean? No, I guess he thought you’d know how to care for them.”
“Can you describe the man?”
“He was just an ordinary sort of guy, not too tall, and had a few extra pounds. I thought you knew him. I should have asked him to sign in.”
“Someone’s been sending me gifts—roses, plants, the chocolates yesterday. Now kittens? I’m afraid he’ll send me a horse tomorrow.”
Juan panicked. “Don’t you want the kittens? They’re awfully cute.”
“They’re adorable, but I’m not always home and can’t keep them.” She leaned close and looked him in the eye. “You accepted the delivery of something I didn’t order, so it looks as though you’re the new owner of these delightful pets.”
He swallowed hard. “Pets aren’t allowed in my building, or I’d take them.”
“Sure you would. Help me get everything into the elevator, and we’ll worry about finding them a home tomorrow.”
He came out from behind his post, grabbed the carrier and made a second trip for the bags of accessories. “Oh, I forgot to tell you they’re named Romeo and Juliet.”
“Perfect. I’ll bet Juliet is the black one.”
“How did you know?”
She shook her head. “Does it really matter? Thank you. If anyone brings anything else for me, tell them I am not accepting gifts unless I know the person, and they’ve called to let me know it’s coming.”