"Fuck," he barked as he started to come again.
He rode her while he released, feeling her orgasm with him, that sex of hers fisting him. And he watched the show until his eyes cranked shut - which was fine, because he could still see her on the backs of his lids.
After he was done, he nearly collapsed on her, but caught himself just in time. Dropping his head, he found his mouth close to the top of her spine, and he took advantage of the proximity, brushing his lips on her skin.
Knowing he should give her a break, he forced himself to ease back and pull out. Except as he slipped free, he had to grit his teeth at the sight of how ready she still was for him.
Planting his hands on her perfect cheeks, he spread her for his tongue. Shit. . . the taste of her and him together, the feel of her smooth, perfectly hairless sex against his mouth. . .
When she began to grow restless, as if she were on the verge, but not getting quite enough, he licked three fingers and slid them up inside as he continue to lap at her. That did the trick. As she called out his name and she jerked backward against his face, he smiled and helped her through the pulses that racked her.
And then it was time to stop. Period.
For the last week or so, he'd been all over her - which was the reason he'd forced himself to go to the goddamn gym today. She was looking tired, and the reason? She insisted on working during the nights, and he hadn't been able to leave her alone during the days -
Autumn shifted around so she was lying on her belly; then she put her knee out to the side and arched her back. For more.
"Jesus," he groaned. "How'm I supposed to leave you?"
"Don't," she said.
No asking twice on that one. He took her from behind again, lifting her hips, gripping them, and tilting her pelvis so he could get in deep. He ended up with a forearm around her midsection and his weight balanced on his other hand, working her, pounding her until their bodies slapped together and the bed made that noise again. He came on a curse, his orgasm exploding out of him as if he hadn't had sex in months.
And still he was hungry for her. Especially as she found her own release.
After things quieted, he curled them over onto the mattress, spooning her as he held her against him. Nuzzling his way under her hair to her neck, he worried about the way he was treating her in bed.
As if she knew he needed some reassurance, she reached behind and stroked his hair. "You feel wonderful. "
Maybe. But he felt bad for the demands he was putting on her body. "Let me run you a bath now?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful. Thank you. "
Heading back into the bathroom, he went over to the deep-bellied Jacuzzi, started the water running and then got the bath salts from the cupboard.
As he checked the temperature of the water and made a minute adjustment, he realized he liked taking care of her. Realized also that he'd found a lot of ways to do it. He looked for excuses to take her upstairs and feed her dinner in private. Bought her clothes off the Internet. Stopped by Walgreens and CVS to get her favorite magazines like Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker.
Always made sure there were Pepperidge Farm Milanos up here in case she got a craving.
And he wasn't the only one looking after her and showing her new things.
Xhex came to the house to see her at least once or twice a week. Together, the pair of them would go out to the local movie theater and watch films. Or head into the better parts of town so Autumn could see the nice houses. Or hit the late-night shops and stores - where they bought things with Autumn's own money that she earned working.
Bending down, he tested the water, tinkered with the temp again, and got her some towels.
On his side, it made him a little tetchy that she was out with the human crazies and the violent lessers and the untrustworthy winds of fate. But at the end of the day, Xhex was a straight-up killer, and he knew she would protect her mother if anyone so much as sneezed in their direction.
Besides, whenever mother and daughter went out, Autumn always returned with a smile on her face. Which in turn put a smile on his.
Christ, they'd both come so far since the spring. They were nearly two different people.
So what else was there?
Moving his hand through the churning water in the tub, he wondered with desperation what the fuck he was missing. . . .
Chapter Fifty-Five
Two nights later, Xhex awoke with a strange conviction hounding her. Kind of like she'd swallowed her alarm clock during the day and the thing was going off in her belly.