14. Ophelia
Ophelia
Dinner was delicious and incredibly romantic. Antonio took me to a local seafood restaurant where he’d reserved a candlelit table near the floor-to-ceiling windows so we could watch the snow fall.
It’s finally started to stick to the ground, covering everything in a layer of white, which we’re able to enjoy since we’re now sitting on the balcony outside his master bedroom.
Antonio lit the three lava-rock heaters, and we’re sipping the warm mulled wine he stopped and picked up from a local shop on the way home.
I’m in cozy flannel pajamas while he’s in gray plaid sleep pants and no shirt.
I have no idea how he’s not freezing, but maybe it’s because he’s using me as a blanket. As soon as we got out here, he sat on the beautiful carved bench and pulled me onto his lap before covering me with a soft tartan blanket.
We’re silent as we watch the snow drift down in large, lazy flakes, but there’s a tension simmering beneath the surface.
Finally, I look away from the gorgeous scene to the equally gorgeous man.
He absolutely takes my breath away every time I look at him.
There’s a rugged masculinity surrounding him, but deep beneath all that is a softness he reserves for me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.
His green eyes meet mine, and my stomach clenches. He looks so serious.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, Ophelia, and I guess I just don’t know how to start.”
A lump forms in my throat, swelling until I think I might choke. “Just tell me,” I whisper.
The tiny smile that crests his full lips eases the knot inside me a little.
“It’s nothing bad, love. At least I don’t think it is.
” He drains the rest of his wine and sets it on the small timber side table before taking mine and setting it aside too.
Then he rests his big, rough hand on my cheek.
“These past three months with you have been the best of my life.”
I place my hand on top of his and lean into his touch. “For me too.”
“And I’ve… developed feelings for you. When I’m with you, I can’t stop smiling.
And when I’m not with you, I can’t stop wishing I were.
” He pauses and gives himself a quick nod, as if to affirm his next words in his head.
“I’m in love with you, darlin’. Madly in love.
Never in my life have I felt this kind of attraction, and I’m not just talking about physical attraction.
I think my soul is drawn to yours in a way I never expected. ”
I’m mesmerized by the green flame in his eyes and by his beautiful words.
“Antonio,” I croak out as a sense of rightness bubbles inside me like champagne has been infused into my veins, “I’m in love with you too.”
His face transforms from nervous and apprehensive to absolute glee. Small crinkles form at the corners of his eyes, and I think his smile lines might be my favorite part of his face.
“You do?” he asks incredulously, and I laugh.
“Of course I do. What’s not to love?”
He leans his forehead against mine and inhales. “I was so fecking nervous, love.”
I nuzzle our noses together. “I could tell.”
We kiss, the first one after our love declarations, and it’s everything it should be, soft and tender, though I feel him hardening beneath my butt.
“Should we go inside and take care of that?” I ask against his lips, wiggling a little in his lap.
He stands immediately with me cradled against his large body, and I let out a little squeal of delight.
“Absolutely, love.”
***
Antonio brings me to two orgasms with his mouth before crawling up my body and swiping at his beard. “I like tasting the woman I love,” he announces, settling on top of me and resting on his forearms.
“I could tell,” I say, trying to sound wry, but I only sound breathless as the last remnants of the climax flitter away. “How do you feel about making love to her now?”
He notches his thick cock against my entrance and shifts his hips a little until the tip enters me. “Wild horses couldn’t hold me back from making love to my woman.”
I really like the my woman part. My legs wind around his waist, and I dig my bare heels into his backside, urging him on. He slides into me with aching slowness, and his eyes never leave mine.
“I love you, Antonio,” I whisper as he bottoms out.
He brushes my cheek with the backs of his fingers. “And I love you, my beautiful Ophelia. Always and forever, until my last breath.”
And then he begins to move. It’s unhurried and reverent, an act of true lovemaking. Our bodies are plastered together as we stare into each other’s eyes and breathe the same air.
I wind my hands into his hair, and pull his face closer. “Kiss me,” I demand, and he complies, delving his tongue into my mouth with the same rhythm as his lower body.
Antonio slips one hand down and cups my ass, lifting slightly to change the angle to one that makes me…
“Ohhhh, god,” I moan into his mouth. “Right there, Antonio.”
I feel his smile. “I know, darlin’, but feel free to continue to tell me. I love the sound of your voice when you’re about to come around me.”
The thick head of his cock hits the most sensitive part of me, and I clutch at his hair as the tide of pleasure rises.
I kiss him harder, unable to get enough, and the soft, circular strokes of his tongue against mine ramps the eroticism of the moment a thousand notches.
Despite the physical pleasure he’s bringing me, he’s also delivering love.
I feel as though I’m cloaked in it, like the blanket he draped over me earlier.
We come together in a fog of desire and groans, our bodies writhing together on the buttery-soft sheets. Once he’s empty, he doesn’t move, though he lifts slightly off me to give me room to breathe.
“I love you,” he says with the most satisfied grin on his handsome face.
I stroke his beard. “And I love you.”
After a few minutes, Antonio rises and lifts me from the bed.
He seems to really like carrying me around.
He places me directly on the toilet and says, “Pee, darlin’.
We don’t want you getting a UTI.” Then, like he didn’t just order me to pee on demand, he turns to the sink and begins wetting a khaki washcloth with warm water.
I’ve never peed in front of a man, not even when I was married, but I feel a closeness to Antonio I’ve never felt before. So… I release my bladder and let go without embarrassment.
“What do you know about UTIs?” I ask, amused.
Antonio glances at me over his shoulder. “When you mentioned you’re going through menopause, I did some research. Though it’s a good idea for all women to go to the bathroom after sex, it’s especially important for menopausal women, as they’re more likely to get them.”
“What else did you learn?”
He kneels in front of me and parts my legs so he can gently clean me with the warm cloth. It should feel bizarre to have him doing this while I’m on the toilet, but it doesn’t.
“I learned that headaches, especially migraines, can increase, and your bad cholesterol can go up.” He looks up at me with a stern expression. “When did you last have blood work done?”
I do my best to fight my smile. “In July. My cholesterol was fine.”
Antonio nods. “Good. I also learned that sometimes women can experience vaginal dryness.” He tosses the cloth in the hamper, scoops me up, and locks his serious gaze on mine.
“I haven’t noticed that being a problem with you, but if it does happen, that’s nothing to be embarrassed about, love. I’m happy to use lube if we need it.”
He carries me back to bed, and we climb in with him behind me. After he flicks off the lamp, I ask, “Why did you look all that stuff up? It’s not like you’ll be going through menopause.”
Antonio kisses the back of my head. “I will be going through it if you are, love. I may not have the physical symptoms like you, but I want to be able to care for you in any way I can.”
I’m so touched a tear slips from my eye. I knew this big, gruff man was a protector, but I’m a little surprised that he’s also a caretaker.
His arm bands around me, and, as I always do, I put my cold feet on his legs. He no longer flinches or grumbles about my icicles; he just sandwiches my feet between his calves.
“I love spooning with you,” I sigh into the darkened room. “I’m guessing I can expect some sporking by morning?”
He rubs his beard against my bare shoulder. “What the fuck is sporking?”
I giggle at the term Claudia sent me from Urban Dictionary. “It’s the exact same as spooning but with an erection involved.”
His laughter warms the back of my neck. “Then darlin’, I can assure you there will be sporking in the morning.”