Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
They finally arrived at Maggie’s apartment without further incident. Through the drive from the church and up the three flights of stairs, Maggie felt like she was floating in a bubble; Anatoly hadn’t let go of her hand for more than a few seconds here and there.
The second they were inside the apartment, she jumped him, throwing her arms around his neck and crushing her mouth against his.
He staggered back into the closed door, his hands grabbing her waist. He seemed to understand her need, for he deepened the kiss and pulled her hips in close. She gladly pressed into him, sighing with satisfaction at the impressive arousal straining between them.
Anatoly broke away from the kiss, a sly smile brightening his face. “I was right, you are temptation, Maggie.”
She tried to pull him back in for more, her body humming with need, but he pushed her back and slipped away from the door and further into the room. Confused, Maggie frowned and spun in place to keep her eyes on him.
“I don’t understand…” She wanted to reach for him, but wasn’t sure if she should after he’d gone to such lengths to put space between them. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Nyet,” he answered, reaching his hand out for hers. His fingers were cool, but she appreciated that small point of contact. “I am trying to resist temptation.”
Maggie shook her head, still not comprehending why he wasn’t taking the opportunity to get into her pants. Isn’t that why he’d come home with her? “Don’t you want to have sex?” she asked bluntly.
A faint blush colored his cheeks a shade of pink reminiscent of her sweater. He cleared his throat, his eyes shifting around the room with uncertainty. “You speak of it so casually, but it is sacred to me. It is not matter of wanting, it is matter of when is right time.”
She started to protest, but he stepped back to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Maggie, I want to respect you. It has been long evening and I know you are tired. You fell asleep in armchair, remember? I am only here to answer few more questions and to see that you are safe.” Then he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers, his expression softening.
“You are worth more to me than only physical attraction… I want first time to be special.”
Maggie could only stare at him for a long time, trying to process what he had just said.
She wasn’t used to someone being so mindful of her needs, except, she really wanted to fuck Anatoly’s brains out.
He had more than proven he deserved a good time, but if he wanted to wait, she’d wait for him; he was worth it.
Then something occurred to her and she raised an eyebrow at him. “Our first time? Or your first time?”
Another blush colored his cheeks and he glanced away sheepishly. “Both, if I am honest. Does that bother you?”
This brought a smile to Maggie’s lips. She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest as she hugged him. “Not at all. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be ready, trust me on that.”
They shared another sweet kiss, and this time Maggie didn’t push for anything more.
Knowing how he felt and that it was a big deal to him, she would be respectful just as he was trying to be of her.
Boy was it difficult though. The man was a seriously good kisser and she couldn’t help but wonder what other talents he was hiding.
“Do you mind if I take a few minutes to get cleaned up and changed?” she asked after their lips parted. “I don’t want to abandon you out here…”
“Not at all, please, do what you need,” came his swift answer. “Are you hungry? I cannot imagine you have had time to eat anything…”
Maggie nodded. “I’ll get something when I’m out of the shower,” she answered, kissing his beard as she moved by him.
Now that she’d set her mind to it, a shower sounded really damn good.
She trusted Anatoly would be able to entertain himself for a little while, and so she slipped into her bedroom, gathered up a fresh set of pajamas and then headed to the bathroom.
She didn’t take too long getting undressed, her body still buzzing with arousal. It was a temptation to take care of her other needs herself, but there was a kind of deliciousness in forcing herself to wait for Anatoly to be ready. She’d see how long she could go without pleasuring herself.
Once she was under the hot water though, she thought about his hands on her hips and how good it had felt to be held in his arms. Yeah, she’d also found out he was a vampire, but that seemed insignificant next to the reality that she was in yet another forbidden relationship.
All of a sudden, the shower didn’t feel as good and a stray trace of guilt lashed her. She’d promised herself no more toxic relationships, and here she was dating a vampire she’d known for all of two weeks.
And yet it didn’t feel wrong. Yeah, it was foolish on paper, but it felt right.
Everything about him felt right and she owed it to herself to give him a fair shake.
He deserved the same chance that she’d been willing to give a random guy she met on a dating app.
At least Anatoly had already proven himself several times over.
A smile spread over her face at the thought of him and that’s all it took to chase the last vestiges of guilt from her wounded heart.
She wrapped up in the shower shortly after that.
Her hair and body scrubbed clean, she stepped out and was just wrapping a towel around herself, when the familiar buzzing of her smartphone alerted her to an incoming call.
She glanced at the name on the display and swore out loud, even as she moved to answer it.
“Yeah.”
“Maggie, about fucking time,” came the lieutenant’s gruff voice. “Get your ass moving, they found another body.”