CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

T he door closed behind them. Anna turned, falling against his chest. He could hear her heart thumping. Without saying a word, he lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the bed. Removing their shoes, he laid them both down and pulled her against him.

“Do you have to leave?” Anna asked quietly.

“Yes. Soon. But not yet,” he answered, his hand running along her back and down the thigh which half lay along his.

“There are more of them?” she asked, lifting her head.

So many fucking more. In truth, they didn’t know how many yet, but in time, Ben hoped they would eliminate the threat. It was what they were trying to find out from Xander Tomassi.

“Yes,” he said, nodding, his hand cupping her cheek and giving her a smile. “I swear to protect you, Anna.”

Glassy eyes stared at him. “I wish you could stay.”

His heart cracked further.

“I wish I could explain my life to you, but I can’t.” Anna nodded, glancing down. “Hey. Anna, sweetheart, I want you to know I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

His lips fell to hers, and she responded. Gently at first, then their hunger grew. He did away with their clothes and tossed the pillows onto the floor. They clawed at each other with a need not conducive to skillful lovemaking.

Ben grinned. “I think we might need to calm down if I am to please you.”

“Forget that. Just get inside me,” Anna urged.

No.

If this was to be their last time, he wanted her to remember the pleasure.

He leaned over her and held her against the bed, kissing her firmly. Lifting his lips, he ran a hand down her body. “Stay right there,” he instructed.

Anna panted as he moved between her legs and found her soaking-wet core.

“Fuck, you are beautiful here,” he said. “Legs wide apart, baby. I’m going to lick you until you scream.”

As she moaned and writhed, Ben leaned in and licked from her core to her clit in one lap. Then repeated it, circling and sucking, tasting her salty sweetness.

His fingers joined the dance and plunged inside over and over, finding her G-spot at just the right time. As he promised, Anna called out his name while he gripped her thighs and circled her clit with his tongue.

Hands gripped his shoulders, pulling him up. She needed him, and he was ready.

He directed his cock to her entrance and smiled at her with his eyes. Dazed eyes full of ecstasy looked back at him, blinking. “Okay?”

“Yes,” Anna purred, arching into him.

“I’m going to fuck you now,” he said, rubbing his cock over her wet flesh. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, God, yes. Now please, Ben.”

He pressed the head in and pulled it out. Anna gasped, and her eyes which had begun to close flared open.

“Stop teasing me,” she growled.

He bit her bottom lip and kissed her.

In again he pressed, going further this time. Anna arched, wanting more of him. Then he pulled out. He repeated it over and over until she was groaning with need.

Ben couldn’t stand the torture any longer. With one long trust, he buried himself within her, and they both cried out.

“Fuck,” he moaned and gazed down at the beautiful blonde-haired female he knew was stealing his heart.

Anna clung to his shoulders and flung her head back. “Ben, my God, more.”

Hell yes, he had more. Pulling back, he dived in again, gripping her hips and moving them this way and that to enjoy every angle they could. He flipped to his back and pulled her on top of him where she rode him deep, and they both groaned in pleasure.

“Come for me, Anna,” Ben said, thumbing her pussy as he felt her walls tighten around him.

Both of them exploded together at the same time, in total symphony. She fell on his chest, and he held her to him.

When he had caught his breath, Ben carried her into the shower, and they stood with the water flowing over them, kissing and touching and holding each other.

Wrapped in a bathrobe, Anna lay against Ben’s bare chest back on the bed. They had been there for over an hour, stroking and kissing, staring at each other, and not saying a thing. He had never done anything like this in his life.

“Everyone thinks you’re my mate,” Anna finally said quietly, blushing.

He took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head so she was unable to look away. “I know,” he replied. “If the choice was mine, Anna, I would choose you a million times.”

She stared at him, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

“Until I know for sure, I can’t stray from my path.” When she went to look away, he held her firm. He needed her to understand. “I have pledged my loyalty to another...”

“A female?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“But the king?” she asked, frowning.

Ben shook his head. “It’s complicated, but I am loyal to the Moretti’s in every single way. I promise it is nothing like that.”

Anna’s eyes darted away.

“I wish I could tell you. God, I wish I could fucking tell you, Anna. But I cannot.” He released her chin and pulled her against him.

Ben was starting to feel so fucking conflicted in his heart and in his head. Things weren’t making as much sense as they had even hours ago. How could he feel like this about a female and walk away.

Ari was important. His identity and purpose were important for all of them. And yet, wasn’t Ben’s life also important? Couldn’t he have this? If Anna was his?

Emotion rose up, and for the first time in his life, his eyes glossed.

Thank fuck that jumbo vampire wasn’t here to see him, or his reputation would be fucked. Though he had a feeling the guy might have had a moment or two with his mate he’d never want publicized.

How did you know if a female was your mate?

Ben was confused. The thought of another male near Anna made his fangs release, but for Ben, this was a serious life decision. It wasn’t like he was giving up a big job and the corner office.

He was the Ben Ferrero, Head Assassin for Aristide Moretti, Director of The Institute. And original Moretti vampire.

It didn’t get more fucking serious than that.

That is, if he still had a job.

And with that thought, Ben knew his time was up. He had to leave the beautiful, soft female he held in his arms and do this last job. He released her and sat up, leaning over her, softly touching his lips to hers.

“I have to go.”

“Will I see you again?” Anna asked.

Ben gazed down at her. If she truly was his mate, surely, he would have seen a change in his eyes by now. A dark ring around the iris of a male’s eyes appeared when he was mating. His had not changed.

The deciding moment was now. The word on the tip of his tongue about to slice through both their hearts.

“No.”

Then he saw it. The moment Anna shut down her feelings. She nodded, swallowed, and her eyes hardened.

Crack.

Another chip of his heart broke away.

He couldn’t be here anymore. Ben lowered his mouth to hers harshly in what they both knew was a final kiss before standing and getting dressed.

At the doorway he turned once more, and Anna wrapped her dressing gown around her, giving him a small smile.

“Goodbye, gorgeous,” he said, then vamp sped out of her room.