Calypso rose to her feet and collected their plates. “Are you ready for dessert?”

“There is dessert?”

“Cinnamon-orange crème brûlée.”

Brundar’s eyes almost rolled back in his head. “I can’t wait to taste it.”

Talk about pampering. If she were an immortal, he would’ve proposed right there—the whole ridiculous thing of dropping to one knee and begging her to become his. Not really, he wasn’t husband material, but the thought felt good. Evidently, Anandur was rubbing off on him because that was something his brother would have done.

He should help. Calypso had worked hard to prepare this amazing dinner, and that was pampering enough.

Pushing his chair back, Brundar got up and followed Calypso to the kitchen. “Can I make coffee?”

She smiled up at him. “Sure. You’re good with that machine. I liked my coffee this morning.”

Yeah, as if putting a pod into the coffeemaker and filling it with water was rocket science.

“I’m good with a lot of things. Anything kitchen related is not one of them.”

“Good. Otherwise, there would’ve been nothing left for me to do for you, which would’ve bothered me. You did so much for me. You still do.”

Brundar wanted to tell her that there was no need but stopped himself in time. For Calypso, it wasn’t just about gratitude, she seemed to genuinely like cooking. The right thing to do was to thank her and tell her how much he’d enjoyed himself.

“I need to keep coming up with things I can do for you, just so you keep feeding me.”

“It’s my pleasure. You’re welcome anytime.” Calypso removed the foil from two small serving dishes and sprinkled sugar over them. “This should be done at the dinner table, but I’m afraid I’ll set the place on fire.” She pulled out a gas torch from a drawer.

“I suggest you stand back.” She waved the torch.

“What are you going to do?” He stepped back, his eyes following the device in her hand.

“Just watch.”

Switching the torch on, Calypso aimed the flame down at one of the dishes. The sugar caught fire, browned, and a moment later the flames died out. She repeated the process with the other one.

“Yay! I did it!” Grabbing her creations, she carried them to the dining room.

Brundar waited until the coffee maker finished brewing, filled two cups and brought them to the table. “I didn’t know cooking involved such risks.”

“That’s only risky in the hands of an amateur, like me. Professional cooks have it down.”

She didn’t seem like a novice to him.

“How many of those did you make?”

She smiled sheepishly. “That’s my second time. Let’s see how well they turned out.”

Brundar picked up the little spoon and scooped some of the crème into his mouth.

Bliss.

“What do you think? Is it any good?”

“It’s excellent.”

“I’m so glad to hear you say it. That’s the only part of the meal I was worried about.”

“Everything tasted amazing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

As he finished the last spoonful, Brundar noticed that Calypso had barely touched her dessert. Perhaps she was saving it for him? After he’d finished everything she’d left on her dinner plate, she might have thought she hadn’t made enough.

“Eat your dessert, Calypso.” He pointed at her dish.

She shook her head. “I’m full. Do you want to finish it?”

He would’ve loved to, but he wanted her to have it. “I’m full too. Eat!” To emphasize, he pushed his chair back and rubbed his stomach as if it was overstuffed.

“Sheesh, you’re so bossy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “There are like a thousand calories in this. I’m watching my weight.”

He cast her an incredulous glance. “You don’t need to lose anything. In fact, you could use a few more pounds.”

Calypso shook her head. “I’m starting to believe that you really haven’t had any girlfriends. For future reference, avoid mentioning weight even if asked. Never tell a woman she needs to gain or lose any pounds. Consider it a taboo subject.”

“What should I say, then?”

“That you think she is perfect the way she is.”

“You are perfect. And that’s not a polite lie.”

Her smug smirk and the naughty gleam in her eyes had seduction written all over it. A moment later, Calypso pushed to her feet and sauntered over to him.

“You’re perfect the way you are too.” She sat on his lap and leaned against his chest while tucking her hands between her thighs.

He appreciated that she hadn’t tried to get away with touching him and was making sure not to forget by keeping her hands entrapped.

Lifting her head, she kissed the underside of his jaw, then whispered, “I bought lots and lots of condoms.”

Brundar’s cock surged against the thin fabric of his slacks, poking Calypso’s sweet ass.

“You’ve been a naughty girl, haven’t you?” His hand closed on her nape, caging her in place.

She licked at his jaw, sending a bolt of fire straight to his balls. “A well prepared, naughty girl,” she breathed.

So it seemed.

The lady wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and frankly, he was tired of playing hard to get. With one arm under her thighs and the other wrapped around her waist, holding her tight against his chest, he pushed off the chair and strode to her bedroom.

Taking in the scene before him, Brundar stopped at the doorway.

When Calypso had told him she was well prepared, she’d meant more than the condoms. Four scarves were tied to four corners of the bed’s iron scrollwork, and a fifth one was lying on the bed, its bright colors in stark relief on the white bedding.

She’d thought of everything.

Sitting on the bed with Calypso still wrapped in his arms, Brundar wanted to flip her over his knees, expose that beautiful ass of hers, and give her a few teasing spanks. Except, he was swimming in uncharted waters. This wasn’t a scene at the club.

Should he thank her for dinner with tenderness?

Or should he give her what he knew she craved?

He didn’t know her well enough to choose for her. It would be best to ask.

“Now, what should I do?” He reached behind him for the scarf and handed it to her. “Should I reward you for an amazing dinner, or punish you for your presumptuousness?”

The scent of her arousal intensifying, Calypso obediently wrapped the scarf over her eyes, tying the ends in a loose knot at the back of her head. “Both.”

Brundar smiled. With the blindfold in place, he no longer feared his fangs showing. For some reason, his fangs tended to react sooner and with less stimulation than those of other immortal males, reacting to the slightest provocation, aggression, or conversely arousal. He kissed her tenderly, going for slow and sweet instead of rough and intense.

She moaned, wiggling on his lap, impatient for her funishment.

Taking his time, he caressed her silky face, the long column of her neck, and the tops of her breasts, all along exploring the sweetness of her mouth, tasting the crème brûlée on her tongue.

When he was done with her mouth, he guided her gently to lie belly down over his knees, her cheek resting comfortably on the bed.

Her content sigh erased the last of his doubts about what Calypso wanted him to do to her next.

This felt very different from any scene he’d ever participated in. Holding Calypso snugly against his middle was all about intimacy and closeness. Not about keeping his partner at a safe distance. Surprisingly, it felt good.

More than good, it felt right.

But only with Calypso.

Somehow, she’d managed to penetrate the shields around his heart and make a home for herself inside it. When he left her, and he didn’t kid himself that he could stay, he would have to tear that piece of his heart out and leave it behind because it belonged to her and always would.

Right now, though, he was hers, and she was his, and the future or the past didn’t exist at this moment.

Holding the bottom of Calypso’s stretchy dress, he prolonged her anticipation by inching it up her thighs in slow motion. She had plenty of time to reconsider if she wanted to. But as with everything else, the lady knew precisely what she wanted and wasn’t shy about asking for it.

When the dress finally cleared the bottom swell of her ass, Brundar let out a hiss. Not only did the tiny thong she had on leave her butt cheeks bare, but the gusset was soaked through.

Unable to resist, he snaked a finger under the scrap of fabric, dipping it in Calypso’s arousal. The gentle touch had her jerk up, but he held on, keeping her tightly secure against his stomach.

She was in desperate need of relief, but he didn’t want her orgasming yet. Still, he couldn’t just leave her like that. He could ease her a little until she was primed for the big finale.

A strangled moan escaped her throat as he pushed a finger inside her scorching, tight sheath. Calypso managed to wiggle despite his tight hold. Tightening his arm around her middle, he added another finger, and then another, stretching her to where it must’ve bordered on discomfort.

Calypso stilled, absorbing the fullness, getting used to the sensation.

He withdrew his fingers and delivered the first smack.

“Oh, God,” she hissed, her hands fisting the comforter. The flare of her arousal was so potent, it wreaked havoc on his restraint. Brundar was a hair away from stripping her naked and entering her in one hard thrust.

But this was about Calypso and her needs. His would come later.

A few more smacks and she would orgasm just from the spanking.

Should he let her?

Yeah, this time he would. Calypso was too far gone to survive a drawn-out foreplay. She needed this one now.

“Put your hands behind your back, sweetling,” he said as he caressed her perfect globes.

The pose would be less comfortable for her, but it would prevent her from instinctively reaching behind her. He didn’t want to accidentally smack her hands. Besides, the confinement would further ratchet up the potency of her arousal.

And his.