Wow, talk about a breakthrough.

It had been one thing to acknowledge Victor’s love for her in her own heart and mind; it was a much greater accomplishment for him to acknowledge it too.

“That deserves a celebration,” Bridget said.

“What do you have in mind?”

She waggled her brows. “You know me. What do I always have in mind?”

His eyes, which had looked so tired until a few moments ago, sparkled with life. “Chinese?” he teased.

Bridget pretended to think. “No, I’m in the mood for Indian tonight, a delicacy from the Kama Sutra menu.”

Victor chuckled. “Did you ever look at that menu?”

“No, can’t say that I have. But I can imagine a few interesting poses.”

“Can you now?” His breathing was getting heavy, his pale blue-gray eyes roaming her body as if she were a tasty treat.

That was Victor at his best. Intense, hard, demanding. Not the version diluted by chemo.

Lying back on the couch, she trailed her fingers down the plunging neckline of her dress into the valley between her breasts. “I’m sure you can come up with something too.”

As Turner’s eyes locked on where she wanted them, there was fire in them. “I have a few ideas,” he said, dipping his head to kiss her fingers and then pay homage to the swell of her breasts.

Bridget cupped the back of his neck and tugged him up. “I want a kiss.”

“A woman who knows what she wants. I like that.” He planted his mouth over hers.

She slipped her tongue between his lips, sweeping it against his. He let her play for a moment before taking over the kiss.

Yes, she wanted him like that. Taking what he wanted, what he needed.

Strong, healthy…

Stop it! Not now!

Letting out a moan, she arched up and rubbed her achy nipples against his chest.

There were too many layers of fabric between them. “Take off your shirt.” She started on the tie, loosening it.

Turner took over, tossing the tie behind him and then opening three buttons before yanking the shirt over his head and throwing it behind him.

Bridget smiled, reaching with her palms for his defined pectorals. It had been a clumsy striptease, but the results were no less tantalizing for it. Turner’s chest was magnificent, and no matter how many times she saw him like that, it never failed to send a tingle of excitement straight down to her core.

“Your turn.” He tugged on the bottom of her dress, pulling it up.

She lifted a little, helping him pull it over her head.

His eyes blazing with need, he just yanked her bra up and away from her breasts and with a groan descended on a nipple.

“I’m going to lick and suck those red berries until you come.”

She wasn’t going to argue with that. Reaching for his bald head, she held him to her as she arched up. “More.”

“Yes, ma'am,” he mumbled around her nipple, then went to work, suckling and nibbling until it became too much and then moved to the other one.

When both buds were tight enough to poke holes in a wall, Victor leaned back and admired his work. “Perfection. Did I tell you already how much I love your breasts?”

“Only my breasts?”

He smoothed a hand over his mouth. “Everything. I don’t know where to start.”

It wasn’t the answer she’d been hoping for, but she could live with that.

For now.

In time, Victor would learn to associate the word love with the actual feeling and not just to describe something he found desirable.

“You could start by getting me naked.”

“Yeah, that’s a very good idea.”

As he hooked his thumbs in the elastic of her panties and pulled, his heavy-leaded eyes pursued her body, making her feel beautiful, desirable, and uninhibited.

Not that she was a shy wallflower to start with, but with the other men she’d been with, Bridget had always held back or pretended a little. She’d never been fully in like she was with Victor. There was no artifice between them, which was huge for people like them that rarely allowed anyone even a glimpse into who they really were.

With a sinuous body wave and a sultry smile, she reached down and cupped her hot center.

Turner sucked in a breath and reached to where her hand went, pushing it aside and replacing it with his own.

“Mine.”

Bridget parted her thighs, giving him better access. “Yes.”

As he spread her with his thumb and forefinger, his other hand went for the belt of his slacks.

Bridget arched up, inviting him to do more with those talented fingers of his.

When he penetrated her with two digits at once and swiped his thumb over her clit, it was like pushing the pedal to the metal and sending her down the orgasm express lane.

Kneeling between her spread legs, his fingers doing all kinds of wicked things to her, Turner yanked open his slacks and shoved them down to his knees.

As his erection sprung free, she reached for it, but he pushed her hands away.

“I’m too close.” He thrust a third finger inside her, then swiped his thumb over the center of her pleasure.

With a loud groan, Bridget let herself go, her orgasm erupting from her with a gush. A split second later, Victor was inside her, pumping hard and fast and prolonging her orgasm.

“I can’t hold it much longer,” he gritted.

“Then don’t.” She dug her fingers into his hard buttocks, holding him to her as she arched up to meet every thrust.

His body tensed, and he went still, then threw his head back and roared his climax.

Fates, he was magnificent.

As a human.

She could just imagine how he would be as an immortal.