Page 39 of All Hale the Queen

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.”

Chapter 15

Antonio

Isit in front of Ophelia’s three sons at Remington’s penthouse apartment. I was a little shocked at how well they all took the news of my relationship with their mother when we told them a few months ago. Though I guess I shouldn’t have been because they adore Ophelia and only want what’s best for her.