Antony was breathless, kissing her and spinning her into her suite, desperate to touch and taste and learn every inch of her. His old ways had resurfaced, his hunger for entry, hard and sweaty within a needy body, one that would writhe and pant and cry out as he would. But Claudia placed her hands on his chest and pushed slowly. Reluctantly, he released her, ran an arm across his mouth and blinked. Waited.

Her heart was soaring way too fast, pounding far too hard and wanting … way, way too much. She stepped back to catch her breath. "This is too surprising and too fast," she gasped.

"I … I see." And he turned to the door.

"Wait! Don't leave," he glanced over his shoulder to see her smile. "I just … I don't know … I just need to move a little slower, you know?"

He nodded. Stood still until she waved for him to sit and he took a chair across from her, wondering what was expected of him next. Since arriving in this world, Antony had not been without sex. He had fucked whore after whore all the way from Rome to California and Maximus' vineyard. He had located several acceptable such women of the night in Stowe and had become what they call, a regular. But it had been long since he had found what he was seeking with Claudia. Perhaps a little honesty would assist in his cause. Honesty? He internally grinned. New to Marc Antony, but many things were new to him. He cleared his throat and began; his voice smooth and quiet, unsure of how this honesty would pave a path to the satisfaction he wanted, perhaps needed.

"Claudia, please find it in your heart to forgive my vehemence. I am not from … this place. I come from a … place of animal actions and instinctual … passions."

She grinned, comfortable just far enough from him. "Antony, you're not exactly from some ancient barbarian horde, you know."

His head tilted and a huffing laugh escaped his chest.

Claudia shifted on the sofa, propped her arm to balance her pretty chin on her knuckles. Her expression was that of interest and curiosity and it peaked Antony's alertness. He reminded himself to listen, to hear and to pay attention to what she would say beneath the words.

"Please don't think that you're the only one who feels these … desires. I guarantee you," her eyes twinkled, "you're not alone on that page. I just … it's just …" Her brow curled and she sighed. "Tell me, what's your full name?"

He blinked. "Ah … I am known simply as Antony."

"Oh, one name. Like Cher?"

Who in Hades is Cher? "Ah, yes."

"I see," she smiled and it melted his heart.

She sat straight and squared her gaze seriously. "Can I tell you something?"

"Please, speak freely."

"There's something about you, Antony. Something … painful … an emptiness. I can feel it when I look at you and it hurts my heart. To be honest, I'm afraid that one night or even a whole lifetime with me … well, I may never be able to fill that void. I will want to, but I might fail you."

She was astute, precise and it pressed like a blade into his chest. "My lady, you already are filling the void."

Claudia almost choked. She stood, poured two glasses of wine from the complimentary welcome basket and handed him one without even asking if he'd like some. She was careful not to let her fingers touch his, Lord only knew what would happen next. Again she sat, tossed back her long hair and sipped. "Have you ever been married?" she asked, desperate to delay the inevitable, to learn all she could about this man who'd torn her heart and filled it at once.

He was thoughtful, chewed his lip then answered. "There was a woman I should have married … and did not. And there was a woman I should not have wed … and did."

"Ah, that's how it goes sometimes, isn't it?"

Antony nodded. "And you Claudia? Have you ever wed?" And his heart slipped into panic. "Or perhaps you are still married?"

"I'm not married, not anymore. For ten years I was married to a wonderful man. I loved him dearly. Then, five years ago … he died in an auto accident."

Antony leaned forward in his chair, set down his wine and watched her carefully. He was sure she did not even notice he'd moved, so deep was her pain, he could feel it radiate from her very heart.

"I don't remember the accident," she said quietly, her eyes focused far from the suite in Vermont. "I remember the air bag, the noise; oh there was so much noise. Shattered glass."

"You were with him in that vehicle?"

Claudia nodded. "I remember blood, so much blood. And when I reached to find Bill's pulse, he was already dead. Dead before the deafening noise stopped, before the ambulance arrived. Dead beside me for what seemed like an eternity." She sighed, set her wine aside and shrugged. "The next year was very difficult for me."

"Of course, my lady. You had much to mourn."

"Yes, very much. There were physical difficulties, Antony. See," she swallowed hard. "I lost part of my leg." Claudia bent and tugged at the hem of her jeans to reveal the prosthetic. Antony's mouth dropped. "Yes, I do well with it. Almost no one even knows. A year of getting back on my feet, learning how to walk again. Then … then … I finally began to mourn my husband. Am I terrible? I can't even explain it; it was as though some sort of survival gene expanded in my DNA and all my focus was on living … even though my husband was dead. It took that long for me to actually focus on mourning for Bill."

"And you have been mourning since," Antony whispered, shuffled to lean closer, wishing he could hold her, comfort her. "I have lived most of my life as a soldier, Claudia. Survival is in us all. But I am always astounded at the power of women to do so … and do so far more efficiently than generals I have known. You had a need to bring your life into the foreground before you could see what you had lost. I commend you for such courage."

Claudia shrugged, sipped wine and looked out the window. She was beautiful, her hair a silky cascade of dark red that glowed in the lamplight and captured his imagination. Her face was calm, a fair face, a tender face, a loving face.

"We are very much alike, Claudia," he slowly stood and moved to sit near her. His hand pushed aside the curtain of red and he tenderly kissed her cheek. "Very much alike, you and I."

"But I have lost a leg. Lost a husband and perhaps a true reason to go on. I buried myself in my work, Antony. As deeply as I could … until just a week ago."

"What happened a week ago?" His eyes were on her cheek as he drew in the sweet scent of her, lowered a soft kiss onto her ear and sighed, repeated his question. "What happened a week ago, my lady?"

"I quit," she turned to him and he blinked at the tears in her eyes. "Left everything to come here and now … now I don't know what I'll do … I swear, Antony. I don't even know why I'm here."

His eyes slid from her eyes to the rise of her breasts. Claudia was panting with fear, with desperation and her breath came erratically. Instead of capturing a breast to uncover and devour, his palm soothingly pressed against the center of her heaving chest. "Shh, shh, my dear Claudia. For I do know why you are here. You are here to be with me. Hush now." His lips kissed hers with a softness, a caring he had never felt for another woman. "You are here to be with me."

"But I'm not whole," she groaned. "I've never shown anyone. I haven't been with a man since the accident … Antony … I'm not whole."

"Nor am I. We shall complete each other. Come. I can no longer wait to love you. Come."

***

The prosthetic began below her knee and replaced shin and foot and she had been correct, no one would even guess. She had mastered her façade beautifully but suddenly a man she thought would remain a fantasy, someone to imagine and dream about, was undressing her. Part of Claudia wanted to panic, but another part wanted the assurance he was offering. Was she still beautiful? Still desirable? Still worthy of being touched and loved? For so long she had secreted behind her work, blocked every moment of time, hiding behind anything to avoid her fears of rejection. It was a point of pride than no one could tell she was handicapped, that no one knew. She avoided pools and spas and marathons and walkathons, but held her own as a nurse. She always managed to sidestep social gatherings and made her friendships online as a nurse consultant. Some became true friends … as had Meredith. The computer screen seemed safer, gave her a cushion to hide her flaw. Odd it was Mere who had convinced her to come out of her shell and go to Vermont. Odd that Antony had been there … and even more odd that he was holding her close beside her bed.

They were naked and he had not mentioned her leg, had not touched it, but he hadn't avoided it either. He stood and suckled a nipple, holding her steady by hip and the small of her back and the sensations were astounding.

"Sit," he gasped, diving for the other breast.

"I can stand," she stated, wanting to appear strong.

"Sit," he ordered and she lowered to the edge of the mattress. His mouth did not leave her breast and her hands lay soft along his face. She sighed and moaned, dropped her head back, feeling ecstasy she had forgotten possible within her body. Without effort he shifted her on the mattress, his heated body lay tight against hers, his mouth always occupied and her nipples alive with everything he did to them.

When she felt his hand move to her leg she gasped. "I'll do it."

"No," his teeth nipped at the taut nipple and she groaned loud, almost forgetting his fumbling fingers. When she reached down to assist again he grunted, "No". And then … suddenly … without fanfare or exclamation … it was done. Over. Her biggest fear was removed and set aside and Antony's attention to her body had never wavered for a moment.

He kissed her madly; her lips, his tongue probing and lapping; her breasts, sliding wetness beneath each globe; her navel and belly, worshiping her fertile place; her mound where he spread moisture and groaned until the deep red curls were soaked and glistening. Then suddenly, he dove for her core.

Claudia was lost in the sensations, her body vibrated, twisted and trembled until his teeth gripped the hard nub and he sucked a relentless rhythm. Without realizing it she was at her height, screaming out his name and panting for air.

Antony moved like a cat, suddenly over her, his cock in hand and aimed. His eyes locked on hers as he drove a deep, fast thrust. He hissed delight and lowered to suck her lips as his hips pounded.

"Oh God. Oh God. Oh God! She shouted and arched, the climax rippling all the way to the surface of her flesh. Antony drove deeper, stilled and grit his teeth, enduring her sucking path squeezing a pulse against his aching cock. When it slowed he kissed her eyes then buried his face in the pillow beside her as he jutted hard and fast, exploded and grunted a loud shout of satisfaction. He dropped over her, fighting for breath, laughter playing at the edges of his gasps.

When finally he rolled off, pulling her into an embrace Claudia sighed, giggled then sighed again. "Good God, I didn't know it could be this good."

Antony turned to kiss the tip of her nose. "Shall we do it again?"

"Now?"

"Of course," his grin brightened his eyes as again he positioned over her. He was motionless for a moment, watching her glow, her eyes dance with pleasure. He kissed her more, kissed her everywhere, her chin and neck, breasts and belly. Placed special attention at her curls below her belly then rose on his knees and slid two fingers inside the silken, slithery path. They curled up as his thumb slid a steady pace across her pebble hard clit.

Claudia shifted, shot her hand down to stop his movement, unsure if she was capable of coming again. "Wait! Wait!"

He stilled, looked up into her eyes.

"I can't … I don't think I can do it again." She blinked back tears of joy and fear and utter abandon.

"Yes you can, beautiful Claudia. You are strong. You can come again … and again … and again. We have all the remaining days of our lives to do this as much as we like, my love."

"Antony?"

He was still containing his intention to bring her to climax, his hand soaked and trembling to return to it. "Yes?"

"Are you saying … you want to … keep me?"

"No, Claudia." His face became serious. "I intend to keep you." And he grinned and winked and resumed his activity.