She felt savage and free as she rode him with abandon. His hands braced her hips as he drove in and out of her, and his mind blended with hers. She experienced his bliss as she rode him and his satisfaction as his blood mingled with hers. She could feel his profound and unconditional love for her, along with a need for her that more than matched her own.
He tasted so fantastic, she could barely stand the delicious torment. She thought she might shatter from the ecstasy consuming her entire body. The power encompassing him shook her as it poured into, and through, her veins. She wanted to cry from the extreme joy and wonder of it all.
Stefan waited until he was sure all her fear was gone, sure she wouldn't fight him. He was trembling with need as he brushed her hair back from her neck. She moaned as her fingers dug into his back. Her need blazed into his mind.
He groaned as he bit deeply into her tender skin. Pleasure nearly devoured him in its intensity as her sweetness filled him, and a feeling of utter contentment tore through his veins. She tasted as sweet as he’d known she would. Her mind poured into his, her intense love nearly shattered him. He trembled as his hands entwined in her thick hair.
Isabelle pulled away from him; a savage cry escaped her as she trembled and shook from the extreme bliss threatening to consume her. She clasped the back of his head to her as his mind seared into hers. She desperately tried to convey her love to him as he had done to her. She leaned back in his arms, riding him with savage abandon as a feeling of completeness engulfed her. She had no control over herself, no control over anything as all her inhibitions melted away. She screamed wildly as the orgasm ripped through her, shaking her to the very core of her existence.
Stefan plunged into her as her muscles convulsed around him and tore an earth-shattering orgasm from him. He poured all his essence into her as she collapsed against him. He held her sweat-slicked body as he breathed in the enticing smell of their lovemaking. Closing his eyes, he relished in the feeling of serenity and belonging filling him.
"I love you, Stefan."
Her words shook his core, and his heart almost burst with joy. At first, he was unable to speak through the lump in his throat and the emotions consuming him. She tried to pull away from him, but he refused to let her.
"I love you too, Isabelle."
She went limp against him as her tears of joy ran down to wet his shoulder.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Isabelle was in the best mood of her life the next day as she helped her mother prepare for Ian's going away party. For this party, instead of being miserable and brooding, she was unbelievably happy. Vicky and Abby stared at her in disbelief as she slipped a platter of hamburgers onto the kitchen counter and flashed them a blindingly bright smile. Her mother bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud, and Willow quickly vacated, mumbling something about morons and love.
The only moment almost spoiling her happiness was when Jess came downstairs with her suitcase in hand. She cast Isabelle a scathing look but quickly lowered her head and hurried out the door. Kathleen and Delia came down behind her also with their suitcases in hand.
"You're leaving?" Isabelle cried, as a wave of guilt flooded her.
Kathleen smiled as she dropped her suitcases on the ground. "Yes, I need to take Delia clothes shopping and get her ready for school. Delia, go on out and help Jess."
Isabelle waited until Delia left before turning back to Kathleen. "It's not because of me is it?" She would hate herself if Kathleen were leaving because of her, and her mother lost her friend, again.
"No dear, it's not." Kathleen patted her hand reassuringly. "If you're even as close to being as happy as your parents are, then I wish you all the joy in the world. He wasn't happy with Jess." Isabelle felt tears well up in her eyes as she clutched Kathleen's hand. How did she have such unhappy daughters? Isabelle wondered as Kathleen pulled away from her and walked over to hug her mom. "I miss you, Sera. This time, let's not lose touch."
Tears streaked down her mother's face as she embraced her friend. Isabelle looked up as Stefan's presence filled her senses. He stood in the doorway, his large frame taking up more than half of it as he surveyed the kitchen before meeting Isabelle's gaze. Is everything all right? The thought blasted into her mind, warming her to her toes as she smiled happily and nodded.
He remained standing in the doorway, not entirely believing her. He felt her distress outside, and with Kathleen present, he wasn't sure if she was just lying to keep him calm. He knew Kathleen and liked her more than her daughters, but a mother would always protect her children first, and he didn't want Isabelle hurt because of that. He turned as Liam appeared beside him; his brow furrowed as he watched Sera pull away from Kathleen with tears streaming down her face. Liam relaxed and brushed past Stefan to enter the kitchen.
"Ah, here they both are," Kathleen said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "And where's the rest of the clan?"
As if on cue, Jack, David, Mike, and Doug appeared to say their goodbyes. Stefan walked into the kitchen and made his way over to
