Chapter 58 – First Time Bloom

Bastian blinked, his eyes locking ahead as his lips hovered just above her neck, but he pulled back, unsure. Did she say that on purpose? Was it a slip or a way to stop him? Finally, their gazes met, and Anastasia could see the stunned expression staring back at her.

"What did you just call me?" His voice had a hint of disbelief, as if he half-expected her to correct herself or laugh it off.

"Bastian," she said, firm, no hint of a mistake.

"I…uh…" He stumbled for words, not quite sure what to make of it. Her saying his name out of nowhere left him feeling like he'd been sucker-punched.

"I know it's you, Bastian," her voice trembled. "I know everything."

Bastian's jaw dropped, his eyes widening in shock. 'How? How does she know?' His mind raced, piecing together clues.'She acted strangely earlier and disappeared for hours...wait. This afternoon, she appeared astonished, and I could feel her anxiety.' Then it struck him, hard. He turned, fists on hips, grimacing. 'Fuck! You idiot!' He remembered. He had said, 'Don't break my achy breaky heart,' something he used to say when they were kids. "Ana, I can explain—"

But Anastasia came forward and pressed a finger to his lips. "You do not have to. I got it. It was probably a celestial ruler? You never did anything without a reason."

For the first time in almost a century, tears welled up in his eyes when he watched her weep, not out of anger, but out of understanding. She wasn't mad. And when she kissed him, she kissed him knowing it was him all along.

"Is this really your face, or can you…can you look like the Bastian I remember?" she asked softly.

He smiled a little, and then his face began to shift, revealing his true self. Anastasia gasped, hands covering her mouth, tears flowing as she stared at the love of her life, alive, looking right at her. They threw themselves into each other's arms, holding on tight, and both sobbing.

"Bastian, I missed you so much," she cried into his shoulder. "I never got to tell you how much you meant to me. I love you more than life itself."

Bastian gently pushed her back, cupping her face. "Ana, I heard everything you said. When I was in a coma, I heard you. I attempted to hold your fingers and I fought to come back, but I couldn't. I am sorry."

Anastasia chuckled quietly, holding back tears. "It is not your fault, Bass. I lost everything when I lost you. Having you here now...it's the best gift."

He opened his lips to speak, but she hushed him with a long kiss that made his heartbeat. She grabbed his face, taking in every aspect of him before whispering, "We've found each other again. I don't want to talk about anything else right now—I only want you." She led him to the bed, as he felt her hands shake. Bastian made her face him and lifted the heavy fall of her hair, pressing a tender kiss to her neck. The thin strap of her top slipped from her shoulder and his mouth moved down to the curve of her neck, kissing it delicately giving her shivers and lifted his head to look at her once more.

"You're breath-taking," he murmured, tracing her bottom lip with his thumb.

He kissed the other side of her neck and held her tightly against his body where she could feel the evidence of his desire, big and hard pressed against her thigh. Her breath shuddered as he slid her strap further down, and adorned a path of hot kisses between her breasts and the touch of his tongue close to her nipple made her moan a little.

His hand trailed to her other breast and squeezed it gently and eventually exposed her breasts fully to his gaze. He admired them as if they were the most beautiful sight he had ever seen and took one in his mouth and then the other.

She arched her back pressing her breasts to his lips wanting him to suckle her deep into his warm, wet mouth.

He walked her back while still nuzzling her now-hard nipples and lay her down, and kissed her again on the lips. 

She pulled away slightly, touching his ear lobes with her lips, whispering, "Make love to me, Bastian."

He pulled back slightly, emotions flickering across his face. "Ana, are you sure?"

"I'm still a virgin, yes but the only man I ever wanted was you. I've never been surer in my life," she said with determination, leaving no doubt.

"Nasa," he whispered, stunned. His comprehension that she wanted him as her first, even after so many years made his heart swell with love, and in that moment, hearing her nickname, Anastasia felt those familiar butterflies.

He skimmed his hands to the edge of her top and her pants, pulling them both down, over her hips, and together with her underwear, pulled them off her legs. When she lay naked before him he sucked in a breath overwhelmed by her beauty.

She flushed from his intense gaze and when she attempted to cover herself with her hands, he stopped her. "No Nasa, don't hide yourself from me. You're so beautiful"

"I want to look at you too," she whispered as she sat up, tracing her fingers along the edge of his shirt, pulling it up, and over his head and she admired his muscles with her fingers which contracted as she touched his skin. He shut his eyes, pressing his lips together as her hands treaded lower and felt the thick bulge in his pants. She concentrated on freeing him so she undid his pants buttons and pulled the waist band down, releasing him from the constraints of his clothing. He helped her by pulling them off and lay her back down, pressing his body on hers.

Their lips met again, not with urgency, but with the deep love they'd always had. He kissed her deeply, his body pressing against hers, his hands exploring her skin as their connection deepened. The touch of her skin against his, made him tremble ever so slightly as his erection became even harder against her.

His hands reached down to her thighs and he delicately spread them apart, and after one more brief and delicate caress on her lips with his, he slid down kissing every inch of her skin and his tongue flicking out to taste her nipple once again making her shudder. As he went further down, she felt a rush of heat as he got closer to her most intimate place. His tongue slipped in to her centre making a squeal accidently escape from her lips from the amazing sensation that overwhelmed her senses so she slapped her hand over her mouth to keep herself quieter. This made him chuckle, the vibration sending waves of pleasure through her.

"You taste like heaven," he whispered, before diving back in. He licked her gently and sucked on her core, his tongue finding places she didn't know existed, and writhed beneath him, her hands fisting the sheets.

"Bastian, please," she begged, not knowing what she was begging for. He looked up, his face glistening with her arousal and gazed at her lovingly while sliding a finger inside her making her gasp as he started to move his finger, in and out, while his thumb rubbed circles on her sensitive core, wet from her excitement.

"Oh god, Bastian," she moaned, her hips moving in rhythm with his hand and her moans encouraging him to pleasure his woman even more. He was slow and delicate and making sure that she enjoyed every moment with him as they had waited so long for this.

She felt a pressure building and she was close, so close, and finally, her body convulsed as waves of pleasure washed over her. He watched her, his eyes mixed with desire, love, and admiration at her reaction to his touches. Once Anastasia's waves of bliss settled down, he went back to her lips and kissed her deeply and she could taste herself on his lips, which for her, was surprisingly erotic.

As he continued to kiss her deeply, he positioned himself at her entrance and pulled away to look at her for confirmation to which she responded by gently nodding at him. Everything led up to this moment, increasing his need to be inside her, to make her his.

"This might hurt, Nasa," he said, his voice gentle.

"I trust you," she replied, her voice steady, and took a deep breath.

He entered her, slowly, giving her time to adjust as his arms quivered while holding himself above her. She felt a moment of pain, but it quickly faded, replaced by a feeling of fullness. He started to move, his hips thrusting in a steady rhythm. Anastasia moved with him, their bodies finding a natural pace while he kissed her fervently and almost possessively as he was claiming her for his own – forever. Time stood still as they made love, not with urgency but with the kind of love that had survived death and years apart.

"I love you, Nasa," he muttered, his voice full of emotion. "I've waited for this for so long."

"Bastian, I love you. So much," she said, breathing deeply and tightening her legs around him, drawing him deeper.

 Hearing her say she loved him and hearing his name like that, Bastian moaned into her neck, the sound rippling through her. It was pure instinct, the way they fit together, their bodies moving in sync as he kissed down her throat, tasting her skin, feeling her pulse beneath his lips.

His name, whispered from her lips again, sent a surge of need through him, stronger than anything he'd ever felt. The world outside disappeared, leaving just them—Anastasia, Bastian, and the fire that consumed them both.

He thrusted faster as he plunged in and out of her. Bastian groaned as she buckled beneath him, their bodies shuddered as waves of pleasure consumed them both like an explosion of absolute bliss as he spilled his seed inside her. As they both hit their climax, the intensity overtook them, leaving them shivering in each other's arms.

Bastian then laid next her, his head on her chest, listening to the steady beat of her heart. "Are you okay, Nasa?"

She grinned as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I am perfect." This was beyond my wildest dreams."

Bastian grinned back, hugging her tight. She was his, and he was hers, and nothing could ever separate them again.