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Chapter 36

"Why on earth do you do this to yourself, Anne?" Gilbert asked, trying to hold a position that Anne was maintaining with something that clearly was not effort.

"Shush!" she chastised him, trying to relax into the posture, stretching a bit more as she exhaled.

It wasn't that Gilbert wasn't fit. He was, actually. Running, HIIT, TRX… he used to do weights before, when he could go to a gym… But this stretching things and holding poses for ever? He didn't get it. It was… dull. So little action it did nothing to relax him and all to put him on his nerves. He might be a somewhat patient man, but this was something else. This was not testing patience. This was…

He tried to concentrate. He was not going to be beaten by a yoga thing. He was not and that was it. And it was supposed to be good for the mind and the body! Fred kept telling him so! Not that he did any yoga himself, but he was the psychiatrist, not him… It was even supposed to work with migraines, there was evidence on that!

The voice coming from Anne's laptop told them to release and go to the front of the mat. He followed dutifully and tried to follow a sequence that made no sense to him. Lifting the arms? Going down? Was he supposed to look up or down? He stole a look at Anne, who wasn't even watching the video, following the directions with eyes closed. He shook his head and looked at the screen again, lost one more time, but determined to focus to erase the image of how her butt looked in downward facing dog from his mind. At least for the next half an hour. But he truly couldn't stop looking at her and her creamy legs and roundness and… Back to the creen, Blythe. If he continued like this he would end interrupting her because he wouldn't be able to help himself. So, warrior what?

The sequence seemed to be on repeat and by the third round he resigned to sit on the mat and look at Anne, how her body stretched and moved in ways he wouldn't have even imagined. Her body was so perfect. Skin so soft. He just wanted to caress her, to kiss her… Maybe she wouldn't be mad if they left the whole plan midway and he just showed her what state she was putting him in? She opened her eyes and looked at him directly, undoubtedly feeling his gaze on her.

"Gilbert! You're supposed to do this, not look at me!" she said, half annoyed, half entertained by his face. "I'm not running then!"

He went back to… upward facing dog? Bear did look like that when he stretched…

The torture, thank goodness, was short lived: Anne had programmed the class to be thirty minutes. Stating that she planned to run for not more than twenty if everything went ok. He tried to be… a somewhat respectful adult and didn't jump on her as soon as the application decided they were finally done. As they rolled the mats, she looked at him expectantly.

"Not a convert, Carrots. Sorry. Although I have to admit that I could watch you do yoga every day if it was up to me," he confessed, winking at her, feeling slightly better now that she was not contorted in an asana emphasizing every single curve she had. She rolled her eyes.

"You're insufferable."

"I'm not. I'm just in awe of you," he countered, hugging her tightly and catching her lips, giving her a kiss he had been holding onto for the last 27 minutes since she had done that… downward dog thing? He tried to deepen it, holding her cheeks lovingly, bringing her closer, but she pushed him gently.

"We have to go. We slept until late and Fred is waiting for us in ten minutes," she said, giving her a quick peck.

"We could cancel?" Gilbert proposed, half joking, but actually serious, kissing her along the neck until he reached the fabric of the tight sports top she was using. Crop top, she had said, showing him the strap of the sports bra under it when he asked if that was a bra or a top. And those shorts that shouldn't even be called that. Seeing her in that outfit… Seeing her do yoga in that outfit did strange things to his insides. He somehow wanted to kiss her senseless right now. And then some more.

"Let's get a dog so I don't have to live through Fred's," she dared him, raising an eyebrow, hands on her hips as she put some distance between them. Gilbert sighed in defeat, she went to get the water bottles they had prepared before from the fridge. Wasn't she changing? Putting something on? A t-shirt, for example? A top? Oh. But she was wearing one. In theory. Damn. And he had some better sense than to tell Anne Shirley-Cuthbert how to dress, last time it had been pointless and he had felt bad through the whole thing. If he couldn't stop staring, he didn't even want to think about the people in the park. Hopefully only blind guys today. And she seemed so confident and happy, and honestly that was all that mattered. He went to get the car keys and met her at the door. It was another ridiculously hot day.

"Let's pick up Bear," he said as he closed the door behind them wishing they were back already.

Bear was just happy to be out and running. He didn't seem to care if it was Anne or Gilbert who was taking him on the leash, the important fact was that he was running. They were in Confederation again and the dog was wagging his tail with excitement as Gilbert nugged Anne to run. But she was exhausted. Running or any kind of cardio exercise was definitely not her thing.

"Go on! Go ahead... I'll keep... running," she urged Gilbert. "Go ahead… then come back... I promise I'll do my best not to walk," she said in between breaths.

"I'm not leaving you, I'd rather go slower than leave you alone," he answered. She appeared oblivious, and he honestly thought she was, but it was getting on his nerves how most of the male population in that park was sending not even subtle looks in her direction.

"Go ahead!" she insisted. "I'm sure… this isn't even… a proper workout for you."

"It isn't, I agree, but the whole point was to come with you and I'd rather do that than run more alone," he said. He wasn't even breaking a sweat. Or he was, but because they must be at 35ºC outside.

"The point was to be with Bear and see you doing yoga," she said, stopping and trying not to pant. "Honestly, go ahead. This will kill me," she insisted in between heavy breaths as Gilbert kept jogging in the same place and Bear looked at them expectantly. He barked once. "Bear agrees. Go on. I'll be by that lovely tree there stretching, ok?" Gilbert stopped, looked towards the tree and scratched his nape. He wasn't too sure about this. "Go on !" He shook his head. She had to be able to fend off male attraction of the kind she was attracting right now, she had been on her own for far longer than he had been with her and it made no sense to assume this role of protector. It was ridiculous and spoke way more about his insecurities than anything else. She had always been strong by herself. And looking around, her outfit really was pretty normal. He felt old.

"Ok. I'll run 5k and be back in around twenty?" he finally said. "Do you want to keep Bear?"

"He doesn't want to keep me, that's clear," she laughed. The dog only wanted to run, that much was obvious. Gilbert nodded and took off, way faster than they had been going, Bear on the leash trotting happily next to him as if it was easier than walking. Anne stretched her arms and walked towards the tree she had signaled to Gilbert. She still couldn't get what the appeal was in running. The only reason she ever did it was to try to clear her mind on bad days, and mainly because trying to breath and keep going required more concentration.

She lay on the grass, looking at the canopy of the tree for a few minutes, checking her phone. She looked at the pictures from the past day with Fred and Ella. It had been a great trek. Very simple, yes, but so beautiful, the company great… The conversation with Ella so illuminating. That selfie with Bear and Fred was just about the cutest. She opened instagram.

callmecordelia: Should we get a dog or not? Here, beardad agrees. What do you say?

She published the photo and sat down, thinking it was in her best interest to get some stretching done if she wanted to be able to walk at all the next day. She looked for a routine focused on stretching after running and started following it, oblivious of what was happening around, ignoring the comment notifications that appeared on top of her screen.

"Preparing for a run?" she heard someone say. She lifted her eyes from the spot on the grass she was focusing on and looked at two guys about her age.

"Recovering, actually," she answered, not really minding him and holding the stretch on her leg.

"Training for something?" one insisted, clearly wanting to make some conversation, but his voice kind. Anne looked at them inquisitively. They didn't look like some creepy guys and were actually maintaining some distance. They were wearing exercise gear as well. Seemed alright.

"Not really. I don't run. Just did it today," she commented, not really paying attention to them.

"Oh, it's just you're using the app from Nike for your stretches… We just assumed," the other one said, smiling. She looked at her phone. She was using one Gilbert had mentioned. "They have a pretty great app for running."

"I'm still telling you Strava is the way to go," the other countered, as if it was an old discussion. "What do you think? Impartially, since you say you don't run," he said to Anne, and explained both apps to her, making easy conversation. They seemed like good guys, and they were still keeping their distance, not even proposing going anywhere. She talked with them, checking what they were saying, but felt pretty confident that these guys were really not creeps like Jones and had been genuinely confused by what appeared to be her on running clothes.

Gilbert was coming back and looked in the direction of the tree Anne had commented before, seeing a couple of guys standing there, seemingly talking with Anne. One was leaning against the tree, the other was just standing there. They didn't seem aggressive, she seemed relaxed, they weren't even that close to her... but honestly? He was not in the mood. Not after Jones on Friday and Anne just brushing everything off. She had since then thought about the subject, but… still. He stopped for a second and Bear looked at him, expectant.

"See there, boy?" he said, signaling Anne. The dog looked at his hand and Gilbert shook his head. Maybe when they were a tad closer. They started running again, Gilbert pushing a bit faster now, and when they were a couple of hundred meters away Bear barked, happy to see Anne. "Go to her, Bear. Come on, boy, run!" Gilbert said, letting him go of the leash and crossing his fingers that he was not going to be running after a dog. He never let Bear off leash (and he honestly knew he wasn't supposed to do so), but he was going to get to Anne faster than him.

The dog got on running and barking, jumping behind Anne (that was giving them her back from where they were) and positively licking her whole face and neck as she laughed at the tickles it produced. Gilbert stopped running and walked calmly towards them, feeling calmer now that Anne had Bear with her and was not alone with those guys. One of them said something and Bear stopped his insistent kisses to look at him. By the expression of the guy, Gilbert knew Bear was growling, which became evident as Anne took his leash.

Ha! There you have it. Keep away from her, creeps , he thought not feeling as guilty as he probably should. But for some reason he could still not understand, Anne finally was with him and he was not about to let anyone look at her that way. Bear started barking and they took a couple of steps back as she talked to the dog and scratched him behind the ears, evidently trying to calm him.

"All good, Carrots?" he called when he was about ten meters away. She turned and looked at him, confused.

"He was all happy!" she said, clearly not understanding the dog's behaviour. "Bear, boy, stop it!"

"He just doesn't like strangers that much," Gilbert explained, getting to her side and putting a hand on her shoulder. The guys looked at him, surprised. "Hey, what's up?" he greeted, trying to sound cordial. They smiled and nodded and he took Bear's leash as the dog continued barking at the strangers. He clapped one time to get his attention and the dog looked curiously at him. "Sit, Bear," he commanded in a confident voice and the dog sat, the barking ceasing. He ruffled his head. "Are you ready, Anne-girl?"

"I guess, you don't stretch? What's the app you use for running?" she asked.

"Nike, works well enough for me. I tried a couple more when I started running… But this is the one that I liked the most, and now I just don't think about changing. Been using it for years," he said. One of the guys said something to the other one, as if they had a bet.

"I use that one too," he explained. "But this one here insists on Strava…"

"There's one for everyone, I guess," he said, not really knowing what the conversation was about. But he looked again at Anne, who seemed relaxed, and he relaxed as well, sitting next to her. If they were staying, he might as well stretch. Bear still was uneasy, but sat next to Anne and rested his head on her legs. "I still use that one because I have all my runs and times there, to be honest. I don't know what has happened with running apps for the past five years." The other guy said something, continuing the conversation they had been having before he arrived, and he followed along as he stretched. He looked at Anne when he was done.

"Well… Nice to meet you, but we're going to get going," she said, standing up. Bear shook, sending slobber everywhere, and he stood up as well, saying his goodbyes. It had been interesting, after all. Maybe he could check the app the other one was saying… Or just stay with the same one.

"So how was your run?"

"It was fine," he said. "So, do you want to get something to drink?"

"Sure. What happened to Bear before? I had never seen him aggressive," she asked, trying to change the subject.

"He's a rescue. He… didn't have an easy life before Fred and Ella took him in and he is very wary of strangers. We were all very surprised when you met him because he is never like that, usually he just barks or goes hiding," Gilbert explained as they stopped at the front of the ice cream shop. "What do you want?" he asked, signaling the menu outside.

"Just an ice coffee…"

"Ok, wait for me here?" Gilbert said, giving Bear to her as she nodded. He put on his mask as he saw her squat in front of the dog, talking softly with him and caressing him behind the ears.

It didn't take him long to get both ice coffees. He was going out, both cups in his hand, and saw that Anne was exactly in the same position, a few meters to the side of the door, back to him as Bear wiggled his tail in happiness to her attention. He smiled softly at the view. Just a second, though, as he heard a couple of guys next to the door he had just exited through.

"What do you say, Max? I reckon she is good. You know what they say about redheads, wild in bed," one said, winking to the other. Gilbert stopped walking.

"I'd do her from behind. Wouldn't mind sharing with you, buddy, eh?" the other answered as they snickered and Gilbert felt his blood boil and turned to look at them, his eyes hard and cold.

"How about you both shut up and respect women?" he said, his tone even and menacing in a way that left no room for discussion. He didn't even wait for an answer and walked to where Anne was, clearly oblivious. "Let's go, Anne," he said to her, his mood slightly off. She looked up at him, a big smile, Bear's slobber on her cheek, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Come, love. Here's your coffee. And a napkin."

"Thanks!" she said, laughing, as she cleaned her cheek. Gilbert received Bear's leash and admired her. She looked so happy, so carefree… "What?"

"Nothing, I was just noticing how much more relaxed you are today than you were yesterday"

"I spoke with Ella, with you… even with Fred," she replied, before giving a drink to her coffee. "This is good!"

"It is. I'm glad you really feel better. I guess being out helps and all?"

"Seeing you try to do yoga helps," she said playfully, nudging him. He chuckled. Seeing her doing yoga helped. But not exactly to relax him, quite the opposite. "So, what do you say? Should we repeat this next week? You, yoga, then a run with Bear and the park?"

"Anne, you didn't run anything!"

"I did, too! Plus, I got to see you run. And do yoga. Which was the whole point," she teased, winking at him. He smiled at her, feeling content and happy and, if he was honest with himself, slightly turned on by her smile, her shiny eyes and those exercise clothes.

"How did this boy behave?" Fred asked them as Anne unleashed Bear and he went running and the three of them followed him.

"Good," Gilbert said, confidently.

"He just barked at some guys… I had never seen him like that," Anne commented.

"He's very protective and distrustful of strangers, what were they doing? He never goes out of his way to bark at anyone," Fred said.

"They were just talking to me? I don't know. It was weird. I'm going to say hi to Ella," Anne said, taking importance off the situation as Fred also said it was a normal Bear occurrence. Fred smiled and signalled in the direction of the kitchen and turned to look at Gilbert as soon as Anne disappeared from view.

"Mate, you let her out of the house like that? What the heck, Blythe?"

"I can't quite tell her what to do, Freddie. She'll have my head and she should dress however she pleases," Gilbert explained. "It's… It's mental, the way guys look at her and she doesn't even realize it. Makes me mad. Interestingly enough, many women dress like that. I had never noticed before."

"Look at you, all cute and jealous."

"Shut it. I'm actually serious. Like Jones? Only everywhere. And I can't quite go all through life reporting people. To whom? What would I accomplish?"

"Nothing. But reigning your temper might be a good start, Gilbert. And your jealousy. You won't achieve anything by getting mad and it doesn't serve any purpose. But honestly? I do get why she gets so much attention," Fred said.

"I know, believe me. I live with her," Gilbert mumbled and Fred laughed at his tortured expression.

"No wonder your frustration all these months. I mean, she's cute. Like really cute. But that body? And then you finding… what was it that you found that had you blushing like a pre-teen?"

"Wright! Please let go of that?" Gilbert pleaded, annoyed and embarrassed as he remembered the incident. Fred laughed, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

"Or that time you came here like a madman? Give me Bear, please?" Fred continued, imitating Gilbert, still laughing.

Gilbert shook his head, his hand going to his neck, embarrassed and not even knowing why. And then he remembered that day, before they were even together. When he had got to the house and she had been doing yoga in that very same outfit (when he actually thought a crop top was a bra, and to this day he couldn't tell the difference). And she had gotten on the kitchen counter and he had almost had sex with her in that spot because that's how hot she was that day. But she had told him to stop… and he had gone to work out like a madman, just as Fred was saying. Only today, hopefully, she wouldn't tell him to stop.

"Or that pajama you used to tell me about? The transparent one?" Fred insisted, laughing, Anne still clearly out of sight, Gilbert less annoyed and more flustered as he remembered all he had suffered for months on end until Anne declared (in not as many words) that she was finally ready to give their relationship a shot. "What, Blythe?"

"Nothing. I think we need to go. See you tomorrow to report Jones?" he asked Fred. His friend nodded, somewhat confused by the sudden goodbye, raising an eyebrow but exploding in another fit of laughter as he saw Gilbert's slightly flushed cheeks. "Anne? Are you ready?" he called her and as she appeared a few seconds later he knew he was right. All those times… finally being together… He just couldn't wait to show her how much he admired her, how much he loved her. He needed her now, if she would just have him. It didn't even matter that they had had sex already a couple of times, in that very moment he felt again all the need of ten years condensated and he wanted to be with her, to love her. All of her. Now . If she would have him. "Bye, Ella!" he called.

"Bye, Fred, see you around?" Anne said, clearly confused.

"Yes, Cordelia. Go with Blythe. Talk to you soon," Fred said, still unable to stop snickering.

They went back to the car and Gilbert started the car and Anne looked at him. He was silent, images of her of the past few months pestering his mind.

"What was that, Gil?" she finally asked.

"That? Nothing, I just know they had some stuff for the afternoon," he answered. It wasn't exactly a lie, but the whole truth was him taking advantage of it to get her out as soon as he realized how much he longed for her. How could she really have no idea of the effect she had on him? Or was she just wickedly teasing?

Gilbert feigned paying attention as Anne talked some about what Ella had been telling her about the ideas they had on the nursery. He let his hand wander along her leg, caressing her soft skin up and down the smooth skin of her thigh. He made some non-committal sounds, eyes on the road, his fingers trailing higher at each stroke.

Anne felt a shiver run through her and looked at Gilbert, who seemed to be caressing her absent-mindedly. As if somehow he didn't realize how much he was turning her on. She saw as he drove, apparently concentrated on the road ahead. They stopped at a red light and he turned and looked at her in the eyes as his hand wandered to the inner hem of her shorts, making her inhale sharply. He chuckled, eyes back on the road just as the light changed.

Neither said anything more. Anne tried to control her heavy breathing, because honestly, they were in a car! In plain daylight! And his hand was just brushing her there ! And she was somehow liking it, but they needed to get home soon, preferably without crashing! Gilbert had a small, satisfied grin at Anne's attempt to maintain some semblance of control. He was still concentrating on the road, but the small whimper escaping her throat was not helping much. He didn't want to let go of her either and they were so close now.

As they entered the garage, he let go of her (he kind of had to, to get into his slot) and Anne felt his absence immediately. She let go a shaky sigh. How was it possible for him to have that effect on her? He was barely touching her leg! She got down as soon as he turned off the car, trying to get air, space, something that allowed her to think, the hot summer air not allowing for any kind of refreshment.

They were still in silence when Gilbert opened the door. Anne was feeling calmer, but he tipped the code quickly and let her go in first, following her hastily. Closing the door, his eyes looked for her as he got out of his shoes, pushing them and waiting impatiently for her to stand up again. As soon as she did, he kissed her.

For Gilbert it almost felt like it was the first time they kissed. So hungry he was for her lips. He wasn't thinking straight when he cornered her against the closed door, her hands on the back of his head, pulling his hair as she brought him closer to her. As his tongue played with hers. As his teeth bit her lips and his own moulded against her. His hands cupped her cheeks, tilting her up to him.

For whatever reason, Anne was matching up his urgency as he pinned her to the door. Maybe it was how he had riled her up in the car? Or the persistence and despair his kisses were carrying were rubbing off on her? She didn't know, but she wanted him close. To feel his chest flush against her. He left her mouth and started trailing down kisses along her jaw, nibbling on her, his body reacting to the whimpers that were already escaping her mouth.

"I need you so much, Anne," he mumbled in between kisses. "You have no idea," he insisted, sucking a spot below her ear as she contorted, squirming in his arms, as he pressed her against the door feeling her body flush against his.

"I… me… too," she answered, her voice shaky as she wasn't really thinking coherently, the only thing clear in her mind was that she needed him as much as he seemed to need her. She wanted to feel this. Feel Gilbert in her life as her partner and not some asshole.

She had felt the stares in the park but had tried to dismiss them, because that had been how her life had been. But now, she didn't want that anymore. Because somehow it felt like she was being unwillingly shared between all of them, between their stares and their low-voiced comments, and she truly only wanted one man- the only one that had been able to make her feel good about herself. And she wanted the reassurance that only him could give her.

Her hands looked for his face, bringing him again to her lips, and she drank him in as needely and hungrily as he had done when he had closed the door just a moment before. His hands went to the low of her back, bringing her closer towards his erection, and she moaned. She wanted him now. Wanted to feel full of him. She left his face and put her hands at the waistband of his shorts, pushing them down slightly, unsure if the door was the best place at all.

"Gil…" she mumbled against his lips and he put not even a fraction of an inch in between them, his eyes dark, boring into hers as their foreheads met and they both breathed shakily. "I need you now," she declared, and felt his hands going to her waistband as well, pushing down the tight and soiled shorts she was wearing. She stepped out of them as she mirrored his movements.

"Turn," Gilbert told her and she did it, sensing what he wanted to do and spreading her legs, inclining somewhat against the door. He admired her bottom for just a second, round and expecting, before touching her folds and massaging in circles at her center with one hand, the other caressing her breast over that crop top. "Look how tight you are, Carrots... " he whispered in her ear and trailed kisses down her neck and nape, nibbling softly. Anne shivered, moaning, her chest sensitive, her skin tingling with want, feeling his finger below adventure little by little inside her. "How sensitive…"

"Gilbert, now," she insisted, because she was not above pushing back until he was in her. He obeyed, going in her hard, moaning as he felt her moist, tight folds against his erection, hot and pulsating. Fuck. Condoms. Again. She was starting to feel the relief of him inside her when he retreated quickly and didn't push back. Another groan, but of utter frustration, escaped his throat. "Fuck, Gil… don't tease."

"Come," he said hoarsely, swallowing. "Bedroom. We need a condom," he explained and she didn't move. "I won't have you regretting this in half an hour. Bedroom. Now," he insisted, kissing her neck, because if he didn't his resolve was going to disappear.

She straightened and followed him, arriving as he was closing the nightstand drawer, a foil packet in his hand. She lay on the bed as he rolled it down his length, their eyes locked in each other. He stood in front of her when he finished. He took off his sweaty shirt, discarding it on the floor.

"Gilbert, for the love of…" what was taking him so long? She could count with the fingers of one hand the times she had desperately needed anyone inside her as much as today. Probably she didn't even need a whole hand.

"Turn," he said, because he still had the image of her in that all four yoga poses from the morning (cow? cat? another animal? did it even matter? Why did so many yoga poses had animal names in them?) and was not going to be deterred. Especially if she seemed to be as willing as appeared. She frowned slightly in confusion but did as she was told, lying on her stomach with curiosity, and soon felt his hands bring up her hip until she was supported in her knees, pulling her towards the edge of the bed, her face and arms burrowed on a pillow.

And then he went in her, and she moaned at the feeling, at this new angle she had never been in before and that seemed to fulfil her exactly as she needed in that moment. He pulled out but came in again fully, not giving her a second to miss him, his hands on her hips as she whimpered and moaned at the sensation of having him need her as much as she needed him.

"I've wanted to do this since this morning, Carrots," he whispered hoarsely to her ear as he leaned forward, moving her hair off her face. She whimpered, not feeling confident in her current ability to speak, feeling tension starting to gather in between her legs as he kissed her neck and then sucked it, going hard on her. She moaned louder at the sensation. "You like this, don't you? Me inside you?" he whispered, as he used the same hand to pinch a nipple, causing her to moan even louder. "You want this today, don't you? You need this?"

"Gil… Gil…" she tried to speak, but was able to say only his name. Goodness, she needed him. Just as he said. She needed him this way. Hard against her center, his words only turning her on even more, if that was even possible.

"You're so fucking wet, Carrots," he groaned as one of his hands wandered around her leg, rubbing circles at her center, making her moan even louder as she felt herself coming so close in between all the sensations. She needed this. To feel Gilbert and his strength and how he seemed to breathe heavily, a low groan with each thrust. She didn't hold it this time, like she had done so many before. She came strongly, trembling, her body contorting and looking to get even closer to his as she moaned and breathed against the pillow she had pulled, her fists closed.

She felt her legs giving in, but she didn't want this to end. Not with Gilbert not having finished yet. Not without seeing his face first. He caressed her for a moment as she regained her breath, feeling his erection throbbing with want, and then she turned and looked at him, propping herself on her elbows.

"Now you lie down, Gilbert Blythe," she said rasply as she remembered that first kiss they shared weeks ago and how Gilbert had invited her to be on top of him. She wanted to try that today. See how that went. Have him writhing under her as she did under him.

He widened his eyes, not having expected her to give him such a command, but gave in quickly because he had always dreamt of it. His fantasies had always been plagued by Anne being as bossy in bed as she was everywhere else. Resting on his back, he saw as Anne turned and straddled him, her brow furrowed as she tried to understand if she should move forward or not…

But then she grabbed his erection on her hands and slid herself on top of him, as she looked at him in the eyes. Her hands to his chest. He couldn't help the groan that formed on his throat, his eyes squeezing shut at the sensation, how his head arched back. He had fantasized about this more than he would ever admit and the sensation of her on top of him, of how tight she was, how wet and slick made him arch his back to go deeper into her.

"Anne… girl… this…" he tried, and she looked at how utterly undone he was, even more so than on that day they had gone to the lake. "You… this…" she started moving, unsure at first and then confidently, her undone hair falling to her sides and shining with the afternoon sun that came through the window. Gilbert moved a hand to her bare waist, the other to her center, his words now unintelligible.

"You feel good, right, Gil?" she whispered as she leaned down, thrusting uninterrupted, to kiss him on the side of the neck, in that spot that was so sensitive, alternating her words with the kisses just to make him crazy like he always did with her with sucking just that spot. "I can feel you go so deep.." she muttered, putting effort in every word.

"Fuck! Anne!" he exclaimed, his hips jerking forward harder than before. She nibbled the spot for a moment, proud of the hisses and half-mouthed words she was getting from him, lost in their sound, and then moved to look at him. He admired her, her freckles, her lips, his hips moving to match hers, movement for movement, as if they were having an understanding, a conversation that was beyond the rational. He was so close. So, so close. He wanted her to come again, but also couldn't bring himself to stop whatever she was doing. "Carr… yes, move…"

She felt so close again. Between the friction, and his fingers, and this kiss, and… everything, she started tensing as she moaned, burrowing her face in the crook of his shoulder as he hugged her with the hand that had previously been on her hip. He changed the pattern his fingers were moving in and she felt a renewed wave of pleasure coursing through her.

"Yes, Gil…" she whispered hoarsely. "Just that… You want me to make you cum, don't you?" she insisted, feeling so close but wanting him to feel as much as she already had. He continued for a few seconds, until he could no longer concentrate, the pleasure he was feeling too big and encompassing and absorbent as he exploded, not able to hold on any longer.

"Fuck… Anne… sweet… goodness…" he whispered incoherently, not able to think, to speak in between his groans. He brought her close as he felt surges of pleasure cross through him, unable to hold a throaty growl, to keep his eyes open. She kissed him again on that spot on his neck, amplifying even more all he was feeling, being in her, watching her on top of him, her mouth, her scent everywhere and her hair on fire reflecting the light.

He tried to regain his breath, sure that she had been so close, and yet had not come. He opened his eyes and found her blue eyes looking at him, pupils dilated, a certain awe in them. He stretched to kiss her, bringing her down to deepen the kiss. Carefully, he turned them so she was on her back and he pulled off her carefully, tying the used condom and letting it to the side before turning to look at her.

"You're so incredible I still don't get how you exist," he assured her, caressing her face before giving her a kiss. She exhaled shakily, smiling.

"Ditto," she mumbled as he trailed kisses down her jaw. This was not finished. She would come at the very least one more time. He longed to see her squirming under him. Calling names. Saying what she needed. Calling his name. He let a hand wander down, finding her folds again, her hips jerking involuntarily. "Gil…" she wasn't actually sure of how much she could be in this state anymore. It wasn't that she didn't want this. It was more a matter of… her body being able to endure it? She didn't even know how to describe it.

"I want to hear you," he muttered in her ear.

"I'm not sure if I can…" she answered. He kissed her below her ear, sucking at her earlobe as his hand moved lazily but persistently against her center.

"I know you do," he insisted hoarsely. "You needed me? You have me. All of me," he continued, picking up his pace as he felt Anne take in a breath, her hips jerking. She had been so close before it didn't take long at all for her to come again, tensing around his fingers as her back arched, her whole body in tension, his lips capturing her moans as he kissed her thoroughly. She was left panting as she turned to look at Gilbert, who was resting on his side, looking at her adoringly. He moved forward and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Carrots."

"Me too, Gil," she replied, moving over to nuzzle on his chest.