Victor is struggling to manage his time and energy. When he’s with me, he’s not training, but when he’s away from me, he’s distracted because he wants to protect me.
“I haven’t heard from Charlie. I’m okay to walk places myself.”
“Okay, but was Carter going to walk you to work if I wasn’t here?”
“Probably.”
“Then I’ll be here.”
Only until the semester ends…I want to finish his sentence, but don’t.
“Do you want to go to the movies with me tonight?”
I laugh, and Victor gives me a serious look.
“And what do you suggest I tell Alek?”
I’m still smiling.
“That you went out with Carter.”
My laughter dies instantaneously. Victor’s hurt, and I’m guessing he doesn’t think he’s good enough for me.
I halt right before the stairs in front of the rec center.
“I don’t want Carter. I want you.” I place my hands on his cheeks. “Take those thoughts out of your head.”
He sighs and a sharp pain cuts through my heart.
“It hurts so much knowing that I’m not good for you.” Victor looks away.
“And I’m not good for you, but here we are,” I say.
I climb a few stairs and my head is at the same level as Victor’s. I capture his cheeks and the short stubble prickles my skin. I rub my palms on it and smile. His gaze locks with mine, and the pained look is transformed into a glow of desire.
We move at the same time and crash our mouths together. I can feel his smile on my lips. Victor bites my lower lip gently, and a delicious sensation builds in my core. He immediately sucks on the same spot to soothe it. We are two possessed individuals hungry for each other.
“Hey, you better get your ass over here. I have a surprise for you, which involves kicking your butt,” a deep male voice says from behind me.
I jump.Ohmigod. Evan is standing on top of the stairs. My boss saw me canoodling with Victor.
“Hey, Tia.”
“Hello,” is all I can say, and I rush upstairs to start my shift.
Evan and Victor walk in a minute later, and as they pass by the front desk, Victor gives me a playful wink. And I respond with a cheek-to-cheek stupid grin because I can’t help it.
* * *
Iwake up Thursday morning and stretch in my bed, feeling all kinds of sore muscles waking up and aching. I reach for my phone on the nightstand. I have a missed text from Victor at five in the morning. The text is a GIF of a man stuffing his mouth with candy. I fire back a message to him.
Me: What in the world?
Victor: I was thinking about you
Me: Laughing emoticon.
Victor: I want to eat you up.
