She washis.
And some stranger was about to take her out for drinks when he’d been standing three feet away from her for years, wanting to touch her, take her, own her. Maybe none of that was P-fucking-C, but the beast was the one in control right now.
Belle’s eyes widened as Victor stalked forward, not stopping until he stood right in front of her. She’d backed up a step upon his approach, but because she’d hovered near the doorway, shecouldn’t move more than that before her back was against the wall.
Victor paused when mere inches separated them.
“Stay home. With us,” he growled.
Belle’s eyes searched his. Confused. And maybe intrigued.
Before she could respond, he closed the distance, holding her against the wall.
This kiss was like the first two. Passionate, hungry, bordering on painful. He kissed her like the beast he was, staking one hell of a fucking claim.
His hands slid down her sides to her hips, where his fingers closed around the material of her dress. He slowly began inching it up as his lips devoured hers. Victor slipped one large thigh between hers, pressing it firmly against her hot center.
Belle’s hips twitched, just once—no, twice—before her small hands closed around his wrists, stopping him.
Victor tried to shake himself free, but her grip tightened, rousing him enough that he found the strength to pull back from the kiss.
“What’s changed since the last time we kissed?” she asked.
He froze.
Everything.
And nothing.
Nothing had changed.
And that was the problem.
Pip’s stability was sacred. If they failed, it was Pip who lost. Pip and Viv.
He exhaled slowly, his heart thundering so hard in his chest, he could feel the pulsing in his ears. It was almost deafening. “Nothing,” he murmured.
Belle’s expression shuttered. “That’s what I thought.”
Victor was too shell-shocked to resist when she gently pushed him away from her, stepping to the side and leaving the kitchen without another word.
He remained there as she said a quiet good night to Pip. He listened as the front door opened, then closed, and he heard the sound of her car starting, backing out of the driveway before fading into the night.
Victor lifted one hand, placing it on the wall, fighting like mad to steady himself, but to no avail.
He was fucking wrecked.
Again.
“Uncle Vic,” Pip said, venturing into the kitchen. “Can we have popcorn?”
He nodded, grateful his niece didn’t think it was weird that he was standing alone in the kitchen, staring at the wall.
He was also thankful that Belle’s question had been the equivalent of dumping cold water over his head, because his raging erection had wilted the moment she’d asked him what had changed, and he’d been forced to admit the truth.
Pip walked to the refrigerator, opening the door to peer inside. “Can I have some juice too?”
“Sure.” Victor tried to shake off what had just happened with Belle, but the tightness in his chest was stuck, and he was afraid all the distractions in the world weren’t going to loosen it anytime soon.
