“We can talk about all of this tomorrow around the pool,” Vivian said, attempting to stifle another yawn. “Or maybe theday after tomorrow. I’m sort of in the mood for a lazy day. What do you say we stay in our pajamas, stuff ourselves with junk food, and lay on the couch all day watching Disney movies tomorrow, Pip?”
“Yes!” Pip shouted, wide awake.
Pip loved lazy days, so it was a sure bet he and Belle wouldn’t see them tomorrow. Which suited him fine. He was looking forward to having her all to himself.
They said their goodbyes, waving as Vivian pulled out of the driveway. He slipped his hand into Belle’s, squeezing it gently as they walked back into the house.
Life was good.
Vivian and Pip had given their blessing, and he had Belle here, in their home. It was the first night of forever.
Once inside, neither of them spoke as they worked together to lock up, turn off the lights, then climb the stairs. As they passed the guest room Belle had been using this summer, Victor paused.
“We’ll move your things to my room tomorrow. Then in a couple days, we can head over to Vivian’s and pack up the rest.” One of these days, Victor was going to have to learn how to ask rather than demand, or at least temper his barking, “my way or the highway” tone.
Or maybe not.
Belle nodded, looking just as enthusiastic as Pip had about tomorrow’s lazy day. “Okay.”
He lifted their joined hands as they entered his—their—bedroom, kissing hers. “And you can redecorate this room however you want. You can redecorate the whole damn house. Make it how you like it.”
Belle considered that, then shrugged. “I don’t think I want to change much. It already feels like home, just the way it is.I mean, you’re seriously lacking throw pillows, but other than that?—”
Belle stopped mid-sentence, laughing when Victor narrowed his eyes and growled.
She quickly held her hands up. “Kidding! Just kidding. Besides,” she added, “I’m starting to figure out that home isn’t a place. It’s us—together.”
Victor agreed. Home was laughter and trust and love. Belle had given him all three and turned this house into a true home.
“I’m glad it’s finally out in the open,” she said. “She and Pip seemed really happy for us, didn’t they?”
“They did.”
“So all that worrying…” Belle mused aloud.
“They love you, Belle. Ofcoursethey’re happy for us.”
Even as he spoke, Victor felt the weight of the past couple of months lift from his shoulders.
He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face before cupping her cheek. “I love you. And I’m never letting you go, Sunshine. I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t include you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “Sexy shower or straight to bed?”
Belle giggled. “Sexy shower.”
“Good choice,” he said, grasping her hand and leading her to the bathroom. He started the water, letting it heat up, the two of them wasting no time dropping their clothing to the floor. Belle stepped under the jets first, and Victor followed her in. They reached for each other at the same time, their movements in synch after so many nights together.
Victor had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Belle, never needed someone like he needed her. They kissed as the water sluiced over their bodies, their hands exploring, stroking, claiming.
He slowly pushed her against the tile wall, deepening the kiss as he gripped her legs, pulling them up. Letting the wall at her back help support her weight, Victor held tight to her ass as Belle guided his cock to her pussy.
He pushed in roughly, unable to take her gently. He’d spent too much of today watching her at the picnic, loving how seamlessly she fit in with his teammates and their significant others, as well as his family. It was obvious everyone he cared about loved Belle as much as he did. He didn’t realize how much that meant to him, but as he compared her easygoing friendliness with his teammates to Amelia’s standoffish nature, he once again wondered how the hell he’d been so blind in regards to his ex.
Belle had sipped wine in the shallow end of the pool with Coulton’s and Blake’s girlfriends, Ainsley and Erika, joked around with Preston and Tank as they “helped” Victor man the grill, then played a game of Marco Polo with Rook, McKenna, Vivian, and Pip in the pool.
She’d looked so sexy in her bathing suit and cover-up, he had to practically wipe the drool off his chin, something Dean—the smart-ass—had pointed out to him within hearing distance of too many of his teammates, who cracked up and started giving him shit about being “whipped.”
