Page 45 of Burning Obsession

I rush to the bathroom, pulling a washcloth off the rack and wet it with warm water. I clean myself up first, then rush to the other room to take care of Victor. He’s just standing by the bed where I left him.

Cleaning him quickly, I pull back the blanket, and we both crawl underneath it. He rolls onto his side, melting his body against mine as he rests his head on my chest.

“Victor.”

“Yes.” His warm breath dances along my bare skin.

“Will you be my boyfriend? I want us to be official, and I can’t risk losing you to someone else.”

“You can’t lose me. You’ve owned me since the moment I laid eyes on you. I’d love to be your boyfriend.”

Chapter 13

Victor

This weekend was more than I could have ever expected.

I have a boyfriend. I met his family, and best of all, we had sex. It was earth-shattering, and saying goodbye to him this morning was like a knife through my chest.

But he needed to rest after the weekend, and I had a big meeting in the morning that I still needed to prepare for. But he’s off work tomorrow, and he’s already said I’m his tomorrow night. He even said I should pack a bag.

It took everything in me not to scream at the top of my lungs. My life is finally perfect. Dream job as my own boss, making good money, about to be an uncle, and finally with the man of my dreams. Everything is coming up roses for me.

I don’t bother unpacking. Instead, I head straight for my office and get to work. There’s no way in hell I’m letting any unfinished work on an account keep me from Jake tomorrow. It’s already bad enough that I'm apart from him tonight.

How am I going to survive this relationship when we can’t be together? I can deal with him being at work. I get that. It’s the not waking up next to him after two mornings of doing precisely that. There was just something comforting about having him in the same bed with me, his arms wrapped around mine.

“Okay, Vic, it’s time to get to work.” I get up long enough to get a Witch’s Brew Alani from the kitchen and get back to work.

Three hours later, the numbers have begun to blur together. I lean back in my chair and rub my eyes, trying to remove the strain from them. That’s the worst part about being an accountant. After a while, the lines start to run together, and numbers start to reverse, so I have to be extra diligent with what I’m inputting.

One more account.

That’s all I need to check.

And then I’ll be done for the day and ready for my meeting tomorrow. Not only that, but any outstanding work I have is completed, so nothing will keep me from spending the night with Jake.

I get back to work comparing the payment against the invoice, verifying the date it was paid, double checking all my numbers. I repeat this step with the next invoice.

I’m about to do their payroll when my phone vibrates on the desk. I glance down at the screen and let out a soft chuckle. My sister. Of course Nellie would be messaging me. I ignored her all weekend, but I did send her one picture of us from the wedding reception. I’m honestly surprised she waited this long to message today.

When I don’t answer her message quickly enough, the phone starts to vibrate in my hand again; this time she’s calling.

I’m already smiling before I even answer.

“Nellie.”

“Tell me everything,” she rushes out.

“Good evening to you, sister of mine.”

“I don’t have time for pleasantries, Vic. I need information. I played nice with you even though you ghosted me all weekend, except for the picture. It’s time you tell me everything about you and the fireman hottie. Like, did his hose ignite your fire or put it out?”

I laugh under my breath because of course she’s coming in with something sweet, worried, and bordering on the line of vulgar all at the same time.

“I’m sorry I was busy. You knew I was at a wedding.”

“You know what, tell someone else that's bullshit. I’m your sister, your hype woman, your wing woman, and you left me in the cold. Yeah, you sent a picture. But I need details.”