She hustles from the room.
Several minutes go by, and I find myself chuckling when Royce dances across the court having dunked on Maddoc, completely unaware he’s flipping him off as he comes to me for a high five.
And then Raven’s voice is heard saying, “I don’t give a shit.”
I grin, wondering if she’ll be in this one, but then the screen is fumbled around, now facing the grass, a whispered, cut off “fuck” following.
My body jolts forward, and Zoey stirs in my lap so I quickly steel myself as the video ends, rolling right into the next one.
Wait.
I stretch my arms forward as much as I can, keeping my body in place as best possible, and grip the edge of the laptop, lifting it up.
Thankfully the cord attached to the tablet is long enough and it doesn’t fall, so I set the laptop on the cushion and tug the cord until the tablet is in reach.
I rewind the clip, listening carefully.
And I do it again and again until my shoulders fall.
I turn the volume up higher, playing it one more time.
“I don’t give a shit.” Raven chuckles.
Her voice isn’t close, some scrambling follows and then...
“Fuck.”
Fuck...
Victoria.Chapter 14CaptainScooping Zoey into my arms, I slowly make my way to her room, laying her on top of her comforter and covering her instead with a thin sheet.
I feel her forehead once again, and slowly step out, pulling the door shut.
I go to step into my room, but for some reason I toss the tablet onto my bed and keep forward, straight down the hall until I’m outside of Victoria’s door.
I glance over my shoulder to find Royce’s is closed, and then face forward.
Hers isn’t, at least not all the way.
My palm flattens on the wood, and I push, my breathing growing more labored as it slowly sways open, revealing darkness inside.
But I see her.
So she does sleep in the bed, but not under the covers...
Her hair somehow glows against the deep blue pillowcase.
I know she’s awake, I hear her swallow.
I step inside, coming to stand at the foot of her bed as she pushes into a seated position.
Long blonde hair spills along her shoulders, falling all around her.
I make my way to the left side of the bed, and her neck cranes to follow.
My knuckles come up, but I don’t have to guide her, her head lifts on its own.
The darkness complies with my unspoken need, granting me vision and allowing me a glimpse of her face.
Hope and horror.
Such a deadly combination on you, Beauty.
She slowly slides her legs over the edge of the bed, the smooth sound of satin brushing skin sending an unforgiving zing down my spine.
Her posture raises, body begging to be closer to mine.
She’s the reason Zoey took the medicine, the reason she calmed enough to fall asleep.
She shouldn’t know how to do any of that.
She shouldn’t know my daughter at all.
But she does.
She made those videos, gave my baby something I couldn’t.
Gave me something...
My knuckle stretches out, my hand sliding down so I can grip the hollow of her throat and she pushes against my palm.
My fingers twitch against her warmed skin and she shudders, her broken breath reaching my lips.
My shoulders curl a bit, bringing me in more, and her hand comes up to grip my wrist.
Her hold is tight, but she shakes.
My pulse beats heavy in my palm, or maybe it’s hers that I feel spiking, growing faster and faster, louder and fucking louder.
It’s all I hear, and it drives me closer.
Her spine straightens, torso stretching to erase more distance, and suddenly those baby doll lips are in reach.
I dare the tiniest of tastes.
Big fucking mistake.
My eyes close, my forehead tipping forward to meet hers as I fight a growl.
She shivers, hard.
Every fucking inch of her shakes before me.
In need.
In want.
In fear?
But not of what I’ll do, of what I might not...
I lean forward, bringing my bottom lip between hers, and then drag it down until hers is nestled in mine, and I bite, gentle but firm.
Her eyes close in pleasure and my cock is pleased, twitching and flexing inside my jeans.
She gasps, and it takes all I’ve got not to swallow it.
So I play her neck as I would her mouth, and crush my lips to the base of it, gliding along to the hollow of her throat.
Fuck if a heavy need doesn’t fly through my veins, sending zings through my fingertips and toes. A need that grows deeper when Victoria doesn’t only take what I give, but sighs on contact.
A deep heavy exhale that has her back arching high, driving her chest into mine, opening up her neck even more for me, and my tongue glides along. Tasting and taking and it’s not enough.
I don’t know if she lays back, or if I nudge her myself, but when my eyes open, she’s under me, my shirt’s on the floor, her heated hands are running up my sides.