Page 71 of Axe Backwards
Vic leaned over, sliding her sunglasses down her nose. “I’m sorry.”
I laced my fingers behind my head and leaned back in the chair. “Don’t be. I’m having fun. It’s not every day I get to hang out in a fancy mansion with a gorgeous date. The rest of the company may be lacking, but I could happily sit and talk to you for days.”
She huffed, lowering her focus to where she was wringing her hands. “My mother is such a snob. What she said about firefighters?” Another huff, her shoulders drooping. “Then there’s Elizabeth. I have no idea what’s come over her. She keeps awkwardly staring at you like a piece of meat. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.”
I cupped her jaw, noticing then that her sister, who was now across the pool, was watching intently. Since we had an audience, I figured I’d put on a show, so I pulled Vic into alingering kiss. It was chaste enough for public, but possessive enough to ensure everyone here knew who she belonged to.
I pulled back slowly, and the smile that spread across her face lit me up inside. I wanted to properly kiss her. To take my time savoring the taste of her and the feel of her curves under my hands.
“I’m not a piece of meat.” I brushed a kiss against her knuckles. “I’m your piece of meat.”
She giggled, her cheeks going pink. “They’re just jealous because you’re so hot.”
I shook my head, relishing the way my lips ghosted over her fingers while I kept them close. “Nah, they’re jealous because you’re so hot.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and glared. At least I thought she glared. It was hard to tell when she wore sunglasses. “Don’t do that. I don’t need you to lie to me to make me feel better. I’m a cow compared to them.” She looked down. “My hips are huge, I’ve got cellulite,I—”
I squeezed her hand firmly to shut her up. “Are you drunk? You are the most gorgeous creature in this county, maybe the state.”
She sat up and crossed her arms, which made her breasts press against the skimpy fabric.
“That”—I nodded, allowing myself the briefest of peeks at her cleavage—“is not helping your case.”
“Elizabeth is a former ballerina”. She said it as though the title was some kind of indication of her worth.
Sure, Elizabeth was tall and was so thin that in the skimpy bikini she wore, anyone within twenty feet count every one of her vertebrae. The task was only made easier by her perfect posture. She had been civil to me and seemed like an engaged parent, so I couldn’t fault her.
Compared to her sisters, Vic looked like a Renaissance painting. All creamy skin and delicious curves. Long legs, curvy waist, and pouty smile.
I would never understand why women were always comparing themselves and finding so many faults in their own bodies. Beauty came in many forms. So did desirability.
Standing, I pulled her up with me. Then I placed my hands on her shoulders and angled in until my lips skated over her earlobe.
“When I saw you in that bathing suit this morning, I was dangerously close to popping a boner while holding my child. You’re a goddess, Victoria.”
She let out a little gasp, and the sound went straight to my dick. I wanted to unleash a tirade of every filthy fantasy I’d ever had about her, but I’d already crossed the line. I couldn’t light the match and watch it burn.
Instead, I pulled her close and gently kissed her forehead.
“And more importantly, you’re my friend. I won’t let you talk shit about my friend.”
Chapter 22
Victoria
“Ilike your laugh.”
I froze with a chip halfway to my mouth.
Another episode ofSchitt’s Creekplayed while we sat side by side on Noah’s couch. Slowly, he was learning to sit still. He didn’t pace as much as he used to, and when he didn’t have Tess strapped to his chest, he still dropped to the floor to do pushups or sit-ups, but only between episodes. During season one, he’d do it every ten minutes or so, to get his excess energy out.
Now he insisted on braiding my hair when I walked in the door. He had mastered the regular braid and was now learning to French braid. Or “Elsa braid” as he liked to call it.
I was sitting on the floor, his strong legs on each side of me. If I turned my head too much, I got an eyeful of muscular hamstring.
At the moment, he had his hands threaded through my hair. Keeping the strands separate and adding was giving him a lot of trouble.
