Page 39 of A Family Affair: The Vow
“If you wanted to ask me about Monica, why didn’t you just call me?”
Because I only just realized I had to see you, even if it was to talk about your ex-girlfriend or whatever she was.“I...”
“It’s a simple question. Why didn’t you just call?”
“Itisa simple question but it doesn’t have an easy answer.”
His laughter spun through the room, pinged her brain. “Rae Darlington, avoiding the answer, as usual. Okay, you can keep your secrets safe and I won’t pry.” He stood and made his way to the window, peeked through a blind slat. “The snow’s coming down pretty heavy. Take it easy and remember not to brake going into a curve.”
“Vic, what if I don’t want to leave?”
He let the slat fall back into place, turned. “What does that even mean?”
“Just what I said.” She moved toward him, touched his arm. “What if I don’t want to leave?”Open your heart...stop being afraid..“What if I want to stay?”
The scowl said it all, but just in case she didn’t understand, he added words. “I don’t think so. There are too many open-ended issues with you. You want to stay? For a drink? For the night? For a chance to see how good we can be together? Because I’m tired of the mixed signals and the push and pull that does nothing but confuse me and put me in a bad mood.” He brushed her hand from his arm, stepped back. “I’m not interested in a one-night stand with you or anything that involves less than a relationship. I’m not going to do that, Rae. Not again.” He frowned, the brackets on either side of his mouth, deep. “And you’ve been very clear about what you do and don’t want and who you want in your life and I’ve already got two strikes against me, not going for a third.”
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She was so damn tempting and whether or not he wanted to admit it, he’d dreamed of her saying these words, imagined her expression, the tone, the brightness in her eyes. And now they were all there and all he had to do was open his mouth and free-fall into what she was offering.
But whatwasshe offering and for how long?
“Vic?” Rae inched closer, spoke in a soft voice. “I’m afraid, petrified actually. No one’s ever had this kind of power over me, not like this...not like you. That’s why I told you to leave the other morning, said it was a mistake that couldn’t happen again.” The attempt at a laugh fizzled, morphed into a sigh. “I couldn’t face you for two days and then when I did... I didn’t handle it well.” Her voice shifted, cracked. “Monica wasnota help. When I saw her touching you, acting like she had arightto you, I hated how it made me feel—jealous, uncertain, angry. And then you confronted me about it, told me all I had to do was ask you not to see other women.” She bit her bottom lip, blinked. “Do you know how painful it was to hear those words? Idon’twant you to see other women, but I don’t want to have to ask you. I want you tonotwant to see them.” She sniffed, looked away.
“Rae?” He clasped her hands, brought them to his chest. “Look at me.” When her gaze met his, he spotted the tears, cursed himself for causing them. “I’m not interested in anyone but you. Only you. How could you not know that?”
A shrug, a sniff. “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to realize how much I want to be with you, and not just in a physical way, or for a night.”
“I’ve waited a long time to hear that.” He bent his head, placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You’re not the only one who’s afraid. And having power over me?” Vic shook his head. “Yeah, we’re probably even.” Another kiss, this one deeper. “But we’re going to have to open up and trust that the other person won’t take advantage of that power. It’s the only way to have a real relationship, one that lasts.”
“I want that, Vic. I really do.” Her eyes turned bright with hope. “Give us another chance to see how good we can be.”
“I know it’s going to be better than good.” His voice dipped as he let his heart speak. “It’s going to be perfect.” Then he kissed her, lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom where he proceeded to show her several of the many reasons they belonged together, and why he and Rae were indeed perfect together.
When he woke a few hours later, Rae was tucked against his side, her dark hair fanning his chest, her arm flung across his belly. Vic sifted a hand through her hair, enjoying the silkiness of it. They’d made love twice, the second time more intense than the first, and he hadn’t thought that possible. He wanted her in his bed tonight and every night, but he’d take it slow, wait until she was ready, until she—
“Vic?”
“Hey. How’d you sleep?”
“Sleep?” She let out a pleasure-filled sigh. “There is very little sleeping with you in the same bed, Victor Tramont.” Another sigh, this one longer, more pleasure-filled.
“Are you saying you prefer to get a solid eight hours of sleep with no interruptions.” He ran a hand along her back, settled on her thigh. “If you do, I’ll try to comply.”
She nuzzled her face against his chest, tightened her grip on his waist. “I am definitely not complaining. Last night was…”
“Over the top? Mind-blowing?” He made tiny circles on her thigh. “Breath-stealing?”
“Beautiful. Perfect.” There was no mistaking the emotion in her words. “Exquisite.”
“I know. Being with you is intense. When we’re together, I’m already anticipating the next time.”
The tiny moan said she was thinking about it too and her next words told him how much. “It’s going to be very difficult to look at you today andnotthink about last night.” Her voice dipped, covered him. “And tonight… And the next night…”
Vic pulled her closer. “I like you in my bed, Rae.”
“I like being in your bed.” She yawned, murmured, “What time is it?”
