Page 75 of The Vow We Made
“Oh yeah?” Her fingers reach towards the back of my neck, curl around the nape and through my hair. She pulls me gently to her waiting lips and I play along, searching her intense, focused and glazed eyes.
My mouth is barely a breath away from hers, almost touching and inviting her forward. When her eyelids flutter and close, I’m pleased she can’t see me smiling. I’m going to have some fun. My mouth brushes back and forth with teasing strokes against her swollen lips. Her chin rises as if she silently begs for more and the rise and fall of her chest increases. Her tongue circles her lips briefly, tempting me towards her again, but I’m not letting her off so easily and with a lot of restraint on my own part, I blow across her mouth and whisper, “You don’t get something for nothing Victoria. Not from me.”
Her eyes fly open and immediately crease together. “You shit.”
I sit back and hold up my hands. “What did you expect?” She lies back, stock-still with her arms firmly crossed over her chest. Her pouty lips deceive her and I can see the undercurrent of humour trying to break through but I playfully stand my ground. “You know the game. You want some of this.” I point to my mouth and she grins. “You have to give me details.”
“Alright,” she huffs while pushing herself up from my lap. “Can you help me swing this leg around?”
“No.” I shake my head with a slight chuckle. “You’re not going anywhere.” I pull her back down, this time placing a cushion under her head. “Now spill.”
“Alright, but you have to promise not to say a word to any of your friends and especially not your brother.”
“R-right.” I’m cautious only because I’m not good at holding back from Will and I have no idea what her parents have got to do with him anyway.
She sighs. “Remember how I told you Steph and I grew up together?”
“I do,” I reply dutifully and meet her eyes as they widen. I’m guessing I was meant to have put this puzzle together, but she hasn’t given me enough to go on. I’m lost.
“And?” she questions.
“Not a clue what you’re talking about,” I tell her, but she’s shaking her head.
“My parents work for her parents.”
“Oh right. Why didn’t you say so?”
“I thought withyourbrains you could have worked it out.”
“My brain has turned to mush since I became your keeper.” She slaps my arm. “So why the big secret? You’re not ashamed of your mum and dad are you?” Even though I asked, I already know the answer. Victoria is fiercely proud of them. “Of course not.”
“Then what is it?”
“Oh God, I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”
“What?”
“Really you have to keep this to yourself, alright? I’m already betting Steph’s ears are burning.”
I laugh. “Come on, what is it?”
She huffs. “Steph is a Lady.”
“Not much of one at times,” I quip, but it lands me another slap to the arm.
“Will you stop cocking about and listen to me? Steph’s father is Lord Ellison-Rose.”
I smirk. “You’re kidding.” She doesn’t speak and only the rise of her brow convinces me. “And your parents work for him?” She nods with a proud, satisfied grin. “Fuck me.” It slips out and thankfully she giggles. “And do your parents work in the Ellison-Rose country estate somewhere in the home counties?”
“Nope. The family estate was lost centuries ago after one of their ancestors gambled it all away, but you’ve been to my parent’s garden flat in Chelsea. Lord and Lady Ellison-Rose live just upstairs in that very palatial townhouse, so they’re always on hand. It’s why Steph and I are so close. Apart from school, we’ve always done everything together.”
“Like sisters,” I add.
“Exactly. We grew up in the same house and Mum was always more of a nanny than a housekeeper.”
“A lot of things make sense now, but I still don’t understand what she sees in my brother.” I grin as Victoria rolls her eyes.
“Obviously her family mix in the highest social circles and Steph tries to fit in, but only to please her parents. She can’t stand a lot of them. The reason she’s with Will, is because he is so different to everyone else in her world.”
