dropped her off and waited until she’d unlocked all three locks on the front door and went inside. Where she relocked everything, reset the alarm and toed off her shoes, tucking them into the hall closet before padding into the kitchen, where Alexsei stood at the sink.
Maybe was cleaning up what appeared to be an exploding blender.
“So I thought, how hard could it be to make smoothies? This is why I don’t cook,” Maybe said when she caught sight of Rachel.
“I suggested moderation in the total volume of fruit in the blender,” Alexsei said, making Rachel laugh.
“Maybe thinks moderation is for suckers,” she told him.
“Only when it’s about food. And sex. And sleep,” Maybe added.
“Atta girl. Vic is coming over in a bit so I’m going to clean up from our hike and be back down.”
Of course, Maybe was sitting on her bed after her shower.
“You’re in ambush mode all the time now,” Rachel said as she got changed. “One would think you’d have less time to stalk me like a jungle cat when you have a hot dude in your bed to take to bone town.”
“He sleeps with me. Believe me when I tell you I have a frequent flier card for trips to bone town. Speaking of bone town, I note the very sexy matching underwear you’ve got going on. I like to see you all giddy and sexy and stuff.” Maybe picked up a candle on the nightstand, sniffed it and put it back.
“Did Alexsei tell you about Valentine’s Day?” Rachel asked her.
“He did. It’ll be my first Valentine’s Day with like a for-real boyfriend. I know this is old hat for you but as such things go, it’s pretty cool so far. Except I don’t really know what to get him. What are you going to get Vic?”
“Jesus, Maybe! Now I’m going to be all nervous about it. I have no idea.”
“Well fuck. You’re the expert. What did you get Brad? You lived with him. He was all serious business until he put his penis in someone else while you were in a coma and all.”
Rachel snickered. Leave it to her sister to know just what to say to make her laugh. “Well see, that’s why you shouldn’t ask me for my opinion.”
“I highly doubt he cheated on you because you got him what? A watch or something?”
“I’m sure he’d say so.” Her ex was a total dick. A cheating dick who’d stolen money from their joint account while she was in that coma Maybe had just mentioned. “As for presents, I got him a cashmere sweater once. A watch, but a really nice one he wanted and wasn’t going to shut up about until he got it. And the last one I got him a Coach duffel. All very good gifts. All things he wanted. But I don’t think I’ll give Vic any of those things.”
“Why? He’d look gorgeous in a cashmere sweater.”
“He totally would. But I don’t think those presents would be for Valentine’s Day. I don’t know. It just feels like he’d appreciate a gift that meant something to him.” He struck her that way. Sentimental but not in a negative sense. “I’m going to look around and when I see the right thing it’ll jump out at me. I hope. It’s not like I can bake him something.”
Maybe nodded. “Not that you should complain because that means he will bake for you. And by extension, me. But you did give me good advice just now. I’ve been looking for the right present but I haven’t found it yet. I should be patient.”
“You got him that antique shaving set for Christmas and he loved that. You’re doing fine.”
“Look at us, panicking about Valentine’s Day like adults.” Maybe linked her arm with Rachel’s before heading back downstairs where the commotion signaled Vic’s arrival.
“SO,” SHE SAID quietly to Vic as the rest of the house played a round of Guitar Hero.
He turned and pulled her a little closer. “So?”
“You want a tour? Like to see my room?”
“Hell yes.”
She waved discreetly at Maybe who waggled her brows, and then led the way to her side of the house, where her bedroom was.
Once inside, he took a deep breath and then smiled. “I’ve been wondering just what your bedroom would smell like. Jasmine. Like your perfume.”
No other men had been up there. She did her fucking in other people’s houses, or in hotels. This was her space. Her intimate place she made and kept safe. Here she could truly let down her guard and be open.
Vic wasn’t anyone else, though, and she most certainly wanted him all to herself. Wanted him all over her sheets.
He waited for her to set the boundaries. Kept an eye on her and took his cues from that.
There was something comforting and yet sweet about how he was with her. Totally focused on her. Absolutely clear that he wanted more. But he didn’t rush into her space. Not that he wasn’t dominant and charming and didn’t still manage to get his way with that roguish thing he had going on. But he just let her lead in these moments.
Which was perfect.
“You should fuck me,” she said.
“Should I?” He closed the door at his back, leaning against it as he watched her with that smirk.
“Or, I can fuck you. Either way.” She shrugged.
“Hmm. Why don’t we take this step-by-step?”
She whipped off her sweater.
“Or, you could take your shirt off and show me just how fucking gorgeous you are without it. In fact, I’m thinking that’s the better choice,” he murmured.
“Now you,” she said, turning out the overhead lights in favor of her bedside lamp.
She lit some candles while not taking her gaze from him. Not wanting to miss the reveal she was sure was going to be really fantastic.
And when he pulled his shirt up and off, she knew she’d been right. He was beautiful.
“Your body is amazing. I want to lick you,” she murmured as she walked his way.
“I’m available for licking by you at any time. In fact it’s been a recurring fantasy of mine for years.”
He reached out, brushing his fingertips over the curve of her breast where it heaved from the bra she had on. And she was so glad she chose the sexy cute matching stuff instead of her comfy granny panties.
He told her in a voice rough like a caress, “For so long you were right here. So close. I saw you all the time and I had no ability to touch you this way. No ability to make all those fantasies of mine a reality.” He circled her, looking his fill
