“No clean shave?” I asked.
“No, I forgot my razor.”
My brother was every woman’s dream. Well that was how they behaved around him. His dark hair always fell in his face. He constantly swept it away. He should have cut his hair low. His chiseled tanned cheeks, sleek black brows, slender nose and slim lips kept women in his bed. Not sure he’d ever settle down.
“Would you like a glass of orange juice?”
“Sure.” He glanced at my bedroom door.
“Why is your door closed?” He studied my face.
“Because I want it fucking closed, Hayden. Do I come to your house asking a shit load of questions? Actually, I haven’t been to your place. I don’t want to trip over desperate bitches as I walk in. Mind your fucking business and respect my home, Hayden,” I growled.
“Sorry, shit. Just wondered did you have company. If so, tell the coward to step out. I want to meet the man banging my sister. I’ll kick his ass.” His deep voice rose.
Pressing my hands against the counter, I leaned forward. “Leave, Hayden,” I glowered.
A devilish smile curled the ends of his lips. “Relax, Vicky. I’m fucking with you. How’s school working out?”
Motherfucker. “Good. I gained Gaster Enterprises several new clients.”
“That’s great, Hayden.”
“Have you?”
“I landed several clients while in undergrad. Focusing on my studies is most important.”
I poured the orange juice in a tall glass, placing it in front of him.
“Seriously, do you have a boyfriend?”
“No. Play toys, yes. Maybe one day down the line,” I lied.
“So, you and Zander never saw each other again after the hospital?”
“No. You got what you wanted. You ripped us apart. You knew he loved me.”
“I knew he had a crush on you. Wasn’t aware it morphed into love.”
“He’d known me better than anyone. Please drop it.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “We aren’t together. You have your best friend back.”
Lying to my brother’s face wasn’t something I enjoyed.
He placed his hand on top of mine. Our eyes locked.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
I released my hand and placed his meal on the counter. “Don’t be rude. If you don’t like it. Scarf it down anyway.”
His eyes widened. “Come on Vicky.”
Pouring the eggs into the skillet, I sipped my orange juice.
He chomped on the omelet. “Um, taste good. What a shock.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Are you eager to move back to Atlanta?”
“Yes, I love our city. Are you?”
“Yeah, someone has to take care of the company.”
“I graduate first, Hayden. I’ll take care of the business.”
“I’ll allow you to warm my seat until I graduate,” he snickered.
“You keep telling yourself that.” A sinful laugh released from my gut.
Two hours later, Hayden and I finished watching an action classic.
“It was nice spending time with you, Vicky.”
I smiled, hugging my brother tight. “It was.”
He walked out the front door. I watched him hop into the chauffeured Bentley.
Zander’s arms wrapped around my waist. His lips grazed my cheek. “He fucking tried me, Vicky.”
“I know, Zander. Thank you for remaining strong.”
“Love you, baby. But I hate lying. I don’t want to ponder on this shit. It will make my blood boil,” he sighed.
“Let’s enjoy the rest of our weekend. Come into the bedroom.
We’ll watch your favorite show, Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
I laughed. “You mean our favorite show?”
He leaned forward, tossing me over his shoulder.
“Ah!” I squealed.
He smacked my ass. “I only watch the show because you like it.”
“Ok, if you say so, big guy.”
15
Zander
Christmas dinners at our parents were awkward. My mother often whispered in my ear, “Where’s Vicky?”
“Mom, you know she can’t come over. I can’t afford Hayden stopping by unannounced.”
“She needs to tell her brother you two are a couple.”
I slid a forkful of green bean casserole into my mouth. “You’re right.”
Owen peeked across the dinner table. “Why are you and Mom whispering? Everyone in this house knows you are dating Vicky. Correction, we know you’re living with Vicky. Translation in a relationship. Her family is in denial.”
“Not true, Owen. Her father knows. But her mother doesn’t.”
My father smacked Owen’s shoulder. “When your brother is ready to stop living a lie, then he’ll reveal the truth.”
Mom grabbed dad’s hand. My parents worked on their marriage over the years. They had monthly sessions with a marriage counselor. My mother also voluntarily entered rehab. Happy my mother was sober. My parents appeared in love. Good they rekindled the flame.
I glanced around the table. “You’re right, Dad. If you all would excuse me. I have a prior engagement.”
Placing my empty plate in the kitchen sink, I stood there brooding. My father was right. Vicky and I needed to talk. It was time to stop hiding.
At five in the evening I arrived at the Gaster Estate.
Mrs. Gaster greeted me at the oversized double doors. “Zander, it’s good to see you.” She smiled.
“Good to see you too, Jo-Anne.” I pulled her into a hug. I’d called Vicky’s parents by their first names for years.
Vicky begged me to accept her parents holiday dinner invitation. She said they felt I despised them all of a sudden. There were no ill feelings toward her family. Only toward her brother. We were still best friends in a twisted way. Maybe now that we were all back home, we’d become closer again.
“Zander, you know we love you.”
“I love you all, too.”
I stepped back. “After my near death experience my father became a father again. It’s upsetting he took so long to come around.”
Her brown eyes sparkled, and she rubbed my arm.
“Better late than never,” she said with a thick southern drawl.
“I suppose.”
We sat around the table laughing and joking over dinner. Harvey glared at me a few times. I didn’t know what to make of it. Vicky said he didn’t appear upset if we dated. Maybe he changed his mind.
Trying to keep my eyes off my woman, his daughter, proved to be the most difficult. I graduated at twenty-one years old with an undergraduate degree in Architecture.
The extensive class load was challenging.
At twenty I moved off campus and purchased a condo for Vicky and I.
Hayden never popped up at my door so, I felt most at home in Princeton. Whenever I’d stay at our condo in Boston, there was a chance Hayden would drop by unannounced.
That last fucking time he appeared at our door coincidentally, after I arrived home, pissed me the fuck off.
The motherfucker had the nerve to challenge me.
Called me a coward.
Sitting on our bed, eyes shut, head in hands, I clenched my teeth. Smashing his face in weighed heavy on my mind. It was like he was begging us to come clean. Vicky didn’t want to lose her brother. She didn’t have to worry about me. She knew I wasn’t going anywhere. Rather, Hayden knew the truth or not.
Vicky arrived early at my graduation so we could take pics together. I also arrived early both times she graduated. We didn’t want to lose those memories. Vicky graduated with her MBA a day after I received my undergraduate degree.
Hayden wouldn’t graduate for another year. Vicky and I would have time to settle into our life, now that we were back home.
Secretly, I’d worked with my father on a special architectural project. I bought land in Woodstock, GA. I designed this home for my fut
ure wife and kids. After I completed classes mid-week, I flew home, met with the building foreman, and my father. We’d monitor the home building process. I told Vicky I returned home to work under my dad on a special project to earn credits toward my Master’s degree. Luckily, once I attended graduate school, I’d have my internship credits complete. The gray stone home had six bedrooms, a four-car garage, and floor to ceiling windows. I designed the back of the house with a slight curve. Ultimately, I wanted to purchase land in Buckhead, so we could live close to our parents, but I also needed peace of mind. Didn’t want to worry about bumping into Hayden. And free to express my love for my woman in public.
I was antsy. Ready to leave. All I cared about was revealing our new home to Vicky.
After dinner, the family sat around the oversized Christmas tree, ready to watch a Hallmark movie.
Hayden and I drank spiced eggnog.
“Zander, can I speak to you for a moment?”
Harvey asked standing outside the family room.
“Sure.” I couldn’t make eye contact with Vicky as I exited the room.
Harvey and I entered his office. “Zander, have a seat.”
“I understand you and your brother will run your father’s architecture firm.”
“Yes, sir.”
He sat at the opposite end of the sofa.
“What happened to law school?”
“I plan to attend in a couple of years. Right now, I need to focus on my Master's degree in Architecture.”
My fingers traced along my red tie against the crisp white dress shirt under my navy suit jacket.
“I’ll cut right to it.”
My stomach dropped.
“How long do you plan to date my daughter in secret?”
My fingers threaded my medium length curly hair.
“Harvey, you remember how Hayden behaved in the hospital. He forbid me to see Vicky. We are trying to spare his feelings, but I assure you Harvey, I will not hide my relationship forever. We can’t get married and start a family like this. Harvey, I’ve been in love with your daughter since I could remember. I’d like to assure you nothing sexual ever happened between us under your roof.”
He sighed, rubbing his brow. “You mentioned marrying Victoria. Did you plan to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage?”
“Yes. I did and I do. I wanted to wait until after we told Hayden.”
His heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “You might not want to wait on Hayden. You know he’s stubborn. He hates the idea of his best friend and his sister in a relationship. Not to mention he feels he’d lose his best friend. But the way my daughter looks at you when she doesn’t know she’s being watched, resembles love and adoration. Is it true you designed and built a house for my daughter?”
I dropped my head in my hands. “My father told you?”
“Yes, over our weekly golf game.”
“I had no idea you two were hanging out.”
“Yeah, ever since your accident occurred. We talked about you, Owen, and Laura a lot. Your father was married to his work for so long, it was nice to see he and Laura worked on their marriage.”
“Yeah, he became a better father after the accident too.” I smirked.
I stared him square in the eye. “Mr. Gaster, I’d like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
He smiled wide. “I’d be honored to have you as my son officially.”
I embraced him. “Thank you so much for taking me into your family.”
“It was our pleasure,” he choked out.
After my sit down with her father, I said my goodbyes to her family. I texted Vicky the address where we were to meet.
An hour later, the chauffeured gray Ghost Bentley rolled to a stop in the circular drive.
My father said I could out draw him. Not sure if that was true just knew this was always the house I wanted to build for Vicky.
Standing in the oversized drive, I opened the rear passenger door.
“Vicky, happy you were able to join me before midnight.”
She placed her hand in mine and giggled. “It was touch and go for a moment.” The red and black dress fell below her knees, hugging her sexy curves. She wrapped the red throw around her body. Her hair was styled in a high bun. I loved to marvel in her beauty. Stepping away, I nodded at the driver. He disappeared down the winding driveway.
Holding her hand, I guided her to the front door. The mountains behind our new home met the dark sky littered with bright stars.
“Did you help your dad design this house?”
“No, this is my design.”
She snatched her hand away, cupping her mouth. “You sold your first design. That’s spectacular.”
“Not exactly. I built this home. For you. This is your home.”
“Oh, my god!” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
My lips landed against her temple. My woman had height. Her five nine frame was perfect for my six four frame. I loved how she fit just right in my arms.
“Zander, the landscaping is beautiful. The large circular stones leading up the walkway to the massive Brown woodened front door is perfect. I love the large windows in every room of the house.” Vicky’s teeth chattered.
“Yes, we have a walk-out basement too. Shoot, I need to get you inside it’s freezing.”
I placed the key in her hand. “Unlock the door.” I ran my large hands up and down her arms. We stepped inside the well-lit home.
“You weren’t home early this morning. Were you here?”
“Yes.”
We owned a condo in downtown Buckhead we’d keep. Vicky and I included each other in our permanent plans. The only real arguments we ever had was about her brother. I’d known this woman most of my life. We knew what irked each other. I think that’s what made our relationship special.
She slipped off her red stilettos.
“I don’t want to scuff my beautiful floors.” She smiled, shrugged and stuck her tongue out at me.
Fucking corky and sexy. I wanted to throw her against the wall and fuck her hard. Shit. I rubbed my cock.
“Down boy.”
Vicky peeked at my crouch and pulled her lower lip into her mouth. “Oh, he wants to play.” She slipped her hands over my shoulders. “The warm floor feels good against my bare feet. I love it. I love you.” She smothered me with kisses.
“Baby, we need to walk through the entire house first. If there are any imperfections, I need to know. I’d like the crew to return and fix any problems before you order furniture.”
We strolled through the massive living room.
“Hello!” her voice echoed. “This is our new home!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. Those blue oval eyes were radiant.
Vicky was a total bitch to everyone in the world except me. Sure, when we were younger, she was downright awful to me. But maybe that was the attraction at the time.
Fuck it, I had to have her now. Shrugging my jacket down my shoulders, it fell to the floor. Her finger traced along the cream walls.
“Vicky, come here.”
She tossed her wrap to the floor, flashed a devilish grin and sashayed toward me. My fingers grazed her chin.
“In high school all the guys begged you to be their girlfriend. I wanted to break all of their necks. I’ve loved you since I was ten.”
Vicky blushed, tousling my dark curls.
Yesterday, the barber trimmed my hair. I tossed my hair back with a little mousse. Normally I wore my hair long, brushing my shoulders.
Her fingers traced along my angler jaw. “I love the full beard. When are you growing it back?”
“Soon.”
I wore a mustache and a light dusting of a beard today.
My lips devoured hers. “Fucking delicious. I told you I’d never get enough of you.” Holding her waist, I walked until her back met the wall.
My tongue slithered along her neck. “This pussy has been mine since I was seventeen. Almost eighteen, but who cares about the specifics.
Still my fucking pussy.” I growled.
“Sure, is baby,” she purred in a southern drawl.
“Zander, you were always my first love. I hated you because I was in love with you. In the theater room on your birthday weekend, I didn’t want you to turn my lips loose. Fuck, I wanted you,” she breathed in my ear, grinding her pussy against my cock.
“I hated watching the video of you fucking that other girl.”
“Not my proudest moment, Vicky. I was upset. That was the first of two times I’d taken my sexual frustrations out on another girl, because I couldn’t have what I really wanted. You.” I pulled back, gazing into her vibrant ocean blue eyes.
“Baby, I wanted you so fucking bad. Turning you down in the pool house was difficult.”
She licked from my adams apple over my chin. “You made the right decision to make me wait. I fell head over heels in love with you that summer. You were so sweet taking me on all those special dates.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I needed you to see what it would be like to be with me.”
Kissing her lips, I squeezed her ass. I dropped to my knees and slid her dress over her hips. My fingers hooked into the waistband of her red lace panties, sliding them down her silky slender legs. She stepped out of her panties. I draped her leg over my shoulder, staring up at her, licking my lips.
“Fuck, you’re sexy. And mine,” she groaned.
My tongue slicked around her clit.
“Zander.” She circled her pussy on my tongue.
“Yeah, baby, give it to me. You taste so fucking delicious. Like a sweet treat. Addictive. You’re my sweetest obsession, Vicky.”
My tongue slid up and down her wet folds. I glanced at her.
Vicky’s fingers caressed my brow. “Don’t stop,” she moaned. “Nobody can have you. I’ll snap a woman in two if she touches what’s mine.” Her eyes closed and her red lips parted.
No better sight than watching your woman come undone. I slid my tongue deep into her core, trying to grab that orgasm.
“Cum on my tongue, Vicky.”
I sucked her pink knob and slipped my finger in her greedy hole, exposing every nerve ending in her pussy.
“Ah, fuck! I’m coming,” she screamed in pleasure.
I caught every drop of her sweet cream. “That’s right, give me what I want,” I groaned against her labia.
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