by Blue Saffire
Victor motioned with his index finger for me to come over to him. I turned to go over to where he was sitting. Bonita was right next to him leaving barely enough room for me to sit. If I did sit there I would be sitting half in Victor’s lap as he sat half way across the lunch bench.
Victor patted the little space, so I put my tray down in front of him. I placed my hand on his shoulder to brace myself as I stepped into the seat. He reached for my waist and pulled me to his lap. As I sat, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the side of my face.
I looked around nervously at all the opened mouths and gawking eyes. Bonita frowned and moved down some more, so I wouldn’t have a reason to sit in Victor’s lap, but Victor had no intentions of letting me go. Victor reached to push my hair from my face and kissed the side of my neck.
“You missed me?” he moaned in my ear.
“Yes,” I replied and turned to face him. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Did you miss me?”
“Yeah,” he replied and pecked me on the lips.
I turned as I heard someone clear their throat. Alex seat down across from us with a big grin. I wasn’t sure if he was supposed to know, so I quickly went to slide away from Victor.
Victor tightened his hold and pulled me back toward him. He reached to pull my face to his and kissed me gently on the lips. I guess that was to answer my question.
“So we are not hiding at school,” Alex crooned.
“I changed my mind,” Victor shrugged. “Maybe now people will keep their eyes to their selves.” Victor looked at Robert and narrowed his eyes. Robert threw his hands up and shrugged, then chuckled.
“If she wasn’t my sister and lived in my house, I’d have first debs too,” Robert teased.
“Shut up,” Victor hissed and rolled his eyes.
I started to eat my lunch as Victor turned to talk to one of his other friends. Without missing a beat, they were laughing about something as usual. Everyone around buzzed about the party.
All the kids were getting excited for my party now that Victor and Alex’s was such a hit. I was excited about it too. Lunch passed way too fast as I sat in Victor’s arms. We sat and joked with everyone like we had been a couple for months.
“Meet me in the west wing, first floor,” Victor whispered just before the bell.
I looked at him and he had a big smile on his face. I knew he meant the west wing at home. I had never gone to that part of the house. I had no reason to.
Everyone told me there were more bedrooms there. I wasn’t sure what else was up that corridor. From the look Victor was giving me, I had a feeling we were going into one of the bedrooms.
The day seemed to drag on after lunch. I went straight to Victor and Alex’s basketball practice and did my homework there. Aunt Tali had offered to send the car for me early, since Victor and Alex drove.
I told her I would wait for everyone so I wasn’t home alone. It was so bad. The boys have a game tomorrow, so that will be their day off from practice this week. I could stick it out, I’d gotten used to it.
When practice was over, I got into Victor’s car with him, but this time Alexis and Aliyah insisted they get to ride with Victor home. He gave in easily to avoid questions. I could tell he was nervous that rumors would get to the two at school. I was pretty sure they’d already had despite them not saying so.
When we got home, I got out of the car and went up to my room as usual to change. I put on a pair of leggings and a tank top. I brushed my hair into place.
I wanted to put on lip gloss, but I was sure that would look suspicious. After I was dressed, I stepped out of my room and bolted up the hall for the stairs that led down to the west wing below. On our floor, the west wing was a gym and dance room. The girls said they used to use it when they were into ballet and Jazz dance.
When I got downstairs, I walked quietly through the hall. At the end of the hall, one of the doors had been sitting slightly open. I walked over to it and lightly pushed the door.
A hand reached out and pulled me in. Victor pulled me right into his chest and closed the door behind me. He crushed his lips to mine. I lifted on my toes to get closer to him. We both started to moan quietly as we kissed.
I reached to lock my fingers in his curls and teased his lips with my tongue. Vic smiled and pulled me closer to him. He swayed me in his arms as he kissed me. It was so nice, the tender way he held me and the attention he gave me as we kissed.
“Meliyah?” he panted.
“Yes, Victor,” I replied.
“Have you ever…”
“No,” I cut him off and looked in his eyes to search for what he was looking for.
“Good,” he crooned and kissed me gently on the lips. “I want to be your first.” I pulled my hands from his hair and started to back away a little. “Not now,” he laughed and pulled me back to him. “But when it’s time I’m going to be your first.”
He said it more as a demand than as a possibility. He was so sure of himself. I looked in his eyes and saw he meant to make sure of it. I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek.
“Okay,” I answered.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes,” I chimed as I squeezed my arms around him.
“What did you mean by, ‘I didn’t know?’ I mean you looked so afraid the other night, like I was going to hurt you,” Victor asked with a sincere look of concern on his face.
“It’s nothing,” I murmured.
“No, it’s not. The night you came here you looked pretty shaken up. Did something happen to you?” He placed his hand on my face and stroked my cheek with his finger.
“Sort of,” I replied.
“Will you tell me?” Vic asked softly.
I shrugged. “Do you really want to know?” I asked as I looked at his chest.
“Yes.”
“My ex-boyfriend tried to rape me,” I murmured. Victor stiffened and the hand he had resting on my back clutched my tank top.
“Does my dad know?” he growled.
“Yes, but my Uncle Sisqo took care of it.”
“Are you okay? I would never have sneaked up on you if I knew,” he said, not hiding his anger very well.
“I’m fine. I didn’t mean to react that way.”
“It’s not your fault you were scared. Meliyah, I would never hurt you. I just want to see you happy and I want to be with you.”
“I am happy,” I chimed and reached up to kiss him. He was a little hesitant in his kiss this time. “No, no poppa, you can kiss me, I want you to.”
Victor smiled at my words and wrapped his arms tight around me. This time not holding back as he kissed me. We were both breathing heavy and moaning as I locked my fingers back in his hair. Victor is the best kisser I’d ever known. I had butterflies all in my stomach.
I’m not sure how long we stood there kissing, but I didn’t care either. We were interrupted by Vic’s cellphone going off. He pulled away quickly and pulled it from his pocket. Victor looked at me and kissed me quickly on the cheek.
“My mom is home. Take the back stairs up and hang in your room until Alex comes up,” Victor ordered.
I turned for the door and shot out headed for the stairs. I was out of breath as I got to my room and closed the door. I fell back on my bed and pulled my pillow over my face to squeal.
This had to be one of the best days ever. I would have to work extra hard to ignore Victor at dinner. All I wanted was to be in his arms again.
chapter FOurteen
Close Call
That day in the west wing of the mansion was only the first of many secret trips Victor and I made. Once basketball season was over we had more time to spend together in our secret room. I loved every minute I got to spend with Victor.
The weeks were flying by as the school year came to an end. My birthday was on the way. There were two more weeks until my party.
Aunt Tali was busy getting things together for my party. So, she was home a lot less than usual. This weekend everyo
ne had plans and were out of the house.
Uncle Alex had taken TJ and Jose to a baseball game. Liz had a sleep over. Alexis and Aliyah had gone to the mall on double dates. Alex had gone out to hang out with friends both he and Victor were supposed to have plans with.
Victor and I wanted some alone time, so I was pretending to be sick to I could stay home. Victor had doubled back from his plans to be with me. We were in the living room watching TV as Victor lounged on the couch.
I was in his arms, snuggled into his side. Victor said the staff would mind their own business if we weren’t hurting anyone. For the most part, no one had come in our direction. Victor combed his fingers through my hair absentmindedly as my head rested against him.
“This movie is so corny,” Victor chuckled.
“No, it’s not,” I laughed and looked up at him.
Victor leaned to peck me on the nose. I reached to wrap my arms around him as I smiled at him. We had been watching an old musical that I liked.
Victor complained all the way through. He’d just been in the mood to tease me, which I didn’t mind. I like when he is playful and affectionate.
“Meliyah?” Victor said as he gazed at me.
“Yes, Poppa.”
“You know I love it when you call me that,” he beamed and pulled my face to his to deliver a searing kiss. “I want to make you happy, Mama. Tell me how.”
His face was so serious and sincere. In the past two and a half months, Victor had totally changed the way I saw him. I don’t just have a crush on him any longer.
I felt a lot more for him. I never felt this way for anyone. Looking at him was like looking at the perfect boy, the perfect man. Victor just had a way of making me feel safe and happy.
“You make me happy, Poppa,” I sang and placed my finger under his chin to pull his face toward me, so I could peck him on the lips.
Victor reached to push my hair from my face as I pulled away. He searched my face for something. Vic looked like he wanted to say something else. As much as Victor had changed toward me, he still kept this wall up that I rarely get passed completely.
“Baby, why are you so guarded?” I laughed. “You don’t trust people, do you?”
“No, not really, just my family,” he shrugged.
“Do you trust me?” I chimed.
“I want to,” Victor said as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me onto his chest as he shifted to lie on his back.
“I want you to, too.” I replied as Vic rubbed my back and looked at me.
“What do you want, Meliyah? I mean from life,” he asked locking eyes with me for my answer.
“I don’t know. I guess love and a family,” I started.
“How many times do I have to tell you, you already have that?” Victor cut me off, frowning at me.
“You don’t understand. I’m always afraid that your mom and dad will find out about us and then they will send me away. Besides, I meant that I want what your parents have, I love your family,” I explained.
“My family loves you too. What about school, do you want to go to college?” he changed the topic quickly.
“I never thought about it before, but Aunt Tali has been talking about it a lot. It wasn’t that important to my mom,” I shrugged.
“Yeah, but do you see yourself going?” Victor’s intense eyes were calculating as he questioned me.
“To be honest, I want to. Your mom makes it sound so great and it seems like it had a lot to do with everything your parents have. They’re both so smart.”
“You’re smart,” Victor replied and kissed my forehead.
“Oh, really?” I teased.
“Yes, you’re never going to let me forget what I said are you?” Victor groaned and hugged me tighter.
“Not even,” I giggled.
“Seriously though, you know I was just trying to avoid you. I said it so Alex would stop asking me questions,” Victor said looking as if he was sorry.
“I know, stop worrying about it,” I sang and leaned to kiss him. Vic placed his hand on my face, holding it to his as he kissed me.
We were locked together as I placed my fingers in his curls and became lost in his cologne. We both started to moan lightly as he deepened the kissed. Victor moved his lips to my neck and began to gently kiss my skin.
We had forgotten all about the movie, Victor was all that mattered to me. He kissed my nose and he went back to my lips. However, before we could get too lost in our kiss, we heard Jose and TJ running through the house.
I jumped up from the couch and flopped down on the sectional next to Victor. Victor sat up and shifted away from me, grabbing the remote and a pillow to place in his lap. I pressed my lips knowing he was hiding the erection that had been poking me in my belly.
I schooled my expression and focused on the TV. Uncle Alex was the first to enter the room as Victor pretended to flip through channels. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until Uncle Alex started to talk.
“What are you doing home?” Uncle Alex crooned as he put Victor in a head lock and kissed the top of his head.
“I think she’s getting everyone sick,” Victor grumbled and nodded toward me with a frown.
“Meliyah, how you feeling, Mama? We can go to a doctor if you want,” Uncle Alex offered.
“I’m feeling a little better. I don’t think I need a doctor. I just needed to rest,” I said and frowned back at Victor for show.
“Vic, how ‘bout you? Should I call your Mom?” Uncle Alex asked.
“Nope, I’m going upstairs for a nap and I’ll be good,” Victor replied and got up.
“Uncle Alex, I think I’m going to do the same. Can someone let me know when dinner is ready?” I asked trying to look sleepy.
“Sure, no problem.” Uncle Alex replied easily, but his eyes flickered between the two of us as if he were seeing or trying to see more.
I gave Victor a few minutes to get out of the room before I rolled off the couch and left, while Uncle Alex took over the TV. When I got to the top of the stairs Victor was waiting for me. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders as he walked me up the hall. I started to giggle as he kissed my neck.
“That was close,” Victor whispered in my ear.
“I know. You don’t think he suspects anything?” I asked nervously.
“No, but I miss you already,” Victor crooned in my ear.
“I know. Maybe Al will hang with us in the basement later,” I offered. Al was in the habit of covering for us.
“Mm, but I want more alone time with you,” Victor whispered and kissed my cheek.
“We can be together all Monday,” I sang.
“I don’t get to be alone with you all Monday,” Victor murmured and playfully bit my ear. “I’m going to call you get your phone.”
“Okay,” I giggled as he released me from his arms.
I watched Victor go into his room as I stood in my doorway. I wanted to run across the hall after him. I just had to settle for a phone call for the time being.
Like any other couple that lives in two different places, we would talk on the phone as usual. It was one of the fun parts of our secret. We would talk and text like we were talking to friends, while living in the same house and no one being the wiser.
chapter fifteen
You Should Date
That night we talked for hours before TJ came upstairs to get us for dinner. As I got downstairs, I could see all the bags Aunt Tali brought home for my party. She was making such a big deal out of all this.
Victor and Alex came downstairs behind me as I made my way to dinner. Victor got close enough to pinch me and tried to hold back his laugh. Alex started to laugh as I turned to frown at Victor. They both laughed as we entered the dining room, and I hit them both.
Aunt Tali beamed as we walked in. I knew we were in for party talk during dinner from the look in her eyes. I took my seat in between Victor and Alex. TJ and Jose were sitting closer to Aunt Tali, since the girls weren’t home. Uncle
Alex blessed the food and dinner started.
“Meliyah, I was thinking today, you don’t go out enough. I mean with boys. The twins are on dates tonight, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be,” Aunt Tali started.
“I’m more focused on school, Aunt Tali,” I said nervously.
“I know, I feel like we’re pushing you too hard, you’re not having any fun.”
“I don’t mind, really,” I replied quickly.
“I was thinking. For the party, I want you to ask one of the boys from school to be your escort,” Aunt Tali chimed.
I almost choked. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I whined and looked at Victor out the corner of my eye. He was scowling big time. I had to nudge him under the table to get him to stop.
“Why not, you are a beautiful girl, I’m sure there are plenty of boys at school that like you.”
“Plenty of boys that want to get in her pants,” Victor growled.
Aunt Tali gave him a curious look. “Aren’t we being the big brother,” she teased. “I’m sure she can find someone that likes her for more than that.”
“Aunt Tali, can’t Alex or Victor do it,” I whined. “I really don’t want to ask anyone.”
“No,” she snorted and waved a hand at them. “You hang around them all the time. I want you to have a real date. Honey, I don’t want what happened before to make you afraid to move forward.”
This was getting worse by the minute. I wanted to tell her I was dating her son. That’s why I wasn’t out all the time. It had nothing to do with Pedro.
I could feel Victor’s leg bouncing under the table. I was hoping Aunt Tali and Uncle Alex didn’t notice how red his ears were getting. I reached for his leg to get him to relax. He reached under the table to squeeze my hand.
“I don’t know,” I whined.
“There has to be some nice boys at school,” she insisted.
I raised my hands to point to Victor and Alex like Vanna White. I wasn’t getting anywhere. Aunt Tali just frowned at me and pressed her lips. Victor looked like he was going to be sick. I could only hope I was covering better than him.
“It seems the car motivated you for school, so I’ll use it for you having fun as well. I want you to find a date for your party. If you don’t, I’ll be driving your car,” Aunt Tali said and smiled in victory.