Live-In Position

by V. S. Tice

  After working on my book for six hours, I heard the commotion of people arriving. Suspecting it was Grace and Victoria, I saved my progress and closed my laptop. Halfway down the stairs, I could hear Victoria’s excited voice.

  “Can we make them now?”

  “Make what?” Grace sounded confused.

  “The cookies.”

  “What are you talking about?” Grace sounded annoyed.

  “You told Mrs. Stanton you would take care of cookies and—”

  Grace cut her off with sharp laughter.

  “Oh my goodness, you thought I was going to make them?”

  I didn’t hear anything from Victoria.

  “I’m going to buy those things, have them catered.” From the tone in her voice, I knew she was shrugging.

  “Oh.” Victoria sounded disappointed. “Can we still make some?” There was a hint of hope.

  “I don’t cook –”

  “Of course we can,” I smiled. “But first you need to change your clothes and wash your hands.” There was something… “What’s on your face?” I examined the new sunny glow to her skin.

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Grace chimed. “They were having auditions for a mother-daughter pageant, and I took Victoria,” she boasted.

  I looked back to Victoria whose face was scrunched up. Grace’s heels clicked as she left the kitchen.

  “So, how was the pageant?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t really like it.”

  “Oh, did you tell your mom that?” I started to get the flour and sugar.

  “No, I didn’t tell Grace.”

  Looking at her, I studied her expression.

  “Did you just call your mom Grace?”

  She nodded. “I don’t want to call her Mom.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  I didn’t want to press any further. “Go get changed, okay?”

  As she hurried from the room, my mind was reeling.

  Dr. Bishop said he wanted to know if Victoria was troubled by Grace when she first came back. Does that still stand? Should I mention it to him? I don’t want to overstep any boundaries.

  Victoria and I were in the middle of scooping chocolate chip cookies onto a tray when Dr. Bishop walked into the kitchen. He stopped, glanced around the room, and then focused on Victoria.

  “What’s on her face?”

  I cleared my throat. “I think it’s fake tanning spray.” I bit my lip.

  “Why the hell is she wearing that?” He turned his frosty glare on me.

  “Grace did it.” Victoria spoke up and shifted her body closer to mine. I watched Dr. Bishop to see his reaction to her new behavior.

  “You mean your mother?” Dr. Bishop’s brow wrinkled.

  Victoria rolled her eyes and picked the spoon back up to scoop more cookie dough.

  “Miss Ashwood?”

  I knew what he was asking.

  “Um…it seems Victoria doesn’t want…isn’t comfortable calling Grace Mom.”

  “Victoria, is this true?” His eyes darted to her, and he stepped closer.

  She nodded.

  “Why is that?”

  She shrugged.

  “That’s not a proper answer.”

  Victoria dropped the spoon into the bowl of cookie dough and slapped her hands to the marble counter top.

  “I didn’t want her,” she growled out. “I didn’t ask her to come back.”

  Dr. Bishop’s eyes widened and then shifted to my face. I hoped he could tell I was as shocked as he was.

  “Well,” he cleared his throat, “she’s your mother and she is back.”

  “And what if I don’t want her to be?” Victoria shot back. I could see the tears swelling in her eyes. “She doesn’t care about me.” Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and she leaned into me.

  “Do not talk about your mother that way!” he scolded and stepped even closer. “She cares about you very much. She came back for you.”

  “Grace did not come back for me,” Victoria growled back.

  “What’s going on?” Grace stepped into the kitchen.

  Someone had obviously been eavesdropping.

  “Nothing.” Dr. Bishop straightened up and glared at Victoria then me.

  “It doesn’t sound like nothing. I demand to know –”

  “We were trying to figure out why you’re back, Grace.” Victoria sounded so much like Allison it sent a chill over my skin.

  “I’m your mother. You will not talk to me in that manner,” she huffed.

  Victoria rolled her eyes. “Right.” She picked the spoon back up and turned her attention to me. “Can I put more on or is the tray full?”

  I looked down at her, still in shock.

  “Collin, I believe we need to discuss some sort of punishment, don’t you?”

  Dr. Bishop didn’t speak. He just stared at Victoria and then at me when I answered her.

  “This one’s full. Why don’t you grab another tray out of the drawer?” I pointed behind us and attempted to avoid eye contact Dr. Bishop.

  “Collin!” Grace yelled.

  He snapped his attention away from me to her. She huffed.

  “Perhaps we should think about letting Sophia go.”

  Confusion and astonishment raced through my incoherent thoughts. What had I done?

  “What are you talking about?” Dr. Bishop rubbed his forehead.

  “Well, I’m home mostly all day now so she’s really unnecessary.” She shrugged with a look of disgust reserved just for me.

  “Daddy?” Tears threatened to spill over Victoria’s round, flushed cheeks.

  “Victoria, this isn’t your concern,” Grace spat.

  I pulled Victoria into my arms to comfort her.

  “Grace, I think you’re overreacting,” Dr. Bishop said coolly.

  “Why can’t you get rid of her, Collin? Is there something going on?” Grace started yelling.

  Dr. Bishop’s face filled with fury. He pointed his long pale finger at her and she flinched away.

  “I’ve been putting up with a lot since you left and even more since you’ve returned. Don’t make accusations of my behavior when yours is still in question.”

  I squeezed Victoria tighter and lifted her into my arms. Twisting the temperature knob off on the oven I moved quickly to get her out of the kitchen and away from their argument.

  I tucked Victoria into her bed with a movie and left to clean up the cookies before they went bad. Reaching the doorway to the kitchen, I realized they were still in the there.

  “Grace, this –”

  “Don’t you dare, Collin! Don’t!” Grace was slowly unraveling. “I came back for you, because I love you. I will not let some little tramp –”

  My attempt to get away was cut off by the timer on the oven. It cut off Grace’s tirade. Cursing under my breath, I stepped to the oven and hit the off button.

  “Is this about her?”

  I snapped my head around and was thankful she wasn’t talking about me. Breathing in relief, I headed for the closest exit.

  “Of course it is! She’s our daughter, and you don’t seem to care much about that fact. Miss Ashwood is closer to her than you!” he spat, grabbed my arm, and pointed at me.

  “Oh, and you’re so close to her, Collin?” she snorted. “How dare you condemn me for something you’re the master of? Do you know how cold you are toward her? Toward me?”

  “You left!” he shouted, not letting go of me. I flinched.

  “I came back!”

  “This isn’t working, Grace,” he said in defeat.

  His hand was still gripping my arm tightly. Heat pulsated through my body from the contact. With each passing moment it intensified and, right now, each minute felt like an hour.

  “I said I’d try, but you haven’t been very forthcoming on why you left and where you’ve been. I don’t see the point in –”

  “Don’t you dare end this, Collin Bishop! You’ll regret it if you do!” She took multipl
e steps toward him, her arms crossed over her chest.

  “There isn’t anything more you could do to me. You’ve been pretty thorough,” he snarled through clenched teeth. His grip tightened on my arm.

  Ow, ow, that’s my arm, buddy.

  Emboldened by the pain of his grip, I began trying to pull his fingers from around my arm. I was prying at them when Grace dropped the bomb.

  “She may not even be your daughter,” she snorted.

  Fingers forgotten, I blinked twice and looked at Grace. She had some major- ow, ow…

  Dr. Bishop’s hand gripped even harder. Break her, not me!

  “What?” he hissed.

  I began prying at his fingers once more, desperate to get the hell out of the kitchen.

  “You heard me. There was someone else in college,” she shrugged. “It was one night, but I shortly found out I was pregnant. She could be yours, but honestly, she doesn’t look much like you, does she?” she smirked and walked toward the door.

  “Don’t walk away from me,” he shouted.

  She laughed. She freaking laughed. She’s lost her mind.

  Finally, I lifted his remaining fingers off my arm. I took one step back, rubbing my arm.

  “Get out of my house! Now!”

  “Fine! I’ll collect my things and my daughter!” She continued to walk out of the kitchen.

  Dr. Bishop didn’t say anything, nothing at all. I wanted to smack him in the head and tell him to stop her. But he didn’t move, he didn’t speak, and his face was sullen. He was lost. I groaned and took a deep breath, trying to build up my courage. I took two steps toward Grace.

  “Don’t you go near her,” I snarled.

  Grace spun on her heels with fury in her eyes.

  “Say something. Do something. Don’t let her take your daughter,” I shouted at the statue Dr. Bishop had become.

  “She’s not mine,” he growled and glared.

  “Bullshit! That little girl,” I pointed up, “only knows you as her father. You’re the only parent she’s ever had. You can’t take that away from her! You, Collin, are her father! Regardless of genetics or what a blood test says.”

  His glare intensified.

  “You need to stay out things that don’t concern you,” Grace shouted.

  Turning on the hell harpy, I clenched my fists at my sides.

  “Well, if he won’t say anything, I sure as hell won’t stand by and let you destroy that little girl!” I stepped up face to face with her. “You’re a selfish bitch. You left her behind and didn’t care enough to take care of your daughter or watch what an amazing person she is growing into.”

  She opened her mouth, fury in her eyes.

  “Shut up! You’ve said enough,” I growled and took another step forward. She backed away.

  The wrath boiling inside of me was a new feeling. My protective nature intensified when it came to Victoria.

  “You waltz back in here only to play dress up and live the life of a socialite. You leave Victoria in the background unless you need an ornament!”

  I rubbed my hands over my face angrily before I continued. Another step toward Grace, and she took another step back.

  “You can leave anytime you want, but you will not touch her!”

  “She’s my daught—”

  “You may be the biological incubator, but you’re nowhere near worthy of calling yourself her mother,” I screeched.

  “Agghhh!” I screamed, chest heaving, nostrils flared. “Why is Victoria treated like an exotic plant around here? You show her when the appearance is necessary, you dress her up, and you push her away until she’s needed or has to be dealt with. It’s ridiculous!”

  My rage found Dr. Bishop.

  “Are you going to say anything or do anything?”

  It was a new experience to see shock and hurt fill his face, but when he didn’t respond, all I could do was sigh heavily and roll my eyes.

  “Like I should really expect you to do anything where Victoria is concerned.” Disgust dripped from my words.

  Pushing past Grace, she followed closely behind. I leaned against the doorway of Victoria’s room, with my arms crossed, staring her down, daring her with my eyes to come closer.

  Her foot inched forward, and her mouth opened to speak.

  “Keep walking,” I snarled.

  Glaring at me, she didn’t say another word. Instead she stalked down the hallway, away from Victoria’s room.

  As soon as I opened the door, I saw the look on her face and knew she’d heard the yelling. I grabbed her into my arms and held her. She didn’t cry or say anything. I only hoped she didn’t hear the words spoken in the kitchen. Eventually, we both fell asleep on her bed.

  I woke up to a pitch-black room. After tucking her in with her rag doll, I kissed her forehead and whispered an apology.

  Pulling out my suitcases, I was pretty sure my outburst would also be my termination. Unable to sleep, I started throwing the contents of my dresser in the cases. Knowing there would be a knock coming on my door, I lay on the couch unable to sleep.

  At some point, though I couldn’t say when, I drifted off to sleep. A loud pounding roused me on my door. I sat up groggily and rubbed my eyes. The knocking came again. I sighed and gave a quick look at the clock on the opposite wall – four twenty-three in the morning. Well, I guess if I’m going to have to pack up and leave, I might as well do it before Victoria wakes up.

  Squaring my shoulders, I twisted the knob and took a deep breath. In front of me stood a broken man, a sight I never imagined seeing – a disheveled Dr. Bishop. I furrowed my brow, swallowed hard, and licked my dry lips to speak.

  “I apologize for my –” before I could finish the first sentence, his hand encompassed the back of my neck. I flinched and closed my eyes tight.

  My eyes snapped open as he stumbled into my room and pulled my face to his. He leaned down and pressed his forehead against mine. My hands reflexively shot out in front of me, pushing against his chest.

  “D...Dr. Bishop?” I whispered.

  “Shhh.” I could smell liquor on his breath.

  “Dr. Bishop –” His lips crashed to mine forcefully and pushed us into the room.

  Momentarily I froze, until the slamming of my door snapped me out of it.

  His mouth was against mine, and his hand was caressing my lower back, bringing my body closer to his.

  The feel of his body made me sigh. He took the opportunity to slip his whiskey-flavored tongue into my mouth. My eyes widened, but at the same time, my body screamed out in want. I shook the feeling off and pulled my face away.

  “Dr. Bishop, you shouldn’t –”

  Without a word he pulled my mouth back to his, licking and sucking on my bottom lip. I struggled with the unwanted and inappropriate lust for this extremely attractive man. My calves hit the couch just as my balance sent us crashing onto the cushions, Dr. Bishop on top of me. I gasped and turned my head to prevent his advantage, but instead he started kissing down my neck.

  Quick and heavy breaths fell from my mouth. Sensations soared. My body was committing mutiny and giving in. His hips pressed forward. The feel of his arousal threw me over the edge. The thud of the remote control falling off the couch pulled me from my lustful induced state. I unknotted my fingers from his hair.

  “Stop…you have to stop.”

  He stopped his ministrations and lifted his head from the crook of my neck. His emerald eyes met mine. They seemed so dark and needy.

  “I-I’m…I apologize,” he slurred a whisper, but didn’t move from on top of me.

  I shifted underneath him. He groaned, but it was a sound of pleasure. Trying to slip out from under him, he locked me into place.

  “Don’t move,” he whispered into my ear and nestled into my neck. “Please, don’t move.” The words were slurred and tired.

  “Okay,” I whispered. “Are you sure –?”

  “I didn’t…I never realized.” I didn’t have to ask for him to explain. “Until she
told me she wasn’t mine, I never realized.”

  I hesitantly brought one hand up and patted his arm, trying to soothe him and be supportive. Although I have to say, it isn’t easy to do with a six foot, drunken man lying on half of your body.

  “When she said it, it crushed me. I can’t imagine her not being…mine.” His voice was getting quieter and his head fell to my shoulder.

  “She’s yours,” I whispered back and rubbed his arm.

  “Maybe,” he mumbled against my neck.

  The feel of his lips against my skin sent jolts of fire to my core. I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning. I found myself praying he would just fall asleep, so I could get out of this position before he sobered up in the morning.

  I removed my hand from his arm and attempted my escape when he was still and his breathing evened out. I jumped when his hand grabbed mine and wrapped it around the back of his neck, his grip tightening around me.

  Lying there waiting for him to fall asleep, while his body covered mine, it was difficult to think of anything besides the pulsating feeling at his touch, the way his breath felt against my neck, his hand on my waist, and how soft his hair had been to touch. Eventually, soft snores escaped his mouth, and I squirmed to get away. Even in sleep he wouldn’t let go of me.

  I sighed heavily and gave up the fight. Emotionally exhausted, I fell asleep where I was.

  Chapter Ten

  CONSCIOUSNESS SLOWLY MADE its way into my head and with it, a flood of memories. My eyes snapped open, and I gasped.

  Dr. Bishop was still sleeping next to me on the couch, but my shifting around had stirred him slightly. His hand lightly squeezed my hip. He moved and I could feel him against my calf. Well good morning to you too. As far as I could tell there was nothing little about his “little guy,” as Grace had called it.

  Closing my eyes, I gulped and slowly released a large breath. I chanced a glance at him. His head was just above my right breast. Excitement started to build in my stomach and slowly sent jolts of wanting aches between my thighs.