Victoria (21 page)

Tom excused himself and left.

Now Tod hoped that Steven didn't make a surprise entrance and ruin things.

"Want to take a little walk?” Tod asked Victoria. She shrugged her shoulders and looked behind him toward the screen door. He couldn't help to think she was looking for Steven.

"I can't believe what I just heard. Are you crazy or just plain stupid?” Tod raised his voice at her as he grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

Tod's anger caught Victoria off guard, and he squeezed her so tight. She looked into his eyes, which were red with fury. She had never seen him like this.

"Calm down, Tod, please. You're scaring me,” she whispered, and he loosened his grip on her arms, but he didn't release her.

Tod tried to calm himself. She sensed the difficult struggle. What was his problem?

"I'm sorry. I can't believe you're involved this deeply in this case, Tory. Why didn't you tell me, confide in me? I could have kept an extra eye on you. I could have been a help to this case, to you. Solving your father's murder has been my number one priority for the past year. You and your mom's well-being have been as well. How could you keep this from me?"

Victoria felt terrible for hurting Tod. He really did care about her and her family. He had been there for them continuously and had every right to be angry with her.

"I'm so sorry, Tod, really I am. I know you've always been here for me and my mom and I appreciate it. I know you've tried your hardest to find who killed my dad. No one would have ever expected such a triangle of corruption, confusion around my father's death. When the investigator from the DA's office approached me, he gave me little choice. You know how determined I've been to bring my dad's killer to justice."

Tod still held her, and she felt uncomfortable, knowing Steven was somewhere around the house. She didn't want him to get the wrong impression, but Tod was upset and he was a true friend who really cared. She was empathetic to his reaction and emotions because she knew he cared for her and wanted more than just friendship from their relationship.

Part of his anger now, she was sure stemmed from Steven's presence. He was home and Tod knew how in love Victoria was with Steven.

"I thought you really had feelings for Collins. You were so convincing, it was killing me,” he whispered as he gently tucked a strand of Victoria's hair behind her ear, then let his hand remain against her cheek.

Victoria's stomach instantly hurt. He looked incredibly serious. His eyes were dark and penetrating, initiating an emotional reaction within her that she couldn't quite name. If she had to identify it immediately, she might have described the emotion as fear, uneasiness.

"I know how it looked, but I had to make Bret believe it as well as my family and friends."

Tod pulled her closer. They were practically embracing, his arm wrapped around her waist and arms, which now stuck by her sides. She had no way of stopping his next move; he was too strong and too determined.

Tod whispered into her hair, “I hated seeing him with you, touching you, kissing you. You have no idea, Tory.” Then he kissed her, a long, hard kiss filled with emotion, from only one end.

She struggled in his grasp as their lips separated and surprisingly, he let her go. He must have sensed that she couldn't reciprocate the affection.

From the doorway, Steven stood watching, waiting to see Tod's next move. When Tod kissed Victoria, he wanted to run through the door and rip Tod's head off, but Uncle Patrick was right behind him.

"I know it's tough to watch, son, but that man's been in love with my niece for a long time. He knows you're back and he knows Victoria loves only you."

"I know that, but I'd be lying if I said watching another man kissing her didn't piss me off. I don't know if that's why I don't like that guy."

"Sure it is. Tod's been good to Victoria and the family. He's a good detective, as well."

"I don't know, Pat. I have a bad feeling about him. I just can't put my finger on it."

Steven's attention drew away from Victoria and Tod as he spoke to Patrick. He had only given Victoria and Tod the few extra minutes alone because he wasn't sure about their relationship. He knew he had been out of her life a long while and she had every right to be interested in other men.

Even though the thought of another man touching her, loving her, tore away at his heart, he knew she had been on an emotional rollercoaster. Never mind, what she just went through the last few weeks. The last thing she expected was his return. Steven wouldn't push the issue, but when he got her back to her place later, he'd be sure to love Victoria so much that she would never even think of straying. That brought an instant smile to his face as he walked away from the door and the view.

Tod released Victoria, but held her cheek in his hand.

"I had to know how it felt to touch you and taste you. I know you can't reciprocate the feelings. I just needed to know. I'm glad you're safe, and everything's over. Goodbye, Tory."

He didn't smile. His face was empty and blank when he walked away toward his car. She hadn't said a word to him. She didn't need to and besides, she didn't know what to say anyway. She felt bad as she walked back toward the front porch and sat on the steps.

Tod was in love with her, but she was in love with Steven. God, it had felt so good to have Steven's hands and mouth touch every part of her the other night. They had never made love with such emotion, desire, and lust like that, and she looked forward to more.

She had thought Steven was dead, and deep down, she knew when she took Colt and Warren's offer to go undercover that it would be dangerous. They had no idea how many people were involved and what they were willing to do to stay undetected. Someone was willing to kill, that was certain, and she never was afraid of dying because deep in her heart, she was already dead.

Then Steven showed up alive and well, as handsome and sexy as ever, and her heart instantly healed. She loved him so much and needed him so much. As she thought about him, about his fabulous body, his strength, and complete awareness of her body, she smiled wide.

He was the only man she had ever been with, and the thought of being with someone else just wasn't possible. Although they had been apart for so long, she hadn't forgotten one part of his body. She knew every small mark, curve, and scar he ever had, except the new ones.

When she thought about Steven taking a bullet, it scared the hell out of her. She couldn't lose him, and now that he was back, she would hold onto him forever. Victoria was glad his new position as Training Commander wouldn't be as dangerous as being a Marine, but she still worried. She could handle that worry and fear, though, because she knew what it was like to have loved ones on the job and in dangerous professions. She would love him every night when he got home and never take their time together for granted. Again, she smiled as she looked up at the stars in the sky.

"Hey, gorgeous, I hope thinking of me has put that huge smile on your face."

Victoria turned around quickly to find Steven by the screened storm door. “Come out here with me. The night is perfect."

He came outside to join her, sitting next to her on the front step. Victoria looped her arm around Steven's, instantly feeling the bulging muscles as she squeezed him tight.

She inhaled the scent as she pressed against his shirt, filling her nostrils with a combination of fabric softener and Steven's cologne. A scent she clung to every time she smelled it or thought she did. She'd had a bottle of it at home and when he was gone and she hadn't heard a word from him, she'd open up the bottle, sprinkle some around the house, pretending he was away on a trip, due home any moment, praying that he still loved her.... She closed her eyes. The memories of the coping mechanisms and the way she got through the loneliness and fear were still very raw and painful.

Victoria could remember missing him so much, crying her eyes out, sobbing uncontrollably, and holding a pillow she sprayed with his cologne, pretending it was Steven and that he was there.

She was so angry with him for leaving her, for forgetting about her, that one night she threw the bottle of cologne in the garbage, vowed never to think of him again, and demanded herself to love him no more.

It never worked. They were meant to be.

"Come here, baby.” He motioned her to sit down on the step in front of him between his legs.

She kneeled down on the step instead, wrapping her arms around his neck as Steven's strong arms held Victoria's body close against him.

"I love you so much, Steven."

"I love you too,” he whispered, then softly kissed her lips. Their embrace became tighter, their kisses stronger and deeper as their tongues met in a competition over want and control. Steven's hands caressed Victoria's backside as he released her lips and she placed her mouth against his neck. She scattered little kisses as they embraced.

"Oh, baby, I want you so bad,” he whispered.

"I want you too. Let's just wait a little longer then we'll head back to my place."

They stayed there a while as Steven held her close, staying silent, just enjoying each other's company and embrace.

Sherry looked out the front window watching her daughter with Steven. They were so much in love, they were going to be just fine, and her family was safe. She still worried about her daughter and what she had gotten involved in, but figured Steven would take care of her now that he was back and they were together. Even so, Sherry couldn't help but wonder who had really killed her husband and why?

Steven watched Victoria toss her keys on the kitchen table, then turn on the light in the living room. He waited in the hallway as she continued her routine. The thought of her coming home to an empty townhouse every night made his heart ache. He was certain she had cried herself to sleep and attempted numerous times to put him out of her mind, but he was back, for good, and he would never take her love or sacrifice for granted.

Victoria pulled off her shoes and she looked up, as if feeling Steven watching her.

His gaze remained focused on only her.

She looked incredible wearing her hip-hugger blue jeans, snugly against her hipbones, which peeked out just slightly. Her fitted t-shirt accentuated the perfect size and curve of her breasts. He moistened his lips, acknowledged his body's peaked interest in looking her over. She had always kept in shape, maintained her amazing figure, and he smiled when he thought about the way she always used to complain about her backside being too big. It looked as perfect as ever as he let his gaze scan over her body.

"Steven ... Earth to Steven, come in Steven,” Victoria teased as Steven realized he had been staring and hadn't heard a word Victoria said.

"What's wrong?” The look of innocence and concern warmed his heart. That was Tory, always putting everyone else's feelings before her own. Not anymore. Starting tonight, he would show her just how desirable, irresistible, and taken she really was.

Reaching toward her, Steven took her hand, pulling her against him in an embrace.

The fact his breathing grew rapid and his heart raced, magnified the emotion and connection he felt to Tory. There were never any others. There would never be anyone but Victoria.

"I love your body.” His hands roamed over her hips and backside, soaking in the sensation of jean covered, muscular flesh. Squeezing, he watched her reaction and knew they would soon be one.

He watched her close her eyes, heard her gasp in pleasant surprise. Her delicate chin tilted up toward him and he captured it between his lips.

Kissing her skin, making his way across her jaw to her neck, her scent drove him to voracious need. “I want these clothes off of you, right now.” His tone was insistent, he couldn't control the depth of his desire for her and there was no need to. They had always been close friends and lovers. There was no in-between, no uncharted emotion or connection, until this moment. Something so deep, a feeling so strong and alive, tugged at his heart and increased with each breath. He lifted her shirt. Victoria raised her arms. She appeared just as anxious as they helped one another remove their clothing, kissing in between, unable to keep their hands off one another. Buttons ripped from seams, denim seemed to vanish off their bodies as erotic growls murmured between lips filled with anticipation.

Gazes filled with intense, provocative desire locked an instant before their naked bodies collided. Skin-to-skin, they each released a satisfied sigh. Kissing, grabbing one another, falling against the wall in the hallway, they fell deeper into the erotic moment as lovers are entitled to.

Breathless and locked in the moment, Victoria was instantly ready for Steven. It appeared the deeper he kissed her, the harder she fell under his spell, the more she wanted him inside of her.

Allowing his mouth full access to her flesh, she arched her hips toward him, rolled her head back, and tightened her grip on his shoulders as he continued to seduce her.

As his lips and tongue rolled across, over, and in-between each feminine ridge, he sensed her squirming beneath him as tiny goose bumps covered her shoulders and arms.

Cupping her breast, enjoying the fact it filled the palm of his hand and tasted as sweet as he remembered. His mouth covered as much as it could, unsuccessful in devouring all of her. Victoria's moans from the sensations Steven's mouth caused, filled the space between them as he felt her hands rub over his chest, across his scars.

"Victoria...."

"Oh, Steven, I want you. I'm ready.” She panted.

Wanting her just as badly, needing to be inside her, he pulled her leg up against his hip, her response was accretive and inviting. She went a step further, instantly locking both her legs around Steven's hips, desire in control. “Right here, right now!” she demanded in a lover's growl, clenching her hips and thighs tighter against his flesh.

Surrendering to her demands, he covered her mouth with his own, kissing her breathless.