Sanjay grinned. “Yeah? ‘Haughty,’ huh? Must have been the woman. I felt her checking out my ass.”
Chapter Eight
“No, Mom, I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard from Nana,” Victoria said into the phone as she dusted a bookcase. She’d invited Bella and Addie for dinner and was preparing the house. “I’m sure she’s all right, though. She’s left home before.”
“Yes, I know that, Victoria,” Regina Howell said with frustration. “But Mother’s never been this upset before. Your father has really gone and done it this time. And aside from all of that, she’s seventy-eight years old. I don’t like it that she’s gone off and hasn’t contacted me. I’ve called all of her friends, and none of them have heard from her.”
“Well, what exactly did Dad do?” Victoria stuck her finger in the soil of an African violet.
“Mother wanted to redecorate the main dining room in the house in Boston. Your father told her no, that it was absolutely out of the question.”
“But why? When was the last time that room was updated anyway?”
Regina sighed. “You’re missing the point entirely, Victoria.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Then why don’t you tell me what that point is, Mom?” she said, picking up her watering can to water the violet.
“The point is that that room is practically the centerpiece of the house, and your grandmother knows that. Yet she insists on being given the right to decorate it in what she calls an African safari motif.”
Victoria’s lips pursed as she tried to stifle a chuckle. She knew her grandmother and could well imagine what that meant. “And what does that entail?”
“I heard you laugh, Tori. It isn’t funny. The swatches she brought home were just awful: Zebra print, giraffe, tiger—”
“Actually, tigers are from Asia, not Africa—”
“Victoria Renee Howell.” Regina demanded her attention in a strident voice, which made Victoria wince. “I do not need a lecture on the origin of species right now, young lady. Your grandmother is missing.”
Victoria bit her lip. “Sorry, Mom, force of habit.”
“Well, all right, then,” Regina said begrudgingly. “Now, back to your grandmother. Do you know she even had something that she called elephant hide? She said it was genuine,” she finished. The horror of it all came clear across the phone lines.
“So what did Dad say to her? I assume the fact that he told her no wasn’t enough to send her away.”
Mrs. Howell heaved a deep sigh. “No, dear. Now you know I don’t usually approve of your grandmother’s choice of language when she gets mad at your father, but this time I was in agreement with her when she called him a—just a moment, I have it written down.”
Victoria heard some minor rustling, and then her mother was back. “Here we are. She called him ‘a dick wad with a mean streak a mile wide and a stick up his ass.’ Now I don’t exactly know what that first term means, but I can hazard a guess. Victoria? Victoria? Are you still there?”
Victoria’s eyes had widened to the point of pain, and her mouth had fallen open. She tried to speak but couldn’t. Her mother had actually said the words “dick” and “ass.” What was the world coming to? She tried once again to speak. “Uh…hmm…”
“Yes, dear. I know it’s shocking, but your grandmother was absolutely right. Your father not only told her that she couldn’t redecorate, but to add insult to injury, he told her that all of her fluttering and fidgeting about was giving him angina, and that to him all of her ripping and running and getting in his way only meant one thing: that she’d been widowed far too long and needed to find herself a husband and redecorate his house. Well, that was early yesterday evening, and needless to say, I woke up this morning and found Mother gone and a note that simply said ‘See you when I see you.’”
Sufficiently recovered now, Victoria laughed.
“It isn’t funny, Victoria,” her mother chastised, but it lacked any real power because she herself was chuckling.
“It’s just all so funny,” Victoria said once she had wound down. “I honestly think that those two enjoy sparring with each other.”
“Of course they do,” Regina confirmed, “but that doesn’t change the fact that your father was completely out of line yesterday, and I let him know that in no uncertain terms.”
Victoria chuckled, knowing her father was in for it. “I know this is probably an insulting question, but did you call her cell phone?”
“Yes, and of course she has it turned off.”
“Well, she’s done this before, and she’ll be back when she’s calmed down. She hasn’t called me, but when she does, I’ll let you know.”
“You do that, sweetheart, the minute you hear from her. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom. Bye.”
* * *
Victoria was finishing vacuuming her living room when the front doorbell rang. She opened the door to find her grandmother, Ms. Theresa Stanton, standing on her porch with two big suitcases at her feet and determination on her face. Victoria smiled cheekily. “Well, hello there, Rebel. How long will you be staying?” she asked as she went in for a long, tight hug and a gentle kiss on the top of the head.
“Hi, baby,” Theresa said. “Oh, it’s so good to see you,” she cooed and squeezed Victoria one last time before releasing her. “I take it your mother called you.”
“Of course,” Victoria said as she lifted the bags and brought them into the house. “She’s worried, and I told her I’d call her as soon as I heard from you. So, just let me put these bags in your usual room so I can do that.” She’d lived in the house for five years, and during that time, her grandmother had visited her at least twice a year.
“Thank you, dear heart,” Theresa said as she followed her up the stairs and to the second door. “You know, I can’t believe I still have to wear my coat,” she said as Victoria helped her take it off. “This is California, after all.”
“This is northern California in late January,” Victoria reminded her as she walked to hang the coat in the closet. “We don’t get much past fifty degrees in the winter. Now,” she said as she watched her grandmother sit on the bed, “do you want to call Mom, or should I?”
Theresa already had her phone out of its case. “I’ll do it.”
As her grandmother talked on the phone, Victoria busied herself with the unpacking.
“Don’t bother with that right now, I-adori-ya-Victoria,” Theresa said when she’d hung up. “Come on over here and tell your nana what’s going on with you.” She patted the space next to her on the bed invitingly.
Victoria grinned at the old childhood nickname and walked to sit down on the bed. “Okay, Nana, what do you want to know?”
“For starters, you can tell me about this man you’re seeing, and it’s about time, I might add.”
Victoria studied her for a silent few seconds. “How did you know?” she finally asked.
Theresa’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh you are seeing someone? Honey, I was only guessing,” Theresa confessed with a wink, making Victoria burst out laughing. “Well, good for you! Tell me all about him.”
“Well.” Victoria drew the word out cautiously. “I really like him, but there’s something about him I know the family isn’t going to like. He isn’t a Christian.”
Theresa drew back with a frown. “Oh, sweet pea, your daddy’s not going to like that at all, neither will your mother. What is he? Jewish? Muslim?”
“No, he’s Hindu.” The only reason Victoria knew this was because she’d overheard him discussing it with a coworker before he’d quit.
Theresa pursed her lips, clearly in thought. “I’m afraid I’m not too familiar with that particular religion. Where’s he from?”
Victoria grinned. “Athens, Georgia, but if you mean what’s his ethnicity, he’s South Asian Indian. His parents are originally from the Bengal region of India.”
“Now that’s something your father really isn’t going to like,” Ther
esa muttered. “Is his skin brown?”
Victoria frowned. “No, well…kind of…I guess, but what’s that got—”
“Really? Could you could pass him off as being biracial—you know, like he’s mixed with black and something else? It doesn’t matter what.”
Horrified, Victoria could only stare at her for a moment. “Why would I do that? And I can’t believe that you would even suggest such a thing!”
“I don’t care who you date, Victoria. You know that. As long as he makes you happy and treats you well, I’m good. But your parents are a different kettle of fish altogether. Your father will definitely object to the fact that this boy isn’t black. You know that as well as I do. And your mother won’t be too happy about it either.”
“That’s their problem,” Victoria retorted, “and besides, who says they will ever meet him anyway? I didn’t say that this was serious.”
Theresa’s smile was soft and chiding, and she took Victoria’s chin in her hand so she could see her eyes. “Honey, you didn’t have to. For someone like you, ‘really like’ means you’re on the road to serious.”
Victoria sulked and grumbled, “How’d you get to be so smart anyway?”
Theresa laughed. “Baby, I was born that way. Now tell me some more about your fellow. What’s his name?”
Laughing, Victoria answered, “His name is Sanjay Banerjee, and I met him through work.”
* * *
“You look too loose and limber not to have been fucked,” Addie said by way of greeting when Victoria opened her door to him and Bella.
“And hello to you too, Addie,” Victoria said as she offered her cheek for a kiss. “Watch what you say,” she whispered as he kissed her. “My grandmother’s here.”
“Cool—can’t wait to meet her.”
“Pay no attention to him, sweetie,” Bella said with a quick hug. “Though, I will say you do look a bit softer around the edges than you usually do.”
“Oh, stop,” Victoria chided with an embarrassed smile. “Come on into the dining room and meet my grandmother. The salad is on the table, and the lasagna has about another five minutes. I’ll grab the wine while you guys wash your hands. But first, you should meet Nana.”
“You’re a hoot, Ms. Stanton,” Addie told Victoria’s grandmother between deep chuckles. “An absolute hoot!”
Theresa looked askance at his outfit of silver pants and purple silk shirt and finally smiled with amusement. “Yes, well, you’re not half-stepping yourself, young man.” She looked over at Victoria, who was sitting on the sofa with Bella. “I’m tired, sweetheart. You’ll have to forgive an old lady for being rude, but I think I’ll head on up to bed.”
“Oh, you’re not being rude, Nana. In fact I’d say you did pretty well, lasting as long as you did. After all, it’s hard out there for an old broad on the lam.”
“And exhausting,” Theresa said with a straight face and hugged her. “It was nice to meet you two,” she said to Bella and Addie. “Don’t be strangers while I’m here, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the two said in unison.
“Good night, Nana. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
“What a sweetheart,” Bella said once they’d heard Theresa’s bedroom door close.
“Yeah, Nana’s the best.”
Addie slid back on the couch and crossed his legs. “Okay, enough about her, sweet as she is. Let’s hear about your night of reclaiming your manhood.” When Victoria looked at him in confusion, he rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on, doll! You did sleep with the Southern-fried Indian, didn’t you?” When Victoria shook her head and buried her face in her hands, he said, “Like I said, you reclaimed your manhood.”
Victoria ignored Bella’s ill-concealed snort into her snifter of brandy and focused on Addie. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Addie and Bella looked at one another, nodded. “She did.”
“So how good was he?” Bella asked.
Victoria felt her entire body flush with heat and struggled to suppress a smile. “None of your business.”
“That good, huh?” Addie asked softly and smiled as Victoria squirmed in embarrassment.
“Worst poker face everrrr,” Bella murmured as she took a sip of her brandy and pretended to look everywhere but at Victoria.
Laughing, Victoria tossed a small pillow at her. “Quiet, you!”
Bella snatched it neatly from the air and continued drinking. “So,” she said after cradling the snifter in her hands, “when will you see him again?”
Victoria had no problem answering this question. “He’s making me dinner tomorrow night.”
Chapter Nine
“Well, I know I didn’t peek in your bedroom window,” Victoria teasingly told Sanjay the next night as he took her leather jacket from her to hang up. “Did you look in mine?”
Sanjay hung her coat on the wooden coatrack he kept in his small entryway and, turning, gestured her into his living room. He looked at her in confusion. When she held her arms out to the sides and then did a slow 360-degree turn, he laughed. She wore dark blue jeans with a black blouse tucked into the jeans and black high-heeled boots, all accented with silver at her ears and around her throat.
Minus the jewelry and the boots, he had on almost the exact same thing. He wore an untucked black T-shirt and no shoes at all.
Victoria stood in the middle of the room, letting her gaze roam over him and trying to maintain a sense of decorum. His black hair was just long enough to touch his shirt as he threw his head back in amusement. His easy sexuality was so potent she felt it coming off him in waves from across the room, and automatically her sheath tightened in preparation for him. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and lasered in on her, and abruptly she felt weak and vulnerable.
The urge to run was a strong one. She didn’t move. She stood there watching him watch her. Her breath caught in her throat and then started up again with a bang, her pulse kicking up a quick beat against her skin. When his eyes focused in on that, she irrationally wondered if he could actually hear her heartbeat. He was clearly dangerous, and she felt her heart begin to race in recognition of the threat he posed.
Sanjay stared at her, his whole body on alert. Things had gotten down to a purely animalistic level very quickly. Her wholly feminine, instinctive reaction to his sexuality made him feel a primitive male satisfaction, and he embraced it eagerly. She knew that her possession was imminent, and when it came it wouldn’t be pretty. He watched her pink tongue dart out to lick her lips. The movement made him growl. Like a wolf that had scented his mate, he slowly stalked her.
Victoria watched him come with wide eyes and panting breath, the look of savage intent on his face making her seek reassurance from him. “San?”
The soft sound of his name falling from her lips made Sanjay want to strip her bare, take her to the floor, and possess her totally. He pulled her into his arms. “Shh,” he murmured, “I’ve got you.” He took the bag she was holding and put it on a side table. “I didn’t get my hello kiss,” he whispered hoarsely and, tangling his hand in her hair, pulled her head back so that it was resting high on his arm, bent his head, and took her mouth.
Victoria opened wide for him, her fingers clutching at him for balance. She pulled his tongue into her mouth, greedily sucking it to the roof of her mouth and moaning when he retreated to use his teeth on her tongue and lips. He backed her up, pushing her against the wall with the force of his body, and pressing his jeans-covered dick into her center.
There were no fumbles as they each took care of the other’s jeans and underwear. Preliminaries were neither thought of nor necessary, and lifting her leg to hook it around his waist, Sanjay thrust into her, embedding himself to the hilt in one swift move. Biting at her mouth and pressing her hands into the wall, he took her savagely, pounding into her hungrily and taking what he wanted.
Anchoring herself to him, Victoria gave as good as she got, meeting him thrust for thrust, and no more than fi
ve or six thrusts later began screaming as her orgasm crashed through her, bringing tears to her eyes and taking her body through convulsion after convulsion.
Sanjay, who’d been watching her the entire time, flexed his hips and hammered into her one last time before roaring his own pleasure.
“Oh, my God,” Victoria mumbled a few minutes later as very slowly, she removed her leg from around his hip.
Sanjay straightened, pulling his pants up. Pulling a fresh handkerchief from his pocket, he folded it into a square, placed it in her panties, and pulled them up along with her jeans.
Victoria made a gentle sound of appreciation.
Resting his forehead on hers, Sanjay smiled down at her. “You okay, sweetheart?”
Victoria stood in the circle of his arms feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. She nodded and then searched her brain for something to say. “I um…” She cleared her throat. “Your living room is lovely. I really like the hardwood floors.”
Sanjay burst out laughing, and realizing how random and out of place her comment had been, Victoria joined him. Their laughter dispelled the tension, and when it had wound down, he bent his head for another kiss, mentally sighing in relief when she stood on her toes to meet him halfway. This kiss was friendly and gentle. He rested his forehead on hers again. “I don’t know what that was—some kind of primitive call of a man to his woman—but I liked it,” he told her with a crooked smile. He knew exactly what it had been: a claiming. He’d claimed her in the most basic sense, and she’d welcomed it. There was no way he’d tell her that, though—she was already skittish.
Victoria chuckled and absently rubbed her nose against his. “I liked it too, but it also frightened me,” she whispered.
“In a good way or a bad way?” he asked her as he slipped his hands into her back pockets to massage her butt.
She smiled shyly and slipping her hands under his T-shirt, rubbed his back. “Good,” she whispered.
After the Morning After Page 6
