He threw his hands in the air as he stepped off the boat glancing down the dock. “Dude, I’m coming,” he yelled to a guy who played football with us.
I ran toward the front deck; Vicky was nowhere in sight.
“Zander,” Vicky whispered.
I peeked into the stateroom. She sat on the sofa.
Stepping inside, I closed the door behind me. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.” I ran upstairs to the top deck and dismissed the captain. Upon returning to the state room I closed the second door behind me.
“That was close, Vicky.” I fell on to the sofa beside her.”
“He almost caught us, Zander.”
I pulled her lips into mine. “Do you want to stop seeing me?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Good. If Alissa’s here you should party for a little while.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll head to his yacht in a minute. You can stay here as long as you like. If you choose to go home…”
“I know how to handle my brother, Zander.”
A chuckle released from my lips. “Yeah, you do.”
7
Victoria
After spending time with Zander, I joined Alissa on her family’s yacht. Trying to keep my eyes off of Zander was difficult. The Becca chick followed Zander around like a lost puppy. Slamming my fist down her throat played on repeat. Zander wrapped his arm around her neck as he sipped his beer.
“What the fuck, Vicky? Never seen you publicly crush on lil’ bro’s friend,” Alissa joked.
My head snapped to my left. I glared at her. “Don’t fucking piss me off. I’m not in the mood.” I sipped from the red solo cup filled with warm vodka.
Her gray eyes widened and her red lips dropped open. “Jesus, Vicky, I’m just saying, soon you will draw attention to yourself. I think I am the only one who knows you semi like wolf boy.”
“You are.”
The only reason I admitted to Alissa I liked Zander was because she slept with one of her brother’s friends and swore me to secrecy. It was the best way to relieve myself of the mounting pressure on my heart. I never felt deep affection for fucking anyone other than my immediate family.
She twisted her long black ponytail around her finger. “Have you two hooked up?”
I peeked around us. Guys and girls were laughing, dancing to the music that banged the floor boards under our feet. It was actually the perfect size party. Not over crowded.
It was mellow. There wasn’t anyone acting a fucking ass.
“We spent time together today.” I ran my hand along my neck. “But that was it.”
She leaned into my ear. “How was the sex?”
I cleared my throat. “We fished.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You did what? That’s not what we discussed would happen. I thought…you know, since he wouldn’t do what you asked of him at the party, he’d definitely be willing to the next time you saw him.”
“Alissa, me too. He wants to fucking date me. Can you believe that shit?”
She snickered. “That’s why you’re staring. The clingy chick is getting under your skin.”
“Yeah.”
“I can put her off the boat.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I’m out.” I kissed her cheek, then walked toward Zander.
Not sure where my brother was probably hooking up with a random girl.
He was surrounded by his and Hayden’s friends.
“Hey, Zander.”
“Vicky, what’s up?”
“I am leaving. You need to walk me to my car. That’s the least you can do since you stay at my house often.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Fine.”
“Wait.” The Becca chick poked my arm.
I peered at her.
“Why can’t your brother walk you?”
My eyes narrowed, and I stepped closer. “Mind your business little puppy.” I smirked.
Zander grabbed my arm and led me toward the stairs.
Her sad eyes never left us. The hairs on my arms danced with excitement, watching her fucking face as I walked away with the man she wanted.
A silence fell between Zander and I as we strolled in the dark. The moon light lit our path.
“Vicky, what was that with Becca?”
“She should have kept her nose out of my business. Get rid of her Zander,” I bit out.
We stopped at my car.
“You’re agreeing to only date me?”
I sighed. “Yes, yes. Are you happy?”
“Of course, I am.” He pulled me against his muscled body and smothered my lips with his. Zander’s finger tips grazed my waist.
My fingers roamed his pecs and my heart fluttered.
“Shit.” I pushed him back.
“You can’t kiss me like that and not give me what I want.”
He laughed. “You’ll get it at the end of the summer. I want all the time I can get with you before you walk out of my life for good.” His smile withered. Those sexy blue eyes dimmed. And that angular square jaw twitched.
I kept my poker face, but frowned inside. What was I doing? I knew I wanted him almost as much as he wanted me.
I unlocked my car. He opened the driver side door, and I slid inside.
“Goodnight, Vicky.”
I smirked. He closed the door.
Driving off, I peeked at his tall muscled frame in the rearview mirror.
Standing under the piping hot shower water, I closed my eyes and remembered how his fingers roamed my body. His touch sent shock waves up my spine. I couldn’t wait to see him again. He was right. I wanted him badly.
Zander texted me Sunday afternoon.
“Hey, Vicky.”
“You and I are going bowling Wednesday evening at seven in Douglasville. You need to have fun.”
“Whatever. No public display of affection.”
I was shocked he wasn’t at my house on a Sunday. I wished he was.
My face hurt from laughing so hard by our second game.
“See that score.” He pointed to the scoreboard above our lane.
“I’m beating that grouchy little ass.”
“You big brut. You and Hayden bowled more than me. Years of practice.”
“We invited you to play, but you wouldn’t.” He stood grinning in his blue T-shirt, jeans that hugged his perfect ass just right, and navy bowling shoes. His dark hair was swept into a messy man ponytail along the nape of his neck.
He was dark. Sometimes sad, mysterious, and ominous. Why did he choose to become an underground MMA fighter?
“I didn’t want to hear you two bicker about girls the entire day.”
He rolled his eyes. “Grab your ball. I’ll help you with your form.”
We walked to the edge of the lane. Zander positioned my arm. His woodsy cologne tingled under my nose and made my core heat. I glanced over my shoulder and pecked his lips.
His hand swept across my waist. “Throw the ball, Vicky.” He winked.
I stepped back then ran toward the lane and released the ball. The ball rolled against the loud wooden surface crushing the pins.
“Yes!” I jumped in the air and yelled.
“See, fun.”
I nodded.
Sitting in the Lenox Mall parking lot behind the steering wheel, I scanned my surroundings. The air was on full blast. It was already eighty degrees at ten in the morning. The sun beat against the hood of my car.
Tap, tap.
My head swung back to the window. Fuck! He was walking sexiness. His hair was pulled into a man bun. His dreamy blue eyes peered into mine. A sneaky smile curled his lips. My fingers tingled. Running my fingers along his thick brow over his lightweight beard consumed my thoughts. His pink lips stood out. The lower lip had a slight bend, begging for my tongue to slide underneath.
“Vicky, Vicky.” He grabbed the door handle. “Unlock the door.”
I pressed the button. He opened my door. “Are you ok?”
I stood before him.
“Tell me you didn’t change your mind.” Concern loomed his face.
I smirked. “No.”
Zander swayed my hip. Shit, my skin was on fire. That’s what his touch did to me. Set my skin on fire. Vicky, skydiving.
“A little nervous to sky dive.”
He chuckled flashing those perfect white teeth.
Zander opened his passenger door. “Climb in.”
I hopped into his truck. He closed my door, walked around, and slid behind the steering wheel. “I know what you want to listen to.”
“Zander, it’s not impressive you know what I like because you’ve lived with us.”
“Yeah, yeah. There is a satellite station dedicated to one particular band. You play them more than any other artist.” He turned onto the highway.
My eyes lit up. “Not Maroon five?”
He smiled and nodded. Zander tapped the radio button. ‘Move like Jagger’ blared through the speakers.
“Yes!” I shouted.
“One brownie point for you.”
Zander caressed my cheek. “I’ll take it.”
My skin heated under his touch. Don’t show him any attention. I peeked out the window, singing along to the song.
Standing on the plane, I slid my lime green helmet over my head. Zander checked my parachute.
“Are you all right?”
I smirked. “Yeah.”
My heart was in the pit of my stomach.
“Remember to arch your back,” Jim the instructor said standing beside the open door.
Jim and Owen were friends.
“It’s a lot of fun. Owen, Jim, and I jumped a few times last summer.”
“Jim, Owen told me to tell you, he’ll be through next week.”
“Z, that’s great. I have a few new air tricks I can show him. You two should come too.”
Zander smiled. “Let’s see how she handles her first jump.”
“Ok. Are you both ready?” he asked.
Zander clutched my hand and stared into my eyes.
“Yes.” I grinned.
He glanced at Jim and gave him a thumbs up. Zander and I stepped to the edge.
He peeked at me again. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
A sense of calmness came over me. I squeezed his hand. Zander and I leaped out of the plane.
“Shit!” I yelled.
Zander’s smile was bright as the sun.
The day was perfect. Not just because I was trying something new, but because I was experiencing this special moment with him. We opened our parachutes and glided down, tugging our toggles, and our feet hit the ground. I threw my hands in the air. “Fucking invigorating!”
“Yes! That was great.”
After removing our gear, Zander pulled me into his arms, and thumbed my cheek. “You make me crazy, Vicky.”
My lips crashed into his. That’s how hungry I was to taste him. I wasn’t patient enough to wait for him to kiss my lips. The butterflies fluttered in my tummy as I inhaled Zander.
He stepped back gazing into my eyes. “You’re with me all day. I need to feed you.”
“Good because I am starving.” I winked.
Each of our dates were a blast. I never smiled so much in my life. Why was I angry all the time? I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was my genetic makeup. Hayden was nicer than me.
Sitting front and center to Zander’s possible demise scared me. I gripped my hand tight.
The referee announced Zander and his opponent. His opponent was shorter but all muscles in blue shorts. The black fence cage surrounded them. I glanced over my shoulder.
A rush of spectators filled the seats throughout. They fanned around the cage, clapping and yelling, “Let’s go!”
Several spectators placed their bets in ear shot. Many speculated Zander would lose. My heart was in my throat. I ran my sweaty palms down my jeaned thighs. Zander better win.
The men danced around in the ring. Zander punched then kicked the guy in the blue shorts. His opponent tried wrapping his arms around Zander. He wasn’t quick enough. Zander grabbed him, tossed him to the floor, and wrapped his legs around him. They swayed back and forth.
Someone sat in the empty seat to my left. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the fight. I stood. “You’ve got him, Zander,” I yelled.
“What did I miss?” I heard from my left and the signature cologne darted up my nose.
My heart stopped. “Hayden, what are you doing here?”
“Watching my friend fight.”
“The better question is, why are you here watching my friend fight?”
“He said he didn’t have anyone to support him. So here I am.”
“I forbid you to see him.
“What? Shut up, Hayden.”
“No, he’s my best friend, and he’s always had a crush on you. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll let you crush his heart then fuck up our friendship by driving him away. I knew something was off the day of Alex’s party. Becca said Zander walked you to your car. I had a weird feeling, so I ran toward the parking lot. He kissed you. And you kissed him back. I don’t even want to know how long you’ve been seeing Zander. But it ends now,” he growled.
8
Victoria
I glanced back at the ring. Zander’s wide eyes fell on Hayden and I. His opponent punched him in the face. Zander fell to the ground. Blood gushing from his forehead. He wasn’t moving. I ran to the cage, banging my open hand against the fence. “Zander, wake up,” I cried.
My brother fell to my side. “Come on, buddy wake up!” he shouted. “Vicky, I called 9-1-1. They’ll be here in a few minutes.
I nodded, tears pouring down my cheeks.
The ambulance arrived. Waiting for first responders felt like hours instead of minutes. The paramedics rushed into the cage with a gurney. I ran inside.
“Miss, you can’t come in here,” One of the officials stated.
“Fuck you. If you don’t want my family to sue you, stand the fuck down,” I roared, dropping to my knees. I could barely make out Zander’s face for the sea of tears. I wiped my face. Sitting close to Zander’s legs, I watched intently as the paramedics checked his vitals.
“Hayden call the Marshalls and tell them to meet us at the hospital.”
He nodded.
I rode with Zander in the back of the ambulance, clutching his hand against my cheek. The shocked expression on his face when he saw Hayden, and I, haunted me.
Zander’s parents talked to the doctor. My mother and father hugged Hayden and me.
“Zander’s an excellent fighter. Why was he off his game?” my father asked. Not really asking us, but trying to wrap his mind around what happened.
Hayden and I couldn’t tell him it was our doing. We were the distractions in the crowd who caused Zander to get laid out.
“Dad, you knew Zander was fighting?” I sniffled.
“Yeah, he’d bring over the disc, and we’d watch his matches.”
I fell against my mother’s shoulder.
“That was cool, Dad,” I smirked.
“Yeah, it was.” Hayden half smiled.
Zander’s mom and dad approached. We greeted each other.
“Zander will be fine,” Mr. Marshall sighed.
“He has light swelling on the brain. The doctor said he’ll make a full recovery. He should wake in the morning.” He smiled. Mrs. Marshall looped her arm around his.
“Thanks for taking such good care of our son.” Her green eyes brightened.
My mother stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. “You’re welcome.”
I sat at a corner table in the café. My head leaned against the wall. My fucking brother was watching us. Did Hayden follow me to the fight?
The bright lights beamed overhead and the cold air soothed my nerves.
Later that night, while our families sat restless in the waiting room, I dipped into Zander’s hospital room. Dropping in the leather reclining chair at
his side, the tears sprung forth again. There was no fucking way I’d give Zander up. My fingers brushed his arm as I marveled his perfect face lost in slumber. Leaning over him, I pressed my lips against his. They were soft and fucking mine. Climbing into the bed, I laid at his side, tossing my arm over his torso. My eyes fluttered open then shut.
“Excuse me. Miss. Miss.” I heard.
One eye popped open. “Yes?”
The nurse stared back at me. I glanced around the room.
“Oh, shit. How long was I lying here?”
“A few hours,” she smiled. “I tried waiting as long as I could before I woke you. I need to take Mr. Marshalls vitals.”
“Yes, of course.” I stood briefly, then sat in the reclining chair.
The nurse peeked at me while she monitored Zander’s heart. “Your boyfriend will make a full recovery.” Her brown face brightened.
My smile rose and fell. “He isn’t my boyfriend. He wants to be. He’s just a family friend. Please don’t mention to our families you saw me sleeping with him.”
Her smile dropped. “Ok.” She pushed her cart toward the door. “One more thing.” The nurse turned to me. “Don’t allow someone else to steal your happiness.” She smiled. “Have a good day.” She disappeared out the door.
I pondered on her words. My happiness. No one cared about my happiness other than Zander. The door opened.
“Good morning, Vicky.”
Hayden walked across the room and stood at Zander’s side.
“I don’t want to fight. I-I just want to make sure he’s all right. When he wakes up, I’ll leave.” The tears threatened to burst forth. I managed to choke them down.
“What’s going…on?”
Our eyes darted to Zander.
I hopped to my feet. “You’re awake!” This time, the tears streamed down my heated cheeks.
Zander gripped his head.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 225
