by Sophia Gray
Victoria's fingers run over the back of Matt's neck and tangle in his perpetually messy hair. “Really?”
Matt looks up at her, grinning. “Really, Tori. All I have to do is look at those tits of yours, and I'm ready to go. Getting a chance to do something like this…Hell, I'd turn you over and fuck you in the park, if you'd let me.”
“The park?” Victoria squeaks. “There would be so many people around!”
“And everyone would get to see me bend you over the bench and pound that sweet pussy of yours. They'd get to see every last bit of you, and they would have to deal with the fact that they couldn't touch you.” Matt gives her ass another squeeze, rougher this time. His fingers tug at the leg of her panties, like he's debating on pulling them down right then and there.
Victoria smiles, but the tension is still wound tight in her muscles. The nerves are still biting at her fingers and digging into her heart. This is what she wants, utterly and completely. But she still can't shake the feeling that she's being watched. There's a part of Victoria that still considers her parents as the ultimate rulers, that still feels as though it's wrong to do something so outright disapproving of her parents here under their roof.
Thankfully, Matt doesn't have any such reservations. He laughs and pulls the panties down—not all the way, just enough so he can palm her bare ass. “Sweet cheeks, the things that I would do to you if only you'd let me.”
“I think I'd be willing to try almost anything,” says Victoria softly. “At least, anything that was with you.”
“You're just saying that. If you knew half the things I thought about...” Matt trails off, but he punctuates the ending of his comment with a sharp smack to Victoria's ass.
The Princess yelps. She takes a halting step forward but finds that there's nowhere to go. Matt is too close to her; he's too close for her to do much of anything.
The Princess is a sheltered soul. What she knows about sex has been learnt from Matt himself and from the videos posted on the internet. Truthfully, Victoria finds some of it is a little out there; it's a little bit daunting. But some of it, Victoria has watched with wide eyes and parted lips, wondering if that could one day be her, if it should one day be her.
And so, to hear that Matt has thought of such debauched things makes Victoria's heart flutter in the best sort of way, yet that's another story entirely, and something Victoria isn't quite certain she wants to bring up just now. Instead, she tugs at Matt's hair, trying to pull him closer to her. “Don't leave me hanging.”
“Pushy, aren't you?” Matt tugs and kneads at Victoria's ass cheeks and the backs of her thighs. He slips a finger between her crack, pressing lightly against her tight asshole. It's just for a moment, though, and then his hand goes farther, curving around to rub lightly at her clit.
Victoria moans, this low, breathy thing. She rakes her nails over the back of Matt's neck when he pinches at her swollen hood, tugging lightly at the sensitive skin. It's not painful, but it could be, and that's what makes this so thrilling.
Everything Matt does makes her heart pound harder and her blood race faster. Her lips part, breath coming in heavy pants. Matt circles her clit a few times, then slips the tip of his finger into her pussy; it's almost shamefully wet, and all she can think about is getting back home, getting somewhere in a space that’s totally their own.
“I can't wait to get out of here,” says Matt, voice rough with arousal. “I love you, Victoria. You're my everything. It's good to know I'm your everything, too.”
A second finger brushes against her wet cunt. Victoria spreads her legs a little farther, wondering if there's any chance of this actually happening. Wonders, hopes—such a strange thing, to hope without fear and to hope without worry of the ensuing fall.
“Back up,” orders Matt, slipping his hands away. “Up against the dresser.”
“Is it okay to do this right now?”
“Because of your parents, or because you're pregnant?”
“Either?” Victoria listens all the same, backing up so she's almost leaning against the dresser. The wood is cold against her bare ass.
Matt shuffles forward on his knees, and then he shoves his face between Victoria's thighs and gets to work.
It's not something the two have ever done before. To be honest, it's not something Matt's done with a lot of women. He sleeps around because it's fun and because he wants to. But those women, they're just bodies, just faces; they're tits and cunts and open holes, a way to get his kicks, to get a bit of stress relief.
Victoria's different.
She's the only one that has ever been this different.
She's the only one Matt doesn't just want but needs—craves like another hit, like the next drag, or like a drug that will never fade from his system. And so he does the only thing that comes to mind, and he spells the words I love you with his tongue.
Chapter 44
Victoria and Matt stick to their words. Come morning, the duo leaves. They walk through the manor in silence. They walk down the front cobbled path, holding each other's hands. They get into the taxi without a single look back at the manor house that had once been Victoria's home away from home.
Matt puts a hand on her knee. “Are you all right?”
She nods, but the tears are obvious in her eyes. She doesn't say a single word until late in the day as they get ready to board their American-bound flight. Only then, in the crowded station, does she say, “I'm going to miss them.”
“I know,” says Matt, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Just try to remember that they're the ones who have done this, not you.”
“I know that. God, I know that. They're horrible people! I don't regret anything I said to them! But…Matt, they're still my parents. Am I doing the wrong thing?”
“Living your life doesn't make you a bad person, Victoria. Fuck! You're one of the best damn people I've ever met. You hear that? If it weren't for you, I…I don't know. I'd still be sitting back at that bar, trying to drink away something I couldn't control.”
Victoria tilts her head back. “No, that's wrong. You'd have found someone else.”
“There is no one else,” insists Matt. “And if you hadn't shown up, that's where I would be. Or I'd be somewhere else, somewhere that's even worse.”
“I don't believe you,” says Victoria, but she catches the man in a passionate kiss all the same.
# # #
The plane ride goes smooth, and before long, the duo finds themselves back in Matt's apartment. It's small and dim, especially when compared to the glorious manor they only just recently left. Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, Victoria drops down onto the couch.
Matt chuckles and makes his way into the small kitchen. “So, you're going to keep staying here?”
“Unless you want me to leave,” says Victoria lightly.
“Not even in your wildest dreams,” answers Matt. He opens up one cabinet after the next, searching for something he deems edible. There's not much—just a few boxes of stuffing and au gratin potatoes that require way too much work and a gallon of milk that isn't completely out of date.
His fridge isn't much better. There's a stick of butter that's probably still good, but everything else has an expiration date on it that's almost a month too late. The few leftovers in there are from takeout and shouldn't be eaten or even touched.
Matt sighs and pulls away. He closes the fridge and says, “How about takeout?”
“That sounds lovely.” Victoria gives him a sheepish smile. “Are you sure you don't mind me staying here?”
“Tori, I already told you: I want to marry you!”
“I know. I just…We can't afford that right now, can we? And I didn't know...Try to understand, Matt, that all I know about are royal regulations and expectations. The way most people do things, those seems strange to me.”
Matt sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. “You realize we don't need a shit-ton of money to get hitched, right?”
Victoria gives
him an owlish blink. “Don't we?”
“Not out here,” says Matt. “Tell you what, you give me a few days, and I'll get something squared away for us. My friend, she's probably going to love going dress shopping with you.”
Victoria looks down at her folded hands. “I don't have any money.”
“Not right now,” says Matt. “But you will soon. Those pictures of yours—this is your chance to turn them into something. I've got enough of an egg fund—”
“Egg fund?”
“Savings account,” explains Matt, dropping down on the couch next to Victoria. “We can last for a while. And the Horsemen, they never mind pitching in for things like this.”
Quietly, Victoria asks, “Do you think they'll like me?”
It's Matt's turn to look surprised. “Do you want to meet them?”
“Would that be okay?”
“They're kind of a rough crowd.”
“I know, but they're your rough crowd. I want to be part of your life! I want to meet them, and maybe, maybe I could do something with you all?”
Matt laughs, but it's more nervous than anything. “Let's start out slow, okay? I'm one thing and Mano's okay, but some of those guys—they aren't bad people, but they aren't what you're used to, either.”
“I want to meet them,” insists Victoria. She twists around on the couch, draping herself over Matt's side. “I want to know them. I want to know this life! Matt, my world is so small.”
“We'll fix that,” promises Matt. “And we're going to start by giving you a good dose of cheap Thai food.”
# # #
The takeout proves to be a huge success. Before long, Victoria has crept into bed, where she falls asleep wearing one of the maternity gowns they bought the week before. As soon as Matt is certain she's not going to come back out, he turns down the television just a little bit and pulls out his phone.
It's late, ridiculously so. He calls Meg anyway because she's always up. Last call isn't until three, and she's at the bar another hour at least and still up for another two hour once she gets home. The phone rings three times before Meg picks up, sounding far too interested for her own good. “Are you guys back already?”
Matt props one foot up on the coffee table, then the other. “Yep. It went about as well as you might expect.”
Meg gives a low whistle. “How is she taking it?”
“Good as you can expect.”
Meg huffs. “Okay, douchebag. You're the one that called me! Don't be giving me skimping details.”
Matt asks, “If I tell you what happened, will you do me a favor?”
“It depends on how big the favor is.”
“Pretty damn huge.”
“Am I going to have fun, or are you trying to rope me into something shitty?”
Matt grins against the receiver. “Now, why would I ever do that?”
Chapter 45
Bright and early the next day, Meg shows up at Matt's apartment building.
“I'm glad you came by,” says Matt cheerfully. He's still wearing his boxers when he lets her in. “Tori's in taking a shower, but she should be out soon.”
Meg looks over the apartment with a critical eye. She puts both hands on her hips, clucks her tongue, and says, “This place is just sad. Are you seriously planning on raising a kid in here?”
“I don't know. I'm still sort of figuring things out,” admits Matt. “This happened really quickly.”
“The answer to that question should have just been a firm no. Matt, this place is a dump!” Meg waves her hand at the peeling wallpaper, the rusted kitchen sink. “I wouldn't spend the night here with a chick, let alone my wife and kid! I already told you once, you need to buck up and get a grip on yourself.”
“I'm trying! Look how much I've stepped up; look at what I've been able to do so far! We were in Vertsea yesterday, Meg, and I spent the week before that trying to comfort Tori! Do you know how upset she was?”
“I can imagine. After getting kidnapped by your friend - “
“We aren't doing this,” snaps Matt. “I told you last night, we aren't doing this! Either take her out without throwing a fit over shit, or just go.”
Meg sighs. “No, no, you're right. That wasn't your fault, and it's not fair of me to keep bringing it up. I'm just sort of amazed that Killian would sink that low. I mean, I know he's a freak but...I didn't think he was this big of a freak. She's doing better?”
“She needs to get out of here for a bit,” says Matt. “And she needs to be shown that we can have a fucking great wedding even without her parents’ money.”
The water in the bathroom cuts off. Matt shouts, “Got company, Tori. Pull something on before you come out here!”
Victoria says something in response, but her voice is too low for the words to really be made out.
Meg smiles in the general direction of the bathroom. “I'm kind of excited, I'll admit. You've put her on a high pedestal, Matt. Is she going to live up to even half of it?”
“She's better,” says Matt jokingly.
Victoria comes out not too much later wearing a pale blue blouse and a white skirt that stops just shy of her ankles. Her hair is still wet, but it's been pulled up in a loose ponytail. She smiles at the sight of Meg, always a gracious person to be around. “Oh, hello. I think we've met before.”
She crosses the room in just a few steps and takes Meg's hand, giving it a dainty little shake. Meg laughs. “Yeah. I own the bar that you two hooked up at. I think that's going to be a pretty good story to talk about at your wedding, huh? I mean, I'm basically the reason you two got together.”
“If that's how you want to look at it, I suppose I should tell you thank you.” Victoria gives a little laugh to make it clear she's joking. “I'm very happy with him.”
“I can tell.” Abruptly, Meg hooks an arm around Victoria's middle. “Now come on, girl. We've got a few things to go over.”
“What?”
“You and me. We're going out for a bit. Call it a girls’ day or something.”
Victoria looks startled, but she doesn't protest too much. In a matter of moments, she's been swept outside and away from the crumbling apartment. Meg chatters a mile a minute, pointing out different stores, shops, and confection stands as they go by.
This trip through the city is like none Victoria has ever taken before. It's strange because they just walk down the sidewalk. It's strange because the conversation comes easy and fast, even though Victoria finds she doesn't understand most of what they talk about.
Eventually, the two young women settle down at a small yogurt shop. The sight of it enthralls Victoria, completely trapped up in the outdoor sitting, the fairy lights strung up on the walls of the shop, and the cheerful demeanor of the waitresses. It's nothing like the five star restaurants she usually frequents. It's nothing like any place that she's ever gone with her parents. “Thank you for bringing me out here.”
Meg smiles. “Honey, this is just the start of it. Soon as we get something to eat, the two of us are going to hit the thrift stores and get you a good dress to wear at your wedding.”
Victoria gasps. “You're joking!”
“No! I mean it. There are tons of places around here where we can go to get a good, cheap, beautiful dress for your wedding. If there's something I know, it's how to make life great on a budget.”
“I can't! I don't have any money. My parents have already put a hold on my cards, and they've taken the money from my bank account.”
“That doesn't matter. I've got a credit card with no limit. We'll use that right now, and you can just pay me back later.”
Victoria stares at her, surprised. “You would do that for me? You don't even know me!”
“I might not know you,” says Meg. “But I know Matt, and I know you make him happy. Now let's quit talking about all this serious stuff and go back to picking out our yogurt. The peanut butter one is probably the best thing ever.”
Victoria smiles but it's small and uncertain. “Co
uld I just have that one, too?”
Meg smiles back at her. “Sure thing, honey.”
It doesn't take long for the yogurt to come out. Victoria picks up her silver spoon and scoops out a bite. She stares at it for a long moment, thinking, this isn't something that I would ever be able to eat if I still lived at home.
Then she pops it in her mouth, closes her eyes, and hums. “This is amazing!”
“Everything's better with peanut butter,” says Meg cheerfully. “Next time, you should try the vanilla bean cinnamon. Oh, come out here with me this winter! They always have the best holiday flavors, like pumpkin pie and eggnog!”
