“Thank you.”
“Vivi … I want to get to know you. If it means hearing about Vic, so be it. I’m never going to get over what happened, but I’m not going to hold it against you.”
She glanced up at him. “You’re a good man, Landon.”
“I’m a man who wants to get to know a woman, period. Now can we enjoy the sun?” He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing an already tanned chest and rippled muscles that had her drooling.
She appreciated him lightening the moment. With a grin, she mimicked him, taking off her tee shirt, leaving herself wearing nothing but the skimpy bikini.
“Jesus,” he muttered and stepped toward her, hooking an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. “I can’t keep my hands off you.” He splayed his hands around her waist and settled her between his thighs, his cock pressing directly against her sex.
“What happened to enjoying the pool and the sun?” she asked playfully, writhing against him, letting him know she was as aroused as he was.
“I’m pretty sure we’re both enjoying.”
She tipped her head back. “We are. But I think we should get back to getting to know each other. She eased out of his grasp and settled onto a towel, stretching that sexy body out on the lounger.
She was killing him but he’d go along for now. “How old were you when you started singing?” he asked.
“Six in a talent show. Then I got the lead in every musical afterwards. The kids hated me. Why did you decide to open a nightclub?”
“Jason’s cousin Gabe had connections. He also had the funds to lend us, and everything just fell into place.” He straddled the other chair and leaned back, the sun baking on his face. “Tell me about your mom. You’re close?”
She nodded. “Mom’s a lawyer. She has her own small legal practice, but she likes taking cases for the underprivileged, people who can’t afford good representation.”
He drew a deep breath and decided to dive in. He couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room that was Vic if he wanted a relationship with her. And he did. “Vic said on television that they’re estranged, too. Why?” A lot of parents would be in denial or stand by their child no matter what.
Her gaze shot to him in surprise. “Umm, Mom tried really hard when Vic was growing up. She divorced my father because he was such a bully, and she tried to deal with Vic, to discipline him, to rein him in. It never worked. And when he didn’t…” She broke off whatever she’d been about to say.
“Go on,” he said gruffly.
“When he didn’t show any remorse for what happened in college … she couldn’t stand by him. Neither of us could.”
He nodded in understanding. It said a lot about both Vivi and her mom. “Your father was alive back then.”
“Yeah. He refused to pay for a criminal lawyer. Mom said she’d do her best to find someone, and then Vic started defending his actions and Mom walked away. She couldn’t live with what he’d done or how he felt about it.” She sniffed, the subject clearly upsetting her, and she swiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“Come here.”
She rose and stepped to his lounger, straddling it in front of him. “I just don’t understand why you think I’m worth dredging up all these memories. And I’m not someone with low self-esteem. I just come with so much related baggage. Related to you, I mean.”
“When my dad met my mom in college, he took one look at her and he knew she was the one for him. When Jason met Faith, same thing. Tanner, the hypocrite? Also the same. So I’ve seen too many examples for me to walk away from what I feel for you.” His heart thudded hard in his chest, emotion he couldn’t deny always a part of him when he was around this woman.
“I feel it, too, but I’m leaving, Landon. I can’t turn my back on my dream. And your business, family, partners, and friends are all here. I could end up opening for a big name overseas for months on end.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, releasing it.
He wanted to lean in and suck on that sensitive flesh, but first he needed her to listen. “I’m not going to worry now about September. I’m not going to deny myself two months with you because I’m worried about the end.” He wasn’t just risking heartbreak, he was guaranteeing it.
And he still couldn’t walk away.
Chapter Seven
After their serious talk, they grew quiet for a while and Vivi relaxed in the sun, refusing to dwell on anything sad or negative. Landon had brought here to have fun and enjoy his company, and that’s what she intended to do. Live in the moment.
And in this moment, she was sticky and sweaty and wanted to cool off. She’d already pulled her hair into a messy bun but she was hot. Rising to her feet, she walked to the pool steps, going in slowly until she realized the water was heated to the perfect temperature to let go and slide in. The water caressed her skin and felt deliciously good as she dipped all the way in up to her shoulders and sighed.
She leaned against the wall and looked out at Landon. His bronzed body glistened beneath the sun, and she wanted to glide her fingers over the spectacular muscles and feel every broad inch of him.
He sat up, shading his eyes with his hand over his sunglasses, studying her in return before rising and walking over, diving into the deep end.
He came up, swam to her, and shook his head, spraying her with water.
“Landon!” she said, laughing, wiping the droplets from her face.
With a sexy grin, he bracketed her against the side of the pool, his arms braced on either side her body. The water came to mid-thigh. “Afraid of a little water?”
She shook her head. “Not at all,” she said, sliding her hands to his hips and easing closer to the edge of his waistband. “I like the water and I like being in it with you.” Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his.
He groaned and pulled her against him, the swell of his erection grinding against her sex.
“Mmm. You feel good.” She wriggled herself deeper into him.
“You feel amazing. I’m dying to get inside you.” He dipped his fingers into the bikini bottoms and began sliding them down her legs.
Wanting the same thing, she helped him, pulling the bottoms off her feet and placing them on the deck of the kidney-shaped pool. When she looked up, he was naked, his thick cock standing at attention in front of her.
She gripped him in her palm and pumped her hand up and down until a drop of pre-come settled on the head.
“Enough,” he said in a tight voice.
“What’s the matter?” she asked. “You don’t like me teasing you?”
“I have no intention of coming in my parents’ pool. I much prefer doing it inside of you,” he said with a sexy grin. “Now let’s move to a chair.” He lifted her and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he walked out of the pool, settling her onto the well-cushioned lounger covered by a towel.
She pushed herself back, arching her hips up, her sex gleaming in the sunlight, wet from wanting him.
“Jesus, you’re beautiful.” He slid a finger through her dampness, ending with a light press on her clit.
She moaned and tipped her head back, clenching herself and feeling empty. “Come on, Landon. I need you.”
He stepped closer, grabbed his cock in his hand, and glided it back and forth over her pussy, taking his time, playing and arousing her into an unbearable frenzy.
She narrowed her eyes and mock-glared. “Really? You’re going to keep teasing me?”
“Good things are worth the wait,” he said in a gruff voice. Nudging himself at her entrance, he placed his hands on her thighs. “Ready?”
“For you?” she asked, looking into his eyes. “Always.”
Gripping her skin tightly, with her leaning against the back of the chair, he thrust deep and she saw stars, feeling him everywhere.
“Oh, fuck,” he said as he bottomed out inside her.
He slid his hands from her thighs to the sides of the chair and began to gl
ide into her, taking her hard, pleasure filling her so fast she was overwhelmed. He thrust in and out, his hips grinding his pelvis against her every time he entered. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling on the silken strands as he took her hard and fast, arousal and emotion fighting for equal footing inside her.
Their connection went soul deep and scared her so much. What was supposed to be a summer fling was going to be hard to keep in that little defined box. Not when they were joined, her body clasping around his and the orgasm of the century beckoning.
He dipped his head, his lips meeting hers, kissing her as he pressed her into the chair cushion, then thrust once, twice, and on the third time, he stilled. His big body shuddered as his orgasm took hold and he came, filling her with his essence. A brief moment of clarity hit her and she realized they hadn’t used protection. Knowing she was on the pill helped. Before she could think any more, he reached between them and slid a finger over her sex, pressing hard on her clit, and she shook as her own climax hit.
She toppled over the edge, her entire being swept away by the intense sensations wracking her body. She grasped his shoulders to anchor herself to something in this world, to Landon, the man who was overwhelming her and chipping away at her walls, one piece at a time.
* * *
Landon collapsed onto Vivi, out of breath and completely sated but aware he couldn’t remain on top of her too long. He pushed himself up and slid out of her, awareness hitting him hard as he stood.
“Shit, Vivi. I didn’t use a condom.” He didn’t let himself panic.
“Yeah. I realized that when it was too late to stop.” She looked up at him with trusting eyes. “I’m on the pill.”
He blew out a long breath, relieved they didn’t have an issue. He hadn’t thought about having kids in a long time, and he knew that, for her, now wasn’t the right time. Not with her career about to take off. Although he was shocked the fear he’d expect to experience had never kicked in. Vivi pregnant with his kid didn’t scare him. Huh. Hell of a thing to think about.
“I’m clean,” he said. “I just want you to know you can trust me. We had physicals for life insurance policies.” He and his partners.
“Thank you. Me, too. Yearly physical.” She blushed, the discussion obviously not one she felt comfortable having. “Way to kill the moment?”
He shook his head, pulling her up from the chair and into his arms. “Nothing could ever kill the moment with you.” He slid his hands to her waist and kissed her lips.
She shot him a grateful smile, then slid out of his embrace and reached for the towel, wrapping it around her waist. “Is there a guest shower?” she asked.
“Of course. Come on. You can use the one I shared with Levi growing up.” He was shocked his brother’s name slipped so easily off his tongue. Something about being with Vivi eased the jagged edges of pain he’d normally feel even mentioning his twin.
They cleaned up around the pool, her grabbing her suit bottoms off the deck, him taking in the sunscreen and the other towels.
First Vivi showered, then Landon took a quick one, and when he dressed and stepped out of the bathroom, he searched and found Vivi in the laundry room, throwing the towels into the machine. “Give me yours from the shower. I can do everything at once.”
He grinned and tossed the damp towels into the machine. “I planned on running a wash myself.”
“It’s fine. You can fold it all when we’re finished.” She winked at him and turned on the washer. “I just didn’t want to leave work for your mom.”
“Thank you,” he murmured.
With the laundry in process, he grasped her hand and led her through the house and into the den, where they could watch TV until they were ready to leave.
He sat down on the couch, his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close against him. It felt right to have her curled close to him, he thought, breathing in the scent of the strawberry shampoo that they’d used on their hair.
Without warning, the garage door leading to the house opened with a creak and footsteps sounded. “Landon? Are you here? We saw your car parked in the driveway!” his mother called.
“Oh my God.” Vivi bolted up from her seat, pulling out of his arms and standing by the sofa. “They’re here. Your parents are here,” she said, wide-eyed and obviously panicked.
“In the den, Mom!” He rose and grasped Vivi’s hand. She stood before him, damp hair falling over her shoulders, wearing her long tee shirt and flip-flops … no underwear, not that his parents would see or know. At least he had on his swimsuit, which was fast-drying. “Calm down.”
He reached out and squeezed her hands just as his mother entered the room, his father by her side.
“Landon, what a nice surprise!” his mother, Carrie, said, looking well, her brunette hair growing longer each time he saw her.
“I could say the same. I thought you were going away for the weekend,” he said, surprised to see them.
His father, Samuel, waved a hand dismissively and ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I’d had enough of being with people,” he said of the conference he and his mom had gone to for his work. “We came home early. What are you … two doing here?” He pointedly looked at Vivi.
Because Landon never brought women to his parents’ home.
“We wanted to go for a swim.” Grasping Vivi’s hand, he squeezed reassuringly. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Vivi Zane.”
She stepped forward to shake their hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Her parents took her hand in turn.
“The pleasure is ours, young lady,” Landon’s father said.
Ripping off a Band-Aid was the best way to go, or so his mom had always said. “Vivi is…”
“I work at Landon’s club,” Vivi quickly chimed in, causing Landon to narrow his gaze.
She glanced at him imploringly, and he read her plea in her expression. Please don’t tell them who I am. Lying didn’t sit well with him, but he completely understood her fear. He might not tell his parents now, but for sure he would when they were alone, giving them time to adjust to the situation before he brought Vivi around them again, knowing she was Vic’s sister.
He would have been up-front now, but he respected her shame and embarrassment about Vic’s actions. It was his job to convince her that she wasn’t her brother and didn’t carry his behavior on her shoulders. Of course, given his initial reaction, he was being hypocritical, but he’d come around. And he hoped his parents would as well.
“That’s wonderful!” his mother said. “Landon told me about the singer he hired. I can’t wait to come by again soon. It’s been too long since we had a night out at the club.”
Reading the room, or rather Vivi’s mood, Landon decided he should take her home. Although he hadn’t expected his parents to come home, once they had, he’d hoped they could get to know her. Now clearly wasn’t the time.
“We were just about to leave,” he said and his mother’s expression fell.
“I was hoping that since you were here, you could stay for dinner.” She looked at him hopefully.
Vivi shook her head. “I’m so sorry but I need to be at a rehearsal.” She glanced away, not meeting his mother’s gaze.
“There will be another time,” his dad said. “Right?”
“Right.” Landon would make sure of it.
Goodbyes said, with promises that Landon would let them know a good night to come to the club to see Vivi perform, they made their way to the SUV.
The initial ride to the city was silent, Vivi curled close to the door, not speaking. He reached out and put his hand on her thigh. “Hey.”
She turned her head and he realized her eyes were red. She’d been trying not to cry.
Unable to help himself, he eased over on the side of the road at the nearest safe spot he could find and cut the engine. He reached over, unbuckled her seat belt, and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as much as he could.
To his utte
r shock, she broke down, full on crying, shaking in his arms. “I hate him,” she said into his now wet shirt. “I hate how evil he is. I hate how much he impacts my life even though I didn’t do anything wrong.”
He smoothed his hand down her back. “Hey, you didn’t do anything. That’s what you need to remember.”
She pushed away from him, blinking back tears. “I can’t face your parents. I can’t do this. Be with you. It’s wrong. You should hate me for being related to him.”
“But I don’t hate you. And if you hadn’t given me a very distinct signal, I would have told my parents who you were.” He paused. “I’m not ashamed to be with you.”
She swiped her wet eyes with the back of her hand. “Well, maybe you should be.” She pushed herself back into her seat. “Your parents don’t need a constant reminder.”
“Vivi…” He swallowed hard, wondering how to explain this to her without making things worse. “We don’t need a reminder because Levi is always with us. We don’t forget. We always remember. We just go forward and live our lives the way he’d want us to.” He grasped her hand and pulled it into his lap. “And right now, I want to live it with you.”
When she didn’t respond right away, he knew she needed time to process, so he put the car in drive and headed back to the club. He walked her to her door and kissed her before watching her go inside. As she shut the door behind him, he had the sense she thought she was shutting him out. Too bad she didn’t know the lengths to which he’d go to get what he wanted. And he really wanted Vivi to be a part of his life.
Unfortunatley it was impossible to bring someone into his life who didn’t want to be there. Or maybe she wanted to be with him but didn’t think she deserved the chance because of who she was related to. The end result was the same, which meant he had to figure out a way to step up his game.
* * *
Tanner called Landon to meet him at the gym. The place had been in existence forever, the inside old, but the owner was a good guy and Tanner liked to support him. Plus he’d made friends and had sparring partners here.
Landon arrived to find Jason already there and Tanner pulling on his boxing gloves.
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