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I shake my head uncertainly. “I don’t know, man. I don’t think I’m strong enough.”
Pocus snorts quietly. “I read in some book that you never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”
That’s a very motivational way of pointing out I have no choice
Pocus throws his head back and roars. “You’ve got this, man.”
I take in a deep breath, lending strength from the assurance in his eyes.Maybe I can do this.
“Thanks, Prez.”
“Anytime, mate,” Pocus replies with a small smile. “Now, let’s get back to the part where I was talking about Anderson.”
“What about him?”
Pocus’s brows deepen in a speculative frown. “I think he’s up to no good. It’s been over twenty-four hours, and we still haven’t heard a word from him. I think we need to find some other way of looking for Edward.”
I tilt my head a little to search his inscrutable face. “Do you have a way in mind?”
“There’s only one option,” Pocus says, meeting my gaze. “Confront your father.”
His words send a stab of fear into my heart, and for once, my thoughts of Tory fall into the background.
* * *
Victoria walks into my room and closes the door quietly behind her. She hovers hesitantly at the door, waiting for… I don’t know what. All I know is that she’s in my room tonight.Again.
She looks like a fairy in her pretty white nightdress, her curly red hair flowing, framing her gorgeous face like wildfire. She’s so close, yet so out of my reach.
I watch her, quietly waiting for her to state her business in my room. I don’t feel inclined to break the silence. Instead, I’m content with just drinking in the sight of her.
“I…” she clears her throat and steps forward hesitantly. “I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep. I… I couldn’t sleep.”
I sit up in bed, patting the space beside me. I smile up at her, ignoring the crazy acceleration of my heart and the warning bells in my head. “Do you want to come over here?”
Tory nods and comes to sit tentatively on the bed. She smells of plums and berries… delicious.
She turns her body, so she’s facing me. Her warm brown eyes seem to search my face for something.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she says quietly. “I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I was confused and overwhelmed, but it’s no excuse.”
I take her hand in mine and kiss softly on the back of her palm. “It’s totally fine,” I say, smiling up into her eyes. “I understand that all of this can be overwhelming, seeing as I feel the same. You’re allowed to process your emotions for as long as you want.”
I lay back in bed, opening my arms to her. “Come on, darling. I’ll hold you till you fall asleep.”
It will be torture having her in my arms without being able to kiss her or do anything, but I’m content with holding her in my arms and watching her sleep all night. I’ve decided to wait for as long as it takes for her to take my hand.
Victoria shakes her head. “I… I…. don’t want to sleep. Please kiss me like you did last night. I really liked that. A lot.”
“Victoria….”
“I want you to quench this fire that you lit in me,” she continues, like she didn’t hear the warning in my voice. “I want you to slide this dress off me and have me right here and now.”
“Damn, Victoria,” I mutter under my breath, closing my eyes to allow my frustration to pass. “Cut me some slack. Okay, baby?” I look into her eyes with a helpless sigh. “I’m here to be a gentleman, but you aren’t making this any easier for me. Just yesterday, you kissed me and fled. Today, you want me to slide off your dress, and… There’s only so much I can take. What exactly do you want, Tory?”
She lowers her eyes with a nervous sigh, and I wonder if, maybe, I’d been too harsh with my words. I silently watch her, waiting for her to sort her thoughts.
“I want whatever this is between us,” she says, gesturing helplessly between us. “I want to experience it. I want it so bad that I’m unable to think straight, but…,” she trails off with another sigh.
