20. Katy
20
Katy
B abs: I miss you. I just know you’re the best mother. Have coffee with me, please? It could just be me and you, and you could show me pictures of my grandbaby.
Ugh. This is not the text I want to see when I first wake up. Especially after waking up alone and the infuriating night I had.
After the stunt I pulled with Tucker, Viktor ignored me the rest of the night. I couldn’t help myself. I knew I was crossing a line, but everyone was fine with Viktor and I…what? What are we?
No. It’s too early in the morning for those kinds of deep thoughts. I’d rather think about the sweet torture Viktor put me through, as infuriating as it was.
He waited. Viktor’s patience knows no bounds. This man had to time things exactly perfect…
“Pepper.” Viktor stalks to me in my room after pretending for the last several hours that the only other person that exists in this house besides him is Owen.
“Viktor.” Some of the breath leaves my lungs as he cages me against the wall. “Or should I say Viking?”
His nose nuzzles my neck, and his breath tickles my hair. “Look outside.”
I turn my head to see the orange and pink hues of the sky as the sun goes down.
“It’s dusk.”
“Mmhmm. Not quite day, but not yet night.”
The heat of his mouth surrounds the sweet spot where my shoulder and neck meet, and I let out a low moan. I just put Owen down to bed and can’t be too loud.
Viktor kisses my neck and jaw, and his warm hand snakes to the front of my skirt. I’ve never been as grateful for elastic waists as I am. His hand easily dips into my maxi skirt, and my body responds by arching into him. He growls when he realizes I never put my panties back on in the car.
“You have until the sun goes down.”
“Huh?” I must have heard him wrong. What am I being timed for?
“You have until the sun fully goes down to come. What do you want me to do to make it happen? My mouth? My fingers? Do you want to help again? Tick tock . Times a ticking.”
I’m struggling to form any coherent thoughts with his lips on me.
“Ugh. Um. M-mouth.” His lips disappear, and my skirt fluffs in the air as Viktor dives between my legs.
The feeling of his tongue, but not the sight of him, is jarring. It’s like being blindfolded but still having sight. My fingers itch to grab his hair and run through it, but he’s fully immersed under my shirt.
Viktor’s hand smooths up my inner thigh and lifts it over his shoulder. I gasp as he flicks my piercing, teasing my clit.
“ Tick-tock , Viking.”
He doesn’t like getting a taste of his own medicine, and it’s evident by the growl he makes and the suction on my clit.
“Oh, fuck. God, you feel so fucking good.” I’m dying to touch him. I feel like my hands are tied up, but all he’s doing is hiding under my skirt.
Note to self: wear more skirts and dresses.
My breathing increases as Viktor’s mouth teeters me closer to the edge. I need more—his fingers inside me, his hands on my breasts. Just as I’m about to ask him for either of those things, I hear an alarm going off and feel the emptiness of his loss, as Viktor stands up.
“W-what are you doing?”
He turns his head to the window, and the beautiful colors are gone, now faded to blues and blacks.
“Time’s up, Pepper.”
“I-but. Then that means it’s my time. I want you to get back down there, Viking. Finish what you’ve started.”
His smile is devious as he boops me on the nose.
“No can do, Katy. Maybe next time think first before you embarrass me in front of one of the people who signs my paychecks.
Grrr. I’m frustrated all over again thinking of how he left me. He wasn’t wrong. I deserved it. My intentions absolutely were to knock him down a peg and embarrass him. I guess it worked a little too well.
I finished what he started last night and made sure he heard me, but it wasn’t nearly as satisfying as what an orgasm with my Viking would have been.
A light knock at the door has me sitting up. When the blanket falls from my chest, I don’t flinch because I have pajamas on. Sleeping alone is much less fun and sexy.
“I thought I heard movement in here. You’re up early, Pepper.”
“My mom texted me, and the noise woke me up.”
Viktor sits on the end of the bed and finds my leg, rubbing it over the blanket. “I heard that too. What did she want this time?”
“Is Owen up yet?” I need a few more minutes to process her request before I get someone else’s opinion.
“Still sleeping.” Viktor’s eyes flash to my very full breasts. The tank top I’m wearing has negative support, and there are miles of cleavage on display.
“My eyes are up here, buddy.”
He smiles before tracing the lines of my neck to my eyes. He needs to adjust himself after his perusal, and I chuckle.
“Was last night just as much of a tease for you as it was for me?”
He holds my eyes, daring me to back down, but I won’t. He sighs, looks away, and I straighten my back at this mini victory.
“I was perfectly fine until the show you put on after we went to bed. You moaned my fucking name. It wasn’t fair.”
I did. Several times. I tried everything I could to break his resolve, but nothing worked. “All you had to do was walk through the door.”
More lines are blurring every day. Our shopping trip yesterday was the biggest one. I’m still flabbergasted that he let me buy a strap-on to use on him. I’m oddly excited about the thought of it. He’s a big guy, and I’m…not. But he has no trouble following my direction in the bedroom, and the idea of Viktor the Viking giving himself over to me completely is exhilarating.
“Viktor, tell me three things you like about me that have nothing to do with physical appearance.”
He’s taken aback by my abrupt topic change, but it’s always something on my mind. I often doubt my self-worth despite knowing all of the obstacles I’ve already tackled in my life.
“Three things. Hmm.” He shifts further onto the bed and begins to crawl up my body. I love seeing him crawl. It’s so fucking powerful to watch a man on his knees. “You’re fiercely independent in a way that is a strength, not a weakness.”
“One.”
Viktor kisses the exposed skin between my shorts and tank, licking a trail and blowing on it to make me shiver.
“You have the kindest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. Watching the patience and love you have with your preschoolers is an inspiration to anyone who sees it.”
“Two.”
His nose nuzzles my hard nipple, and all I want is to feel his mouth on me, but I know he won’t. He’s been very specific about never wanting to take anything away from Owen, and it’s morning, and he hasn’t nursed yet.
“I love your tenacity. You had so many options when you got pregnant, and you chose him. You took your situation and blew everyone away with your strength and courage. You’re a fucking fantastic mother.”
“Three.”
Viktor’s mouth finally hovers over mine, and my body vibrates, waiting to feel his lips when my alarm goes off, and he disappears. I blink, and he’s standing beside my bed with a shit-eating grin.
“Time to wake up and get the day started, Katy. Coffee is ready whenever you are. Unless you’d like me to bring you a cup in here?”
He knows exactly what he’s doing—first last night and then this morning. Viktor is playing a losing game because I can hold out longer than he can.
As I’m getting dressed, Owen’s sweet voice floats from the monitor.
“Mama. Mama, uppies .”
I love his sweet little voice. Nothing is better in life than hearing him say my name.
“Morning, little man. Did you sleep well?”
“Vik. Uppies.”
Well fuck. That’s definitely a close second.
A minute later, there’s a soft knock on my door, and Viktor comes in carrying Owen. When I come out of the bathroom, both have huge smiles on their faces, and it melts my heart and my panties for very different reasons.
“Mama. Mik.” Owen’s arms outstretch toward me as he squeezes his fist, signing “milk.” I grab the wiggling bundle, and we get comfortable on the bed, ready to nurse. There’s a moment of embarrassment as Owen tugs on my shirt, but Viktor has seen me naked on multiple occasions now, and this seems like another one of our lines that are about to blur.
I lift my shirt and unclip my bra so Owen has access to nurse. Viktor dips his chin as he heads back out to the living room. Just before he leaves, he turns and glances at us one more time.
“Admiration or jealousy, Viking?” His lip twitches as his eyes bounce between Owen and me.
“Both.” He turns to leave, but I stop him.
“Hey, Viktor?”
“Yes.”
“I think I’d like to have coffee with my mother today. Can we figure out the best way to make it happen? I don’t want to bring Owen just yet.”
“Of course. If you’re sure?”
Am I sure? Not really. But it feels like the right thing to do.
“Yeah. It’s time.”
? ? ? ? ?
If S’morgasm is my favorite coffee shop, The Hippie Bean is a close second. Lincoln introduced me to this place because the owner, a hippie named Flower, makes the best apple fritters. This also happens to be where Spencer met Lincoln and Tucker, despite their meeting being of an unusual nature. I don’t think most people can say their relationship started with a robbery, but it feels like a very fitting story for them.
I asked my mom to meet me here at two, during Owen’s nap time, so Patrick didn’t have to do any actual babysitting. I think his grunt was a thank you. He really doesn’t say much.
On a regular day, the colorful tapestries lining the walls would calm me, but at the moment, I think it’s increasing my anxiety. I can’t seem to find a single object to focus my nervous energy on.
I haven’t seen my mother since the day Owen was born. She somehow found out where I was, and the hospital nurses let her into my room. None of us thought to put her on a no-entry list because she hadn’t tried to make contact with me since I left.
“Pepper, it’s not too late to leave.”
Viktor gently pulls my hands apart, stopping me from picking at my cuticles. I give him a small smile of thanks and shake my head.
“It’s overdue. She’s been reaching out and offering olive branches. I have to at least hear her out.”
“You don’t have to do anything in regards to her, but I understand your reasoning.”
My mother isn’t due to arrive for another ten minutes. I wanted to get here early to give myself time to change my mind if I decided to.
“I’ll be in the corner if you need me.” Viktor brushes his thumb across my forehead. “Imagine that was my lips giving you a kiss for strength.”
Damn. Why does he have to do things like that? Now my belly is all warm and tingly. Viktor winks at me and takes a seat a few tables down.
I sit and wait, glad I had already ordered my coffee when she’s ten minutes late. At the fifteen-minute mark, my phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I missed the bus, but I’m on my way. I’ll be there in about fifteen more minutes. Will you wait for me?” Sighing at her obvious excuse, I rub my forehead.
“Fine, but I don’t have a lot of time. I don’t want to be out much later than Owen’s naptime.”
“Of course. Of course. I’ll be there soon.” She hangs up, and I feel Viktor’s presence behind me.
“Is everything okay?”
“She’ll be here in about fifteen minutes. Said she missed the bus.” He looks at his watch and frowns. “I know. I told her I didn’t have a lot of time.”
“We can leave whenever you’re ready. Would you like an apple fritter while you wait?” I smile up at him and nod. This man knows the way to my heart.
I’m three bites into my fritter when the bell jingles for what feels like the hundredth time, but finally, the woman standing in the doorway looks familiar.
I say familiar because she has the same eyes and smile, but instead of the bottle blonde that I’ve known all my life, her hair is a muted brown. Similar to mine, but there’s no life in the color. Her normal grayish skin tone has color to it that I’m not used to seeing either. She looks…healthy.
“Katy! Oh my god Katy. Look at you.”
My mother almost trips on the wheel of a stroller as she tries to get to me. Her arms spread wide, and a gift bag dangles in the crook of her elbow. When she finally reaches me, I’m engulfed in a suffocating hug. Even if I wanted to return her hug, I can’t; she’s squeezing me too tight.
Her smile is wide when she finally releases me, and my mind is having trouble associating this woman with the one who raised me. Babs didn’t smile unless it was to get something she wanted. Her eyes were always bloodshot, and the constant drinking always left a lingering scent of staleness on her skin.
The woman who stands before me looks bright and vibrant. She still looks older than her years, but there are some things you can’t reverse with makeup and perfume.
“Babs. You look…well.”
My mother smooths down the front of her paisley-patterned dress, fussing over her outfit.
“Please call me Mom.”
Her eyes look sincere. I thought the texts she’d been sending me were all bullshit, but Babs is a terrible actress, and even on her best days, she couldn’t pull off this put-together woman.
“Um. I can try…Mom.”
Babs sighs and places her hands over her heart. Her eyes flash down to the gift bag she’s carrying as if she forgot it was there.
“This is for my sweet grandson. It’s just something that I saw and thought he might like. You can open it now if you’d like.”
She passes me the bag and we sit at the table.
“Did you want to get coffee?”
“No, Dear. I don’t want to waste a minute with you.” She reaches out and takes my hand. My gut reaction wants me to pull away. This woman, my mother, is the least affectionate person I know. As a child, I yearned for her love, but she was always too busy with her booze or her boyfriends. Justin handing me a bowl of mac n cheese was the first genuine affection I ever felt from someone who wasn’t obligated to give it to me like a teacher or a doctor.
Slowly, I pull my hand from hers and place it on my lap. Her face falls for a second as she watches my reaction, but she blinks a few times and shakes it off, putting a smile back on her face.
“Tell me about you. About my grandson. Is he walking? Talking?”
She’s so out of touch with my life. Does she not have any idea what a typical one and a half year old is like?
“Um, we’re both doing good. He’s been walking for over six months and is a little slow to talk, but his pediatrician said boys sometimes talk slower than girls. He still has a good vocabulary, though, so we aren’t worried.”
She’s smiling so wide I don’t know how her cheeks aren’t hurting.
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure he’s just doing things on his own time. What does he look like now? It seems like I haven’t seen him in forever. Does he have your dark hair?”
She takes a piece of my hair and curls it around her fingers. I’m frozen. I have no idea what’s going on, but at any moment, I feel like someone is going to jump out from behind a coffee display and tell me I’m on some game show and my mother has won an acting award.
“So when do I get to meet him? I’ve been trying to decide what I want to be called. Grandma makes me feel old, and Babs is too informal. Do you think I could pull off Gigi, G-ma?”
“Stop.” My voice is a whisper. Who does she think she is?
“What, Dear? I’m sorry, could you speak up?”
I breathe in a much-needed breath of air and sit straighter in my chair.
“I said, stop.” This time, there’s more force behind my words, and my mother’s brows pinch and her eyes dart nervously around the room.