Chapter 26 – Victoria
twenty-six
Victoria
I pick up the phone beside my bed and see it’s Jaxon calling me. “You’ve reached Victoria,” I start to say, “she’s either unavailable or doesn’t want to speak to you.”
He barks out a laugh. “Very funny,” he says. “I’m going to be at your place in ten minutes.”
“I can’t wait.” I get up and walk to the bathroom where I put in my diamond stud earrings. “Are you going to stop the SUV, or am I going to have to jump in when you drive by?”
“Take your time,” Ariella interjects. “I have to come in anyway. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Again?” Jaxon says and I can feel the look she is giving him. “Yeah, take your time,” he tells me.
“See you soon.” I hang up the phone and then go into my closet to slip on the pair of black satin shoes with a crystal hoop on the toe.
I turn as I check out the whole outfit, the black dress hits me mid-thigh, tight around my waist and then flares off just a touch.
The whole dress has black flowers embroidered on it with see-through sleeves covered in stitched on flowers.
I love that the V in the front gives off a hint of boob.
My hair is swept back in soft little curls on the sides of my face.
My makeup is smoky but with a hint of silver around the corners, making my blue eyes even brighter.
I put on a bit more blush than I normally do and make sure my lips are lined with a soft pink, almost purple, lipstick, and I apply a clear gloss on them, knowing it drives Zane crazy.
I smirk when I think of him as the front door opens and I hear heels on the floor.
“Hello,” I call to the doorway, seeing Ariella run by as she waves her hand.
“How much water does she drink?” I mumble as I walk out of the room and see Jaxon sitting on my couch, looking at the vase of flowers I had delivered yesterday.
“Is this new?” he asks me of the yellow roses that sit in the middle of the table.
“Well, considering the last flowers were red and these are yellow”—I walk over and slide my lip gloss in my black handbag—“I’m going to say yes.”
“He sent you flowers again?”
“What can I say?” I smile at him and raise one shoulder. “He really likes me or maybe it’s certain parts of me he can’t forget.” He groans as Ariella comes out of the bathroom.
“This dress is too tight for me,” she complains of the dress she has on. “Literally feels like I’m going to pop out of it.” Her black dress is off the shoulder and is tight all the way down to her mid-calf. Her black heels are satin like mine, but sling-backs with crystals crisscrossing the front.
“You look amazing,” I assure her, “and it fits you fine.”
“Okay, let’s go so we can get there and then leave,” she says. “Casino nights to raise fund for the Warriors Foundation is always a good time, but I’m exhausted.” I look over at her. “Jagger is breaking in his molars and is determined to do it not sleeping.”
“Let’s go get this over with.” Jaxon gets up and I see he’s wearing a blue suit with a baby-blue shirt, which makes his blue eyes pop even more.
I walk out with them, following them to the SUV as I take out my phone and send Zane a text.
Me:
On my way.
Zane:
Already here. See you soon.
I put my phone back in my purse and look out the window as the three of us talk about nothing. We get to the arena and Clive is dressed in a black suit for tonight. “Hey there,” he says, opening Ariella’s door and then mine. “Look at how beautiful you two look.”
I smile at him as I get out, the sound of our heels clicking on the cement. We walk over to the door the players and staff usually go into. I’ve been in there a handful of times for the family skate day, as well as the barbecue, and now for the casino night.
I swallow down the lump in my throat as we walk down the hallway. We pass the locker room that is closed and locked and then Zane’s office. The door is slightly ajar and the light on his desk is turned on. I can hear music playing and as we get closer and closer there are more voices.
The whole arena has been transformed. A black floor is now down over the ice.
On one side of the rink are casino tables, from blackjack to roulette to craps tables.
Nearby, a lounge area is filled with black couches and are paired off for people to sit on and chat.
On the other side are some round tables for eating and men and women dressed in white shirts and black pants are passing around cocktails.
My eyes scan the room to search for Zane and when I see him, I swear I take a second to get my breathing under control.
He’s standing, talking to a man I’ve never seen before.
He’s wearing a black suit with a white button-down shirt and no tie.
The two buttons of his shirt are open. He must sense my gaze, or maybe he’s searching for me when he looks over and we lock eyes.
“There are Knox and Kirby,” Jaxon points out, and I give Zane a small smile before I turn and follow Jaxon, instead of going to Zane and kissing him.
It’s been over two weeks since we’ve had that talk at his house.
I want to say things have settled down, but that would be wishful thinking.
The team is pretty much divided. At this point, someone is going to either snap and get with the program, or I hate to say it—let alone think it—but Zane will be out of a job.
The press is its own beast. There isn’t one day, whether they win or lose, that Zane’s not dragged through the mud.
It’s come to the point that I’m blocking them out for my mental health.
I can’t imagine what he’s going through.
I know it bothers him, but I also know there is no space for that to seep into our relationship, so it’s not talked about.
We speak about the game and how he’s feeling, but the whole tabloids shit is the very big elephant in the room.
“Hey.” I hear Lexi and smile at her as I kiss her cheek, and then do the same thing to Kylie, as if we didn’t go shopping less than twenty-four hours ago to buy these dresses.
“Hey.” Zane’s voice appears behind me, and I turn to see him approaching us. He stands next to me, bending to kiss Ariella’s cheek and then doing the same to Lexi and Kylie. “Hi, Victoria,” he says, as if we didn’t wake up together, as he kisses my cheek.
“Hi, Zane,” I reply, sounding a bit more peppy than I should. “How are you?”
“Doing good, thanks,” he says as he looks at the guys.
“How is everyone doing?” he asks them, and I look over at Jaxon to see if he’s going to give him attitude, and I get ready to bite my tongue if he does.
“Good.” Knox is the first to answer him then looks over at me. “I thought you were going to bring a date tonight.”
“You were going to bring the guy you are seeing tonight,” adds Jaxon.
“I was,” I say, right before I roll my eyes, “but then he found out you were going to be here, and well, he thinks you’re a tool, so he said hard pass.”
Ariella is the first to snort-laugh as Jaxon glares. “He thinks I’m a tool?” He points to himself.
“Oh, please.” I hold my purse in both hands before I forget that we are supposed to keep our relationship quiet and hold his hand. “You give yourself too much credit.”
“So you told him about me?” Jaxon puts his arm around Ariella.
“You think if I told him about you, he’d still want to date me?” I laugh. “Please, he would run for the hills.”
“Because he’s scared of me?”
“No, because you suck on the ice.” I point at Jaxon, who glares. “Now that we’ve gotten that taken care of—”
“You know this guy sends her flowers like twice a week.” Jaxon looks over at Knox and Kirby like it’s foreign.
“You should take notes,” I urge him. “Ariella was saying that she felt like you are dismissive of her feelings.”
Ariella gasps. “I did not say that.” She shakes her head. “She’s fucking with you because it’s so easy.”
Jaxon glares at me. “I’m hungry,” I say. “Anyone else?”
“I could eat.” Knox nods. “I have to take my turn at the roulette table in thirty minutes.”
“Oh, there you are,” Jill says, rushing over to us and heading to Zane. “I was looking for you. There are a group of single ladies who would like to meet you.” I swallow down the lump that forms in my throat and try not to snap. “They want to meet the big burly bearded coach.”
“I’m not interested,” he quickly says.
“Okay, well, can you pretend?” she suggests. “It’s for the Warriors Foundation that benefits the children’s hospital.”
“I’m going to go eat,” I say, avoiding looking at him so he doesn’t see how much this bothers me. I smile at everyone as I walk to the buffet and grab a plate. I’m sitting down when Ariella sits next to me while the phone buzzes in my purse.
I take it out, seeing it’s a text.
Zane:
Meet me in my office.
I look around, not seeing him anywhere. “I have to go to the restroom,” I say, looking at the table that is now filled with everyone. I hope Lexi or Kylie say they don’t want to go also as I quickly slip away.
I walk with my head down as I sneak back to where we walked in.
I see a couple of the guys from the team, so I smile at them as I walk, hoping none of them hang around.
I’m in the hallway with a couple other people, stopping right outside his office door that is more open than before.
But I know I can’t just walk in, so instead I look at the mural wall of my brother, trying to pretend I’m interested in it until the coast is clear.
It feels like forever until it clears and as soon as I see no one around, I slip into his office.
The door is shut behind me and locked when I feel him push me against it.
“Zane,” I say his name as I feel him bend to take my mouth.
My purse drops to the floor when I lift my hand to hold his face as he slides his tongue inside.
His hands go to my ass, lifting me off my feet so my pussy is right over his cock.
“Zane,” I repeat his name when he rips his mouth away from me.
“Do you know how torturous this is?” he whispers in my ear as he puts me back down on my feet, his hands going to the hem of my dress as he grips it in his hands, pushing it up. “Do you know how hard it is?”
I look up at him as my hand comes out to rub his cock over his pants. “Is it this hard?”
He kicks one foot to the side, making me open my legs as he rubs his finger down the lace of my panties.
“I’m going to show you what I wanted to do to you the minute I saw you walk in wearing this dress.
” He kisses my mouth; his hand moves my panties to the side, and he slides a finger in me.
His mouth swallows my moan. “Shh,” he warns, while he lets go of my mouth as he adds another finger in me.
His mouth goes to my ear as he whispers, “I saw you walk in and saw your legs, and I wanted them wrapped around my neck.” His fingers work magic on my G-spot and within seconds I’m drenched for him.
“Does my girl want me to lick her pussy?” he asks and I nod my head.
“Or does she want me to fuck her pussy?” I move my hips to meet his fingers.
“Bend you over right now and fuck you?” The sound of both of our heavy breathing fills his office.
“Or would you like me to fuck you against the door?” His thumb swipes my clit and I’m over the fucking cliff.
“Zane,” I say his name and I hear him chuckle before his mouth crashes on mine and he finger fucks another orgasm out of me.
“Tonight, when we get home, I want you to ride my face.” He nips my ear.
“I want to lie down, and I want you to ride my face like you ride my cock.” His fingers don’t slip out of me, no, not with Zane.
He wants another orgasm out of me and he’s fighting to get it.
“I’m so hard for you,” he growls, and my hand comes up and undoes his belt, which shouldn’t take me long, but with his fingers in me, I can hardly focus.
I spring his cock loose and grip the base of it in my hand.
“After I ride your face,” I close my eyes, “am I going to get to ride this cock?” He groans now. “Have you lie on the bed and straddle you with my ass facing you as I ride.” His finger scrapes over my G-spot and I can feel my legs shaking. “Ride you until I soak the bed.”
“Fuck,” he growls, “I’m going to—” He barely has the word out before I drop to my knees and take him to the back of my throat.
One of his hands goes flat on the door, the other in my hair as he shoots his cum down my throat.
I take everything he has to give me, waiting for him to go half-mast before I let him pop out of my mouth.
I stand back up and he devours my mouth.
I’m almost tempted to turn around, lift my dress up, and have him fuck me, but I know, in a matter of minutes, someone will be coming to look for us.
“I have to get back,” I say when he lets me go. “I should check my face.”
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, and I walk past him to his private bathroom. I turn the lights on and see my lipstick smudged, so I grab a Kleenex and fix it. I apply more of my gloss and then look at myself in the mirror.
I back up as I slip my panties off and then ball them in my hand, walking out, finding Zane waiting for me. “I’m going to go out first,” I tell him. “Then, well, good luck to you.”
I slip my hand into his pocket, leaving my panties, as he bends to kiss my lips softly. “Clean your lips before you come out,” I whisper, walking out of the door and coming face-to-face with Jaxon.
The back of my neck feels like I’m being branded. “Hey,” I say nervously and loudly so Zane can hear me.
“What the fuck are you doing in Zane’s office?” he questions.
“I saw him when I was going to the bathroom.” I try not to stutter.
“He said I could use his office if I wanted to.” I shrug.
“Then I got a call from my guy, so I shut the door for privacy,” I tell him as he looks at me.
“Are you trying to spy on me?” I shake my head and step as far as I can from Zane’s office.
“I’m telling Mom on you, and Ariella,” I add, moving away from the door and hoping he follows me. “It’s creepy.”
“I was not spying on you,” he hisses. “I was going to the bathroom and then I saw you.”
“Jaxon,” Kirby shouts from down the hall, “it’s your turn!”
“Hurry, hurry,” I say to him as he looks up and we head back out together. I look over my shoulder, hoping no one catches Zane, and thanking God we dodged another bullet.