Page 47 of Passed Ball

I don't dare laugh. "Take what you need, sweetheart. I won't hold you back." Vivi sinks into the pillow chasing her orgasm in earnest, leaving me enraptured. "That's it. So damn perfect. Fucking stunning with your fingers buried inside you."

"Xav." This time my name is drenched in desire, her release right at the tips of her finger.

"You're as sweet as honey when you say my name like that. Let me hear it again."

"I'm right there, so close." Her lip quivers with a shaky exhale before my name spills out of her again.

"Good girl. Let me see you come for me."

Head thrown back and her tits pressed toward the ceiling, she loses herself to her pleasure.

"Jesus, Vivi. You're even more beautiful when you're coming."

My first thought as I watch her come down from her release is that we need to add more to our list. She's got me hooked and I want to watch her fall apart for me in every way possible.

"That was . . ." She shivers. "I thought last time might have been a fluke. Is this what it's supposed to be like? Because it's never been this good, not even on my own."

"Not that I particularly want to hear about your past experiences, but no, it's not always this good. Chemistry makes it better and we have that in spades." There's something in the back of my brain that tells me I'm giving away too much, but Vivienne deserves to know how she affects me. "I haven't stopped thinking about you for weeks."

Her lips rub together like she's thinking about how much to give in return. "Same. I thought after the hallway it would fade, but it only made it worse. I can't get you out of my head."

"If this gets to be too much or if that changes, you need to tell me. I can't stand the thought of hurting you. When you meet someone else or you don't want to do this anymore, you need to be honest with me."

"Ifthat happens, I promise to tell you. But we have a lot of things to cross off our list, unless you've changed your mind."

"Not a chance. I'll be home in three days. When I get back to Denver, you better be ready, because that list doesn't stand a chance. I'm coming for everything on it and then some."

"Mhmmm, can't say I have a problem with that." Vivi's lids are heavy as she snuggles into the pile of pillows behind her. "I know it's not on the list, but there's something I wanted to ask you."

I'm still rock hard in my sweats and heavy with need from watching her come, but it can wait. She's relaxed in every sense of the word and I love that this formidable woman is letting her guard down for me, even if it's because she's lost in her post-orgasm delirium. "What's that, sleepy girl?"

"What's the deal with Holland's mom? Do you think she'll come back?"

That's not the direction I thought she was going to take, but I guess I should know better. Vivienne's in my life because of her connection to Tenley. We might be keeping this within the realm of a situationship, but there's a real friendship forming that I'm not willing to give up. "I wish I knew. It would make my life a lot easier if she would communicate . . . literally anything."

"So you haven't heard from her since . . ." Her voice fades away and I can see her doing the math.

I push my hand through my hair. "Since the day we left the hospital. I grew up with a dad who wasn't . . . fit to be a parent. Kristy wasn't thrilled about the pregnancy or being a mom. Maybe I should have encouraged her to sign away her rights in the hospital, but I wanted her to be sure, for Holland. I thought she'd stay close, let me know what she was thinking, but she just vanished."

She brings the phone closer. There's so much sincerity in her gaze that makes it hard for me to swallow around the lump in my throat.

"It's so unfair to put you and Holland through that. I understand if she's not sure about being a mom, but to drag you along without so much as a text . . ."

"All I can do is wait her out at this point." It's the grim truth of the situation. Until she makes a decision, or a suitable amount of time passes, my daughter is stuck in limbo.

"Holland is lucky to have you." She pauses thoughtfully and adds, "And that's not a dig at your ex but because you've put her above everything else. You have the money and connections to pass off her care and be hands off, but you don't."

Her praise softens the hardness that talking about Kristy brings with it. "I'm glad you think so, but you know what I think?"

"What's that?" She's losing the fight to keep the exhaustion out of her voice.

"That it's time for you to go to sleep." I'm not ready to hang up, but the yawn she covers with the back of her hand tells me she needs sleep more than she needs to hear about the drama in my life.

She stuffs her fist under the pillow and relents. "Have it your way. Inquisition over."

"For now," I add, because I'm not closing the door on getting to know each other. "I'll tell you anything you want to know when you're conscious, because we're friends. Remember?"

Hell, I think I mightneedher to be my friend.

---