Page 107 of Victorious: Part I

“After the Cartel. After Vegas. Just… after.”

It’s a question I’ve been avoiding since we left the clubhouse.

What happens when we go back—ifwe can go back?

What if there’s nothing to return to?

“Hard to know,” I admit. “It’s easier to focus on what’s in front of me.”

She shifts onto her side, facing me. “But you’ve gotta want things. For yourself, I mean. Not just for Sadie or the club. And I don’t mean a job this time like Hollywood movies for me or building things for you, I mean things like life things.”

I consider the question, and I’m surprised to find I don’t have an answer ready. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a life outside of being a Prospect, really. My life has always been living for a club. I’ve never had time to think about what things I would want for myself in life.”

“That’s sad,” she says, her voice somber.

“Is it?” I ask honestly.

“Yeah.” Her voice is soft but certain. “Everyone should have something they want just for themselves.”

I turn to face her. Our faces are now inches apart in the dim light. “What about you? What do you want? After all this?”

She considers for a moment. “I want to create things that matter. I want to travel. I want an adorable cat of my own.” The more she talks, the more animated and excited she is becoming. “I want to go to a karaoke bar and sing at the top of my lungs like no one is watching. I want to get married one day to areallygreat guy. I want to have sex…” she pauses, her eyes opening wide as I grin at how energetic she is, but she finds her confidence again and continues, “I want to have sex in areallycrazy place that no one would expect from me. I want to stop being the fragile little sister that everyone has to protect all the time.” A small smile plays at her lips as she calms her tone to be a little more serious now. “I want to be the one doing the protecting, for once.”

I let out a small chuckle, raising my brow in surprise. “That is an extensive list. But you know, Clover, you’re stronger than you think,” I tell her. “Tougher too.”

“Am I?” Her face scrunches with her obvious doubt.

“Most people would be falling apart right now, stranded in the middle of nowhere. You’re acting like it’s just another epic adventure.”

Her smile widens with a shrug. “Maybe it is.”

I find myself studying her face in the dim light—the curve of her cheek, the way her eyes catch the faint glow from the flashlight. She’s beautiful in a way that makes my chest ache, and suddenly, I’m acutely aware of how close we are and how easy it would be to bridge the tiny gap between us. How her talk of sex in crazy places has already got my cock thinking in ways it really shouldn’t be.

“Clover,” I murmur, my voice rougher than I intended.

“Yes?” Her eyes meet mine, and I see something in them that mirrors what I’m feeling—a hunger, a curiosity, a daring.

“We shouldn’t,” I whisper, even as I lean closer.

“Probably not,” she agrees, not pulling away.

My hand moves to her face again, almost of its own accord, fingertips brushing her cheek. Her skin is so soft, warm despite the cold night air. She leans into my touch, her eyes never leaving mine.

“Your brother willdefinitelykill me,” I mutter.

“What happens on the road to Vegas,” she breathes, her chest heaving. The air between us is surging with electricity. I fight. Hard. But as her eyes stare into mine, and she bites down on her bottom lip, the last of my resolve crumbles, and every ounce of strength I have evaporates. I surge forward, my lips slamming against hers. She instantly rolls onto her back, taking me with her. She whimpers as I slide my tongue against hers, the delicious sound almost making me come on the spot.

Her fingers are digging into my back for dear life. We kiss frantically, and I can’t help it as my hips rock against her. She lets out the most animalistic moan, my cock rock hard as she presses her hips up into me. I deepen the kiss, needing to taste her. I’ve been needing this for so fucking long that I don’t know if I can stop at tasting her lips.

Breaking our kiss, I slide my tongue down her neck, my hand easing to her breast as she pants to catch her breath. “Fuck, Clo, I don’t know if I can stop,” I growl, dragging my teeth along her skin, the same time I rock my hard cock against her.

Her moans clearly tell me she wants the same thing. “Then don’t. God, don’t ever stop,” she whimpers when a sudden weight lands on top of my back, accompanied by a loud, indignant meow.

I jerk with the fright, rolling off Clover as the black cat settles itself comfortably in the small space between our bodies, yellow eyes staring at us judgmentally.

“What the—” I groan, trying to steady my racing heart.

Clover bursts into a fit of laughter. “I guess he decided to take you up on that jerky offer.”

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