Page 104 of High Roller

He picks up my finger and kisses below where they wrapped it with a bandage. “What did Lili say that frightened you?”

“It wasn’t a big deal. She... said she would be better off at the bottom of Lake Mead than being sent back to her husband alive. After she insinuated you would be the one putting her in the lake.”

Victor’s eyes become a storm of rage. “Why the fuck would she say something like that?”

I blow out a breath. He deserves the truth. “There was a moment between us. She told me to... to stop looking at her like that or she would want to kiss me again and if that happened you would kill her and dump her body.”

Victor raises his eyes to the ceiling and swears in Spanish. “I’m not going to kill Lili. And if we need to talk about you kissing her, we can. I know you’ve been in… complex relationships before.”

I frown. “Kara and Sampson were a fluke. It’s not like I’m dying to have multiple lovers. I agreed to be with you. To let you have control of my pleasure. It’s what I want.”

Victor shrugs. “Bellamy, Owen, and Tobias have found a way to make it work long term. Lili is a fleeting thing. I’m not saying we all jump into bed together. And I’m not saying I want you having multiple lovers. But I’m not going to see it as being cheated on if you kiss her.”

I shake my head. “This is all too much to think about right now. I’ve interrupted your day and I’m so sorry. Let’s not think about me kissing Lili right now. It’s not something we need to discuss.”

Victor picks up my hand and kisses it again. “I’m sorry this happened, butterfly. We’ll get you home so you can rest as soon as we can. You have nothing to apologize for.”

We sit quietly and wait for the doctor to come and release me. A half hour later, the doctor rushes in with apologies for being late.

“The good news is that it was a clean cut and should heal up nicely. If you keep antibiotic cream on it, you might not even have a scar.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I say appreciatively.

“Take some Advil and rest your hand as much as possible for the first forty-eight hours, and you’re good to go.”

He hands me the clipboard, and Victor holds it so I can sign with my right hand and not have to do anything with my left.

“Let’s go, Mariposa.”

“What about your business?” I ask as he ushers me to his car.

“It can wait. I want to get you home and settled. We’ll stop somewhere along the way and pick up some extra clothing for you as well.”

He’s so thoughtful. It feels like a side of him I haven’t seen before. At least not this dramatically. He’s always been considerate of me at the club, making sure I have what I need to do my job, making sure I get the shifts I want at the sandwich shop, encouraging me to go back to school. But having that attention focused on my physical and sexual needs has been a new delight that I didn’t know I needed.

Victor holds my injured hand tenderly in his as he drives.

At a department store on the way to his house, I pick out a few tops and some skirts for myself. He says no to a pair of jeans I hold up, which makes me blush. Next, I go to look at underwear, but he stops me.

“Are you in danger of starting your period in the next few days?”

I shake my head. “Not for a couple of weeks.”

He pats my bottom, making me painfully aware of my lack of panties. “Then you won’t need these,” he says, plucking the red lace from my fingers and putting it back on the shelf.

After that embarrassment, I pick out some underwear for Lili instead, along with another two outfits for her to have.

“You’re sweet, butterfly. Always taking care of the people around you.”

When we arrive home, Victor opens my door and insists on carrying all the bags inside. Lili jumps up from the sofa and rushes to my side. “Are you OK?”

I give her a hug. “I’m fine, Lili. Please stop worrying. It’s not your fault.”

“I’m taking her upstairs for a nap,” Victor says as he hands her one of the bags.

“We picked up some clothing for you.” I say.

Lili smiles. “Thank you, both. Enjoy your nap. I was rummaging in your fridge and there’s a lot of stuff to make lunch. Would you let me cook for you?”

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