Page 103 of The Vow We Made
Epilogue
AIDEN
Today I’m taking Victoria to lunch before I head to the hospital. It may be the anniversary of ‘phone-gate’ as she calls it, but I can’t take the day off, as much as I’d love to. Thankfully she understands my commitment to my job, but I’ve yet to tell her how it might change along with my career path. We’ve got used to the hours we keep but I don’t want things to continue this way for us. Our lives are chaotic and a jumble of time. I work unsociable hours, leaving her during odd times of the day and night, while she’s never in the same location and often stays away for weeks at a time. Now Faith has accepted Victoria’s proposal to join her as a full partner, it relieves some of her pressure but certainly not all of it. When Victoria isn’t working away, she’s out with clients or drumming up business. They also have premises now, a full-time receptionist and a flat that comes with the building. Faith now lives there and loves being a staircase away from work although Victoria continues to be the driving force behind it. I watch her thrive on her success every day, but time is not on our side.
I’ll be going home and getting into bed when Victoria is on her way out to lunch; a kiss here, and a phone call there. It’s not always easy and I hate it when I’m not around to share in her latest success, or to simply wake up with her beside me and share a lazy morning in bed. I’ve got to a point where I want more and I hope she does too, which is why I’m making some radical changes to my work-life balance.
Taking everything into account, I’m stunned we’ve managed to survive this last year, it hasn’t been easy on either of us, but together we’ve proved we can cope with life at its worst. The recovery after her accident wasn’t plain sailing and Victoria had to be the most impatientpatientI’ve ever dealt with. I’m sure she had visions of getting the cast removed and running the marathon, but soon learned how strict exercise is vital to getting fit quicker. It’s only because Bronte is such a stickler when it comes to exercise, that Victoria got through it. That and watching Bronte’s new man in the gym while they ran on the treadmill. She thinks I don’t know, but I’m not stupid. Even I’ll admit, he’s a handsome bugger and if it helped her recovery, I’ll deal with it.
Victoria is finally at a point where she can walk at a reasonably healthy pace, but it’s taken a long time to get there. Along with that, we’ve had every conceivable situation thrown at us and we’ve dealt with more than any other new couple should have.
Our friendship with Luke and Eve has grown in ways we could never have imagined. Victoria was fearful initially due to the memories this connection held for her, but as we’ve sat and talked things through on many occasions, it’s been therapeutic for both girls to air their worries. Between the four of us, we share a secret so bizarre and I understand why the women in our lives are adamant it stays within our circle. Not talking it over with Will is the hardest part for me. He knows a lot about Victoria’s past, but I haven’t told him about the bigamy.
Now we’re well on our way to a new era. One where everything is calm and normal.
“Where are we going?” Victoria asks one morning in an innocent way that isn’t innocent at all. She doesn’t like surprises, understandably.
“Wait and see.”
“I want to know what to wear.” Her head cocks to the side while she flicks the hanging garments within her wardrobe. “Is it smart orsmartsmart?” She also has a language of her own.
I scrunch my brow and laugh. “Smart smart?”
“You know, what I mean. Is itsupersmart? Or casual-everyday-meeting-a-friend smart?”
“Something comfortable,” I answer while sprawled across the bed in nothing but my boxers.
“Just smart then.”
I can’t help reaching over and circling my arm around her waist. Her surprised squeal catches us both off guard as we collapse on the bed, giggling like kids until I pull her on top of me. We’re only slightly breathless when the laughter stops and the atmosphere takes a warmer turn. I want to capture every second and store it for when she’s not with me, but I don’t intend those times to be often. It’s total fate we ended up here, so I’m not risking this relationship with long absences.
I’ve got a plan.
Guiding her mouth to mine, I nip her bottom lip and pull. My mouth travels her jawline and down her neck before rolling her over. She squeals again, so I capture the sound with my mouth, her tongue slipping easily against mine. Her short, satin robe slides over her thighs as I push the silky fabric to the side, gaining access to the tiny thong underneath. My fingers glide over the line of them, then dip inside. Her legs part, telling me it’s where she wants me to be. Ever since we laid all our secrets to rest, there is nothing but light and air between us; a natural sense of belonging to the other and it’s all I ever fucking hoped for.
The smooth trail of her fingertips down my back and into my boxers, heighten every sensitive part of me. Her soft tongue glides over my skin and across the ridge of my shoulder. Her whispers indicate she wants me, so who am I to deprive her?
“How much time do we have before we have to leave?” she groans and I don’t hesitate to answer.
“Long enough, angel. Long enough.”
* * *
Victoria is hopping about her bedroom while trying to slip on her shoe.
“We’re going to miss our table.”
“I’m just waiting on you.” I sigh, knowing full well the other shoe in her hand could end up smacking against my head at any time.
She stops and as suspected, waves the offending item in front of my face. “You want this?” she asks, giving me the side eye stare but I’m in her face before she has time to take a breath.
“Do you come with it?” I scoop her up without warning, unable to speak while I devour her lips and her body melts against mine. I pull away. “We don’t have to go at all.”
“Haven’t you had enough?” she asks, brows raised.
“Never.” And I kiss her again.
It takes another twenty minutes for us to make it out the door and as soon as we’re outside, Will’s cab pulls up by the kerb. “Someone order a taxi?” he calls.
