Page 9 of Needing More
"What? Nooo," she whined looking around the living room. "It looks like it has so much potential. Is it not structurally sound or something?"
Vic looked at her in shock. "You can't actually like this place!"
Excited now, Sapphire rose to her knees on the sofa and nodded. "I do. I think if it was spruced up a bit it could have some real potential. You know, paint the walls," she said, waving to the wooden built-ins on either side of the fireplace. "And update a few things. I think it would be very nice actually."
Vic gave the room a sweeping look filled with skepticism before grinning at her. "Spruce it up, huh?" he repeated.
"Shut up, you know what I mean." She threw one of the couch's limp, decorative pillows at him.
He dodged the projectile with a laugh.
"I guess," he chuckled as he picked up the thrown pillow and tossed it gently back onto the couch. "It's actually not in bad shape. Plumbing is good. For some fucking reason the appliances still work though they are old as fuck. But it needs another full bathroom. Two bathrooms in a five-bedroom house makes no fucking sense."
"See," she pointed out. "With a little renovation, it would be a great place."
"Yeah, but you forget how much I hate running a farm," he countered.
Sapphire couldn't stop the yawn as she covered her mouth and sank back down into the couch cushions. "Well, it could be a pretty home."
"And you need to be asleep," he decreed, coming back around to the front of the couch. "Plenty of rest was what the doctor said," he reminded her.
"Yes, and so do you," she pointed at his tired face. "And you can't do that if I'm sleeping in your room."
"There are plenty of bedrooms, angel. I'll be fine. Besides, how did you know it was my room and not just any room?" Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited for an answer.
Sapphire told herself she didn’t notice the way the veins and tendons in his wide forearms flexed at the movement. She didn’t, because that would be ridiculous.
Pulling her thoughts back into the safe zone, she gave him a skeptical look. "I don’t think you would have plopped me down just anywhere in the house. That room is the farthest away from your father, it seems. There is a pile of neatly folded men's underwear on the dresser. And lastly, it smells like you."
The look of abject horror on his face as he pulled at his t-shirt and sniffed made Sapphire laugh.
"I'm not saying you stink," she laughed. "The opposite. Your cologne or whatever it is is very distinct. When I first slept in your room at the café, I was relieved that the pillows and linen smelled so good."
Letting go of his shirt, Vic stared at her for a moment before turning his back to her. With a deep groan he ran his hands over his face before turning back around to her, his expression resolute.
"Okay, come on, back to bed," he commanded.
Sapphire stared at him quizzically and gestured to the sofa. "I can just stay out here and you can sleep in your own-"
One of Vic's eyes twitched in impatience. "If you don’t get up, I’ll pick you up." His tone was low and measured.
Knowing she was dancing on thin ice with the no doubt exhausted man, Sapphire stood up and walked to the door. "Fine. Where is Krrsantan anyways? I thought I would see him."
Behind her, Vic motioned to the front door at the end of the hall as they turned toward the bedroom. "Kers is out on the porch pouting I wouldn't let him in. You needed to sleep, not be slobbered on. But it’s good to know you're warming up to him."
Sapphire felt for the big beast outside and imagined those big soulful eyes upturned and sad. Poor thing.
Vic stopped at the bedroom door and leaned on the frame as she slipped back into the big bed.
Adjusting the covers around her a little longer than necessary, she slowly looked back up and met Vic's dark eyes. "You really think they are okay?"
Knowing who she was talking about, Vic nodded. "Yes, I do."
A little reassured by his confidence, she nodded and sank down into the pillows. "Goodnight. Thanks for taking care of me."
He paused for a moment and Sapphire wondered if he would even reply as the door began to close and the shaft of light from the hall got smaller and smaller. "Goodnight, Sapphire."
Chapter 5
