Page 90 of Perfect Alpha

Victory leans in to kiss my cheek. She won’t talk to me, so it’s time to try another approach. I turn my head so her soft lips brush against mine, which immediately sets my nerve endings on fire and makes me groan.

Taking advantage of the surprise in her eyes, I kiss her again. Need radiates from every pore as I get all my pent-up emotions out in a single, desperate connection to the only woman I’ve ever loved.

The only woman I will ever love.

One of her hands wraps around my neck, and the other one tangles in my hair while she kisses me back. She swallows the eager sounds I’m making because,fuck, I needed this – needed her – so badly.

She pulls back and kisses my eyelids. “I’ll be back later whether you like it or not.”

When she starts to climb off me, I groan my protest and hug her harder. “Don’t leave.”

“You just told me to go,” she reminds me.

“I’m a fucking idiot,” I reply. “We’ve already established that fact and have countless examples to prove it.”

She squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to take my parents out for dinner while you catch up with the twins. You need this time.”

Until she said it, I didn’t realize it was true, but Ido. I smile gratefully because she always knows exactly what will make me happy.

I’ve been hoarding time with Victory, and after everything Julia and Kevin have done for me and my little family, they certainly deserve to be with their daughter. It won’t be long before she goes back to New York, and I have no idea how I’ll survive it this time.

I hang my head guiltily. “Say hi to them for me.”

“I’ll come back after dinner,” she promises. “I’ll bring you guys some cake.”

I debate telling her that I want her for dessert, but I shouldn’t be horny with all the tragedy surrounding me. But surely it’s not my fault that she’s completely irresistible.

Victory is on her way toward the back door so she can cut across the yard when the twins show up. She stops to give them both hugs.

“Hey, guys. Thanks for taking over babysitting duty.” She turns and gives me a wink over her shoulder that has the unintended consequence of making my world tilt on its axis.

“You should get sainthood for being stuck with this deplorable guy for so long,” Gavin comments sympathetically.

“Yeah,” Bobby agrees. “If you ever want to hang out with a real man, well, you know I’m available, right? Why don’t you come to watch another game? I’d love to see your pretty face in the stands.”

Victory giggles and I want to punch Bobby in the face. When he catches my expression, he chuckles.

“Any time, ace. You always win when I’m there,” she says.

“And don’t forget about me,” Gavin adds. “We may look the same, but I have a way more charming personality. I shine compared to this guy.”

“And either of us are infinitely better options than Cade,” Bobby adds.

Gavin nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, you can’t go wrong, Victory.”

“Hey, assholes,” I retort. “That one is spoken for, got it? Broken ribs or not, I can still kick the shit out of you both and have no problem showing you.”

Victory returns to me and slides into another hug, nuzzling into my neck. It gives me hope that we might be getting closer to knocking down all the damn walls between us.

“I’ll be back soon.” Her smile stops my heart and makes my stomach somersault.

When she leaves, I wish that I could chase after her. But she needs some time with her parents, and the guys brought pizza from my favorite place. The smell is so tantalizing, that I reluctantly follow them into the living room.

“She’s really cleaned up in here,” Gavin points out. “I know it wasn’tyouwho did.”

Hannah and I are both terrible housekeepers, but Victory likes order.

“Yeah, she’s been amazing,” I reply.

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