Victor the Orc

Female Main Character x Male Monster

It was raining as we stepped out of the office building. Looking out from under the awning I could see nothing but dark, ominous clouds ahead of us. Riley tugged at my hand, demanding my attention.

I passed Riley’s hand over to her brother’s. “You two stay right here, okay? I’ll go pull up the car so you don’t have to get wet.”

Gavin held that blank expression as he took hold of Riley’s hand. “Okay.”

“Can’t we just go together?” Riley asked.

I exhaled through my nose. “I just got you those nice, new shoes, I’d like to keep them somewhat nice for a little while.”

Riley remained quiet and started swinging her and her brother’s arm.

“Stay right here, okay? I’m trying to do what Dr. Tara said today. Remember?” I looked into their eyes, each resembling their father’s in a different way. Neither said anything and I felt a certain coldness in my core. “I’ll be right back with the car.” I turned and went out into the gloomy parking lot, getting soaked as I hopped into my car.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly while gripping the steering wheel. In the back seat I saw the duffle bag Gavin used for his class, some empty soda and water bottles, a smattering of old french fries and snacks. I knew I needed to clean the car, but I hadn’t been able to since-

I had to get the kids!

I drove up to the front of the office building and my stomach sank. Gavin was exactly where he needed to be, but Riley was off to the side stomping in muddy puddles. I hopped out of the car as quick as I could, rushing towards Riley who didn’t stop despite my presence.

“What are you doing? Riley! I told you stay under the awning with your brother!” I snapped at her.

Riley just looked up at me, her shoes and pants both soaked and muddy. “You said to stay here.”

I looked over at Gavin who only gave me a small shrug. “I don’t want to be late for Mr. Victor’s class,” he said.

I frowned and quickly picked up Riley. “You’re in so much trouble young lady. You’re going to do chores until those shoes are paid for!”

“No!” She screamed and pushed against me, fighting me as I forced her into the car. Gavin got into the front seat quietly, putting on his seatbelt and sitting there in stony silence while I got Riley buckled and took off her shoes and socks.

I was frazzled, soaked, and muddy as i got back behind the driver’s wheel. I turned and looked down at Gavin, grateful he was mindful, but angry at his indifference. I wanted to stop and break down sobbing then and there, but I had to get Gavin to his class or I’d be facing something much worse.

The ballet studio wasn’t far from home. I could get Gavin to class then hurry up and get Riley home to clean her up and hopefully save her shoes. It was coming down harder as we pulled up, and before I could even say anything, Riley threw open the door and ran from the car.

“Young lady!” I yelled after her, lunging from the car and chasing her.

Riley screamed and laughed, rushing around the parking lot. Meanwhile, Gavin had gotten his things and was rushing towards the front door of the ballet studio.

I was cold, soaked to the bone, and beyond fed up with Riley. She had been doing so well, and the past week she was acting out again like before.

“Whoa there!” A heavily accented voice called out and laughed. “What’s this then? A water sprite? Or some sort of ghoul?”

I walked out from behind a car to see Riley being held up in the air. She was giggling and hissing at the man holding her.

“Oh-” I gasped and slouched down. “Victor, thank you!”

The great orc before me was Gavin’s ballet instructor. He happily set Riley on his shoulders. “Come inside, Ms. Adrian, I’ve got coffee in my office.” He offered out his hand, seeming to not notice Riley kicking her legs against him.

“Riley,” I snapped at her.

She stopped and ducked her head down against Victor’s.

“Easy now, easy, both of you are wet and not in your right minds. Right?” Victor put his arm around my shoulders in such a way that I felt as if I could stand tall again.

Gavin was already doing stretches with some of the other students, barely noticing us as we came in. Victor took Riley and I to his office. He set Riley down then went to a cabinet where he pulled out some towels.

“Why don’t you have a seat, Ms. Adrian?” He offered. “Once Riley gets dried off I can set her down in the karate class next door where my sister in law teaches.” He brushed his long auburn hair back from his face.

“Karate?” Riley perked up, her big brown eyes looking too much like her father’s.

Victor knelt down before Riley, placing the towel around her. “Yes! She just started a whole new class for kids your age. Get dry and she might let you join. Yes?”

“She has not deserved it today,” I said sternly, peeling off my soaked through cardigan.

The hurt in her eyes stabbed me like a knife, twisting and wrenching deeper inside me until I felt I might vomit. I was so angry with her, but much like Gavin, I would do anything for her.

“Maybe not today,” Victor interjected. He stood up, patting Riley’s towel covered head. “But maybe, if she feels it, she can earn it tomorrow?”

Riley ran up to me, and for the first time in a week, she actually hugged me. “Please, Mommy?” She said with that simpering pout she’s had since she was a baby.

I took as deep a breath as I could.

“I’ll give you an hour to think about it,” Victor said.

I gave him a look, stern but forgiving. I knelt down and put my hands on Riley’s arms. “You have to work with me, Riley,” I said gently. “Before this week I would have said yes right away. But right now, I’m going to have to think about it, okay? Be a good girl for this class, and help me clean tomorrow, and I consider it.”

Riley put her arms around my neck. “I will, Mommy. I’m sorry, Mommy.”

I held the lump in my throat and patted her back. “Alright, go along with Mr. Victor. I’ll expect a good report from the karate instructor when you’re done.”

“Come on, little ghoul, I’ll take you right over!” Victor took Riley’s hand and led her out.

I took a deep breath and sat down on Victor’s couch. I rubbed my hands together then held them over my face. The office door was open, so I kept my cries quiet. I held back the loud sobbing I wanted to let out. This last week had been so hard, and I had thought after all these months we were finally making some headway. But it felt like everything was crumbling again.

I heard the door creak and I sat up erected, quickly cleaning myself up. Victor keep the door ajar as he stood there. He looked down at me sympathetically, those dark yet soft eyes of his made me want to cry even more.

“It’s alright there, Addie,” he murmured. “Cry all you want.” he tied back his hair into a ponytail as he approached a counter that had a coffee pot and various drinks on it. He went and fixed me a cup of coffee then sat down beside me.

I shook my head, gazing down into the deep, brown liquid. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He put his hand on my back just between my shoulders. “Gavin told me it’s been a hard week at the house.”

I furrowed my brow. “At least he talks to you.”

Victor’s smile was soft and kind, it did help to ease my tensions. “I think he doesn’t want to bother you.”

I took a sip of the coffee. Somehow, Victor always made the absolute best coffee. “I don’t know anymore,” I murmured. “Sometimes I feel so distant from him, from Riley.” Tears welled up again.

Victor was quiet, he nodded and glanced out the crack in the door where his assistant was going through stretches with the students. “Gavin said you usually went on a vacation around this time of year. Do you have anything planned?”

I had totally forgotten. Usually we had a huge vacation planned with the kids right when school was ending. “No-,” I murmured. “I’ve been so…” I trailed off.

“Well,” Victor started with a heavy sigh. “Maybe talk to the kids, see what they’d like to do. If not, the beginner karate classes last all summer, then you could sign Riley up for another class. Gavin is doing well in mine, and there will be a recital this summer to look forward to.”

I nodded. “How is he doing?”

“As far as I can tell, wonderfully.” Victor smiled at me. “I think he likes me.”

That was a huge relief. “Well, his father is an orc, so that probably helps.” I looked out the door, seeing Gavin on the polished floor. He had on a smile, and I couldn’t have been more excited to see it.

Victor’s strong hand circled around my back. “I know how hard it is for him. My father passed when I was around his age too. I never thought there was any purpose in that until I started teaching kids, and especially when I first met your son.”

I couldn’t have been more grateful for Victor’s presence. The last few months Gavin had been taking his class I had seen remarkable improvement, small but remarkable. Victor had better insight into this than I did and he had been a comfort for both Gavin and I, which allowed me more patience with Riley.

“How long did your grief last?” I asked him.

“To this day.” There was sorrow in his voice. “Grief never goes away, Addie, you just sort of get used to it existing in your life. Some days it doesn’t hurt, other days it does.” he glanced down at me with those gentle eyes. “It’s like a box with a ball inside.” He held his hands close together, rounding out his palms. “The ball starts out big and touches all sides.” He pulled his hands out. “Over time the ball shrinks and it doesn’t touch the walls as much. But, as it rolls around and hits the walls, it hurts just as much as it did in the beginning.”

My breath shuddered and I forced myself to not start crying. “What did you do to make the ball shrink?”

“Time,” he murmured. He then looked out at his class. “I put myself fully into ballet. A little too much at times.” He clapped his hand down on his leg. “That is why I teach now,” he said with a melancholic chuckle.

I smiled at him. “Thank you, Victor. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you.” I sniffled and took another sip of coffee. “You mean the world to Gavin.”

Victor stood with a grunt. “You can stay here as long as you need, Addie. You’ve got a whole hour to yourself.” He took my wet cardigan and hung it over the back of a chair. He closed the door behind him as he left.

I took in a long, deep breath that stretched my lungs until they ached. I let it out slowly, slowly, slowly, keeping myself mindful like Dr. Tara had taught me. I went back to the coffee pot, refilling my cup then looking over the pictures hung up on the wall behind it.

Victor’s ballet class was the last thing I expected my son to take any sort of interest in. But it had been the first thing that seemed to make him excited outside of cooking. I had been all too happy to do what I could for him too. In the beginning I don’t think it was so much the ballet as it was Victor. Seeing an orc around the same size as his father I think is what drew Gavin to the class. Now, Gavin is fully obsessed with anything and everything ballet. He studies it, watches youtube videos about it, reads, draws, sings about it. He’s not comfort eating like he was too, which had gotten out of hand a while ago and led me to Dr. Tara in the first place.

My phone rang as I drifted off looking at the pictures. I fished it out of my pocket, and realized I had forgotten my sister in law was coming over today!

“Caty! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay, I was just worried,” Caty said. “I can start cleaning the bathroom for you if you’re on your way.”

I huffed and sat down. “I’m still at the ballet studio.”

“With the stud?” I could hear her keys jangling as she unlocked the door.

“Caty,” I groaned.

She chuckled and I heard that door squeak. “Is everything alright?”

I huffed. “Yes and no.”

“Where’s Riley? I can come get her if you want.”

I was so grateful to Caty. She was the only family my husband had left, and she’d been my rock throughout all of this.

“She’s at a karate class,” I sighed. “Victor’s given the other half of the studio to his sister in law.”

“That’s good,” Caty said. “Karate seems right up Riley’s alley right now.”

I remained quiet.

“How was therapy?” She asked quietly.

“I’m not even sure anymore,” I huffed. “Did I take anything out and put it in the sink?”

Caty chuckled. “Don’t change the subject on me. And no.”

“Fuck,” I growled out loud.

“Chill, chill, I’ll order some pizzas and fish out your secret bottle of wine.”

My mind went rigid. “My what?”

“The bottle you keep in the trash bag box,” she said.

I grumbled under my breath. “I hid it because Gavin was trying to use it to cook with,” I explained.

“It’s okay. Trust me. I’m more surprised it wasn’t a hidden bottle of tequila.”

I rested back on the sofa. “I forgot about our vacation.”

“You think that’s why Riley’s been a little extra this last week?” Caty asked.

It hadn’t clicked until Victor said anything. “I guess so. We usually start talking about it around their spring break. I guess that routine was more important than I realized.”

“We’ll figure it out, but maybe the stud’s karate classes will give her something she can vent with.”

“It’s not the stud’s class,” I huffed. “And stop calling him that.”

“He’s fucking hot. I’m surprised you haven’t gotten some pity nookie yet.”

I went cold and hot all at once. The temperatures flashed through my body and gnawed away at my gut. “Don’t say that.”

“You’re allowed to like people,” Caty’s gentle voice soothed some of the guilt in my stomach. “My brother wouldn’t want you and the kids to stay alone forever. You told me you liked the stud.”

The guilt came roaring back, making me regret that second serving of coffee. Yes, I did like Victor, I liked him a lot. But it felt like I was betraying my husband.

“His name is Victor,” I fussed at her.

“Adrian.” The way she said my name reminded me of her brother. “It’s okay, I promise. You can like him, or can even fall in love with him, just do what’s best for you and those kids.”

“That sounds so impossible,” I said. I then shook my head. “Falling in love. Not the whole doing what’s best thing.”

Caty chuckled. “Look, I’m going to go scrub your tub and toilet, order some pizza, and then reward myself with some wine . I’ll be here to talk when you get home. Love you, sis.”

“Love you too. Thank you.” I hung up the phone as the door opened again.

Victor poked in his head and smiled. “Are you alright?”

I smiled back at him and my heart was going wild in my chest. “As good as can be expected,” I sighed.

He stepped inside and took a box of mini water bottles and passed it over to his assistant. “Kids are taking a breather, figured I’d look in on the karate class.”

A wary look crossed my face and I went still.

“Riley is having the time of her life,” Victor reassured me.

I exhaled. “Good!” I held my face in my palms.

Victor sat back down with me. “Now you have an hour each day for yourself if you want it, Addie.”

I nodded, chewing on my thumbnail for a moment. Being near him was a tidal wave of emotions. Sometimes it was overwhelming.

“I may be overstepping here,” he murmured. “But uhm…my old troupe has a performance coming up at the Palmyre Theater. They gave me tickets for opening night. It would be a dressy affair but uhm…it could be fun for you and the kids.”

His expression was pensive and he was fidgeting with his big hands. He gave an awkward smile then quickly looked back down at his hands.

“That would have to be an overnight thing,” I murmured. “Surely you’d rather go with someone else than deal with me and my children.”

“I adore…Gavin,” he seemed to hesitate. “And I like the little ghoul just fine. I also can tolerate you very much,” he teased.

My smile brightened and I leaned closer to him. “I know Gavin would enjoy it. I don’t know about Riley though.”

Victor nodded, understanding the situation. “It’d be a small trip, but maybe she would enjoy that.”

“She loves car trips,” I murmured.

“Think about it,” Victor said as he stood back up. “I would rather enjoy that evening with you and your family than anyone else.”

I could have cried buckets. “Why us?”

Victor just smiled. “Because I’ve been in your place before.” he turned to look out the door then back at me. “Just think about it, okay Addie?”

I sniffled and nodded. “Thanks, I…I will.”

That evening Riley could only talk about karate, she excitedly showed kicks and tried to do flips. She even insisted we watch all the Karate Kid movies in one go. Luckily, Caty was able to get her to go to bed.

I allowed Gavin to stay up a later, as long as he was in his room. As I passed by his door that evening, I saw him lying in bed and looking at a book.

I knocked on his door frame, standing there until he acknowledged me. “Going to bed?” he asked me.

“Almost, can I come in?”

He nodded.

I stepped inside, sitting down beside Gavin on his bed and smiling at him. “I have something I want to discuss with you.”

His expression shifted and he became tense. “What about? Is everything okay?”

I quickly nodded to reassure him. “Oh! Of course, everything is fine. Mr. Victor just offered to take us to a performance by his old troupe.”

I hadn’t seen Gavin’s eyes light up like they did in so long. “Really?”

I placed my hand over his. “It would be an overnight trip, just the four of us. I just wanted to make sure you’d want to go before I made it certain.”

Gavin’s brow pinched. “All four?”

“You, me, your sister, and Mr. Victor.”

Gavin sat back and tried to cover the frown on his face. “Mom-” his voice cracked.

I squeezed his hand. “Yes?”

“Do you still love dad?” he asked with a hushed voice.

My chest ached and a painful lump grew in my throat. “I will always love your father, Gavin.”

“But…” Gavin looked away from me to his wall then down at his hands and then at my hand. “You like Mr. Victor too, don’t you?”

I was taken off guard. “I-” My mouth flopped opened and closed like a fish for a second. I had to laugh then I pressed my lips into a firm line. “Of course I like him. He’s been so wonderful to you, to us.”

Gavin looked into my eyes. “But do you like him like Dad?”

My shoulders slouched. “Are you worried about something?” He gently brushed his hair out of his face. He looked so much like his father. They had the same face shape, same plump bottom lip, same slightly outturned tusks.

“I don’t know,” he murmured. “I just like when you’re around him.”

“Baby…” I choked up and swallowed that lump in my throat. “You and your sister are always going to be my first priority. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Then who will?” He asked.

My mouth hung open and I slowly closed it.

Tears began welling up in Gavin’s eyes. “Dad told me to take care of you-”

I grabbed him up in my arms, hugging him tight. “You never told me that.”

Gavin hugged onto me tight, hiding his tears against my shoulder. “I like Mr. Victor…you look happy around him. I just…” He hiccuped. “I just…I just don’t want you to forget Dad!”

I pulled back and held his face between my hands. “How can I forget him when you look exactly like him?” I smiled through tears. “You and Riley have his eyes, so I get to see him everyday. I will never ever forget your father as long as I have you two.”

Gavin hiccuped and tears rolled down his cheeks. He grabbed me for a hug again, holding me until he fell asleep in my arms. I held him a bit longer, tucked him into bed and turned off his lights.

The next morning I dropped the kids off at school and drove by Victor’s studio to talk to him. I had never been inside when the studio was empty and most of the lights were off, but I could hear music coming from his office.

I knocked on the wall by his door. “Victor, it’s Adrian, can I come in?”

The music quieted. “Of course!” Victor appeared there suddenly. “What a surprise, Addie. Come in.” He stepped aside to let me in.

“I talked to Gavin last night about the ballet you invited us to, he’s very excited about it.” I smiled at him, suddenly feeling a twitch inside me that made me lace my fingers together and bite on the inside of my cheek.

His brow pursed despite his smile. “That’s good. I figured since you came in person there was something wrong.” He motioned towards his coffee pot. “Would you like a cup?”

“Yes, please,” I chuckled and took a seat on the sofa. “I probably could have called or texted. But…Gavin said something last night and I uh…I feel I owe it to you to tell you.”

Victor handed me the coffee and sat down beside me on the sofa. “I think I know what it is,” he murmured.

I held the warm cup in both hands. “You do?”

He clicked his tongue and sighed. “He’s made a few…comments.”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“He’s asked me several times if I like you, which of course I do, Addie.” he swallowed and scratched at his chest. “He’s said things like…isn’t Mom pretty today? Mom’s perfume smells really good. Mom said you looked really handsome.”

My cheeks flushed and I glanced away. “How long has he been doing this?”

“Just the past two months I’d say.”

I nodded along, chewing on my lip as I tried to form my thoughts into a single line. “He told me…he says I look happy around you, and he wants someone to take care of me.” I looked into his dark eyes, realizing there was a hint of blue to them. “He’s worried about me.”

Victor took in a deep breath, holding it in his barreled chest. “You have an amazing son, Addie.”

I beamed with pride. “I know.” I reached over, taking Victor’s hand. “You mean the world to him.”

Victor squeezed my hand back, rubbing his thumb along my knuckles. “I do care about you, Addie. But I don’t want to intrude into your family.”

My heart was pounding in my throat. “Oh-” I was breathless.

“You’re a strong, beautiful woman, I won’t lie about that.” He then brushed his fingertips along my face, tucking my hair back behind my ear. “Your son didn’t need to tell me that.”

I kissed him out of desperation, out of uncontrollable forces. It felt so good, so needed that I couldn’t stop myself. Victor gently pushed me back and looked into my eyes deeply. I held my breath until he placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Slowly,” he whispered.

I sniffled. “Slowly.”

I bought a new dress to wear to the ballet. I’d not worn something so fancy in ages and I’d started watching what I ate to make sure I could still fit into it when the night arrived. Riley also picked out a new dress and Gavin got a nice suit for the event. Victor got us rooms to stay in, and we had secretly extended the trip so we could take the kids to a theme park nearby, then to the mall for early school shopping. It wasn’t the usual vacation we had taken before, but it would be something for them to enjoy.

The tension between Victor and I had only grown. We agreed to take things as they came, but now that our feelings were out in the open everything was raw and unreal. I’d not felt so timid dating since I was a girl, and I noticed there was a certain boyish nervousness to Victor now as well.

We had gone on a few lunch dates, nothing big really. We were, or at least I was, just dipping my toe into the water.

The day of the ballet, we drove down early, letting the kids nap before we got ready for the big show. I got the kids dressed and for the first time in a long, long time I did my makeup and put on the dress.

“You’re so pretty, Mommy,” Riley said in awe.

I smiled at her. “You think so?” I looked myself over in the mirror. “You don’t think I look silly?”

Riley shook her head. “You look like a princess.”

I knelt down and beamed at her. “You’re not trying to suck up are you?” I teased.

Riley giggled. “No!”

I kissed her then rubbed off the lipstick. “Would you like some of Mommy’s highlighter?”

“Yes please!” Riley jumped excitedly as I reached for the makeup palette. I dusted some of the highlight onto her cheeks when there was a knock on the door.

“Mom! It’s Mr. Victor!” Gavin called.

“Let him in.” I added some blush to Riley’s cheeks then smiled. “There you go. That’s a real princess.”

Riley posed before the mirror as I walked out. I saw Victor standing there in his tuxedo talking to Gavin and helping him with his tie. He stood, turning around and his expression changed so drastically. I felt embarrassed until I saw the light in his eyes.

“Addie…wow,” he breathed.

I smoothed down the front of my dress, covering my belly with my hand. “Is it that bad? Riley was gassing me up.”

Victor shook his head. “No. I mean…you look amazing.”

There was a lightness to my bosom as he looked at me. It had been so long since I had felt so womanly. Victor’s eyes grazed down my body before quickly averting them back to my face.

“Am I pretty too?” Riley came running from the bathroom.

“Of course!” Victor chortled. “So, are you all ready for the show?”

The kids cheered and I just smiled. I watched Victor, seeing how well he was with the kids. Gavin stayed close to him all night, and he even held Riley’s hand when we crossed the street to the car.

At the theater, he took us backstage to meet his old friends before the show. Gavin was awestruck, and Riley was surprisingly shy and quiet. She blushed anytime one of the dancers walked by her.

“You always said you wanted a milf, Victor!” I overheard one of his friends say.

“You haven't grown up a lick have you?” Victor huffed. “Addie doesn’t need to hear that tonight.”

“She’s your type, you can’t deny that,” someone else said. “You’re not going to do better than her, trust me.”

I approached Victor and the boyish talk hushed. He turned, smiling awkwardly. “We should be getting to our seats now,” he said.

I smirked at him, calling the kids to us.

We had box seats pretty much to ourselves, so the kids sat before us while Victor and I sat together behind them.

“I’m sorry if you heard anything back there,” he whispered. “This may be ballet, but it can still be a locker room.”

I smiled at him. “I didn’t realize I was a milf.”

Victor growled and rubbed at his face.

I patted his knee. “It’s okay.”

“Mom! It’s starting!” Gavin said excitedly.

Victor’s hand slipped into mine and he squeezed it tight. “You need to be quiet now, kids,” he said.

Riley fell asleep during the show, but Gavin couldn’t take his eyes away from the stage. Which allowed Victor and I to cuddle a bit. It started with hand holding, then touching shoulders. Eventually, Victor put his arm around me and a warmth grew through my body.

Once the performance was over, we headed back to the hotel. Riley was fast asleep the entire time, and Gavin fell asleep on the way back. I tucked them into bed and was getting ready to shower when my phone chimed.

“I don’t want to knock and wake the kids,” Victor texted.

I stepped out into the hallway with Victor, a shy smile on my face. “Is everything alright?” I asked.

“Yes, of course, I just…well since the kids are asleep and everything. I was wondering if you’d like to share a glass of wine with me?”

My heart was bouncing around inside my chest hard enough to crack concrete. “That might be nice. Just a quick glass though.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

I followed him to his room, which was right next door. Inside the lights were off, save for a few electric candles scattered about the room. He had moved the small table to the center where there were roses in a vase as well as the wine. Classical music quietly filled the room along with the scent of the roses.

I raised my hand to my mouth. “Oh!”

Victor took my hand, kissing my palm and wrist. “I know this is difficult for you, Addie. But I thought, just tonight, I could give you something beautiful.”

I kissed him, soft at first, but growing in intensity as it went on. I moaned as our lips parted and I gazed into those beautiful eyes of his.

“It’s wonderful,” I whispered.

Victor led me over to the table, opening up the wine and pouring it into a paper cup. “I couldn’t find anything fancy.”

“I’m fine with this,” I giggled. I sipped the wine, finding it much better than my bottle I kept hidden at home. “It’s good.”

Victor held up his cup to toast. “To more possibilities.”

I tapped my cup with his. “What kind of possibilities are you thinking of?”

He huffed after a drink. “Whatever ones I can have. Whatever there is out there.” He shrugged. “Right now, all that matters is what this night brings.”

I looked at the roses, glowing in the light of the electric candles. I smiled dreamily, sipping more wine and relishing in how wonderful this all felt.

“I wanted real candles but uh…thought it might be risky in a hotel,” he chuckled shyly.

“Shh, it’s perfect.”

Victor downed his whole cup in one swing then stood up and offered me his hand. “Would you care to dance?”

“I would love to.” I stood, letting him put his arms around me. We were still dressed in our finery from the ballet, and I truly did feel like a princess then.

We swayed together with the music, eventually I laid my head upon his chest. Slowly we stopped dancing and we just held one another. The embrace turned charged and I looked up into his eyes. We kissed, and that charge sparked and courses through my body.

I wanted him, and I had not wanted in so long.

I couldn’t reach the zipper on my dress, but Victor could. My dress fell from my shoulders and Victor caught his breath. I saw my dress laying on the floor with Victor’s tux as he kissed down my body.

I was crying, but I wanted him to keep going. I felt him below, kissing between my thighs, tasting me, awakening me.

I felt his weight upon me and I clung to him in desperation. I was drifting at sea and he was pulling me back to shore.

“Don’t stop,” I begged him.

“I wasn’t,” he breathed. “I want you, Addie.”

“Take me, please,” I whimpered. “I need this. I need you.” We kissed hungrily as his body pressed even closer.

I lost my breath as I felt him inside me. I clung to his shoulders, breathing erratic as he began to move. He felt so good inside, so deep and warm. I moaned with his thrusts, his strong body hovering over mine. His strong hands touched every inch of me. His deep voice tickled through my body when he moaned against my neck.

I felt safe and loved in his arms. My body was rocked by his powerful thrusts, but I felt lighter than air. I wasn’t sure if this was right, but I needed it. I needed Victor so badly.

I woke up sometime in the night, knees weak but body fulfilled. I snuck off and got a shower. As warm water rushed down my skin I let a few tears of relief fall as well. I smiled, feeling assured this was supposed to happen.

When I came out of the bathroom in a robe, I found Victor sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked at me expectantly and I smiled at him.

“I should head back before the kids wake up.”

“I know,” he murmured.

I went to him, kissing him. “Tonight was wonderful,” I whispered. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

He touched my cheek. “I’m so happy, Addie.”

The fire in me wasn’t put out. As soon as his skin grazed me it billowed up inside me again. “Me too,” I kissed him and went back to my room. I put on my sleep clothes then crawled into bed beside Riley. I smiled as I watched my children sleep, slowly fading to the lingering feeling of Victor’s skin touching mine.