Disclaimer: Only plots and original characters belong to me.
Also this is the first story in a series of fictions about Kai Parker, but is also a sequel to my story "In The Devil's Lair," which tells the beginning of Kai and Victoria's relationship after they officially get together. And my fiction "Lessons on Love" tells the very beginning of their tale, when they meet, but before they seriously fall in love.
Victoria looked down at her phone as it rang, sighing when she saw who it was, letting it ring several more times before she answered it.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Kai? When a person doesn't answer for that long, some people would take it as a hint!"
"Well, I didn't cause I know all you're doing is trying to ignore me," Kai told her. "And I don't do well with being ignored. You know that!"
"Fine, whatever," Victoria scoffed. "What is it you want? Should I bring the twins over to Adrian and Helene's again? You are still taking advantage of their hospitality, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Kai nodded. "Just like I'm sure that your grandparents like having you around."
"Oh, they really do," Victoria told him. "Grandpa in particular is very happy that I've stepped away from you."
"So what now, then?" Kai asked. "Are you going to let him pick your next boyfriend, or what?"
"Who says I want a new boyfriend?" Victoria asked. "After you, I might just swear off men for a while. That's always an option."
"Come now, Vicky," Kai told her. "Do you really think you'll be able to do that? Don't you need someone to keep your bed warm at night?"
"No," Victoria told him confidently. "I've managed well so far. And even if I did need someone, that's none of your damn business."
"Oh, I think it is," Kai told her. "I'll be waiting for you when you decide you want to come back. Even if it's just for the night, that's okay."
"You don't have any pride, do you?" She asked. "None whatsoever."
"Well, no one could have as much as you, Miss Princess of Original Descent," Kai shot back. "No one."
"And what was your reason for pointing that out?" Victoria questioned. "Was it supposed to offend me?"
"No," Kai replied. "I don't know what that was. So can I expect you tonight?"
"Expect me where?" Victoria wanted to know. "Even if I were desperate enough to come to you for booty calls, which I'm not, where would we do it? Not at Adrian and Helene's, surely."
"Why not?" Kai asked. "It's not like they're prudish or anything. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Or would you rather stop off at a skeevy motel for the night? I didn't think that was your style, but if that's what you want, I'm up for it."
"No," Victoria told him. "That's not what I want, Malachai. I want you to realize why it was that I left you in the first place and try not to behave that way again."
"That might not happen, Vicky," he told her. "You gotta take me as I am. You could do it before. What's changed now."
"I should think it would be obvious," Victoria told him firmly. "Now we have kids."
"And you think I would hurt them?" Kai asked. "That's it, right?"
"Well, no, I guess not," Victoria sighed. "Just…just stop making me try and give you reasons and leave me alone. When I'm tired of being alone, I'll let you know, okay? This is my problem, so I get to decide when it's over, not you."
"Oh, all right," Kai sighed. "When are you bringing the twins over next?"
"That depends," Victoria told him. "Are you going to be around tomorrow?"
"I should be," Kai replied. "Come over around one in the afternoon?"
"Sure," Victoria replied. "See you then."
Although he'd gotten some of what he wanted, Kai growled in frustration when the call ended and threw his phone down on the floor.
"Wow, what the hell happened to you?" Adrian asked, his eyes wide as he came in to get something out of the refrigerator. "Were you just talking to Victoria again? Let me guess: she still hasn't budged."
"Not anymore," Kai told her. "I mean, I get to see the twins, but it's nothing more than that."
"I'm sorry," Adrian told him.
"Thanks," Kai replied and reached into the fridge for another beer. "I'll wear her down eventually, though. I just know it."
"Well, you know I wish you the best of luck with that," Adrian told him.
"Speaking of things that need good luck behind them, how are you handling Helene's new job?" Kai asked. "Are you going to try and talk her out of it?"
"No," Adrian shook his head. "Only an idiot would do that. I've been totally encouraging so far. This is a good thing."
"Wow," Kai nodded. "I honestly had no idea your reaction would be so calm."
"Well, think about it," Adrian said. "If she's busy working for her mom, that'll take up the time she would have used to think about a certain other thing that I'm just not prepared to deal with yet."
"You mean her wanting to have another kid?" Kai asked. As Adrian nodded, he continued, "Speaking of, do you mind if Victoria brings the twins over to visit tomorrow?"
"Sure," Adrian nodded. "I'm really getting used to them. If Helene just gives me some time with them, then by the time she tells me she's pregnant (cause based on past experience, if she wants to have a kid, she'll have a kid, regardless of if I'm completely up for it or not) I'll at least be mentally prepared for said kid."
"That sounds like a smart idea," Kai remarked.
"Thanks," Adrian told him. "Good luck with Victoria."
"I'll need it," Kai told him. "You're such a good friend."
By the time Victoria came to drop the twins off, Helene had already headed to work with her mother, so Victoria was met with just Kai and Adrian showing up at the door.
"Okay, here they are," she said, giving Finn to Kai and Molly to Adrian. "Kai, your uncle said he would come and pick them up, so when you don't see me again, don't be alarmed, all right?"
"You mean, you're not staying?" Kai asked in amazement. "I thought you would be for sure, since you're clearly so worried about my suitability as a parent."
"Well, I was," Victoria admitted, pushing her dark hair out of her eyes and looking to the side. "Then I realized that wasn't fair to you and now I'm trying to practice trust."
"Oh," Kai nodded. "Well…good!"
Victoria turned to go then and just as she reached the door, Adrian purposely spilled the drink he'd been drinking all over Kai's shirt. "You want me to go and wash that for you?" He asked pointedly. "I'll take it right now. Just take it off and give it to me."
Victoria kept her back to them for a few seconds and then turned around. "That was real subtle," she told Adrian as she gazed at her shirtless husband while Finn and Molly both watched them curiously from their seats on the floor. "It was a nice try, I'll give you that."
"I don't think you could only call it a try," Adrian told her. "You turned around and looked, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I'm only humoring you," Victoria replied. "Better luck next time, boys." She left then, a giggle on her lips as Kai stared at her tight blue jeans walking away.
"You can't say we didn't try," Adrian told him apologetically. "I honestly thought it would work."
"I know you did," Kai told him and picked up his daughter. "And it was a good try, believe me."
They then went to amuse the twins who only showed signs of power a time or two and Kai took care of it so quickly that Adrian didn't even have time to flinch. In fact, he hardly even knew it happened.
"Good for you," Kai told him afterward. "Molly almost turned completely invisible and you didn't even bat an eye."
"Did she?" Adrian asked in amazement. "I didn't even notice. Maybe through some miracle, I'm learning to tune it out."
"Could be," Kai replied. "That would be nice for you, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah," Adrian nodded, pushing back his blond hair. "Yeah, it would."
"Victoria told you I was coming to pick up the kids, right?" Malachai asked Kai when he showed up on Adrian and Helene's doorstep.
"Yeah, she did!" Kai assured his uncle. "Come on in! Honestly, I was surprised when she mentioned it, but I really think it was because it's the only way she can keep up this fuss she's making about not wanting to be around me and teaching me a lesson."
"You really think so?" Malachai said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, I do," Kai said resolutely. "How's Renee?"
"She's good," Malachai replied. "We've been trying to get a hold of her daughter all day cause I told her about Sarah and now Renee wants to meet her. But after the shooting, it seems I'm still persona non grata at that house."
"It's not a big problem," Kai told him. "Just because you probably won't see Sarah at Christine's doesn't mean you can't see her somewhere else. Victoria and Christine are good friends and Christine brings Sarah to play with Molly and Finny sometimes. Maybe you could see her then."
"Would Victoria let you know when the play dates are since you and she aren't talking now?" Malachai asked.
"Victoria isn't the only one who can arrange a play date," Kai told him. "I'll set one up soon and then you and Renee can finally meet Sarah. Sound good?"
"Sure," Malachai nodded. "Can't wait."