Victoria stood on her cupola admiring the view of the ocean. Although she missed Dominik, she felt calmer without him. For the first time in her life, she wasn't running. She wasn't afraid of being caught or found out. Her childhood with Marion was unstable at best. And after the birth of Patrick, her life was an endless game of hide and seek. No matter where she hid herself and Patrick, Jimmy Brennan found out. Giving Patrick up had given her a head start on hiding and then she met Dominik. He protected her, but he was a scam artist. Every painting they sold was a chance to be caught. She was always keeping others at arms length, afraid of anyone getting too close.
And now, it was like she was a different person. She wasn't Vicky. She was Victoria. She knew Conrad was curious about her, but he didn't pry. He was happy to talk about her day and hear about Patrick's day. In a way, he let her pretend they were a family. And he was paying her a lot.
Of course, it didn't hurt that she was sleeping with the boss. The minute Patrick was asleep Conrad's attention turned to her. She didn't know how he did it, but he'd be up until the early morning hours every day. She lost count each night, but his stamina never faltered. He couldn't get enough of her and she was addicted to the way he craved her.
"You'll catch cold," Conrad said, surprising her.
She smiled, flashing her dimples. "I think you could easily warm me up," she teased.
"Victoria, I need to talk to you. About Stevie..." he said. He hadn't spoken a word about her the past two weeks and it caught her off guard. "She's not been doing well. I think I have to visit her tomorrow..."
"Not doing well? What does that mean?" She demanded, her tone getting colder with each word.
"She's been begging to come home. To be a family..."
"Oh, a family? After she nearly let your son drown?"
"Our son," he corrected.
"Don't," she growled through clenched teeth.
"She is his mother," he repeated, stepping closer to Victoria. Victoria slapped him hard across the cheek.
Her brown eyes widened. She had never slapped anyone knew she couldn't afford to be fired and unable to see Patrick but she didn't regret it. "She's a poor excuse for a wife and not a mother by any definition," she snarled.
"Enough!" He hissed, but she slapped him again, her body filled with a rage she had never experienced.
He grabbed her, pinning her to the glass door of her balcony. He kissed her, the desperation in his kiss as his hands removed her panties before she knew what was happening. He took her, pushing hard into her as her back pressed against the cold glass. She scratched his chest, drawing blood until there was no rage left. He didn't stop until he knew she had finished. Her body pressed into his, nearly lifeless.
"You need to be tamed, Victoria" he panted, kissing her neck. She nodded weakly as he carried her to bed.
As he placed her in the bed, she let her eyes open a tiny sliver. "Stay with me," she begged.
"Hey, you're trembling," he whispered. "Come here, baby." He let her curl her small body against him as he held her until she slept.
When she woke up, she kissed him softly. "You said you wanted to see Stevie," she whispered, stroking his cheek. "You've got to get up."
He wrapped his arm around her. "I want to stay with you," he smiled without opening his eyes. He nuzzled against her, inhaling her scent. "I love the way you smell."
"You're silly," she giggled.
"Stevie smelled like vomit. Or booze. You smell clean and sexy..."
"We have a little boy who will be up very early," she teased. "Don't get yourself all worked up."
"We have a little boy," he smiled. "I like the way that sounds..." he kissed her nose, making her blush.
"Daddy?" Patrick called, his voice sleepy. Within seconds Conrad entered the room.
"Hey, buddy. Good morning. How'd you sleep?"
"I dreamed about the zoo," he smiled.
"You want to visit the zoo?" Conrad pretended it needed thought, but was already convinced.
"Dad? If I didn't go to the zoo, could I have something else instead?"
"What is it you want?" Conrad asked.
"I want a mommy. A real one. I've decided who I want to ask..."
"Oh? You've picked your own mom?" He chuckled.
"Yeah. 'Toria," he smiled.
"Victoria?"
"I'll ask her and when she says yes, she'll be my mommy." He smiled.
