Chapter 10) Breakfast With Mad

The feeling of warm breath against the back of her neck and a cinching arm around her waist brought Vic out of her unusually restful sleep. “I could wake up like this every morning.” Max whispered with a sleepy crackle to his voice and although Vic’s body became instantly rigid as she sucked air in through her nose she didn’t move. “Max.” she whispered, as her eyes began to adjust to the dim light of the early morning. Max pressed his nose into the back of her neck and grumbled something as Vic slowly rolled to her back so she could look at him. “Max.” she repeated, with a little more seriousness in her voice. He made a sound that reminded Vic of a grumpy puppy as his nose traveled from the back of her neck to the soft flesh of her ear lobe. “Vic.” he whispered back, and her body immediately responded in an eruption of goosebumps and promising trembles, no matter how hard she tried to remain still. Max’s nose moved from its playful nuzzle against her ear and he slowly drug the soft tip up her cheek, “I really want to kiss you.” he whispered so softly Vic blushed at the vulnerability in his little confession.

She turned her head to the side and licked her lips. “You should.” she answered softly. Max popped himself up on an elbow, letting his thick golden blonde curls bounce around his face as another wide-eyed smile broke out over his entire face. Vic giggled at the playfulness of his facial expression. “Better hurry before I change my mind.” she whispered, and Max wasted no more time. His honest and sweet blue eyes searched her face as he slowly leaned down and pressed his warm lips to hers. Vic turned into Max and was pleasantly surprised when he didn’t try to position himself on top of her any more than the current hover. He didn’t try to push the direction of the kiss. Vic wasn’t’ sure who began moving first but suddenly their lips parted as their tongues began to dance back and forth in a sweet, shared discovery. Max moaned low in his throat as Vic pushed up into him, grazing his tongue with her teeth. The arm still cradling Vic flexed and jerked as the fingers on Max’s free hand began to dance across her stomach, his warm hand was almost as seductive as the way he tasted. As the tips of his index and middle finger dipped beneath her hips and began to skim the top of her panties, Vic snatched his wondering digits and began to flex them in a painfully unnatural position.

The slightly unexpected agony in his fingers had Max gasping. Instead of ending the kiss, Vic thrust her head and tongue upwards into Max’s mouth as far as she could before clamping his bottom lip between her teeth and sucking on it until gravity popped it free as she laid her head back on the pillow. “That’s far enough unless you want them broken.” she whispered, and for a few moments Max didn’t move but neither did Vic. After a few minutes, both parties let small grins play at their mouths. Max wiggled his fingers the best he could in her iron grip. “Ok, ok. Ease up baby, itchy trigger finger. What can I say?” he purred and winked. Vic released Max’s hand and covered her face with her palm as she began to laugh. “You can say you’re sorry for starters.” she teased and was surprised when Max cocked his head and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m sorry I ended our sweet morning wakeup call with greedy hands. I promise to play nice.” he said and Vic bit her lip trying not to blush. 

Vic had been with men from all walks of life and none of them had ever made her feel this feminine and exposed before. “Good boy.” she teased and began to pat his head when Max turned his face into her hand and began to feather small sensual kisses up and down her wrist and arm. As Vic began to giggle and wiggle, the overly dramatic sound of a man clearing his throat snapped both Max and Vic’s attention toward the now open door. Rowan’s body clouded most of the light from the hall from entering the room as he leaned against the door frame. “When you are done tongue fucking my friend, Rocco wants that tight ass up and ready to brief before we meet with the boss for breakfast.” he all but growled at Vic and turned away, marching down the hall.  Vic covered her eyes with both hands and began to rub them so hard she could see colors flash behind her lids until Max’s soft lips once again ran over her hands like small warm butterflies. “Great, I made an enemy already,” she groaned and sat up, swinging her legs out of the bed and dislodging Max’s arm from around her.

Max jumped out of bed and Vic giggled again as the sight of his wild blonde curls and light blue checkered pajama pants screamed anything but deadly. “Ro doesn’t hate you baby doll. He just isn’t good with new people and he’s a little territorial of me. We grew up together.” Max explained and offered Vic an outstretched hand. “May I escort the deadliest creature in this room to freshen up before breakfast?” he asked in a ridiculous accent Vic couldn’t place. “Lead the way golden retriever boy.” she chirped and as she placed her hand in his, Max flung her to her feet and began to follow her out the door. The moment she passed him, Max took the opportunity to swing his palm forward and land it flat against the lush meat of her butt causing Vic to squeal and backhanded Max in the chest. “What the fuck, Max?!” she laughed with a slight blush, and he shrugged as his eyes roamed up and down her bare legs. “You wanna put some pants on or run around in those fuck me panties all morning?” he asked, and Vic looked down at herself, realizing she was wearing only a shirt and her underwear.

She stood for a moment thinking about what the right decision was and after a minute she shook her head, “No thanks, Max. Everyone seems to run around the common area’s comfortably, so I plan to do the same.” she chirped and leaned forward to give him a small kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry Maxie, I won’t kiss other boys.” she whispered, then skipped away from him a few steps.     Max reached down to adjust the ever-thickening erection behind his thin checkered pants and glared at Vic playfully as he pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Bathroom is the next door on the right. Roc already made sure you have towels and a toothbrush if you need it.” he said, and Vic blew him a kiss. “Just need to grab my bag and I’m good.” she said as she ran past Max back into the bedroom before leaping back into the bathroom and closing the door.

Rocco stood on the front porch of the cabin with his jaw set in a tense almost rhythmic tic as Rowan did another twenty-five push-ups trying not to growl and bitch about what was taking the love birds so long. The front door opened, and Vic emerged with her wet hair pulled into two tight braids, one on each side of her head. She was wearing a sleeveless, steel grey polyester shirt that fit snug against her every curve; revealing every breath she took as it disappeared beneath her slightly faded, black, high-waist jeans.  Rocco didn’t realize how captivated he had been with her until Max flew out behind her with the signature infectious grin spread across his smug face. “Ready and willing.” he chirped, tugging down on his sweater.             Rocco curled his lip and the tick in his jaw caused his face to morph slightly with his growing anger. He opened his mouth to speak but was slightly shellshocked when Rowan’s large body flew into Max, slamming the leaner man against the wall. Rowan had both hands wrapped in Max’s sweater, revealing a small portion of his white undershirt and a flash of skin as Rowan tightened his hold, bunching the material in his hands. Vic looked over her shoulder at Max and Rowan and then snapped around to stare at Rocco, who stood as unmoving as a marble statue. Vic couldn’t make out what Rowan and Max were whispering to one another but every time Max answered in a hushed voice Rowan slammed him against the wall again. She made a move to interfere after about the fifth time Max’s shoulders slammed into the wall and Rocco stepped in her way. He looked off into the distance but spoke directly to her. “You will not interfere; your first training lesson has begun and if you fail, I will throw you out on your ass just like any new meat. The fact that you are indebted to the Volkov family means fuck all to me, do you understand?” Rocco barked and Vic squared her shoulders but nodded. “Good.” Rocco grunted. “Follow me.” He snapped and spun on his heel before marching down the steps of the porch and started out over the open compound.

Vic felt like she was chasing Rocco as she followed. The man took long swift steps and although he was not that much taller than her, he seemed to have the stride of a twelve-foot speed walker. “Is cardio before breakfast usually the way you break in the new guy?” she offered jokingly. Rocco spun around, sticking his thick index finger in her face. “No, this is not how I train members of our team, because you are not a member of our team. You are a side project the boss wants for Maddie, there’s a difference. Now hurry up.” He hissed through his teeth and as he pivoted back around to take off, Vic grabbed the inside of his elbow and spun him around. “I didn’t fuck Max if that’s why you’re pissed.” she blurted out. She thought she had smoothed over the tension until Rocco leaned in so close that she could see his pupils flex in time with the returned tick in his jaw. “What the fuck are you talking about?” He hissed through clenched teeth and suddenly Vic began to chew her bottom lip with the worry that she might be getting Max in trouble somehow. “It’s nothing.” She rolled her eyes but when Rocco only exhaled his vocal agitation, she panicked and continued. “I just assumed Rowan ran crying wolf because he walked in to Max’s room and we were, well, we weren’t doing anything but we were in the same bed and he was touching my hand.” she rambled just before Rocco waved his hands in front of her face, “Rowan didn’t tell me shit except that you were going to be late. He was right by the way.” Rocco said impatiently before he took a slight step backwards and let his eyes roam up and down Vic’s body. “I don’t see what takes you over half an hour to wash. You aren’t that big anywhere.” he mumbled before turning on his heel and again marching toward the main house.     

Vic’s mouth hung open as her brain struggled to form a thought that wasn’t to laugh and piss Rocco off more. Vic started a light jog trying to catch up with Rocco and it dawned on her that there had not been an agreed time to meet this morning. Vic slowed herself to a stroll as the back of Volkov’s main house sat a few hundred yards ahead. To her right was an absurdly ornate marble fountain complete with man-made pond with koi fish that led up a U-shaped set of matching marble steps that stretched out over the patio and seemed to seamlessly slither under the walls made of glass and into the mammoth home.  Vic could see Rocco and Volkov just inside the glass smiling at one another before Madelena ran up and wrapped her arms around Rocco, kissing him affectionately on the cheek. Vic smiled at the small glimpse of family life and was caught off guard when an enormous hand wrapped around her mouth from behind just before another one clamped around her waist and pulled tight.

Vic had less than five seconds to act. Instead of attempting to cry out for help, she dropped her weight as quickly as she could, letting her legs fall limp. Her assailant grunted but did not release her. Vic picked her legs up and braced one foot on a protruding section of ornate marble before trying to twist her body out of the grasp holding her so tight she was sure her ribs would bruise. Rowan grunted as Vic’s small but muscular frame fought him like a rabid bobcat. The feel of her tight but feminine curves as they pushed and flexed tightly against him had Rowan wanting to squeeze her tighter for more than just the purpose of testing her surprise reflex. The all-too-familiar feeling caused Rowan to immediately release Vic, and she fell forward onto her hands and knees with an unceremonious grunt.  “You didn’t call for help.” he barked as Vic immediately whipped around and stood in a crouched position, her muscles taught and ready to strike. “What the fuck are you doing?” she spat breathlessly, and Rowan shrugged as he trotted up the steps ahead of her. “Testing your fight or flight. You saw the boss and Rocco so if you yelled out then maybe they could help you.” he said, and Vic’s jaw tensed as she swallowed her strangled pride.  “Why the hell would I call out to my boss for help if some fuck knuckle got the drop on this entire compound?” Vic demanded as she followed Rowan up the steps and onto the patio.

Rowan did not answer her, he only shrugged and slipped between two of the sliding glass partitions. Vic let an irritated breath hiss out through her nose just as a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Vic grabbed the hand and instantly spun around, fisting a handful of sweater with her free hand before she realized it was Max’s charming smile on the other end. “Max.” Vic said in a relieved sigh before she caught sight of the red and swelling side of his face.  Vic reached up with soft fingers and gently touched the bottom of Max’s jaw, she was almost surprised when Max allowed her to gently inspect the area. “Did Rowan do this?” she asked, and Max nodded with a small smile before he cupped her hand and pressed it to his cheek. “Don’t worry baby. You can kiss it better after breakfast.” he said with a slight pout and Vic rolled her eyes. “You should probably give up Maxie melt, or you could end up with two black eyes.” she said with a slight giggle. Max stepped in so close his chest rubbed against the very edge of Vic’s, causing her nipples to peak, as if her body were reaching for his attention.

Max let a low seductive moan escape his throat as he leaned into Vic’s ear, “Would you let me pet that pretty pussy if he had?” Vic swallowed and tried to think of something to say, anything. But between the subtle feel of Max’s body against hers and the memory of his soft kiss this morning, her brain was completely short circuited. Max smiled and gave Vic a peck on the cheek. “Breakfast is served baby, let’s go before Rocco starts yelling about-,” Just as Max was about to finish his sentence the sound of a single shrill whistle cut him off. “Move it, now!” Rocco yelled, and Max winked at Vic as he trotted into the dwelling like it was any other Tuesday Morning.

Vic’s body seemed to move on autopilot, even as she entered the dwelling and was pulled into a tight embrace by the mistress of the Volkov compound. Vic’s mind was a mess of thoughts and feelings. She could feel the eyes of all four men on her as Maddelena began to rattle off a series of polite questions, inquiring as to how Vic liked the cabin and what she wanted for breakfast. It wasn’t until Vic was sitting between Maddelena and Max that her discomfort began to settle with Maddelena’s next question. “How did you like your sleeping arrangements? Was everything comfortable? Were you warm enough?” She rattled off and Vic’s cheeks began to heat as the first round of morning confections was delivered. Vic tried her hardest not to glance at Max, who she could feel rubbing his knee against hers every time she tried to answer. “I slept fine thank you, everything was satisfactory.” she said, before realizing there was a server standing expectantly behind her. Vic looked up over her shoulder at the slightly annoyed man before turning to look at Maddelena with an unspoken question on her tongue. As the smiling younger woman leaned over close to her, “He is waiting for your drink order.” she whispered, and Vic made an O shape with her mouth but shook her head slightly with a wide eyed ignorance that was beginning to make her even more uncomfortable than the multiple sets of eyes still boring into her.

Madelena reached under the table and squeezed the fist Vic didn’t realize she had made. “May I?” she asked, and Vic nodded with a slight twinge of embarrassment. “Please bring us two cups of black chia vanilla tea, two cups of black coffee, sugar and cream on the side, and two mugs of hot chocolate fully loaded.” she announced with a smile. Vic swallowed as she watched in shameful surprise as the petite mousy looking woman next to her proved to be more confident than any person she had ever met. “Thank you.” Vic whispered, and Maddelena just winked. “Us girls gotta stick together.” She glanced at Alexander and then Rocco. “Sometimes these Volkov men forget that it’s ok to be human once in a while. They are very intense.” she whispered the last part and Vic glanced briefly at Rocco, whose face remained unreadable but not hostile. “I believe my wife asked you a question you have yet to answer.” Volkov said from across the table. Vic glanced up at him, straightening her posture as she tried to cycle back through the unanswered questions. “I’m sorry sir, I’m afraid I don’t understand. She asked about my sleeping arrangements, and I answered the question.” she said, causing both Volkov and Rocco to arch a single brow at the same time. Maddelena giggled and leaned over to Vic again. “Sometimes they take bites at the same time too.” she said, and Vic had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

Soon the wait staff returned, and Vic’s eyes almost bulged from their sockets as three drinks were placed in front of her along with a plate of so many different options, she was getting dizzy looking at it. Vic glanced at Maddie and the younger woman had a huge smile on her face. “The tea is divine, but the hot chocolate is my favorite.” she added, and Vic smiled as she picked up the thick cream-colored mug that was overflowing with steaming hot chocolate.  Although the beverage was steaming and Vic could feel the heat seeping through the handle of the mug, she still gingerly tipped it against her lips and let the molten hot liquid gently touch the tip of her tongue just before the mountain of whip cream splashed against the now overly tender flesh of her taste buds and she moaned softly in spite of herself. The sound of Max’s subtle laughter caused Vic to consciously bring a soft cloth napkin up to her lips and wipe away the ring of white cream that had been stamped across her mouth.

“That was incredible!” Vic said to Maddelena in a soft tone and almost jumped when Alexander chuckled before snapping his fingers. “Please dig in Vic. We have much to start today, and this impromptu breakfast is going to put us behind if we take much longer.” he explained. Vic nodded and looked down at her plate before letting a hearty laugh escape her throat.           May I ask a question sir?” Vic announced, and Alexander gave her a curt nod as he placed a tidy fork full of fluffy eggs into his own mouth. Vic swallowed hard before she spoke, knowing there would be uncomfortable follow up questions. “Do you purchase your pork from Bura farms, sir?” she asked, and watched as Rocco raised a questioning eyebrow at her while Alexander chewed his bite with a calm thoughtfulness. “We do not Vic, but now you know I have to wonder why you would ask such a thing.” Alexander answered with a sly grin. Vic bit her lip. “Sir, I’m fairly certain the rumors about my father’s pig farms have not gone unheard by you and I assure you they are very much true.” she said matter-of-factly. Vic watched Madelena put her fork back down on the plate and turn to Vic

. “They feed people to pigs?” she asked in a whisper and as Vic opened her mouth to respond Alexander cleared his throat and shook his head, pointing at the pair with his fork. “If you ladies wish to discuss bloodshed, you shall do so not at the breakfast table.” Alexander said calmly. As Vic nodded, Maddelena raised her eyebrows before rolling her eyes at her husband. “You are so boring sometimes. Can I steal Vic for the day? We need to talk outfits and nefarious family matters.” she said with a wicked smile and Vic watched in awe as Alexander’s face lit up as he laughed until Rocco cleared his throat.

“I apologize for the interruption boss, but first patrol is mine.” he cut in and Alexander wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin as he nodded and waved. “Yes, yes Rocco, you are excused until Maddie is done with Vic, then she is yours until tonight.” he finished. Vic watched carefully as Rocco’s eyes bore into her briefly before he stood from the table and walked to the dark corner directly behind Alexander, placing himself in position with his eyes shifting around the room like some switch in his brain had been flipped into camera mode.  The feel of Max’s knee rubbing against hers brought Vic’s attention back to the table. She watched uncomfortably as Max and Rowan seemed to have an unspoken battle of dirty looks and sideways expressions while Alexander and Madelena became wrapped up in their own more intimate conversation. Vic did her best to just finish her own food.