Brooks' POV
I could see the weak resemblance now. Only when looking between them could you see the true similarities. The shape of the eyes, the bend of the cupid's bow, and the way either of them could lift a brow before they would disagree with you. But right now for sharing blood, Virginia almost seemed stunned to see the woman. I couldn't blame her but it didn't beg the question why she was here and how in the hell she was my client.
"I just want five goddamn minutes!" She barked and after this latest outburst, Virginia lowered the steps and stood across her mom. She studied her and I realized it must have been because she was sober. There was evidence of use from the sallow skin and sunken eyes but it was clear she hadn't used anything hard for quite some time.
"D
Virginia's POV “If I don't come up with a new place of employment by tomorrow, I'll be forced to go back home.” I confessed with my dominant hand raking through my chestnut waves. The very idea of crossing back over those four state borders back to Indiana was anything but enticing. But it was a realization I was beginning to have to face or risk homelessness. “You can't go back, Ginny…” As if I needed the reminder. My wrists and throat still ached from the binds from the last night in that Godforsaken trailer. My feet still throbbed from the race I made to that police station after years of talking myself out of it. My soles barked even more when I understood nobody was going to help me as they all owed him somehow. Because of it, I was trapped and used whatever strength I had to get on a bus in the nick of time before he
Brooks' POV An Hour Ago “You need to make a decision, Sir.” I cocked my jaw at the obvious. For weeks I'd allowed these pointless resumes to climb this high on my desk. I left the selection process to my current assistant whose exhausted exhale explained yet again why I needed to make the choice. But each interview for either position proved that the only thing they really wanted had been my name. Instead of asking about the job as my assistant or the expectations as a nanny, they inquired about my interests that were anything but appropriate. They were kicked out of my office shortly after. There had yet to be a single candidate that came close to supporting either of my two loves.
Virginia's POV In eight hours I would have enough money to make rent. I just had to get over being treated like a doormat to keep from being homeless. Of all the side jobs I had, this one made the most money in one night. It was not ideal to say the least, but it was efficient enough for my inconsistent bank account. “Holy Coyote Ugly!” Aimee teased on the other side of the phone as I fixed the halter top behind my neck and looked into the mirror. I suppose it was an accurate comparison and not too far from the truth. Because even if this gig wasn't based on morals, it gave amazing tips. “I might bring some friends by-” “No!” I knew that this meant tips I didn't deserve as Aimee went above and be
Brooks' POV I was just supposed to be going for pizza. Extra pepperoni and cheese. Instead, I turned the corner from Landon's favorite pizzeria and found her. Dressed like…it was hard to pin just what exactly she was wearing as my attention came to the way she clutched at her chest and rested against the wall in complete distress. Similar to how Landon could look in the beginning of his attacks, I couldn't help but zero in on her, no matter how badly my feet may have wanted to just slip back into my car and finish the distance home. But I owed it to her to return the favor for what she had done for my son. Maybe after paying that debt I could stop thinking about her. “Miss Valentine?” The surname escaped before I could stop it, her porcelain doll eyes were harboring a sea of emotion behind her damp lashes. It twisted
Virginia's POV The home office was a stark contrast to the rest of the icy condominium. It was warm with its mahogany walls and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves perfectly lined with law books and other intellectual literature. A single desk sat at the far wall with a leather chair behind it, a single picture left for decoration that I predicted held Landon's smiling face inside the sterling frame. A couch rested by the window set halfway throughout the room, almost incognito from the fallen curtains that hung behind the Chesterfield. It could be considered welcoming if not for the upset man standing at its center with clenched fists. “You'll stay here. The only thing expected of you is to protect and entertain Landon. You don't bring anybody else here and anything you need will be delivered to you when necessary.” His wor
Brooks' POV She was supposed to be here at ten o'clock on the dot. Instead, I ended up thumping my pen over the extensive contract as if it were a pair of drums and paced my office before ultimately pacing the space around the short desk. The anger lasted for only a short time before the questions began to take its place. Maybe the night before startled her. After all, I'd never raised my voice to anyone like that, especially someone who spoke about Landon with such careful worry and care. It's what made me react in such a way. Her care for him made me want to allow her into parts of my life I didn't allow anyone but my son. Some parts I didn't even let him. Eventually that rage for her lack of punctuality faded into guilt for how I'd treated her. It
Brooks' POVThere were many mornings in my life I wishedI could stuff myself deep into my comforter and become embedded into the mattress. Not even for sleep but to simply evade what was coming that day. Today proved to be one of those days from this hangover that was evident from my own karmic actions. But it wasn’t the thunderous pull of my head turning against me that made me want to shuffle myself into oblivion, but for the thirteen drafts of an embarrassing email I thankfully had enough sense to keep from actually sending. Although I couldn’t piece together the details of a single one without the words becoming a haze of desperation and broken pride, I knew it was enough to know I couldn’t face her. I was thankful I kept her at a distance and made an ass of myself. It meant that the notifications on my phone wouldn’t be a reason to worsen my headache-
Virginia’s POV “I need to get me a hot single dad to move me into his condo.” Aimee teased as I set my phone on the pillow of my new bed while I began tucking my few clothes away for safekeeping. “You literally have more money in your bank account than he does, I’m sure. And don’t you have that guy you’ve been talking to?” “He’s a boy compared to Brooks Callahan. Besides from the way you describe him, the whole brooding thing does it for you.” I quickly quieted her voice and looked over my shoulder to the open bedroom door. For the last few hours as I began to ‘make myself at home’ as he muttered to do since we both came inside, I could hear him throughout the house. It was infuriating in the sam
Brooks' POV I could see the weak resemblance now. Only when looking between them could you see the true similarities. The shape of the eyes, the bend of the cupid's bow, and the way either of them could lift a brow before they would disagree with you. But right now for sharing blood, Virginia almost seemed stunned to see the woman. I couldn't blame her but it didn't beg the question why she was here and how in the hell she was my client. "I just want five goddamn minutes!" She barked and after this latest outburst, Virginia lowered the steps and stood across her mom. She studied her and I realized it must have been because she was sober. There was evidence of use from the sallow skin and sunken eyes but it was clear she hadn't used anything hard for quite some time. "D
Virginia's POVThere's something I've noticed about my burgeoning sexuality. The more I experience, the more I want. Not in a consuming way like a genuine addiction, but in the way that I trust my partner enough to explore every avenue that fascinates us both. It shows in the silent moments between us with those loaded smiles and quiet conversations behind our eyes. It is complete trust and admiration between two people with formerly broken perceptions of desire and misguided affection. I think we were fixing each other more and more with every little touch and every little moment. "Good morning..." He almost purred against my neck as Landon was turned around watching television as I packed his lunch for the day. Whatever food item I was on has become forgotten to the lips suddenly on my skin as it took everything I had not to moan to the warmth. "Do you think it's too early to convince you to sleep in my bed?" I chuckled and he playfully bit me. "I'm
Brooks' POV Although I tried to keep my exterior as calm as possible, every inch of my skin was vibrating for what was about to happen. Watching her fingers begin to peel apart my belt from its buckle, I could already feel precum leak from my head to imagine her taking me down past those innocent lips nobody knew pleasure from before. As she pulled the leather slowly towards her until it slid through the final loop, I had to will my hips to remain as still as possible to keep from frightening her with my gnawing desperation. "Virginia?" I rasped, my confidence slipping at the circumstances no longer being only a fantasy. She answered by looking up at me with wondrous eyes I was about to make water if she'd let me and I almost had to force her back to her feet just to keep a train of thought. "This is a first for
Virginia’s POV Reciprocation. It was all I could think about since last night. My only knowledge of it came from the handful of erotic romance novels I had the scarce time to read. The details were always more for entertainment than a method of teaching, which left me searching "tips and tricks" on my phone on and off throughout the day. But each time there had been the same comments that all circled back to communication. So that was where I started. But with the way he was looking at me, I wish I wouldn't have said anything. "Brooks?" I finally managed as he seemed frozen in time by my comment. I intended for it to
Brooks' POV "Go away, dad!" Landon sniffled from his side of the door. I still pushed through, finding a pillow at my face, before he threw his body back down on the bed as he continued to cry. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No!" He shouted beneath the muffling of his comforter. I sat at the foot of the bed and tried to apply comfort by my hand on his back and he moved away from me, almost sandwiching himself between the mattress and the wall. "I didn't know you had a crush on Virginia, Landon." "I love her!" I didn't blame him. She had a way of infecting your heart, the darker and more abandoned and the more she seemed to find a home there. Slowly fixing the fissures until all that was left was the warmth applied to f
Virginia's POVLaying all of the ingredients on the kitchen island, I tried to make sense of the recipe. As it seemed like an excess for what I theorized would be a quick preparation, I used Google to learn it was a pasta dish guaranteed to have a bit of a kick to it. I was excited to be beside him to help achieve the final result while one detail made me nibble at my already uneven nails for his reaction.The picture I'd sent him earlier in the day was from bravery that faded the second our conversation ended. After slipping on a new pair of panties, I carried on with my chores as Landon was due home later tonight. Now, I was waiting for the front door to come open with him discovering I disobeyed him. I was curious what he would do to punish me-if he was into that sort of thing.When he came through the door
Brooks' POV "You told me it wasn't over..." She pouted as I kissed away at the plump bottom lip. "I can't control myself around you-" I began, her face shifting from nervousness to a subtle confidence that blossomed her beauty into something like a goddess. "Then don't." Goddamn, this woman. I looked over her shoulder and to the four poster bed before imagining what would transpire. A quick shedding of clothes. Heavy petting. French kisses until breathless. Pulling her thighs apart and then those lower lips until I had her soaking my tongue one more time. Maybe two. When wet, I'd shove my angry cock inside of her with merc
Virginia's POV I expected an argument, not this. Not the feeling of his lips gently guiding mine apart until he could slip his tongue into a slow coaxing of my own. The first kiss had been enough to surprise me but this one was overwhelming. All because it was quietly demanding in a way his hands took stock in my hips until pushing me against the glass, his knee rose to the apex between my legs, and his mouth was a slow assurance from my mouth to my jaw, and gradual to my neck. The smirk against my skin made me moan enough to motivate him further, and before I could remember why I was mad or the fact I was leaving, he was lifting me against the glass until I was reliant on his strength. I gasped to the surprise lift and he grinned up at me. "I'll ne
Brooks' POV I quit. I'd imagined letting her go at least a hundred times from unrelenting lust and pure spite alone. But hearing the end come from her lips took the ability to breathe completely away from me. Although it had only been approximately three months, I couldn't imagine her no longer a part of our routine. The mere idea of her no longer sitting at our breakfast table with burnt bacon and undercooked pancakes resituated my heart deep into my gut to such a depth that it weighed there with nausea. Thinking of her no longer being the first or last face Landon and I saw before the end of our day and beginning the next cinched my chest in on itself as if being pulled by invisible stri