Stefan knew with her family she came into this world in the spotlight, but something about her statement struck him. She wasn’t asking for privacy; no doubt she thought that was something she could never have. But why couldn’t he provide her a little escape?
“What did he overhear?” she asked.
“I didn’t give him the chance to say, but I made it very clear he’s not to repeat anything or he will be found and dealt with.”
Tori gasped. “You threatened him?”
“What did you want me to do? Ask him over for tea?”
On a sigh, Victoria shook her head. “I don’t know. I just hope he didn’t hear us. Pictures are one thing...”
Stefan wouldn’t let some overeager cameraman ruin his future, or Victoria’s. No matter the cost. He also wouldn’t let the bastard ruin his day with his wife, either.
“Remember when we first met and we were trying to hide from all the cameras and crew for the film your mother was in?”
A genuine, beautiful smile spread across her face. “That was fun. We were purposely avoiding anybody so we could do whatever we wanted.”
Stefan pictured the time in his mind, so clear and vivid. “I believe that’s when I introduced you to alcohol.”
On a groan, Victoria closed her eyes. “Don’t remind me. I was so set on impressing you, I didn’t want you to know I hadn’t drank before.”
“The look on your face after your first sip of whiskey kind of gave you away,” he told her.
“You probably thought I was such a loser.” She laughed, lying back on the blanket and looking up at the clear, blue sky.
“A loser? Nah. I thought you were innocent, and that’s the kind of girl I was interested in.”
And he had been...well, as much as a teenage boy could be interested in a girl. She’d been California fresh with all that silky blond hair and tanned skin. He’d instantly had a crush but had to play it cool.
So he did what any good boy would do. He’d plied her with alcohol and tried to talk her into skinny-dipping.
“You mean the kind of girl you were interested in corrupting?” she asked with a low laugh that made him pause to enjoy such sweetness.
There was just something about her that always made him smile. Their friendship never had any speed bumps, and for years he’d found himself wondering what something more with her would be like.
Of course, marriage to anyone never entered his mind, but so far being married to Tori really had its perks. She was playful in bed, and he appreciated the fact she wasn’t getting too involved on a more heartfelt level.
“Maybe a little corrupting,” he agreed. “I never did get you to go skinny-dipping.”
Victoria shook her head. “That’s something I’ve never done. It just sounds so...cold.”
His eyes roamed over her body. She’d forgone the jeans and shirt and had ended up donning a beautiful pale blue strapless romper, and he wanted to slide his fingers between her breasts, loosen the knot and see the material puddle to the ground.
“Trust me.” His eyes came back up to meet hers. “When I get you naked in the water, you’ll be anything but cold.”
Her breath hitched as she bit her lip and dropped her eyes to his mouth. Hell yeah. She was sexy personified, and she was all his for the next six months. After that...well, that ball was in her court. Going back to dating, and bedding, other women surprisingly wasn’t a priority, not with Tori matching him both in bed and out.
Stefan slid one hand through her hair, his other hand cupping the side of her face. With the utmost care and tenderness, he tilted her head and secured his lips to hers. With gentle persuasion he coaxed her lips apart, pleased when she accommodated him. Her soft moan as she eased into his body aroused him more than all their frenzied kisses. Those fast-paced kisses were stepping stones to sex. This gentle, passionate kiss was a stepping stone to...what?
He told himself he was just enjoying the moment and not getting deeper intimately with her. Stefan didn’t want to go down that path. But he did want to keep savoring his wife. He wanted to slowly strip her and see her body in the sunlight on the beach as he...
His cell phone chimed, breaking the moment. With a muttered curse, he eased back from those tender, swollen lips.
After jerking the phone from his pocket he answered, “Yes?”
“The police are here,” the guard told him. “Would you like to come and talk to them or do you want me to take care of it?”