15 Minutes (Time for Love 4)

“Tell Brendan.”

“Kay.”

My brothers and I were a recent addition to the guys’ poker night. Once Scott and I buried the hatchet, he’d invited me to poker night. I guess that was his olive branch. I’d always loved the game, so was quick to accept, and wasn’t surprised to have a great time, so I asked if I could bring my brothers next time, and that was it. Now we got together a couple times a month to play.

I got back to work and when I finally looked up again, I was surprised to see it was almost five thirty. I grabbed my stuff and got ready to head out. I wanted to grab a shower before I went to pick up Victoria.

I’d gotten her number when I’d dropped her off at her car this morning, so I shot her a text asking for her address. Brady had left a while ago, but I checked to make sure everything was powered down before I locked up.

Victoria texted me back while I was in the shower, and I noticed that her place wasn’t too far away, so I took the time to trim my beard and throw some grease into my hair, before grabbing the keys to my truck and heading out the door.

I was a little surprised at how excited I was to see Victoria again. I’d said plenty of times that I was not her type, but she was the furthest thing from my type too. I usually went for chicks like Gaby. Pretty, sweet, and easygoing. I was eager to see what this pull I felt toward Victoria was, and what it would be like to thaw her out a bit. Maybe it was the challenge, or simply how good she’d felt against my lips, but anticipation was coursing through me as I drove to get her.

Her condo was new, but I wouldn’t expect anything less. I tapped down the grin that wanted to spread across my face as I waited for her to answer my knock. I couldn’t look as eager as a damn puppy when she opened the door, not matter how accurate that description was.

I wasn’t disappointed when the door opened and Victoria stood before me, as classy and sophisticated as a royal. She had on a pretty polka dot shirt and navy-blue skirt, her hair straight as a blade and her face perfectly made up. If I didn’t know that she looked this perfect all the time, I’d be touched that she’d gone to so much effort for our date.

“You look beautiful,” I said honestly in her ear as I bent to brush my lips against her cheek. I smiled as a small shudder ran through her.

She cleared her throat delicately and whispered, “Thank you.” She pulled back and brought those brilliant violet eyes to mine. “Please, come in, I just need to get my bag.”

I followed her, unabashedly watching the skirt swish around her thighs as she walked. My body tightened in response, and I looked around the space to try and occupy my mind with other things. I stopped in my tracks as I took in my surroundings.

Shit … I’d made cracks about Victoria being out of my league, but this was the first time that I’d actually felt that it was true.

Her condo looked like something out of a magazine. Everything was perfectly placed, and obviously expensive. There was art on the walls, an array of fancy tables and shelves, with artsy crap all over it. There was some sort of long chair or lounger, with a shit ton of books on shelves behind it. And there was a bar. With an array of scotch and whiskey, and who knew what else behind it.

“Brock,” Victoria called when she came back into the room.

I turned to look at her, gesturing my hand around the room. “Did you do all this?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with a frown as she looked around her place.

“Did you pick this stuff out?”

“Oh.” A small smile played at her lips. “Yes, I decorated it myself,” she added, obviously proud, as she should be.

“You decorated it?” I asked dumbly, truly astounded. I’d figured she’d picked out the stuff, or told a designer what her vision was, but to hear she’d decorated it herself surprised me.

“Yes.” The frown was back as she asked,” Why?”

“It’s amazing.” I took a step toward her, then stopped when she smiled beautifully. I’d never seen her face look so open and unguarded. “You’re very talented.”

“Thank you,” she responded softly, obviously pleased by my praise.

I moved toward her again, stopping to tuck her hair behind her ear before bending slowly, watching and gauging her reaction, then pressing my lips softly to hers. I’d only intended to give her a quick peck, but when her lips softened beneath mine and opened slightly, I accepted her invitation and swept my tongue inside.

When she moaned slightly, my arms came around her back, and I pulled her tight little body against mine, allowing the feel and smell of her to fill my senses. Her soft breasts against my hard chest, her spicy scent surrounding me, and her sweet little noises filling my ears. The combination was heady, and before I realized it, the kiss deepened, and I lowered my hand to the hem of her skirt. As my mouth brushed over hers, my hand touched her stocking-covered leg and moved up under her skirt. When I reached the top of the stocking and felt the garter attached, I broke the kiss and took a big step back, as if singed.

I looked at Victoria, chest heaving, face flushed, and lips swollen from my kiss, and I dug my fingernails into my palm to stop myself from reaching out for her and taking her right there on her plush white carpet.

“Jesus, Victoria,” I said gruffly as the fog started to lift from my brain. “You’re gonna fucking kill me.”

She looked puzzled at my words, and I could tel

l that she was coming to her senses, because confusion crossed her face.

Not wanting her to think I was rejecting her, or for her to feel an ounce of regret for her reaction to me, I went to her once more, this time keeping a tight lid on my libido. I brought my hand gently to her cheek and looked into her eyes.