Chapter
Seventeen
“This place is the bomb!” Drew yelled as he ran off. When Vice pulled up to a large ranch-style house, just on the outskirts of town, I was pleasantly surprised by his pick of home. Despite the fact it was my dream home, one I’d always wanted since I was a little girl, it was also close to town so it wouldn’t take me long to get back to Mom’s.
Maybe he’d want to sell it to me. Although, once I walked in, I knew it would be way out of my price range. My mouth dropped open, my eyes popping out of my head, and it was only when Vice said, “Breathe, Addy,” that I took in a lungful of air.
“Ah.” I blinked slowly. Shook my head and asked, “Where’s Drew going?”
Vice chuckled. “I told him about the game room I have down the hall.”
“I better see he doesn’t—”
“Adalyn, can I show you around first?”
Alone with Vice in his house…? No, that wouldn’t be good.
I licked my dry lips when the thought of seeing his bedroom conjured in my mind. A giggle just about fell from my mouth, but I clamped my lips together. I’d pictured myself touching his sheets, maybe even smelling them.
That’s wrong on so many levels, Adalyn.
“Mom, Mom, Mom. You have to see this,” Drew popped his head out from a doorway down the long hall to the left.
Smiling, I looked at Vice. “I guess I have to look at something. Then, um, you can show me around.” Would asking to avoid his bedroom seem suspicious? How many women had been in his house, his room, his bed? God, the thought churned my stomach.
Shaking my head, I made my way down the hall. I didn’t look around too much, well besides when we’d first entered. Which had been straight into a living room the size of Grayson and Kenzie’s formal lounge, only Vice’s was more homely. The living room held two couches, one to the left of the room and the other just inside the front door. The ginormous TV was to the right and hung on the wall, while to the back of the room was a panty-wetting bookcase, floor-to-ceiling high, and on each side of that were windows. Since it was dusk outside, I was able to see decking and a lot of land. There was a doorway to the right of the living room, and I was certain it would lead to the dining and kitchen area. I’d wait until the official tour to see it.
Drew had disappeared from sight by the time I made it down the hallway to the doorway I’d last seen him in. When I stepped around into the room, my mouth once again dropped open.
“Holy… wow!” I gasped.
There was a ten-pin bowling lane, pinball machines, a pool table, a poker table, a bar, some old video games, and in the far corner, there was also an Xbox, PlayStation, and a Wii. No wonder my son had been so dang excited about seeing it all. The room was about the same size as Vice’s living room… just how big was Vice? No, I meant his house. How big was his house?
Looking up at Vice, I said, “You do realize I’ll never get Drew to leave your house again?”
He shrugged with a smirk on his lips.
“Mom, I love this house,” Drew cried loudly.
“It is amazing, Drew. Be careful with what you play with, okay?”
“I will. Mr. Vice, do you want to play pool? I’ve never played before.”
“You’re on, Drew. I’ll just show your Mom around quickly and come back.”
“Awesome!” He ran over to the game area and plopped down on a beanbag.
“Shall we?” Vice asked, his hand gestured out to the door. Nodding, I turned and walked out, only jolting once when Vice’s hand touched my lower back. “We’ll start down the end of the hall.”
I wasn’t sure why it never really registered in my head, it should have, but it didn’t until Vice showed me his house. Then it slapped me in the face. Vice was rich. Very rich.
The hall, Vice talked about, went around to the right. It explained why his house looked smaller on the outside. Of course, the room he picked first just happened to be his bedroom. I blushed. He chuckled as he showed me his space. My gaze landed on his king-size bed, my cheeks heating even more before I focused on the two armchairs which sat in front of another big TV. His room-size walk-in closet, and his en suite, which was another bedroom-sized room with a Jacuzzi, were something to be envious about.
Flustered, I was glad when we walked out of his room. My hand had inched toward his bedside table to see if it would be his underwear drawer. We made our way back down the hall, my skin finally cooling. As we walked, he pointed out his study, and four spare bedrooms. Then there was the game room. I poked my head back in to see Drew’s attention was still on some car game, and he was driving like a maniac. Beside that were the swimming pool room and a gym. Then finally, we returned to the living room.
“You’ve hardly said a word.” Vice came to a stop at my side and faced me.
That was because I was still stuck back in his bedroom. His sheets had looked soft. Stroking them was high up on my thoughts still, which led me to think about stroking Vice in a very naughty way. Then of course when I saw his bathroom, it brought me back to the day I peed in front of him and saw him in all his naked glory.
I was sure I was sweating from keeping my mouth shut and not shouting, “Take me, take me now,” before flinging myself on his bed, or vanity, or floor. I wasn’t too fussy where it was.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I’m loving your place. It’s very big.” His brows rose. Another blush took over my cheeks. “The house, your place, it’s…” I widened my hands out to my sides, “huge,” I finished.
“It is, but I like it.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to sound like I don’t like it. I do.” I nodded.
He laughed, and said, “Come on, I’ll show you the rest and then get back to Drew before starting dinner.”
I gawked at him. “You’re cooking dinner?”
His lips twitched. “Yes. I do know how.”
“Um, okay.” I nodded, and once more blushed because I imagined Vice in the kitchen with nothing but an apron on. Jeepers, my lady bits needed some attention.
“I really wish I could read your mind sometimes,” Vice commented, as he ushered me through the living room and toward the door.
“That wouldn’t be good at all.”
“Hmm, and why is that, Adalyn?” he asked, smirking down at me.
“Because it’s kind of crazy up there.” I tapped my temple and nodded, then walked into the dining and kitchen area, only to come to an abrupt halt.
If I could marry a house, I would pick Vice’s.
My eyes flicked from the large bay windows to the door beside it that led to the deck, to the large wooden table and chairs, and then to the monster of a kitchen opposite the windows. So many cupboards, so much space, just so much to take in and drool over.
Vice’s hands on my shoulders caused me to jump. He leaned in and said right in my ear, “I take it you like it?” His breath tickled, and I shuddered as need pulsed through me.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Like does not compute. Love would be a better word.” I bit my bottom lip when his hands rubbed my shoulders, only to then thin them tightly when his thumbs dug into my muscles. Like a hussy, I wanted to scream and moan.
“I’m glad you love it, Addy.” Over my shoulder, he pointed further into the room to another door. “Through there and to the right is the cinema room. To the left is the utility room that runs into the garage.”
“A movie room?” I loved watching movies.
“Yes, with recliner seats and all,” he teased wickedly into my ear.
“Oh, my,” I breathed. Lick my ear, suck it, bite it, and I’ll scream I’m yours.
Bloody hell, I needed a cool cloth.
His chuckle was low. “Do you want to see it?”
What? What did he want to show me? His penis?
“The movie room, Addy?”
Oh, movie room, that was just as exciting. I looked up at him with wide eyes, and asked, “Can I?”
Grinning, he started to lean in as he said, “You can look anywhere you like.”
“Your dick?” I gasped. “I mean deck? I wanted to look at your deck also.” His eyes lit with hilarity right before his lips touched mine.
“Mr. Vice, you coming?” Drew called loudly.
Vice pulled back. His warm eyes met mine before they dipped to my lips and then back up. “I’ll have more of that later. But for now, I’m going to play pool with Drew while you look at my deck.” He tapped my nose and spun, exiting the room, only to come back to poke his head around, and with a teasing smile, he added, “Though, if you still want to look at my dick, I’ll see if we can fit it in later.” He boomed with laughter when my jaw dropped. His laughter followed him as he walked off to play a game with my son.
That man was going to give me a heart attack.
The movie room was ginormous. The large wall-to-wall and ceiling-high screen caused me to gasp, and the reclining seats had me giggling in glee. I skipped over to the left side of the wall where all the DVDs were. At first, I thought he might have had some movies he’d produced displayed. He didn’t. Instead, there was a wide range of films, from horror to sci-fi and suspense, and to my surprise, he even had some romance. Some were old, a lot new, and all I wanted to do was rest back in a recliner and eat popcorn. However, I didn’t. Instead, I went from the dining room door right onto the deck, and what I saw stole my breath away.
There would have to be at least ten acres I stared at in awe beyond the deck, which was the length of the house, and in the middle was an outdoor setting. Just near the deck, there was an outdoor pool. Further on, a play area with swings, slides, and a climbing frame. Then there was a fence, but over that fence were horses.
Horses! I cried internally like a little child.
I loved horses—not that I knew how to ride—but I loved them all the same. The sun was just setting, and even though a chill started, I sat myself down onto one of the deck chairs and watched the sun disappear altogether.
The door being opened, and the bright light flashing over the yard pulled me out of my daze. I glanced there to see Drew run out, nearly tripping over the blanket he was carrying as he came my way.
“Mom, Vice won, but he showed me some cool moves. Here.” He thrust the blanket at me. “Vice said you need to wrap up because it’s getting cold. Can I go and play on the playground for a bit while you watch? Vice is inside cooking. He said I could, but I had to check with you first. Isn’t this place awesome, Mom?”
I would have laughed at my very excited son if I wasn’t touched by Vice telling Drew to bring a blanket out for me, one I wrapped around my arms. It didn’t go unnoticed that Drew was calling Vice by his name instead of Mr. in front of it.
“Can I?” Drew asked again. I was about to tell him he needed his jacket, but it fell from my lips when I took in Drew. My face softened as my heart warmed, then melted.
“I guess you’re all set with that sweater,” I commented.
Drew picked up the too-big-for-him sweater and dropped it again. “Yeah, Vice gave me one of his because I think we left mine in the car.”
Vice dressed my son to keep him warm.
Oh, wow!
“Go play, but only for a short time. I should see if Vice needs some help.”
“’Kay.” He grinned and bolted off, holding the warm sweater up as he ran.
I smiled, with tears in my eyes. Never would I have thought Vice to be such a sweet, caring man, especially when at first all I saw him being was gruff and mean. I liked how he could be all of that. Although, looking around, I couldn’t help but think I was out of his league. If something happened between us, I would need him to know I wasn’t in it for his money. I’d sign anything I had to for him to understand that.