Live In Position (56 page)

"Dinner's ready."

My head snapped to the small kitchen table. Collin sat with his newspaper at the table set for three. I raised a brow at him.

"Now you don't have to cook," he winked and stood from his seat.

I shook my head.

"You're that impatient?" I teased.

"I prefer the word anxious." His arms wrapped around my waist and his lips met mine.

I embraced his broad shoulders and kissed him back. A small giggle pulled us from our musings.

"Go wash your hands, okay?" I smiled at Victoria.

She ran off and I pulled myself from Collin's embrace. He reluctantly let go. Grabbing some containers, I began to sort through and serve the food. Victoria returned with freshly washed hands and the three of us sat eating linguini, meatballs, salad, fettuccini, and fresh baked Italian rolls.

The conversation surrounded Victoria's classes, academic and extracurricular. I was pleased at the effort Collin made in the past months to learn about and be active in his daughter's life.

At the finish of dinner, Victoria went to take a shower, while I cleaned up the dishes. Collin appeared next to me and was assisting my efforts.

"So, are you ready to tell me about Grace's visit?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

"Well?"

"Oh, um, well…there was a little tension, of course."

"Tension?" He placed the white dish I just rinsed off into the dishwasher.

"Yeah, Victoria isn't too happy about being a big sister. I kind of thought she would be since she was asking for –"

"A what?!" Collin choked. Oh crap!

"Ooh, I guess I should've started with 'Grace is pregnant'." I furrowed my brow at the ghostly face he was making.

I knew it was irrational, but a part of me was hurt that he was so affected by this discovery. Wasn't he completely over Grace?

"To whom?" he croaked and cleared his throat. He seemed to be acting a little too nonchalant all of a sudden.

"I don't know," I shrugged, "Though she threw out a jab about it being yours." I awaited his reaction.

"She what?" he exclaimed and looked at me with his green orbs.

I nodded and shrugged.

"You realize that is impossible, right?" The plate in his hand was set on the counter. He stood directly in front of me with his arms around me.

I nodded again.

"Sophia?" he eyed me. "You don't look like you believe me."

"I do, but you seem awfully affected by the fact that she's pregnant." I blurted without thinking.

He smiled slyly.

"Are you jealous?" His eyes went from pleading to amusement.

"No," I spat and tried to pull away to rinse more dishes. He wouldn't let go.

"I like that you're jealous." His chuckle was almost nonexistent.

"I'm not jealous," I grumbled the lie.

He chuckled again and kissed me deeply, which caught me off guard. Too soon, his lips left mine.

"Please tell me you understand how much you mean to me?" He cupped my face, so I couldn't try to look away from him.

"I know," I whispered and still attempted to turn my head from his hold.

"No," his sternness brought my blue eyes intently to his green. "There is no other person, besides Victoria, that has ever meant to me what you do. You are more than I ever knew was out there and I'll never give you up, at least not without one hell of a fight."

My heart fluttered rapidly and the feeling of butterflies filled my stomach at his words. I had never felt like this. To know how much he loved me, as I did with him, was breathtakingly beautiful.

I covered his hands, which were still on the sides of my face, with my own and leaned up to kiss him. His phone rang and I hesitated, but he pulled me the rest of the way. The kisses we had shared in the past had ranged from sweet, passionate, intense, and even urgently raw. This kiss was fulfilling.

Pulling apart was difficult to do, but I needed to check on Victoria and get her ready for bed. With a promise to hurry back to him, I left the kitchen. He finished the dishes for me.

Victoria was already in her pajamas when I arrived with her backpack and dance bag. Her hair was brushed and she had a ruler stuck down inside her cast.

"Hey, hey, no way," I grabbed the ruler and pulled it away.

"But it's so itchy," she threw herself back onto the bed.

I thought really fast about when I was twelve and had
broken my leg during a dare to climb a tree at the park. Quickly, I remember the trick a nurse had given to me. I retrieved the hair dryer from under Victoria's sink in her room and brought it near her bed. She looked at my curiously when I plugged it in.

"Are you going to blow dry my hair?" Her fingers were still shoving down in her cast trying to ease the irritation. I shook my head.

"Come here, we are going to use a trick that worked for me."

She stood slowly and then picked up the pace to get closer.

"You broke your arm before too?" Her eyes looked to me with curiosity.

"Not my arm, my leg. I fell out of tree." I crinkled up my face at the memory. She giggled.

I turned the hairdryer on and set it on the cool setting. Once I was sure it would stay cool, I used my index finger to pull the cast from her arm so the air could get inside.

"I don't think it's going to –" she stopped suddenly, her eyes widening, "Oh my gosh, it feels better already!" Her bright white smile met mine.

Once her arm was taken care of we climbed onto her bed and began reading. We were midway through a chapter when Collin entered her room. I paused from the book, but he motioned for me to continue, so I did. He slipped onto the bed next to us. Victoria yawned once at the end of the chapter and then was asleep by the end of the next. Collin and I quietly stepped from her room and walked to ours.

Inside our room, Collin wrapped me in his arms and pulled me to the small loveseat in the corner of the room. We sat side by side as he turned on the TV and we began to watch. It didn't take long for his hands to wander and it took less time for me to straddle his lap.

My hands were buried in his hair while his were gripping my backside, pulling me against the hardness waiting behind the confines of his pants. My lips broke from his so I could remove my shirt. When I was free of the shirt, I tossed it onto the floor. Collin pushed me up to stand and slowly removed my jeans.

I returned to my straddled position over him and removed my bra. Leaning back down to kiss him, he pulled his head away. My brow furrowed for a moment, until he smiled.

"I want to look at you," he whispered and straightened my sitting position.

My arms instinctively came up to cover my chest. He gripped my wrists and held my arms at my sides. Slowly, but with purpose, his right hand slid up my arm and then over my left breast. I inhaled sharply at the light grazing of my breast. He repeated the action with his other hand and then slid his long pale fingers over my stomach, until he grasped my hips.

"You're beautiful." He whispered before claiming my left breast with his lips.

I arched my back, pressing my chest closer to his face. My hands fisted into his hair tightly. It felt so amazing and perfect. The teasing of his tongue on my nipple was driving me mad. My hands found the path to his pants and began to unleash him from the confines.

After some awkward positioning and removal, along with a couple of snorts and giggles, his pants were around his ankles. There was no wasting time, I needed him.

With one swift motion I encased him within me. My back arched, head tossed back, and I moaned. He had been away for too long. His mouth recaptured my nipple and I began to rock on him slowly, savoring the feel of being connected.

His fingertips dug into my skin as he slid his hands up my back. They stopped just as they met my shoulder blades, pulling my body closer to his. His face was eyelevel with my neck and his mouth was doing amazing things to the sensitive skin.

His hot kisses on my skin encouraged me to raise my body up and down on him. First moving slowly, but it felt so amazing that my motions increased. Soon I was bouncing on him like a pogo stick. Panting and moaning filled the room as the TV played in the background.

"Ah, Christ Sophia," he growled out and grasped both breast with his hands.

Grabbing hold of his wrists, I continued to ride him. The friction building inside me was so close to bursting that my head lolled back in anticipation. My mouth hung open with my heavy breaths.

When he released my right breast I brought my head forward, but then his thumb grazed where we were joined. My head snapped back and my hands clamped onto his knees. My body tensed and exploded around him. Both of Collins hands captured my hips and guided me harder and faster on him. This didn't just prolong the orgasmic aftershocks, but brought him over the edge.

Collapsing onto his chest, he brushed the stray hairs from my sweaty forehead. My arms wrapped around his neck and I snuggled closer to him. His strong arms held me against his body.

When my leg began to cramp, I shifted to move off of him. He grabbed my waist and held me still.

"My leg," I whined in a quiet voice and moved again.

"Sorry, I just don't want to let you go." He kissed my temple and allowed me to move to his side.

I shivered at the loss of his body heat. He noticed and threw a throw blanket around us. We missed most of the movie, but neither of us really found the energy to care.

The next morning I climbed out of bed and my sore legs protested. It took me at least five minutes to work out the soreness enough to go get Victoria up for school. I was exiting the bathroom, to do just that, when I was stopped in my tracks from the sight before me.

Collin lay, face down, on the bed with only a sheet covering his waist and thighs. My eyes took in the pale toned plains of his back, sculpted arms disappearing under the pillow his mussed up head lie on. My body shivered with want. I bit back a groan and used all the willpower I had to go to Victoria.

Victoria didn't fight too much with the morning routine and we managed to get to school without having to rush around. On the way back, I stopped and grabbed some groceries.

Once I was back at the house, I put the groceries away and then went upstairs to shower. I entered the bedroom and was surprised to find Collin sitting at the small desk he had moved into the room for me.

My entry wasn't quiet and he glanced up from some papers when I walked in. His brow furrowed and then he sighed. I tensed up for a moment because he didn't look pleased.

"What are you doing?" I eyed the papers to try to get a glimpse of them.

"Waiting for you to tell about this," he held up the contract for my book.

Remembering the last time this was brought up, I cringed at the thought of another argument. And dear lord, not that you're listening to me anymore, please do not let him ask if I told my father about us.

Chapter Thirty

"I was going to tell you about it." I spoke carefully, afraid to start yet another argument on the subject. There was something that was bothering me though. Approaching slowly I built up the nerve to ask.

"Did you go through my stuff?" My eyes narrowed a little in accusation.

"I saw the papers lying on your desk when I walked toward my closet. They caught my attention. I wasn't purposely prying." He took a deep breath.

I nodded slowly, deciding whether or not I should believe that, then I decided it was time for a leap of faith.

"Well, do you understand all the legal mumbo-jumbo in there, because I'm still not completely clear on the whole thing?" I smiled small.

He seemed to perk up immediately.

"I get the gist of the document, but I could fax a copy to my attorney to have it looked over." His eyes looked to mine wearily, "If you would like?"

I smiled. "That would be very helpful. Thank you."

A couple of strides and he had me in his arms.

"No, thank you, Sophia," His kiss was filled with emotion.

During the kiss I realized we had just conquered one hurdle. It was a small one, but it was an accomplishment for us.

Collin's lawyer contacted me the same day, since it was 'such a basic contract'. I wanted to blow a raspberry into the receiver at him. Not all of us spent years studying and working with legal crap.

He told me, in summary, the contract gave them the rights to publish and market the book, contracted me to participate in marketing and physical appearances, as well as a clause promising the second installment within two years. I would receive $8,000 for the book, sign over ninety percent of the royalties to the publisher, and would be compensated for travel.

The lawyer instructed me not to sign without changing the royalty portion. Another lawyer in his office, Janet Marcum, handles actor contracts and stated that it was way too high, even if it's a first novel. He agreed to have Janet give me a call to assist me with marking up the contract and making changes. I thanked him and figured she wouldn't call me till the next day; however, she called me just a few hours later.

She wanted to push for forty five percent of the royalties, but we compromised at thirty percent figuring I would get around ten to fifteen. Janet also added a clause in regards to the second book, so that renegotiation would be possible if the first book was a large success.

I asked her to send me the contract, but instead she asked for Random House's information so she could send the fax and a letter from her office. Janet had serious skills and I wasn't about to pass up this opportunity. I was also pretty sure she would be my lawyer going forward, especially once Collin heard of this.

The remainder of the week went by and I hadn't heard from Random House. I started to worry that they would no longer be interested, based on the changes I allowed to happen. So, when my phone rang I practically sprinted to answer it.

"Hello?" I was slightly breathless.

"Soph?" My father's voice was filled with concern.

"Oh, dad, it's you."

"G
eesh, way to make your dear old dad feel the love kid," He chuckled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, I swear."

He laughed. "I know."

"How are you?" I sat down on the loveseat that had seen its share of Collin and me.

"I'm doing well. How are you? Who were you so anxious to hear from?"

Telling him all about the publisher and the book, I felt a twinge of guilt at not mentioning Collin. When the conversation switched to his and Carla's relationship, I didn't interject. Instead I almost flew off the couch when he stated they were getting married and would be doing it this weekend.

"This weekend?" I choked out.

"I know it's soon, but I think we both just feel like –" he sounded worried by my reaction.

"No, no, it's wonderful dad. I, well, it's just that I want to be there." I whined a little, I'll admit it.

"Oh, well, we really are just going to go to the J.P. and do the civil ceremony thing. It's not a –"

"If you say it's not a big deal I'll smack you the next time I see you! This is huge dad." Then I finally grew a pair. "Besides I wanted to tell you some news of my own and this will be a great way to –"

"You aren't pregnant are you?" He blurted.

"No," I gasped. "I, um, I got engaged."

"What? When? To who? How long have you been seeing someone without me knowing him?"

"Calm down," I took a deep breath. "This is going to be slightly awkward to tell you about, but just wait till I'm finished. Okay?"

Silence.

"Dad?"

"Okay, okay, I'll wait till your finished, but you better hurry up."

I laughed, shook my head, and then began my tale of 'The Nanny Who Was Seduced by the Antichrist'. Okay I didn't really tell that tale, but I gave him the summarized run down on my current relationship. Once I was finished he was still silent.

"You didn't have a heart attack did you?" I forced a laugh out, an attempt to kill the silence.

"Sophia, are you sure about this? I mean, does he love you?"

"Yes dad." I smiled from his concern.

"And you are sure about this? You aren't just playing along to keep your job, to make Victoria happy, or something like that right?"

"I wouldn't do that," I defended.

He sighed heavily.

"As long as you are happy and he treats you well then I'm happy for you. Just remember that if he messes up, I have a gun."

I burst into laughter when the thought that they would have to be silver bullets, filled with holy water, or something to kill Collin. My laughter didn't cease.

He questioned me two more times about Collin before we made plans for me to drive to Tacoma Saturday morning for the service and then hung up. I left to pick up Victoria and prepared to tell Collin I would be leaving this weekend. Since he still had issues about me
leaving for any reason I wasn't looking forward to the conversation. The ride home from the school is when I told Victoria about the trip.

"Who is going to take care of me?" She questioned with a furrowed brow.

"You're kidding right?" I asked her in disbelief. She shrugged. "Why in the world would you think you aren't going with me?"

"I get to see pawpaw and Carla?" I smiled at her remembrance of them.

"Well, I have to talk with your dad, but I think he'll be okay with it." I smiled at her in the review mirror. She wore a huge smile the rest of the way home.

That evening, when Collin arrived home, Victoria and I were sitting in the kitchen eating.

"Hello beautiful ladies." His smile matched Victoria's from earlier in the car.

"Welcome home daddy," Victoria grinned at him and then shoved another mouthful of chicken into her mouth.

"Hey there," I smiled and turned to my plate.

"That is not the kind of greeting I desire."

My chair squealed as it scraped away from the table. I grasped onto the side of the seat to keep from falling off the chair. Collin pulled me up and kissed me.

"That's more like it," he smiled down on my surprised face. I shook my head at him. He smiled wide and went to make his plate.

"So, how was your day at school?" He asked when he returned to the table.

"It was good," she shrugged. Then she lit up. "But the best part is that I get to go see pawpaw and Carla get married! I am so excited. It's okay daddy, right?" Her hands were clasped as if she were praying, her eyes were begging.

"What is a pawpaw?" He looked at me curiously.

"It's actually a 'who'," I cleared my throat and then took a drink of water. "It's my father. She created the nickname for him when we visited last year." I opened my mouth to talk to him about the trip, but he cut me off.

"Your father is getting married?"

I nodded. "He finally proposed to his girlfriend, Carla."

"Is she going to wear a big white gown? I hope she wears a gown. It would look so beautiful." Victoria chimed in.

"I don't think she's going to get the big wedding dress, but we'll have to ask her what she is –"

"Wait," Collin cut me off, "When did you find this out?"

"Today. He called me this afternoon."

"Oh," his brow furrowed. "So, you're leaving?"

"Yes, Saturday morning I'm going to drive Victoria and me –" He began shaking his head.

"No."

"W-what?" I choked out. He wouldn't deny me going to see my father? He sure as hell couldn't tell me where and when I could go.

"You won't be driving Victoria and you to Tacoma."

I scowled.

"And what makes you think I won't be?" My arms crossed over my chest defiantly. A half smile spread on his face.

"Because I'll be driving the two of you," his half grin spread into a full smile.

"Oh," I immediately started mentally berating myself for immediately jumping to conclusions.

"You don't mind do you?" His face filled with concern and just a hint of anger.

"No, of course not," I smiled.

"Plus, this will be the perfect time for you to tell your father about us." My eyes widened at his victory smile. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No it won't be," I said smugly. Two can play his little game.

"And why not?" The anger was returning.

"Because he already knows," I smiled wide and turned back to my food.

Victoria giggled and I screamed when Collin yanked my chair over to him. He planted his lips firmly on mine and then pulled back to look into my face.

"I love you so much," his voice was low, but Victoria's giggle told me she heard him.

"I love you too." I kissed him lightly. "Now if you wouldn't mind putting me back near my food." I laughed, Victoria giggled harder, and Collin smirked playfully as he pushed me back in front of my plate.

I groaned looking at the clock late Friday afternoon. Grace would be arriving in about twenty minutes. Victoria was pouting in her room because she didn't want to visit with her, Collin was working in his office – more like hiding, and I was in the kitchen baking bread just to preoccupy myself.

When the familiar chime of the doorbell filled the air, I took a deep breath and walked toward the door, yelling up the stairs for Victoria as I went. I had to take another deep breath before I could pull the door open. Once it was pulled open, Grace's familiar smirk was in sight.

"Good afternoon," she practically purred and pushed by me. "Collin! It's so good to see you."

Closing the door I turned quickly. There he stood with Victoria's hand in his. His eyes narrowed on Grace.

"Baby –" Grace began to coo toward Victoria.

"Victoria, why don't you go and get a drink while I speak with Grace for a moment?"

Grace's face fell. I was curious about his intentions.

"Would you?" he motioned to the living room.

"Of course," she was using that damn seductive tone I had heard her use before.

I wanted to fist her red hair and yank her back out the house. She sashayed her boney butt when she walked by him; however, without a second glance to her Collin turned to me.

"Sophia," he held out his hand for me to take. A small smile inched on the side of his mouth.

Taking his hand he led us into the living room. Grace was already seated. The glare she gave our connected hands was enough to make want to jump on the coffee t
able and scream "in yo'face".

Collin sat on the couch across from Grace, pulling me to sit next to him. We were hip to hip with his arm wrapped behind my back. My inner girl was still doing a happy dance.

"Grace, I would like to discuss how upset Victoria was at the end of your last visit."

"Yes," she sat up straight and proper, "I, too, was concerned about her."

Yeah right, the crazy woman didn't even call to ask how she was.

"I'm sure you were," Collin's words were laced with sarcasm. He cleared his throat and continued.