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  From behind me, Martin said quietly, “The only way you can move on is to confess, like you just did. And make atonement.”

  Lola looked over at Martin. “What do you think I should do?”

  “I think that’s for Sierra to say.”

  Lola turned back to me. “I hope you can forgive me. What can I do to make it up to you?”

  I felt something break in my heart to hear her take responsibility for what she had done. I had wanted to see her do that for so long.

  I put out my arms to my sister. “Just start talking to me again! I miss texting you and hanging out together.”

  Lola hugged me back, and for a moment I felt like we were kids again, comforting each other through something difficult. We had always been there for each other.

  Suddenly it felt like I had my sister back.

  Over Lola’s shoulder, I could see Vic, standing guard over Dick who was looking sick. His last hold on Lola was gone. And he knew it. And Vic was still watching over us to make sure Dick didn’t try to pull something now that his hopes were gone. What more could I ever ask for in a man?

  It sent a flush through me and made my eyes shine brighter at Vic. Maybe forgiveness all around was in order.

  Chapter 45

  Vic

  I was almost hoping Dick would make a dick move because then I could bust him one. But it only took one hard jab to the diaphragm and Dick’s fight went out of him. True, I had nearly broken his arm the last time we tangled, so Dick was being smarter than his usual self. But it was something more—once Lola confessed to Sierra, his last hold on her sister was gone.

  I still wanted to bust him one. Imagine blackmailing a girl into having sex. It was a new low I had never seen before.

  To give her credit, Lola bounced over to Dick and snapped her fingers in his face. “Fuck off, dude! If I see you hanging around my place again, I’m calling the cops.”

  Sierra stalked past Dick without a word or a look, as if he was beneath her notice. Those girls were tough, and I knew what kind of pressure you had to go through to get that tough. It made me feel for them, and want to help.

  Martin stepped up close to Dick, staring him down. There was something about the appraising glint in Martin’s eyes. I got the distinct feeling that Martin knew how to settle a score or two.

  In a low voice, Martin told Dick, “You go near her again and I’ll cut your balls off.”

  Then Martin grinned, showing his missing teeth. There was something ominous about it. Like he was on the edge and had nothing left to lose.

  I wouldn’t want to tangle with the guy. Clearly Dick didn’t either.

  Since I couldn’t improve on that, I saluted him with my baton and whistled on my way out. I didn’t think we would be seeing Dick again.

  When I reached the elevator, Sierra was asking, “What does Dick really do?”

  Lola made a face. “He drives for a limocar service. Bor-ring!” But as soon as Lola caught the expression on Martin’s face, she clammed right up.

  I was glad. Lola had gotten her sister into this mess, so she needed to take it seriously. If Dick had been a more desperate character, something bad could have gone down with Sierra in the room. I was going to make sure Lola didn’t do anything to hurt Sierra.

  Chapter 46

  Sierra

  After Lola’s first burst of emotion towards me, she went quiet. She kept her eye on Martin, and took her cue from his stern expression. As we got into the van, Lola asked Martin in a small voice, “Are you mad at me?”

  Martin gave her a look, then put the van into gear. “Lola, if you don’t want this kind of relationship, I’m fine with that. We can work together without having this dynamic. Maybe that’s for the best.”

  “You’re breaking up with me?” Lola asked, her voice higher.

  “I’m accepting the fact that I have no say in who you have sex with.” He gave her a meaningful look. “So that means I’m not going to be sexual with you. I like more honesty in my life than what you’ve got going on.”

  Lola’s mouth fell open. Mine did, too. Finally a man my little sister couldn’t manipulate!

  “What if I promise I’ll do what you say from now on?” Lola asked.

  “I’ve seen today that you’re not a woman of your word. You’ve been lying to your sister, and to me, about what’s going on. Why didn’t you come to me? I could have helped you with this. I could have helped put everything right, if you trusted me.”

  Lola stiffened and looked out the window. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything, but I knew exactly why Lola hadn’t asked for help. She hated “help” even though she relied on everyone around her. She always had to have it on her own terms, or she made a stink about it.

  Now Lola asked, “Are you really breaking up with me?”

  “I need time to think about it,” Martin said.

  For once in her life, Lola didn’t nag or whine until she got what she wanted. She sat there nervously chewing the inside of her mouth, glancing over at Martin every now and again. Occasionally she looked back and gave me an apologetic half-smile. I could tell she wanted to talk to me about what had happened with Dick, but she was more worried about getting Martin’s forgiveness right now.

  It hurt a little to be second on her list of concerns. But I had already accepted weeks ago that Lola had moved on.

  Sitting on the bench seat in the back, Vic put his arm around my shoulders. I was glad to lean into him, feeling how warm and safe it felt to be in his arms. My eyes closed. There was nowhere else I wanted to be.

  Martin drove us to Greenpoint without asking. It was a silent ride in the darkness, with the street lights flashing through the front windows of the van.

  With my head against Vic’s shoulder, I watched Lola watch Martin. Lola opened her mouth a few times to say something. But my sister managed to restrain herself. I had never seen her make such an effort to do something she didn’t want to do.

  When we arrived at my graffiti-covered place in Greenpoint, Martin came around to open the sliding door of the van. Vic took my hand to help me out.

  Then Martin opened up the passenger door for Lola. “Get out,” Martin told Lola.

  I winced in sympathy, as my sister slowly got out of the van. Lola stood in front of Martin, oddly passive and silent, looking up at him. I was reminded of the night at the Chamber when I saw Lola standing in front of Martin, listening so intently to him.

  I held my breath. Their relationship was on the line over this. But I had to admire Martin for how he was dealing with it. He wasn’t yelling or angry, even though Lola must have had sex with Dick a few different ways to pay off $600 of what she “owed” him.

  “I’ll take the consequences,” Lola said bravely. “Whatever you want. I don’t want to lose you over this.”

  Martin shook his head sadly. “I do adore you, my spunky girl. But you’re the one who asked for this. You wanted to be stronger. To learn the discipline you need over yourself. Your impulsive, selfish ways are fine if that’s what you choose. But that’s not for me.”

  Lola jerked as if he had slapped her. “I want you. I want our relationship. I’ve never been so happy.”

  “Good, otherwise I wouldn’t let you come home with me.”

  “So you’re not kicking me out?” she asked.

  “We live together, girl. I’m not kicking you out just because I’m not having sex with you.”

  “But I want more… than working together. I know I deserve to be punished.”

  Martin finally smiled. “If you want to be punished, I can do that. Get in the van.”

  Lola let out her breath in a relieved sigh. At the last second she turned and gave me a hug. It felt so good! Then my sister climbed into the van.

  I worried about Lola. “What are you going to do to her?” I asked Martin.

  “Enough so she doesn’t forget this,” he said flatly. Then he smiled at me. “No more than she deserves.”

  I smiled faintly in return. As Martin go
t into the van with a wave, I asked Vic, “Is Lola going to be okay?”

  “She needs boundaries. Martin gives her that. No wonder she’s happy with him.”

  “I’m starting to understand,” I agreed. “He can give her what I couldn’t. Maybe I took care of her too well. I didn’t give her a chance to learn how to take care of herself.”

  “Sometimes letting someone fail is the best way to help them,” Vic agreed.

  As Martin drove off, that left me with alone with Vic. Not Victor. Not my master, but the man who had rushed to save me again, and saved my sister, too.

  What to do about Vic?

  While I was ready to reconsider everything, I couldn’t do that in a flash standing here on the sidewalk. I wanted to be with him, without a doubt. But my head was already reeling from finding out that Lola had been lying to me for over a year.

  I stood there silently, not ready to say good-bye but not ready to move forward, either.

  Chapter 47

  Vic

  I almost suggested that we go up to the roof—I could hear music coming from up there. She had said she wanted to show it to me. We could hang out together, feel more comfortable together, and start to put our past in the past.

  More than anything, I wanted to put my arm around her again, like she let me in the van, and hold her so she knew she wasn’t alone. So I would know that I wasn’t alone. Even if it was only for those precious seconds that slipped by too quickly.

  Maybe someday that feeling would last.

  I wanted it so badly that I smiled at Sierra in the way that usually worked with women.

  And then I stopped. I remembered I wasn’t playing a role with Sierra. I wasn’t trying to manipulate her into doing what I wanted, to get what I wanted.

  “Are you okay?” Sierra asked, seeing my smile falter.

  I nodded, smiling for real this time, albeit with a little sadness. It was tough to change, tough to be the man she needed me to be. “I don’t want to go, but it’s that time.”

  She looked torn. “I’d like to talk, but I’m not sure I can handle anything else right now.”

  “I get it. A lot has happened tonight.” I reached out to clasp her hand, lacing my fingers in hers. “We have plenty of time to talk. I hope a very long time. There’s no rush.”

  I brushed her cheek with my fingers, and leaned into kiss her. For me, it was a chaste kiss. I wasn’t trying to seduce her into taking me upstairs. She was soft and pliable in my arms, the way I loved her. No longer afraid or resisting me. Open and vulnerable.

  Now her eyes were shining like they did when she cried, only she was glowing with pleasure.

  We separated slowly, and I began to back away to leave. Neither of us said a word, not wanting to break the spell.

  Until I was far enough way that her hand finally dropped from mine.

  I swallowed at the sudden chill it gave me. But I had to do it. I turned to walk away.

  Chapter 48

  Sierra

  My arm was still half-raised. I didn’t want to let him go. But he was walking away. Then he glanced back to look at me one last time.

  There were no lies in his clear gray eyes. I knew exactly what Vic was thinking—he loved me, like he had never loved anyone. He had proven he was a changed man when he confessed to everyone what he had done. And he had proven again and again that he would do anything to help me. Watching Vic hold Dick back had been a pure rush of guilty excitement in the midst of a bunch of nastiness. But because Vic was there, I was okay.

  For the first time in my life, I wasn’t the one who had to pretend to be strong so everything would be okay.

  I suddenly realized I had forgiven my sister without a second thought. Despite all of the pain Lola had put me through the past year. Despite the lies and the damage it had done to our relationship. Because I loved my sister, and always would.

  I would never regret forgiving Lola. And I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t forgive Vic. I craved his touch like I craved the air inside of me. Like I needed him to live.

  “Vic!” I called out. He was nearly to the end of my building.

  Vic turned as I ran up to him. “What is it?” he asked.

  “I forgot to tell you something,” I said breathless.

  Vic put his arms around me. “What is it?”

  “Don’t go. Don’t ever go.”

  He started to smile. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t. Whatever you say, Sierra.”

  I smiled, too. “I love you, Vic. I really do.”

  I kissed him, and it took only a moment for him to realize I meant it. That I was done holding back, when I knew we had to be together. I kissed him like I had never kissed him before, knowing exactly who he was, and knowing how much he loved me.

  I lost myself in him. In that lovely full feeling inside of me, swelling to fill us both. Finally.

  It was really happening. I couldn’t wait to start our relationship for real this time.

  Epilogue

  Sierra

  I was snuggled into the leather couch with my cup of hot chocolate, looking out at Vic’s amazing view. “Look! There’s snowflakes!”

  Vic came out of the bathroom to see. We stood together at the window watching the snow swirl in all directions, caught in the drafts between the buildings.

  “It looks like it’s falling upwards,” I laughed. “I’m glad I don’t have to go back home tonight.”

  Vic’s arms went around me from behind, so I could lean back into his firm chest. His summer tan was gone after several months working indoors as a supervisor. But I was glad he didn’t have to work outside in weather like this anymore. The thought of him standing on the tarmac, cold and wet, made me clutch his arms tighter. He had done that for too long, proving himself.

  “I’m glad you’re spending Christmas here with me,” Vic murmured into my ear.

  “Me, too,” I said.

  Usually I went home for Christmas Eve, but when I texted my mom that I wanted to stay in the city, she told me to have fun. But I was lucky compared to Vic, who hadn’t spoken to his grandparents or his mom in years, so there was no question of him going back to New Jersey for the holiday.

  “This is the perfect Christmas Eve,” I told him. As long as we had each other, we would be all right.

  “Do you want your surprise on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?” Vic teased.

  “Oh!” I loved Vic’s surprises. He had been making me feel good since we got back together, in every way possible. “I want it now! If I have to wait, I won’t be able to think about anything else.”

  “Me either,” he agreed.

  Now I was really excited. If he thought it was special, it was bound to be super-amazing.

  Vic squeezed me tighter, then waved one arm at the window in front of us. “This is it!”

  “What?” I asked, confused. The swirling snow spangled the view.

  “I’m giving you my view.” Vic turned me so he could look into my eyes. “Will you move in with me, Sierra? I want this to be your home. With me.”

  I stared at him. “You want to move in together?”

  Vic smiled. “Most definitely. I told you this summer that I love you, and I want to be with you always. I know it’s fast, but it feels like the right thing to do. I hate it when you leave.”

  My throat tightened. I wanted to cry, but it felt good. I kissed him, letting him know without words that I felt the same way.

  “So that’s a yes,” Vic laughed, when we finally parted.

  I looked around the room, my expression falling. “I hoped that one day we would move in together, but I never imagined it would be here.”

  “Does it remind you too much of the lies?” he asked quietly.

  She took a deep breath. “No, not anymore. But you said you hated sharing this place with Adrianne, that it was too small. Won’t it be the same with me?”

  “It felt small because she was always complaining about it. If you think it’s too small, we can find o
ur own place together.”

  “No,” I said quickly. “It’s huge compared to my room in the loft. I love it here. I love the view.”

  “Yeah,” he smiled. “That’s why I’m giving it to you.”

  I kissed him again, long and lingering. “It’s what I’ve always wanted, Vic.”

  “Well, I’m glad I can fulfill at least one of your dreams.”

  I felt blissfully happy. “More than that. As it turns out, my darling Vic, you’re my dream come true.”

  ###

  For more books by Susan Wright, go to: www.susanwright.info

  Good Girl

  Is it just the chase he loves?

  There’s always a risk when you take a walk on the wild side. A risk that you may not be able to come back. That’s what Kalico Jones fears when she meets a hot sculptor who takes what he wants and gets any woman he wants. Hunter Munro is definitely not the right man for Kali. He’s unstable, without a real job, and he knows how to catch a girl with his dominant ways. Kali just wants to keep her head down so she can keep her dream job in New York City, but with Hunter in the mix, that’s impossible.

  Hunter knows he’s all wrong for Kali, but he love the chase she gives him. If it means he has to break through her defenses to free the wild child within, then that’s what he’ll do. Even if it shatters her world.

  But can Hunter learn to love Kali without trying to control her?

  Will Kali reject Hunter along with her deepest dreams?

  A New Adult Romance with a kinky twist.