Page 8 of One Naughty Christmas Night

Well, after what happened in the library, that changes things.

“Are you certain? She has never expressed pursuing a more romantic relationship with you?”

“I would hope she wouldn’t have tried to marry Bastion in the event she was in love with me,” Heath replied, clenching his hands tightly at his sides.

“Maybe she thought only she felt any attraction,” his father stated.

“I don’t think Victoria has ever been interested in anything more than friendship with me,” Heath stated, crossing his arms.

“I see the way you look at her, son. And the way she looks at you when you think we aren’t looking. I know your friendship with her extends to love, if not the romantic type but the friendly kind. She would make a wonderful wife for you, and love often grows from friendship. Your temperaments are similar, and we already love her as one of our own.”

He stepped forward, but Heath was unable to escape, trapped by the plant.

He clapped a hand on Heath’s shoulder. “If your friendship is all that it is, then don’t worry. But,” he pulled his hand away, “I would advise you to pull away a bit from her. Women are jealous creatures, and if you find a woman you want to love, your friendship with Victoria could get in the way of that.”

“I appreciate you voicing your concern, Father,” Heath said.

“I’ll see you later,” he replied, heading to the stairs.

Heath watched him disappear, and he made a beeline for his room, slipping inside the room as quickly as he could.

His conversation with his father had softened him, but the thought of Victoria’s desire-laden green eyes hardened him again, his arousal aching for relief.

It was a short jaunt to his bed, and he almost ripped his trousers open, taking his erection in hand and stroking it expertly. It didn’t take long for him to reach his release, the climax hitting him hard.

Ragged breaths escaped his chest while he lay recovering. Surprised by the intensity of his release, he sighed.

“What am I going to do?” he whispered to the ceiling. The idea of losing Victoria’s friendship left a cavern-sized hole in his heart.

You wouldn’t lose her if you made her your wife.

“What an absurd idea, Victoria as my wife.”

Victoria had been his friend forever, and he never thought of her as anything but. She was just Victoria. His best friend. The person he could tell everything to.

But that kiss, it changedeverything.

Not if you don’t let it.

He scoffed, the sound echoing through the room.

It changed everything, even if he didn’t want to admit it to himself.

He needed to speak to Victoria.

But first, he needed to clean up.

***

Victoria stared at the page, the words blurring before her eyes as she attempted to read the same sentence three times.

At a fourth attempt and getting nowhere, she dumped the book on the table next to her, a curse whipping from her as it slid to the floor.

She hung her head in her hands, tears threatening to fall.

“No more tears,” she whispered, swiping them away.

Standing, she made her way to the window.