Once outside the clinic, Vixen couldn't help leaning back against the wall to give herself a moment of rest. Cassidy's revelation had turned her completely world upside-down, and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.
She could understand why William's words had Christopher mistake her for a gold-digger at first, but surely, after getting to know her better, he would have realized he was wrong?
She had truly believed him when he told her he was in love with her, but—-
"Vixen..."
She jerked in shock, forgetting how she was positioned, and immediately ended up knocking the back of her head against the wall.
Ouch!
Mortification filled her, and tears stung her eyes. Why did she have to be clumsy now of all times?
She was about to turn away and leave, unable to bear the humiliation of being in his presence, now that she knew what he thought, but before Vixen could even take a step back, Christopher was suddenly there, his fingers gently parting her locks.
His touch on her scalp was feather-soft, and the heat of his presence so painfully familiar it had Vixen sucking her breath.
"Does this hurt?"
Her heart broke into further pieces at the raggedness of his voice, and Vixen could only shake her head as her tears threatened to fall.
"I can't see any bump." Christopher waited tensely for her to speak, but eventually, he had to let his arms fall back to his sides in the wake of Vixen's continued silence. He could sense her pain, and it was killing him. In his mind, he remembered just how happy she had been, telling him how much she had changed because of him—-
And it was only now, when it might be too late, that Christopher realized it was the same for him. He had always enjoyed fucking women, but not once had he been tempted to have a relationship with any one of them...until her. Since Vixen came literally knocking on his door, he realized that all other women had completely lost appeal.
Vixen was enough for him.
Because he loved her.
He did love her, but whether she would ever find it in her to trust him again...
He tried reaching for Vixen just as she took a step back, and a sense of desperation ripped through him at the thought of losing Vixen for good.
"I'm sorry," he said raggedly.
Vixen bit her lip hard.
"I was an idiot," he bit out.
Just harder and harder...
"I mistook you for something you weren't."
Until it drew blood.
And yet...
"By the time I realized I was wrong, it was already too fucking late."
The pain still wasn't enough to distract her.
"By the time I realized it was the same for me—-"
And Vixen started to cry.
"God, no."
His arms closed around her, and Christopher refused to let go even as she tried struggling out of his hold.
"I'm sorry, Vixen. And I love you. I truly fucking love you."
He said the words over and over.
"I love you."
He said them relentlessly and fiercely.
"Just give me a chance to prove it. Please."
And more than anything else, he said them because he knew he had nothing else to offer.
"Please, my love. Just one chance, and I swear...you'll never have to doubt me again."
VIXEN NEVER THOUGHT she had it in her to be a sadist. But as she listened to Christopher grovel his heart out, she realized that it was true. She had a bit of a sadist in her, to want Christopher Masterton to suffer just as she did.
And so even though her heart told her that his regret was genuine, and that his love for her was just as real as hers, Vixen forced herself to push him away and heard Christopher's harshly drawn breath at the contact.
"Please, Vixen."
Without ever meeting his gaze, Vixen spun around and quickly walked away, all the while holding her breath—-
There it was.
The sound of Christopher walking behind her, trailing and stalking her every move, and her lips pressed into a straight line in an effort to keep her smile in check.
She took the elevator and made a show of urgently jabbing the Close button, but Christopher not being an athlete for nothing, he was still able to make it in before the doors slid closed.
Vixen made a show of ignoring Christopher of course, and when another male guest came to join them at Deck 3, said guest stammered 'hello' at her while his gaze was fervently stuck at her breasts.
"I'm Harry, by the way."
"Vixen," she heard herself respond...with a smile.
And it was then Vixen knew.
She could actually smile at other men now...because of Christopher.
She could smile now because she loved him, faults and flaws and all.
She loved him, and so it was time...
CHRISTOPHER KNEW HE had lost the right to feel possessive towards Vixen. He knew what he had done was unforgivable, and that Vixen might never want to be with him again.
But even so...
The moment he heard Vixen start talking to another man—-
A man who was also still gaping at Vixen's chest like he was about to start licking her all over like a rabid, salivating dog—-
Christopher saw red, and with or without rights, he knew he was going to drive his fist into the asshole's face. But just as he took a step towards the fucking twat, he then heard Vixen say, "And this is Christopher Masterton, my boyfriend."
He was fucking what?
He glanced sharply at Vixen, and the moment he saw the impish gleam in her big, dark eyes, Christopher heard himself say, "Yes."
An extra second passed, and as the full impact of Vixen's decision to introduce Christopher as her boyfriend finally struck him—-
Vixen had a hard time keeping a straight face as she saw Christopher's hazel eyes also start to gleam...just before adding, "Fuck yes, I'm her bloody boyfriend."
A laugh escaped her, but this was cut mid-sound with Christopher yanking her into his arms, and as his mouth closed over hers, they both heard the man say rather sulkily under his breath, "Fucking overkill. It's not like I asked him more than once."
James & Leighton
Vixen only allowed herself a little smile once she was out of Christopher's room. While all things were once again right in their little world (or 'so fucking right, m'dear', as Christopher had put it), that certainly didn't mean everything had to be sugary sweet.
After a lovely bout of make-up sex in his suite, Christopher had wanted Vixen to ditch her room and move in into his. And while she did want that, too, she had still asked for time to think about it, just to make the footballer squirm a little.
If there was one thing she learned from casually observing Cassidy and William's relationship develop over time, it was how every relationship also needed an occasional bit of spice to keep things exciting. Vixen was determined that her own relationship be the same by making sure she kept Christopher on his toes. Since the lovely man had been spoiled by women his entire life, it would do him good to feel a dose of frustration here and there.
Vixen's phone started ringing just as she was about to turn around the corner, and a smile curved over her lips when she saw Christopher's name on the screen. She answered the call, saying, "What can I do for you, Mr. Masterton?"