“Let me help.” Vander moves toward them, but I shoot him a warning look that halts him mid-step.
“Don’t even think about it. You’re still healing.” I point at the bench that runs along the wall on the inside of his new dining table. “Sit your ass down, and leave the heavy lifting to someone else for a change.”
My words hold double meaning, and I know he gets it. It’s been difficult for Vander to take a back seat while everyone else has busted a gut to get his new apartment ready for him to move into before Christmas. It’s directly above the boxing club, and it was a gift from Jimmy. The large industrial-type space comprises two main areas. One side is being kept for Vander’s new art studio, and the other side is his living space. It hasn’t been used as an apartment in a long time, but it still had a small kitchen and separate bathroom, both desperately in need of renovation.
The space was largely lying vacant, and Jimmy didn’t hesitate to offer it to Vander in his time of need. He owns the building, and he’s refusing to take rent, and honestly, I could kiss the man. He’s the father Vander never had, and I can tell from the interactions between them that Jimmy loves like him a son.
We have spent the past ten days stripping the place and getting it ready for Vander to move into. I found a contractor to replace the old kitchen and bathroom with new ones and a guy to sand and varnish the original hardwood floors. Stella, West, Ridge, and I came over every night after dinner to paint the walls, and it’s actually been a fun bonding time. It allows all of us to forget our problems and just enjoy doing something to help Vander.
Vander has been moody and grumpy all week because I wouldn’t let him help. His ribs are still sore, and he needs to heal. I suspect part of his moodiness stems from sexual frustration. Something I can relate to. Ever since he bared his naked body to me, I have been unable to forget how freaking sexy he is. His toned ass. That carved six-pack that almost looks painted on. His enticing big dick. My little electric friend was getting so much use it died, and now I’m reliant on my fingers to get me off every night. It’s becoming problematic because I cannot get him out of my head. Every night, when I lie in bed and close my eyes, he is all I see.
Vander’s cock is beautiful. I never thought I would say that about any man’s cock, but it’s the truth. He is long and thick and straight with a soft purple head and manicured pubic hair. Not that I’m an expert. I only have Curtis to compare him to, but there is no comparison. I feel like I’ve been stuck with a cheap, inferior Costco dick for years while now I’m being offered the Whole Foods Market experience which comes at considerable cost but it’s worth paying the extra for the increase in quality and service.
“Mom!” Stella tugs on my elbow, yanking me out of the way as Crusher and West carry the couch into the room. “You were miles away.” She peers at me. “Are you feeling okay? You’re very red in the face.”
I turn even redder at her words. “I’m fine.” I wave my hands in the air. “It’s just warm in here,” I lie.
“Mom, it’s fucking freezing. We only just turned the heating on,” West unhelpfully supplies.
Vander is sporting the biggest grin on his face, and I swear he always seems to know where my mind has wandered to.
“Must be your hormones,” Stella quips. “Though you’re far too young to be getting hot flashes.”
“Stella!” I shriek, absolutely mortified at the turn of this conversation. “Just stop,” I hiss, and she giggles.
Leaving the guys to retrieve the rest of the furniture and boxes from the moving van, I head to the kitchen to make something for dinner. Anything to distract me from that embarrassing conversation. I dropped by the grocery store on my way home from work and came straight here to put everything away. Stella drove Ridge over while West and Vander drove the U-Haul rental, and Crusher came in Vander’s truck. Removing the chicken and vegetables from the refrigerator, I set them on the counter. I am stretching up to the overhead cabinet when Vander appears behind me.
“I’ll get it.” He reaches over me. “What do you need?”
“The white rectangular dish.”
He places it on the counter, beside the chicken and vegetables, squinting as he studies it. “I don’t remember owning this.”
“Because you didn’t,” I say, selecting a few jars of herbs from the rack fixed to the wall. “I bought you new stuff.” Biting on the inside of my cheek, I admit something we have been keeping from him. “Your dad trashed the carriage house after the guys collected your paintings, clothes, personal belongings, and furniture. They didn’t think to pack up the kitchen.”
His jaw pulls into a tight line. “You should have told me.”
“I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, you have a brand-spanking-new kitchen, and it deserves all new stuff.”
“Let me pay you for it.”
“Consider it a housewarming gift.” I smile at him as I turn the oven on.
Discreetly, he hooks his pinkie around mine. His eyes are shining with emotion when he looks down at me. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”
I can think of plenty of ways you can repay me.
I swat that annoying inner devil aside as Vander’s mouth tugs up at the corners and he fixes me with a knowing look. Gah, how does he do that?! “People care about you, and we all want to keep you safe.”
The smile slips off his face. “Did the psycho return to work yet?”
I shake my head as I extract a wooden spoon and chef’s knife from the drawer and place them on the chopping board. “He didn’t show up all week. Apparently, he has a viral infection that is contagious, so he canceled all of his face-to-face client meetings and worked from home.”
He harrumphs. “A likely story. At least it keeps him away from you.”
I know he’s worried about retaliation. “I’m not going to let him do anything to me. Try not to worry,” I say as I place chicken breasts into the oven dish.
“Give me something to do,” he says as the guys carry his TV inside.
“You can chop these.” I hand him the knife, the yellow squash, and a zucchini.
“Have you thought any more about my suggestion?” he asks, while removing another knife from the drawer and handing it to me.
I get to work on chopping the red onion, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, and tomatoes while we talk. “I’ll do it,” I confirm as we work side by side. “Learning self-defense is a no-brainer, and Jimmy assured me he had no issue with you teaching me in the gym.”
“Cool.” He smiles warmly at me, and I get lost in his gorgeous face for a couple seconds.
“Mom.” Stella stalks toward us, and I quickly drag my gaze from Vander. “Ridge is bored, so I’m going to take him downstairs to the boxing club to show him around. Jimmy said I could.”
“Good idea, but be back in thirty minutes to help set the table for dinner.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” She salutes me before grabbing Ridge into a chokehold and wrangling him out the door.
Vander laughs. “Stella is a spitfire. The guys in school are nuts about her. They are all vying for her attention.”