Marissa's POV

The last several weeks have been amazing. The guys had been taking me out on individual and some group dates. It was fun getting to know them each, but it also made me feel guilty that I was still hiding so much from them. But how do I tell them about my secret life - will it even matter? I want so badly to believe this will last. I hummed as I looked at the computer screen, rereading the email for the fourth or fifth time. A knock at the door pulled me out of my trance. "Hey, Rissa, can we talk?" Chloe asked, poking her head in slightly.

I felt my stomach tense, but smiled, "Sure Clo, come on in." I grabbed some water from the fridge and offered it to her, but she declined so I opened it and took a sip as she spoke.

"I wanted to apologize for the other day. I shouldn't have been so rude to Mr. Taylor and as for Jackson, well, I'm so sorry, Rissa. I had no idea what he was doing," she kept wringing her hands and finally broke out in tears, "Oh Rissa, I don't know what I'm going to do. He... he's been so moody and I'm pregnant again. I'm scared," she confessed.

I quickly came around the table and put my arms around her shoulders, "Shhh, it's okay, Clo, we'll figure it out together. We just need to focus on you for now, okay?" She nodded and hiccuped. "Where are the boys?"

"At the sitter. Jackson is out of town with a client, I think. It's the second trip in less than a month." She looked up, wide-eyed, "You don't think he's having an affair do you? I mean, that would explain the change in behavior. Oh, gods..." she began to sob again.

She's not wrong. It would explain the behavior, but at this time, it really doesn't matter. "Clo, let's not worry about that right now. How about I come over tonight and help out with the boys? We can talk and figure out what you want to do."

"Can we come to your place?" she asked, "I mean, what if he comes home early?"

"Of course, that's a great idea," I said. "Pack PJs for the boys and we can make it a sleepover." She hugs me again, mumbling her thanks, then leaves. I jump when my phone rings and open it without even looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Marissa?" my father's voice comes through the speaker.

"Yes, Father, how can I help you?" I try to keep the venom out of my voice at the unexpected call.

"Can't a Father just call to check on his girlie?" he asks and I almost choke. That man hasn't called to just check in my entire life.

"Sorry, Father, you just caught me off guard. I was just dealing with something here at work."

"Well, I was hoping to talk with you about your mother."

My breath catches, "Mother? Is everything alright?"

He pauses, "Well, not really. She's been rather depressed as of late, and, well, it got worse when she didn't get to see you last time. Marissa, can you come to see her? I know you don't really want to be around, but this isn't about us, it's for her." I was stunned. Never in my life has my father asked me for anything and he sure as hell has never asked anything on someone else's behalf. "Marissa?" he said.

"Oh, yeah, I'm still here. I have a few things going on here, but what about the first weekend in November? That's only a few weeks from now, would that work?" I waited for him to answer, hoping he wouldn't push for sooner. Gabe had gone to so much trouble to help with the office party and now Chloe, well, I needed to be here.

"That will be fine. Why don't we keep it between us and you can surprise her when you get here, okay, girlie?" I cringed at the nickname, but quickly agreed and hung up the phone. Well, fuck this has turned into the most bizarre Wednesday of my life so far.

****

I'd been working on contracts for most of the day when a soft knock interrupted me. Looking up I was met with Victor's whiskey-colored eyes. "Hey handsome," I said and stood up to greet him. He pulled me against him and hummed as I pressed a kiss to his cheek. "What brings you here?"

"I just had a sudden need to see the most beautiful woman I know and kiss her," he said in that deep voice that made me want to melt every time.

"Do I know her?" I teased.

He lifted my chin and pressed his mouth to mine, forcing my lips open with his tongue. I swear I almost had an orgasm just from kissing him. "I certainly hope you know her," he chuckled, "because she's the only woman I want to kiss." He cupped my face and to prove his point, he kissed me again. I swear my toes just curled. When he pulled away, I just stared, kind of dazed.

"Wow," I breathed, "You can kiss me like that anytime you want." He laughed at my response.

He looked over at the stack of files on my desk, "Looks like you've had a busy day. Did I interrupt?"

"A blessed reprieve from contracts. Besides, kisses are the best way to interrupt," I giggled.

"You know, Gabe always tells me that same thing," he purred and kissed me again. Oh, wow, at this rate, I'm never finishing those contracts. These men keep me on my toes, that's for damn sure. "So how much longer will you be working? I thought, well actually, I was hoping I could steal you away this evening." He had a hopeful expression as he spoke.

"I need to drop a few things off with acquisitions then I can finish the rest tomorrow." He started to protest about not wanting me to put off work, but I explained, "It's alright, really. My eyes were getting blurry and my head was hurting. Winston always said to walk away from the paperwork then. The people who push when they aren't clear-headed make mistakes, and mistakes cost money."

"Winston sounds like he was a wise man," Victor said with a smile.

"Well, he married me, so I'd like to think so," I laughed as he rolled his eyes at me. "So what are our plans? Do I need to change?" I asked.

He grinned, "Well, yes, but I already have what you need."

"Hmm, seems someone was very hopeful," I teased him. "What would you have done if I was busy or said no?"

He knelt before me, taking my hands in his and kissing them softly, "I would have begged." The sight of him on his knees before me was enough to make my panties wet. Be still my heart. I swear these men are like something out of a Hallmark channel movie. I looked up and noticed a few employees peeking through the door.

"Um, Victor, you should probably get up," I said, "I think my employees are getting the wrong idea."

"What idea would that be, beautiful?" he said with a coy smile.

"Well, um, uh, it kinda looks like, well..." I sputtered - great foot in mouth - ugh!

He stood, letting out a loud laugh, "Damn you're even more beautiful when you blush. Besides, work is the last place I'd propose." He placed a kiss on my cheek, "A woman deserves to be romanced and make sure it's a moment she'll never forget."

"That goes both ways," I added. "It isn't just about the woman. It should be special for everyone." I gathered my files and locked up the others. "Walk with me?"

"Anywhere," he said and took my arm.

Once I'd dropped off the paperwork, we headed down to the parking garage. He had me leave my car and get into the car he had waiting for us. Once we were in the car, he handed me a garment bag. "I took the liberty of bringing a dress with me. Gabe helped me choose. We can stop by your place or you could change here in the car," he gave me a smirk.

I unzipped the bag and let out a low gasp. It was exquisite. I laid it out on the seat and slipped off my shoes. I took off my blouse and then slid my skirt off as well. Victor let out a groan. Leaning forward he ran his hands over my exposed skin, tracing the lacy edges of my bra. "So beautiful," he whispered as he lowered his lips to my collarbone. He trailed kisses along my skin, and placing his hand on the small of my back, he pulled me into his lap. I could feel his hard length press against me and I rolled my hips, but he put his hands on my thighs and shook his head, "Stay still, my love. I want to touch you, but I don't want you to move."

"Yes, sir," I breathed and sat, straddling his lap as his hands wandered over my skin. I could feel the callouses on the pads of his fingers from years of playing the piano, and the scent of his earthy cologne filled my nostrils. He gently pulled my bra down, suckling my breasts until my nipples were taut. I moaned as his teeth grazed across my skin, "sir." He hummed and continued to taste my skin.

Finally, he cleared his throat and reached toward the dress. He undid the zipper and helped me place it over my head, then frowned. Reaching behind my back, he unclipped my bra and tossed it with my clothes from the office. Then he smoothed the dress and zipped me up. He chuckled when I reached down and adjusted my breasts, fluffing them up a bit since he had removed my bra, then he placed me on the seat and knelt on the floor in front of me and kissed my legs then slid on the matching heels. He leaned back and examined me. "Perfect."

The driver pulled into an underground parking area, and Victor exited the car first, then held his hand out to me. "I thought you'd prefer to avoid the paparazzi," he whispered in my ear as he led me into a private elevator. I nodded. With my overbearing father, I tried to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. When the elevator opened, I had to fight an urge to squeal. I'd been so engrossed in Victor that I hadn't realized we were at the Met. He took my hand and led me into the Balcony Lounge where we were escorted to a table. The waiter poured us each a glass of champagne and informed us our meals would arrive shortly. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of ordering for both of us," Victor said as we drank.

"I've noticed you all do that often," I commented.

"Does it bother you?"

"No, actually I find it comforting," I said honestly. "I'm a submissive at heart, Victor. My work and public life require me to be in control, but it's not how I ever wanted to live my private life."

He tapped his lip as he considered what I'd said. "What made you choose law? If you don't really like attention, then why pick a career that puts you in the spotlight?"

"Fair point. I actually wanted to do public defense when I first started, but after a six-month internship with the public courts, I realized that sadly the movie dreams were just that. Most people were guilty at least to some degree, and I couldn't bear the thought of helping a true criminal escape punishment. Then again, I couldn't do the other side either for fear of wrongful prosecution. So my moral crusader heart turned to contracts. They are far less dramatic," I laughed. "As for public life, well with my parents, I could have been a nun and still the press would have hounded me. When Winston and I married, it died down a bit, but then his accident caused a stir..." I coughed and took a long sip of water.

Victor took my hand, "Marissa, you don't have to."

I shook my head as the waiter brought our food. "For the lady, lobster on angel hair pasta with steamed vegetables, and for the gentleman, the sirloin - rare, with steamed vegetables as well. Will there be anything else, some more champagne perhaps?" Victor thanked him and waved him off, leaving us to enjoy our meal.

I twirled the pasta onto my fork with a sliver of lobster and let it melt onto my tongue. I let out a low sigh and hummed to myself. When I opened my eyes, I saw Victor's own dancing with fire. "I love the way you take in everything. You don't do anything halfway, do you?" he said, with a grin, "I envy the passion you have, the way you take the world by storm."

I blushed, "Thank you, but I think you are seriously underestimating yourself, Victor. I mean look at your own career - you were so young and a brilliant pianist - and you still are. Then there's the matter of your tech companies. Some of your designs are years ahead of the market, add in your work with how many charities - it's eleven, by the way, and last but not least, your husbands. It takes a truly brave and self-confident man to openly admit his love for eight other men even if polyamory is becoming more accepted."

He stared at me in surprise, then cleared his throat, "I think you just proved my point, love. I was married to Sang for six years and she didn't know me as well as you do in just a few months."

Once we'd finished our meal, he held his hand out to me, and we wandered around the museum. I stopped him in front of Monet's Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies. I felt his eyes studying me again and turned toward him. Without a word, he cupped my face and kissed me softly. I don't know how long we stood there kissing, but a security guard coughed, making us break apart with red cheeks. He pressed his forehead to mine. "I'm falling for you, Marissa, and it scares me, but the thought of not being with you scares me even more," he whispered.

I blinked back tears. Gods I wanted to let myself fall, but I was terrified they'd reject me. They'd see just how messed up I really am - find out what I've hidden and throw me away. They deserve so much better than me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Victor said, trying to pull away.

I cringed, "No, I'm sorry. You just caught me by surprise." I looked away and pulled at my fingernails nervously. "I, well, I just, I guess I think you all could do so much better than me. I'm such a mess, Victor. Good grief, you all already know about most of my past and my parents, well, none of you need that kind of mess in your life. Honestly, I keep expecting you all to realize I'm too much trouble."

He growled and pulled me against his chest. His eyes were dark as he spoke in a menacing tone, "Don't ever talk about yourself like that again. I do believe Kota already warned you," he raised his eyebrows. "You are not too much trouble, Marissa. You may have learned a lot about us in our adult lives, but we have far more in common with you than you might think. However, this isn't the place for that discussion." He took my hand in his and began walking toward the elevators.

He didn't speak again until we were in the car. "You mentioned my childhood earlier. Yes, I was considered a prodigy, but what the world never saw was the abuse. My mother was shrewd and often neglectful, but my father, well, he felt the need to beat me when I didn't perform to his standards or when I would dare to try and spend my own money. I was their cash cow that they paraded in front of the cameras, but behind closed doors, I was his punching bag and her scapegoat for everything. It was my fault my father had affairs according to her." His chest was heaving as he ranted. "I'd have been dead long ago if not for Gabe. Even when he lost his own family, he still took care of me. Never think you have the market on fucked up childhoods. While what your father did was despicable, it does not define you. Your marriage, your level of success, your thirst for life - all of those things outweigh the damage he inflicted. Please don't ever think less of yourself, Marissa, please."

I couldn't stop the tears as I wrapped my arms around him. I wasn't sure if I was crying for him or for myself. I felt bad for complaining about my life only to realize that his wasn't what it appeared to be from the outside either. And honestly, I should have known better. How many times did I hear comments about how lucky I was, or how blessed? I mentally scolded myself for such a childish mistake. He pulled back and brushed his thumb across my face, wiping off the tears. "Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry," he said in a gruff voice, trying to hide his own tears. "I just want you to know how much you really are worth our love. You are an amazing woman, Marissa, and we have all been so happy since you've come into our lives."

I pressed a kiss to his lips and sighed, "I guess I never thought I'd find anyone who would accept me after I lost Winston. The nine of you have been so amazing to me."

"We want to be so much more to you, Marissa," he said, taking my hand in his. "I speak for everyone when I say, we will give you the world if you let us. We'll take it at your pace, just let us be there for you."

"I think I'd like that," I said, leaning against his chest. "I'd like that a lot.

"Come home with me?" he asked softly. I nodded and he told the driver.  

Author's Notes: Victor *sigh*

Please follow, vote and comment!