Page 102 of Almost Yours
“Violet,” Rowan interrupts my thoughts, his voice husky as he tilts my chin up to meet his gaze. “That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
I bury my face against his shoulder. “I’ve never done that before. I didn’t even know I could.”
“Well, you can.” His voice is rough with satisfaction as he carefully lowers me to my feet, keeping one arm locked around my waist when my legs wobble. “And I’m adding that to the list of things I’m going to make you do again.”
I peek up at him through my lashes, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Is that so?”
“You coming so hard you soak us both? Absolutely.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “That was fucking unreal, baby. Now come here.”
He captures my lips again in a long, heated kiss that leaves no room for doubt before he rinses us off again with cooling water. We get dried off, and when we’re back in our room, he pulls back the covers and waits for me to slide in, his bare body joining me. His arms find me in the darkness, pulling me against his chest until my back is flush against him, his heart beating steadily against my spine.
Just when I think he might be drifting toward sleep, he shifts, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His eyes trace my face, lingering on my lips before meeting my gaze with an intensity that steals my breath.
Without a word, he lowers his head, capturing my mouth in a kiss that starts as a gentle press but quickly deepens. His tongue slides between my parted lips, tasting me with unhurried care.
The kiss is slow and sweet. His tongue strokes against mine, drawing a soft moan from my throat. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark in the dim light, filled with so much emotion it makes my chest ache. He brushes his thumb across my bottom lip, swollen from his kiss.
“Thank you,” he whispers, his voice rough with emotion.
I reach up to touch his face, fingers tracing the stubble along his jaw. “For what?”
“For trusting me.” His eyes search mine, something vulnerable wavering in their depths. “For being here. For making this house feel like a home.”
I swallow hard, blinking back the unexpected sting of tears. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
He pulls me closer, tucking me against his chest in a way that’s both protective and desperate.
“Get some sleep,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I close my eyes, lulled by his warmth and the gentle rise and fall of his chest.
thirty-four
. . .
Rowan
Violet’s breathing deepens, her features softening as sleep claims her. For a long time, I just lie there, memorizing the curve of her cheek, the fan of her lashes against her skin, the slight part of her lips. Everything about her is perfect.
I roll over, careful not to disturb her, and grab my phone from the nightstand. A message notification glows on the screen—two texts.
Melissa:
Need to see you.
Melissa:
Please, Rowan, it’s bad.
And just like that, I’m back in that run-down apartment in Arizona. Melissa was my neighbor. A friend. We ended up sleeping together once, which was a mistake, and I’d realized she was high before I’d even pulled my shirt back on.
She’d needed help. I gave it. She crashed on my couch for months after she lost her apartment. Then she disappeared when she was back on her feet.
She’s using again, there’s no doubt about it. This is her pattern—when everything else is a blur, she reaches for the one safe thing in her life. Me.
Every single time, it brings up the memory of my sister. The one I failed. I was young and hadn’t seen the signs, or maybe I had, and just didn’t want to believe them. It eats me alive every day.
So when Melissa needed something solid, I let her lean on me because I thought maybe if I could help her, it’d make up for the time I couldn’t help the one person I should’ve.
