Page 61 of Almost Yours
This morning, though, was different. She stirred beside me and pressed closer, all warm and soft. Then her hand slid beneath the covers, her breath ghosting over my chest as she moved down my body. Her fingers caught the waistband of my boxers and eased them down, and I sucked in a breath I couldn’t afford to lose. Her lips grazed the V below my hips, then drifted lower.
When her mouth finally closed around me, hot and wet and perfect, I nearly came undone right there.
Heaven isn’t clouds and harps. It’s Violet’s mouth on me at dawn, her blonde hair spilling across my thighs.
Now we’re heading into town, and I’m supposed to pretend I’m not already counting the minutes until I can get her alone again. She wants to try the new coffee place off the square. We’ve just parked, barely a block from the café, when it happens.
He’s tall and clean-cut with a rigid posture. He notices us first.
Violet stiffens at my side.
That’s all it takes. Some switch flips inside me. I know how to read people, and this guy is looking atmyViolet like he’s entitled to something. Meanwhile, he doesn’t look at meat all.
Violet doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t have to. The way her fingers tighten around mine tell me everything I need to know.
“Well, look who it is,” he says, voice dripping with false charm. “Violet Larkin.”
“Travis.” Her smile doesn’t show up at all. “Hi.”
Travis’seyes drop from her face to our joined hands, then finally to me. Something sour flashes across his face before he schools it into a smirk.
His gaze drags over me like I’m something he scraped off the sole of his shoe. “Didn’t think this was your type, Violet.”
Before either of us can say anything, he keeps going. “Word of advice, man. Don’t waste your time. She never puts out.”
The world goes red for a split second. My free hand curls into a fist at my side, every muscle in my body coiling tight.
“Rowan….” Violet says, her voice shaking.
My blood turns molten, rushing through my veins with such force I can hear it pounding in my ears. I take half a step forward before I catch myself, jaw clenched so hard my teeth might crack.
One punch. That’s all it would take to wipe that smug smirk off this bastard’s face. I’ve taken down men twice his size with less provocation. But Violet’s fingers tighten around mine, and I feel her trembling beside me. The fear isn’t for herself. It’s for what might happen next.
And just like that, I swallow it down. The rage. The violence simmering beneath my skin. Because she’s here, and she needs me to be the man who doesn’t solve problems with his fists anymore.
“You know what?” I say instead, my voice dangerously calm. “I feel sorry for you.”
He blinks, clearly thrown off.
“Only a pathetic man tries to humiliate a woman for having boundaries,” I continue, pulling Violet closer to my side. “Says a lot more about you than it does her.”
His face flushes an ugly shade of red. For a second, I think he might swing at me, and fuck, I wish he would. Instead, he mutters awhateverand shoulders past us.
I watch him go, making sure he’s well out of sight before I turn to Violet. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“Don’t. You never have to apologize for someone else being an asshole,” I say, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “Especially not that asshole.”
A small smile tugs at her lips. “You didn’t hit him.”
“Disappointed?”
She shakes her head. “Impressed. The old you would’ve laid him out on the sidewalk.”
“The old me would’ve been in handcuffs by now,” I admit. “But I’ve got more to lose these days.”
Her eyes soften. “Thank you. For not…you know.”
