Page 76 of Broken Rules
“Hm, I’m glad you see it that way—it’s refreshing, actually. Looking past perfection.”
“I agree.” Sighing, I close my hand over the bird and look out into the distance. “Every day, I stand in front of my mirror and tell myself affirmations to end my days in a positive state of mind. Something Kylo taught me. But sometimes I feel like they’re words with no real meaning because while I see the beauty, I don’t feel beautiful even with daily reminders.”
Lennox takes hold of my hand, stroking the back with his thumb. “You are beautiful, Evie.”
I smirk, looking at our now interconnected fingers. “It’s like the saying goes,beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Your vision of beauty is different from mine—like this bird’s imperfections. You can polish her up to cover the rough edges, but at what cost? What if she’s proud of those ruffled feathers? She fought her way out of a storm and made it to safety, only for someone to say she should cover those flaws. To match what society thinks is beautiful, she wonders why being imperfect is an issue to the point that she loses who she is to please everyone but herself.”
Lennox nods, his brows furrowed as he stares at the perfect figure in his hand, then he sighs and looks at me through clearer eyes, having seen the mask I wear every day. However, I smile because Lennox has always seen me for who I am, embracing my imperfections because they are what make me, me. He sees the real Evie outside Vivid doors.
He stands, moving the chair to the side as he draws me to my feet and pulls me toward him. We’re close but not flush as he slowly circles my body, goosebumps rising on my skin when he brushes the tips of his fingers across my bare thigh, smelling my hair while passing behind me, his eyes heavy as he rounds to the front and stares into my eyes.
“What are you doing,” I ask in a low tone when he holds my cheek in his palm.
“Exploring—I learn something new about you every second we’re together, and I want to know every detail.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and smile. “I love a thorough man.”
He hums, running his thumb across my bottom lip. “And I love your mouth.” I raise a brow, and he chuckles. “Not like that—well, yes, like that, but I love your honesty. How you’re not afraid to speak your mind, and when you play along with me with your slick tongue. Keeping me on my toes.”
“Never a dull moment in our world.”
“Dulls not even a word in our vocabulary.”
I lick my lips, lifting onto my toes. “Nope, but fuck is…and keep going.” Tipping my head back, I let out a breathy moan, “Don’t stop, please—”
“Mm, damn, baby.” He kisses my neck with a chuckle. “And I fucking love it. Every second.”
* * *
Staring into the bathroom mirror, I remove the rollers from my long layered hair, finger comb out the beach waves, and love my caramel highlights and side bangs for the summer season. I needed a change. Today’s a hot day for mid-July, the last few have been high in the 90s, and I’m counting the weeks until autumn returns. Sweater weather is my favorite season of all.
After applying a bright pink stain to my lips, I’m ready for wherever the day takes me. I’ve yet to return to Vivid since my talk with Jared, unsure if my time off is permanent. Though a part of me wants that piece of my life to end, the other half knows I’ll eventually be back within those walls. Jared was right about one thing, we both have ties to that place that won’t allow us to leave, and until we break free from them, we’ll always be Vivid.
Closing my eyes, I lean on the sink to get work off my mind and back to my current reality. Two months straight of Lennox Hunter, a man who wakes up before dawn every morning with coffee and his head between my legs—either at his place or mine, which is where we’ve spent the last few days.
I can still feel the effects of what his hands and mouth did to get me this morning, the mind-blowing orgasm on my kitchen island, just shy of brunch, still bringing me goosebumps while I begged for him to fuck me. He knows how to work my body better than I do and has no problem showing me how well he does.
Licking my lips, I smile at my flushed cheeks and blow out a long breath to calm my heated body—a quick cold shower is out of the question after already dolling myself up. One last look in the mirror, and I enter my bedroom, walking toward the window that overlooks the backyard, when I hear grunting in the distance. Lennox is digging a hole for a fire pit after I expressed how much I enjoy sitting by one on cooler days. His taking the task upon himself to make me happy makes me love him even more.
Jinx meows behind me, and I look back, not finding her, probably under the bed where she’s been relaxing the past two days. It’s been hotter than usual, so maybe she feels cooler down there. We’ve been keeping Jinx to give Sadie and Kylo some alone time while they deal with the stress of what awaits them next month, Kylo’s court date for striking Sadie’s ex-husband getting pushed back three months. I can’t imagine how they are feeling with Declan leaving his trial as a free man after what he did to her.
Another meow draws me to my knees as I crawl by the bed, and she’s back hiding under there, only this time, she’s heavily panting and too far for me to grab. “Aw, are you feeling hot, Jinxy? Come on out.”
When she doesn’t budge, laying flat on the ground, I furrow my brows and head back to the window.
“Lex…” I call for him as he tosses dirt to the side.
“Yeah?” He stabs the shovel into the ground, shielding his eyes from the sun as he searches for me. “What’s up?”
“Something’s up with Jinx. I think she might be overheating from this heat.”
He starts walking toward the house. “Did she drink water today?”
“Last I saw, it was still full—” Jinx meows, and I get on my knees by the bed as she’s licking between her legs.
Footsteps sound in the distance, and I glance back as Lennox walks into the room. “She’s under there again?”
“I think…do you know if Sadie got her spayed?”
