Page 65 of Protect

She smiles up at him and he reaches down and holds out his water bottle to cheers hers. I watch as he sets that damn pig onhis knee and points it toward the TV as he asks her why Tough Little Turtle always gets to be the one to drive theSuperPetswagon.

Who am I kidding?

I am sonotin control here.

The only light in the room is the lamp beside Violette’s sofa and the TV—that I currently have sports highlights playing on—while she puts Hollie to bed. I have no idea how to navigate this or any idea what I’m actually doing in Violette’s living room, aside from the fact that I couldn’t let her leave like that. The fear that rippled through me when she left like she might not come back punched me right in the gut.

I just wanted to come here and tell her I would wait—as long as she needed to feel comfortable. What I didn’t expect to find was Jack answering her front door or Hollie being home. But I did what I always do, I improvised, and now after meeting Hollie, I’m not regretting a single thing. I glance at the pig Hollie gave me that I was privileged enough to hang onto when she left to go to sleep.

I don’t really have any experience with four year olds, but she pretty much stole my heart the moment she handed me thatbowl of popcorn and asked me to cheers with a cute little grin. It’s obvious her mom is her number one fan—I can see why. Although, I might be a little biased based on account of how I’m feeling about Violette.

“She’s asleep and judging by the way she talked about you, I’d say you’re a hit,” Violette breathes out as she comes back into the living room carrying the baby monitor, wearing yoga tights andmysweatshirt. I can’t believe she kept it all these years. Her long waves are piled high on her head, her face is free of makeup, and she’s wearing fuzzy pink slippers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so pretty.

Vi looks around her living room and shrugs.

“So, you just charmed your way into my reality without even trying. This is it. The messy, mostly sticky life of a single mom who was too embarrassed to say her ex can be a dud. It isn’t romantic and it isn’t your life, so I panicked. I didn’t know how to make these two worlds meet when Troy called, so I thought it would be easier to just…bail.”

I don’t say anything. I just lean back on her couch and pat the space beside me. She makes her way over and takes a seat, and I do what I’ve wanted to do since she left my house. I move closer to her and without hesitation pull her into my arms and kiss her. Warmth spreads through me when I realize that, even though it’s only been a couple hours, I’ve missed her lips on mine.

“None of this”—I gesture around her cute little house—“would ever make me change my mind, Violette. You’re a mom, and it’s obvious you’re an incredible one, which only makes me want you more. You’re not getting rid of me that easily, you just need to catch up to me here. I’m not letting you out of my sight until you give me a fighting chance.” I kiss her again, because, fuck, I just want to. “I’m not making the mistake of letting you go again.”

“And you’re fairly certain I want to give you a fighting chance?” Violette asks in a flirty little tone. “Kinda cocky, isn’t it, Kingsley?”

That’s it.I pounce, grabbing her thighs and tugging her below me on the couch until she’s lying flat looking up at me.

She gasps.

“Fucking right I am.” I let my eyes rake over her,slowly. “You’re wearing my shirt.” I grin, hovering over her. I look deep into her eyes, just having her this close has my cock instantly waking up. I’ll never get enough of her. She’s so warm and she smells so good just inches from my face, I almost forget how to breathe.

“Maybe I just like the sweatshirt.”

“Or maybe you just like meandthe sweatshirt.”

Violette giggles and bites her bottom lip. “Maybe.”

“Violette. I was fucking crazy about you when I was eighteen, and I’m still crazy about you now. You just have to jump with me, let’s see where we land.”

“I’m scared,” she whispers. I feel her grip on my shirt tighten as the smile drifts from her face. “What if I fall for you? I can’t get over you twice.”

My chest tightens with her words. I hate that I hurt her, but I can’t go back, all I can do is move forward.

“I’ll be right there with you, Vi, we’ll fall together. We’re protons and electrons, remember? We need each other.” I stroke her face with my thumb. “Electrostatic,” I add, “is there anything better?”

“I don’t know,” she answers honestly.

I brush a lock of hair off her forehead. “Neither do I. But, fuck, I really want to find out,” I tell her, dropping my lips to hers. The kiss she offers me back isn’t like the ones from earlier. This isn’t gentle, it isn’t sweet. It’s demanding. It’s her lips, hurried yet slow, her tongue searching my mouth, hungry andcalculated. My hands sink into her hair and tilt her head. Violette meets me at every turn, kissing me until she’s breathless before I pull away slightly to nip, and suck her bottom lip into my mouth.

She’s fucking killing me with every little whimper, every little moan.

“All I want to do is take my time with you.” I tip my forehead to hers. “But at the same time, I’m in the biggest hurry to make up for all the years I haven’t been kissing you.”

Violette’s eyes focus on mine, the heat between us makes me want her so fucking badly I can hardly stand it, but on her couch while Hollie sleeps in the next room is not the time.

“Don’t let me fall alone, Kingsley.”

“Impossible. I’ll be right there with you.” I kiss her back. “And I have all the time in the world.”

It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever said to anyone, because I fell for Violette Taylor ten years ago, and I never got back up.

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