Page 39 of Straightened Out

With everything going on, I didn’t realize all of this happened on the day we should’ve been celebrating her. She came to Miami looking for a good time and all she got was a fucking nightmare.

I turn the water off and grab a towel from the rack. Wrapping it around my waist, I lean over the vanity and wipe the steam from the mirror with the palm of my hand. I brace my hands on the edge of the counter and stare at my reflection, much like I did the night I brought her back to my hotel room.

Then, I was able to convince myself I was no good, that she deserved more than anything I could give her. That I wasn’t the man she thought I was and the sooner she realized that the better off she’d be.

Tonight, I don’t give a fuck.

She’s already seen the worst of me.

I turn around and pull open the door. Padding across the bedroom, I round the bed and pull down the covers. I look at her small frame and I wait for my conscience to rear its ugly head, but it doesn’t.

Maybe it fucking died tonight with everything else.

Dropping the towel from my body, I climb into the bed and roll onto my side. I peel the comforter away from Violet and trail a hand down her side. My fingers round her hip and I pull her flush against me, burying my face in the crook of her neck. I breathe in her scent and my body instantly reacts. I press my lips to her neck, flicking my tongue over her silky skin and a groan rips past my lips.

She mewls softly and turns her head. I inch back and her eyes flutter open. Shock fills her features as she stares at me, but it quickly fades and is replaced with something that looks a fuck of a lot like lust. There’s no way I can ignore that. No turning back.

I bring my hands up to her face and my thumb gently traces her lower lip.

“Happy birthday, Bug,” I rasp.

She doesn’t reply, she simply winds her arms around my neck and waits for me to make my move. I search her eyes, looking for the slightest shred of doubt or fear…anything that tells me this isn’t what she wants. But those blue eyes hold nothing but promise. Bending my head, I suck in a breath and put us both out of our misery by slamming my lips against hers.

So fucking soft.

So fucking perfect.

So fucking intoxicating.

Unable to restrain myself, my tongue slides over her lips, coaxing her mouth open.

Just one taste.

One fucking taste.

Her fingers comb through my hair and her lips part, granting me permission to take…and take I do. I slide my tongue over hers and she moans. It’s the sweetest fucking sound and all the encouragement I need to fuck her mouth. I drive my fingers through her hair, fisting the ends and angling her head so I can kiss her deeper.

The tension I was feeling in the shower starts to dissolve as she kisses me back. My teeth scrape her lips, our tongues clash, and my fucking dick—hard as steel—presses against her belly.

I don’t know who pulls away first, if it’s a joint effort or what, but as soon as our mouths separate, our eyes spring open and we stare at one another.

“You kissed me,” she whispers.

“Yeah,” I rasp.

“Do it again.”

I’m not sure if it’s a plea or a demand, but I answer the call and this time I kiss her slowly, savoring every fucking second, knowing it’s all I’m ever going to get.

Men like me don’t get to keep pretty little things like Violet.

We live for the stolen moments and take what we can get.

Men like me are destined to end up alone.

Chapter 13

Violet Cabrera

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