But he’s holding me so close. He’s got me wrapped up with both arms and I’ve never felt safer. Never felt more aware of another person who’s directly beside me in the dark, in the quiet.
His other hand rests on my lower back, directly above my tailbone, though at the almost-kissing point, his fingertips stretched a little and I shivered at the tickle as they grazed the top of my behind.
And part of me, a distant part of me that’s maybe who I used to be wants to surface. Wants to surface and reach down and stroke his erection, parting my lips against his, stroking that sexy, full bottom lip with the tip of my tongue, signaling him to please, fucking please devour me.
Please say my name in that deep, husky voice as you touch me. Please touch me everywhere. Make me remember what it feels like to have a man touch me like I’m someone they want, not just someone that’s there.
But that distant part of me is so far away from who I am now that she can’t get close enough to do what she wants.
A single teardrop escapes from my eye, then trails down my face until it lands on his bare chest. I dry it with my hair, catching more tears before they fall. He doesn’t let go of me. Instead, he cups the back of my head and plants a kiss on the tip of my nose.
I place my palm flat over his chest on the right, feeling the smooth, muscled skin, the immense heat of him, feeling the urge to sob but pushing it back.
Instead of tipping my head back and kissing him like I want to do, I close my eyes and eventually, sink under, feeling safe enough to fall asleep in Killian Coulter’s arms.
30
Killian
I wake to darkness, and it takes a second to realize where I am. Violet’s bed.
She’s pulled all the blinds closed tight. And she’s not here. I sit up.
They weren’t closed last night. I didn’t get into her bed till nearly dawn, so she must’ve done that so I could sleep in. I’ve got no clue what time it is.
I get up and wander out, expecting to see her in the kitchen, in the living area, somewhere out here. She’s not, so I slip back into her room and inside the bathroom. There’s a hair iron on the counter. It’s off, but there’s hair product and makeup out too so she’s obviously gotten up and gone somewhere. I lick my fingertip and touch the ceramic plate. No sizzle, not even a bit of warmth; she’s probably been gone a while.
After heading to my own room, I take a leak in my master bathroom, and then find my phone in my tux pocket. It’s after two o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t have a clue when I last slept this late in the day, up till dawn or not. Maybe I slept late because the sun wasn’t baking me for a switch. Maybe I slept late because for some of it, I had her in my arms.
Checking my phone, I see a text from Jag.
Racquetball! What time? My flight tonight is at eleven forty, so not a rush. We should do dinner too and catch up. Hmu.
Text from Wes.
R.I. went straight back to the apt last night and hasn’t come out yet. I’ve got something on so Zack’s taking over as we’re short-staffed today. He’ll be in touch with any updates.
Where’s Violet?
I check the live feed for my parking zone and her car is gone. Where is she?
Did she take off early so she wouldn’t have to see me today after last night?
Things were pretty cozy in her bed. It took a fuck of a lot to keep my self-control in check with her pressed against me, so soft, smelling so good, her palm on my chest, shivering until my body heat warmed her up.
She fell asleep before I did and snuggled in deep, cocking her leg so it went between mine, meaning her knee gave me an angry erection. She wiggled closer and when her pelvis was in contact with my dick, I had to grind my teeth together to stop myself from flipping her to her back, tearing her little panties down, and finding my way inside her. I had to shift her a little to lose the feel of the heat between her legs. I stuffed some of the ridiculous quilt I bought for her between us. But I didn’t let her go. I just put a little bit of something between us. Begrudgingly.
I had almost fallen asleep in my own bed but knew, sinking with dread toward passing out, that I’d be plagued by worry all night and I’d end up sleepwalking, so decided to save myself the trouble and agony by climbing in preemptively.