Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

RYDER

A fter we watched the trains run under the plants at the botanical garden, we left to check out the monuments.

I'd been to D.C. too many times to count since I grew up nearby. Today, we spent the most time at the World War II Memorial with its large fountain. Faith ran her fingers through the water and insisted on walking around to see the bronze sculptures.

For lunch we ate hot dogs from a street vendor, and then stopped for dinner at a taco restaurant. Faith talked about everything she'd seen that day, then scrolled through the pictures on our phones. On the ride home, Faith fell asleep in the back.

I glanced over at Violet. "Thanks for going with us today."

"It was fun."

"I've done D.C. so many times, but Faith hasn't. We never visited long enough to have the time to come down here."

"What about when you lived in Virginia? That's close by too."

"Stacy kept us busy with her social calendar. It's nice to have more of a say in what we do and when."

"I can imagine."

I reached over to touch her hand. "Have you had time to think about what we talked about last night on the phone?"

"I have."

"Have you come to any conclusions?" My heart had picked up speed. What would I do if she said no? I could continue to be friends with her, but it wasn't the same. What if she eventually dated someone else?

Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. "How would it work exactly?"

"So much of my life was planned out before. I'd kind of prefer if we take things day –by day and do whatever we feel comfortable with. There're no rules, and no one is dictating the pace."

Violet let out a breath. "That sounds nice."

I squeezed her hand before letting it go. "I like spending time with you, and Faith does too."

"Will she be okay if we're dating though?" Violet's voice was hesitant.

"She asked about it at breakfast."

"Oh?"

"She said she likes you, and she'd be okay if we dated. I think she's had some time to get used to it since her mother has been dating Phil for a while."

"That makes sense. I'm glad she's okay with it. If at any time, she changes her mind?—"

"I'll let you know."

On the drive home, we saw fireworks. Cars pulled off to the side of the road to watch, but I kept going because Faith was asleep.

"I'd forgotten that you can see fireworks so easily on the drive home from D.C."

"It's probably a local carnival or something."

"Probably." She inched closer to me so that she could see the fireworks through my window, and something settled deep in my chest. I liked being here with her like this.

We didn't have to do anything tonight. She could go home to her place, and I'd stay in mine, but my heart kicked up at the thought of taking our relationship to the next level. Was she ready for it?

I knew she'd been hurt in the past and didn't trust easily.

At some point, Violet's head fell to my shoulder. She'd fallen asleep. When I parked in my driveway, I shook her lightly awake. "We're home."

"Sorry." It took her a moment to wake up. When she lifted her head, and moved away, I opened the door.

"I'll get Faith."

Violet nodded as if she was too tired for conversation. She got out and opened the rear passenger door so that I could untangle Faith from her seatbelt. I handed Violet the house keys, and she unlocked the front door as I carried Faith inside.

I carried Faith up to her room, pulling off her shoes before tucking her in. If she woke in the middle of the night, she could change into pj's. She was a little too old for me to be doing that for her.

Soon she'd be talking about crushes and dating. I'd enjoy these moments with her when she was still a girl and excited about a day in D.C.

Downstairs, I locked the truck, then the front door.

Violet was seated on the couch in the living room. "I made myself at home. I hope that was okay."

"Of course." This was the first time she'd been inside my house, and despite our conversation in the car, things felt stilted now. Where did we go from here?

"You want to watch a movie?" I wasn't ready for our day to be over.

Violet yawned. "That sounds nice."

Violet's car was at her house. I could drive her home, but I'd never left Faith alone while she was sleeping. Violet could always call for a driver if she could find one this late at night. But I kind of liked the idea of her being stranded at my house.

I had a spare room but used it as an office. The only available bed was mine. Would she sleep with me, or would I take the couch?

I stood to grab waters, and at the last second, I threw a bag of popcorn into the microwave.

When the microwave beeped, I grabbed the steaming bag and carried everything into the living room where Violet was flipping through channels. "I wasn't sure what you'd like."

"Mainly action. But I'll watch whatever. You?"

"As long as it's not horror, I'm good."

We were compatible when it came to TV. I set the drinks on the coffee table. "It's not movie theater popcorn, but it's something."

Violet smiled. "This is perfect. I love popcorn."

Why did that one smile make me feel like I'd done something huge? Probably because it was so hard to please Stacy. She had high standards for everything, and she tended to sneer when my meager offerings fell short. She wanted expensive things, and on my government salary, we were comfortable but didn't have a ton of excess.

Violet settled on an older action movie, one that had a tension-filled romance. Then she curled up on the couch next to me so she could reach the popcorn.

I didn't want anything more tonight. But there was a tension simmering just under the surface. This felt like a date. We spent the day together, and now that we were watching a movie together, we were testing out the proximity to each other.

I could barely focus on the movie because I wanted more, so much more. But I didn't want to rush Violet.

When the movie credits rolled, Violet blinked up at me. "I think I fell asleep again."

"I can't drive you with Faith sleeping upstairs. Do you want me to order a car to take you home?" I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

When Violet hesitated, I said, "I'm fine with you staying here. Faith will understand."

"I need to go into work tomorrow around eleven."

I let out a breath. "We can make breakfast. Then I'll drive you home."

"You don't mind if I stay here?" Violet stretched.

"You can take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

Violet nodded, and we got up to throw away our trash. Then I led the way to my bedroom which was down the hall from Faith's. I popped my head into her room, but she hadn't moved from where I'd placed her earlier.

In my bedroom, I pulled out clothes for Violet to wear and directed her into the master bathroom. When she closed the door to the bathroom, I couldn't help my racing thoughts. What would it be like to date Violet? Would she spend more overnights? Would Faith be okay if we shared a bed?

The shower turned on, and my imagination ran wild with thoughts of Violet in my bathroom with water beading over her naked form.

Were her nipples hard? Was she thinking about me? Was she touching herself?

I adjusted myself, wishing we were at a place where I could join her in the bathroom. But I'd heard the lock click after she'd shut the door.

Was she regretting the locked door that stood between us?

It was too soon. We'd only agreed to date. Not to take this relationship to the next level. We both were hesitant. I couldn't rush this. I wouldn't.

All too soon, the water turned off. Then the bathroom door opened. Violet appeared in an oversized T-shirt and sweats, her wet hair hanging down her back. She looked adorable in my clothes.

I stood, and crossed the room, my hands resting lightly on her shoulders. I'd vowed to keep things low-key tonight, and I wasn't going to back down on that, even if my dick had other ideas.

Her lips were plump and so kissable. She smelled like my toothpaste and soap, and I wanted to taste her.

Her lips opened slightly, and it was the only invitation I needed. I lowered my mouth to hers, lightly at first as if asking permission, and when her mouth opened more, my tongue slipped inside. I swallowed her moan as her arms wrapped around my neck, and she pressed her body against mine.

Her nipples were hard. She couldn't be wearing a bra under my shirt, and I wanted to run my hand under the thin material. I wanted to feel her warm skin, jump and spasm under my touch.

It was too soon though. I couldn't get ahead of myself. I was supposed to be playing the long game.

I forced myself to ease back, to give her a few light kisses. Then pulled away.

"I'll let you get some sleep."

Violet's gaze tracked me as I crossed the room and turned the knob to leave.

"Would you stay with me for a bit?" Violet asked.

"In the bed?" I tipped my head toward the mattress.

She licked her lips. "We don't have to do anything. I just want you to hold me."

"I can do that." I turned the lock and flipped the lights off. Then I pulled my shirt over my head and shoved the jeans off my hips. When I was down to briefs, I climbed under the covers, reaching for her. She rested her head on my shoulder, and her fingers played with the hair on my chest.

I hadn't thought about what this would feel like. How intimate it was to lie in bed with someone. My dick was already stirring.

She lifted up slightly so she could place light kisses on my chest. Then she moved the blanket lower.

I sucked in a breath. "What are you doing?"

Violet hesitated. "I wanted to make you feel good."

My dick jerked at the idea, but that wasn't the plan for tonight. "That's my job, isn't it?"

Before Violet could respond, I'd flipped us so that she was on her back. I inched her shirt up so that her stomach was visible. I rested between her legs, kissing her, moving up until her breasts were exposed.

I sucked on one nipple, then the other.

She held onto my hair with one hand, her body writhing underneath me. She apparently loved nipple play, and I wanted to make her feel good.

"May I?" My hands hovered on the waist band of her sweats. It wouldn't take much to pull them down. They were loose.

"Please." Violet said, wetting her lips.

I eased them over her hips while she reared up and removed the shirt. She hadn't been wearing anything under my clothes.

The reality of her naked in my bed had my cock leaking.

I had a flash of concern when I realized I hadn't been with anyone other than my ex since we were in college. I should have been nervous or out of my element, but with Violet, it felt right.

Both of us were vulnerable in this position. Neither of us wanted to get hurt. Somehow that made everything more heightened.

Her legs spread wider as I eased between them, my hands lifting her ass, breathing her in. She was fresh from the shower, but I detected her musky scent, and it was driving me crazy.

I had to taste her. To see if she tasted as sweet as I thought she would.

At the first lick, she gasped. At the second, she arched toward my mouth. She was so responsive, so into this moment.

I wanted to make her feel good. I didn't want her to regret her decision to take this step with me. To trust me with her body. "I'll take care of you."

Then I dove in, licking and sucking before using my finger to ease inside her. Her walls clamped tight around me, and her fingers twisted the sheets beneath us.

I wanted her to cry out my name. I used a second finger, lifting my head as she moaned, her body arching off the bed, and then she erupted into a million spasms. I rode her through the orgasm, lightening the pressure only when she became sensitive.

Then I wiped my mouth, moving up her body to kiss her. I was still wearing briefs, but my dick sought her heat through the thin layer of cotton.

With my hands braced on either side of her head, I kissed her, using my tongue to mimic the motion I wanted to make with my dick. Then I ground my cock against her core.

With a groan, I moved off her and flopped onto my back. Fuck, I didn't think I had it in me to stop. To pull away. She was right there, and I would have shoved my briefs down enough to ease inside her.

I closed my eyes at the image. I wanted her with an intensity I hadn't felt in forever.

Violet shifted on the mattress. She was probably propping herself up on her elbow. "Is everything okay?"

I opened my eyes to see her brow furrowed, her eyes filled with doubt. I touched her hair, cupping her cheek. "I want you. Too much. But I said we'd take this slow."

Violet nodded. "Thank you."

She kissed my chest again, and I wanted nothing more than to sink inside her heat. But I held myself back. Violet needed to be sure about us.

"Let me hold you."

Violet lowered herself to my chest, and I closed my eyes. Her hair tickling my chin, her fingers on my chest. I'd never get enough of being with her like this.

"I'll slip out before Faith wakes, "I murmured, but I think Violet was already asleep because she didn't respond.

I stared at the ceiling for a long time, wondering if it was okay to feel this good so soon after a divorce. Shouldn't I be miserable? Lamenting the loss of my marriage? Feeling like a failure because I couldn't save it?

Instead, I was enjoying Violet's company. As right as I felt when I was with her, I couldn't stop the doubts from creeping in. What would happen if Faith got upset? If she decided she wasn't ready for me to date?

Could I break things off with Violet? She was worried about us not working out, and she was the last person I wanted to hurt.

I wanted her to trust me. To let go of her fears and doubts and be with me. If I wanted her to do that, then I'd have to do the same. I'd let go of preconceived ideas of how I should feel and just be in the moment.

Right now, Violet was in my arms and in my bed. Life couldn't get better than that.