Chapter Ten

It was ten minutes until closing as Violet waited patiently while the last of the kids dug in his pocket for the money he'd brought to pay for his book.

"Mason, help your brother," Zoey Walker instructed her oldest son.

"Other pocket," Mason told Gabriel, the youngest of Kaleb and Zoey's four boys.

Gabriel was adorable. Then again, they all were really. Violet had a fondness for her little cousins, of which she had many, and she always looked forward to the times their parents would bring them into the bookstore. Most of Uncle Curtis's grandkids were on a monthly schedule—they came in routinely at least once every month to get one book and bring some of their old ones in for kids who came to the store for Even Swap Day .

Since her uncle Curtis had seven sons—Travis, Sawyer, Kaleb, Braydon, Brendon, Ethan, and Zane—and each of those sons was married with kids of their own, she had a revolving door of little Walkers coming through her store every week.

And she loved it.

Today, there were eight little boys eager to do something more than stand around a bookstore, of all places. Four belonged to Kaleb and Zoey, the others to Zane and Vanessa. They ranged in age from ten (Zoey's son, Mason) to two (Vanessa's son, Dustin).

"How are things?" Zoey asked while Gabriel dug in his pocket for the money.

If ever there was a loaded question. In this town, you usually jumped right into whatever was on your mind. Unless, of course, you were curious about something you knew was none of your business. The preemptive strike was generally led with sentiments like How are things? or Anything new with you? or any variation of those. And the conversation almost always contained I heard or Rumor has it.

"Good," Violet answered, although she suspected more questions would come.

Vanessa nudged Zoey's arm.

"You ask her," Zoey muttered.

Figuring this could take a while, Violet pinned her cousins' wives with a smile. "Spit it out. It's the only way you'll find out if the rumor's true."

Zoey blushed. "You know us far too well."

"One more dollar," Mason told Gabriel.

"Can you count them out for me?" Violet asked Gabriel, encouraging the five-year-old to use the skills he was so proud of.

"One," he said, laying a dollar on the counter, followed by another. "Two."

"Rumor has it you're datin' Holt's friend," Vanessa blurted.

"Three," Gabriel continued. "Four."

"Simon Jennings," Violet told her, figuring they were referring to the quickly spreading news that she had dinner with Simon at the diner last night. "I wouldn't call it datin'. We had dinner."

"Five," Gabriel said, waving his money before laying it on the counter. "Mama! Shh. I'm countin'! Six."

"Only dinner?" Zoey probed with a laugh. "Because Ramona's sharin' the news that his car was parked in your driveway overnight."

"Seven." Gabriel added the last dollar, his expression fiercely determined. "Eight."

"Good job," she praised the little boy before glancing at his mom. "How does Ramona know?"

Zoey looked at Vanessa. "That's a good question."

Violet made change for Gabriel, hoping she had deterred the pair by changing the subject.

"Here you are." Violet passed the coins back to Gabriel.

"Put 'em in your pocket," Mason instructed his brother.

"Who lives on your street?" Vanessa asked Violet. "More specifically, are there any single men Ramona's age?"

Violet didn't want to get dragged into the gossip, but she felt the pull. Her brain began spinning as she mentally went door to door, ticking off the names of—

"Brett," she blurted, though, technically, the man didn't live on her street—his street address was Jameson Drive, and hers was not—but her street did dead end at his ginormous house, meaning he had to drive down her street to get there.

Vanessa and Zoey looked at one another again.

"Jameson," Violet supplied.

"The school superintendent?" Zoey asked.

"One and the same." Violet passed Gabriel his books. "When you're finished with that one, come back and talk to me about it. It's one of my favorites."

He beamed up at her. "Okay."

"What do you say, Gabe?" Zoey asked.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome."

"I thought Brett was married," Vanessa said, clearly still intrigued by the idea of Ramona visiting a man.

"Divorced," Violet informed her. "Almost four years." She knew because Brett and Tracey had separated shortly before Violet opened the store.

Before they could speculate on the real possibility of the bakery owner and the school superintendent knocking boots, the bells over the door jingled. Violet looked up, intending to greet the new customer, but her mouth dried up when she saw Simon standing there.

"Well, I think that's our cue. Come on, boys," Zoey said with a giggle. "Thank you, Violet. We'll check back in later."

"Happy reading," she called as they filed out of the store one by one.

Simon peered around. "You busy?"

Before she could think better of it, Violet shook her head. "That was the last of the customers. I was about…" To close up , she finished in her head as Simon flipped the open sign over and locked the door.

Violet swallowed hard. Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear the rapid thump in her ears.

"Wha—what—what're you doin' here?" she stammered as he approached.

Simon stopped directly in front of her. "I woke up this mornin' in your bed. Alone."

Although it wasn't a question, Violet nodded.

He took her hand. "Then I realized I was alone. In your house ."

She nodded again, although he couldn't see her because he was holding her hand, leading her toward the back.

"Where are we going ?" she asked, stressing the last word because her heart was slamming against her ribs. Not from fear but from nerves. Maybe a little anticipation, too.

Simon didn't respond.

Once they were at the back of the store, hidden behind the last row of books, he turned to face her. His eyes were intense, but his hands were soft when he cupped her face.

Violet had a moment to inhale before his mouth was on hers. She'd told herself that morning that she was going to resist this man no matter what. She was going to steer clear of him until he left town. Then and only then would she give herself time to process what happened last night and deal with the emotional repercussions.

All good intentions failed in the face of his mind-numbing kiss.

"Simon." She felt as though she was falling through time and space.

"We are gonna talk about you leavin' me in your house without so much as a goodbye." He kissed her softly. "In a minute." He pressed another kiss to her lips. "Right now, I'm makin' up for lost time."

She heard his words, but they blurred as heat swarmed her body, spurred by the delectable way his mouth ate at hers. She could taste his hunger, and yeah, a hint of his disappointment, too. But all she could do was hold on, sliding her hand around the back of his neck, holding him there. In that brief moment, she never wanted to let him go. She never wanted him to stop kissing her. The feelings he stirred were ones she'd never felt before. And quite frankly, she was terrified she never would again if he ever stopped.

The kiss went nuclear when Simon pushed her back, pinning her against the wall. He pressed against her front, his knee sliding between her legs, his thigh pressing firmly against her core, making it impossible to think. Hell, she could hardly remember to breathe for how good it felt.

"Violet."

The soft rumble in his chest lit her up like a Christmas tree, her nerve endings zinging as her pussy throbbed with a need so fierce, she wasn't sure she would survive if the man walked away from her now.

Taking matters into her own hands because she feared he might abstain simply to punish her, she reached for the button on his jeans. Rushed, jerky movements followed as she worked his jeans open, freeing his enormous cock so she could wrap her hands around it.

Simon growled, pumping his hips, fucking her fist.

"I should let you finish me off," he rumbled against her lips. "It would serve you right if I didn't fuck you right here, right now."

Her skin tingled from the underlying promise.

He gripped her hair in his fist and pulled her head back, his lips hovering over hers. "I should fuck that pretty mouth and leave you wanting the way you left me wanting this mornin'."

Violet licked her lips, wishing he would because the idea of this man dominating her turned her on like nothing else.

"But then I wouldn't get to feel that tight little pussy stranglin' my dick. And fuck, baby. I wanna feel that. I've wanted to feel you since I opened my eyes this mornin'."

She tightened her fist, stroking him firmly. "Simon…"

"What do you want, Vi? You want me to ram my cock into your pussy?"

She nodded, gasping when he yanked her jeans open. Her pussy gushed with anticipation when he shoved his hand inside.

"Jesus," he hissed, his voice lowering. "Why the fuck aren't you wearin' panties?"

"Couldn't find them," she muttered against his lips.

"When you were sneakin' out?"

She didn't bother to answer. She figured her blush said it all.

He groaned, and for a moment, she thought he would pull away, but then he growled softly. "I need you. Right now."

She nodded again because there was no way she could resist him. She didn't want to.

Time stood still as he easily stripped her shoes and jeans from her, leaving her naked from the waist down. When his mouth returned to hers, she lifted her leg, eager to get him inside her. The alignment of their bodies was all wrong, but Simon fixed that by lifting her off her feet. She released his cock, her arms wreathing his neck as he pressed her against the wall. Her mouth found his once more, and she kissed him. It wasn't until a few breaths later that she realized he wasn't fucking her.

"Now, Simon," she snapped.

"I can't," he ground out, the disappointment heavy in his words.

Pulling back, she peered at him. "Why?"

"Condom."

Her eyes widened, and embarrassment flooded her. She'd forgotten completely about protection. For her entire adult life, she'd been diligent about safe sex, but then he came along, and all good sense flew out the window.

"I used the ones I had last night," he said, pressing his forehead to hers as he pinned her against the wall.

"Is there a chance you have somethin'? A disease, I mean," she asked, surprised by the words that came out of her mouth. She'd never been quite so direct.

"No. I haven't had sex without a condom in a really long time. Years."

She smiled, relieved. "Well, I've never had sex without a condom."

His eyebrows lifted.

"And I'm on birth control. The shot … you know…" So I don't end up like my mama. "Just in case."

Violet saw the way his Adam's apple bobbed slowly in his throat.

"What're you sayin'? And if it's what I think it is, I need you to spell it out for me."

She teased the hair at the nape of his neck with her fingers, meeting his gaze, holding it. She wasn't sure why, but she trusted Simon. More than she'd ever trusted any other man in her life. Could she? Should she?

Leaning in, she let her lips hover against his. "Fuck me, Simon. Bare."

He growled. "You sure?"

"More than I should be," she admitted.

Simon pulled back, his eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"Fuck me," she demanded, unwilling to discuss her chaotic emotions. Certainly not when his cock was throbbing between them.

He shifted to free one hand, sliding it between them as he guided his cock where she needed him. She felt the blunt head against her entrance and closed her eyes, eager to feel him filling her, stretching her.

She whimpered when he pushed in slow and deep. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. He was hot and hard, and it felt better than she expected it to. She swore she could feel every ridge and vein as his big cock tunneled inside her.

"That feels so good."

"Just wait," he groaned. "It gets better."

His hands curled under her thighs, gripping tightly as he slid out and rammed into her. Hard.

"Yes!" she cried out as sparks detonated along her nerve endings, electricity arcing outward.

At that point, time became nonexistent. The only thing that made sense was the way Simon's cock drilled into her. Hard, fast, deep. He had her pinned to the wall, ramming into her again and again. Their grunts and moans echoed all around them.

Violet held on because it was all she could do.

·····

"Violet." Simon choked out her name in warning. He was hanging by a very frayed thread. Any second, he was going to detonate. The feel of her hot, slick walls sliding along his shaft was more than he could bear.

He couldn't think of a single thing that felt better than this. Not one goddamn thing. Ever.

"Yes … yes…" Violet tipped her head back. "Oh, fuck yes. I'm there … Simon!"

Her pussy milked him, fluttering around his cock, making him see stars. It was all he could do to breathe. There was no holding back. Not this time.

"Fuck," he bit out as his cock erupted, pulse after pulse, his seed filling her.

He leaned forward, still holding her against the wall, not moving. Wasn't even sure he could.

"I'm startin' to think you might be a bad boy after all," Violet whispered, her fingers teasing his scalp.

"You have no idea, baby." He took a deep breath. "Give me just a minute, and I'll let you down."

Her pussy clenched around him.

"Or do that, and I'll fuck you again," he warned.

"Promise?"

The way she said it reminded him of the reason he'd come over here. His intention had been to confront her about walking out this morning. And then about not answering his calls or returning his texts. He'd expected her to be on the defensive when he walked in, but the moment her gaze met his, he knew. Violet hadn't slipped out because she regretted what happened last night. She'd left him because she was scared.

It made him feel better because, damn it, he was too. He'd never been swept away by a woman before. Not to the point he was thinking about tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.

Sighing, Simon resigned himself to putting her down. He dislodged from her first, then lowered her to her feet.

"Gravity," Violet squealed before snatching her clothes from the floor and rushing toward a door marked Restroom.

It took him a second to realize what she meant. He smiled, wishing she could've walked around for the rest of the night with his cum running down her legs.

"Jesus." His cock kicked hard as he tried to shove the damn thing back into his jeans.

Then again, his head might explode if she did.

When a few minutes turned to ten, Simon wondered whether Violet was going to hide out in the bathroom all night. Or hell, maybe he should check to see if there was an exit door inside that bathroom. Considering she slipped out of her own house to get away from him, Simon wouldn't put anything past her.

He was about to walk over when the doorknob turned. A second later, the door opened, and Violet appeared, no longer disheveled from their tryst against the wall.

"You okay?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I thought you might've slipped out on me again."

He liked the way her cheeks pinked from her blush.

She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to stop her. "If you're thinkin' about apologizin', don't. I'd like to take you to dinner. You can pick the place. But I get to pay this time."

"Do you like fried pickles?"

Simon frowned.

"Moonshiners serves the best fried pickles." She looked at her watch. "Since it's still early, they shouldn't be too crowded yet."

"Fried pickles it is. You ready?"

"I just need to grab my phone."

He watched as she went over to the checkout counter and retrieved something underneath. When she stood up, she said, "Alexa, turn off everything."

Simon smiled when the entire store went dark except for a nightlight or two in the reading areas at the back.

When she started his way, he held out his hand to her. "Tell me they have somethin' other than fried pickles."

"Cheese sticks?"

"So, no?"

She laughed, taking his hand. He liked the way she easily linked her fingers with his. He held her hand and waited while she locked the door.

"We don't have to go there."

"It's all good. I'll figure somethin' out."

"My car's around back," she told him.

"I'm sure it'll be fine for a night."

Violet frowned.

Simon turned toward her, stepping in so they were toe to toe.

"Here's how tonight's gonna go, Violet. I'm gonna take you to Moonshiners so you can have fried pickles, and I can have … anything else ."

Her eyes softened, and a smile formed.

"After that, I'm gonna drive you back to your place. I'm gonna walk you to your door, but rather than kiss you goodnight like a gentleman should, I'm gonna follow you inside."

Her eyebrow rose, and he knew he'd piqued her interest.

"Then, after I strip you, we're gonna shower so we can start over clean." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "At that point, I'm gonna fuck you so many times, the only name you'll know come tomorrow morning is mine. And I'll make damned certain that you're fucked so good, you won't be able to walk, much less sneak out like a thief in the night."

If he wasn't mistaken, that was a sigh that escaped her.

Simon pressed a kiss to her lips. "Any questions?"

Violet shook her head and grinned.

"Good." He gently squeezed her hand and led her to his car. He opened the door, waited for her to get in, then closed it behind her. Partly because he was a gentleman, and it was something he would do for any woman or child. And partly because he wanted to ensure Violet didn't take off for the hills.

He had every intention of alleviating her fear—and, in turn, his own—because, for the first time in his life, Simon had met a woman he could see a real future with.

And he damn sure wasn't going to let her get away before she realized it too.