Chapter Twenty

"You've been quiet," Simon said to Violet as he was driving to her house.

It was late, but not as late as he'd anticipated. The wedding reception was cut short when Jessica James started having contractions. She claimed they were Braxton Hicks; everyone else thought she was in labor. Simon was on the fence as to which way to lean. But he knew one thing for sure: if anyone could stop labor from occurring by sheer force of will, he had a feeling Jessica James could. She'd certainly done a good job of denying it—adamantly and loudly—as they helped her out to her boyfriend's car in order to take her to the hospital.

After that, the party pretty much fizzled. So here they were.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothin'," Violet answered softly.

Simon didn't believe her. For the better part of the evening, he'd suspected something was off. She was wild and sassy and fun whenever her family members came around, but when she was left alone with Elana or him, she lost the sparkle in her eyes.

Simon had a feeling it had to do with him, and he didn't think it was necessarily bad. Melancholy seemed to be a better word for it.

Last night had sealed the deal for him and he hoped that Violet had felt some of that, too. Whenever he thought about leaving town, he felt very similar to the way she looked now. And if he was thinking about it, Violet was probably thinking about it, too.

Even now, he wasn't sure whether she would want his company or if she intended to send him on his way once he walked her to the door.

"When are you goin' back to Dallas?" she prompted as he was turning down her street.

Well, that certainly answered that.

He exhaled heavily. "By the end of the week," he said, hating every word that came out of his mouth. But it was true. Regardless of what he wanted, he had things he needed to take care of. He couldn't avoid it forever.

However, should she ask him to stay, his trip home would be simple. He'd be going there to pack up his shit so he could move.

Violet's eyes widened. "Really?"

"I have to. I've been gone longer than I planned already."

She didn't respond as he pulled into her driveway. He barely got the car in Park before she hopped out.

Oh, boy. She's runnin' already.

Simon turned off the engine and hurried after her, all but running to stop her at the front porch.

"Violet. Talk to me, please," he insisted, stopping her from opening the screen door.

"There's nothin' to say. I knew this was only temporary."

He wanted to tell her it didn't have to be, but he hadn't yet figured out how to make it work. For the first time in his life, he wasn't ready to walk away. He wasn't sure he ever would be ready. But until he figured out a way to make this permanent as well as slow it down so that he didn't scare her, Simon didn't want to get either of their hopes up.

Simon cupped her face, using his thumb on her jaw to tip her head, forcing her to meet his gaze. "We've still got some time."

Her eyes glittered from unshed tears. Seeing them nearly broke his heart.

"Would you stay here until you go?"

It took a moment for her question to make sense. When it did, he leaned in and kissed her. "I would love to."

And he meant that with every breath he took.

Simon released her, taking her hand and opening the screen door. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."

"I'm not tired," she said, focusing on the key she was inserting in the door.

"No one said anything about sleep," he teased. "Anyway, it's probably not all that comfortable to sleep with boots on."

She flashed a smile over her shoulder.

"Why don't you go get changed," he suggested. "I'll feed Harry and Hermione."

"You will?" Violet's shock was palpable.

"Yeah. I've watched you do it enough times. I think I've got it figured out."

"I don't doubt that, but…"

"Go on," he said, patting her ass. "I've got this. You get comfortable. And naked."

"Okay."

When she turned toward the bedroom, he added, "But don't you dare take those boots off."

Her giggle followed her into the bedroom.

"Hey, guys," Simon greeted the cats. Both were sitting on the floor in the kitchen, staring up at him. He couldn't fathom what they were thinking, but he was sure it wasn't good. After all, he was monopolizing Violet's time, and since they were used to having her all to themselves, there was a good chance they held a grudge.

Then again, they did seem ridiculously independent. Neither of them slept in Violet's bedroom. Harry's favorite spot was on the couch, while Hermione's was a pillow in the laundry room at the back of the house. Whenever they weren't in those places, he often found them on one of the cat perches that were near windows at the front of the house. Likely put there by Violet so they could keep an eye on what was happening outside.

It took only a moment to get them fed and watered, then he headed for the bedroom.

He expected her to be getting ready, so finding her on the bed, her boots on, knees bent and spread wide, her bare pussy on display, was nearly more than his heart could take.

"Jesus," he groaned, closing the door behind him. "Fuck. I do like walkin' in to see you like that."

In fact, he liked it so much he had to wonder why the hell he would ever go back to Dallas.

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When he looked at her like that , Violet felt liquid fire flowing through her veins.

Her experience with sex wasn't vast, but she'd never been a prude in the bedroom. She wouldn't go so far as to say she was kinky, but Simon made her want to be. He somehow managed to lower her inhibitions, to urge her to seek the pleasure he offered.

The champagne still fizzing in her bloodstream probably didn't hurt either.

"Touch yourself," Simon ordered, his voice a silky rasp.

If she thought about it too much, she would be too embarrassed to touch herself in front of him. It wasn't in her nature. Yet, she didn't hesitate, reminding herself that this man would only be in town for a few more days. Chances were, she would never find a man who could light her up the way he did. Which meant she only had one choice: make these last few days count.

"Oh, fuck, baby," Simon growled softly, his gaze fixed on her fingers as she strummed her clit.

Her body tingled from her touch, but it sizzled when he began unbuttoning his shirt, starting with the cuffs. It was insanely hot to watch a man undress, especially one built so superbly.

"Do you have toys?"

Violet nodded, flapping her free hand in the direction of the dresser. "Top drawer."

Simon walked over, opening the drawer. Her cheeks warmed. She didn't just have one vibrator. She had three. And two dildos—one thick, one just right. And a variety of other things she used for self-pleasure.

"Do you use all these things?" he asked casually as he rummaged through the drawer.

"When I need to," she said, figuring the truth wouldn't hurt at this point.

"By yourself?"

"I happen to be fond of orgasms."

He chuckled as he pulled out the pump bottle of lubricant, setting it on the dresser. Next came the thin dildo, and last—from where she sat, it looked like the little finger vibrator she'd bought but had yet to use.

"Are you gonna use those?" she asked when he turned around, shrugging off his shirt and letting it fall to the floor.

"At the same time," he said, his tone serious.

That probably shouldn't intrigue her the way it did.

"But first, I want to lick you," he said, pulling his belt free from the loops. "I want to devour that sweet pussy."

She loved that dirty mouth, more so how comfortable he was when he spoke. It wasn't forced; it wasn't faked. The heat in his eyes matched the passion in his words.

"Spread your legs wider," he instructed as he shoved his jeans down his hips, freeing his thick erection. "You're so wet. Do you like playin' with your pussy?"

"I like you watchin' me," she admitted.

His eyes snapped to her face. "It's one of my favorite things."

More heat flooded her veins.

"Show me that little clit."

Violet sucked in air, doing as he said, revealing the tiny, throbbing nub.

She remained like that as he crawled onto the bed, his attention between her legs. He licked his lips, and she'd be damned if she didn't feel it like a stroke to that little bundle of nerves.

Simon dipped his head, his mouth hovering over her pussy. The warmth of his breath tickled her sensitive flesh. And when his tongue glided leisurely around her clit, she cried out.

"Eager?"

"Hair trigger," she said, groaning as he licked her again.

"What do you say we edge you some? Get you primed."

She wasn't even sure that was possible, but then Simon proved her wrong as he used his tongue to whip her into a frenzy. When she was seconds from detonating, he would change tactics, keeping her on that razor-sharp edge but never letting her go over. Pleasure bordered on pain until she thought she was going to splinter.

"Simon…" She gasped, her pussy clenching tightly with a driving need to be filled. "Simon. Please."

His mouth disappeared as he crawled up, kissing her belly, her breasts. He stopped when he reached her mouth. Dizzy from lust, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him, tasting herself on his tongue.

"Is it my turn yet?" she asked, dragging air into her lungs as she rolled her hips, needing friction.

"Do you want a turn?"

Violet nodded. "I want your cock in my mouth."

His eyes blazed. "Who am I to deny you?" Simon rolled to his back. "But first, I want you to bring me the toys. Then I want you to sit on my face."

Turned out walking wasn't all that easy to do when there was a violent throbbing between your legs. Violet stumbled like she was drunk, but she managed to grab the toys off the dresser. She brought them back, tossing them down beside him before hopping back on the bed.

Simon helped her straddle his head so that she could suck his cock while he teased her.

"Go on," he urged, not moving. "Put your mouth on my cock like you promised."

"You don't have to tell me twice," she mumbled as she leaned down and did to him the same as he'd done to her. She teased with her tongue and her breath, stroking his velvet-soft flesh with her lips and hands.

"Oh, fuck, Vi. Goddamn. Your mouth … it's fuckin' perfect."

Smiling around the cock lodged nearly in her throat, Violet continued to suck and stroke, surprised by how much she enjoyed doing it. She was spurred by the sounds he made, the deep, dark rumbles coming from his chest. The way his hands clenched and released on her ass as he fondled her.

She was so caught up in what she was doing, at first she didn't realize he was teasing her asshole. But when the pleasure registered, she paused, trying to spread her legs even wider, eager for him to continue to play. It was a new sensation, one she'd never felt until the first time he licked her there.

"You want this ass eaten, don't you, baby?" he growled, his voice raspier, darker.

"Yes."

"Sit up," he barked, his hands curling under her thighs as he pulled her back.

She released his cock, sitting up straight. She had enough time to inhale when he impaled her hole with his tongue, causing her to cry out from the pleasure it caused.

He growled softly, the sound muffled as he violated that taboo place in the most delectable ways. She wanted to ride his tongue. She wanted to bounce up and down and take him deeper into that forbidden passage.

"Simon … more … I need more."

The words were barely out of her mouth when he lifted up, causing her to fall forward onto the bed. She giggled from surprise, then cried out again when he grabbed her hips and pulled her back, his tongue once again tormenting that sensitive area.

"I'm gonna fuck you here, Violet," he warned. "I want to be the first and only to fuck you here."

There was something in his tone. It sounded like a promise. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but her thoughts were muddled from the pleasure assaulting her. Never in her life had she imagined it would feel good.

"Grab that finger toy," he said, shifting behind her.

She fumbled for the toy, found it, turned it on, then put it on her finger.

"Rub your clit."

With her chest pressed into the mattress and her ass in the air, Violet reached between her legs and rubbed the vibrator on her clit.

"Do not come."

Simon smacked her ass, making her yelp.

"You hear me?"

"I can't help it," she whined. The pleasure was too intense, especially when he pushed his lubed finger into her ass and the dildo into her pussy.

"Fuck yourself on the toy," he told her, his voice thundering over her skin.

He held the dildo firmly so she could rock forward and back. The movement sent his finger deeper into her ass while the toy filled her pussy.

"Do you feel full?"

"Yes."

"Can you handle my dick?"

She wasn't sure she could, but she wanted this. As he promised, Violet wanted him to be her first and only.