“I wish I could forget,” he says quietly, almost like it hurts. “God, I wish it was that easy.” Goosebumps ripple across my skin as his hand slides around my throat, his thumb grazing my lips so tenderly it cracks something deep in my chest. “Can’t you see, Violet?” His voice drops to a growl. “You’re driving me fucking crazy.”
“I’m drivingyoucrazy,” I scoff, but my voice wavers. “You’re not the one being asked to leave meetings for smil—”
The words choke in my throat, my mouth forming a silent ‘o’ when he brushes a thumb over my nipple, a quiet groan escaping him when he feels how hard it is.
“Good girl,” he mutters, voice thick. He teases it with slow circles through the silky fabric until a soft whimper spills out before I can stop it.
“You still don’t see it, do you, Violet?” he breathes, nudging my legs apart, his thigh pressing between them in the exact spot that makes me squirm.
“See what?” I pant, my mouth falling open.
“What’s right in front of you,” he murmurs, his lips ghosting my jaw before whispering into my ear, “How much I fucking want you, Violet. Every-damn-second-of-the-day.”
He lifts my chin with his finger, his dark eyes daring me to resist as he undoes the top buttons of my shirt, exposing the delicate lace of my bra. He grazes his teeth over a nipple through the lace, just enough to send a ripple of pleasure trembling up my throat. “Do you have any idea, Violet,” he rasps, “how fucking beautiful you are?”
I meet his gaze, lashes fluttering with mock sweetness. “Is that your favorite line, or am I just the lucky one?” Despite the defiance I’m desperately clinging to, my voice comes out breathless.
His mouth curves into something wicked. “No,” he says, as he tilts my head back, nipping a trail up my neck until all I can feelis the blood burning beneath my skin. “But it seems like I’ll have to work harder to keep this smart mouth busy.”
The second his mouth finds my parted lips, soft and waiting, his control snaps. He slams his mouth on mine, his tongue sliding through my lips with a tortured groan. His hands find my ass, gripping hard as he lifts me with ease. Instinctively, I lock my legs around his sculpted hips, my back hitting the wall with such force it steals what little breath I have left. He doesn’t just kiss me—he fucking devours me. Teeth scraping, tongues lashing, lips biting and sucking, dragging the air from my lung as if he’s punishing me for daring to exist.
Sweet Mary, Chase Knight, when he loses control, is a beast—and I’m utterly lost to him.
My skirt rises higher and higher as he crushes me against the wall. Andholy fuck,he’s as hard as steel, grinding against my soaked panties like he’s trying to fuck me through the thin fabric of our clothes. I’ve never been kissed like this, our lips desperate, as if we’re trying to crawl under each other’s skin.
Just when I think I can’t take it anymore, he slows it down; the kiss turning tender, lingering in a way that leaves me trembling. I moan into his mouth, his tongue brushing against mine so delicately it sends a shiver down my spine. His grip loosens, and I slide down the length of his body, tingling all over as my hardened nipples scrape his chest. His hands cradle my face, guiding me closer—his touch soft but capable of ruining me in an entirely different way.
Until the sound of heels clicking along the hallway has my body reeling like someone yanked on the reins. I pull away like a skittish animal.
What the hell am I doing?
Chase’s eyes darken, his hand brushing my cheek like he’s trying to pull me back to his orbit, the one where I’m his completely.
“Violet, baby, look at me,” he urges, his tone firm.
I can’t.
I shake my head, pulling my skirt back down. “This is wrong,” I say, panic crawling up from my stomach and squeezing my throat. I slide out from underneath him, buttoning my blouse. The Violet I know doesn’t take risks. She can’t afford to. I press my fingertips on my swollen lips, still tingling from that earth-shattering kiss.
“Why did you do that?” I murmur, almost to myself, my mind disorientated, like I’ve woken from a dream.
He runs his fingers through his hair, exhaling with frustration. “Why does a man usually kiss a woman, Violet?”
I make the mistake of looking at him. I wish I hadn’t. Every time I look at him, I forget what a terrible idea he is. My custom-made ruin. That dark, tousled hair falling over his forehead. The perfectly carved face. And those damn eyes—shining like polished onyx, burning a hole in my heart I’ll never be able to fill.
And holey shit.
The unmistakable hard, thick outline of his cock. Even through the fabric, he’s huge.
Heat scorches my skin but I snap my gaze away, mind scrambling for an escape. “I don’t want to leave the company or move to another state,” I blurt out like an idiot, Millie’s warning ringing in my ears.
His brow furrows, a mix of confusion and amusement flickering in his eyes. “Why the hell would you do that?”
“I—I should go,” I say, bolting to the door, smoothing my hair down before I reach for the handle.
“Violet, please...” His voice is a rough plea behind me, but I don’t stop. I fly out the door and crash straight into Millie.
“Violet, is everything okay? I was looking everywhere for you.” Her head snaps to the open door and Chase. Her eyes widen, and she lets out a small gasp before quickly recovering.
