This time it was me who initiated the kiss. I couldn’t help it. He was right there, his lush lips so close, and the way he looked at me… it was like I really was a princess. Deep down, every girl wanted to be looked at like that. No matter how staunchly feminist.
A small groan slipped from Alex’s throat as my lips pressed to his, and a surge of satisfaction rushed through me. I fucking loved how I was affecting him.
Our lips parted seemingly at the same time, our tongues meeting in an unhurried exploration that warmed me all the way to my toes. Actually… warmed somewhere a bit higher than my toes too.
This kiss. This was the butterfly-inducing, pussy-clenching, heart-racing kiss I’d been imagining. Alex was seriously wearing down my defenses in record time.
“Violet,” he groaned, pulling back from me just a couple of inches. His hands cupped my face, and his hips crushed into mine, not hiding a thing about how turned on he was. “Can I—”
Whatever he was about to ask got cut off.
“Guess the rumors are true after all,” Rafe’s dark, nasty voice snapped, and I sucked in a sharp gasp. Alex made no move to step away from me, but his face turned cold and hard. Over his shoulder I could see Rafe and Jordan had just come through the dining room doors and were staring at us—atme—with open hostility.
“What rumors?” I demanded, unable to bite my tongue. Alex must have already known what they were going to say because he let out a small sigh and shook his head.
A cruel smirk touched Rafe’s lips. “That Cinderella really will suck Prince Charming’s dick to get a crown. Pathetic.”
My jaw dropped. “Fuck you, Rafe!”
It wasn’t my snappiest comeback, but seeing as he was already passing us, I needed to saysomething.
He just smirked over his shoulder, his storm cloud blue eyes meeting mine with contempt. “Sorry, I’m not interested. Keep begging, though. It’s a good look on you.”
Ugh. I’d walked right into that trap.
Outraged, I had nothing to say that wouldn’t make the situation worse, so I just settled for flipping him off.
Jordan just shook his head, the picture of disappointment as he followed his friend. But who was he disappointed with? Me? Or Rafe?
“Ignore them,” Alex murmured, trying to rekindle the moment with small kisses along my jaw and down my neck. “They have history with me and are taking it out on you.”
I snorted, then pushed him back a bit. “Clearly. Do you plan on filling me in?”
Alex’s mouth tightened, and his gaze ducked away from mine. I’d take that as a no.
“Okay, I think that’s my cue to leave.” I slipped out from where he’d backed me into the wall and took two steps down the hall before he grabbed my hand.
“Violet, don’t do that,” he pleaded. “Rafe’s just a dick. Don’t let him ruin tonight for us.”
I arched a brow at Alex. “Tonight really wasn’t going any further than it already has, Alex. I’ve barely known you a week; sex wasn’t even remotely on the cards.”
My vag called me a liar, but I shushed the bitch.
“What? I wasn’t—” Alex shook his head, a small frown creasing his forehead. “Violet… can we just rewind five minutes? Please?” Rewind to the part where we were making out against the wall, huh? Yeah, no. Even if Ibadlywanted to continue that activity with him, I was too annoyed. What the fuck was the history he had with Rafe, and why was I being punished for it?
“Look, I just need to know what I’m getting into here,” I told him, folding my arms over my chest in a classically defensive move.
Alex’s jaw clenched, and I could tell he wasn’t going to go spilling all his secrets right here and now. Fair enough, too. Like I’d just pointed out, we barely knew each other.
“I’ll tell you,” he started, his voice quiet and his gaze on the floor. “But not yet. Can’t we just… take things slow?”
I snorted a laugh, thinking about hownotslow we’d just been going. “Yeah, okay.” I reached out, taking his hand to show I wasn’t actually pissed off. “Sorry to push. Let’s just get to know each other, and then, maybe when you trust me more, you can tell me what Rafe’s damage is. I hate feeling like the only one out of the loop.”
Alex gave a small nod, tugging me closer to him again with our joined hands. “So, can I walk you to your room?” His face was full of innocent hope, and I couldn’t help myself. I reached up on my toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“Sure. But so we’re clear, you’re not coming in.” I meant it as a joke, seeing as he’d just asked to take things slow, but his eyes flared with the challenge.
Chapter 13
