“Because you’re making them.”
He glances over his shoulder. My stomach fills with butterflies. “You say it like it turns you on.”
I shrug even though he doesn’t see it. I like this version of him—the flirty one—better than the intense one I’m used to. “Maybe it does. What are you going to do about it?”
He chuckles and reaches for the plate on the counter to top with our breakfast—a mix of eggs, leftover green pepper from the fridge, and diced tomatoes he found in the back of my designated cabinet. “As much as I love eating your pussy, Violet, we both need an energy refill.” He turns with plates in his hands and grabs the bread from the toaster that popped up a minute ago. Lathering butter on each slice, he plops them next to our eggs and brings my plate over. “Eat.”
I fork a mouthful into my mouth, groaning when the flavors hit my tastebuds. “Oh my God. I was definitely entering the first stages of starvation.”
He settles his plate on the counter next to my butt and scarfs down his food. He’s quiet as he eats, and I can’t help but stare and take in every aspect of him. The way his fingers curl around his fork. The tensing of his jaw with each bite of eggs.
“What’s that saying? Pictures last longer?”
I kick his leg in jest. His hand coils around my ankle with a tight squeeze that he releases a second later. His fingertips tickle up my leg, and a shiver breaks over my shoulders.
“I’m just…taking it all in.”
He smiles, his cheeks filled with food as he goes back to eating. “I can tell.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not as long as you don’t mind metaking it all inback.”
I swallow my food and bite at the corner of my lip, wondering what it was that finally had him breaching the line that kept us friends. He could’ve taken what he wanted at Lucy’s. I mean, I’d have willingly gone along with it. The same opportunity was present at his mom’s, granted it might not have been the best environment, but the chance was there.
He finishes off his last piece of toast and says, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Who says I’m thinking anything?”
He quirks a brow and takes a few steps back to lean against the counter opposite of me. “Your words mean nothing when all it takes is one look into your eyes to know you’re full of it, Violet.”
Those damn butterflies swarm my stomach again. “I’m wondering what made you break last night. You seemed adamant at your mom’s about pushing me away.” I drop my eyes, my fork scraping my plate as I stab a microscopic piece of egg. “I thought you were going to tell me to fuck off at my door last night.”
He clears his throat and grabs his shirt, pulling it up over his head with ease. He’s just as devastatingly good-looking with it on.
“I won’t lie, I considered it,” he admits. “But then I thought about how much I’ve given up and wanted to do something for me for once.”
I’m not sure how to respond, so I settle with, “You deserve more than you give yourself.”
His throat bobs. “It’s taking me a while to understand that, but last night it landed a punch to my gut.” His arms fall to his sides, and he’s back in front of me in three steps. Palms on my thighs. Eyes on mine. Both gripping me just as strongly. “I had a feeling that if I walked away from you last night…I would’ve lostyou, and I can’t lose you, Violet. You’ve been too good to me—forme.”
I’m mid-bite, my voice low, when I ask, “You really think that?”
“I know that.”
I have this magnificent guy standing in front of me, finally ready to give himself to me, and while we’ll always have shit going on in our lives, there’s nothing more that I want than him giving himself to me. My heart soars at the idea of being with him, of calling him mine, and him continuing to give me this side of him.
He takes my plate from my hands when I don’t respond, setting it down next to me. His warm thumbs brush over my cheeks, and he slowly drags my mouth to his, his intense gaze holding mine.
“I can’t promise you the world, but I can say there’s no way I’ll be ready to give you up anytime soon. You’ve crawled under my skin in the best of ways, and it’s like I can’t think straight without knowing you’re there.”
And then he drives the point home by kissing me.
THIRTY-SIX
COLSON
Colson: Sebastian ordered pizza again and guess what topping he picked?
