13
VIOLET
The smell of cooking stirs me awake, and I roll onto my back. The sting on my bottom reminds me of last night, and I wince at the memory. Fucking psychopath. A smile lifts my cheeks, thinking of his fiery eyes, and I can’t help wondering what drove him to it. A secret part in me hopes it was jealousy, but I’m betting it’s his fatherly instinct of needing to look out for me.
I’m not a child. The sooner he realises it, the better. I wonder if he would’ve been as angry had it been anyone else but Jesse. What is the grudge and contempt he holds for that family?
The sun blinds me when I open the curtains, causing me to blink several times. I have the urge to close them again and go back to bed, not wanting to face Kane for round two.
I’m not ashamed or embarrassed and I’m not hurt, but I am afraid of showing him my real feelings. I want him, and I never knew how much until he had me pinned to the table and unbuckled his belt. Want and need pulsed through my centre. A throb more deep than I’ve ever felt with anyone before.
I waited for him to unzip his jeans and take me. Bracing myself for the force of him, but I wanted it. I wanted it all, everything he had raging inside. Disappointment filled the void when I realised that wasn’t his intention, but the excitement in my eyes was unavoidable when I felt the leather drag between my folds and I opened my legs wider, hoping he would replace it with his rough fingers.
The sickly smell of pancakes hits me on the stairs, enticing me to the kitchen. Bacon sizzles in the pan and fresh pancakes are rolled on a plate at my seat. Our eyes lock, but silence crackles between us. I gulp and shuffle on my feet.
He pulls out the chair. “Sit down.”
I roll my eyes and fold my arms over my pyjama top. “I would sit if it weren’t for the lashings on my arse.” In truth, they’re not that bad, but I’m going to milk this guilt trip he’s on.
He sweeps a hand over his face. “I’m sorry.” He spins on his bare heel, walking into the living room and returning with a cushion. His hand pats the fabric after placing it on the seat. “Your Highness.”
I sit, giving a dramatic wince as my cheeks touch base with the cushion. “You get off on hitting girls?”
He glares at me. “I’m many things, but I’m not a woman beater. That was to teach you a lesson, and I’d do it again if it means you’ll stay away from the Bennett brothers.”
“If you want me to stay away, I need a good reason. Not some bullshit about them being idiots. And thanks to you parading me all around town, nobody else dares come near me.”
He corners the table, pinches my cheeks together with his finger and thumb, forcing me to look into his wounded eyes with years of worry and pain etched around them. “They share girls, you hear?” he growls. “And I’ll be damned if they’re gonna pass you around like a fucking joint.” He releases my face, dips down to my eyeline. “I don’t fucking share with anyone. And while you’re living here with me, you’re my responsibly. If you need to take care of business, use a fucking vibrator.”
He makes a sandwich with the bacon, then drops the hot pan into the Belfast sink, causing it to clatter against the ceramic. “Eat.”
I do as he says without question, taking small bites while I mull over his words. Silence fills the air again. The only sound is his chair leg scraping along the tiles when he sits across from me to eat.
They share girls. It makes sense now. I thought I’d imagined that day at the lake. Lucy gets to share them and Marie. Is it just the brothers or their friend or cousin too? My mind races with thoughts of all five of them in some sort of orgy and I cross my legs. I’ve never wanted a threesome before, let alone a fivesome. I’m so desperate for any male attention. It’s been a while since I’ve had an O. Kane’s right. I should just take care of business myself.
“I don’t have a vibrator.” I close my mouth. My cheeks heat, realising I said that out loud. Kane stares at me with a mouthful of his sandwich, and I go back to eating my pancakes in silence, adding a little more syrup. I don’t want to disobey him, but if he thinks telling me this information is going to deter me, he’s sadly mistaken.
The sound of an engine and gravel crunching floats through the kitchen window on the breeze. Kane stands to see who it is. “Wait here.” He stomps towards the door and steps outside.
Intrigued, I wipe my mouth and stand to glance out the window; it’s his friend Shane in a police car and uniform.
“We’ve had a call this morning. The Bennett’s Discovery window was smashed in. They said one of the boys had a run in with you last night,” Shane says, leaning against the car, lighting a cigarette and offering Kane one.
“I caught him at the lake with Violet. I just took her home. Didn’t even touch him, other than crumple his shirt.” Kane flips the zippo and lights his cigarette, taking a long drag.
“They’re saying you smashed the car window. Kane, you know what will happen if you’re found on their property.”
“I was at home all night. Ask Vi, but you tell them not to touch my property, and that includes her.”
Shane nods. “What’s going on with you? You taking her in?”
“I’m just trying to help the kid. It’s the least I can do.”
“Does she know?”
Kane shakes his head, then scans the door and window.
I bob down, hoping he didn’t see me listening in. “She doesn’t need to know about them. I’ve told her enough to keep away from them. So you tell them to leave the fuck alone. You know they’re just using her to get to me.”
