I open one eye, squinting at his tortured face. “I’ll live.” Note to self: don’t kiss him while he’s asleep. “We slept together for an entire night and now this.” A giggle bursts from my lips.
“I’m so sorry, Vi.” He peppers my face with kisses.
“It’s fine. I shouldn’t have kissed you while you were asleep, but your lips were so tempting.”
He smothers my mouth, slipping in his tongue, the sensation pulling my mind away from the pain in my temple, giving me a throb between my thighs instead. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.” I lie, but I blame Jack mainly, though I’m not about to let Kane know he was snooping around last night. “I love waking up with you.” Even if it is ten times through the night with his night terrors. Each time I spoke, my voice calmed him and took away some of the creases on his face. If I can do that for him every night, and bring him some small amount of peace, then I would happily sacrifice my sleep.
“I had a great night’s sleep. The best for a long time. I don’t remember waking at all.”
I stroke the scruff on his jaw. “I’m glad.”
Belle barks from downstairs. I gulp and freeze, hoping there are no more Bennetts lurking in the window.
Kane jumps off the bed. “All right, lass. I’m coming.” He pulls on a pair of jeans. “Want me to bring you a coffee?”
“No, I have to get going. I have to work this morning.”
He pecks my lips before running downstairs. I rush to my old bedroom to look out the window at the front of the house. There are no lurkers and no cars parked on the dirt road. I relax and head to the bathroom to take a shower, contemplating going straight to work or nipping back to the Bennetts first. I’m going to have to go back at some point to get my stuff and tell them I’m moving back here, unless Jack’s already told them. I’m sure it won’t be long before the whole town knows about us.
Half the town still thinks he’s my dad. We’re gonna get some funny looks, that’s for sure. Though I doubt anyone would dare say anything to his face.
My chest tightens when I think of telling Gareth. I’d finally found a family and now I’m throwing it all away for a man who killed my father. Their arch nemesis. I’m like piggy in the middle, not wanting to hurt either side, but I have to go with my heart. And the heart wants what the heart wants.
After showering, I wrap a towel around me and pad into my old room in search of some of my clothes that were left here. I find some clean underwear and put on my uniform from yesterday. I always carry lip and eyeliner in my purse, so I’m able to add a little makeup.
The kitchen smells of coffee and him, with a hint of wet dog. Belle shakes her fur as she bounds in from outside, wetting everything in the process.
“Belle,” Kane growls, chasing her with a towel.
Fresh coffee sits next to the machine in a purple mug that I claimed as mine when living here. I bring it to my lips and lean back against the worktop.
Kane hangs the towel on the back of the chair after drying Belle off. Rain drizzles down the window, dampening the day, mimicking how I feel on the inside with the prospect of work and then going back to the Bennetts.
“Will I see you again tonight?” His warm grey-blue eyes are full of hope.
“I don’t finish work until late. I’m doing a double shift today.”
“Doesn’t matter what time you get here. I’ll have dinner ready for you.”
My shoulders drop and I sag against the unit behind me. “I have to go back. All my stuff is there. But I’ll call tomorrow. I don’t want to piss them off.”
Kane clicks his tongue. “You don’t need to be afraid of them, and you don’t owe them anything.”
“I’m not afraid of them.” I sip my coffee with a gulp. The only thing I’m afraid of is what Kane will do if he sees them around his property.
His fingers curl around the mug, stealing it from me. He places it on the worktop, then cups my cheeks. “Get your stuff, then come home. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night, I’ll wait up. Just come home.”
I hold his wrists as his palms loosen on my face. My lips press into his. “I’ll see what happens. They’ve been good to me. I don’t want to just be like, ’see ya suckers’.”
Kane chuckles. “All right. Do what you need to do. Call me or text me to let me know what you’re doing, okay?”
“I will. I have to get to work now.” I peck his lips and stroke Belle on my way out.
43
VIOLET
