Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

Of course she's drunk. It was two years ago that her brother… That was the day her heart broke, the day she locked me out. Took a few months to make it official, but it was two years ago I lost her.

Two years ago exactly.

I turn back to the woman. "Sorry, sweetheart, I'll have to take a rain check. I'll see you around."

She pouts.

Violet takes another step backwards. Then she turns and hightails it out of the alley.

There's nowhere for her to run. The parking lot is around the corner. She's far too drunk to drive.

I run after her. Even in her heels, she's fast. I have to sprint to catch her.

Damn, those heels do things to her already long legs. Her crimson and black dress is tight around her curves.

Every fucking inch of my body wakes up at the thought of pinning her to the wall. Of her lips on my skin. Of her hands on my hips.

It's not like with the groupie. It's not like with any other woman.

Fuck knows I've tried finding another woman who feels like Violet. There's no one.

I grab her wrist. She stumbles, so I pull her body against mine and hold her steady.

My voice is dripping with frustration. "Vi, where the hell are you going?" No matter how badly she hurt me, I'm not letting her hurt herself.

"Not planning on watching you screw a… I guess she's a 'groupie' now that you're a rock star and not a guy playing at Chain Reaction."

"You upset about me being a rock star now?"

"Don't really care what you do, Ethan. Fuck as many sweethearts as you want. I hope you enjoy it."

"I do."

"Good. You have something to say to me or you here to brag?"

"You're drunk."

"I'm aware of that." She pulls her arms free and spins on her heels.

"I'm not letting you drive anywhere."

Her eyes find mine. "I haven't heard a word from you in almost two years. You don't get a say in what I do or don't do."

"You planning on driving drunk?"

She folds her arms, unwilling to admit I'm right.

"Didn't think so."

"Okay. You win. I'm calling a cab. You've done your civic duty and warned the inebriated woman she shouldn't drive drunk. Public sex aside, you're an upstanding citizen." She digs her cell phone from her purse.

"I'm not leaving you alone," I say. "Not with that hurt look on your face."

"Maybe I'm hurt because I'm not over you breaking my heart."

What the hell? She's the one who left. She got on a plane and moved three thousand miles away. But we both know that's not why she's hurt. Not right now. "I'm sorry about Asher."

"Thank you." Her eyes fill with pain. She opens her mouth to speak then she shuts it and shakes her head. "I thought you were on tour."