I laugh and pull her in for a hug and then don’t let her go. Somehow, even with the size difference, she fits perfectly snugly against me. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
I expect her to pull from my arms, but she surprises me when she burrows even deeper. “I...”
I can’t get the sentence out before my phone rings. I recognize the ring tone, and I know if I don’t answer my agent, he’ll come over here. “I have to answer that.”
She starts to move, but I hold her tighter. “Oh no, stay right there. It will be quick.” I pick up the phone on the end table. “Hey Nick. What is it? I’m kind of busy.”
“You got it!” he screams into the phone. “You got the shoe contract. I’m going to send it over for you to sign.”
“That’s great, Nick. I’ll sign it tomorrow.” I know I should be more excited. He’s worked on this deal for a while now. Yesterday, I would have been ready to celebrate. Now, I just want to get off the phone and talk some more to Violet.
He stutters. “You don’t sound excited.”
“I am excited, but I’m busy right now,” I tell him. “I promise. I’ll sign it tomorrow.”
“But...” he starts, but I don’t let him finish. “I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I click the end button, and this time when Violet pulls away, I let her, but only at arm’s length. “You got a shoe contract?”
I blush. Obviously, she heard Nick screaming in the phone. “Yeah, it’s with the largest athletic shoe supplier in the US.”
She puts her hand on my knee. “That’s great, Josh. How exciting. I’m going to finish cleaning up and then get out of here. I’m sure you’re going to want to go and celebrate.”
“No,” I say, holding on to her. I realize that my voice sounds forceful. “I mean, of course you can leave if you want, but I want you to stay.”
She looks as if she may be interested, but she shakes her head. “Josh, this, I mean you and me, well, it’s not going to work. I’m a small-town girl and you’re famous. I”—she blows a breath out—“just don’t want to get hurt.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know you. I don’t care where you’re from. This”—I grab her hand and hold it to my chest—“just feels right.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I’m older than you. Too old for you.”
She tries to stand up, but when she does, I grab her around the waist and pull her onto my lap. “You’re not too old for me.”
Her hands go to my shoulders. “Yes, I am. I’m six years older than you, actually. Way too old, and I definitely know better.”
I clasp my hands behind her back, bringing her closer to me. Her face is only inches from mine, and I know I’m going to kiss her. I have to. “You’re not too old for me. I’m twenty-four so that makes you thirty. That’s nothing.”
She laughs as her hands circle around my neck. “You might think so but trust me, life at twenty-four and life at thirty is very different.”
“I can’t do anything about how old I am just like I can’t do anything about how much I want you.” I bring my hand up to cup her jaw. “But the fact remains, Violet. I do want you.”
I thought I would have to coax her into it, but instead she lowers her head and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is everything I imagined. Her breasts are pressed against my chest, her fingers are threading through the hair at the nape of my neck, and I’m forcing myself to keep control. The need to flip her on this couch, pull down her pants, and thrust into her while telling her she’s mine over and over is almost impossible to control.
I’ve never experienced anything like this, and I don’t want to think about it right now. All I want to do is feel. That’s it.
She angles her head to the side, and I deepen our kiss. Her tongue slides between my lips, and I about die right then. I lean back in the cushions and take my time with her, my tongue dueling with hers in perfect harmony.
She pulls back suddenly, and my arms tighten around her. I’m afraid the chemistry between us has scared her, and I’m worried she’ll run. But she surprises me. “We should celebrate.”
I don’t even question her. I murmur, “Yes.” The fact she’s not bolting for the door right now means I’ll agree to anything she wants.
Her eyes are dilated, her lips are glistening from our kiss, and she smiles. “Celebrate your contract, silly.”
“Yeah, let’s celebrate.”
4
Violet
The sun is peeking through the curtains, and I lift my head and instantly let it drop with a groan. My hand goes to my head, and I pry my eyes open even though it’s painful. I look around the room and sit up quickly. Oh my God! I realize I’m not in my bed—heck, I’m not even in my hotel room. There’s a grunt next to me, and my head whips around to see Josh lying next to me, naked.