Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

We play for an hour before we break.

Mal nods his approval. "Vi agreed to take the gig."

"Great. Proud of yourself?"

He shrugs. "Not everything is about you, Ethan. Sometimes you gotta think about other people."

As if Mal thinks about anything besides staying king of the Strong family and king of Dangerous Noise.

Fuck, we even call him The King behind his back.

Mal's bright eyes get intense. "If you can't handle being around Violet, I get it. Hard to resist a woman that fine."

He's baiting me but he's right.

Not many guys would resist Violet.

My blood goes cold at the thought of her coming screaming some other guy's name.

She isn't mine anymore. I can't do anything about her moving on unless I'm ready to make her mine again.

I swallow hard.

Mal shakes his head. I can hear his thoughts. You're hopeless, little bro.

"You're such a fucking know-it-all." I flip him off as playfully as I can.

"No. I just happen to know everything." He laughs and steps out the door.

My bed still smells like Violet. It's driving me out of my mind.

This—thinking about her naked, under me, screaming my name—is not productive. Opening for Sinful Serenade is the opportunity of a lifetime. Already, our album sales are skyrocketing. Already, we're getting offers for all sorts of commercial deals.

The only thing I've ever wanted, aside from Violet, is to make music that matters to people. Can't let my feelings for Violet fuck with that.

I should text her a manifesto about how the two of us are never getting back together.

My fingers refuse to cooperate. My fingers want her soft skin. They want her cunt pulsing around them as she comes.

My fingers are awfully cooperative most of the time. If they refuse to tell Violet to fuck off, fine. Violet and I can be friends.

Ethan: You okay at home?

Violet: I'll be away soon enough.

Ethan: You talk to your parents?

Violet: A little. I should pack. Anything I need to keep in mind?

Ethan: It will be cold in Portland, Seattle, and Chicago. Rainy too.

Violet: Thanks. I'm not planning on doing much sightseeing.

Ethan: Fuck that. I'll show you around.

Violet: Maybe.

Ethan: It's been a long time. I'm not holding shit against you. The two of us can be friends.