Chapter 9 #2
I get close and gently clean between those beautiful thighs. Her intake of breath has my cock already swelling for more. Not wanting to hurt her and make her sore tomorrow, I settle for holding her when I’m back in bed.
She hums, sinking into my arms. Both of us, still naked. She feels right here. I can picture a lifetime of nights just like this.
And the ease of that feeling terrifies the fuck out of me.
The next twenty-four hours have been a fever dream. I wasn’t sure how we’d interact the next morning when I woke to find her in my arms. Leave it to Violet to steer us easily into comfortable territory. I almost went into my head and pulled away, but she wouldn’t let me.
We made breakfast, and I headed to work. Last night, I got home to dinner cooking in this pot she brought with her from home.
“You’ve never used an InstantPot?” she asked. At my bewildered expression, she laughed, and that piercing pain is like a tattoo; it hurts, but is worth the torture in the end.
Violet cupped my cheek, still laughing, pressed a sweet kiss on my bearded cheek, and continued what she was doing.
I wanted her again. I wanted her when we woke up, I wanted her when she bent over to grab a pan for breakfast, I wanted her when I came home…I’ve wanted her. She’s my newest addiction that I’m fighting. Not very hard.
Last night, we fell into bed and she boldly reached for me. I was powerless to draw a line.
It’s now Thursday, and I’m done with work.
This morning was much like yesterday. Living with Violet has been the easiest transition.
But at work, I’m distracted all day, chopping and harvesting trees.
I’ve been in my head. I’ve tried to list all the reasons we should keep each other at arm’s length when we’re alone. Lines are blurring.
I walk in the house and tug my boots off. Cinnamon, vanilla, and peppermint scents assault me. The house feels warm, in that pleasant way that feels like a hug. My memory tickles. I pause in the foyer, knowing something is different.
I open the front door again and see it. A large Christmas wreath hangs against it. Closing the cold away, I clock the details now. Walking further into the house, my eyes dart to every change. Christmas decorations. My wife has been busy today. Christmas threw up in my house.
“Hey,” she comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. “What do you think?”
“Um,” I look around. Red, white, green, everywhere. “Where did this all come from?”
“Oh. I made an order two days ago. They arrived shortly after you left for work, and I couldn’t wait. I want the girls to be surprised when they get here tomorrow.” She walks up to me and kisses my cheek, pulling my coat off. “How was work?”
This domestic picture is tripping me out. I’m half loving this, half freaking out.
“Long. Cold. Productive,” I answer, walking into the dining room toward the kitchen.
“Do you hate it?” she asks, hovering at the open frame leading in from the living room to the dining room.
I don’t want her second-guessing. This was a sweet gesture for the girls. I step closer, shaking my head. “Just gonna take a minute to get used to.”
“You never grew up with Christmas decorations?” she asks, tilting her head in curiosity.
When I don’t answer, not sure how much to share, she walks over and wraps her arms loosely around my neck. My body stills. Those delicate fingers tipped with short, clean nails play with the longer ends of my hair at my neck.
“Is this okay?” she asks, vulnerability shining in her wide blue eyes.
I hold her waist, bringing her closer. “Yeah,” my voice rasps. I can’t deny her anything. She doesn’t know it, but I’d give her the world if she asked for it.
“You think the girls will like the house?”
Squeezing her waist, I nod. “They’re going to love it.” Wanting her to know me, understand me more, I share, “With how I grew up, holidays weren’t really a thing. Never decorated a tree, never trick or treated for Halloween, none of it.”
Her frown isn’t pity, instead, she almost looks angry on my behalf. “You deserved that and more, Hud.”
“I get to give that to my girls, though, Goldie. That means way more.”
“I love how you love them,” she says softly, and my heart beats stutter. I almost thought she was going to say something else. Something wild. Three words that would be insane and are dangerous to even want.
“How was your day?” I ask, embracing this moment of intimacy.
“I turned in my piece for the newspaper, checked in on dad, left him some groceries and meals in the freezer, then came back home. Here,” she quickly amends.
“Home,” I insist. I look at all the decorations, the snowflakes hanging at different levels on the ceiling, and the bare tree in the corner. “And you still had time to do all this?”
Her soft laugh is a sound I want to live in. I wrap my arms around her back and hold her flush to my body. She melts into me. “I’m efficient.”
Chuckling, I kiss her forehead. “That you are. How did that tree get in here?” She better not have dragged that in herself. “You should’ve waited for me. You realize I chop and haul trees for a living.”
“Yes, but my lumberjack husband is hard at work all day, I’m not having you bring work home too. That’s like expecting a chef to come home and cook dinner too,” she says, smiling. She tips up on her toes and kisses my chin. “Hungry?”
Damn. I could get used to this.
“Let me wash up first.” I kiss the top of her head and head upstairs.
In the shower, I’m inundated with snapshot visions of her naked skin.
I’m hard but refuse to take care of it in the shower with my wife downstairs.
Sighing heavily, I lean against my outstretched hands on the shower tile.
How did we ram past pretend and into what feels dangerously like a real marriage?
She’s more than I could’ve hoped for.
I thought the next woman to tempt me, I’d easily thwart, thanks to my trauma with Kristy, but I haven’t felt a moment of hesitation.
I want to be all in with Violet. For as long as I can have her.
If six months is all I get, I plan to give her my all.
She deserves to be shown care, appreciation, attention.
I want to be a good husband to her. I never thought I’d want to be a husband to anyone anymore. Violet Wilder has made her stamp over my mind, my body, and heart, and it’s only been a short amount of time.
Getting dressed, I’m about to head down when a familiar voice, like fingernails on a chalkboard, screams.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Shit. Kristy.
I race down the stairs to see Violet holding the door open, calmly facing my ex. Kristy’s pale green eyes flick up and see me, her face contorting in anger and disgust.
“What the fuck is this?” she points at Violet.
I gently take Violet by the waist and move her behind me, keeping myself in the middle in case Kristy tries something.
“First of all, this is my house. Second, do not speak to her that way.”
Her laugh is humorless. “I heard from the girls that you have a wife now? And what? That child is supposed to be who you married? Didn’t know you liked them that young, but typical of you, being a man and all.”
“Yes, Violet is my wife, and you will show her respect.”
“You think this will help you take them away from me? You made a big mistake taking on a child bride. My lawyer will have a field day with that one,” Kristy sucks her teeth, glaring Violet up and down.
I step outside, fury boiling in my gut. I get in my ex’s face. “You listen here, Kristy, I’m done playing this game with you. Our daughters are not pawns. Your shit hurts them. Not me. Plus, your jealousy is rearing.”
Kristy’s head snaps back as though I stuck her.”Jealous? Of that?” She whips her hand out at Violet. “Does she even know what to do with your big dick?” she mocks, licking her lips.
I step aside, blocking her view and forcing her eyes on me.
“Violet and I had been seeing each other for a while. I didn’t want to present her to our daughters until I knew it was serious.
I love that woman. Her heart is so pure, and the way she already loves our girls is something you should welcome, not try to taint. I won’t do this with you.”
Kristy looks over my shoulder. “Bitch, back off. This isn’t your business.”
Violet steps beside me, hooking her hand to my arm. “He’s my husband. His business is my business,” she says confidently but politely. “And your girls are wonderful–”
“Don’t fucking talk about my girls.” Kristy lunges at her, but I pull Violet back and set my arm against Kristy’s advance.
“Don’t,” I warn. She hears my tone. She sneers but backs up.
“If you have any questions for me, I’m open to answering them. I want you to trust that I won’t hurt your girls. They are safe when they’re with me,” Violet continues.
“This is bullshit. I can smell it,” Kristy hisses. “You’re not getting them,” she points at me. “And you,” she spits at Violet.
“Kristy–” I growl.
“Stay the fuck away from my girls. You may fool him with your virgin pussy, but you’ll never suck him as deep as I did and satisfy him.”
“You’re fucking done here.” I place my hand at the base of her back and move her along.
“If you ever speak to my wife like that again, I’ll take more than the girls from you, Kristy.
I’m done appeasing your bullshit. I could do a lot worse than take the girls if I paid for the right investigative professional. ”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she spins and bares her teeth in my face.
I lean down close so she hears me. “I haven’t yet because our girls deserve to have their mom. I don’t want to take that away from them, but you keep sinking deep in the lowest of shits. I won’t let you drag them with you, Kristy. I won’t.”
“Enjoy your child cunt,” she spits, literally, at my feet and gets in a black Viper that I know is not hers.
She recklessly peels out of my driveway and drives off.
Fuck. It’s true, I could have hired someone to catch her in the lifestyle I know would get the girls taken from her in a second, but I didn’t want to traumatize my daughters with that scene. I opted for the slower system. Ease them into the idea of one day being with me full-time instead.
But as the headlights of what I’m sure is Psycho’s car fade in the distance, my intuition tells me it’s time to give my girls sunshine and peace.
Sighing, feeling the heavy boulder on my shoulders press down harder, I walk back to where Violet stands on the porch steps, looking upset.
“I’m sorry–” I begin.
She shoots her hand up. “Don’t you dare apologize for…that. What did you even see in her? She’s the mother of those three beautiful angels?”
Violet rapidly turns and continues ranting under her breath into the house, and unexpectedly, I find myself smiling.
She’s adorable. And fiercely protective. Shit. I could fall in love with that woman.