me.
“It’s pretty common knowledge,” he answers with a slight bite to his tone. “You were the most popular girl in school if I remember correctly. You and Scott were the golden couple. What ever happened to him, anyway? You guys still together?”
I dip my head and lower my eyes so he can’t witness the shame burning within them. “No, we broke up.”
“Huh, I thought I heard a rumor you were marrying him.”
“Yeah, that didn’t work out.”
“Why not?”
I meet Zander’s gaze, and it’s so intense I feel it into my soul. “He cheated on me with my bridesmaid.”
“Ouch.” Zander shakes his head, but he doesn’t really seem all that surprised. Scott had a reputation for being an asshole, so I guess the only person it really surprised was me.
“What about you?” I drain the rest of the wine from my glass and glance at his hand. “Are you married yet?”
“Nah.” Zander grins and shakes his head. “I’ve been busy making a life for myself, as you can see.”
“Right.”
He finishes off his wine and abruptly dismisses himself to return the glass to the kitchen sink. “It’s getting late. I should probably go.”
I nod, but inside I’m thinking about how much I don’t want that. He just walked back into my life, and there’s still so much we have to talk about.
I stand up and he offers me a smile as he rejoins me in the living room. “It was good to see you again, Violet.”
My eyes burn with emotions I can’t quite make sense of as I close the distance between us and offer him a hug. When he wraps his strong arms around me, a shiver moves over me. Zander has always felt a little dangerous to me, but in the best way. He’s terrifyingly beautiful, and his presence is a comfort I would indulge for eternity if he’d let me. But all too soon, it’s over when he releases me and I glance up into his eyes.
“It was so good to see you,” I croak.
He nods and turns to go, and I don’t know what comes over me when I reach out and grab his arm. Maybe it’s the wine, or maybe it’s just that I can’t accept this is it. He might walk out of my life and we’ll never talk to each other again.
“Hey, Zander?”
“Yeah?” He quirks a brow at me.
I lean up on my toes and grab his face before I can talk myself out of it. My lips collide with his, soft and warm and so addictive. It lasts for all of about thirty seconds before I realize he’s gone completely rigid, and he isn’t kissing me back.
“Oh my god.” I yank myself away, humiliation burning my flesh as I slap my hands over my face. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Wednesday
Zander
I’ve wanted to kiss Violet Meadows from the first moment I laid eyes on her.
And now that it’s finally happened all I can feel is…
Confusion.
To say she’s royally fucked up my plan would be putting it mildly.
Or has she?
I wanted her to want me…
No, more than want.
I want her to crave me so much she can’t think straight.
But the only way to do that…is to give her a taste.
A taste that will leave her wanting more.
Pulling her hand away from her face, I finish what she started.
Our kiss is turmoil and passion.
Hate and lust melded into an all-consuming fireball.
Violet kisses me like she’s starving for it and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because no one has ever touched her like this.
I should tell her all the dirty things I want to do to her body, all the ways I plan to worship that sweet pussy of hers, but I’d rather just show her.
Gripping the base of her neck, I utter one simple instruction, “Bend over.”
Shock crosses over her face, and for a moment I think she’s going to utter some bullshit about what a bad idea this is and blame the wine.
But while Violet is a liar...she’s never been a stupid girl.
And she wants this. Hell, her body is practically begging for it.
Her breaths are shaky as she positions herself over the arm of the couch with her plump little ass in the air.
I don’t waste any time tugging her sweatpants down her hips.
“You’re not wearing any panties,” I note, pressing my nose to where she’s slick and warm.
Heat licks over my skin and my balls draw tight as I inhale her heady scent.
“You have