He made a sound somewhere between a cough and a growl. “No.”
“No?”
“Okay, maybe yes,” he muttered, rubbing a hand down his face. “What’s your point?”
I tilted my head. “That’s not what I asked.”
“You’re being annoying on purpose.”
“Yes,” I said sweetly. “It’s one of my many talents.”
He shifted under Violet, careful of his shoulder. She made a soft sound in her sleep, nuzzling closer to his wrist.
I nodded at her. “You see that?”
He looked. “She’s been doing it nonstop.”
“Mmhmm. Almost like her body knows what it needs, even when her mouth won’t say it.”
“She doesn’t say anything.”
“Hands, mouth, eyes—it’s all the same,” I wavedhim off. “She wants you.”
“If she wanted me, she’d let me mark her.”
“She will.” I smiled. “Or someone else will.”
His face darkened. “I’d kill them.”
“I know. That’s kind of my point.”
I shifted closer. Violet’s breathing was shallow but steady, lips parted, brow pinched. She nudged toward him again, chasing comfort.
“Her body’s already chosen,” I whispered. “You’re the only one still pretending you don’t see it.”
Vinny didn’t respond.
So I leaned in, pressed my lips to the curve of Violet’s neck, soft and slow.
She stirred.
A small whimper escaped, her fingers twitching against his chest. Her chin lifted slightly, exposing more of her throat.
Vinny stilled beneath her.
I brushed one more kiss against her skin.
She blinked awake, confused, then aware. First her gaze landed on Vinny. Then, slowly, she looked at me.
And judging by the haze in her eyes, this was about to be fun.
Chapter 17
Violet
When I opened my eyes, the world was a sea of masculine colored blurs and the scents of chai, coffee and cinnamon wrapped around me like a weighted blanket.
Lava pooled low in my stomach as I squinted, looking side to side to fully take in my predicament.