He sucks in a deep breath, shaking his head against mine. “I was scared.”
“About what?”
He takes a small step back, keeping his palm on my cheek and looking into my eyes. “I’d seen the way my father treated my mother for years. I was certain I’d be built the same way, and if we’d become closer, I’d eventually turn out like him. I started to convince myself that perhaps you hating me was for the best, so I’d never be able to hurt you. I didn’t know how to emotionally handle the way you just discarded our friendship, so anytime you shot daggers at me, I shot them right back to get some kind of reaction out of you, even if it was a negative one.”
Tears well in my eyes. The thought of it hurts my heart. “You’re not your father,” I whisper. “You’ll never be your father, Travis.”
He shrugs, not convinced. “I never wanted to get close enough to anyone to find out.” His words start clicking in my head, making sense of every little thing we fought about. He’s constantly on defense mode. He studies my expression and begins rubbing the pad of his thumb along my jawline. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did tonight. It was uncalled for and completely out of line. I have no excuse.”
I’ve never seen Travis like this in my entire life. He looks so vulnerable and desperate for my forgiveness.
His hands run through my hair and instinctively, I fall into his touch again.
“I’m sorry, Viola. I’m so fucking sorry I said those words, that I hurt you, that I didn’t fight for our friendship. I was a coward and filled with teenage hormones I didn’t know how to control, and I took it out on you every chance I had.” He looks at me with so much sincerity, I can’t take my eyes off him. “I fucked up.”
I’m in shock at how honest and sincere he’s being. I’ve imagined this scenario a hundred times in my head, never really believing it’d happen.
“I think we both did,” I tell him honestly. “Hating you was the only way I could deal. It hurt too much.”
“Plus, you’re too damn pretty to be so fucking mad all the time.” His lips curl up into a grin. The way he’s looking at me right now, saying all the words I’ve waited desperately to hear for years, is all so overwhelming.
“Years of practice,” I quip, shrugging.
He looks down at me, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me into his chest. His other hand reaches up and cradles my neck, pressing his lips gently against mine. “Viola,” he whispers and slightly pulls away so he can look into my eyes. His fingers slide down the side of my arm, and small bumps form on my skin. With his other hand, he traces my bottom lip that’s still swollen from being with him earlier. “You said I didn’t want you.” Before he speaks again, he pulls my bottom lip between his teeth and tugs. I gasp, and he lets go. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” His lips press against mine, and a small moan escapes from my mouth, begging him never to let me go again.
Chapter 21
Travis
Iwrap both arms around her, pulling her up until her legs wrap around me. I tighten my grip and kiss her senseless until I feel her relax and she kisses me back in the same heated passion. I walk us out of the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom. Before I open the door, I get a bright idea and walk back to Drew’s room.
“What are you doing?” she asks, breathing heavily. “I’m not doing it in my brother’s bed,” she states with a serious expression. “Or anywhere inside his bedroom.”
I laugh and set her on top of Drew’s old desk. “Just making a pit stop.”
I feel her eyes watching my every move as I dig through her bags. Once I find what I’m looking for, I palm it and walk back to Viola.
She eyes it, not looking amused. “Are you serious?”
With a smirk, I glance back down at the vibrator I once found in the shower. “One hundred percent.”
I take her back into my room, wasting no time to strip her down and show her exactly what I’ve been dreaming about with her naughty little vibrator.
I wake up sometime in the middle of the night with Viola asleep peacefully in my arms. Fuck, I wouldn’t be surprised if she sleeps until Friday with the way her body was begging for it over and over again. I’m exhausted, but I can’t sleep. The adrenaline high is too good to sleep through, and now looking over at her makes me want to relive it all over again. No matter what, I can’t seem to get enough of her.
As carefully as possible, I slip my arm out from under her and slide out of the bed. I pull my boxer shorts up and look back down at her. I smile before covering her up and tiptoe to the door. If I didn’t have to piss so damn bad, I’d never let her go.
Just as I’m washing my hands, I hear the front door slam shut.What the hell?
Would she leave? Sneak out like a regretful one-night stand?
But where the hell would she go?
Thoughts are running through my head as I walk back into the hallway and toward the front of the house. I turn on a lamp and do a double take when I see Drew standing there.
Oh, shit.
“Hey, man!” he calls out, taking a step forward to give me a side-hug. “Sorry to wake you.”
