More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Nash clamps his hand over my mouth with a low chuckle, muffling my cries. “We need to work on your volume control.”
“Come again for me like a good girl.”
“Dammit. Why do you have to be so—” With another snap of his hips, the headboard hits the wall again. “Fucking.” He pulls back, plunging into me with another crash of the furniture. “Hot.”
“You’re still sweet, you know that?” “Just cleaning up the mess I made.”
“I know what I said before, but I didn’t mean it, Vi. I’ll respect your wishes if you want to wait until the semester ends. I’m not going anywhere. Or with anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Memento mori, amor fati,” I read aloud. “Latin, right? What does that mean?” “Remember death, love your fate.”
I should be happy right now. I want to be happy. But I’m not wired to be happy. And sometimes, getting what you want is the scariest thing of all—because I’m afraid I’m going to lose it again.
Is Julianna on Team Preston or something? What the fuck? Either way, I’m sure he doesn’t exactly mind. If he were any closer to Violet, he’d be sitting in her goddamn lap.
And I am definitely jealous of Preston.
I’m not sure I can forgive myself until Violet forgives me first.
“Look, Richards.” Coach Ward scans our surroundings, his voice stern but not severe. “I like Violet, and I’m not here to ruin anyone’s internship or chances at graduation, nor am I going to tell you what to do on your own time. But make sure you keep it professional on the clock going forward, okay? My discretion ends if it becomes a problem.”
Guessing that means Marcus hasn’t seen enough real orgasms to know the difference.
“Oh my gosh.” I step closer, admiring his handiwork. “You made us a pillow fort?”
Underneath this canopy, closed off from the rest of the world, it feels like nothing else matters. For a few moments, neither of us speaks. I shut my eyes, reveling in the way we fit together, snug and secure, perfectly matched.
“The only tits I’m interested in seeing are yours.” I laugh because it’s kind of sweet. In Nash’s way, at least.
“Give me another chance, Vi. A real chance. No more one foot in, one foot out.”
There is no playing it safe when it comes to love; it’s a contact sport for your heart.
“Good tears or not, I wish I could stop making you cry so much.”
“It’s nice to know the other night wasn’t just about sex to you, that’s all. It meant something to me, but I wasn’t sure…” “For the record, it has never been ‘just sex’ with you,”
“Sex makes me feel closer to you, sure. But you could remove it from the equation, and I would still want to be around you all the time.”
I love spending time with Violet. She’s one of the only people on the planet who doesn’t annoy the shit out of me.
“I want to be with you, but I’m afraid you’re going to pull back like you did last time.”
“Let me caveat this by saying, this isn’t an excuse. What I did was shitty, but things were different back then. I was young and immature. And honestly, I got scared.”
“Scared of what?” “Lots of things. Fucking it up. Not living up to what you needed. Losing you.”
“You need to deal with Preston because if he touches you like that again, I’m going to break his fingers, and that might interfere with his career plans.”
“I’m serious, Vi. Dude needs to be set straight. If you won’t, I will, and I won’t be nearly as nice as you.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” “Never been more sure of anything in my life,” I tell her.
If I wanted to be depressed, I’d go watch a re-run of Grey’s Anatomy.
Nash: I’m going to put that pretty little mouth to good use later.
Nash: Then I’m going to fuck you so hard you can’t walk tomorrow.
Nash: Where do you want me to come tonight? On those perfect tits, or on your face? Me: Both. Nash: Good girl.
“You look so innocent, Vi. But you want to be fucked like a bad girl, don’t you?”
“Quiet, Vi, or I’ll stuff those pretty panties in your mouth.”
“Who do you belong to, Violet?”
needy whimper slips through my lips. “You.”
“Don’t fucking forget it.”
“Biscuit ate Connor’s new Golden Goose shoes the other day.” There’s an unmistakable grin in Nash’s voice. Despite the situation, I can’t help but laugh. I reopen my eyes, turning to face him. “Again? Did you tell him he was a bad dog?” “Fuck no, I gave him a belly rub and extra treats.”
“Honestly, it’s kind of funny. Connor never puts his shit away, and now he’s learning lessons the hard way. Had I known it would work out like this, I’d have gotten a dog years ago. Biscuit is parenting more than his parents ever did, and Connor resents the shit out of it.”
“Yeah, especially Vaughn. He’s always wanted a dog. Was never able to have one growing up. We call him Biscuit’s dogfather now.”
“I know I’m not in a position to ask you to change your plans or give things up, especially when I’m not entirely sure where I’ll end up myself. If there’s any way we can end up in the same place, I am fully for it. I didn’t know if that was something you would even want.” “I would,” I tell him honestly.
“Vi, I don’t care if I have to fly out just so I can see you for an hour at a time. It would be fully worth it. Whatever I have to do to make it work, I will. If you will.” Butterflies cascade through my body. “I will.”
“I lied for you that day. Told them you had food poisoning.” My voice cracks. “Then I went home and cried into my pillow for a week, but I like to think I sold it in front of them.”
“You’re sexy,” he amends, his lips drifting along the curve of my neck. His teeth sink into my earlobe, and my whole body comes alive. “And beautiful. So fucking beautiful it blows my mind.”
“Tough crowd,” I say.
The sight of Violet holding the baby does something to me. She looks so natural with her, so caring and maternal.
“I really want a future with you. And I would never want to force you into having kids if that isn’t something you want. But having a family someday is important to me, and I don’t know where that leaves us.”
I like kids. But I don’t know if I’d be a good dad.”
Fuck, I love her.
“Nash.” Her voice is hushed. “Look at me.” When my eyes lift to hers, there’s a pang in my gut that I can’t explain. “Don’t go somewhere else in your head. Stay here. Just you, just me. Let me have you.”
She’s the opposite of me in every way. Small, soft, gentle. All curves, all woman. And on the inside, she’s the most beautiful person I know.
