Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(33)

But he doesn’t laugh, doesn’t chastise me for crushing his tie. He slips his strong fingers beneath my chin and tilts my face up so I have no choice but to look him in the eye.

“Don’t be sorry,” he murmurs, the aroused glow in his gaze making me weak. “I like that you were overcome so quickly.”

I lower my gaze and he pushes beneath my chin, forcing me to look at him again. “Don’t be shy, either,” he says, his voice a soft but firm command. “Not with me, Violet. Not if we’re really going to do this.”

“And what are we doing?” I almost wish I hadn’t asked, but I need to know what his definition of “this” is between us before we take it any further.

“Getting to know each other?”

I slowly shake my head. “That’s not enough,” I whisper. Well. Really, he’s not saying enough. There’s a difference.

Not really.

“A friendship with benefits?”

“I’m not even looking for that,” I tell him honestly.

“Now who’s being the forthright one?” He strokes my chin with his thumb, a soft sweep across my skin that sends a flurry of tingles all over me. “A quick f*ck?”

The throb between my legs at his words surprises me and I release a shuddering breath. “A little more?”

His chuckle is the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. “Many quick f*cks. Is that what you’re looking for, Violet? For us to become lovers?”

“Do we need to define it?”

“Everyone needs a set of guidelines,” he muses. “Even the rule breakers.”

“I’ve never really been a rule breaker before,” I admit.

“I know.” He leans in and drops a firm, breath-stealing kiss to my lips. “So let me teach you how to play.”

His choice of words, the gravelly sound of his voice, all of it hints at something wicked. Forbidden. Secret. When have I ever indulged in something like that?

Never. And that scares me. Tempts me. Makes me want to forget all reason and righteousness and just … do it.

“We can’t tell anyone.” The words rush out of me so fast his hand drops from my chin and he moves away from me. I’m afraid I offended him. “I mean … this is our secret, right? It’s just a temporary thing. No one else needs to know about it.”

“Of course.” He nods, running his hand over his hair, then across his front, over his crumpled tie. Remorse hits me at how I destroyed it. I had no idea my grip could be so strong.

Ryder McKay is making me realize a lot of things I never knew about myself.

We don’t say anything the rest of the ride back to my building. There’s just this tense silence that fills me with unease and arousal all at once. I shift in my seat and cross my legs, trying my best to stop the ache between my thighs as I resume my study of the city passing by. I have no idea what just happened. No idea what to think of it. I press my lips together and taste him, relive the precise moment of when he first put his mouth on mine. That startling, first electric contact. The feel of his fingers in my hair, gripping and pulling, his tongue sliding against mine …

“Tomorrow. We’ll meet?”

I realize the car has stopped and I see my building through the window, the familiar doorman standing out front, his arms crossed behind his back as he waits. He doesn’t know I’m in the car or he’d rush forward and open the door for me.

“When?” I ask quietly. “What time?”

“For lunch. At noon. My office?”

“Your office?” I finally turn to look at him. “There’s not a restaurant you prefer?”

“A secret, remember? And my office has solid walls.” He smiles, reaching out and drawing his finger across my lower lip. “Wear something sexy.”

“To work?” I’m shocked by his request.

And aroused.

“Beneath the clothes, Violet. Wear your armor.” He smiles. “And then wear a little something that will slay me underneath it.”

Chapter Ten

Ryder

I haven’t felt such anticipation for something like this in a long time, if ever. I couldn’t sleep for shit. I’d gone straight home and jacked off in the shower to thoughts of Violet. Asking me to give her pleasure in that achingly sweet voice. The taste of her lips, the scent of her, the sensation of her tongue against mine …

I’d come all over my hand in seconds.

This morning I had an early meeting and f*cked off mentally during the entire thing. Waste of my time and everyone else’s. The conference call I had at nine thirty? I can’t even remember what was said. Now I sit holed up in my office until noon, avoiding everyone I can for fear I’ll say something stupid or worse, go up to Violet’s floor and stare at her through the window of her office, my hands pressed against the glass. Hell, with the way I’m feeling, I’d probably press my f*cking drooling face against the glass, too.

Then she’d just consider me a stalker and file a restraining order against me. Or worse, have me fired.

A package arrived for me at approximately ten thirty, someone from reception delivering it with a cheery smile and flirtatious wink as she handed it over. I scowled at her and set it on my desk, staring at the long, narrow plain brown box, curiosity filling me. There’s no return address, no business listed, just my name scrawled across the back of a small, cream-colored envelope that’s taped to the center of the box.