“Right now, I take you home and devour every inch of you until you remember who you belong to—who owns you, who you own. As for the not-so-immediate future, that’s for us to decide together.”
I can’t kiss him fast enough. Hard enough. Passionately enough. There’s no possible way to show him just how much he owns me. And knowing this is real, when we get home, I’ll show him even villains get their happily ever afters.
My lips spread into a mischievous smile against his. “Well, let’s get to it. Time’s a tickin’, and I don’t take kindly to tardiness.”
Hazel
Standing in our dorm doorway one last time, I stare at the empty room before I grab the final box and head out. It’s bittersweet in a way to say goodbye, but I’m ready for the new chapter.
Dad comes up behind me, grabbing the box, and kisses me on the cheek. “This the last one? Good. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
I take another moment to memorize the room Violet and I shared. I think about all the good memories we had here. And about the new memories we’ll make next semester. They just won’t be here.
If there was one thing Dad was certain about, aside from Gabriel being an asshole, it was that neither of us was coming back to this school. He blames himself, stating that after what happened with Violet, he should’ve pulled us both then.
“Are you ready, little bird?” Gabriel comes up behind me and pulls my back into his chest.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” I turn in his arms, having to crane my neck for the most perfect view. “The question is, are you ready?” Once we leave this place, things change. My home will now be at Gabriel’s. The simple thought has my heart racing with excitement. It’s unreal to even imagine how we got here, but it didn’t come without a fight.
“Fuck no.”
“Dad, why? Violet lives here with you. What would be the difference if I moved in with Gabriel?”
“Fuck no.”
“Dad! I’m being serious. You can’t keep me locked up here forever. I’ll always be your baby girl, but you don’t need me anymore. You have Violet. Do you really want me to be miserable and resent you for the decisions you’re forcing on me? What happens if I get so depressed, I decide to stop eating or do something crazy like start hating pizza?”
“You’ll never hate pizza. You love Savino’s. It’s our special place. It will always be our thing.”
“Yeah, Daddy, and it’ll always be our thing whether I live here or not.”
“Fuck no.”
“Dad!”
“You come home for dinner four times a week. You leave that asshole at home for two of those four. I can only stand him twice a week.”
I roll my eyes. “Daddy, he’s here three times a week drinking scotch with you.”
“Just because I invite him over to drink with me doesn’t mean I like him.”
Jesus Almighty! “Should I tell him to stop coming over then?”
“Fuck, no!”
I shake my head. “I’m moving in with him.”
His shoulders slump. “I know you are.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I know you do. Love you too, baby girl.”
I’ll always cherish my one-on-one time with my dad. If anything, the last few months have shown us life is precious and can be taken at any second. Gabriel takes my hand and leads me toward the elevators. When the doors open, an unexpected face walks out.
“Oh, hey. I was hoping to catch you before you left.”
Gabriel throws his arm around me, pulling me tightly to his side. “Not a chance, asshole.”
I lightly tap his chest and squirm out of his death grip. “It’s fine. Can you give us a second?”
He hesitates, and I’m shocked he doesn’t leap forward and choke him. Finally, he nods, but the look in his eyes says murder is the only outcome if he pulls anything. “You have two minutes, and I’m not leaving.”
Grayson nods, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I…uh, I just wanted to see how you were doing and tell you again how sorry I am.”
“Grayson, you don’t owe me an apology. Everything that happened was on Evan, not you. I know what you did. Violet testified to that, so you don’t owe me anything. I believe I owe you a thank you.”
Grayson looks tired. I know the signs of someone who hasn’t slept well in ages. I can’t imagine what it feels like to take somebody’s life, whether it’s in self-defense or not.
“I just…if I knew…I would’ve never…I would’ve never let that happen—”
I cut him off and step forward, wrapping my arms around him to give him a tight hug. He’s surprised at my show of affection but then wraps his arms around me, embracing the comfort I believe he so strongly needs.
“Thank you,” I whisper soft enough for only his ears to hear.
“All right. That’s enough,” Gabriel grumbles, and we both laugh as we break apart.
“Heard you’re not coming back.”
“Yeah. Dad thinks it’s for the best, and I kind of agree. A new start for everybody.”
He nods. “I wish you the best. Hope things really do work out for you, Hazel.” He pauses and turns to Gabriel, giving him a nod, then walks off toward the exit sign and disappears down the stairwell. I stare at the door until it fully closes, and Gabriel grabs my waist, snuggling his face against my neckline. “All right, little bird. It’s time to get you back to your cage. All this playing nice has worked me up.”
I turn, wrap my arms around his neck, and press my lips to his. “Playing nice, huh? That’s what you call what you’ve been doing?”
“Whatever do you mean?” He can’t even hide the mischievousness in his smirk.
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe being jealous of mine and Dad’s pizza nights and possibly buying Savino’s just to one-up him?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. It was an investment opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”
I shake my head, then kiss my man. “Whatever you say. Just take me home. I’m feeling needy. Maybe tonight I’ll let you have all the control.” His eyes darken, and my entire body shivers with delight knowing exactly what kind of man I’m getting tonight.
Ruthless. Dominant. Absolute savage.
His low chuckle is like the cherry on top of this happily ever after. He scoops me up in his arms. “Be careful what you wish for, little bird. A man like me may take what you’re offering and then some. I’m a greedy man with an insatiable appetite.”
My entire being trembles with excitement. “Exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
Violet
“That motherfucker!” Heath screams from his office.
“What’s wrong?” I run in there.
“What’s wrong is that asshole just bought Savino’s!”
“And?” I ask, confused why it’s a big deal. This is the same asshole he can’t stop talking about. I truly wish he would just admit he’s over it and wants to make up with him instead of whining like a little girl.
“And?” I ask again.
“He did it just to spite me. Savino’s is mine and Hazel’s favorite restaurant. He’s trying to take even that away from me.”
I roll my eyes, swatting my hand at him, and begin to walk away. Not that I don’t want to stay and listen to him pretend he hates his best friend. I’m just seconds away from vomiting on his office floor.
“You’re not going to agree with me?” he grumbles.
I suck in a deep breath and turn back around. “Babe, no, I’m not going to agree with you. I think it’s silly. You two need to kiss and make up because I never realized when grown men fight, they act more like teenage girls than actual teenage girls do!”
“Not true.”
“Pretty true.”
“Not true! Get over here so I can spank your ass until you agree with me, and then call Hazel and tell her she’s not allowed to eat at Savino’s with him.”
The way he devours me up with his steely gaze, my upset stomach is suddenly forgotten,
and I walk over and sit on his lap, straddling him. My hands dig into his hair, and I tug, pulling his head toward me to press my lips to his. “Did you want me to take your mind off it?”
“Fuck yeah, I do.” His hands pull at my ass, causing me to grind against him. No shocker, he’s already hard. “What do you have in mind?”
I kiss him deeply, tugging harder at his hair, moving my hips back and forth until I know I have him exactly where I want him. “Does telling you I’m pregnant make it better?”
He freezes and slowly pulls out of my grip. “Pregnant? Are you serious?”
“I’d say as a heart attack, but you’re old, and you just never know how—”
He smacks my ass. “Tell me right now. Are. You—”
“I’m serious. Are you mad?” I ask, afraid he won’t want this.
He captures my mouth and kisses me deeply, igniting that constant fire that burns passionately for him. I melt into his embrace, loving the way we fit perfectly together. “I fucking love you, naughty girl.”
I return his praise. “Love you too, baby.” He stands with me in his arms, swipes everything off his desk, and places me on top. I love it when he goes all barbarian on me. This desk will always have a special place in my heart. My clothes are gone, as are his, and he’s sliding into me, inch by glorious inch, recapturing my mouth and fucking me with an insatiable hunger. He touches my soul with his sweet words, every element of him making me fall harder. My breaths become shallow, and my body quakes around him. My world shifts and I’m momentarily blinded by bright fireworks of love, lust, and happily ever after going off behind my eyelids. Before I know it, I’m screaming his name.
When my vision readjusts, I swipe a piece of hair out of my face and press a sweet kiss to his lips.
“Love you, naughty girl.” Heath steals the same words blossoming like a flower inside my chest since the moment we met.
“Will you be saying that when I’m the size of a cow and totally hormonal?”
“I’ll love you even more.”
The End
Best-selling author, J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she’s not cooking, event planning, or spending time with her family, she’s relaxing with her nose stuck in a book. With her love for romance, and her head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own stories to life. Living in the Midwest, she’s currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions of her new books and series, along with her charm, humor and HEA’s.
J.D. Hollyfield dabbles in all genres, from romantic comedy, contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, fantasy and erotica! Want to know more! Follow her on all platforms!
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Hayden
To myself. It’s not easy having to drink all the wine in the world and sit in front of a computer writing your heart out, drinking your liver off and crying like a buffoon because part of the job is being one with your characters. You truly are amazing and probably the prettiest person in all the land. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Second most important, thanks for nothing to my toddler who made this book take forever to finish because he’s so damn needy. Momma loves you.
Thanks to all my eyes and ears. Having a squad who has your back is the utmost important when creating a masterpiece. From betas, to proofers, to PA’s to my dog, Jackson, who just gets me when I don’t get myself, thank you. This success is not a solo mission. It comes with an entourage of awesome people who got my back. So, shout out to Gina Behrends, Ashley Cestra, Jenny Hanson, Molly Wittman, Melissa Shipe, Cindy Camp, Brandi Zelenka, Jennifer Kreinbring, Kristi Webster and anyone who I may have forgotten! I appreciate you all!
Thank you to Monica Black at Word Nerd Editing for helping bring this story to where it needed to be.
A warm thank you to Molly at Novel Mechanic for having superb insight.
Thank you to Dee Garcia at Black Widow Designs for creating my amazing cover. A cover is the first representation of a story and she nailed it.
Thank you to my awesome reader group, Club JD. All your constant support for what I do warms my heart. I appreciate all the time you take in helping my stories come to life within this community.
Big thanks to Stacey at Champagne Formats for always making my stories look so amazing!
Big thanks to Indiesage PR and Wildfire Marketing for help push this novel.
And most importantly every single reader and blogger! THANK YOU for all that you do. For supporting me, reading my stories, spreading the word. It’s because of you that I get to continue in this business. And for that I am forever grateful.
Cheers. This big glass of wine is for you.
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Sweet Little Lies Page 17
