DEEPEN THE KISS
WILLOW WINTERS
CONTENTS
Also by Willow Winters
Deepen The Kiss
Promise Me
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Knocking Boots
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
Burned Promises
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Sneak Peek of Second Chance
Prologue
Chapter 1
Sneak Peek of Imperfect
Prologue
About Willow Winters
Also by Willow Winters
ALSO BY WILLOW WINTERS
The Merciless World:
It’s Our Secret
Possessive
A Kiss to Tell
* * *
Start Carter & Aria’s saga with Merciless, today for 99c!
Merciless
Heartless
Breathless
Endless
* * *
Jase’s story is coming February
A Single Glance
* * *
Standalone Novels:
Broken
Forget Me Not
* * *
Sins and Secrets Duets:
Imperfect (Imperfect Duet book 1)
Unforgiven (Imperfect Duet book 2)
* * *
Damaged (Damaged Duet book 1)
Scarred (Damaged Duet book 2)
Willow Winters
Standalone Novels:
* * *
Cards of Love: Three of Swords
Second Chance
Knocking Boots
Promise Me
Burned Promises
Forsaken, cowritten with B. B. Hamel
* * *
Valetti Crime Family Series:
Dirty Dom
His Hostage
Rough Touch
Cuffed Kiss
Bad Boy
* * *
Highest Bidder Series,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Bought
Sold
Owned
Given
* * *
Bad Boy Standalones,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Inked
Tempted
Mr. CEO
Happy reading and best wishes,
W Winters xx
DEEPEN THE KISS
PROMISE ME
COWRITTEN WITH VIVIAN WOOD
"Promise me you'll love me after this?" Those were the words I asked my first love on a high school date.
* * *
"Always, Vi," he told me before crushing his lips against mine.
* * *
I gave him a part of me I can never get back that night. Even worse, I gave him my heart.
* * *
That was four years ago. Back when I was young and naive. Back when I thought we’d always be together.
* * *
He dumped me right after graduation and left me to join the military. He said I shouldn’t wait for him; it didn’t matter that I wanted to. I would have waited for him forever, but he threw me away and left me here in this small town.
* * *
Now he’s home and says he wants me back. Second chances don’t work in love. No matter how much I wish I could erase what’s happened since he’s been gone... no matter how much I think of falling back into his arms…
PROLOGUE
VIOLET
I shift a little on the blanket as the sounds of crickets from the woods behind us get a bit louder. We're alone out here on the outskirts of the state park. I can hardly breathe in this strapless lace dress, and it’s awkward sitting on the ground with it riding up so high. It’s the prettiest one I have though, and the most revealing. It’s not that it’s too tight, although it feels as if it is.
Tonight’s the night.
I peek up to my right at Hunter and give him a shy smile, feeling the warmth of a blush flood my cheeks. My heart swells, although I’m still a bundle of nerves. He looks so handsome even in his simple faded jeans and white tee shirt.
My lungs fill with the scent of his cologne. He smells so good. He’s never worn it before. He knows tonight is different, too.
We’ve been dating for almost a year. We're high school sweethearts. A full year. I’d say it’s my longest relationship, but it’s my only one ever. And I never want another. I want to be his, and only his. Tonight I’m taking a leap of faith.
I know when we graduate in three months, it’s going to be hard. He’s going into training, and I’ll be going to college. I lace my fingers between his; his hand is resting on my bare thigh. He looks down at me and clasps my hand while giving me a sexy smile. We’re going to make it work though. He’s my one and only. And I’m his.
His arm is wrapped around my waist and we’re seated on the edge of the blanket. My bare toes sweep along the grass as he pulls me closer to him. The spring air is a bit chilly at night, and goosebumps form down my arm. I didn’t bring a jacket. A small shiver runs up my shoulders and I curl up against his hot body. A deep chuckle rises up his chest. I love that sound. I love it when he laughs like that. He rubs his hand up and down my arm, warming me.
I lay my cheek against his hard chest and put my hand on the lower part of his stomach, against his shirt. My heartbeat picks up and I feel like I can barely breathe. My fingers dip down a little lower. The tips brush along his bare skin.
My breath st
ills in my lungs. I’m going for it. I bite down on my bottom lip and clench my thighs as arousal pulls between them. I slip my hand a little lower, past the deep “V” of his hips, and they just barely push into the waist of his jeans when his hand wraps around my wrist, holding me still. I can feel the coarse hair below.
“Vi,” he says, and there’s a hint of admonishment in his voice.
My heart squeezes in my chest. I know we shouldn’t, and he’s never pressured me, but I want him. I want this to happen. And I know he does, too.
“Hunter.” I feel brazen as I keep my fingers dipped below his waistband and meet his gaze. His eyes heat with a fire I’ve seen before.
“I know you want this,” I barely whisper. In the past, he’s been quick to pull away, but this time he only holds me tighter.
He closes his eyes and speaks just above a murmur, “Vi.” My name slips between his lips with a reverence I’ve never heard before. His grip on my wrist loosens and I pull away, but only to place my hand… down there, against him. My eyes widen slightly. I’ve never felt his dick before. I’ve never even seen one. I wasn’t expecting it to be so big, or so hard.
My hearts stutters in my chest and my pussy clenches around nothing. My hand itches to pull away, but instead I push it harder against his cock, to feel more. My fingers wrap around his length as best they can in this awkward position. I can feel everything in me pulsing with need.
“Violet,” he breathes my name.
In an instant, he looks back at me and moves me to his lap, pulling me away. I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling vulnerable and desperate for his love. It will crush me if he denies me. Please, don’t.
“I’m ready, Hunter.” I stare into his gorgeous green eyes. I swallow thickly and keep my voice as even as I can as I say, “I love you, and I want you to know it.”
“I already know,” he whispers as he brushes my hair out of my face. It tickles as it moves over my shoulder, and another shiver runs down every inch of my body. This time it hardens my nipples as his lips graze the sensitive skin of my neck, just below my ear. His hot breath forces a small moan from my lips.
“I love you, Vi.” I close my eyes as he plants open-mouthed kisses up my neck and along my jawline. I love it when he says my name. He’s the only one who calls me that.
I believe him. I believe he loves me. And I know I love him.
He pushes his lips against mine. There’s a tenderness that I haven’t felt before. I reach up and spear my fingers through his hair. I part my lips and press my body against his.
I want him to know how much I need him. All of him.
I kiss him with desperation. He groans deep in his throat and splays his hand on my back, lowering me to the blanket. He breaks our kiss only for a moment to look down at me.
My lips are parted, and my eyes are half-lidded with lust.
When he lowers his lips to mine and his hands travel up my dress, slipping it up past my thighs, I know this is really going to happen.
"Promise me you'll love me after this?" I sound weak, but in this moment, I need his reassurance.
"Always, Vi," he says before crushing his lips against mine.
* * *
I GAVE him a part of me I can never get back. Even worse, I gave him my heart.
* * *
…THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO. Back when I was young and naive. Back when I thought we’d always be together, and that he hadn’t lied. He dumped me right after graduation and left me to join the military. He said I shouldn’t wait for him; it didn’t matter that I wanted to. I would have waited for him. I was a fool. It was all a mistake.
* * *
THAT WAS THEN. I know better now.
CHAPTER 1
VIOLET
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly as I push the glass door to the convenience shop open. The bells above my head chime and Marcy gives me a bright smile from behind the cash register on the small counter to the left. She’s an older lady; I’ve known her most of my life. She doesn’t make a move from her seat and barely looks up from behind her thick, dark-rimmed glasses. Her eyes wrinkle as she smiles slightly and returns to watching the small television behind the counter.
Just like everyone else in this town, she’s content going through life with the same comfortable routine. For her that means sitting behind the register. This store is small, with only a few aisles to my right, and the counter to my left. I give her a small smile in return, though my heart’s not in it and I resume walking the few steps to get what I came here for.
It has been such a long day. I look like crap, and I know it. I’m in my penguin flannel pajama pants and a long baggy sweater. It’s my favorite sweater though, especially on these grey rainy days. The sleeves come down over my hands, and for some reason it makes me feel more comfortable. And I always wear these bottoms when I’m sick. They make me feel better, or at least I like to pretend they do.
I don’t have an ounce of makeup on. I have bags under my eyes to prove I’ve had no sleep at all in the past few days. This is the first time I’ve been out of my little apartment in days, and I’m going right back home as soon as I can. Fall colds are the absolute worst.
I sniffle a little as I walk down three of the four aisles in the small store to get to the row with the cans of chicken noodle soup. I may be miserable, but I know I’ll feel better after a hot bowl of chicken noodle. I’m in need of comfort food.
My mama never made home-cooked soup, but the stuff in the can worked for me when I was little, and it’ll work for me now. It’s a bit more expensive here in the convenience shop, but it’s Sunday so the grocery store’s closed down. Most everything’s closed down, including my bakery.
I’m sure people will be talking about me coming out like this, the extensive rumor mill being one of the main drawbacks of small-town life. Mama’s phone will probably be ringing before I even get home. Marcy may look like she’s an innocent old lady, but all of the people in this town live to gossip.
But they can all get bent. I just need my soup and some cough medicine, and I’ll be on my way.
I sigh at the simple thought. I need way more than soup. I need to get back to work.
I can hardly afford the part-time help from April and Nicole, two high school girls I’m paying to work the registers and help me in the evening. Everything else I’m doing on my own, and it’s really taking its toll on me. Plus I’ve had to close the bakery for the last week since I’ve been sick.
It’s hard work running your own business; there’s so much more to it than I originally anticipated. I can’t keep doing this on my own for much longer. And with one of the ovens broken, and none of the commercial grade mixers working, I’m struggling to meet product demands.
I close my eyes and push those negative thoughts away. I’m doing everything I can. It’s going to work out. It has to. I just need that damn loan from the bank.
I push that thought down, too. I can’t think about it now, or I’ll be sick for an entirely different reason.
Right now, I just need the chicken noodle soup I'm holding in my hand, and my penguin PJs.
I’m not paying much attention when I hear the bells chime above the door and Marcy squeaks a slightly flirtatious, “Hi there,” at whoever walked in. Marcy may be old, but she’s not dead.
I stifle a huff of a laugh at my own little joke. At least there’s a hint of a real smile on my lips now.
I turn around carelessly, ready to go to the counter where the meds are lined up in front of the register so I can grab the cough syrup and check out. I look up and start to yawn as I try to take a step forward, but my mouth slams shut and my feet stay bolted to the floor.
My heart does a flip and flutters in my chest as I catch a glimpse of Hunter.
Like… Hunter Hunter. My lungs stop moving and I quickly hide behind the aisle, nearly knocking bags of chips off the shelf. My heart hammers, and I have to blink a few times. He’s here. He’s back. My throat closes with intense emotion. He c
an’t be back.
I barely peek around the corner, very much aware of how awful I look.
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