We headed left down the hall, passing another open bedroom door, then up the stairs to the very end. At the other end of the hall upstairs, was the master bedroom. I liked the design. Because of the A-frame, the ceiling in here was slanted on the left side of the room. Being tall, I would have to duck to get into the bed, but Violet was fine to walk right under.
There was a king-sized bed with a nightstand on each side. It kept with the rustic theme from down stairs but it was softer grey mixed with a hints of very light brown. The matching dresser was straight ahead to the right of the balcony door and the matching chest was pushed up against the wall next to me.
There was another door, leading to the bathroom but I’d had enough exploring for now. I just wanted to kiss my girl; the three hours since we left her apartment had been far too long. I dropped our bags and pulled her against me.
“It’s very you, Nightshade.”
She smiled, kissing me softly before pressing her cheek to my chest as she wrapped her arms around my waist.
“I’m really glad you’re here. I’ve spent the last three holidays alone, not wanting to share this part of me with anyone. Until now.”
“Don’t say things like that. It’s going right to my ego.” I grinned, kissing the top of her head.
“We wouldn’t want that.”
Two hours later,we’d successfully tested the durability of the bed frame—and the wall. I would have kept going but she insisted on needing a shower after the drive. I tried to join her, she said no chance—after the forty-five minute shower, she didn’t trust me to not run through the well-water that supplied this place.
So I waited for her on the balcony, leaning my forearms on the railing as my breath puffed out in little clouds. I was soaking in the quiet. The only sound was the breeze pulling the trees and rustling the leaves.
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt at peace. Even long before I became Avalanche, I was always restless, wired. I opened Crossroads when I was nineteen specifically because I needed the stimulation—the violence. Being part owner, part bouncer calmed the demons that came unleashed when I killed my father.
At first, they were satisfied with the beatings, but as time went on, they needed more. I would sit at the bar—or work behind it—listening to people. Some would vent about people they’d wish would disappear, some would sit in silence battling their own demons, but some would brag about the horrible things they would do to others. I used to follow people from the latter group home. I would make them confess everything they’d done and then I would kill them. Whether I would drag it out depended on how severe the crime was.
Afterthe incident, my demons demanded more and more. But Crossroads transformed into something different—a safeplace for villains—and I lost my outlet for violence because most of the new patrons also had a fetish for killing pedophiles and rapists.
That was the main reason I agreed to this stupid war with The Culling. I could claim moral high ground while placating the monster in me. Because at the end of the day, I was better than them. I didn’t need to go after the weak to prove I was strong. I went after the people with power because I could. Because no one else did. Because I had nothing to lose.
Now I did. She was currently inside, completely oblivious to how much she calmed me—anchored me. I couldn’t remember the last time my mind was quiet before I met her. I could remember the first and the second and every time since. Spoiler, it was every time she touched me.
It wasn’t just me and my shadows that were enamoured with her. It was my demons, too. Ever since the moment I pressed against her in that alley, they’d only come out a couple of times. Her date with Stupid, the whole week I was trying to go cold turkey, and any time she talked to Poison Weasel. She called me a jealous and possessive asshole, but it was the demons (maybe a little me).
Maybe that was why I’d stopped caring about the list. I didn’t need to kill people, it was the monster—the demons—that demanded blood. When they were content with Violet’s company, they stopped. Relaxed. Let me breathe. I had no doubt that they would get restless again, even in Violet’s presence. Once they realized she was permanent. For now, I would enjoy the quiet. And the view. And Violet’s undivided attention—once she finished with her shower.
How long had she been in there anyway? I scowled at my phone—saying it had only been five minutes. It was obviously wrong because it felt like five hours.
Okay. Maybe I was a little obsessed.
It wasn’t my fault that she felt like fucking heaven. That her scent was so fucking intoxicating it should come with a warning label. That she fit so goddamn perfectly in my arms it was like I was made just to hold her.
I checked my phone again. Fucking damn it, it was still 3:06.
Breathe you fucking addict. You can live without seeing her for ten minutes.
I rolled my eyes. Just because Icould, didn’t mean Iwantedto.
“Aus?”
I grinned at Violet’s voice breaking through the silence. I knew I liked my middle name better. Matthew had been the name my dad picked and I’d tried to change it when I moved in with Eva’s family. They were so accustomed to Matt that I’d just dropped it. It made Violet’s use of Austin so much better because it was just for her.
“Yes, love?”
“Can you grab me a towel from the top right hand drawer of the dresser? I forgot one and was going to grab it, but it’s cold out there.”
I stepped inside and closed the balcony door.
“Sorry, I was enjoying the fresh air, but I wanted to hear you in case you decided to sing in the shower.”
She peeked her eyes through the crack in the door to glare at me.
