“I’m making it better,” he murmurs. With the same gentleness Jagger showed me last night, he brushes his lips against the bridge of my nose before shifting to the right, then the left, peppering the softest of kisses against my bruising.
“Jagger,” I breathe out.
“Worth a shot, right?”
My heart flutters in my chest as I stand motionless, unable to think or move or reciprocate, begging my lungs to cooperate so I don’t pass out altogether.
Is this really happening?Howis this really happening? How is Jagger Harden kissing me better? My bumps and bruises and?—
“Where else?” he whispers.
“What?”
His breath kisses my cheeks as he lifts his head enough to meet my gaze. “Where else does it hurt?”
I lift my face a little higher, showcasing my split lip. He kisses the side of my mouth. With his hand on my chin, he guides my face to the opposite side, then mirrors the movement, kissing the less tender edge while finally broaching into safe—and totally uninjured—territory. My core clenches on contact, and it shocks the hell out of me. This isn’t even a kiss. This is…I don’t even know. All I know is my body’s reaction to such a simple—and pretty freaking innocent—touch is enough to make me lightheaded. Unable to help myself, I turn toward his mouth. But he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he kisses me fully. It’s just as soft and sweet and hesitant. The heat of his mouth and the gentle dip of his tongue as it slips between my lips makes my kneesweak. I press my hand to his chest, searching for balance, my eyelids fluttering in disbelief as his hands find either side of the wall behind me. I’m caged in, surrounded by all things Jagger, and damn, if it doesn’t leave me reeling. The kiss is salty from the sweat clinging to his skin, making my craving for him grow, so I open my mouth wider, desperate to taste more of him. His tongue sweeps against mine as he pulls away.
“Where else, Little Thief?” he rasps against me.
Oh, boy, could I name another place or two screaming for his attention. My core pulses with anticipation at the prospect alone when the door to the gym pushes open, and I jerk back.
“Shit, sorry.” Hawke closes the door again, blanketing us in privacy. But it’s too late. The moment’s ruined, and reality is a fickle bitch.
I lift my hand from Jagger’s chest, carefully pressing my fingertips against the side of my mouth. It does nothing to erase the tingling from his kiss.
Holy shit. I just kissed Jagger Harden.
Yeah, that’s not problematic at all. Especially considering who Jagger Harden is. He’s used to getting girls. Flirting with them and hooking up with them and discarding them like last night’s sushi. Which, let’s be real, is exactly what I am. “I should, uh...” I lower my hand and peek up at him. “I should probably go.”
“Violet—”
“Thanks again, Jagger,” I breathe out, both grateful and a little annoyed by the sudden shift in the air. Then again, it’s for the best.It’s for the best.“I owe you one.” I smile. “Two, actually. If you count the haunted house and then…” I glance up toward the ceiling as if pointing to his bedroom upstairs, though I’m unable to actually say it out loud. Instead, I clear my throat. “See you around.”
Darting under his arm still pressed to the wall beside my head, I hobble toward the front of the house like a wounded bat out of hell, terrified that if Jagger had kept going, I’d turn into Persephone and never leave.
“Don’t forget your appointment,” he calls.
Stopping short at the front door, my hand hovering over the ornate handle, I frown. “What did you say?”
“Your appointment. Something about…housing?” He rubs at his jaw as I look over my shoulder at him. “Guess you’ll have to pack your shit after.”
“How did you…” I shake my head and pull my cell from my pocket. There’s only two percent battery left. Perfect. But what’s worse is the time staring back at me. I knew I slept later than I normally do, but I didn’t think I was this late. Why the hell didn’t I confirm the time when I decided to track down a half-naked Jagger and almost make out with him in the hallway? Wait. Because he was half-naked and sexy as hell. That’s why. Patting my pockets, I complete a mental checklist of everything I brought with me, grateful I thought to snag all my things from Jagger’s room when I walked out of it. Even if I leave now, I still might be late for my appointment with Ms. Thomas, and if I don’t get my keys today, I’m seriously going to be so screwed. It’s fine. Everything will be fine. I’ll just grab my keys from Ms. Thomas, meet my new roommate, then go back to The Drift and grab my things. See? Totally fine. I just need to hurry.
“See you around, Little Thief,” Jagger calls.
Ignoring him, I head outside, praying Ms. Thomas is a patient woman.
25
VIOLET
It doesn’t take long to fill out the additional forms Ms. Thomas has waiting for me when I arrive at the apartment. They’re pretty straightforward when you don’t have to wait for a credit check, but it’s a little difficult to ignore the not-so-subtle stares I catch every time Ms. Thomas thinks I don’t notice. Yeah, okay. I look like I got hit by a truck. So sue me. Checking the time on her watch, Ms. Thomas hands me the keys to the small apartment. It feels like the Taj Mahal compared to my childhood home.
“Unfortunately, I have an appointment, and it seems your roommate is late, but I’m sure she’ll show up in a few minutes,” Ms. Thomas assures me. “June’s a lovely girl. You two will get along splendidly.”
“I’m sure we will. Thanks again, Ms. Thomas.”
“You are more than welcome, Miss Reeves.” She smiles. “If you need anything else, you know where to reach me.”
