Page 64 of Where the Wind Whispers

“Go on,” he urged, nodding at the doors behind her. “Open it up and see what you think.”

Violet glanced over her shoulder. “What did you do?”

“There are too many rooms.” Kaz smirked, adding, “We won’t fill them all. There are too many guest rooms as it is, and I don’t need them all for myself. This one is yours, krasivaya.”

Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling.

It’d been the most she smiled in a month.

“A room for me, huh?” Violet asked.

“I needed something to do—to focus on and look forward to when you were back with me. It was a good distraction. Stop wasting time and open the doors.”

She gave him a kiss, lingering just long enough to feel his smirk grow into a sinful grin before she was pulling away with a wink. He gave her another one of his knowing looks, his tongue peeking out to wet his bottom lip as she turned her back to him.

Kaz wasn’t the only one between them who sometimes liked to tease.

Violet didn't hesitate to fling the doors open, and for a split second, she simply stared at the lit up space staring back at her.

There were very few things Violet enjoyed doing.

Hobbies were meant to keep her hands busy, but her father had always discouraged them growing up. Three years into college and she still didn't know what she wanted to do because nothing appealed to the side of her that was bored with textbooks and facts and blah.

But she’d gone ahead and decided to do the right thing by attempting to get some kind of education to add to her Gallucci profile.

Very few people knew what Violet truly loved doing, however.

Kaz was one of those people, and only because he shared a bed with her and listened to her pen out scribbles, stories, and poems under the lamp light at night after the day was over.

Writing was an escape for Violet. Much the same way she enjoyed sketching with charcoal in the mornings or reading in the afternoon.

But hobbies would do her no good.

Hobbies wouldn’t provide.

“Well?” Kaz asked from behind her.

He’d moved closer, his hands curving around her waist and holding tight as if he thought she might run or something.

Violet stared at the space a little while longer.

Books lined the walls from the floor to the ceiling. A sitting area by the tall windows looked inviting enough to keep her occupied, while the studio setup on the other side looked as if it would keep her mind focused enough to write or draw … whatever.

It wasn't just one space.

It wasn’t for just one thing.

It was a mixture of all Violet’s favorite things—a place for her to explore those talents.

Something no one else had ever wanted her to do.

“Violet?”

“Do I tell you often enough how much I love you?” she asked quietly.

Kaz’s fingers squeezed her waist. “It’s been a while—remind me.”

“I do love you. Thank you for this. It’s wonderful.”