Page 119 of Code Violation

I crash over the edge—an unstoppable tidal wave of pleasure and emotion overtaking every inch of me. He was right to return to my apartment that day and ask me not to take Plan B. And he was right when he said that the fire burning inside me had been doused by the man currently serving eighteen months in prison for breaching his restraining order with assault and the intention to cause bodily harm. My boyfriend’s lawyers made sure Kane got the maximum sentence conceivable. Hopefully, with some time behind bars, he’ll take stock of his life and start treating people with respect when he’s eventually released. Although I won’t be one of those people because Kane Giles will never see me again.

“Silas,” I breathe out, voice a little unsteady from my latest orgasm.

He crawls up my body, bracketing me in with his forearms. Addictive blue eyes shine with mischief and a need revealing that he isn’t nearly done with me tonight.

“What’s the matter, Knockout? Does this pussy want my cock?” He reaches down between us and gently presses the vibrator a little deeper inside me.

“I’m in love with you.” My heart thumps wildly against my rib cage, urging me to hand it over to the one man who has proven himself worthy of my trust. “With every inch of your existence.”

His lips fall to mine, although he doesn’t kiss me immediately. He just smiles like nothing—not even lazy sex on the couch—could beat the words I just uttered to him.

Pulling out the vibrator, Silas drops it to the floor and brings me into his lap. He’s only wearing gray boxer briefs, and I can’t help but marvel at the way his toned torso ripples as he maneuvers me so I’m straddling him and we’re face-to-face.

“Do you want me like this?” I ask, lifting up so he can lower his briefs and slide inside me.

For a beat, he doesn’t move. His weighted gaze feels heavy and different.

“What is it?”

He doesn’t respond either, looping an arm around my back to steady me.

Silas leans forward and pulls open one of the drawers in his coffee table.

The one where I keep my coloring books and pencils.

“You want me to color?” I question, almost amused at the switch we’ve taken.

Thirty seconds ago, I was sure where tonight was heading. Now, I’m a little confused.

Silas picks out a coloring book I haven’t seen before, and I gasp when I take in its cover. It’s the image of a car driving through Italian cobbled streets, the one I colored. That day Silas saw this picture, I felt like something shifted between us. I’ve always used coloring as a time to shut down and hide away from the world. I never expected it to be a catalyst between me and the man I love.

“Did you …” I reach out and take the book, still totally naked and not caring one bit that I am. “Did you have my work printed?”

I go to open it, but he stops me with a gentle hand over mine.

“I contacted the original artist and asked if I could print his picture for private purposes, and then I showed him the way you’d brought it to life. He was really impressed, Ves. He said that you had a real talent with your use of color. In fact …”

Silas’s hands guide mine to the first page. There’s an email inside, and from reading the first few lines, it’s clear that it’s from the artist himself, Claude Hastings.

“Oh my God …” I gasp again, taking in the rest of the email. “He wants to collaborate on a project?”

Silas nods once and turns the page. Two first-class tickets are pinned to the inside, the outbound flight to Rome leaving the day after tomorrow.

“So, you know that cobbled street on the cover?” His voice sounds shaky as he speaks. “Turns out, it’s a real place in Trastevere, Rome. Claude lives there, and he would love to meet with you to discuss his next publication.” Silas scratches at the back of his head, lips twisting with uncertainty. “I wasn’t sure if you’d feel up to traveling or if this was something you wanted to pursue seriously, but I went ahead and bought the tickets anyway.”

My lips crash down on his, an excited whimper rising up my throat.

“I’ve never been to Europe,” I whisper against his mouth. “I’ve only ever seen a few states in the US. I was convinced that my passport would go to waste.”

Silas pulls back, a bright smile creasing around his eyes. “Well it won’t go to waste. I want to show you—and our baby—the whole fucking world.”

I giggle and nuzzle into the crook of his neck, my bump brushing against his abs. Whenever our skin touches, it feels like a thousand fireworks are exploding in my belly.

“But our baby isn’t born yet.”

“But when they’re born, I can show them the pictures of where Mommy and Daddy took them while they were still nestled safely inside you.”

I melt like a Popsicle left out in the sun.