Page 96 of Code Violation

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you telling me that.

Silas

Telling you what?

Me

That you’re in love with me.

Silas

You will one day. I’ve loved you from afar for a very long time, and now I’m waiting for your heart to catch up with mine.

I stifle a yawn and force my eyes to remain open as I type out a reply, determined to stay awake. I want to know every single detail about this man.

Me

When did you fall for me?

Silas

How about I hit the road and tell you that when I have my arms wrapped around you?

Me

As perfect as that sounds, I’m not sure I’ll be awake when you get here.

Silas

It doesn’t matter. Drew gave me her key, and I have the passcode for the elevator.

Me

What did I do to deserve you?

Silas

Ah, well, that’s a really simple answer, Knockout—you exist.

31

. . .

Silas

Idon’t even knock or ring the smart doorbell when I reach Vesper’s door less than thirty minutes later. I know my girl’s sleeping because I didn’t receive a reply to my last text, and I can only imagine how fucking exhausted she is.

Vesper might try to hide how rough these past few days have been for her, but that doesn’t mean her friends will. Drew gave me a full breakdown over the phone while I was on my way over here, and frankly, I don’t know how Vesper had summoned the energy to make it to tonight’s game.

Quietly sliding the key into the lock, I step into the dark apartment and close the door softly, kicking off my sneakers and tossing my jacket over the back of a barstool on my way down the hallway.

And when I creep into Vesper’s bedroom and find her passed out in bed with pieces of her dark hair stuck to her full lips, all I want to do is gently tuck them behind her ear.

Vesper shifts in bed when I strip down to a pair of gray boxer briefs and carefully lower myself onto the mattress, pulling the duvet over our heads.

Her soft breathing acts like a balm to how stressed I’ve been all night, and slowly, I rest a palm on her hip and pull her body into mine.

She’s naked beneath the faded black Jack Daniel’s T-shirt she’s wearing, smooth, soft skin making me fall a little deeper just from the way she feels beneath my touch.