Page 39 of Tats

A figure kneels in front of me. Warm hands cup my cheeks, making me look at him, and his dark blue eyes show concern at my tears.

"Vi…" he whispers, and I sob, causing him to grab hold of me, lifting me up. I wrap my legs around his waist, and I plant my face in his neck as my whole body shakes with my sobs. He takes a seat on the couch, holding me tightly.

"Violet, baby, talk to me," he rasps against my head, and I shake mine.

The look he gave me in that club still haunts me.

"Please, Shorty, I can't see you cry like this. It's killing me."

I sob some more, and stutter, "I-I'm going to l-lose you…."

He quickly pulls back, cupping my cheeks, his brows furrowed, and he inquires, "Why in the fuck would you lose me?"

I whisper, "Because I didn't speak to you. I put myself in danger, and now you-you i-ignored me." My body shakes violently as I cry, making him curse before he flips us. I land on my back, my legs spread, with him lying on top of me. He kisses me, sweet and sensual.

I grip his hair to keep him there, missing his touch so much. His left arm is leaning near my head, his right hand cupping my cheek as his tongue tangles with mine.

He breaks the kiss, places his forehead against mine, and whispers, "You haven't lost me, baby."

"But you-you've ignored me for two weeks."

He groans, placing his face into my neck before gently nipping it, and then looking at me.

He wipes my tears with his thumb as he admits, "It's not because of you working there, Vi. Am I pissed? Fuck yes, I am. If we hadn't gotten there when we had, those women on the stage would have been you."

I let out another sob, knowing how bad my situation was, making his hand grip me tighter.

"I haven't been distant because of that, Shorty."

I sniffle. "Then why?"

He sighs, placing his forehead against mine. "I promised to never allow the club to touch you, and yet I killed someone right in front of you. It's killing me, baby, fucking killing me that you had to see that, be around that."

I squeeze my eyes shut. How in the hell did I not realize that?

"I kept my distance because I'm beating myself up over it, baby. You know I've struggled with having a relationship because of my past and the club. I've been working on it for a fucking year just so I don't lose you and what we have, but doing that in front of you…."

I open my eyes and rasp, "That man, who you killed," he flinches, but I continue, "When I tried to leave, he came at me with a needle and told me to stay behind the bar; otherwise, I'd be next."

His jaw ticks, and I lean forward, my tears falling as I kiss him. He doesn't kiss me back for a moment until I nip his bottom lip, making him smile.

I break the kiss and wrap my legs around him, tightening my arms around his neck. I whisper, "I love you so much. These past two w-weeks have been hard. You've been right there, but you haven't."

He sighs, kisses me again, and replies, "I'm sorry, Shorty. I just needed some time to understand what I did and come to terms with it, and with you putting yourself in danger. It was difficult to grasp, baby."

I nod in understanding and kiss him again; happy I listened to Liv and spoke to him.

He pulls back and sighs, giving me a half smile before admitting, "I've let your apartment go. I convinced your landlord to break the lease." My eyes widen in shock, but he just shrugs. “Vi, I've been slowly moving you in for the past year. You literally only had a few clothes left there."

I narrow my eyes at him and decide not to admit it's what I wanted anyway, and instead state, "I feel like I should be screaming and shouting at you right now."

He smiles, kissing me gently again, making me hum before he says, "Maybe, but considering you put yourself in danger because you're struggling to pay for school and bills, we're even. I know you're scared you're going to lose me and end up with nothing and be alone again, but that's not going to happen, baby. I've already written a will. Everything I own will go to you."

My eyes widen, and I go to protest, but he just shakes his head. "No, baby. You're my forever, and soon we will be married."

I snort to cover how hard my heart is beating and joke, "That was one crappy proposal."

He grins and replies, "Baby, I won't be proposing; it'll just be straight to the wedding."

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