Just The Tip Read online

  Taking my eyes off Flynn for a brief moment, I felt his hands find their way back to my ribs, creeping up and trying to slip over my breasts.

  Slapping them away, I cocked my head over my shoulder. “I thought I made myself clear?”

  “Come on, it's just a little touch.” His hands came up harder this time, attempting to grope my chest without any cheap maneuver. An animalistic grunt hit his throat, turning him from human into ape.

  “Stop it!” I yelled, my brows dipping angrily.

  “What?” He snapped, curling his hands around my back. “I'm just doing what you want, don't try and pretend you don't like this.” His face jerked down, lips trying to find my skin.

  The music was ear-deafening loud, thumping through my skull. The room seemed to shrink, casting us in shadows. Shadows that looked lifeless, blackness that felt like my world was ending for a second time.

  This wasn't what I wanted at all. Throwing my elbow up, I connected with his mouth. A loud yelp of pain rained down on me, the heaviness of his weight seemed to shift, making a small gap between his chest and my body.

  And when I thought I had created a second of freedom, his fingers trapped my wrist. His eyes were coated like glass as he glared down on me with this look of anger.

  “What the hell is your problem?” he barked, squeezing my wrist tighter. “Mateo had promised me a good time, I want what I paid for.”

  My mind was throwing cusses and threats of death at the creature that had transformed before me.

  I shouldn't have come tonight, I should have just told Mateo the truth.

  I had only agreed to come to be next to Mateo, I had only wanted to go so I could see the man I really wanted.

  Flynn's smile gleamed with nothing but evil nature, and when I looked behind that face, I saw no intention of him backing away. “I didn't come here to leave empty handed.” His filthy fingers dug into my skin, attempting to pull me back into his arms.

  “Let me go!” Trying to push him away, he held his ground, squeezing me harder.

  Biting down on his lip, he looked amused. A small smile fluttered on his mouth, his eyes devilish. “I paid for you, that makes you mine.”

  “I'm not a prostitute.” Grinding my teeth down, the words hit my tongue like hot coals. “Let me go!”

  Scanning the room, I realized that the lights were so low and no one was paying attention. My yells at Flynn went unheard through the loud music.

  Taking a final look over his shoulder, the light hit my face like a bomb. There was a savior here for me.

  Mateo was standing behind us, fists clenched by his sides. His face had turned a shade of red that I couldn't even put an actual description to.

  He was anger, he was rage, he was about to knock Flynn the fuck out.

  As Flynn looked down on my face, my lips peeled back in a smile. I actually smiled right at him. His brows furrowed, deep lines cascading up his forehead, the large vein on his neck pulsed. “What the fuck are you smiling at?”

  Through gritted teeth and air filled words, I whispered. “Not at you.”

  Mateo towered over him, teeth clenched tight. “This date is over. . .” His knuckles turned white, fingers bearing down into his palm. “You can go.”

  He didn't yell at Flynn, he didn't scream into his face. But the deep tone was enough to bring a hint of fear into the eye of a man who couldn't read the signs.

  Flynn's jaw fell open, a look of disbelief rolled in his eyes. “I paid for her, I paid for your service.”

  “Wrong.” Mateo's fist crashed down, the sound of crunching bone, and squeal of pain hit my ears.

  Maybe there was a bit of darkness that resided inside my soul.

  Maybe you might think I was a horrible person for not caring what happened.

  But I didn't give a shit if Flynn left with or without his teeth.

  As Flynn laid on the ground, moaning in pain, Mateo said, “Come on, I'll get you home.” His voice was smooth and relaxed. His hand was stretched out, reaching to pull me into safety.

  “Thank you,” I said, launching my frame into his arms.

  His thick, muscled arm curled around my body, holding me tight. “Are you alright?”

  From the corner of my eye, I could see Flynn was holding his face, rolling around on the club floor. A small crowd had circled around us, Flynn sitting up slowly, clutching his jaw. A soft, painful groan was muffled under his palm as he swatted away hands that offered to help him up.

  Flicking my eyes up to Mateo, I said, “I'm alright, he didn't do anything.”

  “That piece of shit, I'm so sorry, Violet.” Pressing me harder into his ribs, he said, “I had no idea he was such an asshole. When he reached out to me, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.”

  “You're not going to be able to read them all, Mateo. I'm just glad you were here.”

  “I really feel awful about this. This has never happened before—not ever.” Walking to his car, he opened the door, and helped me inside.

  There was a look on his face that wasn't just about being sorry, or mortified, or angered about what happened. His face held concern and passion. Mateo's eyes hardened, sealing with true emotion.

  “I'll be alright. He was just a jerk, some people are just assholes.”

  Shaking his head, he knelt beside my seat. His lids were stretched to their limit, mouth open partially as if there was more he wanted to say, but couldn't find the words. And to my surprise, Mateo just wrapped his arms around my shoulders, tucking my head into his chest.

  We sat there like that for what seemed like eternity. Neither one of us spoke, neither one of us moved. His hands were firmly pressed against my back, his head nestled into my neck.

  And I felt safe. Completely untouchable to the world around me and any evil it might harbor.

  I knew what I wanted.

  From the first time we met, deep down, I just knew.

  I thought I didn't want to fall in love, now I couldn't stop myself from falling for him.

  Mateo

  I was never weak on women.

  But Violet stole my eyes first and my heart was beginning to follow.

  When I saw that asshole, Flynn, holding her that way, it made my veins explode with such fire that I only saw red. I wanted to tear his fucking head off and break every bone in his body.

  Every muscle in my body was twitching, throbbing, shaking with such rage, it scared me. I had never felt such emotion streaming through my muscles, hitting my lungs like hot needles.

  If I could feel that much anger from a man trying to touch Violet, what did that mean for me?

  Was I really getting wrapped up around her?

  Was I so tempted by what she could give me that I was willing to destroy my career?

  Sitting in my car outside her house, I brushed my jaw with my fingers. “Are you sure you're alright? I don't want to leave you if you're rattled about that jackass at the club.”

  “I'm alright. Like I said, he didn't really do anything except a couple tit taps.” Smirking, Violet's eyes fell back onto her lap. “Shit, he's probably going to need stitches from the blow you gave him. I think he got the shit end of the stick, not me.”

  Chuckling, I asked, “Tit taps?”

  “Yeah, you know. . .” Using her hand, she mimicked her word choice on my chest. Slender fingers came up and flicked my nipple, gently tickling around the side.

  “Oh, is that it? So he wasn't a tit whisperer then?”

  Giggling, her tongue ran across her bottom lip, wetting the plump flesh. “Far from it. He did seem nice, Mateo, I don't want you to think there was something you missed with him. I didn't get that feeling at first either.”

  Bowing my head, I teased a single strand of thread on my jacket. “I should have seen it, that's my job. I promised I'd never put you in harms way, what if I wasn't there?”

  Her hand fell to my shoulder, curling over tightly. “But you were there. There's no point in wondering what if, because that wasn't the case.” Violet
's eyes filled with reassurance, lashes hovering so delicately over her gaze.

  But her face turned rigid, silencing her tender features. Plucking her face off mine, she glared at me from the corner of her eye.

  “What?” I asked. “What are you thinking?”

  “I can't go on anymore dates, Mateo. I just can't.” The backside of her hand cupped her forehead, rubbing the skin.

  “I know tonight didn't go exactly as I was hoping, but you can't give up on me yet.”

  Tilting her head a hair, she swallowed hard. Her upper lip curled, jaw flexing as her muscles lost all form. She looked defeated.

  Don't. . . Not yet.

  “Look, I just can't keep doing this.” Crinkling my brows, she held her eyes firmly on my face. “Go on, tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that this is how it usually works out for you, tell me that this is normal.”

  Resting my chin on my hand, my eyes softened. “Yes, you are wrong. And no, this isn't usually how things go, but you can't just give up because it hasn't gone your way. Give me one more chance. I have one other guy who I think would really mesh with you.”

  I didn't want her to give up so easily, but it wasn't fair to keep stringing her along on these horrible dates. If she really wanted out, I couldn't stop her.

  But I wasn't ready to give up on her, and I didn't want her to lose faith either.

  Failure was not something I was used to. Challenges were something I looked for, grasped by the balls, and stomped into the ground.

  Maybe all my success had gotten the best of me?

  Either way, I made a name for myself, climbed the ladder and hitting gold. That didn't happen because I gave up. When I first started this business, people laughed in my face. I was told it wouldn't last, that it wouldn't go anywhere.

  Look who's laughing now.

  Shaking her head, Violet teased the trim of my jacket. “I feel like I already found someone who's great for me.” Her eyes flashed in the light, heating my core.

  She knows I can't.

  So why is that so tempting?

  Why does it sound so perfect?

  Forcing the thought away, I said, “I can't mix business and pleasure, I just can't. Look, the night we had was incredible, but it was a mistake. I'm not looking for someone right now.”

  “Boy, that sounds familiar.” Rolling her eyes, a cynical laugh hung in the air. “Seems to me like the pot is calling the kettle black.”

  Clenching my fist, I tapped the steering wheel. “Things are complicated for me. Now's just not the time in my life. Look, you might not understand—”

  “No, I don't understand,” she said, cutting me off. “How can you just dismiss this?” Her finger flicked between us, then dove into her hair. “I'm not crazy, am I? You feel something, right?”

  Thumbing my lower lip, I thought about my choice of words carefully. I did feel something, but that didn't matter.

  “Violet,” I said softly, taking her hand in mine. “There are rules that I have, and it's important for me to stay true to them.”

  “Fuck your rules,” she snapped, yanking her hand away. “I have my own rules too, but sometimes you can't deny what you feel.” Throwing open the door, she stood outside. “I wish you'd just open your eyes, Mateo. Whatever it is you think you know, sometimes that's the wrong answer.”

  “I'm sorry, Vi.”

  “No, I'm sorry, Mateo. I'm done, no more dates. I know what I want, and I'm not going to stand here and watch it disappear again.” Closing the door, she placed her palm on the window. Bending down, her lips puckered, kissing the glass, and leaving a perfect heart.

  Little did I know in that moment how much of an impression those lips, and her words would leave on me.

  I wasn't giving up on her.

  Violet

  The days seemed to blend together, one mixing into the next, each one a shadow of the previous hours. It took a whole week to boastfully mask my hurting chest, and another to cleverly hide that my mind was elsewhere.

  But deep inside, I could barely function at all. My head was a whirlwind of questions, emotions, doubts.

  Regret.

  Did I regret what happened between Mateo and myself that night? No.

  But I regretted letting him capture my heart, I regretted not seeing through the veil, and realizing he wasn't a man who wanted to settle down. We had one sinful, amazing, incredible night, and I let it go to my head.

  I knew what I felt with him went beyond lust. Because lust doesn't last days, lust doesn't rain on your brain and stop every other function. All I wanted was a chance to see if it led anywhere

  What did he feel?

  Who cares, Violet.

  It's over, he made it clear.

  Mateo had called me numerous times over the past couple weeks, and I sent him straight to voicemail. Several texts came through, his typed voice trying to convince me to not give up and try one more date. I deleted his messages.

  I didn't want to hear it, he had made his choice to not follow what flowed between us. He had told me from the beginning that I could get out anytime I wanted.

  I was done, no more dating. If I couldn't have the one person I actually felt a twinge of attraction for, then why was I going to bother anymore?

  Every bone in my body was aching, my head pounding with the most ferocious headache I'd had in years. Popping two pain pills into my mouth, I cupped the edge of the sink, wishing the intense thumping would magically disappear as I swallowed.

  “Mommy?” Lilith's small voice cut through the tractor trailer slamming around the walls of my brain.

  “Yes, Honey?”

  “Auntie Gigi is here.”

  “Okay, let her in.” Turning to face the door, my eyes began to cross, making me see double. Stepping forward, I gripped the handle, attempting to pull it open.

  But I couldn't turn the knob, I couldn't coordinate the idea and my fingers. The room began to spin in different directions, warping from bright white to deep purple. I had no idea what the hell was going on, or why I suddenly felt so light headed and dizzy.

  Leaning against the wall, I tried to call out for Piper, but my voice only echoed inside my head.

  And as I watched the room dissolve around me, blackness came in and coated my vision.

  * * * *

  Sounds started to filter through my ears, mumbles that ran together, faint words that began to form. People were talking all around me, but I still saw nothing.

  Slowly, I peeled my lids open, blinking rapidly. Starch white light honed in on my pupils, making me squint.

  “Vi, Vi,” Piper spoke quietly into my ear, her fingers gently touching mine. “Can you hear me?”

  My throat felt dry as I tried to swallow. Smacking my lips together, I said, “That depends, what are you about to say?”

  Her hearty laugh echoed through the room. “Yeah, she's coming around.”

  My eyes began to put together the pieces around me as the white lab coats took shape. Pressing up in the bed, I squeezed the thin blanket between my fingers. “Am I in the hospital?”

  “Yes, and you gave us all quite the scare, Vi.”

  “What happened?” I asked, still trying to fit together the last memories.

  A voice I didn't recognize slipped in, with an unfamiliar face as they leaned over me. “Ms. Hughes, can you follow this light for me?”

  A high beam hit my eyes, forcing me to blink down hard. “Can I have a second to catch my bearings?”

  “Sure, I'm sorry, Ms. Hughes. You're at Clarks Memorial, I'm Dr. Gibbons, and let me say, you're a very lucky woman.”

  “What the hell happened?”

  “Well, you were severely dehydrated, and that triggered a Vegal Syncopy.”

  “A what?”

  “You passed out, Vi.” Piper blurted, her hand clasping tightly around mine. “You're lucky I came by, otherwise I don't know what would've happened.”

  “Where's Lilith?” I snapped, trying desperately to shove myself up in the bed.

&
nbsp; “She's fine, Violet. You're mom came and grabbed her after I called the ambulance.”

  A sigh of relief fell from my extremely desert stained lips. “I'm so thirsty, can I have some water?”

  A nurse chimed in from somewhere in the background. “Absolutely.” The soft patter of her shoes hit the tiles, trailing off into the distance.

  “Ms. Hughes, you're going to be fine. But you really need to make sure you drink plenty of water. Have you been under any stress lately, anything going on that might cause you to not do your usual things?”

  Shaking my head no, I tried to think quick. “I guess I just got caught up in work and stuff.”

  Piper slapped her forehead, babbling under her breath. “Come on, don't lie.”

  The doctor tapped his pen against the chart, eyeing Piper. “Can I talk to you in private?”

  My heart began to race, chest forcing out a loud, worried breath of air. “Why? What's wrong?”

  Piper's neck angled, her eyes veering down her nose and shooting the doctor with invisible darts. “I'm her best friend, I'm not going anywhere. What did you find, cancer—a tumor—oh god. . . Is she dying?” Her tone was amplified in the small emergency ward room as her fingers streaked down over her cheeks.

  “No, no,” he said, chuckling softly. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but it's nothing like that. Are you alright with me talking to you in front of your friend?” the doctor asked me before going on with what he had to say.

  “Yes, yes it's fine. What is wrong with me?”

  Flipping through some papers on the clipboard, the doctor went on. “We ran some blood tests on you, and well. . .” Pausing, he held his hand out, eyes scanning my face. “You're pregnant.”

  Did I hear him right?

  I'm pregnant?

  My stomach began to surge with tingles, warm, explosive, tingles that shot around my body, numbing me from head to toe.

  No, I can't be.

  But the face of the doctor said he wasn't joking. There was no reason for him to play a sick and twisted joke like that on a patient anyway.

  A part of me waited in anticipation for him to laugh it off and say, 'No, no, I'm playing around. Sorry, yes you are dying.'