Page 37 of Tasting Innocence
Chapter Fourteen
Everyone checks outof the hotel by noon, and I’m back in my house by three, freshly showered and in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal.
Dad’s not expected to be back home for another couple days, and the housekeeper has already come and gone, so the house is quiet.
Typically, in these moments, I either call a girl over, or try to get out and find someone to hang out with. It’s not that I’m afraid of being alone, but I don’t enjoy it. I’ve felt alone most of my life and I crave conversation and affection. Would that be classified as mommy and/or daddy issues? Maybe, but it’s not like it’s my fault.
However, Violet isn’t supposed to be here for several hours, and all my friends just got home from the hotel too, so I doubt they’d be up to go anywhere.
I settle into the plush sectional and rest my feet on the coffee table while I turn on the TV above the fireplace. Ten minutes into a show, my phone vibrates on my lap. It’s Amaya, a girl I hooked up with a couple times last month.
It’s a simple Hey, what are you doing? text, but I know what that’ll lead to—what it can lead to if I reply. She’ll want to get together again, and if I’m being honest, she’s a decent girl. Pretty, smart, and we had some good times, but I’m trying something new with Violet.
I reply anyway.
Me:Not much right now, but I have plans soon.
It’s not a bad response.I didn’t invite her over or even flirt with her. Progress.
Amaya: Oh okay. How soon is soon? I’m nearby.
Shit.I opened the door. I should’ve left it alone and went back to watching TV, but this is who I am. This is who I’ve always been. I’m constantly texting girls. I usually have a few that I talk to at once. Nobody expects me to be faithful. Nobody expects a whole lot from me at all. They want my dick, and I want to get off. It’s really as simple as that. Cutting off all the girls in my life is something I’m gonna have to do if I plan on being serious with Violet. I know she’s different, and I’d never forgive myself for hurting her, let alone what Zo might do to me if he were to find out that not only was I messing with his baby sister, but also cheating on her.
“Fuck,” I hiss, grabbing my phone and sending another text.
Me: Sorry, I can’t meet up. I’m kind of seeing someone.
I deservesome sort of award for that right there. Are you kidding me? Me, Dexter Anderson, turned a girl down by saying I’m seeing someone. What?!
Amaya: Wow. You? Seeing someone? That’s unexpected. But ok.
I could respond,making a joke, being funny, but that just opens more doors, so I leave it alone and put my phone down. I’m probably gonna have to do this a handful more times.
To pass the time, I workout for an hour in the gym we have in the house, and then I make sure my room is clean. I don’t expect much to happen when Vi gets here. Things will move slower than I’m used to, but with her, I don’t care. In fact, I look forward to pleasuring her in as many ways as possible without fucking her. But in any case, I want my sheets to be fresh.
After I shower, I order some pizza and wait for Violet.
Her text comes thirty minutes later, letting me know she’s in the driveway.
My heart races as I walk to the door, ready to see her like I wasn’t just with her this morning. This experience in itself is new.
I pull open the door, already smiling, but when my eyes land on her, it grows even wider. She’s smiling back at me, looking almost as excited as I feel. She’s wearing a pair of cut off shorts and an oversized shirt that falls off her shoulder, her long blond hair falling down her back.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Her cheeks turn pink. “Hey.”
Before she’s even inside, I see the delivery guy drive up, so I wait at the door to pay him, then bring the pizzas to the kitchen.
“I got two, because I know you’re weird and only eat cheese pizza.”
“Hey!” she squeals before laughing. “It’s not weird, but thanks. I’m starving.”
I step up to her, placing my hand on her hip before I plant what I expect to be a quick, soft kiss on her lips. But when I ease back, she brings a hand up to my neck and pulls me down for more. Her tongue slips between my lips and dances with mine, and my hand travels a little lower, yanking her into me as I briefly suck her tongue into my mouth. Baby soft mewling in the back of her throat makes me growl as I lick the whimpers off her tongue, moving my hand to the back of her head and lightly gripping her hair.
“Fuck. You set me on fire, Violet,” I breathe, resting my forehead on hers while we suck in air.
She brings her thumb to my lips, wiping off whatever lip color she transferred to me. “I’d apologize, but…”