Chapter Text
Two Weeks Later
Snow glittered in piles on either side of the sidewalk outside the coffee shop two blocks from Violet’s apartment. It was a frigid February morning, but the sky was a brilliant, flawless blue as she hustled down the narrow strip of concrete, past deserted bus stops and rows of stores, toward Morraine Coffee Co.
The blizzard that swept through only a few days before, blotting out the sun and forcing the city to grind to a standstill as snow fell in furious sheets seemed like an ancient memory now. She sighed happily when she stepped into the toasty shop, stripping off her hat and gloves in an instant.
Rhiannon waved to her from a small table in the corner, right up against the large windows overlooking the street. “Hey, stranger,” she greeted as Violet settled across from her, still stripping off her layers of winter clothes that swiftly became too warm for the heated shop. “Hey, Rhi.” Violet grinned. She almost cried from joy when she realized two mugs were sitting on the table, one of them clearly for her, judging from the tea bag tag draped over the rim of one.
"So," her friend said, giving her an expectant look as Violet settled into her seat.
Violet raised an eyebrow. "So…?"
"When are you going to tell me what happened with you and Xaden after we got separated?"
What happened was that when Violet woke up the next morning, his cock was still hard inside her. After Xaden fucked her within an inch of her life, praising her until she fell apart screaming his name, they managed to cross the creek, and met up with the others at the end of the trail. End of story.
Violet was sore for days after that. She wouldn't trade it for the world.
She was still sore now, because she'd been sneaking over to Basgiath Outdoors almost daily. She'd lost track of the number of times she'd come in that storage room now.
He finally convinced her to stay at his apartment the night before. She left before he woke up to meet Rhiannon — though she left a note.
Violet would never admit it aloud — not yet at least — but she'd begun to imagine what life might be like if there was more to their quick fucks and kisses. Waking up next to Xaden this morning had been scary, unfamiliar.
She wanted to do it again.
Violet tried to hide her blush behind her tea. But Rhiannon picked up on it like a damn bloodhound.
"You're blushing!" she accused.
"I'm not," Violet insisted.
"You're a horrible liar, Violence."
Violet stiffened, twisting over her shoulder to identify the intruder upon their conversation. Xaden pulled off his gloves, then his jacket, before snagging a chair from an empty table and dragging it next to her. When he sat, his arm brushed against hers.
"What are you doing here?" Violet's tone was a little accusatory, and that's partially because it was. When she left his apartment that morning, she'd left a note saying she'd call him later. Nowhere in that note had she invited him to coffee.
He smirked, then reached behind him. After fumbling with his jacket, he withdrew something from one of the pockets.
He set the water filter on the table with a smirk. "Pretty sure you need one of these again. I heard you lost your last one."
He'd given her one two days before — but it had rolled under one of the shelves in Basgiath's storage room after Xaden knocked it off the shelf as he took her from behind, hands braced again on the metal.
"I hate you," Violet said flatly.
Xaden's smirk grew, and he leaned in so his lips were practically brushing the shell of her ear. She knew what he would say before he said it. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."