Hatred flickers in his eyes at the mention of Zachary’s name. “I’m not here for him.”

Hope fills my heart and I immediately tell it to go to hell. He didn’t come for me. He’s a heartless user. “Then why are you here?”

His gaze never leaves mine. “You know why,” he says, his voice low.

“No. I really don’t.” I shake my head, hating the confusion that haunts me.

“I want to win you back.”

His words are devastating. I can’t believe him. I won’t. “No, you don’t. Go back to your date.” I turn to walk away from him but he stops me, his hand going around my upper arm so I can’t get away. Electricity crackles where he touches me and I try to jerk out of his hold, but he won’t let me. He tightens his grip, almost to the point of pain, and I swear I feel faint.

“She’s not my date.”

“You came together.”

“No. We showed up at the same time. Unfortunate coincidence. She’s with your father,” he murmurs, flicking his head toward the table I vacated only moments ago.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Father standing, Pilar beside him. Rose staring at them both like they’d mutated into soul-sucking aliens right before her. She lifts her head, her gaze meeting mine, and mouths “what are you doing?” very clearly.

I don’t know, I want to tell her, but I don’t.

I turn back to face Ryder to find him studying me. “I don’t want you here,” I tell him very clearly, aware that his grip has softened. His thumb is stroking the inside of my arm and causing all sorts of flutters to start low in my belly.

“Liar,” he murmurs. “Come with me.”

“No.”

“Violet.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I won’t.”

“Are you defying me?”

“You have no right to ask me that question. You gave up that right when you confessed that you just used me.” I take a step closer, my face in his. I want him to see how angry I am. How hurt. I want him to feel it.

I want him to hurt, too.

“I made a mistake. I didn’t want to end it, but you were so mad,” he admits, his gaze dropping to my mouth, looking at it like he wants to kiss me. My lips ache to feel his mouth on mine.

“Of course, I was mad. Please.” I roll my eyes, snarky laughter starting to form when he slips his hand around my nape, holding me still.

“Don’t,” he whispers fiercely.

“Don’t what?”

“Make a mockery of this. Of us. I fucked up, Violet. But I still want you. Need you. Care for you.” He presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes. He’s so close. So deliciously, wonderfully close I want to kiss him. Forgive him and accept him back into my life for good.

But I don’t. I shouldn’t. No matter how badly I want to.

“Don’t tease me, Ryder. I mean it.” I rest my hands on his chest, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

“I’m not teasing you. I think … I know that I’m falling in love with you.” His fingers tighten on my nape and he pulls away slightly. I tilt my head up at the exact moment his mouth crashes on mine and he’s kissing me. Claiming me. Making me his.

Just.

Like.

That.

Chapter Thirty-two

Ryder

I shouldn’t have come to this fucked-up party for a man I hate. But knowing Violet would be there, I reluctantly made a late appearance, running into Pilar through some sort of dumb shitty luck. I’ve been back in the city not even forty-eight hours and I wanted to see Violet. Needed to see her.

The moment I caught a glimpse of her, I felt like I’d been struck in the heart, punched in the balls. She was wearing a yellow dress that floated around her legs. All I saw was skin. Her bare arms, her long legs, her hair up, revealing her neck, the very neck I want to touch and kiss and lick and bite.

I should have turned around and walked out. Instead I watched as Lawrence had her come up to stand beside him, declaring he was going to make her his wife someday.

He’s not going to make her do shit. That is going to be my privilege and mine only.

She stood next to him like some sort of show pony, smiling politely, putting on that act she’s so good at. I saw the dead look in her eyes, the hollowness there. Saw, too, the way her eyes lit with fire every time they met mine.

She is mine. I’m making my claim right now. Right here. I was an idiot, letting her walk away from me like that. I should have fought for her. I would have come for her sooner, but I got called away to London. An opportunity I couldn’t pass up, an opportunity that she put in my lap. Not Pilar.

Violet.

I break the kiss first, needing to catch my breath. Needing to see her and make sure she’s real. Her swollen lips are parted and damp, those beautiful, velvety brown eyes staring at me like I’ve both lost my mind and I’m the best thing she’s ever seen.

“Ryder …” she starts, but I place my finger over her mouth, silencing her.

“Don’t fight it,” I whisper. “Don’t argue, don’t tell me what I did was wrong. You’re right. I handled it all wrong. I fucked up. Letting you walk out of my life was a huge mistake.”

She blinks but doesn’t say a word. I trace her lips, a surge of emotion pulsing through me when she draws my finger into her mouth and sucks just the tip. Watching her do that takes me to a place I can’t go yet. A place where I take her somewhere private so I can tell her—more like show her—how I really feel.