Free A Different Shade of Violet? by K E Osborn Page A

I’m exhausted and I just want to sleep, to be honest.”
    He runs his hand through his hair and shakes his head. “We really should do it as soon as possible, Vee—”
    “I know, I just want a bit of normality before I go wreaking havoc with the Rebel Dogs.”
    He scratches his head and frowns. “Okay, but first thing tomorrow I’m taking you in.”
    I nod in agreement.
    We spend the next hour and a half in the hospital and I get the all clear, with eight stitches in my eyebrow and another twelve in my leg, a butterfly stitch on my arm and a hell of a lot of bruising. They said the swelling in my eyes should go down within a couple of days and that I’m not allowed to drive for a week.
    Bullshit! I’ll drive whenever I want!
    They also said that there was nothing broken and no internal bleeding and the bruising would probably get worse before it gets better. I’m going to look like a black, blue and yellow monstrosity for a while. In the car on the way back to Hudson’s I call Angel and tell her what happened. She was devastated and cried on the phone. She wanted to see me, but I told her I would be by tomorrow and to keep an eye out. Hudson also ordered some police surveillance at Cupiditas to stop the Rebel Dogs from entering the premises, which I’m grateful for. I don’t need them coming after my other employees.
    We arrive back at Hudson’s and he walks with me under his arm to the door. He hasn’t stopped touching me in some way since I arrived, and I’m so grateful for it. I love it when he touches me, even if it’s just to help me walk.
    We walk inside and Midas greets us, he looks so sleepy with his droopy eyes and I completely understand where he’s coming from. I’m so tired I feel like I could sleep for a month. Hudson closes the door behind us as I look back to see the sun rising over the trees.
    No wonder I’m so tired!
    He walks me down to his bedroom and I stop when we enter. He looks at me raising an eyebrow.
    “You okay?” he asks looking at me.
    “My stuff,” I say.
    He swallows a lump and nods. “Yeah, I couldn’t get rid of it. It’s all still here,” he says and a little flutter lightens my very damaged heart. I can’t believe he still has everything of mine here a month after we broke up.
    “I’ll get you into bed,” he says as he starts walking again with me under his arm over to the bed. He sits me down while I look around his bedroom. It’s exactly how I remember it. God, I miss being here. He pulls off my shoes and then lifts me up from the bed. I stand against him. I feel really weak as he pulls the covers back and then sits me back down.
    “Right, in you get,” he says.
    I lay down in my ripped and bloodstained clothes and he pulls the covers over me. I don’t have the energy to change. He leans down and caresses my face.
    “I’ll see you in the morning,” he says and he exhales, stands up and goes to walk out.
    “Where are you going?” I ask looking at him while my heart starts that all too familiar race it’s becoming renown for. I feel safe when he’s around. I don’t want to be in here alone.
    “I’m going to sleep on the sofa,” he says and turns to walk out.
    “Wait,” I call out breathlessly. “Please don’t go,” I beg and he faces me and closes his eyes.
    “Violet, I don’t think that’s—”
    “I don’t want to be alone,” I blurt out before he can finish his sentence.
    He exhales and walks back toward me while removing his shirt. I look at his chest and stomach and wipe the imaginary drool from my chin. I forgot how utterly gorgeous and toned he is.
    “I’ll lay on top of the covers until you fall asleep, how’s that?”
    “Hudson, I was beaten up tonight. I need comfort,” I say and he closes his eyes tightly.
    “I’ll get Midas to come in here and lay with you.”
    “No Hudson, I need you. I need you to hold me—”
    “Vee, c’mon—”
    “Please Hudson,” I beg and he rubs his nose looking slightly uncomfortable