Redemption (Complete)

13. No... Just No

"What?" Carl asked. "But- why? And how does Harry have a say in whom his daughter marries, who she loves? That- it makes no sense."

Violet shook her head as if to clear it. "He says that he wants the McCormicks and Charles' to merge companies. He stated it would make the transition... easier."

Carl bristled at that. "Easier? Bullshit, Vi. He shouldn't be handing you off to that Liam character just to make his life 'easier'. If he wants to merge, then merge. He doesn't need you to marry in order to do that."

"I know," Violet agreed softly, her chin dropping to her chest. "That's not how my father thinks though- matrimony-wise. He thinks of everything in terms of business transactions. My wedding to Liam being the largest 'transaction' yet to date."

"Well, the man can't have you," Carl growled out. Violet trembled at his words. "You're mine. And you're going to be mine for as long as I can have you. As long as youll let me. You're not marrying him, and damn Harry if he tries to take you from me!"

He pulled Violet into his arms again, holding her there as if to keep her from running towards a loveless marriage. He rubbed her back, soothing her as he scented the soft fragrance of her hair and skin.

"You don't- don't want to marry him do you?" he asked her lowly, his voice almost masked by the noise of the party inside.

"No, I don't," Violet admitted with a shrug. "I don't see Liam as anything other than a potential friend. I don't and can't love him. Ever."

Carl breathed a sigh of relief. He had been pretty certain that his woman wouldn't want to marry someone just because she was told she had to. Her stubborn self wouldn't allow it.

"What are you going to tell your father?" he asked her, pulling his head away from her body and cupping her soft cheek in one hand to look up at him.

"I told him I would think about it," she stated hesitantly. "But I don't need to. I already know what I want. But- I will think of something to tell him."

Carl searched her blue eyes with his own and saw something spark within the depths there.

"Do you... want me?" he asked, still quiet.

Violet hesitated then nodded hesitantly. "But I don't know if I should have you."

Carl blinked and his mouth formed a petulant frown.

"And why not?" he asked.

"Like I've said before, Carl," she told him with a soft tilt upwards from the cornes of her lips. "Your reputation precedes you and there is a definite age difference between us. I'm not even out of my teens yet. My father would have your hide if you hurt me."

"It's a good thing I plan on doing no such thing then, Violet," he told her. "My reputation is- well, I'm working on it. I- I don't want to live that life. Not any more- not when I can have you."

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and pulled away gently.

"The age gap- it's just numbers to me," he admitted. "As long as you're of age and willing, I am willing. I'll do my damndest to prove to you that I'm different. Different because of you."

Violet smiled up at him. She wanted to believe- hell, did believe him. This softer, sweeter Carl. He had laid hidden under layers of bravado and panty-dropping s*x appeal for years now.

"I believe you- and want to believe you at the same time," she told him. "Does that make any sense?"

Carl nodded. "You trust me but are still hesitant because of who I am. Let me prove it to you. Let me take you on a date. I'll woo you like you should be- not handed off to the highest bidder."

"What do I tell my father?" she asked, shivering in the cool evening air. Carl pulled her tighter into his body to share his warmth with her.

"Tell him- tell him no. Tell him... there is another."

Violet burst out laughing and Carl pulled away so he could look at her.

"Tell me you just didn't quote Star Wars," she uttered with a giddy laugh.

"s**t, I did, didn't I?" he smirked down at her realizing his wording.

"Yes, yes you did!" She continued to giggle as she looked up at his face. It was a mixture of embarrassment and amusement.

"Hush now, woman," he told her huskily. "Or I'll have to silence you with my lips."

Violet hummed out a bit at his threat. "Your threats don't scare me," she told him.

"They should. These lips are deadly."

"Well, I'm still alive, so I must be immune," she teased.

"I'll have to prove my case," he told her and captured her plump bottom lip with his teeth before sinking his tongue once again into her mouth.

His tongue tangled with hers, probing and tasting as her hands snaked their way up to his hair and coiled into his short locks, pulling gently at the roots. She let out a soft moaning sigh.

The two stayed locked in an embrace for minutes on end until Carl felt he would want to take her right there in the near public setting. He pulled away, breathless.

"As much as I'd love to kiss you senseless right now," Carl stated. "We are only feet away from a crowded party and I'm trying very hard to be good around you. You make it very difficult, you know."

"You're right," Vi admitted to him. "We are in danger of becoming a little too exuberant and I'm not one for exhibitionism. Besides, I'm not really ready for anyone to know about... this."

Carl's brows rose. "About us?" he questioned. "You haven't even answered my question, though I love thinking of us as... 'us'. So will you go on a date with me? A real date- not just some f*****g one night stand where we go out for a few hours and head back to my place or a hotel to screw like rabbits. I want something... real for once in my life."

Her heart warmed at his words.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes," she said with a smile.

"I like yes much better than just 'okay'," he told her.

"Okay."

"Ugh."

******

Carl's lips were sealed up against Violet's neck, sucking lightly before nibbling a bit on the skin. She moaned lightly as his lips caressed her skin and the moisture of his mouth made her, in turn, wet between her thighs.

"I can't seem to stop," he told her between kisses to her neck.

"I don't know if I want you to," Vi replied, voice breathy. He groaned and went back to her neck, teasing at the flesh as she tilted her head back, granting him more access.

They were in the dark sitting room that they had kissed in at the Christmas party. The two had spoken for a bit before Carl couldn't keep his hands- and lips- to himself.

Violet had explained her parent's marriage 'deal' from over twenty years ago and Carl had shaken his head.

"I thought that arranged marriages had gone out sometime in the 19th century," he said with a shake of his head. "I never knew that's how they met. He never spoke of it."

Violet had smiled sadly at him. She had wished her parent's union would have had a bit more romance to it as well.

"So your father basically owns the vineyards?" he asked her.

"Grand-mere and Grand-pere run it for him and reap the benefits of it, so I guess you could call it a... a gift?"

"s**t- I love it when you speak French," Carl groaned out as his head dipped down to the crook of her neck to kiss the skin there.

"That's the first time I've spoken any French in front of you." Violet seemed startled by his statement.

"Yes, and I'll love it every time," he told her, placing a hand on her waist, keeping her pinned to the wall as his mouth moved around her neck, lapping and sucking at the flesh.

"No- no marks." Violet shuddered as she spoke. His lips were like a toxin to her bloodstream, causing her blood to race and making her heartbeat rapid with the rush to move it quickly through her system.

Carl hummed out acquiescence. He wouldn't place a mark on her soft skin- yet. He couldn't wait until he could though. Prove to the world that this woman was his.

He removed his lips from her neck before he got too excited. Before he wanted more- though he undoubtedly already did want more. And probably always would where Violet was concerned.

"Why did you stop?" she asked as her hands fisted again in his hair.

"Don't want to leave a mark on you, Sweetheart," he told her. "And I need to keep my d**k in check as well. I can't seem to get enough of you. Your skin, your scent- they're all intoxicating me."

Violet concurred. His own rougher skin against hers and the fragrance of his spicy cologne was enough to make her want to throw all her reservations about him out the window. But he was trying- for her. She could be patient if he was willing to be.

Then Carl was kissing her neck again. Moist, noisy kisses that had her moaning in pleasure. The scruff on his chin irritated and enticed her dually and she found herself pulling his head deeper into her neck so she would have him closer, as close as she could without all her inhibitions being wrested from her.

She felt him press his pelvis into her and his clothed c**k nudged between her thighs, seeking her warmth through the layers of fabric. He ground into her a few times, breathing out husky groans against her skin.

"f**k- gotta stop..." he moaned out as his d**k pressed up against her again. He pulled his head from her neck with a reluctant groan and placed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.

When his eyes opened, he was staring into Violet's light blue ones like he could eat her whole.

His mouth came closer to hers and he pecked her slowly.

"You're beautiful." Kiss. "Sexy." Kiss. "Smart." Kiss. "Stubborn as Hell." Kiss. He paused for a moment. "Do you need a ride home tonight?" he asked her out of the blue.

Violet smiled. "I'm staying here for the night. In my childhood bedroom." Carl groaned.

"Don't say childhood," he begged. "Makes me feel like a pedophile."

Violet laughed lightly. "I'm 19- almost 20. And you said yourself I was no child."

"True," he conceded. "Where do you want to go for your date?"

"Are you bipolar?" she asked him, surprised at the sudden change in topic.

"No," he replied. "I merely know when to change the subject but have no talent in segues. Do you like Italian food? French? What am I saying- of course, you like French food. It's in your blood."

Violet grinned at him. "Just because my mother's from France doesn't make me automatically like French food. I'm not a fan of kippers and my fathers from England."

Carl made a face. "Kippers don't count as food. Do you like French food? Or maybe Thai?"

Violet giggled at him. "I like French and Italian and... most other English food. But not kippers. They're nasty."

Carlton hummed out, thinking. "Then I will take you someplace nice to eat- not necessarily French. Then what do you want to do?" He placed a soft kiss on her exposed collarbone.

"I- I honestly don't know," she told him. "You decide. I may not show it, but I happen to like bossy Carl just as much as I like this sweet, more sensitive one you've shown me."

"You do?" he asked, surprised. "Then why-?"

"I was... afraid," she admitted. "You are experienced and I've only had maybe a handful of boyfriends. You have a reputation for womanizing and that's- it's not something I wanted to be associated with. I didn't want to be another notch on your bedpost." She stopped and looked at him. "Will I be? Another notch? An accomplishment you can talk about in the locker room at the local gym after you've screwed me? Tell me if I am now and I'll let you leave with your balls still intact."

Carl gave her a lopsided grin.

"You are no trophy for me to display in regards to s****l prowess. You're not some achievement I can look fondly back on while I sit in my adult diapers fifty years from now," he told her. "I'll prove myself to you. Wine and dine you, show you I can be more than the womanizing cad you see me as. Win you over with my words and actions. And eventually get you into my bed and win you over there as well."

Carl barked out a laugh as he listened to himself. he sounded like a romantic old fool and it was a novel experience for him.

"What's so funny?" Violet asked, perplexed.

"Me," he stated as he shook his head. "I sound like a lovesick old fool. I was even thinking of making you breakfast in bed the next day."

"But no kippers!" Violet warned him in a firm voice.

"Never the kippers," he told her as his head came down to meet hers in another searing kiss to her lips. "I wouldn't dream of it."