When I look back up, she's smiling at me over her shoulder. She blows me a kiss before disappearing with Biff.
Have I just made a massive mistake?
Ten minutes later, I'm alone in reception, waiting for everyone else to join me.
"Ah, look who's here," Titch announces as he, Spike and Kas emerge from their rooms. "And to think, I assumed it was Spike giving the birthday girl here a special present. Rumour has it, D has a girl."
"Fuck off," I grunt. But all he does is smile. He is way too amused by this right now.
"He even took her on a date," Kas helpfully adds, making me groan.
"Whoa, so where is the brave woman who's trying to tame our boy here?" Titch asks.
"She's upstairs with Biff."
Titch's brows pull together as he drops to the sofa in front of me.
"I inked her. She needs to wear something different."
"You inked your girl? Sweet. Danni still won't let me anywhere fucking near her."
"She's pregnant with your kid, man. Give her a break."
"I know, but the thought of that belly and my ink... Fuck. I get hard just thinking about it."
"Okay, well that's great. I'm just gonna..." Kas nods toward the door that leads to Zach and Biff's flat.
"You fucking idiot, you scared her off," I mutter to Titch.
"Fuck off," Spike says, sitting beside me. "It'll take more than that. She's a bad-arse, remember?"
"We're not likely to forget anytime soon, don't worry."
"So where is Danni, anyway? She's coming, right?"
"Yeah, meeting us there. She's just called an Uber. You for real got a girl?" Titch asks, still seemingly flabbergasted by the idea.
"Seems that way."
"I didn’t think I would see the day. You've always been so hung up on..." I shoot him a death glare, but I'm too late. Spike heard.
"Wait, D's been hung up on a girl all this time, and I didn't know?"
"Fucking hell, Titch."
"Sorry, man." He holds his hands up in surrender, but clearly he isn't really sorry, because he continues to run his mouth. "D has a childhood sweetheart. She broke his tender little heart and he's never got over it."
"How the fuck did I not know this?"
"It's not something I go around telling everyone about." Titch only knows because he accidentally found himself in the middle of the Reapers world when he naïvely started fighting for Mickey all those years ago.
"So who is she? How'd you meet her? Give us all the juicy deets," Titch says, wiggling his brows and rubbing his hands together.
Thankfully, footsteps sound out from the flat, and in only a few seconds the girls emerge, Kas dressed as she was previously, Biff now in a pink dress that matches her hair, and my girl... fuck me.
My eyes run the length of her in a little black dress that does insane things to her rack and shows off every inch of her figure, along with a good portion of her new ink.
"Take her back up, she can't wear that in public," I say, standing from the sofa.
"See, I told you he'd love it." Biff laughs. "We're leaving."
My eyes hold Piper's in warning, but all she does is smile at me.
She steps forward and places her hands on my shoulders.
"All of this is your fault you know." She quirks a brow at me and smiles shyly.
"You are in so much shit when we get back to your flat."
"I know, I can't wait."
"D, man, you gonna introduce us to your gorgeous girl or what?"
Turning back to the guys, I reluctantly pull Piper from my side, allowing them to see her.
"Titch, Spike... Zach," I say with a tilt of my chin when he emerges from his room. "This is Piper."
Spike and Zach both smile at her and say hello, but as I feared, Titch's chin drops.
Motherfucker. I'd hoped he'd forgotten the name. It was years ago I reluctantly told him snippets of the story one night when we'd both been drinking, and I got a little more emotional than I usually would, seeing as it was the anniversary of her death. I even showed him a picture, a move that I'm now seriously regretting.
Everyone aside from the two of us seems to miss Titch's reaction, because they all start moving toward the door and Biff kills the lights.
"He knows who I am," Piper whispers beside me.
"He knows bits. And he thinks you're dead, so you can understand his shock."
"I guess, but... is he..."
"Titch isn't a threat, baby girl. Well, unless you fancy joining the Circuit and getting in a ring with him."
"Um... no, I think I'll pass, thanks."
Running my hand down her back, I squeeze her arse and push her forward.
Titch waits until I pass him to step up to me.
"I thought she was fucking dead, man," he snaps, his shock evident in his voice.
"You and me both. I need you to keep it zipped. We'll talk, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you need. But fuck, man. Is this a good idea?" His loyalty makes me smile.
"Fuck knows, but I need her."
"I get that. But we fucking need you too."
The Pear Tree isn’t the most obvious of places to celebrate a birthday, but then I guess Kas isn't exactly your average kind of girl, and if this is what she wants then I'm all for it.
We find our normal booth. Danni is already waiting for us, and we have to pull up two chairs at the end seeing as our group keeps growing.
Our arses have barely touched the leather seats when a tray of drinks appears in front of us. We all take ours before Piper adds her order.
"Food will be right out."
"Thanks, man," Spike says as the server backs away from our table.
"So, D. A little birdie told me that you took your girl out on a date today. Fancy telling us how that ended with dinner with this bunch of motherfuckers?" Spike asks.
I chuckle, feeling at home around my family. I look to my left and pull Piper into my side where she belongs.
A lot of shit might be up in the air between the two of us, but I can't deny that this doesn't feel totally natural right now.
"He took me to Borough Market and we had a picnic in the park."
The girls swoon as the guys look at me like I've grown a second head.
"What? I can be romantic," I argue.
"How long have you been seeing each other?" Zach adds.
"I happened to find her by chance two weeks ago."
"I work at the school Emmie has started at."
They all nod before everyone's attention is captured by the plates and platters of food that descends on our table. My stomach rumbles, reminding me just how long ago it was we had our picnic, and I waste no time in digging into the tapas Spike pre-ordered.
"Umm... this is amazing," Piper mumbles around a piece of chorizo.
"Eat up, baby girl, you're going to need some energy for when I get you alone again.”
"I'm just going to pop to the ladies’ before we go," Piper says, nudging me to scoot out of the booth to allow her out.
"I'll come with," Biff says, followed by Kas and Danni.
We all watch as they make their way through the bar.
"What the fuck is it with chicks pissing together?" Titch asks, his eyes locked on his wife's arse.
"Fuck knows, but I need a slash too."
I don't realise anyone is following me until the door to the men’s doesn't immediately close behind me.
"So, she looks good for a dead woman," Titch says.
"Funny that, I thought the same thing," I mutter as I turn my back on him.
"Do your father or Cruz know she's alive?"
"No, and I'd really appreciate it if you didn't go and shout it from the rooftops."
"Of course not. I'm just... what the hell are you playing at, D?"
"I'm not playing at anything." The lie tastes bitter on my tongue, although I’m starting to wonder if it really is a lie, seeing as this thing between us is moving faster and getting more serious
than I ever intended.
"You could end up getting both of you killed."
"It won't come to that,” I assure him.
"How do you know that?"
"I just do, okay?"
When I turn around, I find his narrowed gaze trained on me.
"You can't hide her forever, and if this is serious—"
"It is,” I say with more certainty than I should, but I can’t help it. Everything I used to feel for Piper is rushing back faster than I can control.
"Then you're going to have to introduce her to your old man at some point."
"I'll worry about that when the time comes. Right now, I'm just enjoying the fact that I've got my girl back. And I'd appreciate it if you could at least pretend to be happy for me."
"Fuck, D, I am happy. I'm fucking stoked for you. But I also would like you both to be alive enough to fucking enjoy it."
"I’ve got it covered."
I wash my hands and turn to face him once more.
"You don't need to lose sleep over it. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?"
I flip him off as I walk out and head back to the table.
"You ready to go, baby?" I whisper in Piper's ear when she emerges with the others a minute after I get back.
"I sure am. It was nice to meet you all," she says politely to everyone. "And happy birthday again," she says to Kas.
They all say their goodbyes, and in only seconds I have her pulled into my side and walking out to the street.
She shivers the second the cool air hits us and pulls her jacket tighter around herself.
"You want me to call a car?" I offer. "I can pick up my bike tomorrow."
"No, I'll be fine. It's not far."
We walk up to my bike, and as I hand over her helmet I catch sight of her bare legs and realise my mistake.
"You can't ride behind me like that."
"Why not?"
"Because I won't be able to focus, knowing that every motherfucker is looking at your legs."
"S'all good, caveman. You're the only one who's going to be in my bed within the hour."
"But—"
She cuts off my argument by hopping up on my bike and spreading her legs to allow me space.
It might be fairly dark out, but that doesn't mean I can't see the scrap of lace covering her pussy. She leans back on the handles and waits for me to gather myself.
"Feel free to take a photo," she shouts through her helmet.
"One day, baby girl, I'm going to take you up on that offer. Right before I fuck you over this thing."
She squirms on the seat and I bite down on my bottom lip as I try to stop myself from stripping her naked and doing that right now.
"Get the fuck on the bike, Dawson. I won't wait forever."
Her warning snaps me from my trance and I throw my leg over, just about managing to miss her, and bring the engine to life.
With her heat burning into me and the promise of what's to come, I race toward her flat faster than I should.
By the time I let her off, her chest is heaving and her eyes are dark and hungry.
I lock up before taking her hand and leading her toward the entrance.
I go for the stairs like the last time I was here, and she happily follows.
"Everything okay?" she asks when I pull my phone from my pocket and start tapping out a message.
"Yeah, just checking in on Emmie. Hopefully she won't respond because she's already sleeping."
"She's a good kid."
"She is, despite her mother's best intentions."
"She's too headstrong to be influenced by others. She knows her own mind."
"Tell me about it," I mutter, thinking of the previous few conversations we've had.
"Okay, enough about your daughter," she says, pressing her back against her door and pushing it open.
My eyes run down the length of her. She's unzipped her jacket, allowing me to see her cleavage that I swear is bigger than before. I drop down her waist and to her hips. Her dress is sitting dangerously high on her thighs, exposing her new ink, then down her legs to her biker boots.
Stepping forward, I lift her into my arms, pull her from the door, and kick it closed behind me.
"Fuck, I need to be inside you."
"Dawson," she groans against my neck as she grazes her teeth down my exposed skin.
The second we're inside her bedroom, I throw her on the bed and start stripping out of my clothes.
She sits up on her elbows and watches me as I lose each item of clothing.
“Get on the edge of the bed,” I demand as I take myself in hand, stroking up and down a few times and she settles before me.
Her mouth is right where I want it and her heated eyes stare up at me, begging me to take what I need.
Stepping forward, I run the tip over her lip, coating them in the precum that’s already beading at my slit.
“Open,” I demand, pushing forward and slipping past her lips before she has a chance to move.
The heat of her mouth burns my skin, and my teeth grind.
“Fuck,” I bark, threading my hands into her hair and holding her still.
I allow her a couple of minutes to take control before my fingers tighten and I take over, pulling her forward until I hit the back of her throat.
I stare down at her; the sight of her dark red lips around my shaft and tears filling her eyes has my release surging forward faster than I’m ready for.
“I’m gonna come down your throat, baby girl. You feel so good.”
My hips start to thrust as I begin to lose control, but other than a couple of gags she takes it all, sucking me down like a champ.
“Fuck, Piper. Your mouth, fuck," I chant as my balls draw up. “FUCK,” I growl as my cock jerks.
20
Piper
Tears coat my cheeks and I fight the need to gag again at his size. My chest burns with my need for air, but I don’t rush. I swallow everything he has as he holds me still, riding out his high.
I've never felt as powerful as I do in this moment as he stares down at me, his eyes black with lust.
"Fuck, that was good."
He lifts me from my seat on the edge of my bed and slams his lips on mine. He must be able to taste himself, but his kiss doesn't falter. His tongue sweeps past my lips, seeking mine and sucking it into his mouth.
He bites lightly and I shudder in his hold.
His lips rip from mine in favour of my neck. He kisses, sucks, nips all the way down to the fabric covering my breasts.
His fingers wrap around the straps over my shoulders and he pulls them down, dragging the dress down my body.
My breasts spill free, and he hungrily sucks one into his hot mouth while his hand palms the other.
"Dawson," I moan as my clit continues to throb and heat pools between my thighs.
"Are you wet for me again, baby girl?" His kisses drop down my belly until he's on his knees before me. It's a sight I don't think I'll ever forget: this strong, powerful man on his knees as if I hold all the power.
"Yes." My answer is simple and straight to the point.
He hisses through his teeth before reaching for my knickers and ripping them down my legs. He knocks my boots off my feet before throwing the scrap of lace over his shoulder, leaving me bare for him.
One second I'm on my feet, the next I'm flying through the air until I land on the mattress with an oomph.
In a beat, my thighs are spread as wide as they'll go and he's feasting on me once more while I pull at his hair in my attempt to get him closer.
I was already halfway to release from just sucking him off, so the second he pushes two fingers inside me and expertly locates my g-spot, I fall over the edge with a scream.
"Oh my God, that was intense," I manage to get out between my heaving breaths.
"That was nothing, baby girl. We've got a long night ahead of us yet."
My sensible side wants to remind me it's a school night, but the
second he crawls over me, the evidence of my release glistening on his face, I forget all about reality and just focus on this, something I never thought I'd get to have or experience ever again.
He wipes his mouth before settling between my thighs and dropping his lips to mine.
"I can't get enough of you, baby girl."
"The feeling is entirely mutual."
Our hands are everywhere as we kiss each other as if it might be the last time again.
Fuck, I missed this. I missed him.
"Dawson," I moan when he pulls back for a second to catch his breath. "I need you."
Reaching down between our bodies, he takes himself in hand and guides the head of his cock to my entrance.
"Anything, baby girl. You can have anything."
He pushes inside me and we both moan, swamped by the sensation of us connecting once more.
It's mind-blowing, all-consuming. Just fucking unbelievable.
"You, D. I just need you."
He drops his forearms to the mattress at either side of my head and stares deep into my eyes, his cock barely moving inside me and driving me insane.
His eyes bounce between mine, and I'm not sure if he's trying to read something within them, or if he's trying to make some kind of decision.
"Daw—"
"Marry me?"
My eyes widen as my entire body tenses.
"W-what?"
He lowers down so our lips brush, but his eyes never drop from mine.
"I asked you to marry me, baby girl."
"I-I thought that was what you said," I whisper, totally shocked by this turn of events.
"We've wasted too much time apart already. We both know this is meant to be. I loved you seventeen years ago, and nothing has changed for me, Piper. Has it for you?"
I shake my head, struggling to form words. He's serious. He really did just ask me to marry him... while he's inside me. We'll have to come up with a new story to tell our grandkids one day.
The second I register that thought, I start laughing.
"What's so funny? This isn't a joke, Piper." There's an edge to his voice that cuts off my moment of madness.
"I know," I say, brushing my fingers through his hair, "I was just thinking about our grandkids."
"And here I was thinking I was the one rushing things. So what do you say? Shall we make things right, how they always should have been?"
Play You: A Second Chance/Single Dad Romance (Rebel Ink Book 4) Page 16