“It’s too soon,” she whispered.
“You don’t get to tell me how I feel and when to feel it. If you don’t love me? If you’re never going to love me? Then that’s something we can talk about.” I let the pain of those words slam into me, but I swallowed them and ignored it. I would just have to push it down. “I fell in love with Edward. The perfect man. He reminded me of an actual prince from England. He smiled, and he growled a bit, and I loved him. And he belittled me and hated what I did and made sure I felt like I was nothing. Because I wasn’t the perfect person. He didn’t like my hair or my tattoos. He didn’t like the way I remained friends with my ex-girlfriend. He didn’t like the fact that I liked pussy as much as I liked dick. He didn’t like any of that. And I didn’t realize it until it was too late. Because he was so good at hiding himself. I loved him. And I was wrong.”
“Baby.”
I shook my head. “And I loved Bristol, too. I loved her. I don’t love her the same way anymore. And I’m glad. Because I was never enough for her.” I swallowed hard at the emotion, and Meredith reached out, her hand rising before she let it fall. Good. I wasn’t sure I would be able to breathe if she touched me. “I loved Bristol, and she didn’t love me the same way. I wasn’t enough for her.”
“That’s a lie. You’re more than enough.”
“Really? Then why am I not enough for you?”
“That’s a low blow.”
“We’re pretty good at giving those out right now, aren’t we? I know you’re scared. I know that what happened with your ex was horrible. And we’re going to talk about it in more detail. I promise. But you don’t get to push me away because you’re scared.”
“I wasn’t expecting you. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” Meredith said. “I was supposed to heal here. Find myself and be me.”
“And you can do all of that. I want all the same things. But I want to do them with you. So, let me be the person by your side. Let me figure this out with you.”
I felt like I was burying myself, and I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
How the hell had this happened? For a third time. Somehow, I was doing this for a third time, and if Meredith walked away, I did not know what part of me would be left.
“I’ve made mistakes before, I don’t want to be yours,” Meredith said, and I let out a breath.
“I understand that fear, but you don’t get to make my choices. You can walk away if you don’t want me. I will break, and I will fight, but you will never be my mistake.”
“I don’t want to walk away from you.”
Relief flooded me, and I almost went down to my knees. Instead, I looked at her and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“I won’t walk away. But you don’t get to walk away either.”
“I’ve only loved one other person, and I was wrong about him.”
“And I’ve loved two others. I was wrong about one, and not the right fit for the other.”
“And I’m third best?” she teased, but I needed to be honest about this. I didn’t hear fear in her voice, but just the same, I needed to be sure she understood. We both did.
“Never. We all have pasts. We all have shames that might not be worth it in the end, but here we are. So, let’s take a chance. Hell, I am. We’re all moments in time, moments in ink.” I looked down at my new ink and shrugged. “We’re all moments in what we carve out for each other. But we can do this.”
“And what is this?” she asked, her voice low as she leaned forward.
“Whatever we want it to be. Because we can take a chance. I promise you.”
And when Meredith leaned forward and brushed her lips against mine, I knew we were going to take that chance.
Because all thoughts of food and exes and mistakes flew from my mind, and love and relief flooded in.
Meredith was my moment, and I was hers.
And I was finally fighting for it.
Finally.
Epilogue
Meredith
* * *
“Okay, angle up,” Zia said, and I raised a brow.
“Angle what up?” I asked, and she laughed.
I lay on a tarp on a settee in Zia’s bedroom, the light shining on my bare breasts and the rest of my very bare skin.
The fact that I was letting her paint me naked in her bedroom in the middle of the day meant that I had gotten drunk the night before when I agreed to this.
“Come on, I’m having fun.” And then Zia dipped the paintbrush between my breasts, and I groaned.
“Where on earth did you get the edible body paint?” I asked, wanting to reach out and grab her hair and pull her to my lips. Only the last time I had done that, she had spanked me hard, and though I had truly enjoyed it, she had also growled at me.
Zia growling was sexy as hell, but she wanted to paint me, literally using me as a canvas, so I was going to let her.
I would let her do anything.
Anything.
“Maya told me about the paints after your last session with Callie. I joked about how I wanted to see what other ink would look good on your skin, and she gave me a gift.”
“Should I be jealous of Maya?” I asked, not serious in the least.
“She has two very sexy men at home. I don’t think we need to be jealous of Maya.”
“Or we can be jealous of the fact that she has two very sexy men at home.” I laughed, and then Zia leaned down and brushed her lips across mine. I moaned, sliding my hand around her waist and then down between her cheeks, spreading her.
She groaned when I dipped my finger inside and then let out a shuddering breath.
“Shouldn’t you be wearing something, oh, artist?” I asked, playing with her pussy.
Zia’s mouth parted, and she panted, reaching over me to grip the edge of the settee as I kept playing with her folds.
“If I were wearing pants, you wouldn’t be able to do this,” she said, her voice shaking.
“True. Now, come closer, I need those lips of yours.”
“Which set?” Zia said with a laugh, and I took the palette from her, setting it on the couch so paint didn’t splatter everywhere, then pulled her on top of me.
“I’ll settle for your mouth now, and then I’m going to want that pussy of yours.”
“You’re getting paint everywhere,” Zia scolded, licking my lips. I reached up to cup her breasts, flicking her nipples. They turned to hard points, and I leaned forward, sucking one into my mouth.
“That’s why you laid out three sets of tarps so we could roll around in it.”
“I laid them out so I didn’t flick paint everywhere.”
“You totally knew we were going to fuck on this tarp when you set it out. Don’t lie.” I sucked her other nipple into my mouth, biting down gently.
“Fine, now fuck me,” she whispered, and I grinned.
“That’s my girl,” I whispered.
“Whatever you say, baby.”
She slid her thigh between mine, straddling my leg, as well. The friction sent shivers up my spine, and I gently pulled her hair, tugging her mouth to mine. Paint smeared all over us. I smiled against her lips, needing more. I angled my hips, rolling them, rubbing against her, and she did the same to me. We panted, our breaths coming faster and faster as our clits rubbed against each other, sweat-slick and wet from our combined need.
“I’m close,” Zia whispered.
“Keep going. More. Come on me. Say my name.”
She smiled against me, and I rotated up, using my hand to reach around and play with her ass.
She arched against me, and then she came, her whole body shaking, her thighs gripping mine. I arched my hips up, needing more, and then I came with her. When I tugged on her again, we both rolled off the settee, laughing, touching, covered in paint, and touching some more.
I licked her bare skin where the paint hadn’t been yet, kissing and nipping until I was between her legs, lapping up her juices. I kissed, and I licked, and I touche
d, and I bit down, and when she came again, I was above her, needing more.
“On my face,” Zia ordered. I did as she asked, using the settee to steady myself, my thighs over her shoulders as I rocked my hips over her face, her tongue flicking out in delicate licks. She spread me wide, paint going everywhere, and I laughed until I came again, my whole body shaking.
Somehow, I was able to move off her, both of us holding each other, our bodies tangled and covered in paint. I laughed.
“Some of the best sex I’ve ever given you, and you’re laughing?” Zia asked, spanking me again.
I moaned, and she smiled.
“Good to know,” Zia murmured.
“Sadist,” I joked.
“Maybe. But only for you.” She kissed me hard.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” I replied.
We lay there for a while in blissed silence before she spoke again. “By the way, I removed the lock on the gate between our houses.”
“Good, and you removed mine, too?”
“Of course. Eventually, we should just build a tunnel between our homes. That way, it’s one big house.”
I lazily slid my hand up and down her back, grinning. “Or you can just move in here.”
“Or you can move into mine. I have the better garden.”
“But I have the better second floor.”
She rolled until she was on top of me, straddling me, and I moaned.
“How about we flip for it?” Zia asked. And I squeezed her hip.
“Why do I think I’m going to end up tails again?”
“I always win. I mean, I won you, didn’t I?” She fluttered her lashes, and I rolled my eyes.
“You sure are sappy these days.”
“I can’t help it. You make me that way. I’m sure I’ll be a sarcastic ass soon.”
“Thank you. Because I’m truly going to need that.” I squeezed her hip again. “Now, let’s fuck some more, and then we can clean up this mess. I have no idea how much paint is going to come out of my hair. I did recently bleach it.”
“Oh, fuck,” Zia said, laughing, her eyes wide. “Maybe we need to shower now.”
“Yeah, probably. Going into work with whatever the fuck color my hair is right now is likely a really bad idea.”
“It’s okay, we can totally fix this,” Zia said, lifting me up to my feet. We slid around on the paint, laughing.
“Well, my boss did comment on my ink and about how it looked great. So, maybe they won’t mind if I have random-colored hair.”
“Even if you look like Rainbow Brite?” Zia asked, and I froze.
“What?” I asked quickly.
“Nothing, baby. Let’s get you inside that shower and see what we can do.”
“Zia. What did you do to me?”
“Nothing at all. I love you.” And she ran off to the shower, leaving paint footprints on her tile.
“Is this so I move in with you? We’re going to trash your house so we can’t sell it?” I asked, following her.
“I told you, I always win!” Zia said, the shower running.
I shook my head, cleaned up the paint after her, grateful it wasn’t permanent according to the box, and shook my head again.
Somehow, I had fallen in love with a bright light that changed everything. I wasn’t lost in the darkness anymore. I wasn’t searching for what could have been. I had found it.
I had found her.
And I wasn’t hiding anymore. Wasn’t searching.
I didn’t need to. I had Zia.
My moment. My person. Mine.
* * *
THE END
Next in the Montgomery Ink: Boulder series?
It’s Aaron’s turn in SEDUCED IN INK.
* * *
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Zia and Meredith? CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading MOMENTS IN INK!
I LOVED writing this book. LOVED IT. I had so much fun with it to the point I want to write more…and I just might!
Up next is Aaron and Madison! These two are already a little headstrong and unconventional. I can’t wait to show you what they are up to.
There are also a few side characters in this romance that are begging for a story…hmm…I do believe I might have to listen to them!
And if you’re new to my books, you can start anywhere within the my interconnected series and catch up! Each book is a stand alone, so jump around!
Don’t miss out on the Montgomery Ink World!
Montgomery Ink (The Denver Montgomerys)
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs (The Colorado Springs Montgomery Cousins)
Montgomery Ink: Boulder (The Boulder Montgomery Cousins)
Gallagher Brothers (Jake’s Brothers from Ink Enduring)
Whiskey and Lies (Tabby’s Brothers from Ink Exposed)
Fractured Connections (Mace’s sisters from Fallen Ink)
Less Than (Dimitri’s siblings from Restless Ink)
Promise Me (Arden’s siblings from Wrapped in Ink)
If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.
Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
Happy Reading!
* * *
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 3.5: Moments in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
* * *
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Zia and Meredith? CLICK HERE!
* * *
Want to keep up to date with the next Carrie Ann Ryan Release? Receive Text Alerts easily!
Text CARRIE to 210-741-8720
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Also from Carrie Ann Ryan
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 3.5: Moments in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
* * *
The Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Series:
Book 1: Inked Persuasion
* * *
The Less Than Series:
Book 1: Breathless With Her
Book 2: Reckless With You
Book 3: Shameless With Him
* * *
The Elements of Five Series:
Book 1: From Breath and Ruin
Book 2: From Flame and Ash
Book 3: From Spirit and Binding
* * *
The Promise Me Series:
Book 1: Forever Only Once
Book 2: From That Moment
Book 3: Far From Destined
Book 4: From Our First
* * *
The Fractured Connections Series:
Book 1: Breaking Without You
Book 2: Shouldn’t Ha
ve You
Book 3: Falling With You
Book 4: Taken With You
* * *
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink
Book 2: Restless Ink
Book 2.5: Ashes to Ink
Book 3: Jagged Ink
Book 3.5: Ink by Numbers
* * *
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 7.3: Dropout
Book 7.5: Executive Ink
Book 8: Inked Memories
Book 8.5: Inked Nights
Book 8.7: Second Chance Ink
* * *
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
* * *
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals
Book 3: Whiskey Undone
* * *
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning
Book 8: Strength Enduring
Moments in Ink Page 8