“Is this what you want?” he asks, grinding down harder.
“Yes,” I hiss, digging my nails into his shoulders.
“This?” He continues to tease me, lining himself at my entrance but making no move to do what every part of my body is aching for him to do.
“Titus,” I practically scream, my frustration mounting.
This seems to snap what little restraint he has left and he immediately plunges inside of me, both of us crying out from the intensity of our bodies coming together. Pulling back, he slams into me again, pulling yet another scream of pleasure from my mouth.
It takes minutes—or maybe it’s only seconds—before the warmth starts to work its way through my lower belly. Titus senses my heightening desperation and pushes my legs further open, pounding into me so deeply I swear I feel him everywhere.
“Titus,” I cry, my body so overcome with pleasure I’m not sure how to control myself. Every time I think there’s no way it can get any better, yet every time he finds a way to take it to the next level. I honestly don’t know how he does it. It’s like he has a map to my body and has studied every river and valley so he knows exactly what roads to travel.
My body explodes around him.
It comes in waves, washing over me, warming every single inch of my body until I can feel the effects all the way to the very tips of my fingers and toes. Titus makes me feel every ounce of my pleasure as he continues to thrust inside of me, pulling every last bit of desire from me that he can. My body is shaking, trembling from the aftermath.
Titus’ movements start to become less controlled, frantic even, and then he lets out a deep groan, pumping inside of me several more times before letting himself go.
When he stills inside of me, he pulls back slightly and hits me with the most incredible smile. The action does funny things to my heart. His lips find my cheek first, then my forehead, followed by the tip of my nose before he finally presses them gently against my own.
I continue to pulse around him as he sweetly kisses my mouth, his tongue sliding against mine as his hand pushes the tangled mess of hair away from my face.
There are so many things I need to say. So many things bubbling to the surface that I have to bite back. I want you. I need you. I’m falling so hard and fast that I’m terrified if I let go I’ll go careening out of control.
“Your dinner is going to burn,” is what I choose to say instead. To which I earn another breathtaking smile seconds before he climbs off of me.
——
“You’re sure about this?” Titus takes my hand, giving my fingers a firm squeeze.
When he mentioned he had an appointment scheduled with his tattoo guy to have some ink done, I asked if I could come so I could watch. Given that I drew the piece he was getting, I wanted to see it come to life in person. I never in a million years dreamt I’d be the one sitting in the chair.
“I am.” I give him a nervous smile, my gaze going to Zeke, the bald, thick muscled tattoo artist who has even more ink than Titus, which I didn’t know was possible.
He pulls the transfer away from my foot, revealing four tiny birds flying in a line.
When I decided to have something done, this design caught my eye instantly. Birds flying free. A representation of my new life. Of my newfound freedom. Of the future that now seems limitless.
Zeke readies the gun and adjusts his chair, turning back toward my foot.
“I’m going to warn you now, this is probably going to hurt like a bitch.” He throws me a look of caution.
“I can do it,” I reassure him. Hell, after watching how easy it was for Titus, I’m not all that worried about the pain.
At least not until the needle touches my skin for the first time. I instantly tense, the pain radiating from my foot all the way up my leg.
“You okay?” Zeke pauses after making the tiniest mark on my foot.
“Yeah, I’m good. Keep going.” I turn my gaze to Titus who gives me a smile and nods.
“It gets easier,” he promises.
“When?” I cringe when the needle hits my skin again.
“When the area goes numb.”
“Which is when?”
“Usually right toward the end.” He chuckles.
“Well that’s reassuring.” I squeeze my eyes shut and lock down on Titus’ hand, probably cutting off the circulation to his fingers.
Zeke continues on, the buzzing of the tattoo gun and the radio playing lightly in the background the only noise in the room.
I try to think of something, anything but how bad this hurts, but my brain keeps coming back to the pain. Maybe I should have listened to Titus when he warned against starting on my foot. Then again, it was the only place I really want one.
It’s not like I sat around thinking about it for a long time. Hell, up until about twenty minutes ago I had never considered that I would even get a tattoo, let alone have to pick where to permanently ink my skin.
My father’s face pops into my mind.
I can only imagine what he’d say right now. How disappointed he would be. And for the first time in a very long time, I realize that I really don’t care.
This is my body. My life. And I will do with it as I wish. He’s no longer in control. The thought somehow gives me some reprieve from the pain. Either that or I’m able to channel it in a way that makes it seem less overwhelming.
“I don’t know how you’ve done this so many times,” I say to Titus after several minutes have passed.
“You gotta really want it.”
“Yeah, I see that now.” I force a smile.
“You’re almost done,” he tells me, his gaze going to my foot and then back up to my face.
“I am?” I prop my head up and look down, surprised to see he’s already working on the last bird.
“It’s a pretty simple design,” Zeke interjects.
“Thank god.” I relax my head back down.
“You’re doing great, babe.” Titus grins.
“Am I? Because I feel like I’m not handling this very well at all.”
“For your first tattoo, and considering where it is, you’re actually doing awesome,” Zeke once again chimes in. “And, we’re done.” He pulls the gun back, dropping it onto the workstation next to him before grabbing a wipe to clean away the excess ink on my foot.
“Done?” I sit up further, smiling like a damn kid on Christmas morning when I see the tattoo in all its finished glory. The skin around it is raised and red, but it still looks amazing. Better than I could have ever imagined.
“You like it?” Titus asks next to me.
“Like it?” I bite down on my bottom lip, still not able to grasp that I actually went through with it. “I love it.” I flip my gaze back to his.
“So, no regrets?” he asks, and for some reason I get the feeling he’s not just talking about the tattoo.
“Not a single one.” And that’s the complete and honest truth.
Chapter Twenty
Fallon
“What are you doing, puppet?” Link eyes me from the kitchen as I sit on the couch, rubbing ointment over my tattoo.
“Zeke said I had to do this twice a day.”
“Yeah, for the first few days. It’s been almost a week.”
“I just wanna make sure it doesn’t scab and turn out looking all scarred and gross.”
“You’ve been on the internet, haven’t you?” He gives me a knowing look.
“Technically, we don’t have internet out here.”
“Fine. You’ve been on your cell phone again, haven’t you?”
“Maybe.” I shrug innocently.
After my father showed up, I figured there was no point in keeping my phone off. I’ve used it more and more recently, mainly to play games and browse online. I’m honestly shocked that he hasn’t suspended my service yet. Though I suspect it’s only a matter of time.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to believe everything you read on the internet?”
“I don’t think that’s true for everything. There are some really helpful tips online.”
“Uh huh.” He shuffles through the mail, stopping on one piece in particular. “Um, there’s something here for you.” He pauses, holding up the white envelope for me to see.
“Me?” My stomach instantly twists.
“Fallon Buckley. Says it right here.” He points to the address line.
“That’s weird.” I clamor to my feet and head toward the kitchen. Link hands me the envelope as I slide onto one of the bar stools.
I don’t recognize the return address. Atlanta? I think on that for a moment before it suddenly hits me. The art studio. Ripping open the envelope at record speed, I nearly fall out of my chair when I pull out a check, my eyes scanning over it several times, sure that it isn’t real.
“Well, what is it?” Link leans over the counter, trying to get a look.
“It’s a check,” I say, still in shock. “A check for eight thousand dollars.” I look up at him, my eyes wide.
“For what?” He crosses around the counter and looks over my shoulder.
“My painting,” I say in disbelief. “It sold for eight thousand dollars.”
“There’s a note.” He tugs the index style card from behind the check out of my hand. “It’s from the owner of the gallery.”
“What’s it say?”
“He’s requesting more pieces.”
“He’s what?” I take the card from him.
“He wants you to send him more art.” He points to the card.
“But, but,” I stutter. “That can’t be right.”
“What can’t be right?” Titus appears from the hallway, his hair still wet from the shower.
“Fallon’s painting sold for eight grand and now the owner of the gallery is requesting more pieces.”
“’Bout time that showed up.” Titus grins, crossing the space toward me.
“Wait, you knew?” I throw him a confused look.
“Ellen called me two days ago.”
“And you didn’t tell me.” I swat at his arm when he stops next to me to look down at the check in my hands.
“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“I just... I can’t believe this.” I turn my gaze back down to the check.
“Well believe it.” He kisses the side of my head. “You are officially a paid artist.”
“And they’re requesting more,” Link reminds me. “I bet the one you finished the other day will go for twice that,” he says, referring to the spattered heart piece that I painted. It’s hands down the favorite thing that I’ve ever painted and so different than anything I’ve done before.
I usually stick to landscapes, but feeling inspired by Titus, I branched out and the end product is something that I’m more than a little proud of.
“You really think so?”
“The gallery that Ellen hooked you up with has a pretty high-end clientele. It wouldn’t surprise me,” Titus agrees. “We can take it into town and have it packaged for you to get it sent over.”
“Will you give me her phone number? I want to call and thank her personally.”
“Of course.” Titus nods. “In the meantime, I think this calls for a celebration.”
“I’m going to bow out and let you two take this one on your own.” Link steps back around the counter.
“No. You have to come with us,” I tell him.
“Another time,” he promises.
“Why?” Titus pins him with a questioning look. “Got other pressing plans?”
“Maybe.” He shrugs.
“Maybe?” I question.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I do actually have a life outside of you two.” He snorts.
“Fine,” I concede, turning to Titus. “What did you have in mind?”
“Let’s go to Harrisburg. There’s this steakhouse that just opened up there.”
“Okay, but only if you let me pay.”
“No way.” He shakes his head.
“Um, yes way.” I wave the check in front of his face. “It’s the least I can do. Besides, if it weren’t for you, none of this would even be possible.”
“How about we decide that later? For now, why don’t you go get ready?”
“Now?” I ask, glancing at the clock. “It’s only three.”
“And?”
“Okay,” I readily agree, turning to Link. “You sure you don’t want to join us?” I ask one more time.
“Next time.” He winks.
“Fine,” I grumble, scooting off of the stool. “I’m going to jump in the shower,” I tell Titus, pressing up to lay a kiss to his stubbly jaw before practically skipping down the hallway.
——
“To Fallon Buckley, the next up and coming artist. Ready to take the world by storm.” Titus holds up his beer, tapping it against my glass of tea.
He looks so handsome tonight, dressed in dark jeans and a black button down. I’ve never seen him even remotely dressed up, and I gotta say, it looks good on him.
“You realize you’ve said that about ten times already.” I giggle.
“And I’m going to say it a hundred more.” He grins over the rim of his glass.
“It still feels surreal.”
“What does?” Titus takes a drink of his beer before sitting his glass on the table.
“All of this. You. Selling my painting. Being away from my father. It feels like I blinked and suddenly my life is completely different.”
“That’s what happens when you choose to stand on your own two feet.”
“Well, I don’t know if that’s completely true. I think you had a lot to do with all of this.”
“You give me too much credit.”
“No, you don’t give yourself enough. I mean it, Titus. Had you not stopped that night... Had you not brought me home with you, who knows where I’d be right now. My life is changing in the most unexpected of ways and it’s all because of you. Thank you.”
“It’s been a hell of a ride so far.” He smiles and the sight makes my heart flip inside my chest.
“I’m not ready to go home yet,” I admit, looking at the empty plates that litter our table. We ate so much food you would think there were four people sitting at our table and not two.
“So then we won’t.” He leans back in his seat. “What else do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I don’t really know what there is to do around here.”
“I might have a couple of ideas.” He winks, signaling the waitress as she passes. “We’ll take the check, please.” She nods, opening her order book before laying the bill face down on the table.
Titus and I both reach for it, but he beats me to the punch.
“I said I was paying.”
“And how do you suppose you’re going to do that? Considering that check is still in your wallet.”
“Crap.” I sit back, realizing he has a point. “I should probably see about opening a bank account.”
“I can help you with that.”
“Titus, I think I can handle opening an account on my own.”
“I know.” He drops cash on top of the bill before shoving his wallet back into his pocket. “I just meant that I can tell you the best places to go.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there only one bank in Leary?” I give him a knowing look.
“Okay, fine. Maybe I just want to go with you.”
“Careful, Mr. Driscoll. Keep it up and I might think you’re getting sweet on me,” I tease.
“Pretty sure that ship has long since sailed.” He chuckles, finishing off his beer before sliding out of the booth. “You ready?” He reaches for my hand, helping me up.
I smooth the back of my black dress. It isn’t fancy. Just a plain spaghetti strap dress that hits me right above the knee. It was the best I could come up with on such short notice.
Now that I have a little money, I think a shopping trip is in order. Lord kno
ws I need it, considering I’ve been rotating the same few outfits for the last month.
“So, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He snags my hand, tugging me in the opposite direction of the parking lot as soon as we step outside.
“Um, isn’t the truck that way?”
“Yes, but we’re not going that way.” He grins down at me.
I don’t know how it happened. I don’t know when he went from being this intimating, tattooed, seemingly bad boy, to this sweet, thoughtful, loving man. I don’t know how or when things shifted between us, but lately I feel like I’ve really started to see who Titus is at his core.
He puts off this I don’t care attitude, like he’s flipping his middle finger off to the world. Yet deep down I don’t think that’s who he is at all. Maybe it was his way of shutting the rest of the world out. Maybe it was his way of forging his own path. But I’m a firm believer that we are who we are and eventually that person will come to the surface, no matter how hard we try to hide it.
And this... This is who he is.
A closet sweetheart.
Firm yet gentle.
Smiles often.
Not afraid to take what he wants.
Willing to fight for what he believes in.
Selfless.
A little stubborn.
Laughs at his own jokes.
Willing to do anything to make me smile.
Takes care of the people that are important to him.
I could go on and on.
We aren’t walking long before I see the flashing lights and hear the buzz of the County Fair that comes into view right as we round the corner.
It’s been years since I’ve been to a fair, yet as soon as the familiar smell of grease dipped French fries and cotton candy fills my senses, I feel like a kid again.
“You’re taking me to the fair?” I bounce excitedly next to Titus.
“What kind of date would it be if I didn’t win my girl a stuffed animal at the local fair?” He knocks his hip against mine.
My girl. He just called me his girl...
I try to push down the giddiness this makes me feel as Titus pays our admission and leads me through the gates. Children run past us, rides swirl around us, and the sounds of carnival games fill my ears. I look around, taking in all the lights and attractions, a huge smile etched on my face.
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