Inferno Anthology

by Gow, Kailin

  “You should totally take that shower.”

  “Trying to seduce me again, already?” Folding her arms, she stared at me.

  “Not at all. I’m merely giving you the chance to let me wash your hair and anything else you might need help with.

  She laughed. “I knew there was a catch.”

  “It’ll be fun. We can talk more, just like you wanted.

  “Somehow I doubt there would be any talking going on if you and I were naked in a shower together.”

  “No see, that’s where you’re wrong. There would be words—lots of them—but mostly in rapid succession and mixed in with moans and groans.”

  She blushed. “I bet.” Her eyes traveled over me, resting at my hip where my cock was obviously straining against my jeans. “Again?” She seemed shocked.

  “Still,” I corrected her. “I told you. You have no idea the things you’re doing to me. You get me all excited.”

  “How do I stop it?”

  “Stop it?” I stared at her perplexed. “I guess if I were dead.”

  She appeared to consider this for a moment and I released a growl. Laughter burst from her and I loved how it sounded. “That’s definitely not an option for me. Besides, death can be messy. All the blood that needs mopping up—it’s just so much work, you know?”

  “You’re right. And I’m beginning to think we definitely need to get to know each other better. I’ll have a better chance of seeing the death blow approaching that way.”

  She continued laughing. “I would never hurt you.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re already hurting me. I’ve been in near constant agony since you showed up at Leathers.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have gone there. I didn’t mean to make you miserable.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not complaining. It hurts so good.”

  She laughed and I smiled, before glancing toward the door. “Do we need to be quieter? Is your parents’ room close by?” I wasn’t sure if they’d left immediately or not.

  “No, it’s on the ground floor on the opposite side of the house. My dad wouldn’t want his kids close enough to disturb him.”

  The smile slid from my face. “It’s pretty obvious that you loathe the guy. Are you sure you’re okay here?”

  Sighing, she walked over to the edge of the bed, sitting dejectedly. “I don’t know if loathe is really the right word. I mean, I love him because he’s my dad. But at the same time, I don’t like how he walks all over everyone else to get what he wants.” She looked at me as I sat beside her. “He’s ruthless. I wonder if he even realizes other people have dreams and ambitions of their own? People should be allowed to follow those dreams, too, not be at his beck and call every second. I don’t think he views other people as people—individuals—but rather as a means to an end for his own personal gain.”

  I slipped my arm around her shoulder and placed a kiss near her temple. “Sadly, he’s not the only person who thinks that way. And by people, do you mean you?”

  “Yes, and no. Definitely me; but so many others, as well.”

  “And what would be your dream if you could have it?” I brushed her long hair over her shoulder as I spoke trailing my hand down her back. Even just sitting here like this, I was riveted. She had my undivided attention.

  “I’d go to school for photography and small business. I’d love to have my own studio. My dad says that’s a waste of time—that the arts will never pay well enough to be considered income.”

  She was artistic. I understood that well, because it was something we had in common.

  “I believe you can succeed at whatever you want to do, as long as you’re willing to put the time and effort into it.”

  She leaned her head against me. “See. You get it. I didn’t even have to explain myself. He wants me to go to an Ivy League school and get some big prestigious degree—something that will help him out in the long run, because it will make him look good.”

  The thought of her moving away to go to school somewhere drove me crazy. “So what do you plan to do?”

  She gave a wry chuckle. “As soon as I’m eighteen, I’m out of here. I’m going to be just like Tommy—do what I want to do, however I want to do it. And if my dad disowns me, then so be it. I think I can handle that just fine.”

  I grinned, enjoying that I was getting to see her strong spirit rise to the surface. “And what about school? Where will you go?”

  “There are plenty of places that offer degrees in photography, right here in Nevada.” She locked gazes with me. “Which, wouldn’t you know it, happens to be where you are, too?”

  “I like the sound of that,” I replied, and I leaned in to capture her mouth, again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Brooklyn

  Can I call U?

  I stared at the text from Six, my heart picking up speed just hearing from him. I’d barely spoken to him in the last three days; he’d been so busy with work. Our relationship had been reduced to a few stolen texts here and there.

  Yes, I typed back. I just parked at the school. My phone buzzed almost immediately and I answered it. “Hello?”

  “Hey, sweetheart. Man, it’s great to hear your voice.” I closed my eyes, smiling at simply hearing him.

  “I miss you,” I replied. Even speaking to him over the phone made my skin prickle.

  “I miss you, too, which is why I’m calling. Brandon scored four tickets from a radio show to a rock concert this weekend. It’s for Skillet, the band that sings the song we danced to.”

  “Yeah, I know them. They’re awesome.”

  “Do you think you could get permission to stay with Bailey and the four of us could go together?”

  “I’d love that. I don’t see why not. Does Bailey know?”

  “Brandon is supposed to be calling her right now. I just thought it would be fun to go together. They’re an awesome band, plus it’s an excuse to spend some time with you.”

  “It sounds great,” I replied. “Thanks for thinking to invite us.”

  He snorted. “Sweetheart, I haven’t been thinking of anything else but you, so who else would I invite?”

  I laughed. “I’m sure Bailey will be excited, too.”

  “Yeah, it’s too bad your parents don’t let you out as much as her. Brandon said she’s been over almost every night this week.”

  I groaned. “Trust me, I know. I’ve been getting the play by play details of their sexcapades, every single day.” In truth, I was a bit jealous of her. She was having a fabulous time with Brandon, doing everything I wanted to do with Six. It hardly seemed fair, but her parents didn’t care—and mine did.

  “I’m not going to lie. I’m envious of them,” Six said.

  “Me, too,” I replied quietly. “Hey, sorry to rush this, but I’ve got to get going.”

  “Okay. I don’t work at the shop until one o’clock, today. Do you want to meet for lunch?”

  A thrill shot through me at the prospect. “I’d love that. I only have about thirty-five minutes, though.”

  “I don’t care if it’s two minutes. I just need to see you. Where do you want to meet?”

  “On the corner of Seventh Street and Main are all those fast food chains. Maybe in the big parking lot near Arby’s?”

  “Great. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. Have a good morning.”

  “Thanks, I…uh, bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Sitting in the car, I stared at my phone, realizing what I’d almost just said, “I love you, bye.” The thought hit me hard. I’d never been in love with anyone to know the difference, but I’d wanted Six for a long time. Was I already falling in love with him? Did he feel the same about me?

  A knock on my window made me jump and redirected my attention. I turned to see Bailey standing there smiling. She opened the door. “Are you going to sit in there all day, or are you coming to class?”

  “Sorry. I was talking to Six. He told me you were with Brandon again, last night.” I raised an eyebrow
.

  She giggled. “I swear, Brookie. He’s insatiable. I have no idea how I can even still walk.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure it’s all him.” I grinned as I grabbed my book bag and climbed out of the car, locking it behind me.

  “Did Six call to tell you about the concert?” she asked, and I nodded. “Shall I have my dad call and officially invite you over?”

  “That would probably be my best chance of getting to go. You know my dad isn’t comfortable with refusing your dad.”

  “I’ll have him call, tonight.”

  “Sounds great,” I replied.

  ***

  The walls thumped and the floor reverberated with the sound of the heavy bass as the rock music rolled through the stadium. Bodies swayed, crushed together in the cramped floor space as cameras flashed like thousands of glittery diamonds lighting up in rapid succession. Despite the sensory overload, I was keenly aware of Six’s muscled arms wrapped around me from behind as we moved to the music. My skin was alive, on fire everywhere his body touched mine. I felt enveloped both by him and the music.

  Bailey appeared to be enjoying herself equally, flashing me wide smiles as she shimmied to the music in Brandon’s arms. They looked so cute together, and I wondered if their relationship might develop into something more than just sex. They both seemed to really enjoy each other’s company—that is when they got out of bed long enough to visit with one another.

  Six and I—well, we hadn’t gotten much time together this past week, except for seeing each other during a couple of my lunch breaks. I’d skipped food on those days in lieu of make out sessions in my car. I’d looked forward to tonight all week after Bailey’s dad managed to get my dad’s approval.

  I was a little nervous about after the concert, though. Bailey’s dad had rented us a hotel room on the strip, since the concert got out late. He wasn’t aware of the guys coming with us, since we met them in town. When he found out about the room, Six rented a separate room for us, so we wouldn’t be stuck in the same room with our horny best friends. Hello? Awkward. However, I was a bit worried about the two of us spending the night together, all alone.

  Lately, the more we touched, the hotter the fire was stoked. I wasn’t sure I could hold to our previous resolve as well as I had been. I wanted him. All of him. And I knew, without a doubt, he felt the same.

  Granted, we’d only been seeing each other for a very short time, but we’d managed to keep out of my dad’s sight. Ironically, I never realized how extremely self-absorbed the mayor was until I started to sneak around. It was as if he didn’t pay any attention to me at all—unless he needed to use me for his benefit.

  Six pressed his lips near my temple. “Are you enjoying the show?” he said loudly against my ear so I could hear him over the din. I nodded, turning slightly to flash a smile at him in the strobing lights. “I’m excited to have you to myself for the whole night,” he added, pressing another kiss against my head and squeezing me tighter.

  “Me, too!” I answered loudly.

  “Soon.” I didn’t hear the word, just saw his lips form it. Glancing up, I stared into his light eyes, not missing his predatory gaze. Goose bumps flared over my skin. Yeah, the anticipation was going to kill me.

  ***

  Bailey was singing loudly, her arm linked through my free one as the four of us walked together down the hall to our adjoining rooms.

  “Shhh,” I said with a laugh. “It’s late. People are sleeping.”

  She laughed. “It’s the weekend in Vegas. No one is sleeping. They’re either out partying, gambling, or locked in their room having sex.”

  Brandon pulled her back toward him. “Something you and I’ll be doing soon, too.”

  Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he walked her backward before pressing her against their door, kissing her as he fumbled to insert his key card in the lock.

  “Hey, maybe you two could actually wait until you get inside the room?” Six said, shaking his head as he released my hand and inserted our card, just as Brandon mumbled something unintelligible. Their door opened and the two of them quickly disappeared inside.

  Six held our door for me. “Man, I hope there’s good sound proofing between rooms. Otherwise, we might need earplugs.”

  Laughing, I agreed as I walked into the spacious Venetian suite. “That’s something I could go forever without hearing.” I flopped down on the end of the bed that sat in the higher part of the room, a few steps above the sunken living room. “Of course, I guess we could always compete with them.”

  Six froze as he stared at me, releasing a big sigh as his gaze traveled over me. “If you keep saying things like that, I’m afraid that’s exactly what we’ll be doing. I’m already having a hard time keeping my hands to myself, tonight.”

  My eyes traveled over him, much the same as his had just done to me. His blue t-shirt hugged him like a second skin, defining his perfectly muscled physique. I had to hand it to Brandon. He was a good trainer. Six was like a present I wanted to unwrap more than anything. “I don’t think I want you keeping your hands to yourself.”

  Slowly, he moved toward me, gently pushing me back on the bed as he leaned over me. He didn’t move for a few moments, just staring at me. “You tempt me so much.” Raising a hand, he cupped my face, running his thumb over my lips before replacing it with his lips.

  Wrapping my arms around him, I threaded my hands into his hair, sinking into the sparking sensations he caused, pins and needles followed by a flush of warmth and then goose bumps. Every time he touched me, my body reacted like an instrument made strictly for him to play.

  Several minutes passed while we kissed each other heatedly, hands trailing and pawing over each other over our clothing. Suddenly he pushed away, standing.

  “Scoot up on the bed more,” he said, and I did as he asked, until my whole body was on it, instead of my legs hanging off. Unable to take my eyes off him, I watched as he yanked his shirt off over his head, revealing his perfectly sculpted body beneath. I barely had time to look, though, before he was back on top of me, kissing me, again. I kissed him, letting my fingers do my seeing for me, tracing them over the bulging ridges and valleys of his extremely honed muscles. His body fascinated me and I wanted to explore every bit of it in its entirety.

  A moan escaped him as I rubbed my hands over him and naturally hooked one of my legs over his. Nudging my other leg to the side, he settled his hips between them, pressing hard against me with a groan. I could feel his hard length, much like I had on several other occasions, only this time, I couldn’t stop my body from arching back into him, causing him to groan, again.

  Shifting a bit, one of his hands slid under my shirt, leaving a hot trail up my side as he moved toward my bra. He cupped my breast, squeezing it through the thin fabric. His mouth left mine and he sat up, staring at me with his icy blue eyes full of desire. Grabbing the bottom of my shirt, he lifted it slightly.

  “May I?” he asked, still ever the gentleman, letting me have control like he promised in the beginning. I nodded, raising my arms as he pulled it over my head and tossed it to the side. In a matter of seconds, his hand slipped around behind me, unhooked my bra and removed it, too.

  For the first time, I lay exposed to him, but I wasn’t embarrassed. I was comfortable with my body, and the way he looked at me made me feel beautiful. He continued to stare at my chest, pinching one of my nipples between his fingers and it pebbled even harder than it had been. “Damn.” It was all he said.

  “What?” I asked, worried something was wrong, but still I moaned unable to help myself as he rubbed the bud between his fingers.

  “I never realized you’d actually be even better than I imagined.” Smiling, he glanced at my face. “I bet you sit around at home all day just staring at yourself in the mirror, don’t you?”

  I burst out laughing. “Hardly.”

  “Well, you should, because this is perfection, right here.” He didn’t wait for me to respond, dropping his
mouth to pull one of my nipples inside, sucking and tugging on it as he palmed my other breast, kneading it generously.

  His touch was explosive and had me practically writhing beneath him. My fingertips dug into his shoulders as I arched beneath him, trying to ease the ache he was causing inside me. Places on my body were throbbing with need and I wanted him there to ease them. It felt so good and so…much. I was tired of denying myself full access to him. I’d dreamed of being with him for so long. Besides, it wasn’t as if we were doing anything illegal. This was consensual…and I consented wholeheartedly.

  “I want….” I wasn’t sure what to say. “I want you.”

  Breaking away, he lifted up, staring at me with serious eyes. “Are you sure? I’d never intended us to go this far, Brooklyn—not yet. I wanted to keep things on the up and up in case your dad ever found out.”

  “I think we’ve passed the up and up already, don’t you?” We were already half naked, lines had already been crossed that couldn’t be uncrossed. I couldn’t stop stroking him. His mouth tilted up in one of his little half smiles I was coming to love so much.

  “Yeah, I do.” He rolled off me and sat up, undoing the laces on his boots. I sat up, too, and began removing my shoes, as well. “I’m guessing there’s probably no chance you’re on the pill, is there?” he asked.

  Laughing slightly, I shook my head. “No, but I wish I was,” I replied, meaning every word. I wanted him inside me—skin to skin. Still, that didn’t stop me from shaking with nerves. I was incredibly nervous.

  As soon as he had his boots and socks off, he dug his wallet out and removed a condom, setting it on top of the nightstand. Standing, he reached for my hand and pulled me up, hugging my bare chest against his before bending to kiss me again.

  My nerves became less visible as he ratcheted the heat level in my body up again, stroking my bare skin with his hands as his tongue tangled with mine. Our height difference was much more obvious now that my heeled shoes had come off and he had to hunch over farther to reach me. I felt like I was kissing a giant.

  “Damn, sweetheart. You’re so small I’m afraid I’m going to break you,” he breathed against my mouth.