Embraced in Ink

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “I don’t think we’re finished talking yet,” he said, drawing out his words.

  “Talking is good. Talking is really good.”

  Marcus leaned over, undid her seat belt, the back of his hand sliding along her thigh. The sound of her indrawn breath went straight to his cock, and he swallowed hard, his gaze on hers.

  “Nothing needs to happen tonight,” he whispered.

  “But what if it does?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Bristol licked her lips. Whenever she did, his gaze always went to her mouth, and he couldn’t help but want to touch her. Taste her.

  “Let’s get inside.”

  “I...okay.”

  They got out of the car with him waiting at the front, holding out his hand. She slid her palm into his without speaking, and they made their way to her front door. He had a key, but he let her use hers because this wasn’t a time where he felt comfortable going in on his own.

  They had changed the dynamic of who they were together, as well as who they were apart, and he didn’t want to pressure her.

  At the same time, he was done ignoring the thoughts and desires he’d had for so long. He couldn’t lie to himself anymore and say that he didn’t want Bristol. Because he did. He loved the way she tasted, the way she felt. And he wanted his mouth on hers. He wanted to lick across her skin and taste every inch of her. He wanted to see her under him as she writhed. He wanted his hands on her, in her, over her.

  He wanted to show her exactly who he was. Not just his body but also his soul. Wanted to do the same with her. He wanted to know her.

  Part of his mind also wanted to fuck her hard, make her come on his cock, slam her into the wall as they both shook and fell into oblivion. He wanted to do like that old Eric Church song and break the drywall right from the studs.

  He wanted to do all of that.

  He also wanted to go soft and slow and feel every inch of her.

  He didn’t know which part they’d get to tonight, but he knew that this was the first step. Or maybe the hundredth, he didn’t know anymore.

  But this was it. There was no going back. Maybe there never was.

  Once they were inside the house, neither of them went to the kitchen for coffee.

  He had been inside her home countless times, had even helped her decorate the place because she had done the same for him. She hadn’t gone all out but had four bedrooms since she needed an office and a practice space. The other she had made into a guest room for any of her friends from her musical world that came to visit.

  He had slept there, as well, mostly when he had more than two drinks and didn’t want to drive home. Bristol had slept at his house countless times before, too, because they always had each other’s backs, no matter what.

  Now, he didn’t know what would happen, but if he didn’t take this next step, didn’t make the move, they were going to be stuck here, wondering what if. At the same time, they had labels for each other that might not make sense to the outside world but totally did to them.

  Without them, he wouldn’t be able to understand who they were together.

  So, why not? Why not make the move?

  “Tonight, can I kiss you?” he asked, knowing that, like she had told him a thousand times before: consent was sexy as fuck.

  She smiled, her cheeks turning a delicious pink.

  “I want you to kiss me, Marcus.”

  He took a step forward, his breath quickening as he loomed over her, her eyes wide as she tilted her head back to look up at him.

  “And after I kiss you, can I kiss you again? Can I touch you? Can I taste you?” He lowered his head, his lips brushing her ear. “Can I…fuck you?”

  He slid his hands around her, cupping her ass and pressing her body into his. She slipped her arms around his waist, her hands digging into his shirt.

  “Please. I thought you’d never ask.”

  And then his hand was on her thigh, pulling up her skirt, the other in her hair, tilting her head back so he could devour her mouth with his.

  This wasn’t a casual caress. Wasn’t a sweet temptation of sin.

  No, this was hard, needful, and fuck-all temptation.

  They were both breathing heavily, teeth gnashing as their lips pressed against one another as if they couldn’t get enough.

  He had his hand up her dress and around to her ass, delving through her thong to her lower lips and into her pussy.

  She shouted into his mouth, stiffening at the invasion.

  He bit at her lip and kissed away the sting.

  “Too much?” he asked, sliding his fingers in and out of her, her body suctioning around him even as she grew wetter.

  “Never enough, my God. That is more than a kiss.”

  “I told you I was going to touch you. That I was going to fuck you.” He slid his hands out from under her dress and then licked his fingers clean. “That I was going to taste you.”

  “My God. I didn’t know you were so dirty.”

  “There’s a lot of things that you don’t know about me, Bristol Montgomery. Are you ready to learn some?”

  She looked at him then and nodded, her eyes dark, her pupils dilated. “Always.”

  And then they were on each other again, scrambling for each other’s clothes. He tugged at her dress, pulling it over her head. Her shoes were still on, but he didn’t fucking care. She tugged at his shirt, the buttons flying free, and they laughed, all while kissing, licking, touching. She undid his belt, and then he was toeing off his shoes, his pants down around his ankles.

  He cursed, then reached down to get a condom out of his pocket. She raised her brows.

  “I’m always going to be safe with you, damn it. And you know my dad has been throwing condoms at me since I was like fourteen.”

  Bristol laughed. “My mom’s been doing the same.”

  “And that’s enough mentioning them right now,” he said and then sheathed his dick.

  Her eyes moved down the length of him, and he squeezed the base of his cock, cupping his balls.

  “You know, I’ve felt the line before. I’ve sort of seen an outline whenever you wear those very sexy gray pants. I’m pretty sure you’re a grower and a show-er.”

  He grinned, then moved forward. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  And then his lips were on hers again, his dick pressed between them. She was still wearing her lacy bra and panty set and her heels, looking fucking sexy as hell.

  “Keep the heels on,” he ordered, and then he shoved her panties to the side and played with her again, using his thumb along her clit as he slowly rubbed her seam. She arched for him, her shoulders pressed against the wall, and she leaned in to his touch.

  He fucked her with his hand as he lowered the cups of her bra so he could lick her rosy pink nipples.

  They were tight buds on precious skin and begged for his mouth.

  So, he licked, he sucked, and he wanted more.

  “Are you going to come for me, Bristol?” he asked, his voice low. Bristol shook against him.

  “Marcus,” she whispered, and then he plunged into her with his fingers, playing with her clit as he did, his mouth on her nipples.

  She shattered around him, her pussy clamping around his fingers, but he kept going, and then he fell to his knees, needing to taste her, lap her up.

  “Marcus!”

  “Shh, baby. Let me take care of you.”

  And then his mouth was on her, and he was drowning in her taste. She was sweet, like honey, and he needed her. He slid one leg over his shoulder, and her other leg started to shake, so he kept his hand on her thigh, holding her steady. He used his free hand to spread her before he licked and sucked, lashing his tongue over her clit.

  “How are you so good at that?”

  “All for you, baby,” he whispered, and she laughed before she called out his name, her pussy clamping around him again as he sucked off her clit as she came.

  And then he was on his feet, his h
ands on her thighs as he lifted her up and pressed her against the wall.

  “Marcus,” she whispered.

  He looked at her and swallowed hard. “Are you ready?” he asked, suddenly a little worried, a bit shy.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” she whispered, her hands on his face. Then he slid inside her, slowly at first, inch by inch, their gazes never breaking, both of them holding their breath as if they’d been waiting for this moment for longer than either of them cared to admit.

  Suddenly, he was fully seated, her body stretching to take him in, her legs shaking as she wrapped her calves around his back. He moved one hand so he could cup her face, wiping tears from under her eyes, knowing he wasn’t hurting her, but that this was something different. Something he hadn’t expected.

  He knew this woman. Knew her from the bottom of his soul all the way to hers. He had known they would always be connected, that no matter what happened in the world, they would be together. And they had made sure that they would always have that path to one another. Even if it hadn’t ended up like this. Yet it had brought the two of them here, to this moment in time.

  As he filled her, and she cried against him, her hands on him as he struggled not to move, he simply looked at her. And he knew.

  No matter what he had told himself, he would have come to this moment.

  This would be etched on his soul until the end of his days.

  He had been lying to himself when he’d said that it was only a promise to a friend to see what would happen.

  He loved Bristol Montgomery. Not as his best friend, not as the other half of his soul, but as a woman that he knew would be part of him forever.

  He loved her, and he had no idea if she loved him the way that he needed her to.

  But right then, with the feeling of her around his cock and in his heart, he didn’t care.

  Because he’d find a way to make that happen.

  But first, he had to finish this, needed to complete their connection, and he needed to be with her.

  So, he pushed thoughts of what could be out of his mind because he knew he wouldn’t be able to focus if he were worried about the future and placed his mouth on hers. And then he moved.

  She was still wearing her bra, her panties pushed to the side, and her shoes digging into his back, and he didn’t care. It was hot as hell, and this was his Bristol. The love of his life.

  The only love of his life.

  The sweetest lie he had ever told himself.

  They made love—because this wasn’t merely fucking anymore, this wasn’t just sex, it was what he had always worried he’d feel if he let himself.

  She arched into him, her nails raking down his back, and he plunged deeper, needing more.

  “Marcus,” she whispered.

  A kiss. A breath. Another kiss. “My Marcus.”

  And then he was lost, his mouth on hers as he took in her scream. Her coming around him as he followed her into ecstasy.

  His legs shook, and he slammed into her one more time, both of them arching into each other as if they couldn’t get their fill, as if they couldn’t get close enough.

  And afterward, he helped her to her feet, and he cleaned her up, leading her to her bathroom so they could shower and make sure she was taken care of. Because that’s who he was.

  The man who always cared for her, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. And because she did the same for him.

  And then they were in bed, kissing, touching, this time their lovemaking sweeter, softer, as if they had taken off the edge yet needed more.

  They didn’t need to speak anymore because they would later, they always had time.

  And when she fell asleep in his arms, he held her close and hoped to hell that they wouldn’t run away from this.

  Because he had spent the entirety of his life telling himself that he and Bristol Montgomery were great as just friends.

  But there was nothing just about the two of them.

  This was the woman he loved, the woman that he was going to marry, and the woman that he would make sure he deserved.

  He only hoped like hell that he’d develop that plan.

  Because as she snuggled into him, he knew he didn’t want this to end.

  Only he was afraid that if he weren’t careful, the ending would hit them harder than either of them ever expected.

  Chapter 11

  “It’s not supposed to be weird, is it?” Bristol asked as Marcus leaned against the doorjamb.

  When he gave her a lazy smile, her insides twisted, and she nearly had to press her thighs together.

  What was it about a man leaning against a doorjamb and giving that lazy smile? It was as if they knew what they were doing and just wanted to burst ovaries all around the room—adding to the fact that Marcus had on a button-up shirt that he had rolled to his elbows.

  She nearly bit into her knuckle to hold back a moan.

  Dear God, she wanted to jump her librarian and strip him down and taste every inch of him.

  She’d already done that nearly an hour ago, but she was ready for round three, no matter that not a lot of time had passed.

  The fact that her sex drive seemed to have ramped up when it came to Marcus shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, she had been hiding her feelings for him within her mind for years.

  Now that she was finally letting herself want him, dear God, she couldn’t do anything but want him.

  Today, however, was filled with things that had nothing to do with wanting to sleep with her best friend and fiancé.

  No, today was the Montgomery family dinner.

  And she was terrified she was going to fuck it up.

  “You’re going to be fine. Besides, this is your family. I should be the nervous one.”

  She pulled her shirt over her head, ignored the groan that slid from Marcus’s lips, and tried not to smile. The fact that he liked the way she looked? The fact that he growled at her covering up? That might make her day. Only she was going to do her best not to lean too much into that particular feeling because everything was still so new. She might have that rock on her finger, and they might have made promises to one another, but there was still part of their relationship that was brand new. Infinitesimal and in its infancy. And it gave her butterflies to think about it.

  “Wait, aren’t you nervous?” she asked, pulling herself out of her thoughts about the man in front of her and putting her attention on him instead.

  Marcus shrugged as he leaned away from the doorjamb. “Maybe. I mean, your family’s always intimidating.”

  Her eyes widened, confused. “Not to you. You’re practically family yourself.”

  “Well, let’s hope they don’t want to adopt me, or that’s going to get a little tricky when we’re finishing up our marriage license.”

  Her lips twitched. “You know Mom and Dad never wanted to adopt you. Mostly because your mom and dad would murder mine.”

  “Don’t lie. My folks wouldn’t murder your parents. Maybe a little maiming. Though if yours did adopt me, my parents would want to be adopted, as well. You know, one big, happy family.”

  “Our mothers did seem excited about the engagement.”

  “Hell, yeah. It’s everything the two of them have ever wanted. I like that our families have always been friends.”

  “Yeah, unlike Lincoln’s family.” She had no idea why she’d brought her future brother-in-law up, but she and Marcus had discussed Lincoln often since he was part of their family, too.

  Marcus shook his head. “Not the whole of his family. Lincoln’s parents are nice. They just moved on to a different part of their lives without him. Adults do that. Not everybody lives in the same state for their entire lives. Hell, I’m surprised that you didn’t end up moving to New York or L.A. or something.”

  “I would never do that. I love my parents. My family.” She paused. “And I didn’t want to be away from you either because you were always part of that. My touchstone.”

&
nbsp; “Well, I’m glad you came back. And I’m fucking glad that I got a job at a library here. It’s not as easy as some might think, even though it’s a big city.”

  “Well, we’re not down in Denver, we’re up in Boulder. Though if you had gotten a job down in Denver, that wouldn’t have been too far for everybody.”

  “That’s true. But I’m glad that I got a job here, and one that’s not technically part of the university so I don’t have to constantly deal with that type of work politics.”

  “Your job has enough of it as it is.”

  “That is true.”

  “Anyway, we need to get going. You don’t want to be the last one at your house.”

  “No, because then Aaron will lord it over all of us.”

  “He is the pesky younger brother sometimes, isn’t he?” Marcus asked, a smile on his lips. She leaned forward and kissed those lips, unable to hold back. It was so weird. Before, Bristol would hug him or want to kiss his cheek, or maybe hold his hand without thinking too hard on the matter. Now that there was this new layer, this new dynamic between them, she didn’t want it to stop. Were they going to kiss each other in public? Well, they sort of had when they’d been on their date, hadn’t they? Although public, and then in front of the Montgomerys, were two different things. Entirely.

  “Why do you have that look on your face?” Marcus asked, tucking her hair behind her ear. She leaned into his hold like she always did; that part never changed between them. It was the additional components of what they were becoming that were making everything sticky.

  “What if things are weird, weirder than they already kind of are sometimes?”

  “I don’t think it’s going to be too bad. I’ve already hung out with the guys, you with the girls, and each of us has seen our parents since we started this new phase.”

  “I know, but this is the first time it’s us in front of the family together. I don’t know. I just don’t want things to be awkward.”

  Marcus nodded, frowning even as he traced her cheek with his fingertip. He had done that for ages. It was nothing new. Except now, she focused on how those fingers had felt on her when they were making love, when they were touching…other places. And she didn’t quite know how to breathe when it came to that.