Steam and Ink

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  She eyed me up and down, studying my outfit. “I guess I’m dressed okay.”

  “I’m not a fancy guy. I wear my jeans, t-shirt, and boots or sandals.”

  She made a face at me—what the fuck was that about?

  “You never dress up?” she asked, as she locked the front door and turned to face me.

  “Only when necessary. Tonight it isn’t.” I sat on the bike and held out the helmet. “Want to do it yourself?”

  She plopped it on her head. I laughed as she fiddled with the straps. “Want help?”

  “No…I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.” She fastened the buckle under her chin. “See?” The helmet slid forward, covering her eyes. “Damn it.”

  I couldn’t help myself; I burst into laughter. “Come here, lemme help.”

  Her lips pursed with annoyance.

  “Don’t worry, sugar, you’ll get the hang of it.”

  “I’m not used to all this…” She motioned to the bike, her eyes still hidden as I pulled her toward me.

  “Live a little. Learn to let go.”

  Her lips turned up in a smile. “Not that you know, but I’m a total control freak.”

  “We’ll work on that.” I pushed the helmet on top of her head and grabbed the straps.

  “I’m perfect just the way I am.” She squinted at me, which made it harder for me to stop laughing. The pissed-off-teacher look made my dick rock hard and my balls ache.

  “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean you need to learn to have some fun,” I said, grabbing her chin after fixing the fasteners.

  “I have plenty of fun, for your information.”

  “Climb on, sugar.” I patted the seat. “What do you like to do for fun?”

  Her hand touched my shoulder as she hoisted her leg over the bike. “Well, I like to read. I go out with my friends sometimes. Um, I like to hang out at the pool. I like to play games. I do plenty of fun things.” Her body rested against mine and I closed my eyes. Down, boy—not tonight. She didn’t mention one thing that resembled fun in my book.

  “What about a club? Concerts? Parties?” A girl her age should’ve experienced a couple things in her life. She went to college and had to live a little…I mean, fuck. “I know you’ve never ridden a bike before.”

  “I don’t dance. Concerts, a couple of times in college, and parties? Do work parties count?” She clasped her hands around my chest and sealed the gap between our bodies.

  “Everyone can dance. I saw how your body moved last night, babe. You can dance.” I turned the key and throttled the engine.

  She swatted my chest. “Hush.”

  I’d embarrassed her. Good—I needed to push her. I wanted to learn what she was really all about. The good-girl bullshit worked for me, but I needed to know there was a sinner underneath that polished veneer.

  “Well, tonight we’re going to add a few check marks to your life.” I moved my body, leaving no space between us.

  “What are we doing?” she asked against my back, already hiding her face.

  “Heading to the beach.”

  “It’s dark, though.”

  “Exactly.”

  I drove slowly through her neighborhood, waiting for the right moment to pay her back for the smack on my chest. I hit the open country road at the end of her development and gunned the bike. Glancing in the side mirror, I could only see her blonde hair blowing in the wind.

  I sped up, and she pinched my pec and yelled, “Stop!”

  I didn’t listen, pretending the wind made it impossible to hear. I pointed at my ear and shook my head. “I can’t hear you.”

  “Slow down,” she yelped.

  Stopping at the red light, I turned to look at her. “There’s no one around. We’re safe—I promise.”

  “I don’t know if I can ever get used to riding on this dang thing.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “What?”

  “Trust, sugar. Simple question.”

  She sighed. “I do.”

  “Then enjoy the ride. It’s freeing and there’s nothing like it in the world. Ready? Hold on.” I gunned the bike, but not enough to lose control, as she screamed in my ear. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

  She still had a stranglehold on my chest as we rolled into the beachfront bar. I squeezed the bike into the only single space available. Charlie’s was the place to be seen on a Saturday night, and by the looks of it, half of the town was there.

  “Can I open my eyes now?” she asked, her voice muffled from my jacket.

  “We’re here. Off you go.” I pried her fingers apart and patted them.

  “Charlie’s?” She climbed off the bike and unlatched the helmet quicker than I thought possible.

  “Yes. Have you been?”

  “No.” She looked around the parking lot.

  “Hey,” I said as I grabbed her chin. “It’s okay. I’ll give you plenty of firsts.” I smiled at her. “I like the idea of showing you new things.” There were so many things I wanted to do to her. I wanted to ruin her in every possible way. Fuck the lawyers and the boring motherfuckers.

  “I rarely come down to the beach, let alone at night.”

  “Well, tonight there’s a DJ, and I want to dance with you.”

  “Oh,” she said, her eyes wide in shock. “I told you, I can’t dance.”

  “You can and you will. Might take a couple of those sweet drinks you like, but you’ll do it.”

  “Oh, suck it.”

  “I plan on it.” I smirked at her and grabbed her hand.

  I’m not too uptight, am I?

  Suzy

  Did I know what a good time was anymore? I went to college and knew how to live it up and let go. My life had become so wrapped up in work and finishing my master’s degree that I kind of forgot what it meant to let go and unwind. I’d always put more pressure on myself, wanting to get ahead in life, not wanting to worry about paying the next bill. I lived comfortably and I was happy with that. I enjoyed staying home and reading a good book. Hell, it was cheaper than going out to a bar and drinking. I needed to watch my pennies, and drinking them just felt silly.

  “I’ll take a margarita,” I said to the bartender, reaching in my purse, but City put his hand over mine.

  “I’ll take a Yuengling, please,” he said to the bartender, and then he looked at me and said, “I got this, Suzy.”

  “I can pay for myself.”

  “We’re on a date, sugar. I pay when we’re on a date. Put your money away—I’ll find another way for you to pay me back.” Butterflies filled my stomach as he said the last word in my ear close enough that I felt the vibration.

  I grabbed my drink, letting the cool liquid slide down my throat. I needed liquid courage if he thought I would dance with him tonight. Dancing and me didn’t mix, never had. I never knew what to do with my hands, and I always felt like everyone watched me—it freaked me the hell out. If he wanted to dance, I’d give him exactly what he asked, and make an ass of myself to prove him wrong.

  City picked up his beer and studied me. Why did he have to be so damn sexy? I didn’t want to like him, but I did. His cockiness wasn’t like the other men I’d dated; it had nothing to do with his career or his material possessions. No, his was natural and sexual.

  “I’d like to say you should slow down, but fuck it, I like when you’re tipsy.” He sipped his beer and leaned against the bar.

  “I don’t see you tearing it up.”

  “I can’t, I’m driving and I don’t drive drunk. Have to keep a clear head when you’re on a bike.” He ran his finger over the rim of the bottle, and all I could do was stare at him.

  The band took the stage, and everyone clapped as the lead singer began to speak. “Thank you. Thank you,” he said as he motioned for the crowd to quiet down. The guitarist began to play, and the crowd grew quiet. A soulful melody filled the air as the lead singer began to sway. The rhythm was intoxicating, and if I were home, I’d be dancing around my living roo
m making a total ass of myself without any witnesses.

  “Finish your drink.” City’s lips were set in a hard line, and I knew what he wanted.

  “Think you can handle all this?” I motioned up and down my body. Fuck, how else could I stall?

  “I know I can.” He licked his lips, and I didn’t want it to affect me, but he got to me. “I remember the way you moved against my cock, sugar.” He brushed the hair off my shoulder, and my spine tingled.

  My face grew flush as images of last night flashed in my mind. I didn’t respond to him as I polished off the last sip of my margarita. “I warned you.” I shrugged and smiled. Here goes nothin’—let’s show this big boy whatcha got.

  Holding hands, we walked to the middle of the dance floor. The music wasn’t the right tempo for a slow dance or to shake my booty, as Sophia used to call it. I didn’t really know what to do as I stood there and looked around. He wrapped his arm around my back and pulled me close. “Feel the music. Follow my body.”

  Every inch of his front touched mine as he began to move with the music. Wrapping my arms around his neck, letting his body guide mine to the beat, it struck me how well the man could move. His body rubbing against mine caused my nipples to harden, and a familiar ache between my legs returned. The memory of how he felt inside me, moving in the same rhythm, made my knees feel weak as he held me against his torso. I let him move my body—I became pliable in his hands.

  “See? You got moves,” he said in my ear as I buried my face in his chest.

  I didn’t know if the liquor had given me the ability to move with the music or if it was the man holding me, but I’d never moved this gracefully in my life. I looked up into his eyes, and he stared at me with the side of his mouth turned up in a grin. Why did this sexy-ass man, who lived life totally opposite of me, want me? We didn’t fit—we didn’t make sense on paper, but that didn’t stop my body from reacting to him, no matter how hard my mind said to ignore his charms.

  “You think too much. Stop making a list of why you shouldn’t be here. Feel the reasons you should,” he said, and kissed my lips, distracting me as he pressed his erection into my stomach. My doubts vanished. I leaned into his body and grabbed his pecs, toying with the piercings underneath his shirt. “Don’t start something you don’t want to finish, Suzette,” he whispered against my lips.

  “I always follow through, City.” I smirked and winked before pressing my lips against his. I couldn’t resist him, at least not in person. I’d live for tonight and deal with the fallout tomorrow. Our bodies slowed as we kissed. He ran his fingers through my hair and then fisted it, tipping my head back to give him deeper access.

  I breathed his air, no room left between us, as he held my body to his. He pulled back and left only a small gap between us, not releasing his hold on me entirely. “I want to taste you.”

  Fuck me. Every bit of my body felt hot and damp. I wanted City more than I had last night. “You do?” No one had ever talked to me like he did.

  “I will.” I could see his eyes change with his words, his pupils fully dilated. “I don’t make false promises.”

  I swallowed hard, unable to stop the barrage of sexy images from invading my thoughts. Why can’t he be a lawyer or something other than a biker tattoo guy? He probably wouldn’t have this effect on me if he was anything other than who he was —City.

  “Stop thinking and dance.” He released his hold on my hair and swung me out, pulling me back against his body with a thump. Christ have mercy on my soul.

  For once in my life, I felt like I could actually dance. The music was slow and sensual, and let me move without feeling like an idiot. We touched each other constantly and didn’t lose eye contact.

  The music slowed and everyone began to clap. “For our next song…” the lead singer said.

  “Want another drink, sugar?”

  “Yes, I’m parched.” City had me all kinds of crazy. I felt like I was drooling, but my mouth screamed for something cool, and my body needed a break from the foreplay on the dance floor.

  City motioned to the bartender, snapped his fingers, and pointed at me. “Aren’t you getting one?” I asked.

  “Just a water. I’m driving, remember.” I respected him for sticking to his original plan. “Plus, I’d rather get you a little liquored up. We have an appointment down on that swing.” He pointed in the distance to a dark object.

  “What’s out there?” I asked, squinting and trying to get a better look, but the beach was shrouded in darkness except for the glimmer of the moon on the ocean.

  “Darkness.”

  “And?”

  “You. Me. Darkness.” The corner of his mouth tipped up, and I swear to God his eyes almost twinkled.

  The bartender placed the margarita in front of me and I picked it up, needing a diversion. I ran my tongue along the salt before taking a mouthful of the cool, sweet liquid in my mouth. I swallowed fast, and the alcohol burned my throat on the way down. I looked at City, and he was watching me intently, curiously. I licked the rim again, letting the salt dance on my tongue, and saw his chest expand as he breathed in quickly.

  “Keep doing that, sugar, and I won’t let you take another sip.”

  “What? This?” I licked the rim again, keeping my eyes trained on him, and let my tongue drift as far as I could.

  “Fuck,” he muttered, running his hand across his face.

  Two can play a naughty game, City. I may not be the hussy he was used to being with, but I knew how to get a man’s attention.

  Smiling against the glass as I took another sip and looked away, I pretended to be uninterested. The salt tasted good, mixed with the sweet, tangy drink as I let the liquid linger on my tongue before swallowing it. My legs felt tingly as the liquor spread throughout my system.

  “Damn,” I said, my face becoming flushed.

  “What’s wrong?” He raised an eyebrow, cocking his head.

  “Strong drink. Guess the first one never left my system,” I said, tipping it back again and sucking down the last bit of liquid.

  “That’s it. Come on, Suzy. I got something for you to lick.” He grabbed my hand and started to tug me away from the bar.

  “I can’t,” I protested as I set the glass on the bar.

  “Oh, yes you can. You said you always follow through, and I’m cashing in on that promise, sugar.” Butterflies filled my stomach with the knowledge that we were not going to be watching the waves. City had plans for me, and I couldn’t back out now.

  We reached the last step on the deck, and I stopped before my feet hit the sand. “Wait.” My hand fell from his. “My boots. I don’t want them to get ruined.” I tried to give an innocent smile. I really didn’t want to ruin them. They cost me more money than I wanted to admit.

  He grunted and moved closer to me. We were eye to eye, with him flat on the beach and me perched on the step. He didn’t say a word as he reached down and picked me up. I laughed as he pulled me against his chest. “Wrap your arms around me.”

  My laughter stopped as I wrapped my arms around his neck and stared at his face. City was beautiful; his dark features and ice-blue eyes that looked clear in the moonlight stole my breath. His jaw had a shadow from the stubble, and I ran my fingertips across it, remembering the night before. His lips were full and beautiful and screamed to be kissed. His eyebrows were manly, yet neat—no waxing, but he groomed them. His dark hair flopped with each step, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was everything I wanted and exactly the type I ran away from.

  City sat down on the swing, still holding me in his arms. “Straddle me,” he growled in my ear as the swing moved back and forth.

  “But people can see us.” I looked around as my heart thumped in my chest.

  “Could you see the swing from up there?” He smirked.

  “No, I couldn’t, but if someone catches us we could get in trouble.”

  “Sugar, we won’t get in trouble and no one’s going to find us. Trust me. Now straddle me.”
>
  I scanned the deck area, and he was right—no one was looking for us, or even seemed to notice that there was anyone on the beach.

  “You a regular here, big boy?” I said as I adjusted my body.

  “I only come out here to be alone. You’re the first girl I’ve ever brought here.”

  “Hard to believe that I could be your first in anything.”

  “Sugar, no bullshit. You gonna kiss me or what?” he asked, grabbing my chin.

  “Depends on the what,” I said giggling, as he squeezed my waist, pulling me close, our noses touching.

  “You talk big, little girl. I’m going to get that taste I’ve been looking forward to.”

  Angles

  City

  I couldn’t stop the thought of Suzy moaning on my lap, facing away from me last night as I finger-fucked her. She was hesitant at first, nervous someone would see us, as I unzipped her pants enough to slide my fingertips inside. I wiped any thoughts out of her mind with a few strokes of my fingers. I watched her face as she rested her head against my shoulder—I watched her eyes roll back, and a small sound escaped her lips. “Quiet, sugar,” I whispered in her ear, and she obeyed. Stroking her insides, circling her clit until her body shook and her pussy clamped down on my fingers.

  She didn’t move at first as I withdrew my fingers from her lace panties and brought them to my lips, wrapping my lips around them as I sucked her juices, and she stared at me with an open mouth and wide eyes.

  “Mm. Taste yourself on me.” I bent down and pressed my lips to hers, dragging my tongue across her bottom lip.

  “City.” She moaned in my mouth.

  Reaching up and pulling her face to mine, I crushed my lips to hers.

  “Joey. What the fuck?” Something hit my shoulder, and I blinked.

  “What the fuck, Iz.”

  “Your dopey ass has been sitting there in fucking La-La Land for ten minutes grinning like a fucking mental patient. Snap. The. Fuck. Out.”

  “Couldn’t just leave me there?” I asked. “And Iz, stop fucking hitting me. You’re the only person that I let get away with that shit. You’re always poking me with those bony-ass fingers.”