[Men of Inked 01.0 - 03.0] Volume 1

by Chelle Bliss

  I yawned, pretending to be unimpressed by his words and sexy-as-hell naked body. “Well, you can try anyway. I’ll let you know if your words ring true.”

  He grabbed the comforter, yanking it off my body before pulling me down the bed by my feet. I squealed; the quickness of his movements caught me off guard. Pulling me off the bed in a standing position, he quickly stripped me of my clothes.

  “So far, a C for effort. You can do better.” I smiled, watching the corner of his lip twitch.

  He placed his hands under my arms, firmly gripping my waist before throwing me on the bed. He pounced on me, not giving me a moment to catch my breath before smothering me with a perfect closed-mouth kiss. My stomach fluttered like it did the first time he kissed me. The nerves and emotion of the last twelve hours poured out through our lips.

  I dug my fingers into his dark locks, fisting the hair in between my fingers as I held his mouth to mine. I wished I had brushed my damn teeth. I wanted to taste him. He pulled away, breaking the connection we had, and looked down at me. The heat of his chest seared my skin and the thump of his heart matched mine. He was just as nervous as me, both of us on edge from last night.

  “This will be the last time I’ll make love to you before you become my wife.” He smiled; his teeth sparkled in the sunlight.

  “What about tonight?” I asked, totally confused.

  “Sugar, I can’t see the bride the night before the wedding. We’ve talked about this before. I’m going to stay at my parents’.”

  “I don’t like that idea. That’s two nights not sleeping in your arms.” I sighed, rubbing my thumb across his unshaven cheek. The roughness matched the man more perfectly than the silky skin I felt some days.

  “Me either, but it’s only for one night. We can’t break tradition.”

  “Make it good, then, handsome. Make me still feel you when I walk down the aisle tomorrow.” I always felt him for hours afterward. The days when he was insatiable, I could feel him for days, often sore the next time he wanted to fool around. Knowing that this was the last time before we were married warmed me and turned me into a puddle of goo.

  Growling, he brought his mouth down on mine. I moaned, the regret about brushing my teeth growing. His tongue darted out, sliding across my lips before traveling down my jaw to the sweet spot on my neck. Goose bumps and shivers racked my body as the warmth of his mouth and coolness from his breath skidded across my skin.

  When he captured my nipple in his mouth, nibbling on it with his teeth, my entire body convulsed. The rough stubble of his face, the sharp pinch from his hold, and the silky smoothness of his tongue flicking the hardened tip had me seeing stars and moaning his name. I held him to me, fingers wound in his hair as he sucked and flicked until I begged.

  “Please, City. I want to feel you,” I said.

  Grunting as he held my nipple between his lips, he lifted his hips and fisted his cock. The cool metal rubbing against my clit made me twitch before he rubbed the tip through my wetness. As I thrust my hips forward, trying to force him to put his dick inside me, I could feel the deep, low laugh in his chest.

  “So ready, sugar. You’re always ready for my cock,” he whispered against my breast.

  “Yes! Yes,” I chanted, growing impatient with his lack of thrust.

  Swiping it through my wetness again, he placed the piercing against my clit and made tiny circles, capturing my clit with the motion. The combination of the hard metal and smooth tip drove me closer to the edge, but I didn’t want to come like this. I closed my eyes, sealing them tightly, trying to stave off the orgasm that was about to rip through me.

  “No,” I whispered, “not like this.”

  “You want to come on my cock? You want to feel me thrusting in and out of you as your pussy squeezes me like a vise?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

  “Don’t make me beg,” I said, keeping my eyes closed, moving my hips, trying to escape his cock circling my clit.

  Without warning, he rammed his cock inside me in one quick thrust. My eyes sprang open; I felt completely filled as a tiny spark of pain shot throughout my body. He pulled out slightly and stilled, staring down at me with a cocky grin on his face.

  “Is that how you want it, sugar?”

  “Don’t stop. I’m so close.” I pulled back and pushed myself forward, fucking him. I couldn’t take the lack of motion.

  Slipping his arms under my back, he held my shoulders, as he began to rock into me. Each lash of his cock against my G-spot sent tiny shock waves through my system, making my toes curl. I grabbed his hips, relishing the feel of his muscles constricting as he moved inside of me. Our bodies worked in unison, driving me toward an orgasm I knew would leave me breathless and with blurred vision.

  His hips started to rotate as he pulled out and rammed back into me straight. The movement intensified the pressure building inside of me. His breathing became ragged as he maintained the momentum, driving into me without mercy.

  Colors dotted my vision, the light almost blinding, as everything in my body coiled and released at once. I felt like a slingshot pulled to the max and then let go, flying forward with no escape or ability to control the outcome.

  I screamed, “City,” as my body became rigid and my breathing halted. My head flew off the pillow, my body grounded by his hold on my shoulders as my curled toes started to cramp.

  My core convulsed around him, the hardness of his cock giving nothing as he continued in the pursuit of his orgasm. His moans turned to growls as he stiffened above me, emptying himself inside me. Gulping for air, he collapsed on top of me, his body twitching with aftershocks.

  I closed my eyes, listening to our mingled breaths as I enjoyed the afterglow. The feel of his weight crushing me made me feel encapsulated, as my body grew limp underneath him.

  His breathing slowed as his breath skidded across my ear; the low growls of pleasure bringing a smile to my face. As he pulled out, everything he’d just worked to achieve slid down my body, forming a pool on the bed. I still hadn’t gotten used to the feel of a man coming inside of me. I felt like I wet myself and couldn’t stop it.

  “Let me grab a washcloth,” he said as he pushed off the bed.

  I grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Let me. I’m dying to brush my teeth. I want a proper kiss.” I smiled at him, trying not to run my tongue across my dirty teeth.

  He collapsed against the mattress, staring up at the ceiling as he rested his hand on his chest. “I’ll be waiting.” He grabbed my arm with his free hand, sliding his palm down my arm. “Make it quick,” he said with a crooked, happy smile.

  I groaned as my feet touched the floor. The aftereffects of an evening of overindulgence and wicked high heels hit me. I swayed, grabbing the mattress to steady myself.

  “You okay, sugar?” City asked as he sat up and touched my hand.

  “Fine, baby. Just not as young as I used to be. Can’t party all night and bounce right back.”

  “I doubt you partied all night too much even in your college years.” He laughed, covering his mouth with his hand.

  “I didn’t sit in my dorm room and study all the time,” I said sarcastically. It was all bullshit. I rarely partied. The number of times I had been drunk in college I could count on one hand, but sometimes I didn’t like to be reminded of just how much of a good girl I had been.

  “Uh, huh,” he said, resting his head on his hand as he watched me walk away.

  I flipped him off, a small chuckle escaping my lips. He knew me too well. Knew I could never escape my good-girl qualities even though I liked to pretend I had a badass side. I knew I was a cream puff, and I accepted it, though I did so begrudgingly.

  My mascara was smeared down my cheeks, the result of my crying last night over City. I looked as bad as I felt. My hair was a tangled mess, makeup half on but not in the right places, and my eyes were swollen. Thank God the wedding wasn’t today. I’d have to live with horrible wedding pictures for the rest of my life.

 
Grabbing the tube of toothpaste out of my toiletry bag, I stood on my tiptoes and leaned into the mirror. Shit, I looked horrible. I quickly backed up, not needing the up-close reminder of last night. After washing him from my body, I covered my toothbrush with paste. I needed to clear the funk out of my mouth. My mouth felt drier than the Mojave Desert on a blistering summer day. Just as I stuck the toothbrush in my mouth and started scrubbing, I heard my phone chirp.

  “Suzy, your mother sent you a text,” City yelled from the bedroom.

  Fucking great. I loved my mom, but she added an extra bit of pressure and stress to an already nerve-racking situation. Weddings are supposed to be blissful, but no one seems to tell you about all the turmoil and decisions that need to be made. My mother could be judgmental at times, and I often felt like my decisions weren’t good enough.

  I pulled the toothbrush out of my mouth, balancing the paste remnants on my tongue as I yelled, “What’s it say?”

  I scrubbed my teeth, my motions more feverish at the thought of my parents being in town. She always watched City with a suspicious eye when she didn’t know I was looking. She was happy that he had money, although it wasn’t the reason I fell in love with the man. I would’ve been with him even if he were only a tattoo artist. It’s a good job, and he’s talented. She couldn’t get beyond his looks. He had a roughness about him, and the tattoos didn’t exactly win him any points in her mind. She’d bust a cork if she knew about the piercing that decorated his lower extremity, or if she ever found out that I had my nipple pierced.

  “She just wants to know if she should be at the rehearsal dinner early to help.”

  I spat the toothpaste into the sink, cupping water in my hand and swishing. The last thing I wanted was my mother there for her type of help. Everything was ready and all we needed to do was show up, including her and my father.

  I washed my face quickly, erasing the nightmarish mess from the smudged makeup before returning to the bedroom.

  “She’s become such a pain the last few months,” I said as I crawled in bed.

  “She’s still your mom and she loves you,” he said, grabbing my hand and planting soft kisses across the top.

  “You grew up with a different type of mother, City. Your mom has made me feel more like a daughter than my mother ever did. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, but she doesn’t know how to make me feel loved.” I closed my eyes when they watered as I thought about what it would’ve been like to grow up calling Mrs. Gallo Mom. I always felt like my parents had to fit me into their schedule, and often there wasn’t a slot for me unless I had called in advance.

  “Let’s just get through the next thirty-six hours and everything will go back to normal. You have the Gallo family now, and they’re not letting you go.”

  I’d felt like a member of the family since that first Sunday dinner so long ago. They made me feel like I belonged and had always been there. My sister and I had never even really been close. I didn’t ask her to be a part of my wedding party. Izzy had become more of a sister to me than she ever had. We don’t get to choose our family, but we do choose those people we let into our life, and with whom we spend time with going forward. For me, the people I wanted nearest were the Gallos. They were a loving and diehard-loyal group. Above all else, they had each other’s backs and no one could tear them apart. They accepted each other for their flaws, embraced the bad with the good, and loved unconditionally.

  “We should go soon. I have a ton to do before the rehearsal dinner tonight.” I snuggled into his side, enjoying the last moment of peace.

  He pulled me tighter against his chest, rubbing the tender skin on my upper arm as he kissed my hair. “It’ll all work out. Somehow it will all fall into place.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” That statement was a total lie. I couldn’t give up my incessant need to be in control and plan every last detail.

  “You can’t control everything in life, but I know you try like hell. It’s one of the things I love about you.”

  “Tell me five other things you love, City.” I swiped my fingers across his chest, stopping on his nipple to tug on his piercing.

  “Where do I start?” he said before rattling off a list that left me feeling more loved than I had ever felt before. The list wasn’t filled with vain things like my beauty, which would fade over time, but the things that made me as a person. My success, education, kind heart, and silliness were just a few things he listed without much thought.

  “I love you, City,” I said, moving my body to plant a wet, sloppy kiss on his lips.

  Breaking our connection slightly, he whispered, “I love you too, sugar.” He kissed me with as much fervor and passion as he did the first night we met.

  We made love one more time before dragging ourselves from the hotel room and heading home to prep for the chaos that awaited us. Wedding weekend was in full swing and there was no turning back.

  10

  City

  Never in a million fucking years did I think I’d be standing in a church dressed in a tuxedo—not as a groom, at least. I wasn’t a cynic. I’d just never found anyone worthy of my time or commitment until Suzy walked into my life. Sometimes when we least expect it and stop looking, fate has a way of playing its hand. Mine came in the form of a drop-dead gorgeous girl broken down on a deserted street. I thanked my lucky stars each goddamn day that her car was a piece of shit.

  “You look a little nervous, son,” Pop said, slapping me on the back, pulling me from my thoughts.

  I rubbed my hands together; they slid easy from the sheen of sweat that had formed over my entire body. I wiped my brow, feeling more nervous than I had ever felt in my life. “I am, Pop. Just never thought I’d be standing here.”

  “Amazing the place hasn’t burst into flames,” Anthony said, and laughed. “We surely aren’t the churchgoing crowd, and Lord knows we’ve broken more than one commandment.” He fidgeted with his bowtie, pulling it away from his neck.

  I laughed. His words were true, but that wasn’t why I was nervous. I turned to my Pop, who had a smile on his face. “Did you feel this way when you married Ma?”

  He nodded, his smile growing larger. “I was scared as hell, son. It’s a big step to take in one’s life. It’s a serious commitment, but times are different now. I didn’t live with your mother before we got married like you’ve lived with Suzy. It was a leap of faith.” He grabbed my shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Do you love her, son? The type of love you can’t be without for even a day?”

  “I do, Pop. I know she’s the one. She makes me a better person, and I want to be surrounded by her and make a family. I want to be in your shoes one day. Suzy is more than I deserve.”

  “She isn’t more than you deserve. You two were made for each other. Just like your mother and me. She brings peace and tranquility to my life, and gave me an amazing family. My life would’ve been meaningless without her.”

  I didn’t doubt that marrying Suzy was the right decision. The events of Friday night scared the shit out of me. The thought of losing her drove me half insane. I’d never wanted to need someone in that way, but I did with her. I needed her in my life, needed her to be mine, and wanted to spend the rest of my days on Earth with her.

  The door creaked open as Ma poked her head inside. “Where’s my baby boy?” she asked, opening the door with tears in her eyes.

  “Why ya crying, Ma?” I asked, as she wiped the tears.

  “Damn, I’m going to mess up my makeup.” She pulled a tissue from her bra and blotted the skin under her eyes. “I just saw Suzy and she looks stunning. I’m the happiest woman in the world today. They’re tears of joy.”

  “How is she, Ma? Is she okay?” My heart pounded, my throat feeling constricted by the button-up shirt.

  “She’s better than okay; she’s glowing and ready for the ceremony to start.” Ma wrapped her arms around me, holding me against her as she spoke. “You’ve made me a happy woman, Joseph. I couldn’t love Suzy any more than I d
o if I had given birth to her myself.” She rubbed my back as she kissed my cheek.

  “You just have baby Gallos in your mind, Ma,” Michael said as he kicked back in a chair against the wall. He looked so put together and calm.

  “So what?” she asked as she placed her hands on her hips and turned toward Michael. “I’m old, boy and all I want is a baby…just one damn baby. Is that too much to ask?”

  “Not really, Ma, but it’ll happen when it happens. We’re still young and enjoying our life,” Michael said, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

  “By the time I was your age, I had four children. I enjoyed every bit of my life, and maybe more so since it was filled with such love. Children don’t end your life, Michael, they add to it.”

  “Bullshit,” Anthony muttered, covering his mouth and coughing.

  Ma narrowed her eyes at him. “Anthony, you better stop acting like a playboy and living your hollow existence. You have to settle down sometime, and when you do, you’ll regret all the years you spent alone.”

  “I’m rarely alone, Ma.” He smiled, his hair flopping over his forehead.

  “I mean emotionally alone.” She stared at him, waiting for him to respond, but he didn’t. “Okay, I want a picture with my son on his wedding day. Where’s that damn photographer?”

  Pop walked toward the door, pausing as he opened it. “I’ll go get him.”

  As the door clicked shut, my ma turned to me. “Nerves are normal, son. Once you see how breathtaking Suzy is in her dress, everything else will fade away.” She rested her head on my chest as she held my hand.