After taking a quick shower and grabbing something to eat, I went to my room to listen to Jaded Ivory’s debut song. The only part I’d heard was the small bit from the kid’s phone and I was curious to hear more.
Finding it was simple; the song was tagged everywhere. The moment her sultry voice filled the room my dick ached. Memories of her on my bed, crying out as she came assaulted my mind and I couldn’t stop myself from getting rock-hard.
The music held me, but it was Mari’s voice that truly sucked me in. Maybe I was biased, but for me it wasn’t hard to see how the band had grown more popular with Mari singing lead; although, after watching the band interact off the stage, the true leader of the group was probably Heath. He seemed to keep the balance between the serious and the crazy.
But whether she liked it or not, Mari was about to become the face of Jaded Ivory.
***
The next day moved at a snail’s pace. Between each period, I ran to my desk to check my phone. They couldn’t have been out that late considering their level of intoxication at three, unless they’d stayed out all night.
Finally, during my lunch, my phone buzzed on my desk.
Mari: Can you pick me up at my place tonight?
My fingers flew over the keys, anticipation making me spell words wrong. Thank god for autocorrect.
Me: Sure, what time do you want me there?
Her answer was almost immediate.
Mari: Any time after 7.
Me: Gonna give me any hint where we’re going?
Mari: Nope, not until you get here.
Me: Tease.
The banter with Mari was refreshingly easy, but it wasn’t long before I had to go back to class and lock my phone up again. Thankfully it was a running day. All I had to do was sit with a stopwatch. I didn’t think I could have paid much more attention if I tried. As the kids lapped me over and over, I tried to guess where we could be going. Nothing came to mind.
The last two classes were torturous. When I got home, things weren’t any better. Even though I’d taken a long run the night before, I went out again—anything to distract myself from pacing a hole in the living room rug. I should have been exhausted when I got back, but it was the exact opposite; I was practically bouncing on the balls of my feet throughout the shower.
Wearing a button-down shirt and cargo shorts, I pulled into Mari’s driveway. Before I could even step out of the car, she was out the front door and on her way to the passenger side. She climbed up into the SUV with a huge smile on her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. On top of that, she was playing with her necklace again.
I knew the easiest way to fix that. I covered her hand with mine. “Relax, Mari. It’s me.”
“I know. That’s the part I’m worried about.”
It was like a shot to the gut to hear her say that, but instead of dwelling on it, I wanted to learn the reason behind it. “Will you feel better once we get there?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
Maybe. I could work with that. “Okay, then tell me where we’re going and I’ll get you there.”
She let go of the pendant and flipped her hand around in mine, threading our fingers together. “Lakeside Tattoo.”
Unwilling to let go of her hand to put the car in gear, I reached over with my left hand, which caused a smirk to lift her lips.
The ride wasn’t far, thank god. Mari got more and more agitated the closer we got, her hand beginning to tremble in mine. I drove into the parking lot and turned to her. She was still looking out the front window at the building.
“I’m guessing we’re here to get you a new tattoo. What I don’t get is why you’re so nervous. You have tattoos covering both arms. You don’t get ink that size if you’re afraid.”
She shook her head. “It’s not the tattoo I’m afraid of. It’s the meaning behind it.”
“Do you want to tell me what it means?”
“Yeah, but only part of it. The rest I’ll tell you when it’s done.”
I couldn’t stop myself from running my thumb over her bottom lip. The reward was a shuddered breath. “So tell me.”
“You’ve seen the birds on my shoulder.”
I wanted to answer “intimately,” but I had a feeling that wouldn’t get me the rest of the story. “I have.”
“I started that tattoo not long after meeting Sawyer. Actually, he took me to get it right after I cut my hair the first time. It was to celebrate doing something new—something I’d never done before. Ever since then, every time something new happens in my life, I add a new bird.” She glanced at her shoulder. “Every day when I look in the mirror, they remind me of all the things I can do, no matter how hard the road is to get there.”
Suddenly everything was making sense. With the new release, it was time to add another bird to her shoulder. Fuck. I’d played a part in making that road harder. Not anymore. I’d clear every bit of debris to give her the straightest, smoothest path possible. “Well, let’s go get that bird. It’s time to celebrate the release of your new song.”
She sucked in a deep breath. The smile on her lips still felt off but I ignored it, thinking that maybe she did have a small fear of needles that she didn’t want to talk about. She climbed from the car and took my hand as we walked into the shop.
The artist by the door immediately stood from his seat. “Mari. Long time. Adding more birds?”
“I am.”
As if just realizing I was there, he turned to me. “Hey, I’m Carter.”
“Cole. Nice to meet you.” I glanced around the room, taking in all the art hanging from the walls. His work was gorgeous. Some of the best I’d ever seen. “All these yours?” I asked, gesturing around the room.
“They are.” He glanced down at my arms. My tattoos covered by the sleeve of my shirt. “Interested in getting some of your own work done?”
A conversation from long ago popped into my head. “Actually, I might be. I’d been asking around about a good artist to add to what I already have, but I couldn’t seem to get an answer.”
Mari’s eyes snapped up to mine. I gave her a wink and was rewarded with her warm smile. When I looked back, Carter was watching the two of us, his eyes darting back and forth, trying to figure out the puzzle. Well, good luck, buddy. I’d like to figure it out myself.
“We’ll have to sit down and talk about your ideas.”
“That would be great.”
Carter gestured toward his chair. “Have a seat, Mari. It’ll only take me a sec.”
Mari took off the leather jacket she wore, revealing a skimpy tank top underneath. I wanted to groan at the sight, the top of her breasts practically on full display above the fabric. It made sense she’d wear something to expose where she wanted the tattoo, but a man could only take so much.
Carter took a seat on the rolling stool next to the chair. “Where are we putting this one?”
She held up two fingers. “Two. I want two birds today. One here and here,” she said pointing with her finger to two different places on her shoulder.
Two? What was the second one for?
Carter smiled. “Good for you.”
He dipped the needle in the black and moved toward Mari’s shoulder. “No pattern?” I asked, my eyes glued to the gun in his hand.
He shook his head. “Nah, I’ve done enough of these for her. It’s easier to do it freehand.”
Mari peered up at me through her lashes. “Besides, that makes each bird unique.”
“Good point.”
I watched her flinch as the needle first touched her skin. It was irrational, but I wanted to punch the guy for hurting her. Luckily, the reasonable part of my brain was working and reminded the rest that tattoos hurt. The large tribal band around my arm was a testament to how well I knew that.
Each time the needle touched her skin, she’d make the same face. Not once did a sound leave her lips. Her hand balled into a fist, her nails digging into her palm. I took a step forward and wrapped my hand around
hers, prying her fingers loose from their tight grip and taking her hand in mine. I leaned down and whispered, “Squeeze my hand instead. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
When I moved back, her eyes shimmered under the light, the teal color looking more like the ocean.
Then her grip tightened and I saw Carter had moved on to the second bird. The outline and fill were complete in no time. Mari’s grasp loosened and I flexed my hand, shooting her a wink as I helped her from the chair to the mirror on the side of the room. The banging of equipment as Carter cleaned up was drowned out by the ringing in my ears at what I saw in the mirror. Mari stood directly in front of me. The top of her blond head barely reaching my chin. But what caught my attention was how perfect we looked together. A pipe dream it might have been, it didn’t stop me from wondering.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered.
And for one split second I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the tattoos or the picture we made. Our gazes locked in the mirror and I froze, afraid to break the spell.
“Looking good, Mari,” Carter called, startling us both.
With a slight blush, Mari stepped out of my arms and let Carter cover her new ink. She quickly pulled on her coat and paid.
“Thanks.” Carter smiled and looked over at me. “Come by anytime. We’ll see what we can do for you.”
“I will.”
Mari took my hand and pulled me out the door, waving to Carter. She didn’t stop moving until we reached the car. I’d been so focused on the pain she was in, I almost forgot about the extra bird. I turned to face her.
“Why two birds? I thought this was to celebrate your new single?”
Her eyes fell to the pavement below. “One is.”
“And the other?” It bothered me that she thought she couldn’t look me in the eye while she told me what was going on. I only had myself to blame for that one.
“Remember in the car I said I would tell you the other thing about the bird tattoos after they were done?”
“Yeah?” I drew out the word, completely confused by the conversation. I couldn’t imagine what else there would be to tell.
She shuffled from foot to foot. “Well, one of the birds was to celebrate the release of the single. The other bird.” She paused. “Well, the other is to . . . umm . . . celebrate you coming into my life.”
CHAPTER 19
Cole
Me?
Celebrating me?
Any response I might have had died in my chest as my lips parted, a rush of desire burning through me, my hand trembling as I tucked it under her chin and lifted her face to mine. Her chest rose and fell with rapid pants. My eyes zeroed in on her lips.
Fuck it.
I slid my free hand into her hair and brought my mouth down on hers. Her lips parted the moment they touched and I groaned at the taste of her tongue against mine. Mari was fire and passion and beauty. My body surged with a hunger to be near her. But like that first night, the feel of her mouth on mine made my head spin. I wouldn’t push. Yes, I’d kissed her; now it was up to her to set the pace.
Should I stop? Should I keep going?
I waited for some kind of signal. My head was a mess. The smell of vanilla and jasmine wrapped around me like a vine, holding me to her.
The moment she pressed her body tighter to mine, I was lost to her. Backing her up against the car, I took possession of the kiss, pushing my hips into hers, letting her see exactly how she made me feel.
A heartbeat later and she tore her mouth from mine. The sense of loss was strong, like a piece of me had been taken and given to her. I wanted my hands on every part of her body.
“Let’s take this back to my place,” she said against my lips.
My brain practically melted at the heat in her eyes. I needed to be rational. I didn’t want my ass kicked later for it. “What about Sawyer?”
She leaned in even closer, placing kisses at the base of my neck. “He went to his parents’ place for a few nights.”
I captured her lips again, leading her around to the passenger side of the car. Without breaking the connection, I opened her door and maneuvered her into the seat. She reached down and caressed my aching erection through my pants.
God, I fucking wanted her.
I tore my mouth from hers. “Stay there.”
I shut the door and ran around to my side of the car. Focus, I told myself. I needed to get us back to her house in one piece. Throwing the car in reverse, I backed out of the space. The second the car was in drive, I slammed my foot on the gas sending little pebbles from the pavement flying behind me as Mari’s warm hand made its way up my thigh.
“I’m trying to get us home safely,” I said, glancing over at her from the corner of my eye. “I’m not sure we’ll make it if you keep doing that.”
“This?” She did it again.
“I hope there are no cops on this road,” I muttered to myself as I watched the speedometer needle creep up and up.
We pulled into her driveway and I breathed a sigh of relief.
We’d made it.
Without the road to concentrate on, I became fully aware of the heat scorching my body from the inside. I jumped out of the car and was shocked to find Mari already on her porch, keys in her hand as she fumbled with them, trying to get them in the lock. They slipped from her fingers. I bent at the waist and scooped them into my hand before they hit the ground. My experience as a wide receiver had its perks, after all. I slid the key in the lock and opened the door.
Mari yanked the keys from the knob and slammed the door shut behind us, tossing the keys onto a table by the door. Her leather jacket followed them down onto the couch as she stalked toward me, eyes dark, her shoulders back.
I’d made a lot of mistakes in the past. I didn’t want to make anymore. Before this went any further, I needed to know exactly what Mari wanted. I wouldn’t take her to bed just hoping I was doing the right thing.
She ran her hands over my chest and I ground my teeth together, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath through my nose. “Mari, please. Wait.”
Her hands froze and her gaze snapped to mine, the color draining from her face. Damn, when was I going to stop being an asshole where she was concerned? She tried to take a step back, her chin trembling, but I clutched at her wrists, holding them against me. I couldn’t let her get away from me.
Not again.
She wouldn’t look at me as I pulled her flush against my chest. A shuddered breath left her. I felt it.
“Believe me, I want you so badly my whole body is on fire. But I’ve wronged you in so many ways in the past, I just want to slow down and make sure this is what you really want.”
Her whole body relaxed momentarily, and then she held me tighter. “The fact that you’re worried is exactly why I know it’s what I want.”
I tipped her face up to mine, needing to taste her again. She nipped at my bottom lip and leaned back to scan my face. “Now stop stalling and take me back to my room.”
“Lead the way.”
She dragged me down the hall, which I didn’t mind in the least. Shit, if I’d known where her room was, I would have hefted her onto my shoulder and carried her there myself.
As she walked backward down the hall she grabbed the hem of her tank and yanked it over her head, revealing a blue lace bra that left little to the imagination. She pushed open the door and flicked on the light, backing up until her knees hit the bed. I dropped down in front of her, kissing my way up her stomach as I undid the button of her jeans, slowly sliding them down before caressing the inside of her legs, all the way up to her thighs. Shivers rocked her. I helped her slip off her boots and tossed the jeans aside. She was sexier than I remembered, my dreams not doing her justice.
I stood up and ran my finger lightly over the bandage that still covered her shoulder, the implications of everything the simple bird meant hitting me all at once. My throat closed and I struggled to form words.
“I’m not sure I know wha
t to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just kiss me.”
That I could handle. I cupped her face in my hands, devouring her lips as if they were my lifeline. Gently, I laid her on the bed covering her body with mine. She tugged at the buttons on my shirt. “I think you have too many clothes on.”
I peered down her body and smirked. “So do you.”
I divested her of her bra and panties before bringing my mouth down to lave her nipple with my tongue, sucking it into my mouth as her hips pumped beneath me.
“Please, Cole. Touch me.”
My lips wrapped around her breast and she squirmed on the bed as I snaked a hand down her body. I slipped one finger inside her, loving the way her hips thrust in time with my hand. Our first time had been quick and dirty and fucking hot. This time, I wanted to savor every moment. Hear her moans, watch her squirm.
She sank her hands into the hair on the back of my head, holding my mouth to her chest, arching her back so I could pull her other nipple into my mouth, my finger still slowly moving in and out of her body. I stroked her with my thumb, adding to the sensations she was already feeling.
“I can’t take it anymore. Please,” she begged again.
I kissed my way up her jaw, loving the softness under my lips. “No,” I whispered against her lips. “Tonight, I’m savoring every part of you.”
“I’m gonna go up in flames here.”
I leaned my elbows on either side of her. “Trust me when I tell you, you are already on fire.”
I kissed her, thrusting my body against hers, the fabric of my shorts creating friction against my rock-hard shaft. The noises that left Mari made my cock twitch. The more I tortured her, the more I tortured myself.
I licked a hot, wet path down her neck, over one breast then the other, before traveling lower. She moaned when I dipped it into her belly button but still I went lower, curling my tongue around her clit. Her hips punched off the bed. Taking her hips in my hands, I held her flat to the mattress. Her legs began to quiver with each flick of my tongue.
“Oh fuck,” Mari cried.
Rock Me (Jaded Ivory Book 1) Page 17