Young Love (Bloomfield #4)

by Janelle Stalder

  When Perrie had said something about inking Honor’s virgin skin, it was all I could do to tear my eyes away from her, picturing just what all that creamy skin would look like exposed on my chair. I would love to mark her, and that thought right there had made me mentally slamming the door on that vision.

  “How many girls have you done today?” Perrie was asking.

  I grunted, wiping away ink and blood as I continued the line work. “I lost count after the sixth one.”

  Perrier gasped dramatically. “And here I hoped I was your first.”

  I chuckled.”Sorry to disappoint you, doll.”

  “Grey is the resident tramp stamper, Honor,” Perrie said, smiling.

  “I bet,” I heard Honor murmur. Even her voice was sweet.

  For some reason her dry reply had my lips twitching. She sounded so unimpressed I wanted to laugh.

  “Well he is pretty to look at, don’t you think?” Perrie continued.

  I snorted at being referred to as pretty. That was the last thing one would call me. I knew I was way too rough looking to be called pretty. Of course I knew Perrie was just teasing. Still, my eyes glanced up to see Honor’s reaction.

  She was regarding me with a shrewd look, before shrugging even though Perrie couldn’t see her with her head facing the other way.

  “Not really,” she said.

  Again I had to bite back the need to laugh. Perrie didn’t though, her body shaking. I paused, waiting for her to stop moving before continuing.

  “Don’t be hurt, Grey. Honor is immune to the testosterone gene. She’s too busy to notice the opposite sex.”

  I sensed Honor shift again, but kept my gaze away from her.

  “I’m sure I’m not her type,” I said.

  “What do you know about my type?”

  I looked up, surprised at the snappy tone of her voice. I was even more surprised when I saw the hostile look in her eyes as she glared at me.

  This time I didn’t fight the smile that lifted my mouth. This girl reminded me of a spitting kitten.

  “I don’t shop at Abercrombie, and I don’t drive a BMW. I also don’t play varsity sports and hang out at Starbucks.”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “Wow, you sure have me figured out.”

  I heard Perrie snicker as I kept my focus on Honor. I lifted my brows.

  “Am I wrong?”

  She crossed her arms, meeting my eyes challengingly. “Does it matter?”

  I chuckled, leaning over Perrie again to keep working, otherwise we wouldn’t be getting out of here until midnight.

  “My girl is way out of your league,” Perrie said. I could hear the pride and smile in her voice when she spoke. “She’s going to be a principle dancer one day.”

  “Is that right?” I said.

  “Yup. Honor is the most talented dancer I know.”

  “That’s enough, Perrie,” Honor said, sounding embarrassed.

  I glanced up at her. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “I’m not,” she said, sitting up straighter. “She just knows that I have no plans to be a principle dancer.”

  “Why not? Isn’t that always the goal?”

  “No,” she muttered.

  Not seeming willing to elaborate, I dropped it. The two of them talked about family stuff until Perrie went back to asking me questions, leaving her cousin to sit there silently.

  After an hour we took a quick break. Perrie got up and stretched a bit, as did I, my back aching from sitting in the same position for so long. Perrie walked over to one of the mirrors, leaving Honor and I alone at my station.

  She eyed me, her mouth pursed as if she didn’t like what she saw. Not that I was surprised. Deny it all you want, but I knew I wasn’t her type. Maybe my description of her kind of guy was off, but I’d put money on it not being that far.

  “You should put a hot pack on it,” she said.

  I looked at her in confusion. She gestured toward me. “Your back. You should heat it for a while, and get off your feet.”

  I just kept staring at her, surprised that she was being nice when she so clearly didn’t think highly of me. Which was odd. I wasn’t used to girls acting pissy with me. Especially the young ones.

  She shrugged, a slight blush stealing across her cheeks that just made her cuter. “I’m used to sore muscles.”

  My eyes ran down her. Now that I knew for a fact she was a dancer, I could appreciate all it did for her body. What I wouldn’t give to rub her sore muscles. If only she were a few years older.

  “Ready?” Perrie said, returning.

  I snapped out of my perusal and nodded, sitting back in my stool.

  The rest of the appointment went quickly. Perrie was good at filling in the conversation, and I got away with quick replies while I focused on getting her done. Honor didn’t really speak much. But when she did, her voice had my body reacting for reasons I didn’t understand. I didn’t like it.

  Finally I finished, cleaning it off before Perrie could go look at it.

  “We’ll have to book another appointment to do the shading,” I said. “After this heals.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “I’ll call and book one with Cat.”

  She got up and went to the mirror, exclaiming how much she liked it.

  “What do you think, cuz?” She asked, standing in front of Honor.

  Honor stepped closer, her eyes slowly going over my work. And fuck it if I didn’t care what she thought.

  “It’s really nice,” she finally said.

  Then she did something I hadn’t been prepared for. She turned my way and smiled at me. A real, genuine smile that said she meant what she said.

  Her smile almost knocked me over. It lit up her entire face, adding a gentleness to it that awoke some strange primitive instinct in me, insisting that nothing bad should ever happen to her.

  Not your problem, G, I reminded myself.

  I cleared my throat. “Thanks,” I managed.

  The three of us headed to the counter, the only ones left now. Friday nights were usually my night to close up, so I always worked late. Perrie and I settled up, and I gave her my usual instructions on how to take care of the tattoo.

  “Got it,” she said with a salute. “Honor, I just have to run to the bathroom quickly.”

  “Okay,” she replied.

  Perrie ran through the shop and down the back hall to where the washroom was. Now we were alone completely. I watched Honor shift from one foot to another before lifting her face to me.

  We stared at one another for a moment before she hiked a thumb toward the door, taking a step back.

  “I’m just going to wait outside,” she said.

  “It’s late,” I pointed out.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  I walked around the counter and stopped in front of her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to join you. If you’re going to wait out there, so will I.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t need you to babysit me. I can handle myself.”

  I gave her a hard smile. “The people around here at this time aren’t your Abercrombie boys, Honor.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “Trust me, Grey, I’m used to the types out this late. And I can handle myself. You know nothing about me, so you can stop with the condescending attitude.”

  I stepped closer to her. “Not all bad guys are going to look like me.”

  Her eyes left mine to roam over my tatted arms. “I know that,” she said. “You don’t scare me anyway.”

  I bit back a smile at all her bravado. Cocking an eyebrow, I took another step, our chests now only inches apart. “Oh no?”

  She swallowed, her pink tongue snaking out to wet her lips as she shook her head.

  I reached up, running my fingers into her hair as I cupped the side of her face, my palm gliding over smooth, soft skin. Before I could think better of it, I said, “you should be,” leaning in and brushing my lips against
hers.

  I was just trying to prove a point, but suddenly whatever that point was supposed to be eluded me. At the first touch I was instantly hungry for more. I kissed her again, harder this time, my other arm wrapping around her waist to pull her against me.

  She fit perfectly, all her soft places against my hard ones. I licked at the seam of her lips, growling in appreciation when she willingly opened up to me.

  Our tongues met, tangling together as the kiss grew more frantic. I didn’t know what had gotten into me, but I couldn’t seem to stop. There was some voice in my head repeating, more, more, more.

  She bit at my lower lip, sucking it into her mouth. Fuck. I wanted this girl badly. I’d never had a kiss like this. The kind that had me wanting to literally rip her clothes off her, and take her right then and there - hard.

  Holy shit. I couldn’t do this. What the hell was I thinking?

  Just as abruptly as it started, it stopped. We both stared at each other in shock, our chests heaving in sync. Her delicate hands were fisted against my chest. Her lips swollen.

  What just happened?

  “Don’t ever do that again,” she said.

  I took a step back, creating some much needed room between us. “Don’t worry,” I said in a steady voice. “I won’t.”

  She gave me a slight nod before turning to exit the shop. This time, I didn’t stop her.

  Chapter 3

  Honor

  Two months later I watched the class go through the first half of the dance before holding up my hand to stop them.

  “Macy, you’re late on your turn,” I said, walking over to her. “You need to turn on the third step, like this.” I went through the moves so she could see.

  “Yes, Miss. Honor,” she said.

  “Let’s start again.” I walked back to the stereo and started the music again. We went through the whole routine two more times before I called the class to an end.

  “The summer recital is this Saturday, ladies,” I reminded them. “I want everyone practicing this week. And make sure your parents drop you off an hour before.”

  The girls all muttered their agreement as they filed out.

  “Are you ready for Monday?” Brooklyn asked. She was one of the other dance instructors there. One of the best hip hop dancers we had.

  I nodded at her, grabbing my bag and sweater. “Yup,” I said. “Mom and Perrie helped me move into my place last week.”

  “University,” she said excitedly. “You’re going to have so much fun, girl. Being on your own is amazing.”

  I smiled, sure she was right, even though I still had some trepidation about living away from my mom. Thankfully Cat Briggs and her friend, Chloe, were living across the hall from me, so I knew someone close by. Chloe was dating Kyle, Cat’s brother, who seemed happier than I’d ever seen him.

  I had seen him once during the summer at Gill’s Sports Bar and he’d looked miserable then. But recently I’d run into them at the movies and it was as if he was a completely different person.

  I hadn’t said anything to him at restaurant because he’d been with him.

  Grey.

  I’d slumped down low in the booth, earning confused looks from the other instructors I’d been having lunch with. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me. Especially considering he’d looked as miserable as Briggs had.

  Actually, the last thing I wanted was to come face to face with him at all. I couldn’t even think of Grey without remembering the way his lips had felt on mine.

  God, that man knew how to kiss. The toe-curling, knee weakening kind of kiss. I’d been reliving it over the summer more than I wanted to.

  When the summer recital drew closer, I was actually thankful for the distraction. Usually this time of the year stressed me out, but anything was better than thinking of a guy who I did not want.

  A guy who Perrie had gone to see today. When she’d told me she had her other appointment to finish her tattoo, I immediately said I couldn’t go. If I never stepped into that shop again it would be too soon.

  I headed into the blue studio to practice my solo piece. A good hour of dancing was the perfect thing I needed to rid my head of these thoughts.

  Pressing play on the stereo, I walked into the middle of the room and got into my first position. As the notes floated through the room, I flowed from one move into the next, stretching my limbs to their limits, pushing myself. The familiar burn heated my muscles as I went through the routine that I knew like the back of my hand.

  When I tripped on one move, I started over. Again and again I did it from start to finish, my eyes always on my reflection in the wall of mirrors, criticizing.

  After landing my last jump, I stopped, hands on my hips as I took in deep breaths. A slow clap filled the room as the music ended. I looked over at the door to see Perrie leaning there, smiling.

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” She said, walking in.

  “Thanks,” I said, grabbing my water from my bag.

  “It always amazes me how your body can bend in ways mine never could.”

  I laughed. “It’s training. If you did what I did, your body would be more flexible too.”

  She shrugged. “I’m way too lazy. So, you want to grab dinner?”

  Was it dinner time? I looked at the clock, shocked. Had I eaten lunch? My head was so muddled, I was losing track of my days.

  The two of us headed out in the warm evening.

  “So, how did your appointment go?” I asked as we settled into her car. Part of me didn’t want to ask, but that wasn’t fair to Perrie. I knew how excited she was for this, and I wanted to support her in all things like she did for me.

  “It hurt,” she said with a laugh.

  “Well that’s a given. Does it look good?”

  “It looks amazing. I’ll show you later when I can take the bandage off.”

  “Is it finished then?”

  “I might have to go back for touch-ups, but that won’t be until it’s completely healed.”

  “Cool. I can’t wait to see it.”

  She smiled. “Grey told me to let him know what you think of it.”

  My hand froze midair on the way to the radio. I looked over at her, shocked. “He did?”

  She nodded, oblivious to my reaction. “He looked so hot today, Honor. I don’t how that guy does it. It’s like he’s not even trying, he just naturally oozes sex appeal.”

  I sat back in my seat, and stared out the window. I’d never told Perrie what had happened at the shop. When she’d finally come out, I’d gotten myself under control.

  I don’t know why I’d kept it to myself. Maybe because I was afraid she had a thing for him? Or maybe because I knew she’d never let me live it down? Either way, it was something I had kept to myself. Hearing her talk about him now, just reinforced my decision.

  Clearing my throat, I shifted in my seat, keeping my face turned away from her.

  “Why don’t you ask him out if you like him so much?” I said, ignoring the sensation in my stomach as each word came out.

  “Nah,” she said, pulling out of the parking lot. “He’s way too intense for me. I don’t think I could handle it.”

  She had no idea. My thoughts went to the kiss we’d shared, and intense was definitely the word for it. If that had just been from kissing, I could only imagine what Grey would be like when it came to other things. I shivered.

  If he was too much for Perrie to handle, what did that mean for me?

  “Plus, he’s the type who hooks up just for fun, you know? He has a strict no relationship rule.”

  Why did that not surprise me? It was just another point to drive home the fact that Grey was not my kind of guy. Even if he could make my entire body melt from just his kiss.

  ***

  Showtime.

  Summer Recital was our biggest performance to close off the year. Seeing all the little girls dressed up and excited was my favorite thing. These girls were my students and I was so damn proud of
each and every one of them. They worked hard and tried their best, and that was all that mattered.

  A small hand tugged at my shirt. Little Jeanie smiled up at me, her blonde curls styled into two little pigtails, her tiny mouth a bright pink.

  “Look at you,” I said, hugging her to my side. “You are beautiful today.”

  She crooked her finger at me, so I crouched down, bringing my face level with hers. “What’s the matter, Jeanie?”

  “I’m scared, Miss. Honor,” she said softly, her eyes glancing around to make sure none of the other girls heard her.

  “Hey,” I said, pulling her attention back to me. “There is nothing to be scared about. You know this routine and you’re going to be amazing out there. And look how pretty you are,” I said, tugging on the end of one pigtail.

  “What if I mess up?” She said, scrunching up her little nose.

  “You won’t,” I reassured her. “And if you do, you do. It’s not a big deal. Your friends and family are out there watching you. They’re going to be proud of you no matter what. Okay?”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I smiled. “Good. Now, turn that frown upside down and let’s get out there.”

  Her lips lifted in a smile before she ran off to stand with the rest of the group. I followed, calling for their attention as we waited just behind the curtain

  “Okay girls, this is it. I want you all to go out there and have fun. That’s the most important thing. Got it?”

  “Ya!” They cheered together. I stood at the side and watched them file out, my chest bursting with pride. At the first chords of music they started to move, doing exactly what I taught them to do. They were awesome.

  As they finished up, I swear my eyes teared up. This was what I wanted to do with my life. Perrie always got on me to become a principle dancer myself, but that’s not what I wanted.

  What I wanted was to open my own studio and teach other little girls for a living. I loved the sense of accomplishment it gave me, and I enjoyed working with the kids. That’s why I was taking primary education and childhood psychology in school.