Haunted

by Merrill, R. L.

  “Oh!” I covered my mouth with my hand. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

  He gently pulled my hand away and laid a deep one on me, obviously not bothered by my morning breath. Sighing, I molded my body to his and realized as I came up against him that his towel was gone and I was feeling every inch of him.

  “Wow, you feel incredible.” I rubbed my feet along his calves and our legs tangled together. I could feel his growing length against my hip nestled in his soft hair.

  “Jaylene, I want to see you, can I just look at you? I fought the urge all morning, I just need to see all of you.”

  He looked into my eyes and I could only nod. The look there was so intense. His hair was perfectly mussed from sleep and his eyes and lips were puffy. Devon in the morning was probably at his most beautiful. But at any time of the day he took my breath away. He pulled the sheet down slowly uncovering me inch by inch. He sucked in a breath as it passed my hips and uncovered my legs.

  I had tattoos covering both arms and legs, but my torso was only marked by the dragon that ran from my left ribcage down to my thigh. I hadn’t had my chest or back tattooed yet and wasn’t sure I would unless something really jumped out at me. My right thigh had mermaids swimming together and both shins and calves were covered by smaller pieces. Skulls, butterflies, antique keys and locks...some I’d even done myself after running out of friends to practice on during my apprenticeship. Devon was seeing all of these and taking his time appraising every inch.

  “There’s so much to appreciate here, I could take forever getting lost in your body.”

  I giggled. “I don’t know about forever, but I do have a lot of ink.”

  I was looking forward to doing the same to him. The way the sunlight made his skin practically glow had me itching to touch him, but he only shook his head when I tried.

  “It’s my turn to look.” I blew my bangs out of my face and his eyes immediately locked on mine.

  “I told you that was dangerous, Jaylene. Do I have to show you what I mean?” His chest was level with my thighs, his head right at my hip.

  “Dangerous how,” I whispered.

  His eyes were on me, looking extremely dangerous. He was hovering over my thighs. Without looking away, he pressed a kiss right in the middle of my nest of curls.

  “That kind of dangerous. Do I need to show you more?”

  I’d never had a man this intimate with me before and I was scared and excited at the same time. I started to tremble. “I’m not sure.”

  He splayed a hand on my belly and kissed me again, still looking into my eyes. Having him so close was unbearable. I didn’t know if I wanted more or if I truly couldn’t take any more. He must have sensed the indecision on my face.

  “I won’t, not if you aren’t sure. It’s something that will make us both feel amazing. But I’ll wait ‘til you’re ready.” He was smiling and I was feeling really hot all of a sudden.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to or am afraid. I’ve just never, um, no one’s ever done that before.” I felt like an idiot trying to explain to him. “Pretty much anything that’s ever happened before has been with most clothes on, greedy fingers and sloppy, slobbery kisses.” He snickered and I felt more relaxed. “Everything you’ve done so far just makes me laugh even more about those experiences.”

  “Aw, chère. I’m sure I was just as bad my first time. I still don’t know everything but I know what I want to do with you.”

  He was blushing a bit and I reached out to tousle his hair. I suddenly was curious to know just how much experience he had.

  “When was your first time,” I asked him.

  He put his head down and when he came back up he looked sheepish. “Are you sure you want to have this conversation? I want to be honest with you and will answer anything you ask me. I just hope you aren’t too disappointed.”

  I smiled down at him and said, “I’m sure. I want to know. It won’t change my opinion of you, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  He snorted at that. “Oh, I do worry. I’ve always been careful, but I’ve done my share of experimenting, I’m afraid.”

  Strangely, I was turned on by this confession. “I want to know, Devon. I’m actually really curious. Being a virgin at my age has not necessarily been by choice. It's not been because I’m not curious or interested in experimenting. Just hadn’t found someone to share it with until now.”

  He closed his eyes and kissed my thigh, rubbing his soul patch over my skin. “That was a pretty powerful thing to say, chère. I’m so grateful you want to share this with me.”

  I giggled. “I do, but I really, really want to hear more about you.”

  He looked up and frowned. “Really? It doesn’t bother you?”

  I shook my head and he shrugged and got comfortable with his head on my stomach. All the better for me to run my fingers through his amazing hair.

  “Ok then. I was a gawky sixteen year old the first time a girl let me touch her. She was two years older than me and she worked at the restaurant with my parents. Over the summer before she left for college, we fooled around. At the end of the summer we had sex in my car. It wasn’t pretty, but she was fun, and she taught me a lot. Her name was Sarah.”

  It sounded cute, something I wished I would have had the guts to do at that age.

  “Older women, huh? Sounds fun. Now I’m even more eager to see this car of yours.”

  He laughed shyly.

  “Ok, so then what?”

  He cleared his throat and looked up at the ceiling. “I already told you I had a few dates in college, some of them involved sex, and that’s really all they wanted. I didn’t mind. I still didn’t know what I wanted and figured I’d better see what was on the menu.”

  I poked him at that and he grabbed for my finger and kissed it. This was fun! I loved talking with him in bed like this.

  “So then you became a big rock star. I’ve heard stories about what happens backstage.” I was daring him a little and I could see from his face he wasn’t sure what he wanted to tell me. “Devon, it’s ok. If you don’t want to tell me because you’d like to keep it private, that’s fine. If you are afraid I’ll be upset, I won’t. I know other women have had the privilege of your company before, but you’re in my bed for the moment and that’s what matters to me.”

  His gaze was intense when he looked back at me and I felt my stomach clench.

  “It’s not that. I don’t care about it being private. I just don’t like who I was when we got out to L.A. I let it go to my head and I did a lot of things I wasn’t proud of, things I have no interest in repeating now that I’ve left. No one forced me. It wasn’t the drugs or alcohol, although they were often involved. It was about me trying to fill a void in my life, you know? Music had always been a part of my soul and it got twisted out there. It wasn’t enough to fill me so I looked elsewhere.” He was frowning and I reached out and ran my finger over his eyebrows.

  “I’m sorry you felt like that. I can relate to having that void. When I quit tattooing and was doing my internship, I felt that way. I was smoking, a lot. I couldn’t even draw. It was like I was being smothered by my clients’ drama and filth. It was awful. And then when my father had his heart attack, that was it. I think whatever happened with him, whether he lived or not, I was already going to quit interning and go back to tattooing. I missed the atmosphere and the creative energy. I think being in a place that isn’t nurturing your energy as an artist isn’t healthy.”

  “That’s exactly why I don’t want to go back to L.A. I hope I don’t have to.”

  This was good stuff, but I wanted to remind him where we were headed.

  “So tell me about the craziest thing you ever did, with someone else. Ever been with more than one person? Another guy? I’m very curious.”

  His eyes got wide and he smiled. “Really? You want to know the dirty details.”

  I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Are there dirty details? Yes, yes I do. You forget, I’ve work
ed with all men for years. They were horny, slutty, pervy guys who didn’t know the meaning of TMI. There’s not much you could say that would shock me. Just because I haven’t done it doesn’t mean I haven’t heard about it, so spill.”

  I wanted to dispel this notion he might have of me being innocent. I wasn’t innocent, just inexperienced.

  “So the craziest thing? Hmmm...” He was looking up at the ceiling again, but this time he was grinning instead of frowning. “See, I’m not sure I can tell you the craziest thing because I’m not sure I should tarnish your image of anyone here.” He looked over to gauge my reaction.

  “Ooooh, you mean there’s tarnishing involved? Wow. All right, tell me, just leave out identifiers. It’s not like I’m going to say anything.

  “Alright, I’ll spill. There was one time we were on tour in Europe, it was our first time being there for an extended period of time, and I saw first hand that sexual attitudes are much different there. Every night there were basically orgies going on back at the hotels. One night after a show in Amsterdam we had gone for a walk through the red light district and you know there the drugs and sex run freely. Anyway, the guy I was with got recognized and soon we had a crowd of girls around us asking us to go back to their flat. There were probably eight of them and two of us.”

  I was trying not to squirm, but his story was getting to me. “So eight exotic women take you and another guy back to their flat. That sounds hot. Then what happened?”

  He chuckled and sucked in a breath. “Honestly, a lot of it was just watching them go at it. They had all kinds of toys and stuff and liked us watching. We did eventually get invited into the activity. There wasn’t much for us to do, they were pretty much in control.” His face was getting a little red.

  “Did you like that, Devon? Having a woman in control like that?” He looked at me, trying to discern how I was feeling.

  “I liked watching them with each other. They certainly knew what they were doing. It was actually hot watching them with the other guy as well. I don’t know why. I guess I am more visual than I thought.” His voice was getting lower, softer.

  “How many times did you come that night?”

  His eyes jerked to mine, that fiery intensity back in them.

  “I came four times that night. It was very erotic, and exhausting.” He chuckled and then let out a shaky breath. “I’ve never told anyone about that experience before.”

  “I’m glad you told me. Four times, eh?” I blew up my bangs, this time to help release a different kind of frustration.

  His eyes flared.“Four times. Yeah. I have pretty good stamina.”

  I was starting to breath heavy again, every intake pulling the sexual energy throughout my body. “I bet. I practice yoga most mornings. I’m pretty flexible.”

  His eyes rolled back and he groaned. “Now why you gotta torture me like that, chère?” He sat up and the sheet fell dangerously low on his hips. “You make me burn, Jaylene. Just talking to you, just looking at you...I can’t get enough.”

  He leaned forward and took my face in his hands, kissing me passionately. I met his passion equally in the kiss and quickly he had me under him, my thighs spread eagerly for him.

  He stopped with a shudder and a groan. “Not like this, not like this. I won’t...” He buried his face in my neck, panting.

  I ran my hands down his powerful back. “Then touch me, Devon. Show me how good it will feel.”

  He groaned again and kissed me harder. His hands masterfully stroked my breasts and then he followed that with his equally skilled lips and tongue. He slid one hand down my stomach and brushed my mound first with his knuckles, then with his fingers.

  “Open for me, beautiful. I need to touch you.”

  I let my legs fall open further and he rewarded me with long strokes against my folds. I cried out, clenching my fists against his shoulders to keep from scratching him.

  “This feels like heaven right here, chère. You feel perfect. Can I touch you more?”

  I nodded. “More please! I need more, baby.”

  He sighed. “I think I love it when you call me baby. Tell me if it hurts, ok?”

  I looked into his eyes and nodded. He held my gaze as he inserted one very long finger.

  “Ohhhh,” we both said together in wonder.

  “You’re so tight," he murmured. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

  I shook my head, smiling sinfully at him. “Only if you stop.”

  He chuckled and kissed me lightly. “I’m not going to stop until I make you feel good, that alright?”

  “That sounds great...Oh!”

  He put in a second finger and the pressure felt invasive. It sent shock waves of pleasure through me. He moved his fingers slowly in and out, and my hips matched his movements. When he grazed my clitoris with his thumb I bowed up, clutching him to me tighter.

  “Feel good?”

  I could only moan in response and he moved to kissing my neck and jaw, his morning stubble scratching me deliciously. He kept up with those amazing fingers of his and in a few tantalizing minutes more I came hard against his hand, once again biting his shoulder to keep from screaming.

  “I think I love it when you bite me, too,” he whispered kissing me softly.

  “Well, if you keep doing that I’m going to end up drawing blood. Gods, I mean I knew you had talented fingers and all, but that was ridiculous!”

  “You’re too kind, chère. I could do that all day, every day. You look so amazing when you come. Your face relaxes and you have a glow about you. It’s awesome.”

  I cringed and hid my face against his shoulder.

  “No fair. I want to see you.” He shivered.

  “You will, no hurry. We have all the time in the world to explore each other and believe me, I intend to thoroughly explore you.”

  We kissed some more until my stomach started growling.

  “We better take care of that,” he said, leaning down to kiss my belly. “Plus, if Star isn’t back there’ll be no one else to get breakfast for my fellow cavemen and I think by now they’ve forgotten how to pour cereal. Let me get dressed and I’ll help you.”

  I pouted at him. “What about taking care of you? This is two mornings in a row I’ve left you in an uncomfortable position.”

  He smiled that devastating smile at me. “I feel perfectly fine. A little tension just makes it a sweeter release.” He winked, crawled off me, and slayed me with his naked walk to the bathroom.

  “Goddess of creation that is the most perfect ass on the planet.”

  I blew up my bangs, thankful he didn’t see, but he must have heard me because I heard him chuckling in the bathroom. Voices through the wall let me know he had gone next door to grab some clothes. I hoped he grabbed a towel because that ass was sure to set Sherry to panting. How could it not? And he wanted me. That thought and the delicious pulses still moving through my womb had me feeling more complete than I think I ever had.

  When he returned, he found me stretching languorously on the bed. He stopped with his hands on his hips and smiled, pulling at his soul patch. “Enough of that, beautiful. Time to get up. Why don’t you meet me downstairs? I’ll help you get breakfast going and then I’m going to workout.” He had another pair of basketball shorts on and still shirtless.

  “You go on ahead and workout. It won’t take me but a few minutes to get breakfast going. Besides, I don’t think I could concentrate with you in the kitchen.” I winked at him and he smiled back before heading out the door.

  After a quick wash up, I threw on sweats and a matching short tank. I piled my hair up and jogged downstairs. Breakfast was going to consist of some hastily thrown together omelets. There were diced tomatoes and onions already in the cold storage so I put all the fixings out and as the guys came in, I made them omelets to order one at a time. Mage started the coffee for me, and Jade poured juice for everyone.

  “Hey, where’s Star?”

  I giggled. “He walked Mackenzie home last ni
ght. Guess he must have gotten lost.”

  He walked in at that moment. “Very funny, Jaylene.”

  He came over and kissed me on the cheek. He and I probably had the same goofy smiles on our faces. It was a good thing the others were still sleepy or we would have been in for a world of shit.

  “Thanks for getting breakfast ready. Mind if I go clean up?”

  I shook my head. “No worries, I got this. You go on upstairs.”

  He looked relieved. “Thanks, Jay.”

  Marcus came in shirtless next and as he passed me to get to the coffee machine I noticed scratch marks all down his back. I didn’t breathe a word, but I was worried that Devon wasn't wearing a shirt this morning. I hoped no one would get an eyeful of my vampiric tendencies.

  “Practice in a half hour guys?” The others grunted. “We’ve got a lot to do. I’ve got some new stuff and so does Devon so we’ll be at it most of the day.” Then he turned to me.

  “Jaylene, maybe we can talk some more tonight and finalize ideas for the tattoos? I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m itching to get this thing done, get some new ink.”

  I grinned. “And I better get started tattooing you guys or I might get rusty. Wouldn’t want me making any mistakes, right Jade?”

  “Huh? Oh, right! She’s really scary with the razor too.” He winked at me and I couldn’t help but reach over and give him a big kiss on the cheek, which made him blush.

  “Yeah, you need to get started tattooing so we can finish up here and get back to L.A. Now that we’ve got some material, we need to get into the studio and start moving.”

  My heart dropped a notch at that statement. L.A.? Did Devon know or was Marcus just making decisions for them all.

  “Sure. And remember I have to go back to my shop Saturday. I have out of town clients coming in. Sherry said you guys were fine with it.”

  He nodded. “Of course. Take the day off. Maybe the rest of us can do the same if we get enough done. Hell, maybe we’ll be able to take the weekend off.” He smiled at me and left the kitchen as a sweaty Devon came in.

  “Hey you, how do you like your omelet?”