Inked: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance

by Lauren Landish

  Trisha can be a strong force when push comes to shove, but she’s a smart woman. She avoids conflict whenever possible. And for her that means staying away from Garret, and the rest of the mob for that matter.

  She’ll come back when he’s gone, I’m sure. I feel for her though. She’s a damn good artist and a real sweetheart. I hate that I put all of them through this shit. But I’m firmly under Vlad’s thumb. There’s nothing I can do to change this shit. Maybe someday if Nikolai ever takes over things will be different, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Not with Garret in the picture.

  “So?” Marky asks, and it takes a minute to remember what the hell he’s talking about.

  “So what?” I ask.

  “The girl, Maddy?”

  The tight feeling in my chest lets up and an asymmetric grin slips into place. I can’t fucking stand Garret being in my shop, but I can get the fuck over shit I can’t change. I don’t let things I can’t help keep me down. If I did, I’d be one real miserable fucker. Besides, we're used to this. It’s coming on four years now of this routine. It’s easier to just ignore it.

  “Met her at the club the other night.” I take a sip of coffee and stare at the label. “Turns out she’s my neighbor.” I don’t tell them she took off that night and now she’s stuck with me. My grin widens; her ass really is stuck with me this time.

  Needles chuckles. “That’s a real fucking tease.”

  “You’re telling me.” I think about how she pushed me away. She’s teasing both of us. I fucking love it.

  “She’s a good girl and real fucking smart, too.” I took a look at her books when I helped her unpack. I have to admit, the more I get to know about her, the more I like.

  “Sounds like she’s out of your league.” Garret walks past us as Needles puts his two cents in.

  Out of my league? Probably. But I still fucking want her. Besides, I'm just talking about a fuck. Every good girl likes a little taste of the bad boy.

  “If she’s a good girl, and she’s not slumming it for the night, my money is on her staying far away from you.” It’s like he read my mind and he’s determined to put me in a bad mood. I know how she felt with my body pressed up against hers. I know she wants me.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” My fist clenches, and my brow furrows. What the fuck? Needles is like my fucking brother. He's supposed to be on my side.

  “I’m saying she’s too good for you.” He takes a look up from the books and realizes how pissed off I am. “Not that that’s a bad thing. She’s probably stuck-up and wound too tight anyway.”

  “All 'cause her name is Madeline?” He doesn’t even know her.

  “No,” he says in a hard voice. “'Cause you wanted her, and she turned you down. She’s the bitch from the club who left you hanging, isn’t she?” Fuck, I wish I hadn’t told him that.

  “Watch it. She's not a bitch.” My voice drops low and I narrow my eyes at him. Yeah, she turned me down. Nothing fucking wrong with that. I need to take it easy and slow with her, but I’m going to have her. I fucking know I will.

  He puts his hands up in surrender and gives me a look I’ve never seen from him before. A look as if he’s scared I’m gonna kick his ass. And he should be scared. I don’t like the way he’s talking about her. This protective nature in me is something new to me. But I can’t help it. I don’t want my best friend talking about her like that.

  “I’m just saying, if she doesn’t like you, then that loss is on her. That’s all I’m saying.”

  I let it slide and try to get this tension out of my shoulders and just relax. He’s only looking to defend me. He doesn’t like her for running off, but he doesn’t know enough to judge. If he met her, things would be different. Just that simple thought calms me enough to let it all roll off my shoulders.

  “Who’s that?” Garret asks. As far as I’m concerned, it’s none of his damn business.

  “Just Zane’s neighbor,” Needles answers, and I wish he hadn’t. I don’t want Garret knowing about her. Or Vlad, for that matter. They sure as fuck don’t need to know where she lives.

  Garret’s brows raise and a crooked grin grows on his face. I don’t like it. My stomach sinks, and I have to set my coffee on the counter.

  “She givin' you a hard time?” he asks with a wicked twinkle in his eyes. Both him and Vlad have been known to rough up women. That, and fuck women a little too close to being too young. My first thought is to make it very clear that I want him to stay far away from her, but I can’t say that. Knowing him, he’d go after her if he knew that’s what I wanted. Just to fuck with me, and just to hurt her.

  “Not at all. She’s just making me work for it.” I try to come off casual, and I think it works.

  Garret lets out a humorless laugh. “Well if you need any help taming her, I’d be happy to join in.” A sickness rolls through me and Needles is quick to look away. His face is pale, and he keeps his eyes on the floor. He forgets all the fucking time who we’re dealing with, and what Garret’s capable of. I’m the only one in here who’s a member of the Koranav. I’m the one who has to deal with these fucks. I try to keep the two separate, but I wish Needles would shut the fuck up sometimes.

  Marky starts to say something, but I cut him off. “All good,” I say. I’m quick to just shut it down. “If I ever need anything, I’ll ask for it. But on this issue, I’m all good on my own.” I hold his gaze, daring him to push any further.

  He tilts his head and grins. “Alright then.” I hope I didn’t tempt him. I don’t think I did, but I’m sure as fuck gonna be keeping a closer eye on Maddy, and Katie, too.

  “Catch you boys later,” Garret says. I give him a nod, still holding his gaze until he turns away.

  It’s quiet in the shop for a minute. I take a sip and cut Needles off as he starts to apologize to me. I shake my head and reassure him, “It’s all good.”

  “So about this girl?” Marky asks. I stare back at him, wondering if I should even go for her. She is too good for me. I shouldn’t bring her into this shit. I’ll look out for those two if Garret starts coming around, but I shouldn’t bring trouble to her doorstep.

  “You really hung up on her?”

  I cluck my tongue against the roof of my mouth. It’s not like I wanna marry her. I’m just intrigued by the challenge. And I know she wants me. I remember the way she molded her body against mine. I remember the spark between us. Fuck, yes. I need to have the broad.

  I clear my throat and give Marky a small smile as my first client walks through the door. “She’s a real good girl who’s gonna find out what it’s like to be with a bad boy like me.” I give Needles a smile which finally puts him at ease.

  He chuckles as he says, “Yeah, okay. I’ll believe it when it happens.”

  Chapter Seven

  Madeline

  For the next week, I avoid Zane like the plague. Not that I have any time to see him. My class schedule is packed, and I’m usually awake by six a.m. and home by seven p.m. on most days. I don’t have much time after homework to do anything but argue with Katie over dumb shit and then turn in for sleep.

  She gets on my damn nerves, but I love her. I’d be lost without her, and the same goes for her.

  The bus I’m on comes to a stop a couple of blocks away from my condo. I get off after thanking the driver, mentally cursing that I didn’t just wait for Katie to get out of her class so we could have carpooled. Though, I could have just taken the car home myself and left Katie there to take the bus.

  I would have never heard the end of it, I think to myself. Besides, riding on the bus wasn’t that bad.

  That’s one thing I hate about sharing a car in a strange town. I can’t move about like I want. I’d love to go find a coffee shop and open my books up and just relax as I study. I used to do that all the time back home. The walkability in my town was fabulous. Not here though. For a state college there’s literally nothing around it. Main Street has four stores on it. Four! I’m not used to being so
far away from shops. I wanna get out and go somewhere to unwind.

  I smile as I remember the purchases I made before I left campus. Thank God one of those stores was a liquor shop. A glass of wine will make this economics homework far more enjoyable. Or at least less miserable.

  The whole ride home I’d been thinking about the scene in the kitchen with Zane. How hot his body felt against mine, how much I wanted him to take me right then and there, and how close I’d come to giving myself over to him totally.

  That would certainly make my night more entertaining. And God knows I need some sort of release. Badly. And soon.

  Now my panties are soaking wet, and I can’t wait to get home to change out of them. Inwardly I curse Zane for my affliction. If he would just stay away from me, I wouldn’t be spending half my time thinking naughty thoughts and fighting my desire for him. I’m starting to wonder why I’m even fighting him. It’s not like it’d be the worst thing in the world to give in a little. He’d be a distraction though. Not like a coffee shop where I could just pick up and leave whenever I wanted.

  I can already tell he’d be an addiction. And then when I was at his mercy and begging for his touch, he’d break me. Yeah, that’s why I need to stay away.

  By the time I turn the corner and the condo comes into view, I’m tired. I’ve been walking across campus all day and the bag I’m carrying feels like it weighs a ton. My shoulders feel sore.

  I’m halfway there when I hear, “You look like you had a rough day, peaches.” The deep voice sends a chill down my spine, and I have to close my eyes.

  Is this guy a ghost or something? Seriously, he always seems to appear without warning.

  I turn to see Zane standing there with that cocky smirk on his face. His hair is slicked back, he’s wearing blue jeans, and a white, short-sleeved shirt that shows off his bulging biceps and tattoos. Tatted and ripped. That describes him perfectly.

  I don’t know what it is, but he seems to get hotter every time I see him, I think, practically salivating over the sexy bad boy.

  I scowl at him to hide my lust, letting him know he’s nothing special.

  “Where did you come from?” I demand coolly. I’m sure as shit not going to let him know how he really affects me. He’d only try harder if he knew how I’ve started thinking about him at night. His bedroom is right across from mine, and I’m ashamed to admit how I’ve peeked through my curtains a time or two. I’ve already decided we need to move when this lease is up.

  Zane twists his chiseled features into a mocking pout. “Damn, I don’t get a 'Hi, how are you?'”

  I cross my arms across my breasts. “No,” I say flatly. I want to say, I’m not going to be nice to you when you make me feel so… sexually frustrated. “Sorry.” I tack on the sorry and only partly feel like a complete bitch. I need to push this guy away. He’s no good for me. If that means I have to be a bitch, so be it. He’ll get the hint and leave me alone.

  Zane lets out a mock sigh. “Damn, and here I was thinking that you couldn’t wait to kiss me.”

  Despite pretending to be bitchy, Zane seems to sense I want to kiss him. Badly.

  It only further irritates me.

  “No, what I can’t wait to do, is go inside and take a nice hot shower.”

  Zane’s right eyebrow shoots up. “A hot shower, huh?”

  I curse inwardly for making myself an easy target, my face flaming from his implication. “Yeah, now out of my way.” I barge on past Zane, intent on leaving him in the dust. But he’s not about to let me get away, walking me down in two quick strides. Come on! What do I have to do to get him to pick on someone else?

  “Not so fast, peaches. Let me handle that load for you.” Without asking, he removes my bag from my shoulders. My arms slip the loops before I can stop them, and I whip around to face him. I swear sparks penetrate my shirt when his hands get near me.

  “Better now?” he asks.

  I open my mouth to say a biting reply, but then close it. Despite his playfulness, Zane is only being a gentleman to me, and I’m treating him like crap. Maybe I should stop being so abrasive toward him and give him a chance.

  But that’s what he wants, I argue with myself. For me to let my guard down so he can get in. If he’s being nice, it’s only because he wants to win this little game since I’m probably the first girl that’s turned him down in years, and he can’t handle it.

  I do have to admit my shoulders feel a lot better without the heavy weight on them.

  “Yes,” I say grudgingly as I roll my shoulders. “But you didn’t have to do that. It’s only a few more steps.”

  “I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.” He seems so sincere that I immediately feel guilty.

  I look away and give him a small, “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

  “Anything for a pretty lady,” he says, lightening up the mood.

  I snort. “Please.”

  “Why do you always give me such a rough time? I’m just trying to get to know you.”

  “Because you’re bad news,” I say, “and knowing you is probably more trouble than it’s worth.” I have to be honest. Maybe if he knows what I'm thinking, he’ll respect my decision and leave me alone.

  Zane makes a hurt face. “Why do you have such a low opinion of me? What have I done to deserve it?”

  I gesture at him. “Just look at you. You look like trouble in the flesh, the good looks, the tattoos. You have such a... bad boy vibe.”

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. And since when did being good-looking and having tattoos become a crime?”

  “Don’t try to sit here and act like you aren’t a player that hasn’t been with a billion girls and doesn’t have several girlfriends right now.”

  “I don’t,” Zane says. I don’t fucking believe that, and I don’t do liars. I hate liars.

  “Sure.” I bet he probably has ten packs of Trojans in his pocket right now. The extra large kind.

  “What will it take for you to believe me?” he asks, and I don’t even look at him when I answer.

  “Nothing.”

  “Come on, you can do better than that. Ask me anything you want about my personal life, and I’ll give you a truthful answer.”

  As much as I want to grill Zane on his past, I don’t want to seem like I’m too interested. Besides, I doubt he’ll tell me the truth about his sexual escapades. “I don’t have to ask anything. You’re a player, and that’s all I need to know.” The scene from the other night with the bartender flashes in front of my eyes, the way she looked as if she wanted Zane to fuck her right then and there.

  I wonder if he’s already been with her. She knew his name. He must be good if she wanted seconds.

  “Okay. You got me. Yes, I’ve been with a few girls, and yes I haven’t been a model citizen. But I can swear to you that I don’t have any secret girlfriends or anything like that. In fact, you're the first girl in a long time that's intrigued me.”

  “I’m the first girl in a long time that's resisted your advances, you mean,” I say bitchily before I can stop myself.

  “Yeah, that too, and I can’t lie, it makes me want to get to know you.”

  I knew it, I think to myself. He’s only after me because I haven’t fallen at his feet like all the other girls in his life. The second I do, he’ll drop me like a bad habit.

  Decision decided. There’s no way I’m letting my guard down for him.

  “Thanks for proving my point.” I don’t know why, but I wanna cry. It hurts thinking I was right about him. I knew it though.

  “That doesn’t prove shit,” Zane growls. He seems irritated with my assumptions about him. I must say, he looks even sexier when he’s angry. “And it has zero to do with whether I’m looking for a quick hookup. Which I’m not.”

  “Bullshit. The way you’ve pushed me up against the wall, twice I might add, suggests otherwise.” As annoyed as I am, just thinking about our close encounters sends goosebumps up my arm and makes my clit throb.
<
br />   Zane gives me an intense look that makes butterflies flutter in my stomach. “But you liked it. And you wanted it.”

  I open my mouth to swear at him in denial, but then snap it shut. It’s true. I did like it. And boy, do I fucking want it. But luckily, I have enough wits about me to know that nothing good would come from doing the sideways tango with him.

  “Sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say. My cheeks heat and he smirks at me. Damn it. Now I’m a liar.

  “Don’t lie, peaches. You just need to give me a chance, get to know me. All I need is one night with you to change your perception of me.”

  “Never,” I swear, though inwardly I’m trembling at the prospect of having one night with Zane.

  We reach the doorstep of my condo and I stop to stare at him. “Well?” I ask. I just need to get my bag. Have some wine and study. I need to focus.

  He knows exactly what I mean, but he plays coy. “Well, what?”

  I hold out my hand. “Give me my bag back so I can go inside,” I order flatly.

  Grinning, he keeps my bag out of reach. “What’s the magic word?”

  “Now!” I growl.

  “Eeenh. Wrong.”

  I place my hands on my hips and give him the most murderous scowl I can manage. “I’m not saying it, so you can either give me my bag back, or you can get the hell out of my way.”

  He studies me, and I have the distinct feeling that he's loving my sass, judging by that cocky grin on his face. “You’re a stubborn little peach, aren’t ya?” he remarks, his eyes twinkling.

  I continue to scowl at him. “Will you stop calling me that? It’s friggin' annoying.”

  “You know you love it.”

  I hate to admit it, but his little nickname is growing on me. I’ll be damned if I let him know that though.

  “In your dreams.”

  “Indeed.” He lets out a mock sigh when I remain unmoved. “Alright peaches, being the nice guy that I am, and even after how rude you’ve treated me, I’ll let you slide with no apology--”