Blaze: Men of Inked Heatwave #4

by Bliss, Chelle

  I pinch the bridge of my nose, groaning. “You’re a tool.”

  “She was the Bill Nye type herself until Jett came along, offered her this place—” Gigi waves her hand around the living room “—and swept her right off her feet.”

  “How the hell did that happen, exactly? Wait.” Nick blinks, lifting the Coke back to his lips and pausing. “Why the hell aren’t you at college?”

  “She dropped out,” Gigi tells him just as he tips his head back, filling his mouth.

  His body lurches and he coughs, pounding on his chest, trying to clear his throat. “She what?”

  “I realized I wasn’t living my best life.”

  “Okay, Deepak Chopra,” Gigi says, always busting my chops about everything. “She’s working at Inked now. That’s how she hooked up with Jett.”

  Nick coughs again, still trying to work the liquid out of his throat. “You’re at Inked forever now?”

  I shrug. “Forever’s a long time, but for now, I’m there.”

  “She’s doing piercing.”

  “And Jett came in to get…?” Nick asks.

  “His dick pierced,” Gigi answers for me.

  Nick gags again, throwing up a hand. “Whatever floats his boat.”

  “Gigi and Tamara are dating bikers who are in an MC,” I blurt out, feeling the weight of Nick’s stare.

  “Pike is not and has never been in an MC,” she argues, placing her can on the coffee table and turning to face me. “We’ve been over this a million times.”

  “Well,” I say, doing the same and crossing my arms. “You were almost killed not that long ago because of him.”

  “Wait, what?” Nick shakes his head. “How?”

  “It’s not important,” she tells him, placing her hand on his forearm. “There was an issue, but it’s been resolved.”

  “And Tamara?” I lift an eyebrow.

  “Well…” Gigi smiles. “She is dating a biker in an MC, but he won’t be there for long. She said he’s moving here as soon as she’s done with school.”

  I roll my eyes, something I’m doing way too often with these two around. “Of course, he’d tell her that. Do you think he’s really going to do it?”

  Gigi nods. “I do. Mammoth is a man of his word.”

  “Mammoth. Pike. Jett?” Nick asks, his eyes swinging between the two of us. “I see you ladies have been busy since the last time I saw you. I’m impressed, really. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

  It’s funny how Nick somehow thinks he’s our equal. He’s three years younger than me, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t much, but as a teenager, it’s worlds away. He’s spent the last three years away at boarding school, only visiting on holidays and in the summer. It’s as if he’s been away at college like the three of us were, but he was attending a fancy and very strict high school.

  “I see you’re still the same egotistical asshole you were the last time I saw you,” I tell him. “We’ll see how cocky you are tomorrow after your daddy gets his hands on you.”

  “It’ll be fine.” Nick doesn’t even flinch. “I’m not worried.”

  “I’m pretty sure your fancy-ass school cost more than my college tuition. If I were you, I’d kiss my ass goodbye along with any social life because Uncle Thomas is about to put you on house arrest.”

  “Nah.” Nick waves off Gigi’s comment. “He’ll be pissed, for sure, but once he calms down, he’ll be happy I’m home.”

  “Sure, it’s going to be that easy.” I chuckle and shake my head. “I only wish it were Sunday.”

  The front door swings open, the wood smashing into the wall behind. Jett limps in, arm slung around Uncle Thomas’s shoulder like he can’t walk on his own two feet.

  I’m on the move immediately, forgetting Nick and Gigi on the couch, and rushing toward the door, grabbing hold of Jett’s waist. “Oh my God, what happened?”

  “Shit went south. Took a few licks, but Jett here took the brunt of them after someone drugged his drink,” Uncle Thomas says, still not seeing Nick on the couch. “He’ll be fine after some rest.”

  “You look…” My voice drifts off as Jett winces, leaning on me a little more than Uncle Thomas.

  “What. The. Fuck?” Uncle Thomas hisses, finally lifting his eyes, spotting Nick frozen on the couch. “Am I seeing shit, or is my kid in your living room?” The steely glare on my uncle’s face is nothing short of scary.

  “I can explain,” Nick says, scrambling to his feet, almost knocking over the coffee table in the process.

  “Hey,” Jett whispers to me, giving me a lopsided, bloody grin as I try to take some of his weight. “You’re looking sexy.”

  “Shut up,” I tell him, smiling like an idiot because, drugged or not, I love his compliments.

  “Get your ass in the car,” Uncle Thomas growls, squaring his shoulders, staring at his son. “I don’t want to have this talk in mixed company.”

  “Catch y’all later,” Nick says, throwing up his hand as he marches toward the door.

  “Bye, Nicky,” Gigi calls out, trying to hide her smile behind her hand. “Don’t die!”

  Uncle Thomas grunts, not even bothering to move so Nick can slide past him. “You’re going to wish for death.”

  I grimace as my eyes meet Gigi’s. “Sucks to be him,” I mouth.

  “Jett’s going to be acting weird for a few hours. Probably talking nonsense if you don’t put his ass to bed. He’s been rambling on and on in the back seat for over an hour.”

  “My ass,” Jett says, laughing.

  Uncle Thomas scrubs his hand down his face, muttering a slew of curse words. “As if I don’t have enough shit to deal with, this goddamn kid shows up out of nowhere.”

  “Love you, Uncle Thomas,” Gigi calls out before he has a chance to follow Nick out the door.

  “Bye, cupcake.” Thomas winks at her. “Your dad is so lucky to have girls.”

  “He’d disagree,” she tells him, blowing him a kiss before he disappears into the night.

  “Now what?” Gigi asks, gawking at Jett as he hangs on my shoulder, finally finding his footing.

  “Threesome?” he asks, a sloppy grin on his face.

  I stop moving, dropping my arm from his body as he sways. “I’m going to let that one slide because you’re drunk, but the next dumb thing that comes out of your mouth is going to make you wish you—”

  “Baby, I love you,” Jett murmurs, gazing at me but not entirely focusing.

  “He’s drugged,” Gigi reminds me, still planted on the couch. “Ignore his stupidity. Want help getting him upstairs?”

  I shake my head, knowing full well I can handle the man on my own. “He can sleep down here.”

  “The couch has always been our favorite spot.” He grins.

  She shoots up, staring down at the couch like the cushions are contagious. “And you let me sit there?”

  “Oh, shut up,” I tell her. “It’s not like you and Pike haven’t done it on every surface in your place. If we were going by those standards, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even sit on your floor.”

  She giggles and then sobers when her gaze moves to Jett. My eyes follow, watching as he props himself up against a wall, fishing in his pocket for something.

  “Well, I see you have your hands full, so I’m going to head home. You should put him to bed.”

  “Bed,” he mutters and throws me a wink. “Been waiting all day to hear that word.”

  “No nookie for you, mister,” I say, wrapping my arm around his middle again. “You need some sleep.”

  “Cuddle with me?” he asks so sweetly, I freeze.

  “Cuddle?” I blink.

  He nods. “I want to hold you tonight, baby.”

  “I’m out!” Gigi moves toward the door, tossing a wave over her shoulder. “You two kids have fun.”

  “I hate you,” I grumble toward her.

  “Don’t hate me,” he whispers, brushing his lips against my temple.

  “I don’t,” I te
ll him, knowing it’s going to be a long, long night. “Come on, big guy. It’s bedtime.”

  He stands a little straighter as we make our way to the first stair. “Lily.”

  I glance up, my shoulder under his arm, trying to take most of his body weight for the trip up the stairs. “Yeah?”

  “I love you more than anyone else in the world,” he whispers, making my heart skip a beat.

  22

  Jett

  I crack one eye open, and the light streaming through the bedroom window is so intense, I shut it immediately. Lavender fills my nostrils, and warmth radiates across my skin as the body lying next to me stretches.

  I stiffen as the woman beside me curls into me, and sporadic memories of last night come back.

  Oh God. Please let this be Lily.

  I didn’t drink much last night, but what exactly happened isn’t clear. I only had two drinks while chatting with the woman who’s the subject of our investigation, and then things started moving in slow motion, warping and stretching like I’d been drugged.

  “Jett,” Lily says as I hold my breath, panic coursing through me. “You okay?”

  I exhale, relaxing into the mattress, and tighten my arm around her. “Fine, babe. Totally fine,” I mutter, feeling completely relieved I didn’t somehow fuck everything up and sleep with someone else.

  I force my eyes open, wincing as the sun hits me in the face, momentarily blinding me. “What the hell happened?”

  She moves her hand over my bare chest, tilting her face upward. “You don’t remember?”

  I shake my head, regretting the move as pain shoots through my skull. “Not much. Certainly not coming home and what happened afterward.” My hand slides along her bare back until my thumb catches in the strap of her cami. For a moment, I’m relieved we didn’t have sex, especially since I don’t remember a damn thing.

  “You were pretty messed up. Uncle Thomas said you were drugged.”

  I blink up at the ceiling, wondering why someone would drug me and how they did it. “Everything’s fuzzy. Did we…”

  “No.” Lily snuggles closer, tracing my pec with her fingertip. “You were a perfect gentleman and way too messed up to walk on your own, let alone do anything more.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief, happy I didn’t have sex with her when I was fucked up beyond belief. “I don’t know what happened.”

  “Me either, but I’m sure my uncles will fill you in on everything since Uncle Thomas brought you home.”

  I turn my head, yawning through the haze and not wanting to breathe my morning breath all over my pretty girl. “I feel like I have cotton in my mouth,” I tell her, moving my tongue around my mouth.

  “I could use some coffee. How about you?”

  I gaze down, smiling at the beautiful angel at my side, and nod.

  “Meet me downstairs in five. I’ll get a pot started,” she tells me and leans forward. I watch in sheer fascination as she places her lips against my chest, kissing my skin.

  “I can do it,” I tell her, wanting to wait on her and not the other way around. I’m usually up before Lily, used to early mornings from being in the military.

  “No. Rest a few more minutes. Get your bearings.”

  I don’t argue, my head pounding and still fuzzy from whatever the hell someone gave me last night. I blink a few times, trying to clear my mind as the bed dips and Lily’s warmth disappears.

  She rolls to the edge, climbing to her feet and stretching. Her cami rides up, exposing the soft, perfect skin of her stomach. I stare at her as her body shakes and she yawns. “It’s too early to be awake,” she groans, dropping her arms, “and functioning.”

  I nod, unable to take my eyes off her as she stands off to the side, barely dressed. She has on a pair of boy shorts and a thin, revealing tank, showing off more of her body than she normally does.

  “What time is it?” I ask, unable to focus or move.

  “Eight.” She slides her arms into her robe, tying the material tightly around her body.

  I push myself up, regretting the sudden movement when the pain inside my head grows. “Shit, I’m going to be late if I don’t get my ass in gear.”

  “What time do you have to be at ALFA?”

  “Ten.”

  “Go shower and meet me downstairs,” she says, walking toward the doorway, her sweet ass cheeks tempting me from under the robe. “Take your time.” She smiles over her shoulder, catching me gawking at her.

  “Be down in ten,” I tell her, winking.

  I collapse backward as soon as she’s gone, trying to remember what the hell happened. I was at the bar, talking to the target—a pretty, older woman whose husband thought she was cheating—and then I woke up here. There are glimpses of other moments, but they’re distant and foggy, as if I wasn’t the one who lived them.

  I climb out of bed, strip off my pants, and head to the shower, needing to wash away last night. I make it quick, wanting to be with Lily this morning before I head to the office and try to piece together what happened.

  “Jett!” Lily yells from downstairs as I dress. “Jett!”

  I pull on my jeans and grab a shirt and shoes, rushing from the bathroom and running down the steps. Lily’s standing in the foyer, arms covering her chest, staring at a man.

  “Michaels,” the guy says, drawing my attention away from Lily. “So fucking good to see you, man.”

  I blink, shaking my head because I know the guy, but I have no idea what he’s doing here. “Marcus?” I ask, still blinking and confused.

  He drops his pack from his shoulder with a loud thud. “Thanks for saying I could crash here.”

  Lily glances at me, and I smile, clearly having missed something. I rub the back of my neck, wishing I could remember everything from last night.

  I haven’t seen Marcus since I left the Navy a year ago, leaving San Diego behind. He’s been my best friend for the last three years, but I never thought I’d see him so soon, and I definitely don’t remember talking to him lately.

  “Didn’t know you had such a pretty roommate,” he says, stepping toward Lily, gawking at her like she’s the most delicious thing in the world.

  I move quickly, going to Lily’s side and sliding my arm around her back. “Marcus, this is my girlfriend, Lily.”

  His eyes widen in recognition.

  Fuck.

  “The Lily?” he asks, a smile moving across his face.

  She tips her face up toward me. “The Lily?”

  I smile nervously and swing my gaze back to Marcus. “This is the Lily. My Lily.” I tighten my arm around her middle, and she melts into me.

  “I just made some coffee. Would you like some?” she asks him.

  He smiles. “There’s nothing I’d love more right now.”

  “I was just pouring you a cup,” she says to me, touching my cheek to get my attention because I’m too busy staring at Marcus.

  I knew he’d be getting leave soon, and although we talked about him coming to Florida to visit, I never really thought he’d follow through.

  “Thanks, sweetheart,” I whisper, bending my neck and brushing my lips against hers for a brief moment.

  She peels away from me, sauntering toward the kitchen, leaving Marcus and me in the foyer.

  “Did we talk?” I ask.

  He nods, looking at me funny. “Dude, last night.”

  “Fuck.” I rub my forehead, wishing I didn’t have holes in my memories. “I went out on a case and was drugged. Everything’s fuzzy or gone.”

  “Someone roofied you?” He gapes at me.

  “Seems like it.” I shrug, hoping the guys at ALFA can fill me in on what I missed. “I don’t even remember coming home last night.” I motion toward the kitchen, knowing Lily’s going to become impatient. “But I’m hoping the memories come back to me.”

  Marcus follows me, leaving his big pack near the door. “Don’t count on that shit, man. At least you made it home and were with people you know and trust. That drug has
some serious power.”

  Lily smiles when she sees us. “Cream or sugar?” she asks Marcus, already knowing how I like mine.

  “Black, ma’am.”

  Her smile widens. “Black, it is,” she says, sliding the coffee mug across the island to him. “So, how long have you known Jett?” she asks him, leaning over, holding her own mug.

  He blows out a breath, wrapping his fingers around the pink mug with a unicorn on the front that she’d given him. “Three years. We were both stationed in San Diego, but I reenlisted, while this fucker chose to leave.”

  “I bet you could tell me lots of stories about him.” She raises an eyebrow.

  “No stories, sweetheart,” I say quickly, throwing Marcus a warning glare.

  “Stories?” he mumbles against the mug. “He lived the life of a priest, so there’s not much to tell.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Lies.”

  “You’re much prettier than your picture,” Marcus says, and my eyes widen, my body stiffening.

  She blinks at me before swinging her gaze to Marcus. “You’ve seen my photo?”

  He nods, smirking.

  “How long are you here for?” I ask, trying like hell to change the subject.

  “Just a few days, then I’m headed to my new post in Key West.”

  “Sounds like a hard life,” I laugh. “Key West is nothing like San Diego.”

  “I’m counting on that,” Marcus replies.

  “So, back to this picture,” Lily says, not forgetting his words even though we’ve moved on. “When did you see a picture of me?”

  I groan, plopping down onto a stool, knowing Marcus is going to spill my secret and there’s nothing I can do to stop him.

  “This one—” he motions toward me “—had this photo of you above his rack. He looked at it every night until it basically crumbled into a million pieces.”

  She moves her gaze to me, and she blinks, lips parted. “You kept a photo of me by your bed?”

  I nod, knowing I can’t deny it because Marcus has loose lips. “I did.”

  She smiles and touches her chest. “Of me?” she asks again as if she can’t believe what he just told her.

  “Yeah. Of you,” I repeat.