by Adele Niles
It might impress Lora to see us in action, but it could just as easily scare her off.
I returned to the table. Lora was deep in conversation with Ryker and Garrett. Ryker was definitely hitting on her. I could tell from the way he was sitting, legs spread to try and get her to take a peek. Benny chatted animatedly with Kenzie, Logan listening with his gaze rooted firmly on my sister. He knew he’d get his ass kicked if he touched her, so I let that one be for now. I sank into an empty chair close to Lora, keeping watch and working on another beer.
Lora looked my way, her face brightening. “Bradley,” she called. “Hey. This place got loud!”
I laughed and nodded. “Sure did. Happens on a Friday night. You good?”
“I’m great!”
I felt myself grinning. She was cute like this, relaxed and a little tipsy. I liked it. “So, where were we, anyway?”
“Where—oh. Oh!” She laughed and stood up from her chair. Bending toward me, she raised one finger and tapped the tip of my nose. “We’ll come back to that conversation. I’m gonna get another beer!”
As she rose, one of the college boys took note. He slapped his buddy on the chest and pointed to her.
Fuck.
“Lora.” I stood up. Three of the college guys broke away from the herd, coming toward her.
One of them wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Hey, baby,” he said, loud enough that I could hear him over the noise of the bar. “You wanna come hang out with us? What are you drinking?”
“Hey.” I spoke firmly, not yet ready to throw punches—although, if it came to it, I knew I could take these assholes. “She’s with us. Go on back to your moms, huh?”
“I think she can decide for herself.” The lead frat boy clearly thought he was impressive. He kept his arm around Lora.
She looked at me, eyes wide. “Um…I…I think I’m good with my friends.”
Good answer. The frat boy let her go, giving me a dirty look. He turned to go back to the pack, his lackeys following. Lora returned to her seat. I patted her shoulder and went to the bar, coming back with two beers. I pressed one into her hand; she nodded her thanks.
“Don’t worry about them,” I said. “Dickhead college boys like to come down here and act tough. If you’re with us, you’re good.”
“Okay.” She took a long sip from her beer, breathed deep, and turned to me. “So, back to where we were.”
She bounced back quick. I liked it. I leaned my elbow on the table, raising my eyebrows. “Yeah, how about that?”
“Well…” She smiled. “You mentioned you aim to impress. And I’m curious about where you think you’re most impressive.”
“Are you?” I grinned. “I’m afraid the answer to that isn’t for polite company.”
Lora blinked and lifted her head, looking around. “Huh, good thing I don’t see any polite company here.”
I laughed at that, nodding. “All right, all right. You wanna know the truth, then?”
She nodded. I leaned a little closer. She leaned in toward me, too, eyes wide.
“I’m amazing in bed.”
“Are you?”
“Fuck yeah, I am. You ever want to find out how amazing, let me know.”
She gasped softly, straightening in her chair. “Oh. Okay.”
I smiled at her and turned my head, taking a quick look around. Kenzie was looking at me, her mouth set in a tight line. I smiled and raised my beer to her. She turned away, shaking her head.
She’d forgive me. She always did.
Lora and I chatted as we continued to drink. She was funny, I realized—sarcastic and irreverent, and quick to tease. It was fun. A lot of girls seemed to think they had to turn the sexiness up when we talked—breathy voices, lots of touching—but Lora didn’t. She just talked, and laughed, and ignored the other guys when they tried to move in.
If she left with anyone, it would definitely be me.
She stood suddenly, smiling down at me. “Hey. I think I’m almost tapped out. You want a shot first?”
“Hell yeah, I want a shot,” I replied. “Put it on my tab. Jack, if they’ve got it.”
She grinned, making a little finger-gun gesture at me with both hand as she stepped back. “You got it. Be right back.”
I shook my head, letting her go.
Garrett grinned and slapped me on the shoulder. “Hey, give the rest of us a shot, asshole.”
“Not my fault if you were too slow, kid. You gotta strike fast with a girl that hot. Figured you’d know that by now.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He shook his head. “Tell us how she was tomorrow. If Kenzie doesn’t kill you before you get to work.”
“She won’t kill me.”
“You sure? She’s giving you the murder eyes.” He glared at me, his best approximation of my sister’s face.
“Whatever. You’re just—”
“Hey, let me go, dickhead!”
Lora.
I was on my feet at the same time as Ryker and Garrett. On the other side of the table, Zoe stood, too; Benny and Logan stopped their conversation to look. The same dickhead who had grabbed Lora earlier was back at it, his arm around her. He’d taken one of the shots from her. It looked like he was trying to make her drink with him.
Fuck, no.
“Hands off her, asshole!” Ryker was the first one to move, taking a few steps forward. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
His hands curled into fists, muscles tensed.
The college boy looked up, smirking. Cocky little prick. “What, you think she wants to talk to you?”
Lora looked at me, helpless. Fuck.
Benny came around the table, standing at my left.
“You don’t wanna do this,” Benny said. “You’re gonna make yourself look real fucking stupid in front of your friends.”
The guy snorted. He knocked back the shot and gave Lora a little push. She stumbled forward, the shot slipping from her hands. The glass shattered on the floor, spilling whiskey.
The frat boy lunged at Ryker.
I grabbed Lora’s hand.
“We’re getting out of here. Now.”
* * * * *
We made it back to Lora’s place. My phone hadn’t gone off yet—nobody had noticed us leaving, caught up in what was already turning into a brawl by the time Lora and I hit the door. She stood with me in the living room of her apartment, chewing her lower lip.
“Hey. You good?” I asked, putting my hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah.” She nodded, then turned her head, looking up at me.
She surged forward, pressing herself to my chest. Her tits were right against my body. My cock twitched.
She tilted her head to look up at me. “Show me.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
She rose up on her toes, pulling me down into a kiss. Her mouth was soft against mine, already open. I took a step with her, then another. She whined against me, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
I eased back. “Where’s your bedroom?”
“This way. C’mon.” She grabbed my hand, turning to walk with me. She didn’t turn the lights on, but the streetlight outside her window lit the apartment in an orange glow. She nudged the door shut once we were inside, then was on me again.
I pulled her toward the bed, already sliding my hands under her shirt. She lifted her arms. I pulled it off, tossing it toward the corner of the room.
She went straight for my jeans, undoing my belt easily. She popped the button loose and tugged the zipper down. Her hand slid inside, stroking along my hard cock.
“Oh, fuck,” she whispered.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, looking up at me and grinning. She withdrew her hand, pushing my jeans down.
I laughed, stepping out of my boots so I could get my pants off. “Eager, huh?”
“Horny.” She watched me, grinning. Her hands went behind her back, and I watched as her bra loosened. She dropped it, revealing
her gorgeous, full breasts, nipples already hard.
I moved forward. My arms slid around her waist. I bent my head, starting to suck at her nipple.
“Bradley, fuck.” I could feel her move, working on her own jeans. With the button undone, she reached up, sliding her hands through my hair.
I sucked harder, then moved to the other. She smelled good, like sugar and cinnamon. Her skin was soft. She made the sweetest little mewing sound when I rolled my tongue over her nipple.
Her hands tightened in my hair. Dull discomfort shot through my scalp. I looked up at her.
“Get on the bed.” Her voice was quiet, but insistent. “Finish stripping first.”
I grinned. “Yes, ma’am,” I teased.
She smiled wider, stepping back. I watched her pull down her jeans. She wasn’t in a thong, but wore cute panties with a little lace on the edge.
The front of them was wet.
I stripped out of my shirt and underwear, bending to grab a condom from my back pocket. Lora pointed to the bed. I laughed and moved to sit.
“No, no. Lie down.” She laughed. “Come on. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Bossy. I like it.” I grinned at her, lying on my back. “Now what?”
For a moment, she was still. She didn’t move until she was sure I was watching her. She hooked her thumbs in the waist of her panties, tugging them down her hips and dropping them to the floor. My mouth watered as I looked at her.
She came to the bed, climbing over me. She straddled my hips, her lower lip caught between her teeth. She was fucking gorgeous.
I tore the condom wrapper open and rolled it on. Holding my cock in one hand, I shifted, rubbing it against her slit. She was dripping wet, and felt so hot against my skin.
She sank down. Her head snapped back toward the ceiling. She moaned, lowering herself until she was fully seated on my lap, my cock buried inside her.
“God, Lora,” I said.
“Oh, fuck!” Her voice was high, soft. She lifted her hands to her tits, teasing her own nipples. I rocked my hips upward as much as I could. She moaned again, then leaned forward. Her hands came to rest on my chest.
She lifted herself up, slowly, her walls squeezing around my cock, then dropped back down. I moved to meet her. She set the rhythm, moving fast and hard against me.
Holy shit, she was good.
She grabbed my left hand and brought it to her breast. I lifted the right one as well. I held her tits as she rode me hard, squeezing them, enjoying the weight in my hands. Her nipples pressed into my palms. She squeezed tighter around me, her head tossed back in another moan.
“Lora.” I spoke in a low moan.
She looked down at me, slowing but not stopping.
I grinned and moved my hands to her hips. Holding her, I rolled. She gasped, lying on her back under me.
I flexed my hips. She whined. I pushed her legs farther apart, wanting to go deeper.
“Bradley.” She looked up at me, eyes hazy, and smiled.
I thrust into her, bucking against her in a quick, hard pace. She wrapped her arms around me. Her nails dug into my shoulders. She raked them down. I leaned over her, kissing her neck.
I’d have marks in the morning, but I didn’t care.
“Fuck me,” she moaned, her breath hot against my ear. I bit down at her collarbone. She scratched at my back again.
I wasn’t gonna last much longer.
Heat started to build low in my stomach. My balls tightened. I moved faster, sucking a mark on Lora’s neck.
“Fuck,” I moaned. “Fuck, fuck, Lora—”
I pushed one of my hands between us. My fingertips found her clit, and I rubbed her in quick, tight circles. She gasped, digging her nails in deeper.
“Fuck me, fuck me!” She repeated the words, her hips moving against me. Her sex was so tight, so fucking hot, and her voice, and her nails down my back—
Lora let out a sharp cry. I felt her shaking, felt her wetness against my thighs. She squeezed me tighter.
White flooded my vision. The heat built, then broke inside me. I bit down on her collarbone.
I hadn’t gotten off that hard in a while.
Fuck.
I put my head down on her chest. Lora panted under me. I closed my eyes, just listening.
Her breathing slowed. Deepened. I knew she was asleep without looking.
I lifted myself off her, going into the bathroom to clean up. I came back to her room and stood there for a moment, just looking at her.
She had the most gorgeous, soft skin. Not a mark on her, except the redness from my bite. No major scars, only a few scattered freckles.
Not a single tattoo on her.
I wanted to touch every inch of her. Kiss her, lick her all over.
And I wanted to put a tattoo on her.
I sighed and bent, grabbing my phone from the pocket of my jeans. I unlocked it as I went to the bed.
Eleven texts, all from Kenzie. Shit.
You are SUCH A DICK
Are you at Lora’s?
You’d better not be with her I swear
I should come KICK YOUR ASS
If you hurt her I’m putting salt in your coffee until one of us dies
I can’t believe you! You fucking promised!
You’re such a piece of shit Bradley
I asked you not to mess with her and all you did was hit on her!
She doesn’t need any more men fucking up her life right now!
I’ll fucking talk to you about this tomorrow
Don’t think you’re gonna get off easy. I don’t care if she’s okay with it.
I’d deal with it tomorrow. I climbed back into the bed, pulling up the blankets. Lora stirred beside me, and I rolled to face her.
“Hey, it’s okay. Go back to sleep.”
“That was fucking good.” Her voice was soft. “I needed that.”
“Yeah?” I smiled. “Good.”
She nodded, rolling over and pulling the blankets up.
I was already trying to imagine what I was going to do when I got the chance to tattoo her. “I’m gonna be your first.”
She tensed, then looked up, brows furrowed. “What? We already fucked, and, sorry, but you weren’t my first.”
“Huh? Oh, no. Your first tattoo.”
She laughed. “Is that right? Well, you’d better come up with something good for me. I’m not putting anything permanent on my skin unless it matters.”
“You got it.” I yawned, putting my head down. “Now go to sleep.”
Chapter Four
Lora
The sound of my alarm was going to kill me.
I rolled over, my head pounding, and reached for my phone on the nightstand. My hand only met the wood surface. I lifted my head, groaning. The ringing was coming from my purse on the other side of the room.
I got out of bed and shuffled over to it. My head throbbed with every movement, and I was naked.
Right.
I turned back, looking at my empty bed. Bradley was gone. The shower wasn’t running.
Great. I’d fucked my coworker’s brother and he’d left. No goodbyes, no thanks, nothing.
Way to fuck up, Lora.
But, the sex had been amazing. Chris had never fucked me like that. Sometimes, he hadn’t even made me come. Bradley had been passionate, and knew exactly what to do without being told.
Heat traveled down my body. I felt the first tingle of desire, and closed my eyes to remember. It hadn’t lasted long. There hadn’t been a lot of foreplay, but I hadn’t really needed it. I’d been ready to go as soon as we came inside.
I wanted to do it again.
My hands traveled down my body, slowly. Maybe I had time…
My stomach rolled.
Nope. My body had more pressing urges, like getting rid of the remaining alcohol in my stomach.
When I was done throwing up, I got into my normal morning routine—shower, dress, hair up, head to the kitchen for breakfast.
&nbs
p; That was when I found it. Sitting on the little pass-through window in my kitchen was a page torn from my shopping list pad, the blank side up. From the hallway, I could see a drawing on it.
I approached, biting my lower lip. The words Talk later? -B were scrawled at the top in sloppy, boyish handwriting. Underneath was a drawing, clearly quickly sketched out.
A butterfly fluttered at an angle as if flying upward. A trail of stars followed it. Similar stars dotted its wings. It was in black and white, confined by the ballpoint pen attached to the notepad, but I could imagine it in color—deep blue, shimmering silver.
We’d definitely be talking later.
* * * * *
I stood alone at the counter, mixing up a batch of lemon-flavored batter. My headphones were in, but quieter today. I wasn’t angry, wasn’t trying to block the world out. Besides, I was hoping Bradley might drop in.
He did, much earlier than the day before. He’d clearly showered and changed.
He looked good.
I felt my cheeks flush. Maybe something in the back needed my attention. I looked at the timers on the magnet strip next to me—still fifteen minutes before the first batch of cupcakes was due. I wouldn’t make icing until cupcakes started to come out of the oven, because they’d need to cool.
No, I told myself, surprised by how stern my own inner voice sounded. There’s no reason to panic and run off.
I took a deep breath, paused my music, and turned toward him. “Morning. What can I get you?”
“Hey.” He smiled, leaning casually on the counter. His eyes swept over my body. Heat rushed through me again.
How much trouble would I be in if I asked him to fuck me on the counter?
A lot. I’d definitely lose my job.
But god, he was gorgeous. Strong arms, unkempt blond hair, just the right amount of scruff. Casually dressed. Tattooed. And he had a lazy smile that made me want to beg him for another round. What the hell was I supposed to do but want him?
The door to the back burst open and Kenzie emerged, carrying a tray of fresh muffins. She paused for a moment, then hurried to put the tray of muffins in the case.