by S. M. Shade
“I most certainly did not!” one of the women replies. Her voice is haughty for someone who just got busted stealing butt plugs and god knows what else.
Martha grins at the young officer, whose cheeks turn pink at her words. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you where they’re hiding it.”
The older officer sighs. Apparently, the thought of having to remove sex toys in a strip search at the jail isn’t the highlight of his day. He starts reading one woman her rights and putting her in cuffs while the young officer does the same for the other.
“Based on what they took, the handcuffs might turn them on,” Noble murmurs.
Our laughter draws a hateful stare from one of the women, who then starts to struggle. “I didn’t take nothing! You can’t do this to me!” As the officer pulls her toward the door, there’s a metallic chink sound, and everyone’s eyes are now on the metal set of Ben-Wa balls that just hit the tile floor.
I want more than anything to think she dropped them, but no.
They fell out.
Even the officers can’t keep a straight face anymore as the women are escorted out the door. Officer Green pokes his head back in a moment later. “We’ll be in touch to let you know what else is found. We’ll need to know the value of everything they took to press charges.”
“Thank you,” Jani replies.
Silence descends for a moment once they’re gone before everyone cracks up. “Does that happen a lot?” I ask through my giggles.
“Stealing, yes. Never had someone birth a sex toy onto the floor before, though.” Jani and Martha share a glance, and Jani says, “Paper, rock, scissors?”
Martha nods while Noble, Denton and I stand by and watch. “What are they doing?” I ask.
“Seeing who has to pick up the nasty balls would be my guess,” Denton replies.
Yep. Jani curses as she loses and has to use a paper towel to scoop them up and throw them away.
I’ve never been so glad to be a tattoo artist. My job will never involve handling used sex toys.
Chapter Eight
Denton
“Yes sir.” I shake hands with the man who just conducted my second interview for Paducah Advertising. Most of the session consisted of having me explain my marketing strategy for Dreams in Ink and showing him the limited success I’ve had so far. Becca changing the name really let me start from scratch and made the project even more desirable. I’m not just reviving a failing business. I’m rebranding and building it from the ground up.
Becca is so talented, and Sasha is as well. I have no doubt this can work in a big way and pay off for both of us. The only downside so far has been that Becca spends almost all her time at the shop. I rarely see her. I’ve tried to take Neal’s advice and let that distance be a good thing, but it’s hard.
“We’ll see you back here for the final interview and have our decision shortly after that,” he tells me.
“Thank you.” My footsteps feel light as I head out to my car, happiness humming through me. I have a real shot at that internship, which will lead to gainful employment right after graduation.
I’ve also been working more than usual since Neal and Veronica have taken turns with a stomach virus. This is the first day off I’ve had in over a week. The guys are getting together for Dungeons and Dragons tonight, and I’ll be joining them, but first I want to stop by Dreams in Ink.
I’m just getting in my car when a phone call changes my plans. “Dent,” Trey says as soon as I answer. “I need a big favor. You aren’t working today, right?”
“Right.”
“Can I borrow your car? I promised I’d take my sister and her kid to a doctor appointment and my truck won’t start. I tried jumping it. I think it’s the starter.”
Like I can say no to that. An idea jumps into my head. “Okay, can you drop me at the tattoo shop? I’ll just get a ride home from Becca.”
“Yeah, man, thanks.”
I’m only home long enough to grab my laptop and pick up Trey. We swing by a burger place, then he drops me off at Dreams in Ink.
“Hey,” Sasha calls out as I enter. She’s working on a young woman’s ankle.
“Hey, is Becca busy?”
Sasha sits up. “She’s finishing up in the private room. She should be done soon. What did you bring me?” she teases, as the young woman admires her finished work.
“How does a cheeseburger and onion rings sound?”
“Like I could kiss you.”
I glance toward the closed door to the private room, and she shakes her head. “Don’t even think about it. She’ll be out soon.”
The young woman leaves, and we pull out the food. “What’s she working on?”
“Ass tat on a new client. He said he found us through the new website, so thanks for that. Between appointments and walk-ins, we’ve stayed steady. I’m booked for the next two weeks and Becca is booked farther than that.”
All that really gets through to me is that Becca is in the private room with a naked guy. And I don’t like it. I’m not dumb enough to say that, and I try not to show it.
We chat about inane topics until the door to the private room opens, spilling out laughter and country music. Sheesh, since when does Becca listen to country? A tall guy with muscles growing on his muscles appears with Becca right behind him. He looks very…pleased, and I feel a pang of something I have no business feeling. It’s not like she was in there fucking him. And it’s not like it’s any of my business if she was.
It occurs to me that neither of us has dated since she moved in. Maybe that’s the problem. We need to see other people, or we’ll never stop wanting each other. Because she does want me. This isn’t one sided. She looks at me the same way I look at her, but neither of us is willing to risk it, and I know she’d be risking far more than I am. She’s in a very precarious position, and I’m trying to respect that even though all I want to do is put her in a bunch of other positions. Like bending her over the desk.
The guy smiles down at her and pats the back of her shoulder. “It looks great. I’ll be back for the other design next month.”
Hands off, asshole. No need to touch her.
“I have you in my book,” she replies.
The door chime rings as he leaves, and Sasha grins at Becca. “Denton’s here.”
“I see that.” She turns to me. “How did the second interview go?”
“Nailed it.” I hold up the greasy bag. “Thought we’d celebrate with cheeseburgers.”
Her face lights up. “I’m starving. Thanks.” She has started to lose weight from all the hours she’s putting in. She’s even spent a few nights in the shop, sleeping on one of the tables if she has a late appointment.
“That was my last client. How many more do you have tonight?” Sasha asks.
“Just one, in about twenty minutes. A new guy.”
“I’ll hang around then.”
I’m glad that Sasha doesn’t intend to leave her alone with a new client, but tonight there’s no need.
“I’ll stay until she’s done,” I tell Sasha. “Trey dropped me off and borrowed my car, so I’m stuck until she’s finished and chauffeurs me home.”
Becca’s head jerks as she turns to look at me. “It’s at least a two hour job, maybe three,” she warns.
Shrugging, I lean back in the desk chair. “I brought my laptop.”
Sasha covers a grin and grabs her keys. “Okay, then. See you tomorrow, Bex.”
Grinning, I regard Becca. “Bex? I like that. Sexy Bex.”
“Don’t call me that,” she says, rolling her eyes, but the corner of her lips turn up.
“Fine, Tyrannosaurus Bex. Be that way.”
Shaking her head, she goes back to clean up the private room. I follow her, lingering in the doorway. “You missed me and my awesome jokes, admit it.”
“It has been awfully quiet.”
She puts everything away, wipes down the cushioned table with an antiseptic, washes her hands and digs into the che
eseburger. She’s just finished eating when the shop phone rings.
“Sure thing. It’s no problem. I can do the same time two weeks from today. No, you can definitely keep that flu to yourself. Thanks, hope you feel better.” She hangs up and sighs. “Looks like you aren’t stuck after all. My appointment just cancelled.”
She locks the doors and starts turning out lights. I don’t know what it is. The way she struts around the shop, so clearly in her element, surrounded by her work on the walls. Or the way the dim light accents her features, throwing shadows over places I’m struggling to keep my hands off of. But I can’t resist.
When she enters the private room and flips off the light, a soft blue glow fills the room from a neon sign on the wall. She doesn’t see me walk up behind her until she turns and runs into my chest.
She gasps and starts to speak, but I stop her words with a kiss. It only takes her a split second to respond, and her hand slides up my nape into my hair. My hands run over her slim hips, around to cup her ass, pulling her against me. A moan rattles her chest, and she slides her tongue into my mouth. The combination of her soft lips, the smell of her vanilla shampoo, the heat of her body against mine steals any chance I’m going to rethink this.
Her lips lift from mine and she murmurs, “We can’t.”
She tilts her head, letting me lick down the slope of her neck. “Then stop me, Rebecca.” Groaning, she squeezes my ass, and licks into my mouth again. My cock throbs in response. “I’m tired of fighting it. I can’t stop thinking about you, and I know you feel the same way.”
“Not my fault you can’t keep a damn shirt on,” she grumbles, sliding her hands under my shirt and running her fingers over my stomach.
“You’re the one that walks around in those leggings that outline your plump little ass.”
“Yeah, you like my ass?” she teases, pulling my shirt off.
“I have a list of things I want to do to it.”
Our mouths slam together. We devour each other as clothing flies in all directions. I take a moment to soak in the sight of her slender body. Toned, shapely legs, small perky tits with pale pink nipples begging for attention. It’s the urgent, heated look on her face that does me in, and I lift her onto the table, kneeling in front of her.
The sound of our heavy breathing fills the silent room. A whimper escapes her as I spread her legs and press a soft kiss on her thigh. She moans when I run my tongue over her clit, nice and slow.
I grip her hips and jerk her down against my face. “Put your legs over my shoulders, babe, cause I’m showing no mercy.”
She does as I ask, leaning back on her elbows, her eyes wide in the pale blue light. Her hips leap forward when my tongue finds its target again. “Ah ah, got to hold still,” I tease, and she groans.
“Dent, I swear…”
Whatever threat was coming next never gets a chance because I plant my mouth over her clit, working my tongue around the sides and gently sucking. Her legs flex against my shoulders as she struggles to deal with the sudden onslaught, and I loop one arm around her hips, holding her in place.
The way she squirms, the gasps and whimpers and curses, it’s the best fucking thing I’ve ever experienced. She cries out when I slide a finger inside her, but it’s nothing compared to the shuddering cry she lets out when I rub that little rough spot. Her body quakes, pulsing and tightening around my finger.
I keep going until she pushes me away. She stands up and grabs my sides, shoving me back into the tattoo chair. “Please, tell me you have a condom.”
My pants are right by my feet and I find my wallet, pulling out a condom in record time. Before I can open it, she straddles me, and wraps her soft hand around my cock. “Of course you’re big,” she sighs, giving me teasing little strokes. “Always have to be extra, don’t you?”
“Yeah…gift…” I stutter out, my hips jerking. It’s the closest I can get to saying, “Yeah, it’s a gift.”
Clearly pleased that she has me so rattled, she takes the condom and rolls it on. She lowers herself onto me in one smooth motion, taking me all the way in.
“Fuuuuuck,” I groan. Her forehead presses to mine as she gives herself a moment to adjust. My hands run down her smooth back. “Take your time, babe.”
Her tits are right in front of my face, and I feel her tighten when I suck a nipple into my mouth.
“Dent,” she whispers in my ear. For a second, I’m afraid she’s going to say it’s too much, I’m hurting her, or she’s changed her mind.
“Mmm?”
“I also have no mercy.”
Before my brain can process the words, she grabs the back of the chair, pushes herself up, then all the way back down again, grinding her hips against me. Her eyes blaze with heat as they find mine, and the kiss we share is frantic and devastating.
Then she really starts to fuck me. I’ve had girls ride me before, but nothing like this. No mercy is right. She slams down onto me over and over, fast and deep, and I know I’m not going to last long if she keeps it up.
Her head falls back, and her pace falters a little as she gets close, but I’m not ready for this to end. A surprised yelp leaps from her throat as I slide my arms under her ass and stand up, carrying her a few feet. Planting her back against the wall, I drive into her. Her nails dig into my back.
“Don’t stop. Oh god, I’m going to come again,” she whimpers. Her legs tighten around me and I swear, I’ll remember the long, agonized moan she lets out for the rest of my life. It shoves me into the abyss with her, and it’s everything I can do to keep us upright. I can feel it in every inch of my body, overtaking every thought or concern I’ve ever had.
Finally, we regain some of our brain power, and I gently set her down on her shaky legs. “Are you okay?” I ask, kissing her puffy lips.
“Yeah.” She flips the light on so we can find our clothes.
The room is uncomfortably silent while we both get dressed. She leans against the padded table, and I stand beside her. It’s hard to read her expression, but her silence is worrying. “Becca? Are you regretting it?”
“No, I just…ugh…you’re not making this easy!” I have no idea how to respond to that, but fortunately, she goes on. “Why did you have to have an amazing cock and be great with it? If the sex sucked, we could laugh this off and move on, but no.” She stretches out the final word, covering her face with her hand.
It’s all I can do not to laugh. “I’m not taking all the blame. You were the one trying to fuck me into the chair. My ass prints are probably permanently embedded.”
Sighing, her next words sound apologetic, like I may not want to hear them. “I really like you.”
I slide my arm around her waist. “I feel the same way.”
“We live together. This is not a good idea.”
“I know.”
“But I guess it’s kind of late for that, huh?” she chuckles, laying her head on my shoulder.
“I think so. But I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to, Becca. If you want to try to go back to normal, we can try, but…”
“No,” she murmurs. “That’s not what I want.”
“Good, because I want you in my bed every night.”
“The guys are going to find out.”
“I give zero fucks.”
Laughter fills the small space, and she presses a soft kiss to my lips. “So, we’re exclusive?”
Tapping my lips, I pretend to think about it. “Can I have a free pass if Jennifer Lawrence propositions me?”
A smile lights up her face. “If I can get a free pass for Jason Momoa.”
“Deal. Let’s go home.”
Yawning, she nods. “Yeah, I have an early appointment tomorrow. Do you have to work?”
“I have to be in at ten.”
The wind whips her hair around her head as we walk to her car, and she shoves it back. She’s so damn beautiful. I know she’s worried, but I’m going to make this work.
Her car starts right up,
and you wouldn’t know it had a problem until she stops at the edge of the parking lot, then tries to turn out onto the road. The engine revs loudly, as if the car is in neutral. It stays that way for a good five seconds before jerking into gear.
It does the same thing at the stop sign. And at the next red light. When it jumps forward, she gives me a sheepish smile and sings, “On the road again.”
“Just can’t wait for my transmission to kick in,” I sing, making her laugh. “You really shouldn’t be driving it anymore. It’s not safe.”
“I know,” she sighs. “I’m going to shop for a bicycle when I get a day off, then I’ll junk it.”
“I can drop you off and pick you up when I’m not working.”
She gives me a sideways look. “Thanks. I might take you up on that when the weather is bad.”
I understand her reluctance. She’s independent and doesn’t want to have to count on anyone else to get her around. I’ve been there. “So, how much shit are you going to catch from the guys over the whole bro code thing?” she asks, parking in front of our apartment. “Is it going to cause problems between you?”
“Nah.” My arm slides around her shoulders as we walk toward the door. “They’ll make me wear a dress in public or something. It’s not like I got with one of their exes.”
She grins up at me. “So, I’m just a minor infraction of the bro code?”
“Pretty much.”
We don’t need to worry about it being an issue tonight. The second I walk in and see Trey and Noble’s faces, I know something is wrong. “What’s going on?”
“Kenny got arrested,” Noble says.
“And fired,” Trey adds.
“What the fuck?” I stand in the living room doorway while Becca perches on the edge of the couch. “What did he do?”
“They said he’s been stealing from the register at the party store for months. I guess they have him on camera,” Trey explains. He shakes his head. “It’s a lot of money, Dent. He’s not just going to get community service out of this.”
Stunned isn’t a strong enough word. I knew Kenny was a dick. That he can be self-absorbed and lazy, but I never suspected he’d be a thief. “What the fuck is the matter with him?”