“You’re sure, though? It’s okay?”
“It’s more than okay. Over the next few weeks you can draw the rest and then start practicing on me. I’ll be your canvas.”
“Don’t people usually start on grapefruits or some shit?”
He laughs. “Back in the day, yeah. I’m sure we could pick you a couple up if you’d prefer to work on one of those.”
“Never.”
“Awesome. Wrap me up, then it’s time to swap.”
“Swap?”
“Yep. You didn’t think I was the only one leaving here today with some new ink, did you?”
26
Spike
She looks at me as if I’ve just spoken to her in a different language.
“Okay, well… unless you don’t want—”
“I do, I do. I just wasn’t expecting it. What were you thinking?”
“I borrowed another one,” I admit, reaching back into my jeans that are currently in a pile on the floor and pulling out the second drawing. “I assume it’s the one.”
I unfold it and show her. She nods, confirming that I’m right. I knew it was the design she’d mentioned to cover the inevitable scar on her hip the moment I saw it.
“We can start on your thigh, and we’ll work our way up and then do the final bit once you’re healed.”
“Sounds perfect. I don’t want to look at that for any longer than I have to.”
Stepping up to her, I twist my fingers with hers and pull her flush against my body.
“All that’s over, Kas. This right here is a new start.”
She swallows nervously before nodding. “For both of us?” I know what she’s asking. She’s telling me that it’s time to let go of the past, of my heartbreak, and take another chance.
She makes it feel so easy, sound so tempting, that without much thought, I think I could dive in headfirst with her. The realisation has my heart racing and my head beginning to spin.
Of all the women, why her? Why the one I shouldn’t be anywhere near? But others haven’t made me feel the way she does. I realise that could be because I never gave any of them the chance, but I know it’s not that. I knew Kas was different the moment my eyes landed on her all those weeks ago at Zach’s birthday. I just didn’t realise quite how much until I dragged her from that stage and forced her into my life.
I nod. “For both of us.” She smiles up at me and I swear my entire world shifts on its axis. “Ready for your new ink?”
“I can’t wait.”
Before I have a chance to think, her jeans are on the floor with mine and she’s climbing onto my chair.
“How do you want me?”
‘Naked with your legs open’ is on the tip of my tongue, but even for me, that feels a little dangerous. I know that Zach and Biff are out at an Abbott family meal along with Titch and Danni, but they’ve got to come back at some point.
Stepping forward, I lift the back of the chair so she can sit and show me where she wants this tattoo to start.
A wicked smile curls at her lips as she widens her legs and points to the inside of her thigh. “I thought it could start about here, wrap around and continue up here.” She trails her finger along her skin in a way I wish I could do with my tongue right now as she lifts her shirt, stopping just shy of her ribs.
“That’s going to take quite a while,” I say, glancing at her intricate design.
“It’s a good thing I’ve got all the time in the world then, isn’t it? Make me your masterpiece, Spike.”
A growl rumbles up my throat. She can’t possibly know what words like that do to me.
She would never let me ink her, no matter how much I begged. It was wrong of me back then, and probably just as bad now, for me to want to mark Kas’ body the way I do, to make it mine. She’ll have my art on her, probably forever after today, a constant reminder of what we had here.
I let her get comfortable and then grab my machine.
“A-aren’t you going to trace it on?” Her voice wavers.
“Tiny, are you nervous?”
She swallows harshly. “I… uh… I’m not great with needles.”
I run my eyes over her exposed skin before me which is covered in ink. “Riiight.”
“I can’t help it,” she shrugs. “It’ll get better. Just get started.”
“Okay.” The buzzing of my gun fills the room, and I lower it to her skin. She flinches when I first make contact, and when I glance up at her, all she does is laugh at herself. The sound immediately makes me feel lighter.
I work on the first few flowers on the inside of her thigh, losing myself in the art, in the softness of her skin, in the scent of her sweetness surrounding me.
Time races past as we both stare at her skin, watching the design emerge with every stroke and movement of my hand.
I’m so lost that I don’t hear any noise from outside the room. That all stops, though, when the door flies open.
“What the—what the hell are you doing?” Zach barks, his eyes wide as he looks at the two of us half-dressed and in a somewhat compromising position with me practically between Kas’ legs.
“Teaching,” I say as innocently as possible.
“With my sister on her back and you in your boxers?”
“Uh… yeah. Look…” Dropping my machine back to the table, I stand and show Zach Kas’ handiwork.
“Mate, seriously,” Zach complains with a wince when he figures out where this is going.
“Quit being a pussy.”
He rolls his eyes before dropping them to my exposed skin. “That’s not bad. Well done, Kas.” He flicks his eyes to her before they come back to me. Anger is simmering just under the surface. As we stare at each other, I can’t miss the silent warning he’s giving me. It’s just a shame he’s about a week too late. “Your arse, really?”
“What? Where did you let Biff do her first one?”
A smile twitches at his lips, and I know I’ve got him. “Okay, fine. But I should warn you that this wasn’t what I had in mind when I suggested this. I knew I should have asked D,” he mutters.
“You don’t need to protect me, Zach. I’m a big girl and can make my own decisions.”
His eyes narrow at her. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“N-nothing. Just that I’m an adult and you can’t control me or what I do. You try, and you’ll only push me away.”
Zach looks between the two of us suspiciously, but his gaze lingers on me longer than necessary. Guilt bubbles up inside me, and I have to bite my tongue not to blurt out what’s been going on.
I need to, I know it’s the right thing to do, but I can’t. Telling him could ruin everything that Kas and I are building, and I can’t risk it. Not yet. Just a few more days and we might have discovered what we really are. I might have grown a pair of balls and been able to admit to myself that I’m willing to really give this a go with her. The thought of accepting it myself makes my heart race, let alone telling someone else that I’ve opened myself up to the possibilities of more heartache.
“I guess I’ll leave you to it then,” he mutters, backing out of the room.
Just before he disappears from our sight, Kas calls for him.
He looks back to her, his eyes softening and telling me that all he’s trying to do right now is protect her in a way that no one has before, in a way he’s been unable to. I’m desperate to tell him, that is all I want as well, but I don’t think he’ll see my honourable intentions. All he’ll see are all my past conquests and questionable decisions.
“You can trust me, Zach. I’m not going to screw all of this up. I promise.”
He nods at her before ducking out of the room.
“He’s going to fucking kill me when we tell him.”
“No, he won’t. He’ll understand.” She reaches for me and brushes her fingers against mine.
“Let me finish this section up, then let’s get out of here.”
“Mmm… I could wake up to this every morn
ing,” Kas moans, arching her back as I lick at her clit. Her hands thread into my hair as I slide two fingers inside her and bend them in a way that I know will make her scream. “Spike,” she cries, her grip on me tightening.
I up my pace, playing her until she shudders against me, her muscles pulsating around my fingers.
“I need a shower. Fancy it?” Lifting my head from between her thighs, I look up at her dark, lust-filled eyes.
She bites down on her bottom lip, making me want to suck it into my own mouth.
“You naked with water running all over you…” She pretends to think for a few seconds. “I’m sure I could get on board with that.”
“Good.” Pulling her from the bed, I drag her behind me as I head for the bathroom before lifting her into the bath and turning the shower on.
“Fucking hell, that’s freezing.”
“Let me warm you up then.” I pull her into my body, my already hard cock pressing against her stomach, desperate to slide deep inside her, and my lips find hers as my hands work their way over her curves.
I push my tongue between her lips, telling her everything I’m feeling with my kiss alone, or I hope that’s what I’m doing.
“How’s your hip?” I ask as I kiss my way across her jaw and down her neck.
“I can’t even feel it.”
“Good. Turn around and place your palms on the tiles.”
Immediately, she does as she’s told, shoving her arse out for me to take advantage of.
“You know, you’re getting awfully compliant with my requests.” My palm connects with her arse, the slap ringing throughout the small room.
“I tend to follow orders better if I think they’re going to end in orgasms.”
I laugh, dropping my hand to her core, finding her still dripping wet from her last release.
“Keep your arms locked,” I order, taking myself in hand and running the head of my cock through her folds.
“Spike,” she moans impatiently.
I tease her for a few more seconds before surging forward, filling her in one thrust of my hips.
Her heat surrounds me and I have to reach forward, pressing my own hand against the wall next to hers to hold myself up.
“So fucking good,” I groan as I start to move inside her.
My thrusts become frantic as I push us both toward our releases, but at no point does she release her arms.
“Come, Kas.” Slipping my hand around her stomach, I find her clit and pinch, forcing her over the edge.
I follow seconds later, emptying myself inside her before pulling her up and wrapping my arms around her body as our hearts fight to return to normal.
“I always visit my grandad on a Monday morning,” I admit while we’re both getting dressed.
“Don’t let me stop you.”
“I’m not. I was wondering if you…”
“If I?” she prompts.
“If you wanted to come with me.”
“To meet your grandad?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Sure, if you want me to.”
I nod. “I do. I’ve never taken anyone before,” I admit. “Well, not since…”
“Spike,” she says softly, walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist, “are you nervous?”
“Yeah, I am. It’s a big deal.”
“Why, don’t you think he’ll like me?”
“No, I think he’ll love you.” Just like I do. By some miracle, I manage to keep those final words to myself.
“I’ve never met anyone’s parents before,” Kas says as we walk toward the entrance to where Gramps lives. “Should I have worn something a little more… conservative?”
I run my eyes over her crop top and ripped jeans. “No, not at all. Just be yourself. He’d see right through you anyway.”
“Okay. Fuck. I’m nervous.” She shakes out her arms and blows out a breath.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I lead her inside and toward where I know he’ll be waiting.
As we round the corner, I spot Maureen at the table with her puzzle first, before movement from the chair where I know he’ll be catches my eye.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here,” Gramps says excitedly, his eyes firmly locked on Kas and totally ignoring that I’ve walked into the room.
“Hi, I’m Kas,” she says nervously as she steps up to him and raises her hand to shake his.
She squeals in shock when he tugs on her arm and pulls her into his body for a brief hug.
“Morning, Spike,” Maureen says to me as Gramps drops his lips to Kas’ ear and whispers something to her. Something embarrassing about me, no doubt. That thought is only confirmed when she throws her head back and belts out a full belly laugh.
“Uh oh… looks like someone’s caught the love bug,” Maureen says with a wide smile playing on her lips.
“I…uh…” Fuck it. “Yeah, I think I might have.”
Tears fill her eyes as she smiles at me. I’ve no doubt that she knows my story. She and Gramps seem pretty tight.
“Well, it seems she’s won his old heart over too.” Her eyes flick to where my gramps is now laughing at whatever Kas said, and my chest constricts in a way I realise I’ve missed so much.
I stand and watch them for a few seconds, acknowledging that I didn’t need to be nervous about bringing her here. Just like everything else with her, it’s just right.
As if she can feel my stare, she looks up at me. She has a wide smile on her face, and I accept in that moment that despite all my fears, I’ve fallen, and fallen hard.
“You’d better get over here before Gramps tells me all your secrets,” she mocks, but I don’t miss the way she calls him Gramps. Why am I not surprised that he’s already demanded that?
Rolling my eyes at the pair of them, I walk over. Gramps’ hand lands on the back of my neck. “You’ve got yourself a little firecracker here, son,” he whispers, quiet enough so that only I can hear.
I nod, smiling at him.
“So, Kas. Tell me everything,” he demands when the three of us sit down.
“Err… not much to tell, really,” she says, a sadness in her tone that I hate hearing.
“She’s training to be an artist,” I blurt out, focusing on the future, not the past.
“Is that right? You any good?” he asks her.
“He seems to think so. He’s so confident he ensured I start on his arse.”
“She’s going to be an incredible artist.”
“Awesome, so maybe you’ll ink me?” Gramps asks, making me groan.
“Your own grandson is refusing you some ink?” Kas asks in mock horror.
“I know. I think it’s damn right disrespectful if you ask me. One of the best artists in the city shares my DNA, and he won’t ink me.”
“Give me a few months to get a feel for it and I’ll give you whatever you want,” Kas offers with a wink, once again making him belly laugh.
“Spike,” he says, his face turning serious for a second. “I like this one. She’s a keeper.”
Kas’ eyes burn into me, waiting for my response.
“You think? She’s a pain in the arse, if you ask me.” I can’t help laughing when her small hand connects with my shoulder.
27
Kas
I’m still running over the morning and in meeting Spike’s gramps around my head later that afternoon while we lie on one of Spike’s sofas watching the TV. Well, he’s watching it, I’ve no clue what channel it’s even on.
Propping my chin on his chest, I look up at him, taking in his features for a second before a smile twitches at his lips
“What?” he asks, not taking his eyes from the TV.
“Nothing. Just looking.”
“Okay.” He continues staring ahead, but I know he’s not paying any attention now. “Whatever it is, Tiny, just ask.”
“Will you tell me about your family?”
He blows out a long breath. “There’s not really much to tel
l. My grandparents basically brought me up. My mother, their daughter, was a mess by all accounts. She fell pregnant with me when she was fifteen. I don’t remember her. She left some time before my second birthday. We’ve no idea where she went or what she did. It was almost ten years later when Gramps got a visit from a police officer with the news he’d been dreading for years. She’d overdosed on heroin.”
“Jesus, Spike.”
“See, we’re not so different really.”
“What happened to your gran?”
“She died the year before we found out about my mother.”
The words I’m sorry are right on the tip of my tongue, but I know from experience that they’re the most unhelpful words ever.
“Your poor gramps.”
He shrugs. “The two of us did okay. He made sure I had every opportunity to follow my dreams, and we figured shit out together. Although I probably should have listened to him when he told me things were too serious with Marissa.” My breath catches at hearing her name. It’s the first time he’s used it, and although I know the story is very true—his pain every time he talks about it makes it abundantly clear—being able to put a name to the woman who shattered his young heart makes it seem so much more real.
“We have to make our own mistakes sometimes.”
He nods at my words, lost in his memories.
I desperately want to change the subject in the hope of wiping the sadness from his face, but before I come up with anything both of our phones vibrate on the coffee table.
Our eyes meet as if we’re both asking the other who it is before he reaches forward and grabs them both, passing mine over.
He laughs before I even get the chance to look at my screen. Intrigued, I wake up my phone and look at it to find a group message.
Pear Tree. 8PM. Time to welcome our newbie Rebel to the family.
“Who’s this from?”
“Titch. I should have expected it.”
“And I’m assuming the newbie is me?”
“Yep. Consider it an initiation of sorts.”
Defy You: A Brother's Best Friend/Age Gap Romance (Rebel Ink Book 3) Page 23