“I’d say. I didn’t expect to see you around here after that grand departure.” Nat’s gruff chuckle fills the room, “What was it you said? ‘Suck my dick, old man.’”

  “I was an immature asshole. Now, I’m just an asshole.” I wink. “I’ve always respected you, old man.”

  He grins at me before a somber look passes over his face.

  “I’m sorry about your dad, son. I heard this morning.” Nat stands from his position on the couch and takes the few steps needed to reach me, pulling me in for a quick hug and a strong pat on the shoulder. “He’s become a good friend over the years. The only way I could keep up with your disappearing ass without figuring out how to use a damn computer.”

  “Thanks,” I respond, shifting uncomfortably. I’m not ready to have a conversation about my dad. “Listen, I wanted to ask you something.” I smirk at him.

  “And here I thought, after all this time, you just wanted to catch up.” He laughs. “What is it, son?”

  Chapter Seven

  Ipull my knees up to my chest and grab my phone from my purse. Opening the group chat I press the video call button.

  Hadley answers, holding the phone further from her face than I am, showing she and Pickle are still together.

  “He just called me Kitten.” I stare at the screen. “Why did he just call me Kitten?”

  Hadley is giggling uncontrollably and walks away from the phone while Pickle continues smiling at me through the screen.

  “Babe, I think Hadley may be onto something here.” Her lips twitch into a smirk.

  “Oh, God. Not you, too!” I groan, rubbing my free hand over my face.

  “Where are you?” Hadley walks back into the frame with a huge smile plastered across her face that would give the Joker reason to pause.

  “I’m in his truck. He stopped by Nat’s shop for something.” I take a deep breath. “I made a smart-ass comment asking if he really needed a new tattoo, and he told me to “Relax, Kitten.” I make air quotes with my hand as I explain what he said.

  I begin to tell them he’s been in there longer than the five minutes he said he’d be when the door to the shop opens, and he exits, sauntering towards the truck.

  “He’s coming,” I say to them, but my gaze is locked on his approaching form. The smile on his face is infectious.

  They say something, but I don’t hear it. The driver's side door opens, and I look him over with a questioning stare.

  “What did you do?” I ask.

  “Who are you talking to?” he replies, leaning over to see my screen. Hadley is waving back to him, and Pickle is just sitting there with an unimpressed look. I love how protective that girl is.

  “Hey, buttface!” Hadley calls through the phone.

  “Cool it with the buttface, or I won’t tell you what I just did for you.” He waggles his eyebrows at her. She immediately quiets, waiting impatiently for him to continue. “I could have, possibly, just talked to Nat about letting me hold a guest spot at his shop for the next few weeks.”

  “Weeks?” I gasp. He nods at me with a wink.

  “We’ll get together for lunch, and you can tell me your ideas for what you want, Hellion.” He pauses for a moment, “You too, Pickle, whatever you want.” He moves back to the driver's seat and starts the truck. Putting his arm behind my shoulders, he twists to look out the rear window, since this old truck doesn’t have a rearview mirror anymore. He backs the truck up and pulls off into the street. My eyes widen when he doesn’t move his arm and starts lightly drawing circles onto my neck with his thumb.

  “Sounds good! Text me when you get a chance, and we can set a lunch date for the three of us! Bye, Ry!” Her cheesy-ass grin makes me want to throw my phone, but she disconnects the call before I can tell her she’s a jackass.

  I relax into the seat as Grey continues lightly stroking my skin, unsure exactly what his touches mean.

  “Since it’s later than we planned, why don’t I drop you off, and I can pick you up in the morning.” His voice is gentle. ”We can grab breakfast, and I’ll drive you back to Dad’s. You can get your car tomorrow.”

  “That’s fine. I don’t have a shoot until Thursday, anyway.” I breathe out a sigh of relief.

  The sky turned dark while I was waiting for him at the tattoo shop, and I hadn’t been able to drive in the dark since Mom’s accident. It was so early in the morning the sun hadn’t come up, not that it had later in the day, as the rain had been steady for days leading up to the accident. She was on a back road with no street lights and couldn’t see the herd of deer on the road until it was too late.

  After another ten minutes of driving through our town, Grey approaches my place. I smile to myself, his fingers still caressing the base of my neck.

  “Thank you. I’d invite you in, but I need to edit a few things tonight.” I smile, the lie flowing so easily past my lips. I’m not sure where he’s going with his sudden interest, but I’ve got to protect myself. I open the door, and he squeezes the back of my neck possessively for just a moment before releasing me so I can slide out.

  “Night, Kitten,” he winks as I close the door, turning my back to him and walking towards my door. I don’t hear the truck pull away until I’m inside with the door closed and locked behind me.

  What the fuck.

  The birds are chirping too loudly for the middle of April, and I can’t help but think, in my semi-conscious state, they shouldn’t be back this far north yet. Prying my eyes open, I see flashes of light shining through my bedroom curtains. I roll over, groaning as I grab my phone to see the time. It is only five forty-five A.M. I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling, thinking about yesterday. It was so weird, Grey giving me little bits of attention I so desperately craved when I was younger. My feelings have never faded, but knowing he’s only here for a limited amount of time has my stomach in knots.

  Weeks.

  The memory of last night filters through my mind. He said he would be here for a few weeks. My mind whirls with the possibility that he could be staying longer for me. I shake my head, trying to toss the thought out the window. There’s no way he could be staying for me. He’s doing Hadley a favor. He’s always adored her. It only makes sense that he’d ensure he could give her the tattoo she asked for. If only he knew the reason behind it, why she wants her first tattoos now.

  After a few long moments, I moan in frustration and climb out of bed. I walk to my kitchen and pull out a bag of coffee from the cabinet. Filling a filter with enough grounds to make Lorelai Gilmore proud, I place the filter in the basket and put it into the machine. Having already filled the reservoir with water, I place the empty pot under the machine and press start. I sit staring at the rich, dark liquid as it trickles into the carafe. I close my eyes, inhaling the delectable aroma that fills the room. The bold, nutty scents infiltrate my senses as I pour the heavenly drink into my favorite Gilmore Girls mug.

  I take my time enjoying my coffee before heading to the bathroom to shower. I pull my nightshirt off over my head and peel my lace cheeky boyshorts past my hips and down my legs before they land on the floor between my feet. I pick them up along with my shirt and place them in the hamper. Stepping into the shower, I stand under the steaming water for a few moments, enjoying the heat seeping into my skin. I close my eyes as the water caresses my skin. I imagine Grey’s hands on me as I glide my fingers over my body, pinching my nipples so tightly, the pain sending a jolt of need straight to my core. My right-hand travels down my taut stomach to my pussy, lightly grazing my clit. I gasp at the contact. I continue teasing my nipples with my other hand, alternating back and forth between them. I open my eyes to locate the suction cup dildo I keep in a cabinet next to my shower. Opening the curtain to rummage through the cabinet, I find my trusty toy.

  I plunge it against the wall at the perfect height for me to back onto it. I close my eyes again, imagining Grey standing behind me with his hands gripping my hips as I back up to the toy, gently parting my entrance before I thrust back until it’s fully seated inside me. Crying out at the intrusion, allowing myself a moment to adjust since it’s been a couple of days since I felt the need to reach this type of release. I find a rhythm quickly that sends heat through me, my hand between my legs caressing my clit, applying the perfect amount of pressure. I continue fucking myself with my toy, sliding back and forth on the silicone cock. I find my release twice in a row as I continue fucking myself through the climax.

  Sated, I stand tall, cleaning myself and the length of the toy before turning off the shower. I grab a towel hanging from the wall, wrapping it around my hair before pulling the second one off the rack and drying myself before exiting. Securing the towel around myself before walking across the hall to my room. I grab a pair of teal floral yoga pants and a white cropped t-shirt from my dresser. Once the towel is loosened from my hair, I squeeze the excess water droplets before tossing it into the hamper next to my closet. I pull the shirt over my head, forgoing a bra, my damp hair lying across my shoulders. I toss the pants onto my bed and walk back to the dresser, pulling out a white lace thong. I finish getting dressed just as I hear a knock on the door. I rush out to open it, finding Grey there with two cups of coffee in hand. His lips twitch into a lopsided grin as he holds out one cup towards me.

  “Oh, hello, beautiful,” I giggle as I grab the cup from him.

  Chapter Eight

  “Oh, hello, beautiful,” she giggles as she takes her cup from my hand, the sound going straight to my dick.

  “Usually, I don’t like being called beautiful, but from you, I’ll make an exception.” I wink at her.

  "I thought it was obvious, I was talking to the coffee." She shakes her head, laughing at my response.

  “Can I come in for a minute before we head out? I need to use the facilities.”

  She steps aside, allowing me into her home. I look around and see a large sectional with a fleece throw and so many pillows covering the surface I’m not sure where the cushions begin or end. Photographs cover her walls; some of her mom, some of Jack, a lot of the girls. My lips twitch when I notice there are no pictures of any men apart from her brother. The thought quickly turns sour, though, when I realize there are also no pictures of me. Although, I guess I only have one person to blame for that.

  Way to go, asshole.

  “It’s down the hallway to the left,” she says, dragging me from my thoughts.

  I nod and place my cup on the coffee table in front of her couch. I stride down the hallway to the bathroom, stepping inside and closing the door. I empty my bladder while taking in my surroundings. I do a double-take when I notice something through the partially opened curtain, very bright and purple attached to the shower wall.

  “Fuck, Ry,” I groan as I tuck myself away, attempting to avoid the aching need growing even more apparent. I hear her footsteps approaching.

  “Is everything ok?” The panic in her voice startles something inside me that I’m not quite prepared for.

  “Yeah, Kitten. I just saw something I wasn’t expecting.” I wink at her as I slip past her into the hall.

  I hear a gasp and an audible pop as she disconnects the dildo from the shower wall. I chuckle, picking up my coffee from the table as she approaches. Her face is tinged a bright red with embarrassment.

  “You ready to go?” I smirk at her. She doesn’t speak. She walks past me, grabs her coffee, and walks out the front door. I follow past her and my lips twitch into a flirtatious grin as I watch her lock her door. Her eyes flick up to meet my gaze.

  “Stop looking at me like that. I’m not a kid anymore. Of course, I masturbate. Don’t try to tell me you don’t.” She rushes the words out, her embarrassment has turned into a defensive sass.

  “Oh, I definitely do. Multiple times a day since I’ve been back in town.” I grab her wrist and tug her into my chest. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Kitten. My reaction was because I never pictured you to be a purple toy kind of girl.” Her sweet scent fills my senses from having her so close.

  “What do you mean? What color did you-” she cuts herself off. “You know what, never mind. I’m already embarrassed enough. We don’t need to go there.”

  She tries to pull away from my grasp, but I don’t release her, instead lowering my head so my lips are right next to her ear before I whisper, “I always pictured blue, since it’s my favorite color.”

  She gasps and freezes in my hold. I grin against her ear before releasing her. “Time to go, Kitten. We have things to get done today.”

  Once we’re back at my dad’s house, Ryan goes to where she left off yesterday without saying a word. I follow her to the linen closet and move the box closer to her, before I head to Dad’s room and start clearing out his things. I spend an hour going through the things in his dresser. I open his closet, a flood of memories crashing into me. I didn’t realize Dad kept most of Mom's wardrobe; even her wedding dress still hung on the back of the closet door. I find her favorite sweater and take it from the hanger it’s been placed on for I don’t even know how long. I hug it to my chest. I think about her all the damn time, my heart aching for her to see what I’ve done with my life. I hated everything about this place since we found out she was sick with a brain tumor. A fucking brain tumor took out my mom when she was only thirty-six. She’d been complaining of headaches for months and refused to get checked out. She was always too busy helping Dad at the business or trekking back and forth to get me to soccer practice and games. It was a week before my fifteenth birthday. I was at a game when the police showed up to take me to the hospital. She collapsed while with my dad and had to be rushed to the ER by ambulance. There was nothing they could do. Once they found the tumor, they saw it was taking over the entire frontal cortex of her brain. She never regained consciousness, coding only ten and a half hours after arriving. I would give anything to see her again. To feel her arms around me. She always gave the best hugs.

  I feel a hand rest gently against my back and jerk away. I look behind me to see Ryan standing there with a concerned expression plastered on her face.

  “Grey?” she whispers. “I called for you but didn’t get a response. What’s this?”

  The question passes her lips as she looks into the closet and sees what I’ve been lost in for how long? A minute? An hour?

  “Oh, Grey.” She wraps her arms around my torso, pressing her cheek against my back.

  I wipe my face when I realize tears are freefalling from my eyes. “I’m ok, beautiful. I just didn’t realize how much of mom’s stuff he kept in here. I always thought he got rid of her clothes.” I take a deep breath. “It’s like I’m saying goodbye to her all over again.” I unconsciously press my hand against my pec that displays the first tattoo I got, an in memoriam for my mom.

  “Why are you holding your chest like that?” She gasps, jerking away from me. “Are you ok?” The worry in her voice sends a thrill to my dick, which needs to take a damn chill pill. It’s not the time.

  “I didn’t even realize I did that.” I offer a small smile. “It’s the tattoo I got for Mom. I guess I hold my chest when I think of her.” I turn around and pull her into me, relishing the closeness I so desperately need at the moment.

  Chapter Nine

  His arms wrap tightly around me, giving me a sense of safety and contentment I’ve never felt before.The people I dated since he left could never have me feeling this way. Yet, I’m supposed to be comforting him. I melt into his embrace, losing myself in the what-ifs his scent elicits. The sandalwood and juniper that are distinctly Grey meld together, reminding me that I've never been able to quite match his signature smell, no matter how many candles and lotions I've bought. I pull away before I can sink any deeper into the memories he stirs inside me.

  “Grey.” My voice is merely a whisper. “Let's finish this room tomorrow. We can work on the kitchen, instead.

  I grab his hand, linking our fingers, and his lips twitch into a smirk at the intimate connection. I lead him out to the kitchen, and we start working together silently. We clear out a lot of items, things his dad held onto after his mom’s death, plus things he accumulated in the years since. Grey does insist that we keep a few things, like his mom’s Kitchen Aid mixer and a random cake pan, but everything else will be donated. It really makes my job easy and we have everything packed within the hour. I order lunch when we are done and continue into the living room with him while we wait for our food.

  “Have you decided what you’re getting?” Grey’s voice breaks through the sounds of Disturbed’s “You’re Mine” coming from the Bluetooth speaker.

  “What I’m getting?” I stop what I’m doing to turn to him, raising a brow.

  “Ink. When I take care of Hellion and Pickle.” He chuckles at Pickle’s nickname.

  “I wasn’t planning on getting anything. I thought it was just for them.” I stutter.

  The truth is, I’d been thinking about getting a tattoo for a long time, but just couldn’t bring myself to take the leap. There’s only one person I trust to alter my body in such a permanent way, and now, he’s standing before me, asking for a chance to do exactly that.

  “Of course not, whatever you want. You got it.” His smile is sweet as he raises his hand to graze my cheek, brushing a strand of hair from my eyes and tucking it behind my ear.

  “Ok.” I respond without giving an actual answer. I’m not quite sure how to tell him why I’ve waited, but I know it’s going to come up when I tell him what I want.

  Thursday morning has come so quickly that I’m scrambling to get my gear in the car. My client requested multiple locations, so I’m meeting them at the first one. Hopping out of my Jeep, I walk up to find a beautiful human with long dark hair and a slim figure; however, all her beauty disappears the moment she turns around, and I see that it’s Raven, Grey’s high school girlfriend. This woman made my life a living hell in high school whenever the opportunity arose. It should be illegal that she’s as gorgeous as she is. Raven’s been going from man to man since they graduated and Grey left, making sure that the next one she ends up with has more money than the last.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19