A sliver of light came through a gap in the curtains from a streetlight outside, just enough that I could see her grab the hem of the t-shirt and pull it over her head.
She leaned forward to kiss me, soft and slow, as her hand came around to hold my length by the base. She slowly moved her hips so my cock entered her, then she lowered herself until she was fully seated.
Ecstasy radiated from where we were joined and out to allof my limbs. Silken heat hugged my shaft, creating smooth friction as Meredith started to move.
Sensation overcame me even before I reached up to cup her breasts.
She grabbed my hands and held them where they were, encouraging me to tease her nipples while she rode me.
She put her head back; the light casting a shadow across her bare chest. “Feels so good,” she whispered.
I kept one hand on her chest, caressing her peaked nipple, and brought the other to her hip, gripping it in my hand and thrusting up just as she came down.
“Fuck,” I said, pushing my head harder into the pillow. I braced my feet, thighs flexing as I force my hips up to meet hers.
She leaned forward enough so her pelvis was grinding against mine every time she moved, adding friction where she needed it most.
“Going to come,” she mumbled, then her back was arching and her mouth dropped open. Seeing her let go had me reaching the finish line, too.
“We forgot to use protection, but I’m on the pill and I’m clean,” Meredith assured me. Her head was resting on my chest, and she was running her hand through the hair between my pecs.
“I’m clean.”
She pushed up on her elbow to look at me. “If you and I are going to be together, I guess we don’t have to worry about condoms?”
There was a hint of vulnerability when she asked, so I held her eyes when I answered. “It’s going to be just you and me.” I pressed my forehead against hers, and we sat like that, breathing the same air.
I listened to the tick of the clock and the sound of Meredith’s breathing as it evened out and slowed. The light from the window illuminated a strip of her arm where it rested against my chest.
Growing up, feeling like my home wasn’t a safe place, needing to escape into a sketchbook just to keep myself sane, I never could have dreamed of where I’d be now. I painted cars at a shop with a group of guys I considered family.
I had a creative outlet with another group of people who meant the world to me.
I’d get to spend my nights with my arms wrapped around the woman I was falling for. Help her get her dreams, whatever they may be, off the ground. Enjoy her sharp wit, her wicked humor, and the kind of curves that could ruin a man’s focus. My life hadn’t exactly played out like a fairytale, but with her beside me, it finally felt like the story made sense.
Epilogue - Six Months Later
Meredith
Luke wolf-whistled at me as I came out of the bedroom dressed in my favorite pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse. “How am I supposed to leave you to go to work when you look this good?” He wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed the side of my neck.
I laughed. “Well, I have to go to work too, so we’re both suffering.”
He pouted. “Make it up to me tonight?”
“It’s a promise.” I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him.
It had been four months since I had officially launched Springwood Marketing Strategies, a business consulting company that was basically just me and my laptop that barely holds a charge. Today I was heading to Warrior Club Gym to meet with the owner, Jax, about attracting some more clients.
Business had been slow, but I branched out and did a bit of design work for businesses, and it was enough to get by.
It helped that I lived with Luke. We had three incomes between the two of us, and our favorite pastime was free and involved nothing but bare skin.
The meeting with Warrior Club went well. As I was leaving, I got a text from Roxy.
Defcon 1…or 5, whichever the bad one is, need you at the shop asap!
I didn’t have any texts or calls from Luke on my phone. Maybe he was in the paint booth and didn’t know about whatever was going on at the shop. Think Ink was only a few blocks from Warrior Club. I tried the front door, but it was locked. The lights were all out inside. I checked my watch. They were open from ten to six, and it was noon. Something was up.
