“Summers,” I said, my heart thumping hard. “What’s yours?”
“Kennedy.” Nyx laughed. “We did the getting-to-know-you shit a bit backward, didn’t we?”
I shrugged. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders, and I leaned in against her. The warmth, the comfort, made my chest tighten, threatening to overwhelm me in the best way. This wasn’t anything that could be fabricated.
“I had dated people for close to a year who I didn’t feel this comfortable with, who I didn’t feel like I knew. For once, I don’t think the timing matters.”
“Damn straight.” She squeezed me tight and pressed a kiss on the top of my head. Her casual affection set my heart fluttering. “And I’m excited as hell to learn all I can about you.”
“Same.” I surrendered to the soft incandescence blooming inside me.
I’d been muddling through for a while now, settling for less. However, from the moment I met Nyx, my monochrome world burst with color, and this thrill grew inside me. That I could not only ask for more but also could chase after what I wanted with all my might.
That the feelings flickering inside me might turn into a long-lasting flame.
Chapter six
Nyx
Iwas thrumming with energy this morning.
Last night, Becky had agreed to be my girlfriend, and after spending the rest of my evening in bed chatting, we’d passed out curled up with each other. I wasn’t an early riser, part of being used to a tattoo artist schedule, but I’d woken up with the sun today. Becky still lay asleep in my bed, and she looked so good there I was tempted to ask her to move in.
Which was fucking insane, given that we’d been on one date, so I swallowed the question back down and padded into my kitchen. We’d sat there talking for hours, and I’d learned a messload of things about her, every new little tidbit charming me more. Like that she thought bananas tasted like shit and she was part of a clown-hating club. She’d coaxed out my confessionthat I adored bouncy pop music and I vehemently disagreed with her about bananas.
Everything with her felt easy. I was used to hurdles, challenges to overcome, even from the outset with dating anyone new, and the way we tumbled into this was a rarity I wanted to clutch onto. I set the coffeemaker to brew and listened to the hiss of it percolating. The morning light streamed through the windows, and I basked in it. Today was a fucking good day.
I’d slung on a pair of panties and an oversized Pink Floyd tee, and I tugged on the hem, which barely reached my thighs. A thrill raced through me all over again that my date last night had ended with a new girlfriend.
Goddamn.
I’d been wanting to get back out there and try to find someone, but after getting burned a few dozen times by bad dates, I’d been gunshy about apps.
And then Becky had walked into Alchemy Ink and stole my damn heart.
“Are you brewing coffee?” She stood in the doorframe, a fucking picture in her panties and bra—and nothing else. Her pretty little tongue slipped out, and she ducked her head. “I didn’t have anything else to wear.”
“Wouldn’t mind you stripped down in my kitchen. It’d make it easier to eat you out on my counter for breakfast.”
Becky’s face flushed, and her blue eyes widened. “My god, that mouth. It’s like you’re trying to get me horny twenty-four seven.”
“Baby girl, I’ll eat you out whenever you want. If you’re feeling the slightest bit needy, just spread your legs, and I’m there.”
She fanned herself. “This whole giving me orgasms thing is dangerous. I might get addicted.”
“That’s the plan.” I grabbed mugs from my cabinets. “Want some coffee?”
She licked her lips and closed the distance between us. “I want one thing first.”
Becky leaned in and pressed her lips to mine. I sank into the kiss, the heat of her mouth, the softness of her lips a perfect addition to the cozy warmth of my kitchen. The delicate sunlight streaming through the windows was as ephemeral and fragile as this moment. I wrapped my hands around her waist and tugged her body up against mine.
All too easily, I could see our lives slotting together, puzzle pieces that fit. We both had busy work schedules, but we’d see each other any chance we got. She could come visit me at the shop or join me for the Alchemy Ink crew’s movie nights. And I could drop by hers whenever she wanted or take her out after a rough day. I savored the feel of her mouth against mine, the lazy kisses sending adrenaline sparking through me. She ran her fingers through my hair and let out a low moan. I swallowed it up.
When she pulled back, her eyes were the blue of a cloudless sky and just as transcendent. “God, I love this.”
“Me too.” I brushed my nose against hers.
My chest filled with bubbles, ready to burst, joy exploding through my pores.
