Page 12 of Inked Nights

Her eyes widened even more, and she blinked quickly. “Oh. Well, that’s nice to hear. Most guys are jerks about things like that even when they think they’re being sophisticated by saying something that contradicts that entirely.”

“I still can’t believe you’re Austin’s neighbor.”

“How…how do you know Austin, exactly? Because it’s weird that you know him. You know?”

He nodded, not taking a step closer to her, knowing they both might need space to keep their thoughts in order. The problem when he was near her was that he always wanted to touch her, and that didn’t make for easy thinking.

“I’m a tattoo artist at Montgomery Ink. I used to be a floater and would come in every month from a different city as I tried to get my credentials in order and build my portfolio. But you knew when I was in town since that time always coincided with our time.”

She didn’t say anything, but he didn’t really expect her to. There wasn’t much to say about the idea that they had an unusual arrangement—especially now that she wanted it to end.

He just hoped she didn’t really mean that.

“Now I’m here in Denver full-time. I used to live here when I was younger, moved away after school, and am finally here to stay. Austin and Maya, the owners of the shop, hired me on full-time, so now I have a steady income and all that.” He didn’t know why he was rambling, but hell, he had no idea what he should say to her.

How did he tell a woman that he still wanted her in his bed and wanted to see what they could possibly be outside of it, all the while knowing he might not ever be ready for a real commitment?

He’d lost a part of himself years ago when it came to someone he loved, and he wasn’t sure he could ever let himself feel what he needed in a relationship. Maybe he was a selfish bastard when it came to Olivia, but he couldn’t stop himself from wanting her, wanting more.

And that was the problem.

“They’re a good crew. Austin did some of my ink in the past.”

As Derek had licked over that ink, he’d admired the work, thought it looked familiar, and now he knew why. Small world.

“They’re the best. I’m just glad they let me stay.” He was silent a bit longer as he tried to think about what to say, what he wanted to say. He was good with words when it came to other people, but with himself and his own needs and desires? He was beyond lacking in that department.

Maybe if he could get his head around what he actually wanted, he’d be able to say what he needed to, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Worry covered her face, and he stepped forward, cupping her cheeks between his hands before he thought better of it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t either.”

“There are things I need to tell you.”

He nodded, his eyes on hers but not truly hearing the words. He was so damn selfish when it came to Olivia, and he knew it.

“Later.”

And because he couldn’t help himself, he kissed her, needing her touch more than the air he breathed. When she put her hands on his chest, he was afraid that she might push him away, but she didn’t.

Instead, she kept her palms on him, not pushing or pulling, just resting, so he took that as an agreement. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding through her hair as he pressed her back gently against the door. She moaned into him, and he pulled away slightly so he could bite down on her lip where she had before. When she let out a slight gasp, he licked over the sting and then sucked, loving the way her eyes darkened.

He kissed down her neck to her shoulder, tugging the strap of her bra over slightly so he could reach the spot on her skin that always made her shudder beneath his touch. He knew this part of her, knew so damn much, but yet he knew it wasn’t enough. Because there was more to life than great sex, and though he and Olivia had the best of it, he wanted more from her and with her.

Hadn’t he wanted more when he told her to call him Derek? That had been the trigger, he knew. The reason she’d pushed him away. And he needed to find out the why of it. Once he pulled away, once he was able to think clearly and not keep kissing and tasting her skin like he was currently doing, he’d be able to ask her, be able to find out more about her.

But he couldn’t stop his hands from going down her curves to cup her breasts, molding them in his big palms. And, yeah, he had big hands, but her generous tits overfilled them. He fucking loved that. He loved sliding his dick between them in the hotel shower as he fucked her tits and how she would lower her head to suck on the tip of his dick. It was always so damn sexy, and she was the one who usually initiated it since she liked it, too. Then he’d suck and bite on her nipples until she came without him even touching her pussy. He’d heard that was hard to do with women with larger breasts since, apparently, their nipples weren’t as sensitive in most cases, but not when it came to his Olivia.

He groaned at the memory of two months ago when he’d fucked her tits for the final time. He’d come on her skin, pearly liquid flowing down her breasts and over her nipples until he was spent. Then he washed her fully, making her come again with his hands and mouth.

They’d both been exhausted by the end of it and had curled up in bed together, only to wake a couple of hours later and make love again.

And then the two of them had parted ways, their only promise that there was to be no promises other than a month’s gap in time.