Gravity (Artistic Pricks Ink Book 1) (25 page)

Stopping myself, I lift her onto the couch and settle her ass on the edge. “I’ve been dying to do this for days, baby.” Pushing her thighs apart, I eye my destination greedily. My fingers run along her pussy, parting her lips. Every ounce of this delicious torture has me aching as badly as she is. Bending down, my tongue follows the path of my fingers, then I suck her clit into my mouth.

“Luke!” She cries, bucking her hips. Her eyes flutter closed as she palms her breasts in her hands, nearly making me come on the spot. Seeing her touch herself has to be the sexiest thing I have ever seen.

Pulling back, I watch her toy with her nipples. My thumb brushing her clit as I slip two fingers inside her, giving her a tease of what is to come soon. “That’s it baby, let me see your eyes as you fly apart. I want to hear my name on your lips when you do.”

Her eyes fly open, locking with mine. The brown flickers like hot embers, burning every inch of me. Her hips thrust upward and her thighs tremble. An explosion happens behind those beautiful eyes as she cries out my name. Her inner walls clamp down on my fingers like a fucking vise, holding onto me as she rides out her orgasm. Slowly, I bring her back to Earth before standing to my feet.

Grabbing the condom from my jeans pocket, I shove out of my pants and boxers. Leaning up on her elbows, Ki runs her tongue over her bottom lip anxiously. Her eyes making a steady trail down my body until they stop on my cock.

Ripping the foil, I roll the latex down my length before stroking slowly. Kionna climbs from the couch, pushing me to the chair. “I want all of you, right now. Nothing but you buried so deep inside me that the lines blur and all boundaries fade away,” she says, positioning herself above me.

Lowering slowly, Ki moans, making the breath rush out of my chest in a whoosh. My heads lulls to the back of the chair. Her fingers run along my arms, moving upward and dive into my hair. Pulling the strands, Ki brings my face to hers as she takes all of me inside her. Her mouth covers mine, our bodies moving in sync. With every move of her body, my hips thrust upward to meet her so our bodies don’t break their connection.

Kionna moans and writhes against me, already on her way to another orgasm. Opening my eyes, I take in everything as I watch the reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall. The way our bodies look together, how her hair skims along my body as she moves; it is like I’m watching my own erotic movie. Except this is real.

My balls tighten almost painfully at the sight of us. In pure desperation, I growl into her mouth and take control of the kiss. Wrapping my arms around her, with one hand on her hip grounding me, I hold her to me as she falls over the edge. Unable to do anything else, I pump my hips, frantically, following her over with my own release.

***

“That was, without a doubt, the darkest time in my life, Luke.” Ki says, now lying on my chest in bed. “When Mom died I threw myself into dancing, determined to feel anything but the misery. Then, when I lost that too, well that came damned close to breaking me. I lost her, only to lose the only thing that helped me forget that she was gone. I had nothing on my hands but time to think about all the things I couldn’t get back. I can dance again, but it’s not the same, you know?”

Once we were able to stand, we showered only to end up getting as far as the bed. After spending the last hour listening to her tell me about losing her mother and her accident, I can’t help but feel some of what she has lost. The small scar on the back of her knee fails in comparison to what the surgeons couldn’t fix for her. On the other hand, I see what she has overcome and who it has molded her to become. “I’m glad you told me.” I whisper as my fingers run through her hair while she traces my lion tattoo with her index finger.

“I’ve never told anyone that before.” She confesses.

“Thank you for giving me that piece of you. It’s safe with me,” I tell her, grateful for the trust she has given to me tonight. “I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to share that with me, but you have to know it means a lot to know you trust me with it.”

Looking up, her eyes meet mine and she nods. Brushing her lips over mine she smiles, her eyes full of unshed tears.

Tucking her against me, I listen to her soft breathing even out and fall asleep with a big ass smile on my face.

***

The next morning, I wake with Ki still sleeping at my side. Slipping from the bed, I cover her with the blanket so as not to wake her yet. Heading into the bathroom, I change into some of the clothes Mitch brought me a few days ago.

Once I am dressed and ready for the day, I head for the kitchen to make coffee in hopes of getting some shop paperwork done for Shelby before she gets in this afternoon. Mitch standing at the coffeemaker stops me in the doorway. “I have got to get that fucking door fixed,” I snap.

“Good morning to you too.” Turning, he hands me a mug before sipping from his own.

“Thanks,” I say before taking a drink. “You got Shelby home, yeah?” I ask, sitting at the table.

Mitch leans against the counter, crossing one ankle over the other. “If you mean did I drive her to her little house all while she proceeded to tell me that I have more dick in my personality than in my pants? Or maybe that, when she got out of my truck, she asked if I drive it because I am overcompensating for something else I lack?” Mitch groans and looks up at the ceiling. “What the hell is that supposed to even mean?”

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes, Luke I got her home safe’,” I say, ignoring his rant. “Now, what is it that brings you up here so fucking early?”

“Dude, it’s not considered morning anymore if you can’t get breakfast at a fast food joint,” he tosses out, placing his empty cup in the sink. Looking up again, his face goes serious. “I need tonight and tomorrow off.”

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I shrug. “I guess we can make that work. I mean, but why didn’t you ask sooner?”

“It’s April seventeenth, Luke.” Mitch says, and I instantly feel an inch tall. “I’m not going to be worth a damn to anyone for a few days.”

“I’m sorry, man. Do what you gotta do and call me if you need anything,” I reply. “I guess the days are getting away from me. I didn’t realize.”

“Thanks for understanding,” he says, giving me a nod then heads for the door. “Good seeing you happy, Luke. Glad she gives that to you because you deserve it.”

“Mitch?” I ask, but all I get in response is the slamming of the door behind him as he leaves.

Pushing to my feet, I dig through the cabinets until I find one of the only breakfast foods I can manage. Pop Tarts. Dropping them into the toaster, I top off my mug and wait for them to pop up.

“Hey, why didn’t you wake me?” Kionna asks slipping up behind me. Her arms circle my waist as she presses a kiss to my back.

“Thought you’d need your rest since you’re back on stage tonight,” I reply, spinning to face her. “Don’t know much about it, but I am guessing rest is important.”

“Yes,” she nods. “So is eating right, and taking care of my body. Especially my knee.”

The toaster pops and I grin. “Well, Miss Slade, you are in luck,” I say, turning to plate our breakfast. “I have the food aspect taken care of this morning. I also think I’ve been taking very good care of that body.”

“Not what I meant and you know it,” she teases, slapping my arm. “That’s why I do yoga and other things. It keeps my body loose.” Grabbing a Pop Tart from the plate, she scowls at me. “Not one word, Prick.”

“Fine, but we both know you’re thinkin’ it too,” I shrug. “You can always do your yoga down in my office while I do paperwork. I’ll supervise.”

Taking my coffee, Ki shakes her head. “I don’t think so. Go do your paperwork and I’ll come down when I’m done. I want to watch someone get a tattoo.”

“You know,” I nuzzle her neck before placing a kiss behind her ear. “I could give you one,” I purr suggestively.

“I can’t,” she informs me, her voice cracking as my hands roam her body. “They’re not allowed because of what we wear.”

My lips run along the outer shell of her ear. “Another perk to my space being separate from everyone else’s, I can get creative with my placement.” Cupping her behind, I press against her. “I’ll get you on my table, Kionna.” I say smugly, placing a kiss on her lips. “Come down when you’re done, I’ll see about getting someone to ink.”

When she nods, I kiss her again and head down to the shop to get some work done and rework the schedule while Mitch is off. If I have enough time before she comes down, I will start sketching an idea I have for Kionna’s first tattoo.

I spend two hours stretching and working my body. Not dancing for over a week has taken its toll. My muscles burn as I push them, but it feels good at the same time. Last night, with Luke, something changed. Which means everything will. It also means there are things we have to talk about as soon as possible. First, I need to talk to Kelly. Which leads to me to put my plan into action.

I will talk to her tonight and then once I get back from work, Luke and I are going to sit down so I can clear the air and remove the last secret there is between us. I should have told him already; God knows I should just go and tell him now, but I can’t. Not with Kelly’s rules in place. Part of me needs this to be all out in the open, but the other part is afraid he can’t handle it. Afraid it will be something he can’t handle and he would walk away. I don’t want to lose him.

You’ll never really have him until it’s all out in the open, Kionna.

Once I shower I put on a pair of jeans and t-shirt that belonged to Cam. I am grateful for them being here, but will be relieved when I can wear my own things again. Slipping into my sneakers, I grab my phone and power it on.

Instantly, there are a ton of text messages popping up but I ignore them. Instead I dial Kelly’s number and wait for her to answer.

“Hello Sweetness,” Kelly sings into the phone. “Are you good to come back to work tonight? I miss your face.”

“I’ll be there,” I confirm. “Everything been smooth there, yeah? No problems?” I ask, hoping my problems aren’t affecting business for everyone else.

“Don’t worry,” Kelly soothes. “Everything has been aces here. Besides, I’d never blame you for that. You didn’t ask for this, did you?”

“No, I just hate it. That’s all. Can you carve out some time to talk before my sets?” I ask. “It’s important.”

“Nothing wrong, is there?” She asks, concern lacing her voice.

“No, nothing like that.” I reply. “It’s about the guy I was telling you about.”

“Okay, we’ll catch up tonight. Everything is going to work out,” she replies, yelling something to someone before she sighs. “Now, I’ve gotta run. I’ll see ya in a bit, yeah?”

“Yeah, see ya later,” I say before ending the call and heading downstairs to find Luke.

“Now it’s a party.” Shelby calls from behind the desk when I step out of the hallway. “Please Ki, come save me from all the testosterone in here.”

“Do you expect me to believe that you don’t love it here with all the guys?” I ask, with a wink.

She shrugs, looking around at the guys in their stations. “Once I’ve had more coffee, they’ll do just fine.”

Luke’s eyes catch mine from Skinner’s station where he sits in a chair. “You’re just in time. Come here,” he shouts waving me over.

“Are you serious?” Shelby asks, when I turn and walk toward Luke. “Chicks before dicks! I can’t believe this.”

Skinner jerks his chin up at me when I walk in and stop beside Luke. “‘Sup, Ki?”

“Hey, Skinner,” I say, watching him working on the outline of a hummingbird on a woman’s foot.

Luke’s arm wraps around my waist, pulling me into his lap. “You wanted to watch,” he says into my ear. “Michelle, here, is a regular of Skinner’s,” he explains, pointing to the pretty blonde lying on the table. “She’s cool with us hanging out.”