Inked on Paper (18 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jake

Two hours passed while I sat at that ice cream shop with Presley, and during that time, I’d secretly hoped the night would never have to end. Perhaps that made me sound like a pussy, but it was the truth. Knowing I would be going back to my condo only to stare at the blank page made it easy to pretend we could’ve sat there for hours, talking and laughing.

Did I mention she had the sweetest laugh?

And maybe we could’ve stayed right there in our own little piece of the night, but when Presley yawned, I knew I needed to get her back home. We’d long ago finished our milkshakes and moved on to coffee, but it was obvious she needed some rest.

“You ready?” I asked.

“You noticed that, huh?” She smiled, her gray eyes glittering. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. There’s always tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow, huh?” Her smile widened.

And the next night, and the one after that…

This woman… I could sit here all night long and just watch her. She was very expressive. The way she watched people, the way she spoke, even the way she looked at me. It seemed that everything she was thinking was written right there on her face.

“Come on,” I urged, moving to the edge of my seat and getting up. I waited for her to do the same, then helped her into her coat before pulling mine on. I’d already paid the bill, but I pulled a twenty out of my wallet and tossed it on the table.

“Thanks for the milkshake,” she said when we made it outside onto the sidewalk that would lead us back to the tattoo shop.

“Anytime.” And I meant that. I wanted to see her again.

Before we made it far, Presley looked up at me. “Would you mind just walking me home? It’s closer, and I can get my bike in the morning.”

“Not at all,” I told her.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, and this time I was bold enough that I took her hand, reveling in the softness of her palm against mine. The closer we got to our building, the less I wanted to get there.

I continued to replay our conversation over and over in my head. Although it had started out a little awkward—I’d never engaged in a one-night stand and then sought the woman out afterward—things had progressed. I didn’t want last night to be a one-time-only thing with Presley and I needed to tell her that.

Before I knew what I was doing, I stopped on the sidewalk.

“Something wrong?” she asked, looking around as though trying to find the threat.

“Yeah,” I told her, swallowing hard before I led her around to the side of one of the buildings.

Her eyes widened as she stared up at me, the shadows engulfing us completely.

“About last night—”

Presley cut me off before I could say more. “Please don’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I do.” I kept my voice firm, cupping her face and tilting her head so she had to look at me. “I won’t lie and say I wasn’t disappointed when you left.”

“It was a mistake,” she whispered, but I could see in her eyes she didn’t really think that.

“It
wasn’t
a mistake,” I countered. “Not by a long shot. And I want it to happen again.” I continued quickly before she could interrupt. “But not until you’re ready. We can start over.”

“Start over? Isn’t that a little awkward?”

“Not for me it isn’t.”

She didn’t say anything, but I could practically see the wheels turning in her head.

“Presley…” My eyes drifted down to her lips. “I…”

I had intended to tell her that I wanted to kiss her, wanting to seek her permission, but the words never came out. The next thing I knew, I had pressed her up against the wall, my mouth on hers. Her hand released mine and I thought she was going to push me away. Instead, she shoved her hands beneath my jacket, pulling me closer until I was crushing her between the brick wall and my body.

“Jake,” she moaned against my mouth.

That did it for me. I lost every ounce of control I had, slamming my mouth over hers in a brutal kiss that stole the air from my lungs and hers. Presley returned the kiss, her tongue thrusting against mine, her fingers jerking my shirt up, sliding beneath. When her cold hands hit my overheated skin, I hissed but didn’t pull away.

Fuck.

I’d wanted to kiss her lips since the minute I’d seen her in the coffee shop, and the few minutes I’d had last night hadn’t been nearly enough. I’d relived every second, remembering what her mouth had felt like against mine, but this was so much better. The cold metal on her lip piercing slid against my lip, the barbell in her tongue hitting my tongue. God, she was so fucking sweet, her body warm, pliant as she strained against me, trying to pull me closer, though we were as close as we could get. While dressed, anyway.

Not wanting things to get too out of hand, I finally managed to pull back, looking down at her. My hands framed her face, our breaths mingling as our eyes locked. I knew where this was headed, knew I needed to do something to slow it down, to at least put the brakes on before I ruined everything, but I didn’t want to.

Somehow, I managed to step away from her, hating myself when her hands fell from beneath my shirt. Rather than dwell on it, I took a deep breath and tucked her hand in mine once more.

“Starting over,” I told her, smiling. “You down for that?”

Her smile surprised me with its intensity. “Yeah. I think I am.”

“Come on,” I said, my voice rough. “Let me get you home.”

As we neared our building, I noticed her fingers were cold, so I tucked her arm under mine and enveloped her small hand in both of mine, warming it as we continued to make our way down the fairly deserted sidewalk. We didn’t talk about last night, or even about that kiss a few minutes ago, but there was definitely more sexual energy sparking between us, intensifying with every step.

“This is me,” she said, stopping in front of the first building we came to when we crossed the street.

I looked up and realized we were there. I’d lost all sense of where we were sometime in the past few minutes. She did that to me.

“I’ll walk you up,” I teased.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said, looking up at me, her hand still tucked in mine.

“Trust me, I do,” I assured her, and not only because we lived on the same floor. I didn’t want to leave her just yet.

With a simple nod, she led me into the building, then to the elevator. The lobby was empty except for the security guard sitting at the desk. He didn’t even look up from his computer screen.

A minute later, we stepped out of the elevator and I followed her to her door. Before she could open it and disappear, I stopped her.

“Thanks for tonight,” I said softly, cupping her face in my hand. I couldn’t resist the urge to touch her. She was so small, my palm cradling most of her face while I stared down at her.

I’d thought about this woman for almost three weeks, imagined all the ways I wanted to touch her, explore her, and for now, this was good. Last night, though… I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget what she’d tasted like, how she’d felt wrapped around me, didn’t think I’d ever stop thinking about how amazing it had felt to have her body against mine.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” she replied just as quietly, her eyes locked with mine.

I wanted to kiss her again. No, I
needed
to kiss her again.

And as I leaned down, tilting her face up to meet mine, I prayed I’d be able to keep myself under control. When her arms slid beneath my jacket, her hands gliding up my back as our lips met, I questioned myself. It damn sure didn’t help when she whimpered softly as I licked my way into her mouth, tilting her head slightly as I controlled the kiss.

Fuck. So good. So sweet. So…

Another moan escaped her, and I knew I would have to put the brakes on or I’d lose my sanity. As much as I liked her, I had meant it when I said we would start over. This time, I wanted to do things right. I didn’t want to move too fast because … well, because that never did work out well.

For me, it really was all about the foreplay.

I pulled back, then pressed my forehead to hers, trying to regain some semblance of my composure. Not an easy feat when she kept her arms around me, her breasts crushed against my chest. I was breathing hard, but so was she.

For the second time tonight, I managed to force my feet to move back, releasing her as I did. Her arms fell from around me and I stared down into her wide eyes. Her lips were swollen from our kiss and it made me want to kiss her again. This time, starting at her toes and working my way up.

Fuck.

“I should go in,” she whispered, turning slightly and angling her head toward her door.

“Maybe I’ll see you for coffee in a few hours.”

“I’d like that,” she said.

I was taking a step back, prepared to call it a night, when Presley turned back toward me. “I … uh…”

“Good night, Presley,” I told her, fighting the need to reach for her again as I slowly backed away.

She stared at me, the heat in her gaze making my heart race. And then she cleared the distance between us, forcing me back against the opposite wall when she crashed into me, her mouth finding mine when I reached for her. Hard. Urgent. A kiss so potent I thought for a minute I’d lose my balance. But I regained my senses as our tongues dueled and I held her to me, spinning us so that she was against the wall, my hands sliding down to cup her sweet little ass. It was an involuntary reaction, fueled by instinct and the desire that ripped through me.

“Jake.”

The way she said my name… Holy shit. This woman was going to be the death of me.

We made out in the dimly lit hallway for several minutes before we both took a step back, both desperately sucking in air.

“I’m going in now,” she said, a full-fledged smile on her lips.

“That’s probably a good idea.” Or I was going to risk stripping her right there in the hallway and fucking her up against the wall.

Like I said, she brought out my baser urges.

I waited as she unlocked the door and pushed it open, but before she stepped inside, I heard it.

“Oh, Gil! Fuck me! Harder!”

Giggles followed and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Presley rolled her eyes and I could tell she wasn’t looking forward to going inside. I couldn’t blame her. There was a chick in there screaming like a banshee. Shit,
I
didn’t want to go inside.

“Let me see your phone,” I blurted before I knew the words were coming out.

Presley’s eyebrows knitted in question, but she reached in her pocket and retrieved her phone.

I quickly typed in my contact information, then called my phone so that I would have her number as well. Maybe a little forward of me, sure, but I couldn’t resist. I did not want to go another minute without being able to talk to her.

As it was, I didn’t want to leave and I lived next door.

“Coffee,” I reminded her. “If you’re up for it.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

Presley smiled, taking her phone back when I held it out. Our fingers brushed, and I was tempted to pull her back into my arms, but I resisted, promising myself that I wouldn’t do anything to fuck this up. Although keeping my hands off her was likely going to be the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life.

Looked as though we were safe. For now.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Presley

Closing the front door, I took a moment to lean against it, my fingers on my lips as I relived that kiss once again.

I knew one thing for certain… Jacob Wild could kiss as well as he could write, perhaps even better. Not once in my twenty-eight years had I ever had a kiss like that. One that consumed me on all levels. Hell, I hadn’t been able to resist kissing him again, actually throwing myself at him before he could slip away.

To top it off, he’d done the noble thing and left me at my doorstep when he could’ve lingered long enough for me to invite him in. I’d been tempted to.

Even now, knowing he was right next door, it was hard to resist the urge to open that door and go to him. Especially when I heard Gil’s overnight guest chortle at the top of her lungs. Except now the mood was gone. That eerie squeal was a turnoff like no other.

“Oh, God! Yes. Like that, Gil. Just like that.”

Pushing away from the door, I went straight to my room, closed and locked my bedroom door, turned on the radio as loud as I dared, then went to take a shower. Twenty minutes later, I felt a little better. Less worked up. Though that had been thanks to the handy dandy removable showerhead, some exquisite thoughts of Jake, and the amazing things a stream of water could do when directed at my clit.

Luckily I’d washed before I’d gotten creative with the water. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure I’d have had the energy to.

One orgasm later, I was clean, dressed, and ready for bed.

Well, I would be once the acrobatics ceased in the room next to mine. Until then I would have to occupy myself with…

My phone chirped and I snatched it from my desk, peering down at the screen.

I smiled at the text message from Jake, which showed to be coming from Chapter One. He’d entered it into my phone that way. I liked that.

I knew I should’ve invited you to my place.

Stacking the pillows against my headboard, I dropped onto my bed after grabbing my headphones and putting them in my ears.

I responded to the text with,
Yes, you should have. The noise over here is scary.

I briefly wondered whether or not he could hear it. If our condos shared a wall, it was possible. I hoped for his sake that wasn’t the case.

While I waited to see if he would respond, I thought back to our date. Could it be called a date? It felt like one, but it’d been so long since I’d gone on one I wasn’t sure if it qualified or not.

Next time, feel free to invite yourself. I’ll never turn you down.

Laughing, I felt my face heat and my stomach do a strange flip. I liked the flirting thing. It was one of the things I’d missed about dating. Sure, sex was high on my list of things I missed, but truthfully, the buildup was always the fun part.

I typed:
I guess you made it home safely?

The boogie man did not get me in the hallway, if that’s what you want to know.

Thank goodness. I was worried.

I wasn’t sure I’d smiled this much in a long time. I felt like a teenager, anxiously waiting for a response.

Maybe you should come tuck me in.

The thought of that made my pussy clench in need. My imagination conjured up an image of Jake naked and waiting for me in his bed.

I typed:
I would, but…

But what?

Did I dare? I stared at the screen, contemplating whether or not I wanted to take this where it seemed to be going. Something about Jake kept me on edge, a need unlike anything I’d ever felt coursing through me. But I had to remind myself that it was only sexual attraction. I’d been reading his books, and somewhere along the way, I had started getting caught up in the happily ever after. I didn’t want to go that route, didn’t need to get in that mindset when the only thing that was on the table here was sex.

Sex for the sake of sex.

That was all.

“Screw it,” I said to myself as my fingers flew over the letters on the screen.

After my shower, my legs are a little weak.

Hopefully he understood where I was headed with that.

Girl, you’re gonna be the death of me. Tell me more. In vivid detail. Spare nothing.

I laughed at that. I couldn’t help it.

Here was a man who knew how to write a sex scene that could make a woman spontaneously combust, and I was supposed to tell him about my shower.

Hmm.

I typed:
The water was warm.

How warm?

Very. Especially when…

Presley… Girl, don’t leave me hanging.

I blushed as I typed the next words:
Especially when I aimed the spray at my clit.

Jake’s response was instant:
Oh, fuck. Don’t stop now.

I thought of your hands, your lips… And when I came…

My body had heated several degrees as I sat there in my bed, waiting for Jake’s response, suddenly wishing he had invited me back to his place.

You’re a naughty girl. And I fucking love that about you.

My heart gave an extra hard kick in my chest.
Yeah?

Definitely. I want to see you again.

When?

Now.

It would be so easy to give in. I knew I just had to say the word and Jake would probably be right back at my door, ready and willing to lead me back to his place.

Another text came in before I could respond.

But coffee’s good, too. And maybe tomorrow night I’ll save you from the noisy roommate.

Even knowing this was moving fast, I still couldn’t resist.
I’d like that.

Good night, Presley. See you at seven?

I didn’t bother telling Jake that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Instead, I ended the conversation with,
Seven works.
Night.

Flopping over onto my bed, I stared at my phone screen for the longest time. And before I allowed myself to drift off, I set my alarm for six thirty.

Because, even though I knew I shouldn’t, I definitely intended to see him again.

Soon.