“We’re half done already,” Buck replies. “And you’re doing great.”
“See? I told you.” I kiss her lips softly. “Breathe, Angel”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “Keep talking. It distracts me.”
I lower my lips to her ear again and keep whispering. Jesus, I had no idea that watching her get ink could turn me on like this. I feel like this is just as intimate as anything else we’ve shared.
“I want you,” I whisper. “I want you every day. And I’m not talking about sex, sweetheart. I want you.”
She smiles softly.
“I want you, too.”
“You have the cutest little freckle under your arm,” I continue. “I want to kiss you there.”
“The freckle would like that.”
“There are a thousand other things I want to do to you.”
“We have plenty of time for you to do those things,” she says around a wince when Buck glides the needle over a particularly tender spot. “Is he almost done?”
“I’m done,” Buck says and soaks a piece of gauze and washes the excess ink off. “You can go look in the mirror before I cover it.”
She jumps up and hurries to the mirror, then grins happily at Buck’s handiwork.
“It’s perfect. I love it.”
“Good.” Buck covers the wound and gives her instructions on after care. “You have this guy for questions. He’s an expert at tattoo care.”
“I’ve done my research,” she says and passes him her credit card. “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure.”
“Are you sore?” I ask as we settle into my car and drive away.
“A little,” she says. “But it’s not bad. It’s not a huge tattoo.”
“It’ll heal fast. What are your plans for the weekend?”
“Household chores, mostly. Laundry and grocery shopping. I thought I might read a bit.”
“Spend it with me.”
She smiles. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“I’m taking the weekend off of the gym,” I reply. “I need to stop by there to wrap up a couple of things for the week and then I’m all yours.”
“While you do that, why don’t I run home and gather some things for the weekend? It’ll be easier than bouncing back and forth for clothes and stuff.”
“I love a woman who knows how to multi-task.”
“Women are experts at multi-tasking,” she reminds me. “But I’ll need to borrow your Jeep.”
“No problem.” I pull up in front of my building and leave the keys in it as we both get out and meet on the sidewalk for a long kiss. “Drive safely.”
“Yes, sir.”
Her lips twitch in humor.
“I’ll be done here in about thirty minutes.”
“That’s perfect timing.” She kisses me once more and then walks around the car to the driver’s side, tossing me a sassy smile as she opens the door. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
I wave as she pulls away and then walk inside where it’s cool. There is one class in session, and another private lesson going on in the smaller dojo. Ethan is at the desk scowling at the computer.
“This credit card system is fucking annoying,” he says.
“Hello to you too,” I reply. “Get Bethany to do that stuff. That’s what I pay her for.” Bethany is our office girl, and she’s been with us for over a year. She’s good at her job.
“I gave her the night off. She and her husband have a wedding to go to tonight.”
“What about—” My phone rings, and I glance at the screen. It’s Van. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Ben?” She’s crying, and I’m instantly on high alert.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… I…”
“Slow down. What happened?”
“I’m so sorry, Ben.”
“Where are you?”
“About a mile from my house.”
“I’m coming to find you. Don’t hang up, Angel. Do you hear me?”
“Yes.”
Ethan throws me his car keys and I run out to his car. My heart is beating so fast that I can barely hear her through the rushing in my ears.
“Did you get into an accident?”
“I guess so.”
“Van? Talk to me, baby.”
“The brakes wouldn’t work,” she says and my blood runs cold. “I had to stop, but they wouldn’t work.”
I can see my Jeep up ahead, plowed into a traffic signal pole.
“I’m here. I’m right here.”
Chapter Thirteen
~Savannah~
Ben waves me off in the rear view mirror as I pull away from the curb, headed to my house. How long can we continue to maintain two houses? I mean, I don’t want to jump the gun or anything, and I know it seems fast, but I don’t want to sleep without him. We spend almost every night together anyway.
But the thought of selling my beautiful house, especially now that it’s finished being remodeled, doesn’t excite me. And I know that Ben has put a lot of work into his house too. It’s perfect for him. I doubt he would want to sell it.
And if this is the biggest issue in our relationship, I’d say we’re doing very well.
I smirk as the light ahead turns yellow and then red. I press my foot on the brake, but nothing happens.
Nothing fucking happens.
I grip the wheel tightly and try again, but his car won’t stop. It’s not even slowing down, certainly not enough to stop at the light.
“Oh my God.”
I can’t go through the intersection; I’ll cause a huge accident. There’s no one on the sidewalk, thank God, so I jerk the wheel and aim for a signal post, hitting it squarely.
The airbag deploys, smacking me in the face. I see stars and shake my head. Jesus, that hurt.
But all I can do is worry that I could have hurt someone.
“Are you okay?” Someone yells through the window. I try to open the door, but my fingers are shaking so violently, I can’t grip the door handle. Is that me breathing like I just ran a marathon?
“Open it!” I yell, and the stranger complies. The door opens, letting in fresh air and the smell of a crushed front end. “Damn it.”
“Hey, are you okay?” The stranger asks again, his voice full of concern. He lays his hand on my shoulder, not hard but with authority, making me stay in my seat when I would jump out of the car to survey the damage. “Is anything broken?”
“I don’t think so,” I immediately reply and feel tears spring to my eyes. “Oh my God.”
“It’s okay,” the stranger says. “I’ll stay with you until you calm down and someone comes to get you.”
“You’re nice,” I whisper and struggle to calm my breathing. “Why didn’t the brakes work?”
“Excellent question,” he says grimly and I reach for my phone to call Ben.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Ben?” Just the sound of his voice triggers the tears. I’m suddenly sobbing, and I can’t control it. I can barely speak, and I can’t pull any air into my lungs.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is on edge now, worried.
“I… I…”
“Slow down. What happened?”
“I’m so sorry, Ben.”
“Where are you?”
“About a mile from my house.”
“I’m coming to find you. Don’t hang up, Angel. Do you hear me?”
Thank God. Yes, come find me!
“Yes.”
“Did you get into an accident?”
“I guess so.” I glance around, but the airbag is in my way. I can barely see cars drive past and people gawking through their windows. Someone takes a picture. There are voices, but the stranger stands quietly next to me.
“Van? Talk to me, baby.”
“The brakes wouldn’t work,” I say as I try to catch my breath and calm down. “I had to stop, but they wouldn’t work.”
“I’m here.” I spin aro
und, looking for him, but I don’t see him. I step out of the car now, and the stranger must be convinced that I’m okay because he steps away, allowing me past him. “I’m right here,” Ben says.
A car I don’t recognize parks behind Ben’s Jeep and Ben jumps out of the driver’s side, running at me.
“Ben.”
“I’m here,” he says again and grips my shoulders in his hands, studying my face. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so. Just scared.”
He looks me over, satisfied with what he sees. I can hear sirens coming.
“Did someone call the police?” Ben calls out.
“I did,” the stranger who’s been with me says, making me frown. I didn’t hear him do that. “They’re on the way.”
“Thank you,” Ben says. He’s rubbing circles on my back, and I’m finally calming down. I wipe the tears from my face. “What happened?” he asks me.
“I pressed the brakes and they just didn’t respond.” I frown and study the steaming front end of his car. “I couldn’t chance running the light and hitting another car, so—”
“You did the right thing,” he says immediately and pulls me to him in the best hug ever. His hands are strong on my back, and his chest is solid against my cheek. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reply and kiss his sternum before looking up at him. “Just shook up. Airbags aren’t fun. I’m sorry about your car.”
“Fuck the car,” he says with a shake of the head. “You’re all I’m worried about, Angel.”
And cue the damn butterflies. Not to mention, tears are threatening again, but I take a deep breath and truly take mental stock of my body. My shoulder is a bit sore from the seatbelt, but otherwise I really do physically feel fine.
The police arrive and for the next thirty minutes I’m caught up in the hustle and bustle of giving a statement, Ben calling for a tow truck, and then handing me the phone with Beau on the other end.
“Vanny?” Beau asks. “Are you okay?”
“Ben told you I am,” I reply. The adrenaline has slowed down with the distraction of the police.
“I wanted to hear it from your mouth, sugar. Do you need anything?”
“No, we have it all under control. Thanks for asking, though.”
Ben has it all under control. But I’m proud of the way I didn’t fall apart. I mean, I had a moment because I’m a normal woman, but after the initial shock, I actually felt fine. Not scared shitless that Ben will hurt me because I broke his car, or yell at me, or shame me.
He’s caring for me, and it’s the sexiest thing he could ever do.
I end the call with Beau and once the tow truck takes the car away and the police leave, Ben leads me to the strange car and takes me to my house.
“Who’s car is this?”
“Ethan’s,” he says, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he pulls into my driveway.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Not even a little bit,” he replies before he cuts the engine and helps me out of the car and leads me up to my door. He waits while I unlock it and then follows me in. “You grab your things for this weekend and then we’ll take your car back to my place.”
“What about Ethan’s car?”
“I’ll arrange to have it returned to him.” He cups my face in his hands, and for the first time in my life, I see true fear in Ben’s eyes. “My God, you scared me.”
“Scared me too,” I whisper. “Have you had any issues with your brakes?”
“No.” His voice is flat. “I’ll have it fixed and sell it. I won’t have you drive it again. I can’t take the chance that this could happen again.”
“I’m sure it’s just a fluke.”
“I don’t give a fuck. You could have been hurt, or killed, and I won’t take that chance again.” He tips his forehead to rest on mine. “I’m so sorry, my love.”
“I’m fine,” I assure him and rub my hands up and down his back. “You took care of me.”
“That’s my job,” he says. His eyes are closed, but his body is still tight with adrenaline. I didn’t think it was possible to find him even more attractive than I did this morning, but fuck me, I want him.
“This might be the adrenaline talking,” I say as I walk him backward until his back hits my front door. “But I need to do something.”
He opens his eyes and frowns. “Okay.”
I nod and kiss him deeply, my fingernails digging into his arms as the kiss goes from hot to inferno in about three seconds. Finally, I pull away and kiss my way down his black T-shirt, to his belly. I unbutton his pants and am pleased to find that he’s not wearing any underwear. That sexy as hell piece of metal is winking at me.
“Van.” His voice is husky, full of lust. “You don’t have to.”
“Oh yeah. I do.” He’s already hard and heavy in my hand. The skin is smooth, and what he can do with this is ridiculous.
I’m about to thank him in the best way possible.
I lick the length of him, from balls to tip. I want to take it slow. To soak in the sounds he makes, and the way his cock twitches at my touch, but this moment isn’t for slow and easy. I’m too excited. I’m too revved up.
So I sink over him as far as I can and then I wrap my lips around him and pull up, my hand following the motion. His hands are fisted in my hair, he’s groaning words that I can’t make out, and I fucking love it.
I feel sexy and powerful as this strong, alpha man becomes putty in my hands.
And mouth.
“I’m going to come, Angel.”
I nod without skipping a beat, but he curses.
“Seriously, Van, I’m going to lose it and I don’t want to do it in your mouth.”
“Do it,” I reply and go back to licking and sucking, urging him on. He sucks air in through his teeth.
“Jesus Christ Almighty, you’re good at this.”
I smile brilliantly on the inside, not skipping a beat, and he suddenly comes, quivering with his release.
“My God, Van.”
“No, I’m no god,” I reply with a sassy smile as I stand and he zips up his pants. He’s watching me intently, his eyes on fire. “I just couldn’t help myself. You’re sexy as fuck, Ben.”
“I want you,” he says. His voice is deceptively calm and low. He stalks toward me, and I walk backwards. Not trying to get away from him, but wanting to see where he’s going with this. When my back hits a wall, he cages me in, leaning his hands on the wall at the side of my head. He kisses my forehead.
“Look at me.”
I comply, looking up at his handsome face. I can’t help but cup his face in my hands and enjoy the way the stubble feels against my palms.
“Hi,” I say. He smiles slowly, and then chuckles just before he kisses me soundly.
“You’re just full of surprises, Angel.”
“Well, I don’t want to be boring.”
He shakes his head, his eyes pinned to my lips. “You’re never boring. And I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but I’ll do my best to do it more often.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “Let’s say it was a combination of adrenaline and lust.”
“So we have to become avid thrill seekers.”
“No,” I reply. “I don’t need thrills to want you.”
“I want you every minute of every day,” he says. “I’d love nothing more than to boost you up against this wall and have my way with you.”
“Seems like a waste to not take advantage of this wall. It’s just standing here. We should use it for something.”
“You’re quite the smart ass today. I like it.”
I just smile and feel the loss when he pulls away from me.
“Come. Let’s get your things and get out of here. I want to take you out tonight, if you’re feeling up to it. If you’re not, we can just watch a movie or something.”
“Like, on a real date?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Cool!” I do a little shimm
y before I head up to my bedroom to pack. I’m definitely up for it. I feel like I could be up for anything right now. Adrenaline really is a thing. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll pack a pretty dress.”
“Don’t forget the heels!” he calls after me.
“Have you met me?” I yell back and smile at the sound of his laugh.
Tonight is going to be fun.
***
It’s windy this evening. I wore a flowy organza dress that I love because of the pretty yellow flowers embroidered in the material. But it doesn’t match well with wind.
I might flash someone, or everyone, in the Quarter, and that would be bad. Much to my ex-husband’s disappointment, I’m not an exhibitionist.
But here in the restaurant, I’m comfortable and feel sexy in this dress with my red peep-toe stilettos and my hair twisted up off of my neck. Ben keeps brushing his fingertips over the skin at the base of my neck, sending shivers down my whole body and puckering my nipples.
We’re waiting at the bar for our table to be ready, sipping a drink and just enjoying being close to each other.
“You’re sure you’re up to this?” he asks.
“Ben, I’m fine. My shoulders are a little sore from tensing up and the seatbelt, but other than that, I feel good. Also, you’ve asked me that about seven times. If I didn’t want to be here, I’d tell you.”
“Okay,” he says and kisses my temple. “You look so beautiful.”
I grin as he presses his lips to my ear. “I’ll be right back.”
He might as well have just said, take all of your clothes off.
“Okay.” I smile at him as he saunters away and take a sip of my lemon drop. Kate got me hooked on these when she moved to New Orleans a couple of years ago. I don’t drink often, but I think I’ve earned one or two of these after the day I just had.
“Hey there, sweet thing.”
I glance to my left to find a middle-aged, balding man standing next to me. He has something black stuck between his two front teeth.
I don’t reply, but he keeps talking.
“How many drinks do you think it would take to get you to come home with me?”
Lord Jesus.
I roll my eyes and turn to face him. He’s grinning, showing off that hideous hunk of food in his teeth. “There isn’t enough liquor in this bar to make that happen.”
His smile slips. “So I should just keep on walking by then?”