Surrender of a Tattooist: Obsessive Dark Romance Alpha Bad Boy (Tattooist Series Book 2) (7 page)

“They think you’ll fall in love with kids if you are just exposed to them more.” She opted to change the subject, just slightly. “How many siblings do you have?”

“I’m one of three. My sister died in Afghanistan a few years ago so it’s just me and my brother now.”

Sympathy hit hard. “Oh, that’s awful. I’m so sorry.”

Cliff sighed as he watched the waves. “It was really hard at first but it gets easier all the time. It was really hard on my folks; they never wanted her to joining the military in the first place and they blame themselves, which is stupid and pointless, but it’s what all parents do.”

“I imagine they would. That’s another reason to not have kids, if you ask me. What do you do if they die before you?”

He turned and looked into her eyes. His beautiful ocean blue ones held her there. “Tell me… are you afraid of death too?”

“Yes,” she said promptly. “I hate it and I’m afraid of it. Isn’t everyone?”

“Sure. I’m afraid of it, that’s why I am determined to live as much as I can. I don’t know if I’ll get to come back and get a do-over, so I might as well make it count for something.”

“You have a good point.”

He smiled and slid an arm under her head. She closed her eyes and let the sun lull her into a semi-awake state. The scent of his body and the sea, and the good strong heat lying across them, the coolness of the shade, it all combined to make her sleepy and content.

When she opened her eyes it was to see that quite a few people had left. Cliff blinked sleep from his eyes and asked in a groggy voice, “Do you want to go back in?”

She took a look at the surfboards standing nearby. She peeked out from under the umbrella to judge the time. It was about five or so if she was right, which meant they’d dozed for at least an hour. The shade had started to recede, and they were lucky they had woken up when they did, otherwise they would both be sporting sunburns on their ankles and calves. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

They did. They took the boards out, swimming far out and waiting for the waves. They rode a few and got knocked off their boards a few times too.  By the time they made it back in, they were panting and spent and the beach was even more deserted than before, with just a few hardy souls still braving the heated sand and the cooling waters.

They showered at the outdoor showers and Pixie giggled as Cliff held the blanket up around her so she could change, and then she held the blanket for him.

Once they were both dressed, Cliff said, “Do you want to go to a party?”

She eyed him cautiously. “What kind of party?”

“You know Mitch Rider, right?”

“Yeah, he goes to the shop a lot. Famous dude, but really nice.”

“He invited us, the guys at the shop and our dates, to a party at his place. Very casual, not at all black tie or fancy.  I think he said something about a barbecue and beer.”

“That sounds awesome.” She loaded the rest of her things into the truck. “Where is it?”

“At his house in the Hills. He’s moving out of it because he’s getting ready to move back to Nashville, so I guess he figures he might as well throw one more party in there.”

“I would.”

Cliff grinned. “Me too.”

They climbed into the truck. The sun had darkened their skin and she could feel the heat rising up from her body. Cliff’s hand found her upper thigh, just below the edge of her ragged denim shorts. She looked down at his hand, enjoying the sight of it on her skin. She said, “I never asked you back. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?”

Cliff started the truck. “I don’t know. I love California. I’m a California guy through and through, and I don’t really want to go anywhere else. Europe doesn’t appeal to me, and I traveled when I was a kid. I wouldn’t mind taking that cruise, though, but as far as having an exact destination in mind—nothing catches me as somewhere I want to go.”

“I love it here too,” she said. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s not perfect. It’s crazy expensive. There’re earthquakes. There’re too many people and not enough jobs sometimes. There’s a lot of division between the haves and the have-nots. But I do love it.”

Cliff spread his hand out across the view through the windshield. “What’s not to love? The weather’s awesome and the scenery will knock your eyes out. There’s no winter to speak of, and the people are generally friendly.”

“I can’t even imagine living back home again. It’s all flat land and no trees. No ocean either.”

Cliff took a few turns and got onto a less congested highway, then they drove higher into the hills. Pixie laughed. “Beware of mountain lions,” she said, “I always forget that sign is there until I see it.”

“It’s just part of L.A. Sharks wear suits and mountain lions stalk multi-million dollar homes. It’s crazy.”

Pixie watched the mountain lion in the seat beside her. “When I was flying in, I looked down and all I could see were the freeways and the buildings and so many neighborhoods spread out so far. I was scared to death, worried about how I was going to make a life here in all of that.”

“You’ve done a good job of it.”

The praise, casual but well-meant, made her happy. “Thank you. I live with my heart on my sleeve. Not always smart, but I don’t know any other way.”

“I can’t imagine you any other way.” He smiled and put his hand back on her thigh.

They rode the rest of the way to Mitch’s house in a comfortable silence. When they arrived, it was to see a lot of other cars, including Hawk’s. The guy at the gate let them in and they parked not far from the entrance; the place was already packed. Hand in hand, they headed around the back of the semi-modest home perched on the hill. People were dancing wildly to live country music, others gathered around a giant smoking barbecue grill that Mitch was manning.

Pixie moved towards the pool, but had no intention of swimming; she’d had enough at the beach, but she saw Joy by pool.

“I’ll go grab us a few beers.”

Pixie squeezed his hand before he let go. “Sounds good. I’m going to go see Joy.” She kissed him on the cheek as Cliff headed for the beer and few other guys who worked with Hawk.

Joy waved as Pixie came up to her. “How was your date?”

“Good. Too good.” She took a seat next to Joy, who looked amazing in a black halter and shorts. “He’s a really nice guy, believe it or not.”

“Oh, I believe it.” Joy surveyed Cliff over the top of her designer sunglasses. “Hawk has a sort of sixth sense when it comes to people.”

“I know. I’m so glad the two of you are together. Maybe I should start a matchmaking service or something.”

Joy laughed. “Or maybe not. Do you remember when you set up Melissa and Dan? They wound up—”

“Yeah, you’ve got a point there.” Pixie interjected hastily. The party was in full swing and she was content to just sit and watch as others had a great time. She was tired in a good way, relaxed in a way she hadn’t been in a very long time.

Mitch ambled over. “Hello, ladies. You both look lovely sitting here. Pixie, I’ve got veggie hamburgers and hot dogs. If you can call those things hamburgers and hot dogs, that is. I’ve got a second grill just for them but I have no idea how to cook them. Could you give me a hand? Cliff said you were an expert.”

She smiled and stood, giving Mitch a hug. “Of course.” She went to the grill and checked it to make sure it was good and hot, and started adding the veggie things to it. Cliff came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. His body pressed against hers and she shivered as yet another thrill of desire ran through her.

He handed her a cold beer and kissed her lips after she’d taken a sip. He moved away again and she continued to grill the food then set it on plates. People were helping themselves to what they liked and she spotted Cliff unabashedly tearing into a half rack of ribs. She chuckled and made herself a vegan hot dog, and ate it while wandering through the crowd.

Cliff waited until she was done talking to a few people and caught her by the hand. He led her out onto the concrete apron of the pool and pulled her into his embrace. He moved slowly, keeping time to the slow beat coming from the radio. The way his body moved was exciting, and she could feel the hard thrust of his cock against her lower belly. His hands rested on her back, and his fingers spread along her shoulders and then they moved lower.

His fingers pressed into the hard knobs of her spine, loosening the tension there. Her head rested against his shoulder, and their bodies swayed and met and moved apart.

It was slow and sensual, and she forgot that there were so many other people there. It was just her and him, and the sound of the music. The cool air filled her nose and she sighed softly as his body met hers again, bringing the feel of his cock back to her.

He growled, “I want you.”

She could barely breathe. “I want you too. But…”

He broke off their dance. The yard was dark now and many people had moved indoors. Yellow rectangles of light filled the yard, and they skirted them as they headed for a low wall.

“What are we doing?” she whispered.

“Going over the wall, of course.” He took her hand and the crossed the low stone wall. The canyon stretched far below and she stared at the edge of it. Cliff pointed to the city far below and she stared down at the lights, entranced by the sight. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Stunning.” She glanced at him before turning her attention back to the city below.

Cliff stood watching her. “So are you.”

She turned her head and their lips met. The grass waved softly around their legs as they fell into it. Pixie looked at the steep lip of the canyon a mere foot from her shoulder, and fear mingled with the pleasure that rose up as his hands slid under her top, cool against the heated skin of her belly.

His mouth came back down on hers and her lips parted for his tongue. His fingers found her breasts and he lifted the top so that he could put his mouth to the erect peaks.

Her hands found her shorts and she yanked them down. He got his own clothes off and they were naked under the stars and in the wind. The rough grass pushed against her back and legs and she whimpered as his fingers found the heated center of her body and stroked the engorged bud of her clit, making her shake as the tingling sensations he enticed from her spread in long radiating waves from her middle upward and lower.

Her inner folds clenched and opened, and she moaned as his fingers slipped into her body, two of them and then withdrew. Her cries grew louder but he smothered them with his mouth.

From the mountain beyond a mountain lion screamed, and she shuddered. Cliff’s head moved lower, creating a trail of fire as he moved between her legs. His tongue massaged her clit in a maddening way and she thrust her hips upward, her fingers scrabbling for purchase in the thick tufts of dirt and grass. “Now, Cliff. I want you now.”

He moved upward again. His body covered hers. Above his head stars shone down. His body thrust into hers. Her core clenched, and juices flowed from her body and heated as he slipped in and out of her.

Cliff whispered, “Fuck! You feel so good.” His teeth met her neck and shoulders, taking her ever closer to a climax. Her toes curled, and she buried her face in his shoulder as he continued to thrust in and out of her until she was shaking all over and crying out his name in a soft little whispers.

His cock slid along her tight inner passage, creating heat that swept all up along her nerve endings and back down. Her hands locked around his ass and she pulled him closer, her nails digging deep into his flesh.

He worked faster and harder. Her eyes rolled back and clenched tight as she came so hard that her juices poured from her body, splashing along the thick length of his dick and then down her thighs and onto the grass below.

Cliff groaned and pulled out, his hot seed splashing onto her belly. His head hung low, his hair brushing against her breasts. He drew a few deep breaths and then he said, “Shit. If I move an inch, I’m going to go over the edge.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him across her body. Then she rolled toward the wall. He chuckled and said, “Um, Pixie?”

She blinked. “Yeah?”

“I think your shorts are down there.”

Hell no! Was he serious? A quick look around assured her that he was. Cliff was laughing, but she wasn’t. “How the hell am I supposed to get…what do I do?”

“Here, take my shirt.”

He stood and grabbed her shirt, wiping her belly before helping her get into his shirt. He chuckled and then quickly wiped the smile off his face. “As long as you don’t bend over we should be okay. The shirt’s white, so don’t jump in the pool. Oh!” He snapped his finger. “You have a bathing suit bottom in the truck still. It’s probably soaked but…”

“It isn’t funny!”

He choked and said, “It is. It really is.”

She set her hands on her hips. “Is it?”

He grinned. “Too late. I got my shorts on already.”

“Maybe I’ll just toss you down with them,” she muttered.

Cliff howled in laughter. After a moment she joined him.

“I don’t even have undies. They were in my shorts.” She chuckled and lifted her shirt.

Cliff gaze dropped and he gave her an appreciative stare. “Fuck, that’s sexy.”