Chapter 34 #3
His hand moves up my arm, fingers tracing over my shoulder cupping my jaw. His thumb drags gentle strokes across my cheek. I realize my guard has never been lower, my heart never this open. Then he gives me his most beautiful smile.
“Love,” he breathes, soft, just for me. “You really don’t get it, do you? I’d give you the world if I could. But inside, I’m still that screwed-up kid from the docks, trying to make something of myself when all I’ve really got is a violin and a mouth that keeps getting me into trouble.”
Fuck.
Heat surges through me at lightning speed, and I want to scream. I want to stand on the edge of a cliff and scream until there’s nothing left.
His hand wraps around my nape, fingers gliding into my hair. We crash together in a kiss so fierce it borders on violence.
Our mouths devouring. Our hands roaming. The energy between us burns like wildfire. Something dark and feral is taking over my being.
I gasp, mouth still on his. “Tell me you’d kill for me, baby. Say it.”
A ragged sound tears out of him as he eases me back against the cool marble tiles. He’s on top of me fast, his mouth everywhere like he’s been denied this for days.
Kissing turns to teeth, to suction, to heat, and hunger pressed into my skin.
“I’d fucking kill for you. I’d put them in the fucking ground if they ever looked at you the wrong way.”
“I want you,” I breathe, hands fisting in his shirt. “Now.”
He fumbles with the drawstrings of my linen shorts, spits into his palm, and yanks my hard cock free in one quick motion.
I choke out a cry as his grip closes around me, stroking fast and greedy.
My hands find their way under his waistband, fingers digging into the curve of his ass.
Then I shove his pants down just far enough to free his erection as well.
That’s when he can’t control himself anymore.
He crashes down, grinding into me, chasing friction like it’s all that matters.
“Stop,” I laugh, dragging his face up to mine. “Feral fucking maniac. Hold on.”
He slows, panting and groaning into my neck, peppering my skin with kisses before helping me out of my shirt.
I drip saliva over my palms, wrap them around both of our lengths, stroking us together.
“Go on,” I tell him in a low, husky tone.
He thrusts into my grip, his cock slick against mine, sliding wet and tight in my hands. He gradually builds up the pace, hips rolling faster, pounding rougher. We’re soaked in spit, sweat, and precum, slick enough that we glide effortlessly together.
“Fuck… this is unreal.”
“God, Sapphire… yeah… ah, just like that…”
“I know, love. Look at you, leaking so good in my hand.”
I probably do. I feel I do. My eyes roll back into my skull.
I can’t believe we’re doing this. My back against the cool stone, Tom naked on top of me, sweat dripping onto my chest as he thrusts into my grip, tight where we meet.
This is absurd. A fucking fever dream.
And I love it.
This is the kind of mess I crave. The reckless, the forbidden.
I don’t just flirt with it. I make out with it, like lucifer on my shoulder tells me to do.
And Tom feeds on it. He feeds on my crazy. Like he told me the other day, “You like dangerous because you are dangerous. You’re just as fucked up as I am.”
He was right. I’m not even pretending to be discreet. Terrence knows we’re here. Literally anyone could walk in. I don't care. I just want this beautiful disaster to happen.
I know exactly what this is. It’s coming back. The rush. I already felt it the other day. My meds are not keeping me in check anymore. But if this is what destruction feels like, I’ll take it. Let him be the one to burn me down.
Suddenly something hits me, the epiphany like an explosion right below my sternum.
“I’ve got it,” I whisper suddenly, hoarsely.
His amber curls falling forward, our eyes lock. His are wild. Mine are open.
“You asked me…” I pause, startled by a sound—was that a door? My eyes dart.
Tom grabs my chin and forces me to look back at him. “Keep talking.”
A drop of sweat lands on my cheek.
“You asked me... what I’d tell my younger self. Remember?”
“Yeah,” he pants. “You said it was okay to… to want something. For yourself.”
I press our damp foreheads together, holding him, smiling against his mouth.
“I’d tell myself it's okay to want you.”
“Fuck, Yosh—”
His spine arches as he comes, spurting hot against my stomach. It’s so powerful and endless, it only takes a couple of more drags to bring me over the edge, a soundless cry tears out of me as I mix my cum with his on my chest.
“Yeah, that’s it, love,” he shushes, “Come for me, I’ve got you.”
He holds my face in both hands, kissing along my cheek, riding me through the last aftershocks until my pulses slow and the slick cum begins to cool. He lowers himself and licks all of it from my stomach, collecting the mess like I’m his favorite popsicle.
“That,” he says, licking his lips. “Flushes the taste of cheap liquor right out of my mouth.”
“You’re insane, McKenna.”
He gasps, hand splayed on his chest, pretending to be offended.
“Me? You’re the lunatic who dragged me into this filthy little act in the middle of your boss’s restaurant.”
He gestures vaguely at the ceiling. “Have you even checked for cameras?”
Heat slams into my already flushed cheeks, my stomach doing an unhelpful somersault.
“You’re lucky I did. The cameras are pointing the other way.”
I rest my hands on my chest and let out a shaky breath that slips into laughter, a little too loud and definitely a little too manic.
He grins, pulling me back to my feet. “Up you get, intruder. We should move before security shows up.”
“We need to clean up. There’s a room behind the kitchen that Laurent uses to crash.”
I grab both our shirts.
As we sneak into the hallway, I glance back at the empty dining room. A shadow flickers through the pink neon light. I take Tom’s hand and tug him after me.
“Run, Sapphire. Fast.”
He laughs, squeezes my hand in answer, feeling that same sweet thrill. Shirtless and breathless, we sprint down the corridor. We don’t stop until I punch Erin’s birthday into the keypad beside the door to Laurent’s crash pad. It clicks open, and we tumble inside.
The door barely shuts before I press Tom back against the wall, covering his mouth with my hand. Footsteps approach, then pause.
I look through the darkness, barely able to make out his face. Our noses touch. His breath heaves against my knuckles, lashes flickering as we wait.
Ten seconds feel like an eternity.
Ten seconds for our bodies to remember exactly where we’d left off.
Finally, the footsteps fade.
I release him and draw in a slow breath, oxygen filling my lungs again.
“That was a close call.”
Tom’s mouth curves into a dangerous smile, his growing hardness coming in contact with mine. A subtle tilt of his chin guides me into place.
It's not an invitation, it’s an order.
I drop down to my knees because he asked without asking, and I'm too far gone to pretend I'm not carved from the same sex-driven impulses.
We step back into the party like we never left. We weave through the crowd toward the dance floor and spot Tiffy, Naomi, and Baby, with her bodyguard making camp at the bar. The blonde hulk balances a tray while the girls line up a rainbow of radioactive shots on top of it.
How the hell did they—
Oh. Right. Calvin. I glance toward the stage. He’s deep into his set. Thank God.
Tom turns to me with that golden-retriever glint.
“This is insane. Looks like my best friend is friends with your best friend.”
“Small world.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Like a magnet, Baby spots him instantly. They crash into a full-body hug, and Tom forgets I exist.
Great. Third wheel.
I step back and join Tiffy and Naomi at the bar.
“Ordered yet?”
“Not yet.” Naomi rises onto her toes, waving for the bartender’s attention.
Tiffy jabs my side. “You’re the hottest guy on the island. Be useful.”
“I can do better.” I catch Erin at the far end, working the soda gun. Psychiatrist by day, club owner by night.
I lift my hand, the hard focus on her face softens the second she sees me. I lean over the bar and greet her with a quick kiss to the cheek.
“I know the meetings are hell, but I didn’t see this career switch coming.”
Erin groans. “Three bartenders called in sick last minute. so here I am.” She rolls her shoulders. “Thank God I’ve got tomorrow off.”
“Must be chaos.”
“It is. But nothing I can’t handle.” Her gaze flicks past me to the girls lined up at the bar. “What can I get you guys?”
“Three Mojitos for the ladies,” I say. “Two waters, and a lemon juice for me.”
She calls the Mojito order to the guy beside her, then slides the bottles of water across the bar. I pass them back to the bodyguard who passes one to Tom and takes one for himself.
“Hold on,” she adds. “We’re out of lemon juice up here. I’ll check the fridge in the back.”
The girls cheer when their Mojitos arrive. A few minutes later, Erin returns with my lemon juice.
“How much do I owe you?”
She waves it off. “Go. This one’s on me. I’m glad you’re finally doing something fun.”
“Thanks, Erin. Enjoy your day off tomorrow.”
“Good luck with the interview,” she says. “You’re going to nail it.”
We exchange a quick cheek kiss goodbye before I head back to the group. Tom is already tugging Baby in my direction.
“Baby, I want you to meet Yosh,” he says, then he turns to me. “Yosh, this is my cousin, Joan.”
I take her hand, and for some reason I’m a little caught off guard. Wait… this is Joan McKenna? Daughter of Jay and Emily? My mind flips through the notes I made, pages turning fast. By my count, she should be in her early twenties now.
“Hi, Joan. Nice to meet you. I’m Yosh. Tom’s alternative therapist.” I lean on those last words.
When she doesn’t let go of my hand, I add with a polite smile, “And I’m not that into girls.”
“Oh my God. I’m so, so sorry.” She drops my hand instantly, gaze flicking to Tom and back.
“I usually introduce my girlies to Tom, and Tom introduces his friends to me. I just assumed…” She winces. “One of those nights, you know? I shouldn’t have.”
She drapes her arm loosely over Tom’s shoulder. “My sincere apologies.”
Tom tugs her closer. “What? You, apologizing, Baby? Did Jay threaten to drop you off at the monastery again?”
She giggles against his collarbone in a way that raises my brows . He ruffles her hair until it turns into something between eighties glam rock and cotton candy.
I wonder if my scent still lingers on his neck and if she notices.
I want her to notice.
“I’m glad you apologized to Yosh,” Tom says. “And I owe him one too.”
He looks up from the drunken girl in his arms, his fingers finding mine in secret. The way he touches me is delicate; still, it feels reassuring.
“That’s how it used to be, but not anymore.”
I’m smiling, and I know it shows. I don’t bother trying to hide how content I feel. Joan peers up from Tom's chest.
“Hey, how about we find you a cute guy instead? Tom and I are matchmaking professionals.” She punches Tom in the side. “Aren’t we?”
“Nah, Baby. Yosh doesn’t need our Sleazy and Easy services.” The corner of his mouth lifts into a sinful smirk. “He’s already taken.”
Naomi’s too far gone to catch any of it, but Tiffy hears every word and spits the last sip of her Mojito back into the cup.
I avoid her gaze and turn to Joan instead. Safer territory.
Did he just—
Hard to say what he meant, but it sounded a lot like defining exclusivity. Casual enough that only I was supposed to catch it.
Well… me and Miss Laser Eyes over here, who’s gaze is currently drilling a hole into the side of my skull.
I grab my lemon juice, downing it in one go. This night has been insane, and something tells me that sticking with Tom means normal is officially off the table.
Pretty sure he knows that too.