25. Naomi
NAOMI
She gasped as her brain short-circuited. Sure, he’d kissed her earlier, but this wasn’t a quick, hard kiss. This was deep, sensual, and sent her mind into a tailspin.
Ink was kissing her!
Holy shit.
She dreamed of this like some kind of lovesick teenager, but her dreams were nothing like reality.
His lips moved over hers expertly, not rushing, setting an easy, slow pace, as if he were afraid to spook her.
Probably a reasonable assumption, but she couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. She didn’t have a lot of experience, but he didn’t seem to care, drawing her deeper into the moment. His tongue gently probed until she opened for him and sank completely into him.
She gripped his shirt, uncaring that she might rip it, and let him sweep her away into every sensation.
It wasn’t a hurried, passionate kiss. It was a testing, a tasting. Why was it so hot?
Her skin pebbled, her blood heating. Had she ever had a reaction like this, even as a teenager? She couldn’t think of one, but it was so long ago. And those had been boys, not a man.
She wanted more. She needed more.
When he tried to stop, she tightened her grip on his shirt and pressed herself closer to him, chasing his mouth.
He groaned softly and gave her what she wanted. And more.
His grip tightened, muscles bunching, and she lifted, deepening the angle of the kiss. She whimpered, and her hands moved to his shoulders and into his hair.
He tasted so good. There was no holding back now. She wanted more, so she was taking it. Ink didn’t fight her, giving it his all. Gentleness fled, and their kisses turned passionate and sultry. Like neither of them could get enough.
She knew he’d be a fantastic kisser. That he would make her want more than she’d ever allowed herself to feel. Even in the middle of the night when she was aching, desperate for a touch she thought she’d never experience.
“Fuck, baby,” he growled. Naomi stared at him, her gaze hazy, unsure why he was stopping. “You’re testing my resolve, Naomi. We need to stop, or I won’t be able to. You taste and feel so fucking good.”
She blinked at him. He wanted to stop? What? Why? How could he? This might be her only kiss for a long time, and she wanted as many as she could get.
He muttered something under his breath before claiming her mouth again, starting the entire moment over.
Thank God.
Her stomach muscles bunched as she jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist and melting into him. He cupped her ass tightly, and the sensation only heightened her desire.
When he whipped her around, her butt hit the counter with a thump. Loving the new position, she moaned. She could feel all of him. The hard muscles of his stomach—she knew he worked out—pressed against her center, and the bulge against the bottom of her ass.
Her back arched, craving the sparks that shot through her from the friction he gave her. Her clit throbbed, needing more.
His tongue plunged into her mouth, and he took control, leaving her a quivering mess. Gripping his hair, she tugged it, making him grunt then moan into her mouth as he pressed his hips tighter against her.
“Fuck, baby, we have to stop,” he rasped, a desperate note in his voice.
“Why?”
“Because this isn’t what you want tonight, and as much as I want to take you over to that couch and fuck you until we’re both spent, I won’t have you hating me in the morning. So we need to stop.”
Well, there was nothing like that kind of statement to throw her back into reality.
Horror and embarrassment rushed through her, dousing the desire pooling in her belly. Oh my God, what had she done? What kind of wanton hussy had she become?
“Uh-uh, none of that,” Ink rasped. His grip on her hair tightened, and she gasped at the sting, unable to look away from him.
It also silenced the barrage of thoughts in her head.
He had her full attention. “You’re not going to doubt this or be embarrassed, Naomi.
What just happened has been a long time coming, and it was exactly what we both wanted. Needed.”
Her mouth opened to speak, but she snapped it shut.
His lips quirked, but he didn’t release her. “Are you going to freak out if I let you go? Or do you need me to hold you a bit longer?”
Hold me, please.
Nope, she wasn’t going to say that. Nope. She needed to get a grip, or he was going to think she was a lunatic.
“You can let me go.” She wanted to curse the husky tone of her voice, especially with the way his pupils dilated.
He leaned down and gave her one last kiss, making her melt once more, before helping her down from the counter. Her legs were jelly, so she had to grip it to keep from falling on her ass.
If this was the way he kissed, what would it be like if she let him fuck her?
She bit back a whimper as images filled her head. Images she had no business picturing. No, she couldn’t go there. She was liable to do something stupid and drag him to the couch as he’d said.
Or the floor. Shower. Over the counter. The list was endless …
Ink let out a pained groan. “Baby, I’m leaving, or I’m not keeping my hands to myself. You need to go to bed. Or take a cold shower. Something. And I’m going to do the same. I’ll be back in the morning to see you and Asher before I have to head to the shop.”
The mention of her son should have been enough to clear her mind, but all she could wonder was whether he would kiss her again.
“Fuck. Goodnight, baby.”
Ink practically ran for the door, then he shut it quietly behind him.
With the click echoing in her head, she slowly sank to the floor, unable to support herself any longer.
What the hell had she just done?
She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, her mind spinning until she startled as someone slid down beside her.
Karissa sat there, grinning. “That good, huh? I always figured he would be. Not that I’ve ever wanted to know for myself—Razor’s always been the one for me—but he’s got that look about him.”
Naomi blinked at her.
Karissa laughed. “Damn, he was definitely good if he’s melted those smart brain cells of yours.”
The words were the slap she needed, and her face flamed. “Oh my God, did you see us?”
“Babe, he looked just as stupefied as you do when he left. It wasn’t hard to figure it out.
He didn’t even acknowledge me when I called out to ask if he locked the door.
So, being the good bodyguard I am, I came down to see for myself.
When I opened the door and saw you sitting here, it was the final piece I needed to figure it out.
” She nudged her shoulder. “Which means you need to spill the tea, girl.”
“I … I don’t know what happened. One minute we were talking, and the next he was holding me.
Then he was kissing me, and … Oh, God, I threw myself at him.
” She covered her face with her hands, humiliation burning.
“I refused to let him stop, and I climbed him like a monkey. He’s probably running away from me because I’m a crazy person. He’s never going to look at me again.”
Karissa snickered. “He’s running away because he’s a good person. And I think you’d be surprised by what he’s going to do. I bet he’ll be back here as soon as he can, wanting a repeat.”
“This is so embarrassing. I probably came off desperate.”
“Even if you did, who cares? He didn’t. He wanted it too, and considering how hard he’s been trying to get your attention and apologized all week, he’s probably relieved.
That man is crazy about you. And between you and me, I overheard him telling Razor earlier today about a chick who was coming on to him at the shop.
The very idea of being with her made him sick.
He got her out of there so fast she was pissed. ”
Why did that cheer her up? “He did?”
“Yep. You’ve got that man hooked. And that was before the kiss, so just imagine how he’s going to be now.” Her grin turned wicked. “And I, for one, can’t wait to rub it in his face that he’s no better than the rest of us. He gave us all a hard time. And now look at him.”
“I … I don’t know that this is going to be permanent. I don’t want to lead him on.” The very idea that he might be more invested in this than her made her stomach hurt.
“Then you talk to him, but why can’t you have a little fun? You’ve certainly earned it.”
“I don’t know that I’m built for that. I’ve … The last time I was with a man … willingly … was when I was a teenager.”
Karissa sobered. “Have you told Ink about that part of your past?”
“No. I … I just told him that they forcibly impregnated me with sperm. That was all done clinically.” She swallowed hard, bile rising as buried memories surged forward. “I don’t know how to say the rest of it.”
“Are you worried that Ink will look at you differently?”
She hadn’t thought about it at all. Never planning to spend any time with a man while she was here.
“You don’t have to tell him anything, Naomi, but if you want to make sure he doesn’t trigger you somehow, then it will be the only way.
” There was no judgment in her tone, only understanding.
“And if you’re not ready for more than some hot make-out sessions, Ink will understand.
He might have perpetual blue balls, but he’ll survive. ”
“I don’t … I don’t know what to think or feel right now.”
“I think you need to get up, shower, and go to bed. Everything will feel clearer in the morning. You’ve had a busy day. We ambushed you, and then Ink showed up. Now you’re getting a taste of what could be. It’s a lot.”
She had that right.
“Am I forgiving him too quickly?” The question slipped out before she could stop it, making her stiffen.
Karissa pretended not to notice. “Do you want to forgive him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t like holding grudges. They take too much energy. And maybe forgive isn’t the right way of putting it. The only thing he did wrong was break into the apartment. Everything else, he was going along with Savage and his orders.”
“True, but he shouldn’t have encouraged that skank either. The rest of it, yes, he needed to apologize, but everything that went down with the girl is the big thing, right?”
Naomi sighed. “Yeah. I can’t seem to get past in my head that he was so nice to me, helped out with Asher, kissed my forehead, and then disappeared.”
“And that left you hurt and confused.” Karissa sighed. “Men are idiots. I’m not going to speak for him, but it sounds like he got freaked out that he was starting to become interested in you.”
“He said the same thing. He said he’s always been a bachelor and never wanted a steady relationship. But now that he realized he does, he wants me.”
Karissa blinked then let out a disappointed groan and thudded her head against the cabinet door. “Dumbass. Seriously, no brains. He made it sound like you were his backup plan? Like, now that he knew you might leave, he’d better convince you to stay?”
See, she wasn’t crazy to think that, right? Naomi nodded.
“Why he’s been moping around so much is becoming clearer.
I thought it was just because of the issue with Kayla, but this is much more than that.
I’ll admit that part of me wants to make him crawl and grovel a bit more, but the rational part tells me that will get you nowhere.
He’s always going to be a little stupid where women and words are concerned. ”
Naomi chuckled. “I think that’s standard among men.”
“I tell Razor that at least four times a week. Where Ink is concerned, though, you might have to give him a little more leeway. He’s going to fuck this up a few more times before he finally gets it right.
They all do. But so do we. I made Razor work fucking hard to keep me, and some of that was my own fear and completely unnecessary.
But a man who’s committed sticks it out.
I think if you give Ink a chance, he’ll show you he can do that. ”
“And when I have to leave?”
“Then it’s between the two of you what you do. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to get away and build a new life somewhere. Start completely over. Live the life robbed from you.”
“But?”
“But sometimes, life out there isn’t as safe as we think.
I’ve been in all parts of the world, and while some thrive by being away from the past, others fall right back into it because they don’t know any different or any better.
But all that only to say that if you decide to leave after you testify, the Devil’s Predators will help you with whatever you need.
And we’ll also run interference if Ink tries to stand in your way. ”
“Even if the two clubs are allies?”
“Allies doesn’t mean shit when it comes to your personal choice.
You might be here under the protection of us and the Dragons, but you are your own person, Naomi.
Only you get to decide your future. You make the decision best for you.
But you and Ink, this thing between you is fresh, and it won’t hurt to explore it if that’s what you truly want. ”
With that, Karissa helped Naomi to her feet and left without another word.
Naomi made sure the door was locked before she headed for the bathroom to get ready for bed. Her mind spun, and her body screamed at her for not following through on doing more with Ink.
She didn’t know if she wanted to scream or laugh. Everything was a mess, and she had no idea what she was going to do about it.