27. Naomi
NAOMI
Was it possible to actually die of embarrassment?
She wanted to hide under the covers and never come out again. Maybe she could bribe one of the other ladies to take Asher for a bit, then somehow sneak him back in when Ink was at the shop or something.
Oh my God, she opened the door wearing nothing but a bra and underwear, all because he flustered her so much. What the hell was he doing to her? She was losing her mind. He probably thought she was trying to tease or tempt him, or some other foolish thing.
Weren’t you?
She ignored the traitorous voice in her head and tried to focus on dressing as quickly as she could.
Where was a nun’s habit when you needed one? She’d have to cover herself from head to toe after this entire disaster.
She settled on a pair of gray sweatpants and a baggy sweater. Who cared that it was going to be blazing hot outside soon? She’d change after locking him outside.
Would it be too much to stick her head out the window and ask Glitch to haul him out? Or bring her some food and handle Ink until he finally gave up and left?
“Baby, I’m going to be forced to take down the door or use some lock-picking skills if you hide out in there for too much longer,” he warned through the door.
Before opening the door, she checked herself. She was fully covered, the only skin showing on her head, hands, and feet.
Ink leaned against the wall of the hallway, and his eyes widened before he covered his mouth to smother the laugh about to slip out. She glared at him. “We are not talking about this.”
“Uh-huh.”
As she walked by him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her into him. She let out a small squeak, her hands coming up to rest against his chest.
His very warm and hard chest that made her want to trace him with her fingers …
“What are you doing?” she hissed, peering around him to see Asher at the table working on whatever he was coloring, completely ignoring them.
“He’s fully occupied, don’t worry.” She glared at him but stopped when she saw he was eyeing her chest, eyes bright with laughter.
Frowning, she realized what was on the front of the sweater and why he was trying not to laugh.
Kill her now.
The sweater had a picture of a biker in a lewd position, with the words I have something you can ride written across the front in bright-white letters. And was that a ball gag and handcuffs alongside a huge purple dildo?
Admitting this had to be the worst and most embarrassing day of her life, she laid her head against Ink’s chest.
His chest shook with silent laughter. “That’ll teach you to let Taz near your closet, huh?” he joked. “Personally, I’m getting mixed signals here, sweetheart. If you want … umph.” He let out a breathless laugh as she shoved away from him, hitting him in the stomach in the process.
At this point, the sweater was staying put. Given her luck today, she’d put on a corset or something equally horrifying next.
“Good morning, Asher,” she said, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. “Did you like your breakfast?”
“Good,” he stated, continuing his aggressive coloring.
She had a feeling that as soon as he was done, he’d be a terror. All that focus meant the rest of his energy was being stored. At least it would distract her from this monstrosity of a morning.
She eased away, content to leave him be for now, but she was instantly swept back into a hard chest as Ink’s arm went around her waist, and he walked them back into the kitchen.
“Ink!” she hissed, glancing at Asher.
“He’s fine, babe, and he’s not going to freak out at the two of us cuddling in the kitchen. He’s two.”
“He’s more advanced than most two-year-olds, and we are not going to cuddle. Last night was a mistake and—”
“Nope. We’re not going backward, Naomi. We’re going forward. And forward means you get used to me touching you. All the time. For now, I’ll keep it appropriate, mostly, but eventually …”
The deep timbre of his voice made her shiver. Damn it, why did that have to sound so sexy?
“I am not talking about this with you. Not when Asher can hear and will repeat it,” she bit out through gritted teeth.
She jolted a little when he leaned against the counter but didn’t release her. Glaring at him, she stilled at the heated gaze staring back at her, realizing what was pressing into her lower back.
Heat pooled deep in her belly, and her mouth went dry.
When had a man ever looked at her that way, other than Diego, and she actually felt something other than fear and disgust in return?
“Ink.” It came out as a quaking whisper.
His pupils dilated even more, and he quickly spun her around.
“You can’t whisper to me like that, baby girl, and not expect me to picture you saying my name just like that when I’m buried deep inside you.
Fuck.” She bit back a gasp at him pressing tighter against her, like he hated the barrier between them.
Deep down, she kind of did too. The smarter part of her brain was yelling at her to step the hell away and put distance between them, like she’d decided last night.
“I’m not trying to do anything.”
“Naomi, you don’t have to do anything to make me want you.” He muttered another curse, glanced over her head, then slammed his mouth down on hers, cupping the back of her head to hold her in place.
She sank into him instantly.
God, he tasted so good. How could he taste and feel better than he had last night?
The kiss wasn’t long, but it was enough to render her mind blank almost instantly. Which is probably why she didn’t hear the door open.
“Freaking finally!” Taz’s voice boomed. “What do you think, little man? You happy to have Ink around more?”
Naomi wrenched away so fast Ink had to tighten his grip to keep her from falling.
“I’m going to kill him. Slowly and painfully,” he muttered.
“Ink, let me go!” she hissed, once again mortified. It was official. She was going to have to go to bed and try again because this was the most embarrassing day of her life.
Ink sighed but finally let her go. If looks could kill, she was pretty sure that whatever Karissa or Glitch were planning for his demise was nothing compared to Ink’s.
She whirled around to Asher staring at her and Ink, eyebrows wrinkled. Oh my God, what was she going to say to him? How did you explain something like this to a toddler?
Finally, Asher shrugged and went back to his artwork.
Ink chuckled. “I don’t know whether that’s indifference or approval, but I’ll take it.”
She glared at him.
“Babe, he’s going to need to get used to me kissing and touching you. I’m going to be doing it all the damn time.”
“We are not—”
“Oh yes, we are. Now, I’m going to take your food out of the oven, kiss you again, and head to the shop.
Then I’m going to spend the rest of the day wondering what you’re doing and thinking about seeing you again tonight.
And wondering if you’re going to be wearing those sexy little pj’s when I get here. ”
“Ink—”
“Nope, horse is out of the barn now, Naomi, and there’s no putting him back in.” He cupped her chin, holding her in place as he lowered his head to kiss her again. There was no mistaking the claiming in his kiss. The intention.
When he pulled away, his eyes glittered with promise, but he didn’t push any further. He released her, winked, moved to set her food on the counter, and headed to the table. Leaning down, he kissed the top of Asher’s head and said, “Be good for your mama, buddy. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“’tay. Color?” Asher asked, brow raised.
Ink’s smile widened. “I’ll bring you some stuff to color with.”
“’ank ’ou.” He bloomed with happiness, and Naomi’s heart tripped. Then it clenched as Asher stood on his chair and wrapped his arms around Ink. “Bye!”
Ink lifted him effortlessly and hugged him tight. “Bye, Asher.” His eyes met hers over Asher’s head, and the look in them made her swallow hard. She wasn’t sure she wanted to name what she saw.
Ink gave Taz a narrowed-eyed glare as he left, and Taz’s grin widened, knowing full well he was playing with fire and not caring. Ink shut the door softly behind him, but he might as well have slammed it, the sound echoing in her head.
She was in trouble, and she had no idea what she was going to do about it.
“I know that face. Don’t worry, honey, I’m here,” Taz assured her, taking a seat at the table. “Grab the food and bring it over. I’m starving. Getting out of ropes and knots upside down is a workout, and I need to replenish so I can be at full capacity to plan my revenge.”
She blinked at him, trying to follow the change of subject. “Why were you hung upside down and tied up?”
He waved that away. “Nothing I haven’t been through before. You’d think the girls would learn I am the master of knots and can get out of anything. Just need time, patience, and a skill they don’t have.” He patted the table beside him. “Come on, let’s talk.”
Why did she get the feeling this was going to be a bad idea? Still, she did as she was asked, absently eating and ignoring the way Taz picked from her plate.
“Mama, ’ho’?” Asher asked, drawing her from her thoughts.
“Sure, baby, we’ll get your show on. Are you done with your coloring?”
He nodded, climbing down from his chair and heading for the couch.
“Do you want Bill Nye?”
He nodded again, already looking sleepy. It was midmorning, and normally, he didn’t nap this early, but he was up early and was clearly worn out from his art project.
Once she got him settled, she made her way back to chair and gave a bland look when Taz helped himself to one of the three pancakes on it. He smirked as he finished. “Thanks, babe. At least you picked a guy who can cook the basics.”
“I haven’t picked anyone.”
Taz snorted. “Tell that to someone who believes you. I, and the rest of the women around here, do not. And from the look on your face, you want to run and hide and not face it. Him.”
She groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’m making a mess of everything.”
“Babe, I’m going to give you a piece of advice, and you really should listen.
I’m very good at giving it.” He ignored her eye roll when she lowered her hands to look at him.
“Life is short. I see it all the time. People don’t always get to have their happily ever after.
Danger comes and takes it away, or they won’t risk it and end up regretting it.
Even if it’s not forever, ride him, drain him dry, and if you want to walk away at the end of it, you do it.
But you get some good orgasms out of it—assuming he’s any good at that, of course—and some memories to hold on to until you find someone else. ”
She stared at him. “Drain him dry?” she choked.
“That’s the part you heard most, huh?” He laughed.
“Babe, the way that man looks at you, he’ll have you in every position you allow, and he might even invent a few.
Enjoy it, keep it casual, and just remember it’s all right to be disappointed when he doesn’t measure up to all this. ” He waved a hand at himself, arrogant.
She rolled her eyes again. He was ridiculous. “You know what they say about men who brag about themselves in bed so much.” She got to her feet and grabbed the now-empty plate.
“Anything they say is grossly underrated, but don’t worry. I can take it.”
She grinned over her shoulder, unable to help herself. “Well, considering they say it means the man is overexaggerating, has a really tiny dick, and can’t find the clit with a roadmap, if they’re underrated, that doesn’t exactly paint you in a favorable light, does it?”
He blinked and stared at her, mouth agape. “I do not have a tiny dick!” he protested. “And there are loads of women who can attest to the rest, that I am very fucking good in bed.”
She gave him a pointed look, then glanced at Asher, who, thankfully, was ignoring them and still watching his show. “Sure thing. Might explain why Glitch and Karissa never gave you the time of day, even though you were on the same team.” She couldn’t help needling him a little. It was too much fun.
Especially when he jumped to his feet and stalked out, calling out for both women.
She laughed under her breath. The man was insane, but he was fun.
Was he right? Should she say screw it and figure out a way to give Ink what he was wanting, even if only temporarily? And could she take the emotion out of it?
That was her biggest fear. What if, when this was all over, she fell in love with him and he didn’t feel the same? Could she risk it?