Gravity (Artistic Pricks Ink Book 1) (24 page)

Back at the shop, Luke goes to work on the first outline of the three sessions needed to complete an upper arm sleeve while the guy waits, anxiously tapping his foot. The moment his gun switches on, Leah and Shelby whisk me away upstairs for beer, goodies, and gossip.

“After dealing with a shop full of grown men, who can’t find their asses with both hands, I needed this.” Shelby sighs, kicks her now bare feet onto the table and wiggles her bright green painted toes.

“I don’t know how you do it,” Leah says, sipping her beer. “It’s like having four husbands.”

“Shit,” Shelby replies, her laughter echoing throughout the apartment. “I’d gladly take the perks that come with having four well hung husbands, anytime.” She winks, taking a drink of her beer. “These guys come off more like little boys all trying to be the favorite child more often than not.”

“See how she makes sure to make her four husbands all largely endowed?” Leah whisper yells, making me laugh.

“And you wouldn’t, if you could pick?” I ask.

Leah shrugs, her face turning a bright shade of red. “I haven’t put a lot of thought into it, I guess.” Staring at her bottle, she scrunches her nose and her eyebrows knit together in concentration. “Does size really matter that much?”

Shelby chokes on her beer, her eyes widening in shock and I lose it. Shaking my head, I laugh uncontrollably.

“What?” Leah asks, “Charlie and I were high school sweethearts. I’ve known him since I was eight,” she says, tossing her bottle into the trash can Shelby brought in here earlier, in an effort to up drinking time and lessen disposal time.

With as many bottles as we have emptied so far, it was a genius idea on her part.

Sitting up, Shelby downs what is left of her beer. “Okay,” Tossing it into the can, she cracks her knuckles and pops her neck from side to side. “I’d like to consider myself a sort of cock connoisseur, so let me enlighten your deprived mind.”

I believe with everything I am that I am beyond buzzed. That is my excuse to have this conversation about the varying sizes of a man’s third leg. Awkwardly, crossing one leg over the other, I wave her on. “This I gotta hear. Go on, Shelby, broaden our horizons.”

Grinning from ear to ear, she nods. “Dicks are a lot like boobs, in a way. Though they only get one versus our two, they, too, vary in size, shape, and ability. A man can tuck that shit in his sock only to be so damn out of touch with what a woman needs that he doesn’t even know what to do with it.”

“Let’s refer to him as a
‘Waste of Snake’
,” I laugh, doubling over.

“Yes!” Shelby exclaims. “Then there’s the ones that, when they were born, the doctor cut the wrong cord and there’s a little something missing. Those are easy enough to spot. Generally, they’ll overcompensate in other parts of their lives. For example, Mitch’s truck.” Leaning in toward Leah, she smiles. “Those men are the ones who hopefully can work their mouths and fingers.”

“Oh my God, make her stop,” Leah snorts, covering her face with her hands.

“Now, most men are a good five to seven inches of nice even length,” Shelby continues holding her hands up about a half a foot apart. “If you have one of those in your bed at night, they are a pretty safe bet. Unless, of course, you add piercings or kink,” she shrugs settling back against the couch.

“You’re also not taking stamina and enthusiasm to experiment into account,” I add, tossing them each another beer.

“Very true,” Shelby admits, flinging the cap onto the coffee table before taking a long drink. “Those can prove to make or break a man.”

“This is the most insane conversation I’ve ever had,” Leah snorts. “Next, you’ll be telling me to watch porn.”

“Hmm,” Shelby says, scratching her chin. “I see our next girls’ night in will include less sappy movies with our snacks and booze. I’ll bring my laser pointer.”

“How do I explain to Charlie that girls’ night now includes raiding your porn stash?” Leah asks, rolling her eyes.

“You won’t need to explain shit,” Shelby says smugly. “Coming home buzzed and horny enough to fuck Chuckle through a wall will be enough to have him sending me thank you notes every week.”

“Why will I be thanking you?” Charlie asks, walking through the door with Luke and Mitch following behind.

Walking over, Mitch flops onto the sofa between Shelby and me. Grabbing her beer, he grins. “Thanks. Looks like you’re good for something after all,” he says, downing the rest of the bottle.

“Go to hell, Mitch.” Shelby retorts, elbowing him before she stands. “And that, ladies, is the end of girls’ night. See you all tomorrow.” Slipping into her shoes, Shelby stumbles toward the door on shaky legs before Luke steps in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.

“The women don’t drive,” Luke says, looking down at her before turning to Mitch. “Skinner is still busy and you were about to go grab dinner.”

“No,” Mitch and Shelby both say simultaneously. “I’ll pay for a cab.” Shelby adds, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

Everyone’s eyes are on Mitch until he finally relents. “Oh for fuck’s sake.” Mitch grumbles, pushing from the couch. “Come on, I’ll take you home and grab myself some grub before my next appointment.”

“Bye,” I call out, as one by one, Shelby, Mitch, Leah, and Charlie file out the door.

Shutting the door behind them, Luke turns to face me. “Looks like you had fun,” he says, closing the distance between us. His eyes take in the box covered coffee table and trash can full of bottles.

I nod when he sits beside me on the couch, stretching his arms above his head, Luke attempts to work out the kinks. “Lean up,” I say pushing on his shoulders so that I can slip behind him. Sitting on the back of the couch, I dig my fingers into his shoulders feeling the tension. “You’ve got some marble slabs in there, Prick.” I tease, applying more pressure.

“Mhm, God that’s good.” He groans and I feel it all the way to my core. “The longer sessions are killer sometimes.”

“Take your shirt off and lie on the floor face down,” I say, removing my hands.

“Even though I’ve never heard that one before,” he chuckles, looking at me over his shoulder. “I’m not going to argue with a beautiful woman.”

Standing to his feet, Luke kicks out of his sneakers before pulling his shirt over his head. Tossing it to the chair, he lies down on his stomach. “Now what?”

Pushing to my feet, I take a breath before straddling his hips and sitting on his ass. Running my fingers up his back I trace the letters of his last name that arch across his back and shoulders. “Arms above your head,” I say, making him chuckle but he still does as I asked.

“You’re a bossy drunk, Dollface.” Pushing up on his elbows, he lifts his head.

“Very funny, smart ass.” I reply, pushing down his shoulders so that he is flush against the carpet again. “Do you want this, or not?” I ask, tugging playfully on his blonde strands.

“I’ll take whatever you’re dishin’ out.” He mutters into the rug.

Digging in my fingers, I attempt to work out the tension in his shoulders, before moving to his back. My fingers take their time, enjoying every second of their uninterrupted exploration. His skin hot beneath my hands, making me fantasize about him beneath me as I ride him right here. The way his face would look as we move together, how his hands will feel when he touches me. With every move of my upper body, it causes my lower body to shift against him as if on its own. I have no idea if it is the alcohol intensifying the throbbing between my legs or if it is just Luke. Doesn’t matter because I fucking love it.

I’d love it even more with a quick roll over and a loss of clothes…

Rising up on my knees, I work a knot in his lower back before my hips roll causing me to grind into his ass. Luke groans loudly into the carpet just as a moan slips past my lips. “Aren’t massages supposed to be relaxing?” He mutters, turning his head to the side. “Because if you moan like that one more time, I can promise you I’ll come un-fucking-hinged.”

My hands slide up his back as I lean down and press my hardening nipples against his back. “Maybe that’s what I want, Luke.” I purr into his ear.

The moment Kionna touches me, I am rock hard. Lying on my stomach is unbelievably excruciating. The moment she starts moving against me and that moan escapes her lips, I am a damn goner. My poor dick is ready to tap out and beg for mercy.

“You’re torturing me, Kionna.” I groan, burying my face in the rug.

“Then roll over, Luke.” Ki whispers into my ear, pressing her body into my back.

I can’t take it anymore. Reaching behind me, I grab her waist and pull her beneath me. My hands slide up her arms before lacing our fingers above her head. Staring down at her as her chest rises and falls rapidly, I expect to find shock on her face. Instead, her eyes are dark and enticing.

“You want this, Kionna?” I ask, needing to be sure. The last week has been a lot for her to take and the last thing I want is to rush her into something she isn’t ready for.

“Don’t you?” She asks, searching my eyes.

Sliding one of my hands down, I caress her face. “Don’t doubt for one second how much I want you, baby.” Rolling my hips, I press my erection into her belly. “You have no idea how badly I want to forget the world and get lost in you and every fucking beautiful thing about how you’re looking at me right now. I just need to know that we’re on the same page here. That you want this as much as I do, I don’t want you to wake up in the morning and regret anything.”

“I’m not drunk, Luke,” she whispers reassuringly. “I’m thinking very clearly. You know you’re the only one since my mother died, that has called me Kionna and I’ve not shuddered?”

“I didn’t know that, baby.” I whisper when a tear rolls down her face.

“Yes, and it made me realize something.” Pulling her hands free, she cups my face and I instantly nuzzle into her touch. “When you say it, it’s because you see me. You’re seeing the person I haven’t been able to be in so many years, Luke. The person it hurt too much to be because she has been lonely and broken in ways you could never understand, for so long. Not one other part of my life matters when I’m with you. Not being on stage, or the crazy bastard that is trying to ruin my life. Without realizing it, you’ve broken into a part of me that I thought died when she did. After I lost her, I closed myself off to everything and everyone and just danced. Then, when I got hurt, even that was taken from me.” Reaching up, her lips brush mine. “There’s a lot of things we need to talk about, to figure out, but this is right. That, I am sure of.”

Talking will have to wait. Leaning down, I take her mouth with mine and say all I need to say without any words at all.

Leaning up, Kionna nudges me to my back before pulling her shirt over her head. Dropping it behind us, she stands to her feet. Slipping her pants and a white lace thong down her legs, she keeps her eyes locked on me as she steps free of them.

“Come here.” I say, holding out my hand; but it’s a plea, pure and simple.

Flipping the clasp on her bra, Ki lets it fall to the floor and settles herself in my lap. Her legs straddling my thighs. The only barrier between us is my jeans and boxers and I feel like I am suffocating in them. My hands move along her body slowly, unable to rush. My fingers brush over her nipples.

Sitting up, I take one into my mouth and circle it with my tongue as it hardens. “Luke,” she moans throwing her head back.

Reaching behind her, Ki grips my thighs. Kissing my way across her chest, I let my hands wander down her body. Sliding a hand between our bodies, my thumb finds her clit. “I need to be inside you, Kionna. But not until you’ve come apart for me,” I whisper against her skin. “Let me see you.”

My thumb circles slowly. This is not a race to the finish; I want to watch every second of the buildup until she can’t take it any longer. Her hips undulate faster and faster, she pants and whimpers with each calculated move my thumb makes. Her pleas for me to give her what we both want grow louder and louder.