She waves a hand at my face, her own pulled into an expression like she’s tasted something sour. “Not like this. Like…ooey and gooey.” Her pinched lips fall into a frown. “Oh my God you’re in love.”
“Love? I don’t think so.”
But as soon as she says it something in my chest tells me she’s right. I’ve never felt like this before. Light and almost giddy. I find myself thinking about Alba more than almost anything and wondering how I can spend even more time with her. It’s been a week since I showed up at her townhome and we had sex. In these seven days it’s happened five more times and I’m not complaining.
Jessie snorts, rolling her eyes at me as she cleans her station. “You’re fucking whipped.”
I roll my tongue around my mouth. Normally the sound of the word whipped would grate on me and send me running, but for some reason I don’t mind it this time. If bearing that label means I get to feel this happen then I’ll wear it as a badge of honor.
“Are you finished for the day?”
She adjusts her hair and picks up the water bottle from the table beside her. “Yeah, I’ll head out in a few.” She rubs her lips together, a thoughtful look on her face. “You know, it’s dumb, but at one point I thought maybe you’d open your eyes and see me and we’d end up together.”
I rear back in surprise. “Us?” I don’t mean for my tone to sound offended, but no doubt it does. I’ve never pictured Jessie as anything other than an employee and a pain in my ass. She’s great at her job with a work ethic even I envy. It’s why I trusted my shop in her hands.
She gives a self-deprecating laugh. “You and me, what a joke right?”
“That’s not what I meant, Jess. I just…” I shake my head. I’m not good with words. “I guess I never thought about it.”
“Like I said. It was dumb. But…” She toys with her bottom lip between her teeth like she’s not sure she wants to say what comes next. “Just make sure she treats you right. You deserve that.”
My brows furrow surprised by the genuineness in what she says. My eyes drift across the street to Between the Lines. “Don’t worry about that.”
She gives a forced smile, heading to the back. It’s only a few minutes later when I hear the back door close with her exit.
It isn’t long until my next client comes in and I’m more than glad to allow myself to get lost in my art. I have one more appointment after that and then I close up shop early.
Standing out back, I find myself pulling the cigarette pack from my pocket. I’ve been going longer between needing them, but right now I’m desperate. Maybe it’s the conversation with Jessie or maybe it’s the realization that Alba means even more to me than I originally thought. Whatever it is, I find myself sucking down another right after the first. Chain smoking has never been my thing, but right now I need the nicotine more than I need just about anything.
Toeing the cigarette out, I grab my shit and head over to Between the Lines.
Alba immediately swivels around in the stool behind the front desk, beaming as soon as she notices me.
Her smile falls a tiny bit when she sees my stormy expression.
“Tra—”
I don’t give her a chance to finish saying my name. I grab her face in my hands, pulling her up to meet me in a kiss that’s not exactly gentle. I’m wild, mad, desperate to brand her.
Mine. She’s mine. My mind chants over and over. Claim her. She’s yours.
Her body is stiff with surprise at first but relaxes in my hold. Then she’s kissing me back just as desperately.
“Please tell me you’re done for today.”
“Yes,” she pants.
“Thank fuck.”
I pick her up and her legs automatically wind around my waist. As much as I’d like to fuck her right here and right now I don’t want everyone on the walking mall to get a show, so I carry her back to the office.
Placing her down on the desk I strip us bare faster than should be humanly possible. Ripping the condom open I stroke my fingers over her pussy and nearly shutter with relief that she’s ready for me. I’m not sure I have it in me to wait.
“Hurry up,” she pleads and must be having similar thoughts as I roll the condom on. “Travis, plea—” The word ends with a moan as I enter her in one hard thrust.
Her nails rake against my back, grappling to hold on as I pound into her relentlessly. It’s like something has been unleashed inside me and I can’t stop. I have to fuck her as hard as I can. Make sure she knows she’s mine. I can’t let her ever forget me. Forget us and the magic between we create.
She leans back on the desk, arms above her head and her black hair fans out around her. Her breasts are full, even bigger since the baby, and I lean down taking one pert nipple in my mouth. I swirl my tongue around the sensitive bud and then give the other the same treatment.
Straightening, I grab her hips, my fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. “Please tell me you’re close,” I beg, rubbing her clit with my thumb. “I’m gonna come, baby, and I want you to come too.”
“Almost.” Sweat beads on her forehead. “Don’t stop. Whatever you do don’t stop.”
I grit my teeth, my head falling back as I pound into her. Her pussy clamps even tighter around my cock and I growl as my release sends a shiver down my spine. Mewling sounds pass through her lips. I bend over her, stealing a kiss because I want to swallow those sounds.
Mine.
I lay over her, both of us struggling to get enough oxygen. Gently her fingers comb through my hair in a soothing gesture.
It takes me a moment, but I rest my hands on the table by either side of her head and peer down into her brown eyes. They’re glazed with lust, but blink back at me with understanding.
Not a word passes through our lips but both of us understand.
There’s no going back.
We’re done for.
Endgame.
Finally, I pull out of her body and dispose of the condom. We both go about redressing and she goes to use the bathroom.
When she exits, she finds me leaning against the wall twirling her pen through my fingers.
She eyes the pen, her lips pinched but she doesn’t comment on it this time. I think I’ve fucked all the words out of her for once.
Tucking the pen back in my pocket, I step away from the wall. “I was thinking…I know you’re closed and all, but there’s some ink I want, and I have a feeling you’re the girl to do it.”
She arches a brow. “That so? What makes you think I’m up for the job?”
“Oh, I know you’re perfect for this.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “Can you afford it?”
I know she doesn’t mean it in a monetary way. “I hope so.”
“Then right this way.” She sweeps her hand toward the front and I follow, taking the chair she indicates. “Where do you want it?”
Hooking my thumbs in the back of my shirt I yank it off and drop it to the floor.
“Right here.” I place my hand over the left center part of my chest, over my heart, where I’ve been leaving a blank spot. In my mind I knew whatever I put here had to be close to my heart, both literally and figuratively.