Page 35 of Sealed in Ink

“I’ll send out a search party when I’m ready,” Brad chuckles, then winks at Rust. “She’s only next door.”

“Oh,” Rust says, with extra emphasis.

I never thought one syllable could shake my entire world.Oh, but in that husky voice, with that fierce edge, that’s exactly what’s happening. It’s like the walls are trembling. My tattoo burns like it’s a fresh thunderclap. I remember the feel of the needle, long for it, knowing I could never let him touch me again.

What about our baby?

After eating my last fry, I stand up. “I think I’ll have a lie-down,” I say. “It was nice seeing you, Rust. See you later.” I smile at Brad, then turn, almost running from the room. It’s toovisceralbeing close to him, too real, too raw. It activates too many feelings in me like he’s pushing all my buttons without even trying or being aware he’s doing it.

I try to read in my bedroom, but the Regency romance drama seems unrealistic as I contemplate going next door and telling Brad the truth. What if I told him that when his best friend wrapped his arms around me, I didn’t want him to stop? I wanted him to keep going, bend me over just like he did onour night, slip that huge, hard rod inside of me, and tease all the most sizzling places.

I wanted to bounce in that way that made him groan. I wanted to turn and see him staring down at me, thoroughly captivated, with an obsessive glint I never dreamed I’d see from Rust and definitely not aimed at me. But it was there. It was real. He couldn’t stop himself. He was taking me any damn way he wanted. He owned me with his ink. Fuck. I want him to do it again.

Suddenly, as if I’m not even doing it consciously, I stroke my hand down my body, under my pants and my underwear. I find my clit and close my eyes, letting myself remember that night. His chest was swelling, every muscle bulging, as he fuckedme from behind. His eyes blazed withemotion. It’s like Rust’s becoming a new man. With me. Only with me.

I rub my clit quicker, remembering the warm sting of his hand against my ass, the pleasant shiver of my body. I’m not sure he even knew he was groaning each time he did it. Each time I moaned, he went,“Oh,”just like he did in there, except with more passion and more hunger. It was like I was the most fascinating person he’d ever met.

I can still feel his dick gliding into me, pushing all the way, stretching out my pussy, owning me. I want to be his so badly—his property, even. I don’t care what other people would think of that. I don’t care about the age gap. As the orgasm almost crashes into me, I don’t even care about the goddamn betrayal.

Just the heat…

I stop and sit up, quickly pulling my hand free. The door is opening.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

RUST

What am I doing? What have Idone?

After saying goodbye to Brad, I waited at the end of the hall like a goddamn predator. I couldn’t stop thinking about my woman, my Mary, her curvy ass, and the sass in her voice when she charged to my defense. I meant to knock on her door, but she’s left it unlocked. I push it open, knowing it’s wrong, knowing I should stop.

Then I see her on the bed, a blanket messy around her legs, the sheets wrinkled, and her face all flushed, as I remember. I close the door behind me and turn the lock. She stares up like she thinks she’s in a dream.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

“That’s not the question,” I growl. “The question is… what wereyoudoing?”

She sits up and shakes her head. Her Kindle is facedown on the bed at a strange angle, like she threw it before she… My stiffness gets even firmer. My hunger is even hotter. “Nuh-nothing,” she stutters.

I kneel beside the bed,knowingit’s wrong, yet doing it anyway. It’s like she smells even more tempting this time. “I can smell your wet, hot pussy,” I growl.

She bites her lip. A shiver moves through her. Oh, damn, that just-Mary shiver. It brings me back to that night. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leaning forward, I trail my hand up her leg, alive to her every twitch, her every moan. I’m a bad man, but I don’t care right now. All that exists is her body blazing through her jeans.

“Don’t lie to me,” I growl, gripping her juicy thigh hard enough to let her know who’s in charge, to let her know she never has to feel guilty about this. “I’m taking advantage of you, Mary.”

She whimpers in that telltale way, wriggling on the sheets, like she doesn’t know what to do with all that lust.

“We can’t,” she whispers.

“I know.” I lean forward. “But it’s me, not you, baby. I’m taking you. Owning you. Doing whatever the fuck I want with your perfect body.”

When I kiss her, she feels like she’s ready to orgasm. The pleasure bursts up through her body. She kisses me with so much hunger, desperately in the hottest way, like she’s been waiting for this as much as I have.

“Why’s your button undone?” I ask with a smirk, slipping my hand down her pants. Oh,fuck. “And why are you wet?”

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