Page 22 of Inked Craving

He leaned down and kissed my cheek. Once again, I ignored the feeling it left behind. “My day was shitty because people suck, and I got like four random hang-ups at work because I think someone has the wrong number and doesn’t think it’s me and doesn’t realize it until they hear my voice.”

I stared at him, knowing he was here because I’d told myself I didn’t need my family to help. I was wrong, but at least I was wallowing in my own denial. “That would be annoying. We get a few hang-ups every week at Montgomery Builders. I don’t know if it’s a prank or a telemarketer asking me about my car’s warranty.”

“I swear, this is why millennials don’t use phones anymore.”

“Nope, texting it is. It’s only right.”

I sat down with him at the bar in my kitchen, both of us facing each other, our knees brushing as we ate carnitas and tacos and fajitas, my stomach all happy with the food. “It’s not spicy, and that’s good. I don’t even know if I should be eating spicy food.”

He wiped his mouth, his forearms flexing. “I guess it’s going to be in the baby books. Have you started reading them?”

I shrugged, ignoring the panic rising. “I read them for Annabelle and Brenna, but not really from the perspective of the pregnant person. Which, in retrospect, was kind of stupid.”

“No, you were reading as the auntie. Now, you get to read as the mom. Pick out the baby book we read first. I’ll help.”

I just shook my head, wondering why this man was so perfect in this moment. What had I done to deserve him as my friend? “I’m not sure you really want to read a book about pregnancies with me. There’s a lot of talk about cervices in there.”

Lee didn’t even cringe. He just finished up his fajita. “Hey, I can learn. I like learning. That’s why I’m a scientist.”

There was seriously something wrong with this man. “And learning about the placenta is something that you want to do for fun?”

“I know you’re trying to gross me out while we’re eating, but it’s natural. You’re not going to. Believe me. The things I’ve seen? You’re not going to do it.”

The way he said it, with a slight brittleness to his tone, I wanted to know what he was talking about, but I didn’t ask. Lee was great about joking to push people away, at least on certain subjects. And I, above all, understood. At least, in this situation.

I shook my head, then pulled up my phone as we picked a book to read together. Maybe I was clinging to him because I was nervous about everything else, and I didn’t care at that moment. It was nice, and I liked it. And so, I’d pretend. For now.

We cleaned up the dishes, and I leaned against the wall, shaking my head. “I feel gross.”

“You’re not gross,” Lee said as he stood in front of me, so close it scared me. My hormones were on overdrive, and all I wanted to do was lean forward, grip his shirt in my fist, and pull him down to me. Something was seriously wrong with me.

Lee stood in front of me, his lips close to mine, and his eyes darkened.

“Lee?”

“I’m going to do something fucking stupid right now. Don’t hit me.”

And then he pressed his lips to mine, and I didn’t hit him. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down even closer. He leaned into me, pushing me against the wall, one hand on my hip, the other above my head, keeping us steady.

“So fucking stupid. What are we doing?”

“I don’t know. And I don’t want to stop. Okay?” I asked, my voice a whisper.

“I’m still going to help you, Paige. I didn’t come over for this.”

“We’ll blame it on my hormones.”

“I don’t have those hormones, Paige,” he stated before biting my lip. I groaned, arching my hips into him. I felt the hard line of his erection pressing into my belly, that thick cock of his firm, and all I wanted to do was go down to my knees and suck him into my mouth. But I didn’t. Because this was stupid. So, so stupid. And yet, it was all I wanted. I just wanted to forget. And when I said as much, his eyes darkened.

“But it’s not going to change anything. I just…it can’t, Paige.” There was no pain, no sadness at his words. Because I didn’t want it to change anything, either. I just wanted to pretend, and this was Lee.This was Lee.

And then I was kissing him again, and he didn’t pull away. This was so idiotic, and we would likely regret it, yet neither of us said anything. It was as if we knew if we spoke, it would make it real, and we’d regret our decision as soon as we finished making it.

He slid his hands up under my shirt and tank top and cupped my bare breast, and we both sucked in a gasp. When his thumb pressed over my nipple, I groaned, and he froze.

“My nipples are sensitive,” I whispered.

“Good to know.” And then he leaned down, pushed up my shirts, and sucked one into his mouth. I nearly came right then, my panties so wet I knew he’d be able to tell as soon as he touched me. But I didn’t care. He kept sucking at my breast, then the other, playing with them both before he went down to his knees and tugged off my sweats. He pulled my panties down at the same time, and then I was bare before him, and Lee was on his knees in front of me. I looked down at him, at those wild eyes of his. I didn’t care if this was a mistake.

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