Page 33 of Sugar and Skulls

“You love dick,” I state dryly.

“Doesn’t mean I want the veiny things tattooed on me.”

“For the record, he said I could tattoo a dick on him, and he would proudly show it off. Guess he changed his mind,” she says, glaring at Bill.

Dan snaps his gloves on. His face pinches as he inspects Bill’s new tat. She didn’t? She glances at me over her shoulder before bowing her head over Raffe’s lap. The look of satisfaction in her eyes gives me the answer I’m looking for. I stifle a chuckle and push my chair back to give her a little space. A little.

Her tenacity makes my balls ache.

Chapter Fourteen

Jesse

???

Thank Gabriel’s God my dad and Dan came back inside when they did. The air was so heavy with…well I don’t know exactly. Whatever it was it caused a physical reaction that I’ve never experienced before. I wish Dirk would take a step the fuck back. Christ, my skin is hot and itchy. “Dan, you stingy bastard, turn the air on.”

“It is on.” He is trying to fix the dick I just finished tattooing on my father. Hey, he asked for it. It was intricately hidden in the ink. He wouldn’t have ever noticed but Dan has an eye for these things and I’m sure he picked up on it first glance.

Blowing a wisp of hair from face I try to focus on the black rose I’m constructing beneath my hand. Dirk and Raffe’s eyes are caressing my skin. My teeth seer into my bottom lip. I need the pain to distract me from the scorching heat their gaze leaves behind.

A blackened hand snakes into my vision. A thumb reaches out to tug my lip from between my teeth. I keep my hand gliding smoothly over Raffe’s thigh as every other part of my body convulses at Dirks touch.

I’m too close.

Too close.

I roll my head to the side, the loud crack my neck makes does nothing to break the spell that lingers in the air. It hasn’t evaporated since Dirk decided to pounce on me. No not just me. My eyes dart to Raffe’s. He stares at me. “Run, run now,”they scream.

My needle pulls up as I study his expression. He’s worried for me, yet there is something else. One thing I’ve always prided myself on is my ability to read people. When trouble finds me, I know. Not that it’s ever helped, but it does give me a heads up. I’m having a hard time reading Raffe.

Dirk’s hand ghosts over my back, his hot breath rustling the stray hairs against my cheek as he hovers beside me, pretending to study my art. Raffe’s eyes pull away from me, seeking Dirk’s. He blinks slowly, his sexy fucking lips parting.

Jesus, they are too close.

My body twitches to run. To fight their proximity. To protect what is mine.

I don’t run. I never run.

You could surrender.

The word flits like a butterfly in my chest, banging against the walls of bone that protect my internal organs.

Surrender.

Surrender.

Then the only man in the room who could burst my lustful thoughts speaks.

“I’ve been talking with Dan and we’ve decided that you will stay with him during the week and stay with me on the weekends.”

Raffe’s eyes soften at the sight of my anger bubbling to the surface. He grabs my arm as I push away from him. I pry his fingers off my arm one by one, glaring at my father across the room.

“I’m sorry Raffe. I’m done for the day. Come see me when we’re not so busy.”

“Sit your ass down,” Dan growls.

“No. I’m done.” This is ridiculous. I’ve taken care of myself since my grandparents died. I’ve got shit to do. My own agenda to fixate on. I can’t let Big Dan or a wannabe father, or two painstakingly beautiful men slow me down.

---