Page 17 of Ash
Just as I am about to slide my hand to the back of her neck and deepen this kiss, as random as it is, I hear a man clear his throat and Sunday breaks the kiss, leaving me in a daze as she looks at the man. I glance over and eye him, noting he is a little shorter than me, with short dark hair, long dark beard, decent build.
“Sunday.” I don’t like how her name comes out of his mouth, as if he owns it. “Please, can we talk?”
“Josh, I have nothing to say to you. Stop harassing me, we are done.” So, this is Josh? He looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him.
“Sunday–”
“Hey!” I snap at him while wrapping my arm protectively around Sunday’s waist. “My girl told you politely to leave her alone. I’m not going to be as nice when I tell you to fuck off.” I warn through gritted teeth. Josh stares at me for a long minute before giving Sunday one last look.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he says as he walks out. Sunday and I stand in silence for a moment before she lets out a deep breath and pulls back.
“I am so sorry.” Sunday gives me an uneasy smile as her cheeks pinken. It’s fucking adorable, and it’s making me want to kiss them.
Kiss them? God damn it, Ash, this is against the fucking rules.
Though, she initiated it…
“Hey,” I give her a suggestive smirk. “My mouth is available to you, any time.” I wink and laugh as her mouth drops and she slaps me in the chest.
“Pig,” she grumbles before walking away.
“You liked it!” I call to her retreating figure as she heads to the piercing area.
“You have no proof of that!” she scoffs out.
I give her a casual shrug. “Your tongue down my throat would suggest otherwise, Sunshine.” Fox, Derek, and Atlas all look up and stare from me to her.
She raises a brow and laughs. “Don’t flatter yourself, Charming. Had Derek been the one out there, my tongue would’ve been down his throat.”
“Does consent mean nothing anymore?” Derek mutters while shaking his head.
“Oh, yeah?” I huff out, slightly indigent. “Well, I would like to see Derek make your knees buckle. That’s right, I felt them! You swooned.”
“Can Derek not be in this discussion?” Derek grumbles while looking at Atlas, who is cackling.
Sunday’s eyes narrow. “I was tired from the running, and you wouldn’t know how to make a girl swoon if your life depended on it.”
“Oh! I am the swoon master!” I yell. “They have webinars held to teach my swooning practices!”Swooning practices?I shake my head at my idiotic outburst before turning to look at the three men. They all simultaneously burst out laughing at me. God damn it, how is it shealwaysfinds a way to make me look like an idiot?
“Hey, Ash,” Atlas says between laughs. “So, can I find your practices on YouTube? I mean, maybe I need to brush up for Ren.” I give my best friend the finger before plopping down on the chair at my station. This is going to be a long day.
* * *
I rubmy stiff neck as I walk from my bathroom to the bedroom. Standing in front of my dresser, I look at myself in the mirror that hangs behind it as I pump lotion into my hand and begin massaging it into my inked skin. Proper long-term tattoo care is something I’m a stickler about. Keeping them out of the sun, moisturized, and protected is very important to me, mostly because of the tattoos I have. It would be impossible to get them again. I trained with some of the best artists in the Traditional Japanese art. And I’ve been tattooed by some artists that are no longer living. One tattoo being the two koi on my shoulder blade that was done by a master Tebori artist. Tebori is a method of hand tattooing that involves a bamboo tool with a metal needle. It’s a long, intimate process, and I learned a lot during that session, as I did with all my tattoos. So again, I take care of them.
After lotion and deodorant, I put on some cologne before removing my towel and slipping on my boxer briefs. I glance at my phone on the dresser and see I have a couple of notifications from the hookup app for possible matches. I had been planning on hitting the club scene tonight, but a hook up might be better. I’m not really into picking out the sober girl in the club, plus… I’m really tired. I would rather just get a quick fuck in and come back to bed.
I slip my dark jeans on and cuss when my foot gets caught, and I hit the wall. As I slip my pants up, there is a soft smack sound on my wall, followed by my phone vibrating. I pick up my phone and I can’t help but chuckle at the text.
Sunshine: You over there swooning another girl?
Running my thumb across my upturned lips, I flop back into my bed. Glancing at the time, I see it’s just after midnight, I guess I can dick around a little before going out. Propping myself up on the headboard I tap out a response before knocking on my wall.
Me: HA! So you admit you were swooned!
Sunshine: I am adult enough to admit that you are… adequate in your oral abilities.
Me: Oh I am more than adequate I assure you *winky face*
