Page 9 of Tell Me No
His kiss is maddening, soft and warm, but painful like a brand against my lips. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve even been truly kissed in my life before this moment. But I know nothing has ever compared to this. He feels warm and familiar, solid and secure. I don’t remember the last time I ever felt so safe. I want to cling to him, to bury my soul in the curve of his collarbone and never turn back.
His fingers grip the nape of my neck tighter, digging into the muscle and bone there. I hope he leaves his fingerprints behind as proof to the world that I will never surrender to another man after today. His free hand trails down my side, wrapping around my waist and sliding over the curve of my ass. His touch is possessive, territorial in a way I’ve never felt before. He pulls my body even tighter against his, the solid ridge of his cock grinding against my pelvic bone. A whimper escapes through my lips and he swallows it down.
“So fucking exquisite,” he murmurs against my lips, and I smile. Slowly, he walks me backwards until my back is bowed over his desk. He’s pushing for my submission, and for once in my life, I give it willingly.
I let him lay me down on the desktop, our lips never breaking from each other. He leans into me, the solid head of his cock rubbing against my clit through our layers of clothing. A feeling rushes through me, both foreign and familiar all at once. I realize I’m on the verge of coming from just his lips and the friction against my clit. Not wanting to embarrass myself completely, I try to pull away from him.
Instead of backing off, he trails his lips and tongue down my chin, across my jaw, and down the column of my neck until I’m squirming beneath him. I feel my body drawing closer and closer to the edge. No fucking way am I going to come like this. He nips the edge of my collarbone, grinding just the tip of his cock against my clit at the same time, and I combust.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuuuuuck,” I groan out, the orgasm ripping through me. Never in my twenty-one years of life have I ever finished so fucking fast and still fully clothed.
“Did you just-” he pulls back far enough to look down into my incredibly embarrassed face.
“Shut up,” I say, frozen, my eyes wide in shock. The sexiest grin I’ve ever laid eyes on splits his lips and I commit it to memory.
“Fuck. I knew I was good but-” he says.
“Shut. Up.” I snap back, throwing my arm over my face. The sound of Ember’s ringtone breaks the silence and I’m quick to answer, putting her on speakerphone. Breaker suppresses a laugh above me, still not backing out of my space.
“Hey, Em. Whats up?” I say, forcing some neutrality into my tone.
“Hey babe, are you home? I was gonna swing by and pick you up. I finally unlatched the twins from my body and I need a fucking break. You mind if I pick you up early and we can grab some coffee or something?” Ember asks.
“No! I mean, yes. Of course you can come get me early, but I’m not home. Give my like twenty minutes and I’ll be there!” I reply. Breaker squeezes my hip bone and I have to suppress a squeal. I don’t know what the fuck just happened between us, but I know I will not talk to Ember about it like this.
“Ok, be at your place in twenty!” She says, hanging up.
“Running off so soon? I was just getting started with you,” Breaker says, dipping down to place a warm, wet kiss against my neck. My entire body tingles whenever he touches me. Shaking my head to break through the cloud of lust that is Jason Negan, I push him back so I have room to stand.
“I have to go. She’s going to be waiting for me. Are you coming tonight?” I say, picking his jacket up off the floor and moving to hand it back to him again. He snags my wrist, pulling me to him and placing a sweet, slow kiss on my lips. My heart flutters, literally fucking flutters, and I melt into him.
“That’s a little forward, don’t you think? Then again, you already did, so I guess it’s only fair.” He smirks, a seductive smirk that makes me want to slap his gorgeous face. “Keep it. It looks so much fucking better on you, princess,” he says, turning me around and pushing me towards the stairs with a sharp smack on my ass.
I yelp, running up the stairs and out of his house, the sound of his laughter echoing behind me. Shutting the door to my Bronco, I sit in silence for several minutes, wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself in to.
seven
Four hours later,I find myself setting up a sound system on the deck in Elijah’s back yard. Ember told Aurora this was going to be a small get together, just her mom and close friends. But what I’m looking at is something much bigger than a backyard cookout. This is definitely a full-blown surprise party.
I’m not entirely sure how she’s going to feel about that. She doesn’t seem to appreciate surprises the way some people do, which I can understand. I’m not a surprise person either. I like to plan, to prepare, and have time to come up with an excuse for why I’m not coming well in advance. But after this morning, I had to show up for her. I’ve been fighting so hard to maintain my resolve around her. To protect her from my world and all the darkness it will bring into hers. But something about Aurora always calls me back, like a fucking siren luring me to my death. Because I already know she will be the death of me, and I’ll gladly close the casket myself just for one more taste of her.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Ember asks Eli as they scurry around the yard setting up decorations.
“Sunshine, I haven’t been able to spend a birthday with my sister in years. Twenty-one is a big milestone. I want to celebrate it with her,” he replies, and my stomach drops just a little at the mention of her age.
Twenty-one years old. Hell, when I was twenty-one I was too busy drinking and partying through whatever shitty city I was stationed in. I don’t remember most of my twenties. I was lucky enough to settle down a little before I ended up dead or afflicted with some lifelong disease.
During our last tour, I ended up on the wrong side of a nasty IED explosion. While I was able to make it out with my life and limbs, I busted both ear drums and sustained a brain injury severe enough to cause the Corps to discharge me. I always assumed I’d live and die in the Marine Corps, so that quickly derailed the plans I had for my life. But when Everett and Elijah told me they wanted to open Grovewood Ink, I was happy to help in any way I could.
My parents are only a few hours away on Tybee Island in Georgia. They still live in the same house I grew up in from the time I was adopted. I’ve tried time and time again to buy them something nicer, but they insist they won’t ever leave that house. I don’t really mind it. Whenever I walk through the front door, I’m hit by a feeling of unconditional love like no other. It’s my home, the first place I ever felt protected.
My parents raised me to never see my adoption as a shortcoming. Mama still tells me to this day that the people I came from weren’t bad, they just didn’t know what a gift they were given. I’m not sure anybody would consider me a fucking gift, but I would never argue with my mom. I was a lucky son of a bitch to fall into the hands of such incredible people, honestly. My dad taught me how to live my life with integrity and to value hard work. My mama made sure I always knew kindness and love overflowed from our home.
When I see Amelia, Elijah and Aurora’s mom, come through the back door, I smile. She reminds me so much of my own mother. She’s a hardworking woman who loves her children with a ferocity that some people just don’t possess. I admire her for that.
“Where are my babies?” she sings, coming across the yard and scooping Scarlett out of Ember’s arms. “Princess Scarlett! You’ve grown so much since I saw you last week!”
“Well, she eats everything that’s not nailed down, so I’m not shocked,” Ember says, stroking her daughter’s dark hair.
