Page 14 of Sam (Eye Candy Ink)

That makes him laugh and soon we’re standing in my dimly lit apartment, laughing like lunatics. The city has grown quiet outside my apartment and it kind of feels like we’re the only two people alive.

My alarm goes off and our moment is broken. I shut off the alarm and head to the sink, pulling the shower cap off as I bend over. Max moves behind me and I feel him brush against my ass as he leans over me to grab the sink sprayer. He turns it on, testing the water before he starts to slowly wash out my hair. I watch the pink dye swirl down the drain until the water runs clear. Max shuts the faucet off and I stand up, wrapping the towel around my wet hair.

When I stand up, he’s right there and I can’t wait any longer. I’m sick of the games, of testing him and seeing if he’ll pass. I have a feeling that Max will pass anything that I can throw his way. I want him and I’m done fighting this feeling.

I step toward him, tipping my face up towards his and licking my lips. His eyes flare, turning a darker blue as he leans toward me.Yes!My mind screams as I feel his warm breath fan over my face. Anticipation floods my bloodstream and I raise up onto my tiptoes, wanting his mouth on mine already.

I expected that the first time that Max kissed me would be hard and fast. Most guys when you give them the green light can’t wait to get down to business but not Max. He takes his time backing me up until I’m pressed against the wall. He reaches up and brushes a stray lock of hair back behind my ear before his hand caresses my cheek. His eyes study my face like he’s trying to brand it to his memory and by the time his thumb traces my bottom lip, I’m panting and on the verge of begging him to kiss me. It feels like if I don’t find out what his lips taste and feel like in the next five seconds, I’ll die.

Finally, his lips press against mine and it’s even better than I could have imagined. His mouth moves skillfully against mine, his movements almost lazy as we learn the shape and taste and texture of each other. His lips open and his tongue licks against my lower lip, begging for entry. I open, greedy for his taste. Things speed up after that and he lifts me onto the kitchen counter next to the sink, spreading my legs wide so he can fit between them. I wrap my arms around his neck, threading my fingers into his hair and he groans into my mouth.

He grips my hips, dragging me to the edge of the counter and grinds against me. I gasp into his mouth when I feel his hard length pressing against me. I rock against him and I swear I’m close to coming when he swears and jerks away from me.

“Shit,” he swears, doubling over.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” I ask, hopping off the counter and going over to him.

The towel has come loose from my hair and I toss it onto the ground as I bend over next to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“The piercing,” he grits out.

“The pier-OH!”

“It got caught on my jeans,” he says as he stands up and hobbles over to the futon.

“Yeah, it might take you some time to get used to it.”

I grab him some ice and wrap it in a kitchen towel before I clean up the kitchen and go over to the futon. I stretch out alongside him and he blinks his eyes open, turning to look at me.

“Sleep here,” I say and he just smiles, setting the ice aside and pulling me into his arms.

I fall asleep that night with my head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as I drift of to sleep.

10

Max

I pullup outside Eye Candy Ink and shift into park. Before I can unbuckle my seatbelt, the passenger and rear door open and Atlas and Mischa slide inside.

“Hey, guys,” I say, eyeing them warily as they get settled in the seats.

The shop hasn’t opened yet and I was hoping to surprise Sam with some breakfast. I haven’t seen her all week since I’m still struggling to find a new chef for Abernathy Brewhouse. I’ve had to spend my nights there and it’s been killing me. I have a couple people interviewing today and hopefully I can hire someone and then get back to seeing Sam at night. I miss dropping in with dinner or taking her out for a quick bite to eat on her break.

“What’s up?” I ask when they haven’t said anything.

Mischa opens his mouth but before he can, the back door opens again and Zeke slides in next to Atlas.

“What are we doing?”

“I don’t know,” I say, turning in the driver’s seat to look at him.

“We’re getting to that!” Mischa says, rolling his eyes.

“Okay, so spit it-oh, what the hell!”

I don’t know if I should laugh or curse when the door opens again and Nico climbs in next to Zeke. My car was not built for five grown men and it’s funny to see Zeke smashed between Nico and Atlas in the back while Mischa, the skinniest of all of us, is comfortable in the front seat.

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