Evanescent Ink (Copperline #4) (6 page)

“I wish I remembered more,” I murmured as I stood. She didn’t move away when I rose, when our bodies were suddenly so much closer together. The dark, rich scent of her perfume filtered through the air around me, disturbed by my movements. The low desk light created a shadowy effect that made her dark eyes seem even darker. Wide and mysterious. It sensually highlighted the delicate tats on her shoulders, the hollows just above her collarbones.

“It was…” she whispered, “
amazing
.”

Fuck, yes.
That’s what I wanted. What I needed.

Amazing.

“You know,” I shrugged in a feigned indifference, “maybe it wasn’t actually as good as we remember. Maybe we should do it again to make sure it actually was that good.”

Raven laughed, a rich chuckle that bubbled up from deep inside, and her exhaled breath brushed against the skin of my neck. That’s how close we stood. “What kind of logic is that?”

“Well, there’s no point in comparing any future sexploits to you and I if it was just a freak thing. If we had sex again and it wasn’t so good, that would make it easier on our next partners.”

She nodded, a glint of conspiracy lighting her eyes. Along with a spark of something else. Something naughty. She arched her pierced eyebrow. “We could
try
to make it bad.”

My jeans began to feel a little tight against my rapidly swelling cock. “Right, we could totally just fuck all sloppy and shit. Get it over with. That would ease things up. It would have to.”

I leaned in a little closer and watched as some of the humor left her expression, fading with the heat that simmered underneath the surface of her gaze. Slipping one hand around her waist, my touch skimmed the warm, smooth skin just below the hem of her vest.

She dropped her eyes to the desk beside us, setting her purse on it. “Hell, we could just do it right here.” Her voice had taken on a low, sultry quality that intensified the ache in my balls. Turning slightly, she leaned over the desk, her arms extended out in front of her. “I could just bend over the desk like this and… let ‘er rip.”

Her back arched, and she swayed back towards me, pressing her ass against my groin with an unspoken but oh-so-obvious plea to be filled. To be fucked. To be used.

Jesus.

Oh, hell… yes.

Just. Like. That.

In a flash, that memory of sinking deep inside her permeated my brain. All the blood in my body rushed straight to my dick. I was rock hard in an instant.

“Exactly. Quick and dirty.” My own tone sounded thick and dreamlike, as though it was a thought echoing around in my head instead of quiet words I whispered. Then the realization hit me. “Fuck, I don’t have a condom. I didn’t grab a new one to put in my wall—”

Before I could finish, Raven had slipped her hand into her purse and held a shiny foil package out to me.

“Here,” she whispered, sounding breathless and needy as she shifted back against me once more.

Fuck, yeah.
She wanted it… badly. She wanted
me.

This time, it didn’t even cross my mind to walk away. That luscious ass of hers nudging me gently. Her legs, showcased in those spectacular heels. I was throbbing. Hard and ready. In no time, I had sheathed myself in the condom, tugged up her skirt and pushed aside her panties, and slipped inside her.

It was supposed to be cold and clinical. An act. It shouldn’t have burned through me with every stroke. I shouldn’t have traced the kiss tattoo on her ass until the image was burned into my brain.

But,
fuck
… it was so good. It was everything my drunken mind had remembered. And more.

As I rocked against her, she lifted her hand, scraping her nails through the short hair at my nape. Just like I’d imagined, her jewelry jangled with the force of each thrust. Her body twisted until her lips were close to my ear.

“Drew,” she moaned against my skin.

“Jesus, don’t say my name like that.” I pressed a tight, firm kiss against her lips, swallowing the gasp she let out when I drove hard inside her again. “I like it way too much.”

“Sorry,” she whispered, biting back another moan, and the emotional force of her voice radiated through her body.

The effect was shattering, making it even worse. Instead of hearing her say my name, I felt it. I felt her body tighten around me. Papers fell to the floor. Her purse crashed down, spilling its contents across the hardwood. But she simply moved against me, wrapped up in the fever of sensation.

One more stroke, and I could barely hold it in. Every cell in my body wanted to release into her, to flood through her pores. As I withdrew, as the balls of my apa hit her just right, she broke in my arms. With a faint sob, her body tensed and shook.

“Drew,” she gasped, and I was done. Everything came rushing forth, wild and ragged as the rough groan I let loose. My movements slowed, tortuously drawing out the orgasm with tight jerks of my muscles.

For the longest time, I held her. Bent over my desk with my forehead buried against the sweet, hot, damp skin of her neck. I felt boneless and weightless. All sensation fled, leaving only a deep contentment.

“I’m not so sure that worked,” I finally managed to whisper.

“Okay, yeah… that was still really fucking hot.” She nodded, shivering a little at the heat of my breath in her ear.

I knew I should get up. I should let her go and try to forget this had ever happened.

But,
Christ
… I could still feel the reverberations of her orgasm with every breath. So I didn’t let her go just yet. Instead, I tightened my arms around her and placed a kiss on her shoulder. “I guess it was worth a try.”

“Yeah it was,” she said with a satiated whisper. “So worth it.”

So fucking worth it…

I woke up the next morning to a text from Maggie. She couldn’t find a necklace and she was wondering if it was at my place.

Just thinking about her made my stomach lurch and my heart race. I climbed out of bed, trying to think of where she could have left it. She had rarely stayed over. In all the time we’d gone out, I could probably count the times on one hand.

For a split second, I thought maybe she missed me. I texted her back.

Haven’t seen one, but I'll look.

She was pretty quick to reply.

Check by your bed. I think I set it on your bedside table the last time I was there.

Reminding me of bed… the last time she was in it. That little thought sparked into full on hope.

Want me to bring it to you if I find it?

Just let me know if you do. I'll come and get it.

Like a love-starved idiot, I immediately jumped up and hit the floor to look. Sure enough, at the head of my bed up against the wall was a dainty necklace. I couldn’t remember her ever wearing it, but I was a dude. I didn’t really pay much attention to what chicks wore.

I quickly snapped a pic and texted it to her.

Is this it?

A few minutes later, I got a reply.

Yes. I'll stop by to get it today.

My stomach twisted with apprehension. Strangely, not exactly excitement, but yearning for familiarity. For my life to get back to normal. A little suggestion that Maggie was coming by because she wanted that, too.

It was Friday. I had some appointments in the morning, but I generally kept Friday afternoons pretty clear so I’d be ready to head to the Copperline in time to tune up.

I can be home at about one for a couple hours before I head to the Copperline. Can you stop then?

No. Just leave it on the counter. I'll leave my key there when I pick it up.

That faint ray of hope immediately fizzled away. A sickening sensation settled in my gut as I realized she didn’t even want to see me. She actually
did
just want her shit… and to leave the key.

How official. The final nail in the coffin.

I hopped in the shower, mostly in an attempt to wash away that renewed bitterness of rejection. Turning the water on almost straight hot, letting the burn run over my chest, down my rigid abs…

…and something else began to filter in.

Raven.

Raven’s touch, soothing and conflagrant all at once. The sounds that emanated from her throat and the image of her skin beneath my hands.

The first time, I’d been so bombed that the memories seemed a little fuzzy. Heated, but surreal. Intrinsic. Deniable.

Yet now, I had a stronger memory that pulled at me. Something irrefutable that challenged the sense of loss Maggie instilled in me. I let it take hold, guiding my hands to firmly grip my cock. Allowing the remembrance of her to overwhelm me, the image of her bent over my desk as I watched my length slide in and out of her.

Fantasizing about Raven to avoid thinking of Maggie was
soooooo
not healthy, for either Raven or me.

But,
God
, it helped.

So I used it. I allowed it to buzz through my veins until all thoughts of Maggie and heartache had been drowned out by the reverie of Raven and her touch.

After beating off, washing off, and toweling off, I pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and headed downstairs. It was just before seven, and Justin sat hunched over a bowl of Lucky Charms, dressed in respectable university adjunct professor clothes. The guy even had a tie on.

“So what’s with the tie? You in trouble with administration or something?” I asked as I poured myself a cup of coffee.

“Fucking curriculum meetings,” Justin grumbled, scooping the last of the marshmallows into a bite.

“Gotcha,” I replied. “I figured you were in trouble for nailing a student or something.”

“Fuck off,” he snorted. “I’m careful. No students.” He got up to rinse his bowl and plop it in the dishwasher. He turned and leaned up against the counter, studying me warily. “So, I heard about Maggie. Batting for the other team. Or catching maybe. I’m actually not sure what euphemism would work for chicks.”

I shrugged. “Thanks for reminding me that I turned my girlfriend into a lez.”

“You didn’t do shit.”

“It sure as fuck feels that way.”

“That’s a crock of shit, and you know it.” He chuckled at my skeptical glance. “Besides, if I had a chick, I’d rather she left me for another girl. At least I’d know my dick was bigger.”

“Nice, Justin. Nice.”

“Besides, I was starting to think I’d have to go outside the group for a wingman, but now you and I can live like the good ol’ days.”