Naked (24 page)

He patiently waited for her to turn around. She wanted to. She wanted desperately to show him. To show the one person in the world who made her feel like a real person. Not a beauty queen. Not a show pony. Not a piece of property to be auctioned off to the highest rich guy looking to secure a good marriage arrangement.

His hand smoothed up her back, right up the length of her spine until he reached her shoulders. She backed into his touch, and when he let his hand slide down her side and reach around until he found the apex of her thighs, she didn’t question him. Her stomach jerked in reaction, to the fact that he immediately forced a finger between her folds to find her clit.

With her own wetness he circled the tight bead, the front of his body now hovering over her back to get a good angle on his target. She felt his hot breath on her neck, and she moaned when he cupped his hand around her mound and slapped her pussy with four fingers.

She jerked, one arm collapsing as she fell to the bed. Noah pressed his erection into her ass and the next thing she knew his hands were on her stomach inching their way up to her breasts. For the first time she felt his work-roughened hands abrade her nipples. Which he took full advantage of, tweaking and rubbing until they were so hard they ached.

She had no doubt he could feel her skin. Feel the imperfections under his hands as he moved them across the front of her body. But feeling wasn’t the same as seeing.

“Let me see you,” he whispered.

Once again, he pressed on top of her body. The hair of his chest scratched against her back, his cock pressing between her ass cheeks. He mimicked the movements of sex, thrusting against her and moaning into her shoulder. He bit down when she reached under and cupped his balls through his boxer briefs.

“You can trust me, Violet.”

God, he could take her right now. Take anything he wanted. She didn’t need to be in charge anymore.

He kissed a line down her spine. “Show me how beautiful you are.”

She went rigid. He’d just flicked the panic button.

Those were the exact words she
didn’t
want to hear at this moment. This wasn’t about her being beautiful. This was about sharing a part of herself that she’d kept hidden from the world. The most hideous part of herself.

And with so few words, he’d just confirmed that this relationship had been built on nothing more than appearances.

And so she shut down. She’d rather be distant, keep herself hidden, and keep the illusion of her beauty in his mind than the alternative.

She shook her head, tears lacing her cheeks. He knew, without her having to say no, he knew there weren’t going to be any revelations here tonight.

“Okay,” he whispered against her back. “Okay.”

Knowing this was the only position in which they were going to be able to connect, he grabbed a condom from the night stand as she’d directed and sheathed his erection.

He did a swipe of her folds with the tip of his cock, and he slipped in easy when he breeched her center. With one sharp thrust he was seated to the hilt, his pelvis flush against her ass.

It was Violet who began to move, sliding her body up his length then back down to slap against his pelvis.

“That’s it.” He held his arms back, just watching as she moved herself up and down. “Fuck that cock.”

He let her control the action for a while, letting her find that perfect spot, and she’d found it a few thrusts later.

“Oh, God,” she panted. She picked up the pace, moving harder along his erection until she felt it, creeping up on her without warning.

It started as a tingle in her toes and shot up through her body to explode in a burst of white splotches under her eyelids. Her breath caught and she let out a loud groan, convulsing on the bed, her legs and arms almost buckling from under her.

He tightened his grasp on her hips as he took over, his movements hard and rough. Like the rhythm of a jackhammer pounding its way into cement, he pounded her body to his own release.

A string of curses stumbled out of his mouth. He’d found that spot again with the force of his thrusts. This time it wasn’t a tingle, it was a sharp burst of pleasure that rocketed from her pelvis out through her limbs. She cried out, but her orgasm was cut short when he groaned her name, then collapsed over her body, a shaking mass on top of her as he came.

“Shit.” His big arms bracketed her body, holding himself up. “Fuck.”

He didn’t stay in that position long. He slipped out and grabbed the sheet, pulling it off the bed and holding it up to her so she could wrap herself with it.

Her heart swelled. She’d just demonstrated that she didn’t trust him. Not enough to show him the one part of her body that she was ashamed of. And still, he was showing her kindness.

She’d gotten closer than she’d ever imagined. So close that he’d actually touched the scars. Traced them with his finger, and then fucked her.

He returned to the bed, settling on his side, slapping a pillow between one arm and his head. Violet snuggled up to him, fitting her body perfectly against the front of his. With the sheet high and tight around her body, she sighed. Despite being fully naked with only the thinnest of barriers to maintain her truth, she’d never been more comfortable.

With Noah, every time was a new experience. And she wasn’t ready for those experiences to end.

“Will you go somewhere with me tomorrow?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

She could think of no better way to commemorate this journey of self-discovery, her journey with Noah, than by getting a tattoo.

“Can you text Luke for me? See if he has any appointments available?”

She had every belief that Harper would keep her secret. She just hoped that if Ari was there, he wouldn’t spill the beans.

Soon enough it would be daylight and they’d only have a few hours until they had to part ways. But feeling this good in his arms, she just didn’t know how she was going to say goodbye.

Chapter 19

The next morning, they rode public transit to Inked. Noah had sent a text message to Luke the night before. Since he had back-to-back appointments all day, he’d offered to come in early to get Violet’s tattoo done.

She was more fidgety this morning than usual. Noah chalked it up to nerves. Getting something permanently tattooed on your body was a big deal. Although she’d been quiet about what exactly she wanted that something permanent to be.

The bell on the front door jingled as he opened it and allowed her first entry. Ari, another excellent tattoo artist, was behind the counter.

“Noah!” He smiled from his perch across the counter, holding up his hand. The silver of his rings and the metal on his leather cuffs caught the fluorescent light and reflected against the black walls.

“It’s a little early for you, isn’t it, dude?”

Noah led Violet to the counter with his hand at the small of her back. He loved how she always sank into it. Never tense, never hesitant, always pressing her body closer, reveling in his touch. But this morning, she was different.

Before Noah had the chance to introduce her, she thrust out her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Violet and this is my first time here. I have an appointment with Luke.”

Oh…kay. She was acting really weird.

Ari glanced between the two of them; one eyebrow quirked up, stretching the area where the barbell was pierced through his skin.

“Yes.” He held out his hand and clasped it with hers. “Nice to meet you…for the first time…Violet.”

“Violet!”

Noah turned at the sound of Harper’s voice. She raced out of the back room in such a hurry, the white swinging door smashed against the wall. She enveloped Violet in a hug so huge, it was yet another check mark in the weird column.

“It’s so good to see you.” She kissed Violet on the cheek. “I thought I might never see you again.” She winked at him, that devious Harper expression unmistakable.

What the hell had they talked about while he and Luke had been tearing up the carpet in the dining room?

To his surprise, Violet smiled wide and hugged Harper back with equal measure. They had obviously bonded when he’d had his friends over to his house.

Girl bonds. He didn’t pretend to know anything about them. It wasn’t uncommon for Harper to forge quick relationships with people. It was one of her strengths, despite most women writing her off because of the way she looked.

“When Luke told me he was coming in early for you I had to be here.” Harper led Violet to the back of the shop to Luke’s office, completely forgetting that Noah was even present.

“She’s hijacked your woman.” Ari laughed as he rearranged the items in the showcase.

“Apparently.”

“She’s hot.” Ari wiggled his eyebrows then straightened. “What’s wrong with her?”

Noah recoiled. “What do you mean what’s wrong with her? Nothing.”

“I just mean that—”

“Ari!” Harper yelled at him from the doorway to the back. “You better get your station prepped.”

He glared back at her. “I don’t have a client for another two hours.”

She knocked the wall twice. “It’s best to be prepared.”

Ari just shrugged and loped toward Harper. Before he had the chance to walk by her she stopped him and whispered in his ear.

He nodded solemnly, looking back to give Noah a jerk of his chin before he disappeared to his office.

“Come on, lover boy.”

Noah laughed, shaking his head as he met Harper at the entrance to the back. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “You’re looking good. Have I told you that?”

“You don’t have to tell me, Jones.” He hugged her back. “I know I look good.”

“Gag me.” She stuck her finger into her mouth. “You’re such an asshole.”

When they walked into Luke’s office, Violet was already sitting on the chair, scrolling though her phone.

Luke was busy setting up his station, cleaning the tattoo gun and fitting the plastic around the device.

“Thanks again for doing this, Luke.” Violet fidgeted in the chair. “I really appreciate it.”

Luke looked up, a smirk curving at the side of his lips. “I like working on virgins.” He winked. “I get off on being the first to conquer a blank canvas.” He locked eyes on Harper. “Isn’t that right, Jones?”

Luke had been the first to ink Harper. When they first went into business together, she had been bare, but Luke wouldn’t agree to partner up unless she got one.

And the rest was history.

Harper squirmed at his direct appreciation of her skin. Although Noah knew Luke was only getting hard at the sight of his artwork, not of Harper’s body.

“All right, Vi.” Luke returned his attention to his client, who was still looking nervous as hell. “What and where?”

She took a deep breath and said, “I want a dandelion.”

Noah’s heart seized. They had had the dandelion conversation. They had fucked in a sea of them. He couldn’t help but get a swell in his chest from ego and appreciation that the symbol had everything to do with him.

She stood and without a second thought, undid her jeans. “And I want it on my hip.”

“That sounds perfect to me,” Luke said.

She held out her phone. “I saved some pictures for you on my phone.”

Luke slapped his hands on his thighs. “Let’s see them.”

She swiped her finger across the screen of her phone, showing Luke the four pictures she’d saved. Noah sidled up to them to check them out.

Two were on the hip, the dandelion simulating wind and the fluff blowing up the side. The other two were heavier with bright green leaves and yellow flowers.

“I don’t want it too big, something small to start.”

“To start?” Noah lifted his brow and smirked.

“Who knows, I might get addicted.” She looked over at Luke. “You do come highly recommended. And if the handiwork on Noah and Harper is any indication of your talent, I’m sure I’ll be back for more.”

“Dandelion on the hip.” He tapped his finger to his chin. “Give me five minutes to sketch something up for you.”

Noah wasn’t surprised that she’d picked a spot that was far away from her neck. Once again, she had covered it, but this time she wore a hoodie that zipped up high across her neck. He knew that wasn’t coming off anytime soon.

He had been so close to seeing her last night, all of her. He’d tried his best to make her feel comfortable. To let her know without words that she could trust him. But she hadn’t. Not fully. She’d only gotten the courage to let him touch her. And he wasn’t surprised when he’d encountered scarring. It was apparent by the raised flesh and bumps under his hand as he’d roamed her body.

And now he would never see. Because as soon as this tattoo was done, they would go their separate ways and never meet again.

When Luke returned, he showed Violet his sketch. Her mouth popped open and she gasped, grabbing the parchment from his hand.

“Luke…I love it.”

Noah stepped forward and leaned over her shoulder, taking in the sketch. As usual, Luke’s artistry was exceptional. He’d drawn a cluster of bright yellow flowers, and in the midst of the vibrant color was a single dandelion in seeding form, the tiny lines of fluff blowing up and away from the flower in the wind.

It was exquisite.

“Ink me up.”

She sat backward against the chair, lifting up her hoodie and the T-shirt underneath despite Luke’s recommendation to take it off.

“You know I’ve seen much more intimate parts of a lady’s body while tattooing.”

She laughed. “I’m sure you have.”

She pulled the shirt up and over her shoulder as best she could while still keeping the front under her breasts. Noah had seen this last night. The perfect skin of her back. The near perfect line of her spine and how it led to the most beautiful bottom he’d ever had the privilege of touching.

Noah watched the first part of the session, wanting to be there for her if she was in pain. But like a trooper, like the Violet he’d come to care for, she took the pain in stride, controlling it with breath. And humming
The Nutcracker
.

Noah jumped when Harper barreled into the room, holding up her phone. “Your sister just sent a text asking me to meet her at Prism tonight and to bring five hundred dollars.”