Say My Name (Stark International Trilogy 1)

“All right,” I say. “But you won’t guess. A shame, since I was looking forward to administering your prize.”

“You have very little faith.”

“On the contrary, I’m quite certain.”

“Give me a moment.” He moves to straddle me. He is still fully clothed, and his jeans brush against my bare skin in a way that shouldn’t be provocative, but really is. He puts his hands on my waist, then strokes up until he reaches my breasts. He cups the right one, teasing it and playing with my nipple even as his other hand dances lightly over the tattoo.

“You’re just stalling.” I’m a little breathless. Not only from the magic he’s working on my breast, but because he’s sitting right over my sex, and though I am not supporting all of his weight, I can feel his heat and the brush of denim against my sex. And, frankly, it’s making me crazy.

“Maybe a little,” he says. “I thought you might enjoy the delay.”

He’s got that right.

I force myself to ignore the way my body is craving more than this slight touch and begin humming the theme from Jeopardy!

He laughs. “Fair enough.” He meets my eyes. “This is the one for when you slept with Cass.”

I am certain my face registers complete shock. “How did you get that simply from a tattoo?”

“Not just a tattoo. That tattoo. And I got it because I know you. And once you told me she was gay it just made sense.”

I’m still a little flabbergasted. I’m also a little relieved. If my best friend were a guy, the question would naturally come up. Have you two slept together, and then we’d deal with it. But despite political correctness, no boyfriend ever asks a girl if she’s slept with her best female friend. And despite being weirdly embarrassed about something I’m not the least bit ashamed of, I’m glad it’s out. I don’t want to be at the center of secrets between the people who are closest to me.

I sigh, struck suddenly by how important Jackson is to me, and how quickly he’s filled my world.

Then again, considering all the wasted time, it hasn’t really been quickly at all.

He is studying my face. “Are you upset I asked?”

“No. In fact, I was thinking that I’m relieved.”

“So did you two date?”

“No—no, it was just once, and we were both a little drunk. And she made a pass and I guess you could say I caught it.” I shrug. “We had fun. It was nice. Fine. I mean, I liked it, you know. But I’m not gay, although I guess maybe I was wishing I was. With the way I get, maybe I thought it would be easier. At any rate, she didn’t have any expectations, and it really was never even weird after.” I shrug again. “She’s my best friend and I love her, but we’re really just friends.”

He’s watching me, his expression intense. “You trust her.”

“Of course I do.”

“That’s why it was fine.”

He moves off me, and I take the opportunity to pull the blanket up, feeling suddenly strangely exposed.

“She was in control, Syl. She was the one who had the power. But you were fine. No nightmares. And you liked it.”

I nod slowly. I’d never thought of it like that.

He takes my hand, then raises it to his lips. “You can trust me, too.”

“I know I can,” I say, but I see the truth in his eyes. We’re not talking generically. He’s talking about my past. About the things I’ve held back.

He’s talking about Bob.

I manage a smile and reach for my wine. “I trust you,” I say, my voice airy. “Although I’m not sure why. You’re not keeping your promises, after all.”

“No?”

“You promised me earlier today that I’d get kink,” I say. “Wasn’t that the plan you outlined on the way to Damien’s? Instead, all I’ve gotten is talk, talk, talk.” I let my head fall back into the pillows as if bored.

“You do have a point,” he says. “But with a boat on autopilot the kinds of things I have in mind may not be on the coast guard approved list of safe activities. But as soon as we’re tied up at the dock …”

He lets his voice trail off as he bends over me, then brushes his lips over my belly. “In the meantime, you tell me if it looks like we’re going to hit a whale or an island.”

His lips blaze a trail of kisses down my belly, making my muscles quiver and my body fire. When he reaches my pubis, he moves between my legs, then closes his mouth over my sex, teasing me with his tongue as his hands grip my hips to keep me steady against this onslaught of pleasure that is rising so fast because I have been so damn close all day.