“It was,” I say. “When Carter died, he left the shop to me—”
“Not to Logan?” she asks, interrupting me.
“Nope. Logan never had anything to do with the shop. I was Carter’s apprentice, and he taught me everything I know. Anyway, the first year after he left me the shop was tough. I was on the brink of foreclosure when Logan suggested I try out for Inked, and, well, the rest is history. I put a big chunk of money into the business, paying off debts, updating equipment, all that good stuff. And I’m glad I did. That parlor is my life, and I want to make it as successful as possible.”
“I love that.” Our eyes stay locked for several seconds. Out of nowhere, she leans forward, presses her warm lips to the center of my chest, and then wraps herself around me. “You amaze me, Connor Jackson. I feel like you’re too good to be true. Like one of those sexy men I read about in my romance novels.”
“Oooh,” I say, rubbing my hand along the top of her head. I thread my fingers into her blonde hair and let the strands slowly fall where they may. “I like where this is going. Does the sexy man end up with the girl?”
She giggles. The tinkling sound radiates through my body before settling in the center of my chest. “I guess you’ll have to start reading some books to find out.”
“Well played, Dr. Caldwell. Well played.”
Brittany’s head pops up. “You know my last name?” Her lips tilt, revealing those beautiful white teeth. “That sounded so bad. I’m in bed with a man that I didn’t think knew my last name. In fact,” she says, furrowing her brows, “how did you know my last name?”
“I’m psychic.”
“Yeah, right.” She slaps playfully at my chest. “Tell me.”
“You were in my appointment book, remember? I knew who you were the second I walked into my shop that day.”
“Oh.” She nuzzles her face back into my chest. “I didn’t think about that.”
“But I didn’t know you were a doctor, which is pretty awesome. What type of practice do you work in?”
Brittany yawns as I continue stroking my fingers through her hair. “I work in the ER.”
“Wow, that must be intense.” I can’t imagine the types of things she’s witnessed.
“It has its days. When I lived in New York, I worked in a trauma ER. Now that was intense. It almost makes the ER here seem easy.”
“But you like it? You’re happy?”
“I am. Taking care of people is what I’ve always wanted to do. And not only do I take care of people, but I save lives. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
I drop a kiss to the top of her head. “I think you’re the amazing one.”
“Mmmm…”
A couple of minutes pass, the silence even more comforting than I had predicted. Brittany’s breathing evens out, and when I’m certain she’s asleep, I close my eyes.
It’s been years since I’ve actually slept with a woman, and even then it didn’t feel like this. It probably makes me sound like a fucking pussy, but as long as our bodies are touching in some way, everything in the world just feels right.
Pulling the covers back, I take in the yumminess that is Connor’s body. It’s magnificent in every way…perfection at its absolute finest. The sheet i
s bunched around his hips, giving me a perfect view of all of his intricate tattoos. I have every intention of exploring them individually, but right now I’m transfixed on his body. From the waist up, he’s all smooth lines and chiseled curves. It’s the type of body women dream of, the type that only exists in books and on TV. Except this isn’t a book and we sure as hell aren’t on TV—this is my life, Connor is real, and as long as I keep playing my cards right, he’ll be mine.
My finger traces a slow path from his bearded square jaw down to the base of his neck. I place a soft kiss against his chin and my eyelids drift shut as I remember the way the scruff on his face rubbed against my chest when he worshiped my breasts the other night. The feeling alone was so damn erotic that I nearly buried my fingers in his hair and begged him to stay there forever.
My heavy lids open and I peek up at Connor. He looks so peaceful when he’s sleeping. His dark lashes are fanned out on his cheek and his lips are pursed in the sexiest little pout. More than anything, I want to kiss him awake and demand he make love to me, but I’m still exploring.
I trail my finger down his chest, stopping at his heart. Then my lips take over and I kiss his chest several times. Resting the palm of my hand over his left pec, I make a silent promise to cherish and protect his heart if he does the same for mine. I know we still have so much to learn about each other, but I’m ready to take that next step.
Connor shifts in bed, cocking his leg out to the side, but he doesn’t wake up. His breathing is slow and steady, making me wonder how far I can go before he’ll stir. I scatter slow, open-mouthed kisses down the hard plane of his stomach, pausing to trace the etched V that leads to the place I so desperately want to be.
The other night I drove him crazy, and now I’m ready to do it again. That tiny slice of heaven wasn’t nearly enough. I want more. I want all of him. I want him so fucking turned on he can’t see straight. I want to hear my name falling from his lips when he finally lets go.
Slipping my hand into his shorts, I find him swollen and semi-hard. I move a little lower to get a better angle—