Piece By Piece (The Ink Nation Series Book 1)

by Jennah Thornhill

  It’s late by the time I arrive back to my apartment and I just want to crash, but my mind has other ideas. As if on autopilot, I go into the bathroom, turn the shower on, before stripping out of my jeans and tee. Standing under the hot spray, my mind once again goes to the woman with pink hair and the softest lips I’ve ever had grace my skin.

  With my hand wrapped around my hard length, I stroke up and down while I picture her sucking on my dick, instead of that damn plastic straw at the diner. I shouldn’t be thinking about her this way, but I can’t help it, she’s slowly getting under my skin. As I fist my cock harder, I feel my balls tighten and I imagine her tits bouncing, as she swallows my dick whole. With a few more pumps into my hand, I place one hand against the wet tile. Spurt after spurt of cum, splatters up against the tile, leaving evidence of my lust for Daisy. The woman who I will try my damned hardest to make think that, she’s not just a nobody. That she is, and could be, my somebody.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Daisy

  The next few weeks go by quickly and each day is the same.

  I finish work and either Trey asks me to wait for him whilst he finishes with a client, or if he’s not busy and we go exploring the city together.

  So far, we’ve been to Central Park, The Empire State building, he’s even took me on the ferry around the Statue of Liberty. We’ve been acting like tourists in the city that we live in. When we’ve not been sightseeing, he’s taken me to all these quirky little places to eat that he knows, that I never knew existed. We’ve shared nothing more than just a quick kiss to each other’s cheek when we say goodbye, after he’s walked me back to my apartment.

  The studio has been busy, and I’ve even had a request to design a piece for one of Smith’s regulars. It’s a surprise for his fiancée. They’re getting married in a few weeks and he wants to get it done and healed before they go on their honeymoon.

  So here I am, sat at the counter and on my usual stool, pencil in hand and sketchpad laid out in front of me. As I lightly draw two rings interlocking together, with their names and wedding date on the inside of the bands. Then above there’s two crowns, with the words, ‘His Queen’ and ‘Her King’

  “Oh wow, that’s amazing, D.”

  Levi leans over my shoulder taking in my drawing.

  “You think so? I need to show it to Smith yet, it’s his client. He knows him better than I do.”

  “Did I hear my name mentioned?”

  Smith asks as he walks from under the arch and leans on the counter. Before pulling my sketch book out of my reach and inspecting my work.

  “He’s right, this is something special. Kent will love this. Is it finished?” He asks me expectantly.

  Over the last couple of weeks, the guys have all come to accept my boundaries. At the same time, we all get on and I no longer fear that one of them is going to hurt me.

  “Yeah, I guess it is. I was just shading bits here and there. If he’s not happy with it, let me know and I’ll happily make any adjustments he wants to do to it.”

  I tell Smith as he’s pulling the page out of my sketchbook with the drawing on and taking it back to his station.

  Levi follows him and shortly after, I hear Trey shout.

  “Pink, get your butt in here.”

  Immediately I freeze, thinking I’ve done something wrong as he’s shouted me into the back like that. My mind starts running at a hundred miles per hour. Thinking what I could have possibly done wrong and that this is it. This is where I realize that I’ve been a fool, let my guard down and this is where I get hurt, like I usually do.

  Stopping in front of Trey’s station, his back is to me, but I watch as he stares down at something in his latex gloved hand.

  “Smith says that you’ve drawn this up for Kent.”

  He lifts the paper and turns around to face me and that’s when I see my customized drawing for Smith's client. Relief floods me. My breathing that was starting to get out of control, slowly starts to return to normal as I answer him.

  “Yeah, I did. If you don’t think Kent will like it, then I will change it.”

  My breathing might be back to normal, but the nerves are still attacking my body, as I look at him from under my lashes. I hear rather than see him, stand up from his small stool. With my eyes downcast, I watch as my drawing falls to the floor. Trey comes to stand in front of me, taking his gloves off and throwing them across the room as he goes. Reaching me, he takes my face in his hands and lifts my head up, so I have to crane my neck to look at him. Before I can comprehend what's happening, his lips come down onto mine and he meshes our mouths together. He’s soft and gentle, silently asking for my permission to carry on kissing me. Without words, I part my lips, granting him entrance to my mouth. The gasps that come from the clients and the rest of the guys, are audible but we ignore them. Right here, right now, it’s just us two as he licks the inside of my mouth with his tongue and nips at my bottom lip.

  When he’s finished kissing me, he leans his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged.

  “Don’t ever lower your eyes when you’re with me, I have to see them and don’t ever doubt your work. That drawing, is bang the fuck on. That’s what I wanted you for, to tell you that it’s fucking brilliant. Kent isn’t my client as you know, but even if that wasn’t a custom piece, then I would proudly put it on the wall.”

  I’m shocked at his compliment but what I’m even more shocked by, is the fact that he’s just kissed me the way he has, in front of other people and I didn’t freak out.

  Maybe I’m not as broken as I thought and something inside me is worth saving.

  Walking through the door that night, I kick off my Converse and slump on the sofa. Since my kiss with Trey, it’s all I could think about. We haven’t been able to go anywhere for dinner or exploring today. He had back to back appointments that he just couldn’t get out of. So instead, I went to the deli on the corner and got everyone sandwiches. When I had finished for the day, I hung out at the studio until I was bone tired and I could hear my bed calling.

  “Someone's home late… again.” Zoe says with a smile as she comes in from the kitchen, with two mugs in her hands.

  Handing me one, I see she’s made me a hot chocolate with marshmallows on the top. Taking a tentative sip of the chocolate goodness, I moan in appreciation when it glides down my throat. Zoe does the same with hers, before she tucks her legs under her bum and stares at me. Whatever it is she’s waiting for me to say, I don’t, I just stare right back at her with a poker straight face.

  “Okay, okay. Come on, what’s going on with you and Trey? These past few weeks you’ve been coming home late, you’ve been smiling a lot more. I see a change in you that’s making me think you’ve been taken over by aliens.”

  Placing her free hand on my knee, she continues.

  “I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, not at all. I’m glad you’re happy, I just want you to know that I’m here for you. Also, it’s my god given right as your bestie to get the juicy details.”

  She laughs as I jokingly smack her arm.

  “Zoe, you’re terrible. Although…”

  “Ha, there’s an although, which means there are some juicy details to be told. Come on, don’t keep me waiting.”

  I giggle at her need for the gossip. As we both sit on the sofa, I tell her how I’m no longer scared of the guys I work with. How Trey is making me feel special and all gooey on the inside, especially when he kissed me properly for the first time today. To which she bounces up and down, while screeching at the top of her lungs.

  “This is so freaking exciting, D. For as much as I love you, I was starting to think that we’d never have these conversations.”

  Her excitement is replaced with something that I can’t quite put my finger on, but I can see her point. We talk for a while longer, finishing our hot chocolates and say goodnight to each other, before both of us crash into our beds.

  That night, I
once again don’t have a nightmare. My dreams are full of kisses and gentle touches from the proclaimed, tattooed bad boy of Ink Nation.

  As I wake the next morning, my body is on fire with something that I don’t recognize at first. Then as I find myself doing something, I never thought I would. I slip my hand inside my shorts that I’ve slept in and find them damp. I know I haven’t peed myself; the only explanation is that my dreams have turned me on, and my body is reacting to it. It shocks me at first, I always believed I would never get this feeling, yet here it is. Bypassing the marred skin on my inner thighs, I run my fingers slowly over my sensitive skin and my spine tingles at the touch.

  “Wow.” I mouth to myself.

  Continuing on my first journey of masturbation, I stroke my fingers back and forth until I learn what feels good. When I reach the top, a yelp falls from my lips. Deciding on that’s the spot that’s going to get me off. I gently rub in circles until my backs arching off my mattress and Trey’s name falls from lips.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Trey

  It’s been four days since I allowed myself to kiss her properly.

  It wasn’t the all-consuming kiss I wanted to give her, it’s still early days and Pink scares easily still. I’m still surprised that she didn’t push me away when I put my lips on hers.

  Every day I see her growing. It’s the little things that were there before, that aren’t anymore. She no longer flinches when the guys come within touching distance of her. She no longer cowers when they accidentally brush against her. Although, I may have to punch one of them in the nose if they keep doing it. Watching her grow and become more confident, has been one of the most fascinating things. To the point where I don’t have time to even think about my own bullshit.

  She still hasn’t opened up more to me, but as she becomes more comfortable with me, I’m hoping that will change.

  I’m not going to deny that it’s been easy walking around and working with a permanent hard on in my jeans. It’s taking every ounce of willpower I have, not to push for more from her. Let’s just say that my hand has had more blisters on it in the last few weeks, than it ever did when I was a raging hormonal, teenager.

  Since the day I kissed her in front of everyone, the guys have given me shit about how pussy whipped I’m becoming. That I have Daisy tinted, glasses on. They may be right, but I don’t give a shit.

  Tonight, I’ve asked her to come to my place. I’m going to order takeout for us both and we can watch whatever trashy movie she decides to put on.

  When I asked her to come over, I expected her to shoot me down straight away. The look on her face made me think I didn’t stand a chance of her accepting my invitation. Just like she keeps doing lately, she surprised me by saying yes.

  Tomorrow is Sunday so we aren’t working, which will make me happy if she so happens to fall asleep at my place. If she does, then it will also be a first for me, I never allow women into my personal space. I’ve also decided to tell her tonight the whole story about how Cam died. If she can slowly grow and let go of her past, then I can too. I have a feeling that mine isn’t nowhere near as bad as hers.

  Pink left the studio two hours ago to go home and change. I told her I would go to her place and collect her, when I was done with Darlene's cover up, I was doing for her on her shoulder. True to my word, two hours later, I’m out of the studio and I’m practically skipping down the street to her place.

  Getting to her building in record time, I open the door and instead of taking the elevator, I take the stairs. For some reason, I have this nervous energy inside of me that I need to get rid of. My feet finally stop outside of her door and just as I go to knock, the door swings open. Once again, there stands Zoe with a scowl firmly set in place. She pushes the door open, leans against it and cocks her hip out, before she comes at me with her outburst.

  “I like you, Trey. I really do, but that girl in there is my best friend, you don’t know half the shit she’s been through. So, I’m telling you now, if it’s just a fuck you’re after, then you’re barking up the wrong tree, my friend. Daisy isn’t that kind of girl. If you hurt her in any shape or form, I will do the jail time for your murder. Do you understand me?”

  She stands fully and blocks the doorway, as she crosses her arms across her chest. Before raising her eyebrows at me, waiting for me to answer her.

  “I get it, Zo. I never had any intention of hurting her, not on purpose anyway.”

  When I’ve seen Zoe before, she seemed to be polite and nice, but I guess where her friends are concerned, she’s a bit of a protective spitfire. She gives me a non-committal grunt and moves to the side, just as Pink comes into view.

  “You ready?” I ask her.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” she murmurs.

  I can see she’s nervous about being alone with me in my apartment, because whenever we’ve hung out, we’ve always been in a public space or at the studio. Tonight, is going to go one of two ways; plain sailing or she’s gonna freak on me and run a mile. To which Zoe will kill me.

  We leave her building and head out onto the sidewalk, she’s quiet and I can tell instantly, she’s overthinking this. She gets this skittish look on her face and I can see her body is rigid and on alert. Getting to the corner of the street, I stop dead and turn to her, take her shoulders in my hands and make her look at me.

  “If you don’t want to do this, then that’s fine. We can always do it some other time; it’s not going to make me think any less of you.”

  I hope she can see how honest I’m being with her. I don’t want to push her, but she’s been doing so well recently, I thought maybe we could take this next step. She closes her eyes briefly and takes a big inhale of breath, before releasing it through her mouth.

  “I’m okay, it’s j… just nerves getting the best of me.”

  My hands glide from her shoulders until her face fits perfectly in my palms. Leaning in, I lay a small kiss against her lips and then pull away.

  “There’s no need to be nervous, I have no expectations for tonight. We’re just gonna chill on my couch with takeout and watch the TV. Is that okay?”

  She smiles and nods her head the best she can, with my hands still on her face.

  “Come on, Pink. Let's feed you.”

  Taking her hand in mine, we walk the few blocks to my place and when we get there, it’s me whose nerves start to kick in.

  What if she doesn’t like my place?

  Did I leave all my shit lying around this morning?

  I’m being a massive girl at this moment, that it causes me to chuckle.

  How times have changed.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Daisy

  No expectations.

  That’s what he said when he realized I was starting to freak out about going to his place. If I’m honest, I surprised myself when I accepted his invitation to go. It seemed the right thing to do, I feel like I’ve been making progress in the way I handle being around men. Trey and the other guys have really shown me that not all men hurt you. It’s just when he came and got me from my apartment, the reality of being alone with just him, scared me a little.

  As we get to his place, I hear him chuckling, but nothing has been said between us.

  “What’s funny?” I inquire, my brows pulling in.

  Letting us into his building, he leads me through a small foyer, where mailboxes are all stacked in a row. A small desk is in the corner, with chubby middle-aged guy sits, with computers in front of him.

  “Hey, Joe.” Trey greets him.

  “Hey, Trey.”

  They both give each other a head bob as Trey pulls me down to where the elevator is. As we wait for it to arrive, he smiles at me.

  “To answer your question, I was laughing at myself. My nerves kicked in and I was starting to worry in case you don’t like my place. Or if I had left all my shit lying around, before I left this morning. I was feeling like I was becoming the woman in t
his thing between us.”

  At his explanation, I try to hold my laughter in, but I just can’t. It bursts from me and I have to bend over at the waist, with one hand on my thigh and one on my stomach.

  “Okay, okay. Less of that, I know I sound ridiculous. I swear if you ever tell anyone what I just said, I will tickle you until you pee yourself. Zak’s already worried I’m pussy whipped.”

  Again, I just laugh and as the elevator arrives, Trey has to guide me in, whilst I try to contain myself. Standing inside, I finally pull my shit together. Even though it was at Trey’s expense, it felt so good to laugh like that again. It’s been too long since that has happened.

  When we arrive at his floor, the doors part and he takes my hand pulling me down a long corridor. We stop at the very last door and when I look around, I notice that there is only in fact, two doors on either side of the corridor.

  “Don’t you like neighbors?” I ask, gesturing to the other three doors and the huge gaps between them.

  He unlocks the door to his place and walks forward, holding it open for me.

  “It’s not the neighbors that’s the problem, it’s the fact that I like space.”

  Walking in, I can see what he’s talking about and a gasp leaves me.

  “Shit.” I whisper under my breath.

  This place has to be five times bigger than mine.

  It’s all open plan and all the walls on the outside are made of glass. With only one wall off to the left, that I’m guessing leads to somewhere else. Placing his hand on the small of my back, he guides me over to the kitchen area. That’s all grey marble and granite, with all modern appliances. Pulling out a stool for me to sit on at the island, that sits in the middle of his kitchen, I gingerly sit on it. With an open mouth, I swivel on my seat and take in the place.