Rory

by James, Nicole

  He was asleep on his stomach with the sheets low on his hips, revealing those two sexy dimples. Her eyes climbed up his spine, past the ink that curled along his sides to the broad shoulders and muscled arms. Lord, he was one fine example of the male gender.

  Get a grip, Rayne.

  She snatched her clothes, dashed into the bathroom, and quickly got dressed, but her shirt was still damp, so she took the Brothers Ink t-shirt. Looking in the mirror, she finger-combed her hair until it looked halfway decent, then her eyes dropped to the logo on her chest, and she smiled. She’d have a memento of last night if he let her keep his shirt. And last night had definitely been worth remembering. She wondered if she’d ever see him again. Grand Junction wasn’t that far from Denver; it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

  When she came out, Rory was awake, his dark gaze immediately latching onto her. With his long, dark hair, slashing brows and chocolate eyes, his chest bare and the way he was reclined against the headboard it was easy to imagine him as some desert sheik.

  “Come here, angel.” He motioned with two fingers, tempting her forward.

  She moved to the bed. When she was close, he reached out and pulled her on top of him, then rolled until he was on top. His eyes dropped to the Brothers Ink logo across her breasts.

  “It looks good there.” He grinned.

  “Good. I’m keeping it.”

  “Oh, you are?”

  “It’s only fair. You took my panties.” Her brow arched, daring him to object.

  “You’re right. I did. Maybe you should ride commando today.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  He grinned. “All the better to feel the vibrations, honey.”

  “You are so bad.”

  “Maybe I’ll just have to get you wet first. Show you how much fun it could be.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.” He pushed the shirt up and pulled her cups down. “I want another taste of these beauties.” His mouth latched onto a nipple and sucked hard. Oh God, he was good at that. And he was right, if he didn’t stop, she’d be soaking wet in a matter of minutes.

  She threaded her fingers in his hair, unwilling to stop him, and her eyes slid closed. He licked and nibbled until she was moaning. Finally, he pulled her cups up and adjusted the Brothers Ink shirt.

  He stared into her eyes. She knew they had to be soft with desire. He planted a gentle kiss on her mouth. The connection and intimacy they’d shared last night soared between them again. He rolled to his back, taking her with him until she sat on top of him, his hard erection pressing against her. She felt it even more acutely with no panties on. She was extra sensitive after all the stimulation from last night.

  “The girls are waiting for me.”

  He nodded. “If we both didn’t have places to be, I’d keep you here in this room all week.”

  Nothing had ever sounded better to her. “I’d let you.”

  He lifted his head for another quick peck and then released her.

  ***

  Twenty minutes later Rory led Rayne downstairs, his eyes on the cloudless blue sky. The girls had pushed the bikes out into the sun and were running rags over them, drying where the wind had blown the rain onto them.

  At least their packs and sleeping bags weren’t soaked.

  Rory rolled his bike out into the sun.

  Jenna, the tall brunette, tossed him a chamois. “Here you go.”

  He caught it in the air. “Thanks.”

  When he was through, he strapped his duffle bag on the back, then turned to Rayne. He snapped the fingers of both hands and popped his palm with a fist. Goodbyes weren’t his thing, and he really hated this goodbye. He stepped closer to her, hooked both index fingers in her belt loops and pulled her against him.

  She gave him that beautiful smile he’d fallen in love with.

  “I’m glad it rained,” he murmured low.

  “You are?”

  “We’d have never met if it hadn’t.”

  “I suppose not.”

  “Life is funny. You get pissed. You think things aren’t going your way,”—he paused to press a soft kiss to her lips—“and a gift is dropped in your lap. Maybe some things are just destined. Maybe somebody up there has a bigger plan for us.”

  “Are you a spiritual man?”

  “I guess I am.”

  “I’m glad we met, too.”

  “I want to see you again. I don’t want this to be the end.”

  “I don’t either.”

  He pulled his phone from his back pocket. “Give me your number.”

  She did, and he punched in her contact.

  A pickup truck pulled in and rode right through a big puddle, splashing them. They jumped, and Rory shoved his phone in his pocket and flipped the guy off. Turning back to Rayne, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s okay. I just got splashed a little.”

  “We need to get on the road, ladies,” Sasha said, climbing on her bike and buckling her helmet.

  Rayne looked over and nodded, then turned to Rory. “I guess this is it.”

  He took her head in his hands and kissed her long and deep. Then pulled back and gave her a few soft brushes with his lips. “Have a great trip. Take lots of pictures. I’m gonna want to see ‘em.”

  She smiled at his insinuation that they’d see each other again. “Okay, I will.”

  “Be careful, sweetheart.”

  “Always.”

  “Goodbye, Rayne.”

  “Goodbye, Rory.”

  He stepped back and watched them pull out, waving them off with a smile. He looked on as they turned down the on-ramp to the interstate and roared off. When they disappeared out of sight, he headed to the motel office to get a cup of coffee and a donut. He was starved and needed something to hold him over until he got to Denver.

  The bell tinkled above the door as he entered. A different clerk from last night stood behind the counter, typing away on the computer.

  “Morning,” he greeted Rory.

  “Morning. I heard something about coffee and donuts down here.”

  “Yes, sir. That table, there.”

  Rory walked over. There was a Keurig machine, and he dropped a pod in and put a paper cup underneath, waiting for it to brew.

  A van pulled up at the door, and an adult and a bunch of rowdy teenagers piled out. They entered the lobby, and the sound level went from quiet to noisy instantly. The man approached the counter while the teens milled around, talking loud and horsing around.

  Rory pulled his phone out to check the time and scroll for the weather. He picked up his cup of coffee, preparing to get a lid when he was jostled from behind.

  The hot coffee spilled over the rim, almost scalding his legs. Luckily he jumped back and it hit the floor. “Shit!”

  “Oh, man. Sorry about that,” one of the teens said.

  “David, Scott, get over here, now!” the man yelled.

  “Yes, Coach.”

  Rory set his coffee and phone down on the table and grabbed some napkins, wiping up the spill. He tossed them in the trash, put a lid on his cup and got shoved to the side, almost getting plowed into again.

  “Oh, sorry,” one said.

  “Boys, that’s enough!”

  Rory headed back outside. He took two sips of the coffee, grimaced, and tossed it in the trash. Then he climbed on his bike, determined to get out of there before the group of rowdy boys came back outside.

  He headed across the overpass to the other side of the interstate to a gas station and pulled to a pump. After he’d swiped his card and filled his tank, he reached in his pocket for his phone, thinking he’d text Rayne before he got on the road to tell her he already missed her.

  His pocket was empty. He checked all his pockets, patting himself down. He searched the ground to see if he’d dropped it. It was nowhere. “Fuck!”

  He glanced at the motel, thinking of when he’d had it last. Had he left it in the lobby? He climbed on the bike a
nd roared off the lot.

  Two minutes later, he walked back in the lobby. Thankfully, the raucous group of boys and their harried coach were long gone.

  He searched the coffee area. It wasn’t on the table. He looked all around the floor under it. Nothing. Approaching the reception counter, he asked the clerk, “Hey, did anyone turn in a cell phone?”

  “No, sir. Not this morning.”

  “I just had it when that kid knocked into me, and I spilled my coffee. I think I may have left it on the table over there.”

  “I’m sorry, I haven’t seen it.”

  “Maybe those boys picked it up. Did they just check in?”

  “No, sir. They needed four rooms and I only had two available. They went on down the road.”

  Rory blew out a breath. “Fuck.”

  “I’ll be glad to take your name and a contact number in case it turns up.”

  Rory grabbed a pen off the counter and scribbled his name and the number for Brothers Ink down on a piece of paper. “Thanks.”

  “Of course, sir. Anything else I can do to assist you? Do you need to make a call?”

  Rory shook his head. He just needed to get to Denver. “Thanks anyway.”

  He strode outside and stood next to his bike, searching the pavement, but didn’t spot his phone. His eyes drifted down the interstate to the west, and he thought of Rayne. He hadn’t called her number yet, so she wouldn’t have his in her phone. Damn it, why didn’t he do it immediately? Then he remembered the pickup truck splashing them and distracting him. Now how was he going to get ahold of her?

  Fuck. What rotten luck.

  He debated whether to chase after the girls. Could he catch up to Rayne and get her number again? Hell, he was more concerned with that than he was with losing his phone. But they had a good half hour head start on him now, and he knew he had to get on the road in the opposite direction. Damn. What the hell was the name of her bike shop? Shit. He’d search every shop in Denver if he had to.

  Frustrated, he climbed on his bike and headed east.

  Chapter Six

  Rayne made a hand signal indicating she needed to make a fuel stop as the four motorcycles neared the Grand Junction exit. A few minutes later they all rolled up to the pumps in a gas station.

  Jenna pulled off her helmet. “We should have had enough gas to last another fifty miles. Why’d you stop?”

  “You know why she stopped. This is where Rory’s from,” Sasha informed her, smiling at Rayne whose fingers were busy on her phone. “Did he text you?”

  She shook her head. “No. Not yet. I was looking to see where Brothers Ink was.”

  “Brothers Ink? Why? You suddenly want a tattoo?” Carmen asked, flicking her blonde braid over her shoulder and unscrewing the gas cap on her tank.

  Jenna looked over at her. “That’s Rory’s shop.”

  “And you want to go there?” Carmen asked, shoving the nozzle into her gas tank.

  “I was thinking about it. It’s not far. Please?”

  “If his brothers are as cute as him, I’m in,” Sasha replied, winking at Rayne.

  Fifteen minutes later, they parked their bikes in a specially designated space in front of the shop that said, Motorcycle Parking Only.

  Climbing off and pulling her helmet free, Rayne looked up at the place. It was definitely more upscale than she expected.

  The four of them walked inside. Rock music pulsed through the space.

  “Wow, nice place,” Sasha murmured.

  “It’s cool as shit,” Carmen replied.

  Rayne had to agree as her eyes took in the modern contemporary vibe mixed with old industrial. Up front stood a long counter and under it a glass cabinet stocked with Brothers Ink merchandize, piercing jewelry, and other products.

  Rayne’s eyes drifted to the wall where examples of the artists work were displayed as well as several framed magazine covers. She stepped closer and read the copy, realizing these must be some of Rory’s brothers. One cover proclaimed Jameson O’Rourke the new King of Ink; another cover showed a couple sitting on a couch in front of a brick wall. She recognized the background and knew the picture must have been taken right here in the shop. It proclaimed the man and woman as the new IT couple in the tattoo world. She bent and read the names under the photo. Liam O’Rourke and Velvet Jones.

  “May I help you ladies?”

  Rayne turned to see a man with large muscles standing behind the counter. He was big, but he had a beautiful smile and warm brown eyes.

  The girls turned to look at her.

  “This is all you, Rayne,” Sasha said and motioned her forward.

  Rayne reluctantly stepped up to the counter. “Um, hi. We, ah, were just passing through town and heard about this place. You wouldn’t, um, by any chance have time to fit me in for a small tattoo, would you?”

  His eyes dropped to the Brothers Ink shirt she wore, but he didn’t ask. Maybe a lot of people had them. “I’ve got a little time. Depends on how small we’re talking.”

  “A small rose and under it the name, Daniel.”

  “I could probably do that.”

  She smiled. “Oh, thank you.”

  He held out his hand. “I’m Max.”

  She shook it. “Rayne.”

  He swiveled a tablet mounted on a stand toward her and tapped the screen to bring up the digital document. “Read this and fill out the information. And I’ll need to see some ID.”

  She pulled her small wallet from the zip pocket on her thigh and showed him her driver’s license.

  “I’ll need to make a copy.”

  “Of course.” She pulled it out and gave it to him. He quickly scanned and returned it. She finished with the form, and he escorted her back. When she went around the wall behind the register, she saw four tattoo stations. There were artists working on customers at two of them.

  Max led her to his station, and that left only one station open—the one next to her. She glanced over at it as she sat in the chair. It must be Rory’s. It was neat and clean and appeared no one was using it today.

  “So, Rayne, where did you want this tattoo?”

  She indicated the back of her shoulder. “Here.”

  “And how big?”

  She held her fingers apart. “About like this, three or four inches I guess.”

  Max nodded. “Okay. Give me a minute to sketch something out.” He began working. “So tell me, who’s Daniel?”

  Rayne watched him sketch. “My brother. He passed away a few months ago.”

  The pencil in Max’s hand paused, and he glanced up. “I’m so sorry. You were close?”

  “Yes, very.”

  “Was he your older or younger brother?”

  “Older.”

  Max stared at her, and when she said no more, he got the hint and returned to his sketch. While he worked, Rayne studied the three men. They had to be Rory’s brothers. They were all good looking, but they didn’t look all that much alike. She knew from the framed magazine covers in the lobby that the blonde was Jameson, the one Rory had said had opened this shop and supported the family. The other brother she recognized from the covers as Liam.

  “How’s this?” Max asked, turning the sketch for her to see.

  It was lovely; much more delicate and detailed than she’d expected. She felt her eyes start to gloss over as she read Daniel’s name below the flower. “Yes, that’s perfect.”

  Max lowered the sketch slowly. “Is this your first tattoo, Rayne?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “How are you with needles and pain?”

  She’d never liked getting shots, so she really couldn’t say how she’d be with the tattoo needles, but she couldn’t help thinking about all the pain and tests her brother had endured. She knew if he could do it, she could manage to survive a small tattoo. “I’ll be fine.”

  Max nodded. “Okay. Let’s get started.”

  It didn’t take long because the man was skilled at what he did, even she could see that. He was p
rofessional and sweet, and he chatted her up to keep her mind off the needle punching in and out of her tender skin.

  When Max was finished, and the tattoo machine was finally shut off, Rayne blew out a breath of relief. Even though it hadn’t been that bad, she was happy he was through. “Can I see?”

  Max grinned as he wiped it off. “So eager. Give me a second.”

  She smiled and tried to wait patiently. He tossed the wipes in the trash and helped her to stand, then nodded to the large mirror on the wall and gave her a hand mirror.

  She took it and looked. “Oh, wow. It’s beautiful.”

  “The redness and puffiness will fade soon, and it’s going to look lovely.”

  “You do wonderful work.”

  “You have beautiful skin.”

  She blushed. “Thank you.”

  “I mean that. If you get more ink, get the best. Don’t go letting just anybody tattoo it, you hear?”

  “I promise.”

  He grinned. “Mind if I take a picture of it for my portfolio?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Come here.”

  She moved to stand in front of his station and turned away from him so he could get the shot.

  “There, got it. Thanks.” He lifted his chin toward the front. “You want to show the girls before I bandage it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  They walked to the front, and she turned her back to them, excited with her new ink. “Look!”

  “That’s beautiful.” Sasha leaned in.

  “Gorgeous!” Jenna gave her a smile.

  “Oh, honey, I love it.” Carmen praised.

  “It’s great, isn’t it?” Rayne asked.

  They all nodded.

  “Glad you all like it. Now I need to take her back and bandage it up. She’ll be back in a minute.”

  While Max put ointment on her fresh ink and covered it with a square of gauze, Rayne thought about telling him she’d met Rory but decided against it. She wasn’t even sure he’d call her.

  When Max rang her up, he gave her some free ointment, instructions, and a business card. “If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to call me, okay?”

  She took the card and slid it into her slim wallet for safekeeping. “I will. Thank you.”