Tinged (The Electric Tunnel Book 3)

by Rachel Blaufeld

  More than okay.

  OPENING NIGHT arrived. It was a soft opening during the late fall—the not-so-busy season—traditionally the calm before the storm surge of winter-break vacationers.

  Asher had arrived earlier in the week, just him and Natalie without the kids. He was content to hole up in a suite with his woman and not micromanage me, which made me happy. I was confident everything would run smoothly—the hotel business was in my blood.

  I’d never felt more fucking confident than recently. My ego savored the fact that I was my own man, doing shit on my terms. But mostly it digested every morsel the woman currently getting dressed placed in my hand.

  Lynx had spent at least an hour in the bathroom doing God only knew what with her hair. I sat on the balcony, my tux shirt undone around the neck, my bow tie not even close to being tied, dreaming of not showing up to the event, burying my face between her legs, licking and sucking her every drop of wetness.

  “Hey.”

  When I heard her voice, I turned, completely unprepared for the sensational beauty I would find. Wearing a green dress, the color of grass on a well-manicured golf course, vibrant against her slightly tanned skin, soft and flowing around her luscious curves, Lynx looked like royalty. Her hair was smooth and pulled into some type of updo arrangement, and on her feet, sky-high gold metallic heels that I wanted to toss into the air while I buried myself deep inside her.

  My mind was working overtime imagining the scenarios.

  It couldn’t be helped. I had to adjust myself.

  “Lynx.” Her name caught in my throat. “You look beautiful. No, stunning. Ravishing. Come here,” I demanded, my voice hungry with need, my thoughts jumbled like a blanket on a windy beach. When she hesitated, I said, “The breeze is gentle, your hair will stay in place.”

  She smiled and stepped onto the balcony. My arm swooped out and pulled her close as soon as I could reach. “Mmm.” I breathed her scent in.

  “I like your shoes,” she told me, smiling toward my black-on-black-patent Air Force 1s.

  I shrugged. “You know what they say. You can dress up a bad boy, but you can’t make him wear loafers.”

  “I’m not sure that’s how it goes,” she said, giggling in my ear. Her giggle—it had been a long time, but it was slowly making a return. I’d pay a cool million for each and every one if I could.

  “It’s absolutely how it goes, or maybe I lost all my brain cells when you walked out in that dress, looking the way you do. All sexy and needing to be fucked.”

  Another giggle and then a scowl. “Mike, that’s not exactly the look I’m going for.”

  “It works for me.” I ran my nose along her cheekbone. Giving her an Eskimo kiss, I asked, “Ready to go?”

  “Not really. I’m a little nervous, you know.”

  “It’s going to be great. No worries. Nat’s gonna be there. You’ll really get to know Petey, Asher’s brother. Looks a bit like him. Do you remember him from Vegas at all?”

  “And your mom and dad’ll be there.”

  “Ignore them. They’ll more than likely both be bellied up to a bar and three sheets to the wind.”

  I laced my fingers with hers and squeezed, ignoring the pearls around her neck. They were meant to be some sort of peace offering from my dad. I let them go when I heard her next question.

  “Do they know what I did? Before?”

  “They don’t, but it doesn’t matter. I know and I don’t care. You’re who you are, and I love every bit of that person.”

  “When the book—”

  “When the book comes out, no one is going to be prouder than me. Proud as fuck,” I said firmly.

  Lynx had been making progress with her therapy. As for me, I had to go with her a few times, mostly to make me understand that it wasn’t my job to keep telling her to leave everything in the past. Lynx’s experiences had shaped her, and it was my job to accept and understand that. We’d both been emotionally abandoned as kids. I’d clung to Asher and the Electric Tunnel gang, and Lynx went looking in all the wrong places.

  While it was in the rearview, I had to acknowledge it existed.

  I was reading parts of Lynx’s story as she wrote it, and I couldn’t lie—it was hard at times to read it, but she was mine now.

  We were each other’s for life.

  “You know what? On second thought, I’m not so anxious to blow this joint.” I ran my lips over hers, allowing my hard to melt into her soft.

  A soft moan came from Lynx, granting my tongue entrance to her mouth.

  “God, I never stop wanting you. It’s never enough,” I mumbled, our lips and tongues in a full mash-up. Sliding her dress off her shoulder, I traced her clavicle with my mouth. While bent at the knees, I explored her soft skin, ending with sucking on her breast. Careful with her dress, I pushed it lower, latching onto her nipple, sucking and nipping, laving and revering, before covering her up once again.

  Not giving a good goddamn, I hit the floor in my tuxedo pants, barely feeling my knees on the balcony as I hoisted her dress, shoved her panties to the side, and worshipped Lynx with my tongue.

  I looked up and caught a glimpse of the gorgeous woman in front of me, her head tilted back, her hair still perfect as I devoured her. I took my time with her most sensitive spots, not feeling hurried at all.

  “Michael, Michael,” filled the air around us.

  I didn’t slow or stop until my name was replaced with short pants against the darkening sky.

  After putting her panties back in place and smoothing her dress, I stood and brushed off my knees, taking my time licking my own lips clean.

  “That was—”

  “Perfect,” I said. “Fucking perfect. So fucking perfect. Now, let’s go check on my hotel.”

  She ran her hand over her hair. “What about you?”

  “Oh, babe, that was for me. All me. Don’t you worry.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I know so.” Winking, I grabbed her hand, the smell of her satisfaction a fervent perfume clinging to her skin.

  This way, there would be no confusion who’d made her happy tonight.

  “One sec,” Lynx said, stopping me. “I have to fix my lipstick.” She held a small tube of fuck-me red to her lips in the hall mirror and carefully applied the color for the second time of the evening—and we hadn’t even gone anywhere yet.

  I led Lynx to the elevator. She trailed behind me, holding my hand in one of hers, her purse in the other. Secretly, I was glad she was behind me. I was sure if I looked at her ass in that dress for one second more, we’d miss the party altogether.

  “I’m proud of you, Michael,” Lynx said while tucked against my side in the elevator.

  Tugging her closer, I just nodded.

  “I am. This is a big deal.”

  “I wanted to do it for you, for when you came back.”

  Her red lips grazed my chin, and I hoped they left a stain of color. This way, everyone would know I was hers.

  Still hand in hand, we walked to the car.

  “All I thought about was giving you a good life when you disappeared. Asher and I came up with this, and it felt right. I want to make you even prouder.”

  MY PEOPLE and I had been working on the party for weeks. As Lynx and I pulled up in front of the hotel, a big spotlight roamed the sky, and white twinkly lights decorated the entrance.

  Bobby, the valet greeted us. “Mr. Wind. Ms. Lynx.”

  “It’s Big Mike and Lynx to you, Bobby. We’re not that way here. Save the professionalism for the guests.” I tossed him the keys and escorted Lynx inside.

  The hallway was draped in white and silver fabric, candles marking our way to the back of the first floor. With the glass doors wide open, you could see clear out to the ocean. Hammocks hung over the grass and sand, with a large patio filled with tables and several bars in the center.

  “Stunning,” Lynx said softly. “The party staff outdid themselves.”

  I nodded with satisfaction. �
�They did.”

  “We did it, man.”

  I felt a palm slap on my back. Turning, I found Asher. True to style, he was wearing jeans, an untucked tuxedo shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and motorcycle boots.

  “Looking dapper,” I teased.

  “I’m always going to be a ghetto rat.” He winked. “A rich one, though.”

  “You’re a good man, Asher Peterson. You’ve got nothing to prove to me,” I said, staring him down.

  Asher ignored my comment, leaning in to kiss Lynx on the cheek. “Gorgeous as always. Your sister coming?”

  “Yes, she wasn’t going to turn down a weekend here with Landon.”

  “Good to hear. Look at this place,” Asher said with pride. “My Quinn is going to have it all one day. Mike’ll be his mentor.”

  This got a chuckle from me. “You’re not quitting anytime soon, old guy.”

  “He says the same bullshit to me about LA, the old fogey,” Petey said as he joined us.

  I chuckled. “Did you tell him to shut up?”

  “Hell yeah.” Petey slapped my back. We’d been bouncers together before we all learned he was Asher’s half brother. Now he was a full-fledged brother and business partner. “But if he retires, more money for us, Mikey!”

  “That’s the spirit.” I winked at Petey, and Lynx squeezed my hand.

  “No fucking way, you two asses.”

  Natalie walked over to our group. “Hey there.”

  “Hey, doll. You having a good time?” Asher pulled her tight to his side, and I mimicked his move with Lynx.

  “I am,” Natalie said, “but you need to let Lynx and Mike get drinks. You’re taking all their time. You too, Petey. Go mingle.”

  “I got you.” Asher winked. “Go, kiddos, have fun.”

  “Shall we?” I tilted my head toward the closest bar, and Lynx nodded. “Wine?”

  “Please.”

  “One white wine, a chardonnay, and a Jack on the rocks, please, Millie,” I asked the bartender.

  “Coming right up.”

  “Place is filling up,” Lynx said. The patio was filled with Florida’s socialites and a Who’s Who of the hotel business.

  “It is. Pretty damn amazing.” I pressed my lips to her cheek, not wanting to let go of her.

  “Hello, Michael,” purred a familiar voice in my ear.

  I turned and pasted on a smile. “Mother, nice to see you,” I said as the prep-school boy inside me crept out.

  “Beautiful job you did here. The decor is stunning.”

  “Thank you. Although Lila helped, we had a decorating staff, so don’t think it was all me.”

  “I didn’t,” she said.

  “Mother, meet Lynx.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wind.”

  “Oh, I go by Darling. I shed that old bag’s name as soon as I could.” She eyed Lynx up and down, her gaze landing on the strand of pearls around her neck. “I see my son is treating you right. If I’m not mistaken, those are pearls exclusive to Wind Resorts.”

  I shook my head. “Actually, Dad sent them ahead of time as a congrats, or maybe just to be nice. Who knows with him?”

  “That’s your father,” my mother said with a sniff. “Hot and cold at the drop of a dime.”

  As usual, my mother was stifling me with her backhanded nature.

  Heat rose in my gut. Needing to cool off, I rolled up my sleeves, having abandoned my jacket in the car.

  My mother ran her finger along my tattoo. “I see you’re still into those crass tattoos.”

  “I quite like it,” Lynx said sweetly as she ran her hand down my other arm.

  I can’t begin to tell you what that did to my ego, having my lady take up for me against my mother.

  “See, Lynx loves it, Mom. Why don’t you go and have fun. Eat some food, mingle.”

  “I think I will, love, but first, can you get me a gin and tonic?”

  I called over to the bar, “Millie, do me a favor! Please take care of this special guest.” I felt bad handing my mother off, but there was no way I leaving her with Lynx.

  “Come on,” I whispered to Lynx. “Let’s go by the water and hide.”

  “No arguments from me,” she said, leaning her head on my shoulder.

  We stood on the edge of the property, listening to the waves crashing, our hearts beating in unison.

  “You like Florida?” I asked. “See yourself staying here?”

  “I like it. You’re here, so yeah. Where else would I go?”

  “Good, that’s what I want to hear. I like it here, don’t see myself going back to Vegas. That’s my dad’s town. Kind of want to make this mine . . . ours. If you’ll have me.”

  She laid her hand over my tattoo—her smooth hand. She’d not cut into her palm in a few weeks, resisting the urge with daily meditation and eating apples. I’d learned the cutting was an addiction, like smoking or exercising too much. She could have eaten chips or fries, but apples were a healthier alternative.

  “I don’t say it enough. I love you,” she whispered.

  I didn’t answer back with words, only with my lips against her much softer ones. We stayed like that for a while, my business coming together behind us, my future rolling out in front of us.

  “Michael!”

  And just like that, we were interrupted by the larger-than-life persona of my father.

  “You must be Lynx. What a sight. Too bad I’m not twenty years younger.”

  When my dad flashed his veneers, I shot him the evil eye. He might have fucked Rochelle, but Lynx was mine now and forever.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Lynx said, not moving to even shake his hand. She knew to keep her touch all for me.

  After his cheap come-on and brief introductions, our conversation actually went better than with my mom.

  It ended with him saying, “Proud of you, son. Wasn’t sure there for a while, but you really did something here.”

  LYNX WAS fired up as she left the party. There was something electric about seeing all of Mike’s hard work come together—it did something to her insides. She was all turned out.

  “Good night, you lovebirds,” Lisa had called to them as they passed the reception area. She looked stunning, her blond hair blown straight, wearing simple makeup and a purple dress clinging to her curves. A far cry from when she worked with Lynx—something else she owed to Mike.

  “Night,” Mike said back when Lynx stopped to go hug her friend.

  It hurt too much to consider how much she’d put Michael or Lisa through, so Lynx tried to make the new memories even more special. “Thank you,” she whispered to Lisa across the marble desk.

  “For what, honey?” Lisa’s smile was bright, electric, blinding.

  “For everything. Helping Michael, working here, being a good soul. I guess, thanks for being you.”

  “Aw, honey, go celebrate your man’s success,” Lisa said with a wink and a small shove to get lost.

  Indeed, Michael’s success brought a whole new breed of butterflies to Lynx’s stomach as he drove the two of them back to their place. The condo had become somewhat of a refuge for their feelings and them, so they’d happily opted to not stay at the hotel for the night, giving up their weekend to Sammy and Landon.

  It was hard for Lynx to wrap her head around, but she could now actually imagine living in a house with Michael. One day. For now, the condo was their place.

  They rode up in the elevator, wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing slow kisses. Inside their apartment, it became less gentle. Mike pushed Lynx into the wall, pulling her leg around his waist, leaving her to balance on one stiletto while he pushed his hardness into her soft curves.

  With the hand that wasn’t tight on her back, he shoved up her dress and pushed aside her thong—a replay of earlier in the evening. Except this time, his finger slid inside her. Then two. There was no gentle exploration or discovery. He found her spot and went for the kill. Within seconds, Lynx was moaning into his mouth, but he didn’t let her off tha
t easy.

  When he drew his fingers out, Mike made sure Lynx was watching as he brought them to his mouth, the fine stubble on his face glistening. He licked both fingers clean, leaving not one drop to chance, all the while his gaze homing in on hers. His eyes were heavy with want, his chest rising and falling at an alarming rate—he was a man in heat.

  Letting Lynx’s leg fall, Mike dropped to his knees and slid her panties down, taking each leg out tenderly. Then his mouth was on her—again, another replay, but not tender in the least. He ravaged Lynx, his finger back in place, his tongue alternating between flicking and soothing her most sensitive spot.

  This time, Lynx’s head fell back against the wall as she moaned. “Oh God, Michael.”

  “Take it, babe, take all the pleasure,” he mumbled against her, making her moan even more.

  Only when he squeezed another climax from her did he roam back up her body, taking her dress with him, his tongue tracing its path. When his mouth returned to hers, Lynx tasted herself—a pleasure she’d only engaged in with him. With her sordid past, she took solace in this small fact. Treasured it like an expensive jewel.

  She inhaled, breathing in Mike. He was all man and brute muscle, focused on her, content with pleasing only her. The idea was heady. Despite him having pleasured her twice, this knowledge made her hands shaky with need.

  Lynx undid his pants and shoved them down. Mike kicked off his shoes and shrugged off the trousers, leaving him commando. She couldn’t stop her hand from exploring his hard length, wrapping around the girth and applying just the right amount of pressure.

  “Leave those shoes on,” he grunted. “They’re so fucking hot.”

  She wanted to ask if he was ready to take her bare. He hadn’t yet, but they’d visited the doctor, and she received a clean bill of health and a birth control injection.

  For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

  “I want you,” he said. “No barriers. You and me. Are you ready?”

  And there it was—Mike’s secret ability to read her mind.

  She swallowed, nodded, and ran her hand down his cheek.

  He didn’t waste any more time with talking. Instead, he drove himself inside her, bringing her leg back around him. He took a few easy trips in and out, picking up speed, diving deeper. They were one, taking each other toward a place Lynx was quite certain they’d only been with each other.