Under Her Skin

by Aria Cole

  “Just keep your head up. A few months here and maybe you can get your own place.”

  “I told her she’s welcome at mine.” River sauntered up behind me, patting me on the ass. “I can apply the ointment for you. Promise I’ll be thorough.”

  “You guys are too cute. Literally. It’s kind of disgusting. I’m happy for you and all that, I just don’t need to see it.” Dev waved a hand and walked off to her station.

  “She’s right, ya know. Jericho won’t let me live it down that I made you come in the piercing room yesterday.”

  “What! He knows? River!” I swatted at his chest, feeling heat burn through my skin.

  “Who doesn’t? You were loud, doll face.”

  I shook my head, turning back to the front desk. “Maybe I should just get ‘River’s Bitch’ tattooed on my forehead, announce to everyone I’m yours.”

  “I like the sound of that.” He scooped me into his arms, pulling me against his rock-solid chest. His rock-solid cock. God, I loved everything rock solid on this man. “Except I’d change it to ‘River’s Girl,’ and I’d probably put it on your ass.”

  “Because you are an ass?”

  “I’m your ass.” He cupped my cheeks, nibbling at my earlobe.

  “I was actually thinking about another tattoo…” I trailed off when his lips sucked at the flesh of my neck.

  “Oh?” he said, continuing to suck.

  “On the inside of my finger. Wouldn’t that be cute?”

  “Hurts like hell.” He held up one hand, a few knuckles inked with tattoos. “Sure you can handle the pain?”

  “Didn’t I prove it to you yesterday?”

  “Mmm, how are my nipples doing?” His hand slipped inside my bra, the pad of his thumb brushing against my still very tender nipple.

  “Better than yesterday. You didn’t really warn me about the pain.”

  He shrugged, fingers threading with mine as he pulled away, leaning against the counter and dragging me with him, as if he couldn’t stand to let go. I liked it. A lot. “That’s what the orgasm was for.”

  I shook my head with a grin. “Always putting the client first. How kind of you.”

  “I do what I can.” He grinned. “Now, what about that tattoo? Think you’re going to be able to hide that one from Daddy?”

  “He hardly makes eye contact with me when he’s home anyway. We’ve never really connected. He always said I was a rebel, like it’s a bad thing. Truth is, I like walking against the grain, makes life interesting.”

  “I lived my life as a black sheep, no disagreement from me. So what tattoo are you thinking?”

  I smiled then, remembering the title of that book I’d seen a while back that had resonated. “Something that fits me. Something to remind me to be exactly who I am. Something he would hate.”

  “And the winner is?” He waited for my answer.

  “The words ‘Nasty Gal’ tattooed on the inside of my middle finger.”

  River laughed out loud then, hand covering his face as he could hardly contain the chuckling.

  “What? You don’t like it?”

  “As a matter of fact, doll face, I love it.” He pulled me in closer, covering his lips with mine in a fast yet intoxicating kiss. I fell under, swimming in River, losing myself, finding myself, not giving a fuck about the next moment because being in his arms was so perfect.

  “I want to cover your skin in my tattoos.” He breathed against my neck, hands trailing up my arms. “My art all over the most beautiful canvas ever to walk the earth.”

  “You’re just biased because I let you pierce my nipples yesterday.”

  “Maybe. How do you feel about the clit next?”

  I nearly burst out laughing then. “Baby steps, here. Baby steps!”

  “Ah,” I growled. “No baby steps for me and you. We’re a freight train, and I’ve got no plans of slowing down.”

  Deep inside, my stomach clenched excitedly with his words.

  His hands caressed my skin, his lips trailing across my body, his words like honey, covering me in rich goodness.

  “You’re too good to be true.”

  He laughed again, lacing our fingers and pulling me to his station. “You say that now.”

  “I say that every day.”

  “Sit. My girl wants a tattoo, and she always gets what she wants.” I did as I was told, watching him pull out black ink and slide on gloves.

  “Thanks, River. For the job, the friendship, for all of it. I can’t tell you how much I needed this. Just being in that house is like a weight…”

  His eyes caught mine, a frown turning down his lips before he nodded. “Offer to stay at my place still stands, Sienna. Anytime, day or night, I’m there.”

  I nodded, trying to hold back the tears. Why did I get so emotional like this just because someone was being kind to me? Was it such a rare occurrence? Had I grown so callous to people and reality? “They weren’t always so bad, not before…”

  “Before what, Sienna?”

  “Before the night I got that scar. Before the night my sister died. It changed both of them. Made them harder. They gave in to their anger, I guess. It’s like they’re permanently stuck in that phase of grieving now. I get it, I do. Losing a kid must be the hardest thing someone has to go through, but they ended up losing me that night too.”

  “Jesus, Sienna, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, thumb sliding over the tender pulse point at my wrist.

  “It was a long time ago,” I finally said.

  “Some wounds never heal. I’ve learned that listening to the stories people tell me sitting in this chair,” he replied, swiping at my skin with a soft stroke. I was relieved when the sharp scent of alcohol hit my nostrils, the buzz of the gun started, and my anxiety about the reality of my life melted away. I wasn’t getting this tattoo to prove a point, to make my dad mad—not even because I needed the reminder to be a nasty gal. It was so much simpler than that. The bite of the needle was like a drug, sending endorphins to my brain, the buzz of the gun ratcheting up my adrenaline. The touch of his hands on my skin was heaven.

  River was under my skin, all right. He was tattooed on my heart as permanently as the ink he sketched into my skin.

  SIX

  River

  “I don’t like to pierce and tattoo the same girl in twenty-four hours and not take her out to dinner,” I breathed into the crook of her neck, drunk on the scent of her skin.

  “Is that all it takes to get a date with you?” she quipped.

  I laughed, drunk on her sassy sense of humor too. “Dinner and a movie and let me feed you.”

  She giggled, arms curling around my waist, the dim light of the shop shadowing us. “I’m not really a fancy dinner and wine kind of gal. I’m nasty, remember?” She held up her middle finger, my ink still fresh on her skin, bandaged and covered with ointment.

  “Takeout and a concert?” I begged. I wasn’t above begging. I didn’t know much about anything beyond tattooing, but I knew I needed this woman in my life.

  “That sounds more my style, but I probably shouldn’t be out late tonight.” She tucked her head into my chest and sucked in a soft breath.

  “Okay, just takeout, then. My place. I’ll introduce you to Pablo.”

  “Pablo?” she asked.

  “My cat.”

  “Oh, Pablo the cat. Of course.”

  “Named him after Neruda. Best poet, living or dead.”

  “You like Pablo Neruda?” Her eyebrows rose.

  “I’ve tattooed a lot of love poems, and his always seem to make the most sense. If nothing saves us from death, may love at least save us from life. That’s one of my favorites.”

  “That’s beautiful.”

  “Always thought it would make a great wedding tattoo.”

  “It would,” she said softly, lips turning up.

  “How’re the nipples feeling?”

  “Throbbing is down to a seven on the pain scale. So, manageable.”

  “A seven? I
figured you had a higher pain tolerance than that the way you begged me to spank you.”

  His words sparked in my stomach, causing it to cartwheel and flip at the memory of his hands spanking my ass. The sound of the crack echoing off the four walls. The way he made me weak and needy, desperate and willing to beg him for more.

  “Yeah, that was great.”

  He laughed, arms encasing me. “Ready for a repeat already?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “My ass is still sore from the last time, but I like it. Reminds me you were there.”

  “Mmm.” I covered her mouth with mine, fucking her with my tongue, tasting every raw inch she had to give of herself. “That’s my favorite part too.”

  She sighed, lips turning up as my fingers pushed inside the waistband of her jeans. “We’re going to have to go. Five more minutes in here alone with you and we’ll both be naked.”

  “I was kind of hoping for that.”

  “God, you are a nasty gal.” I swatted at her ass, enjoying the squeals as we walked out the front doors.

  I turned, twisting the key in the lock. “So, what are you in the mood for?”

  I locked up the shop, turning to find her standing in the evening light, the sun shining off her silky hair.

  “Whatever you want,” she purred.

  A low growl pulled past my lips. “You, doll face. The only thing I can seem to bring myself to want is you.”

  I pushed her against my car, hands running up her thighs, under her shirt, cupping her tits as my teeth nipped at her lips. I opened the door, pushing her inside, and caging her underneath me.

  Her lips trailed up my neck, tickling the five-o'clock stubble that was no doubt there, before her fingertips made contact with the hot flesh of my back. I sucked in a ragged breath as her nails dragged down my skin. I thrust against her denim-covered cunt, desperate for relief, desperate to bury myself in the only woman who’d made me give a fuck again.

  “Let's go back to my place.”

  “Yeah,” she whispered. I sealed our lips in another kiss, fingers working between her thighs as I rubbed at her hard little clit. Her moans were breathy, hands clutching at my hair, before I finally caught her wrists and pulled her from me.

  “I have to drive. Five minutes. Just around the corner.”

  She nodded breathlessly. Our eyes caught then, and my hands went to her cheeks, cradling her precious face in my palms before I kissed her again. “Don’t move.”

  I launched over her, landing in the front seat and turning on the engine. I ripped out of the parking lot, shooting down the street and around the corner.

  “Just a few blocks.” I glanced over, hand rubbing at her knee.

  “Are you sure we should be doing this?” she finally asked.

  “Oh, no. Don’t think about that. We’re almost there, doll face.”

  “No, I mean it. I mean, you're my boss. The owner.”

  “So?” I glanced at her, all soft and sweet beside me in my car. “I’m the owner. I can do whatever I want.”

  “Even clients?” She frowned.

  I turned into the lot of my building then. “Hey, listen.” I pulled into a parking spot, shifting to take her face in my hands. “Just for the sake of being straightforward, I haven’t been with anyone in years. I’ve been too focused on getting the shop off the ground to even think about—”

  “I don’t care about that. I mean, I haven't been with anyone either. I’m totally clean. I’m just thinking…what if…what if this doesn't go well, and I need that job. I can’t tell you how much I need that job, River.”

  “Sienna, I would never let anything personal between us come between you and your job. I’m as professional as they come. Plus, Dev and Jericho would strike if I let you go anyway. They know you’re good for business.”

  “Good for business how?”

  I pulled her across the seat and into my lap. “You make me happy, and when the owner is happy, everyone's happy.”

  I didn’t let her reply, only kissed her senseless. I really loved the kissing her senseless part.

  “Can we move on to second base now?”

  Her giggles filled my ears and my heart. My hands went around her waist, and I opened the door and hauled us both out of the car. I carried her all the way to the front doors of my building. I took the stairs two at a time until we reached the second floor.

  “Ready for the tour?” I whispered, setting her down to fish the key out of my pocket.

  She nodded, eyes riveted on mine the entire time.

  Fuck, I was such a goner for this girl.

  With just one look, she’d rocked my world. Like a drug flooding through my system, my every waking thought was of her. Her. Her. I had to be good enough for her, had to deserve her, had to take care of her. Fuck, I had to love her. She needed love the most.

  We never completed the tour; we never even really began it because by the time we were in the master bedroom, our clothes were on the floor and she was underneath me, soft and sexier than hell in the mountain of my pillows.

  I’d been waiting for this moment.

  This night.

  Right here.

  Right now.

  “River…” Her long arm curled around my neck, fingers digging into my shoulder blade. I teased at her arousal-soaked folds, the tip of my cock aching to plunge in. Take her, own her, make her mine.

  But I was drawing this out. Making her ache for it.

  I wanted Sienna dizzy with desire.

  “Shh, baby.” I stroked her folds, coating my cock in her thick juices before pulling out and nudging at her back entrance.

  “River, please.” She arched, chasing my dick, begging for it seated deep inside her.

  “Deep breaths, beautiful.” I kissed along the hollow of her neck, chased nips across her collarbone, and sucked at the flesh beneath her ear.

  “You’re driving me insane.”

  “For what?” I smiled into her neck.

  “You.”

  “What do you want? Tell me,” I urged as I moved between her legs.

  “You. Your cock. Oh God, River, please,” she begged.

  “Mmm, good girl.” I eased away, feeling cool air rush between us. “Should I take you here…” I pressed my cock at her opening. “Or here?” My dick slid between her ass cheeks to probe at her ass. “Maybe in that sassy mouth of yours?” I hooked my index finger between her lips and pulled at her cheek. Her eyes flashed as a raging inferno exploded between us. Passion, lust, desire. Violent need.

  “Anywhere, take me anywhere.” Her head thrust back into soft down as I eased my cock between her slick lips.

  “Mmm… Ready, baby?”

  “Yes,” she hissed.

  “Good.” I landed a swift smack on her pussy. She squealed, hummed, clutched at my forearm. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

  I smoothed my palm over her warm cheek before hitting her again.

  “See how your pussy likes me spanking you?” I ran a finger through soaking wet lips and leaned to thrust it into her mouth. She sucked and pulled at the flesh until my fingers were clean. “Mmm…such a surprise.” I glided my hands over her curves, erasing the sting of my hand. “Your pussy is begging for another spanking.”

  I landed a swift smack across glistening pink lips, her hips rocking.

  A low moan echoed between us, and her elbows collapsed beneath her body. “Your pussy loves when I take what’s mine. Say it.” I slid my fingers through her wetness again, teasing her, making her moan and sing with pleasure.

  “Say it, Sienna.” I smacked her pussy again, and she whimpered, hips fucking the down comforter she lay on. “Say thank you.”

  “Mmm…thank you.” A soft, sated smile lifted her lips.

  “You’re welcome, my nasty gal.” My cock pulsed between my legs. I was done playing games, done making her beg. I needed it. Needed her. Needed to get off inside her soft body. Needed to coat her sweet womb with my come and root myself down deep. I wanted everything with thi
s woman. Everything I’d never known I’d wanted before.

  “I’m not using a condom tonight. I want you bare.”

  “Good. I want to feel you.” Her eyes sparked with raging blue flame. I gritted my teeth together. This girl was dangerous. I’d overdose on her and die a happy man if I could.

  I wanted to claim her.

  Make her a slave to the orgasms only I could give her.

  “Love that mouth of yours.” I clenched at her ass cheeks and seated myself between her thighs. Sliding my cock up the hot seam of her delicious pussy, I groaned, edging in slowly, preparing her for me, bracing her for the epic explosion that was us. We weren’t fucking. This was more than a hookup—this was forever.

  I was home, wrapped around Sienna.

  She moaned and mumbled incoherently as I fisted one hand at her hip, the other fingers working deftly at the hot nub of her clit. I pushed in and out of her, her hips reaching up to meet me as we chased the far edge of an unseen cliff. I pressed one finger to her ass and watched her body tense before relaxing and allowing me entrance. Filling her from both ends, showing her the pleasure she had under my hands.

  I pulled her silky-smooth legs above my shoulders. Leaning off the bed, one hand gripping her waist to hold her suspended, I thrust into her delicious body as her nails scratched at the wood headboard behind her.

  Her first orgasm rocketed through her, screams echoing around my apartment as I played her body like my very own instrument. I gave her four orgasms by the time all was said and done. My own orgasm finally tore through me at warp speed, weakening my knees and causing all sense to evacuate my brain.

  Sienna was mine. I was claiming her. And the claiming had only just begun.

  SEVEN

  Sienna

  I woke the next morning to a sculpted forearm draped across my chest. My very bare chest.

  Oh my God.

  I was naked.

  At River’s apartment.

  And he was still here.

  “Shit!” I leaped out of bed, scrambling to pick up the clothing River had ripped off of me last night.

  “What’s wrong?” River stood, naked as sin and the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.