Marks on My Skin (Love & Ink #1)

by J. A. Howell

  “Jahysus, I’m sweating like a pig!”

  I turned around to find a shirtless, glistening Kieran standing in the middle of my studio apartment, dabbing sweat off his chest with his t-shirt. Suddenly it did feel a little warm out. I placed the food and water down on the coffee table and grabbed his hand, steering him to the couch.

  “Why don’t you have a seat and eat something, hmm?”

  “Oh, thanks! Feeling a little lightheaded, actually.” He said in a breathless voice. I sat down next to him, watching him wolf down the sandwich and water. I grabbed him another glass, then another.

  “Helping any?”

  “A little.” He nodded, blinking and rubbing his eyes again. I touched my fingers to his carotid. His heart was still racing. I gave him another glass of water and his hands shook as he brought it to his lips.

  “Maybe a hot shower will calm you down a little.”

  “Shayne, I’m fine. Really!” He laughed, his voice equally as shaky as his hands. Unconvinced, I pulled him off the couch and to the bathroom, sitting him down on the closed toilet. “I’m okay. Just a lil’ wound up.”

  I turned on the shower and held my hand under the stream of water until it was comfortably warm. Kieran stood up behind me but I paid him no mind—until something brushed against my ass.

  “Kieran?”

  “Mmm hmmm.” The low husky sound told me exactly what it was that had touched my ass.

  “You’re naked, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, ya said we’re taking a shower.” He ran his hand over my backside and pressed his erection against me again. I swallowed hard in an attempt to maintain my composure.

  “No. I said you were.”

  He giggled—actually giggled. “No, ya said a nice hot shower would calm me down. Ya didn’t say it would be by myself.”

  Another hand slid around to one of my breasts.

  “I-it was implied.” I stuttered. His breath tickled my neck and my muscles clenched with need, completely betraying my words.

  “I must of missed that.” He laughed and planted kisses down side of my neck. “What, ya don’t want another twelve inch throbber?”

  I snorted. “That’s not twelve inches.”

  “No, but it’s certainly more than a stiffy, innit?” He pressed his cock against my ass in demonstration and my stomach quivered, as did my voice.

  “Kieran, I don’t think—”

  “C’mon. Ya said I need ta sweat out some of this caffeine, right?” He giggled in my ear.

  “That wasn’t what I meant…” His fingers rubbed my clit through my panties and the ability to speak left me completely. With no other objections from me he relieved me of my clothes until I was naked, leaning against the wall.

  “C’mere.” He grunted and pulled me into the shower with him and backed me against the wall.

  “Was this your plan all along?” I asked. A mischievous grin crossed his lips.

  “No, but it worked out pretty nicely, no?” He ran his fingers between my legs then kissed my mouth. My legs threatened to buckle beneath me and I moaned against lips. Needing no further encouragement, Kieran lifted me up with little effort and I wrapped my legs around his hips. His head pressed against my opening and he swallowed hard, studying me. His pupils were still dilated but had shrunk since earlier and his dark, wet hair clung to his face. Instinctively, I reached a hand up, brushed my fingers over his jaw, and watched a shiver run through him. I knew I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be encouraging him. But something about Kieran kept pulling me to him. Just like whatever kept pulling Kieran to me.

  With one quick motion he was inside me, thrusting hard. I dug my nails into his back and I moaned against his lips. He let out a strangled grunt and slammed into me, giving me his full length. He didn’t let up and I came within minutes. My muscles seized around his rigid cock and I fisted handfuls of his hair. I tugged hard, squeezing his hips with my thighs and his name left my lips in a pitiful whimper as my body shook. Kieran grunted against my neck and he came with one last thrust, crushing me against the wall.

  “Jahysus, Shayne. Feck.” He panted when he was finally able to speak again.

  “Did that help?”

  He grinned, breathless, and gently eased me back down on my feet. “Maybe. Might need ta do it a few more times ta be sure though.”

  “Hmm, I think you should finish your shower. I’m going to dry off.” I said and pulled the shower curtain back.

  He tried to pull me back to him but I wriggled free, toweled off, and grabbed my clothes off the bathroom floor.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Down The Rabbit Hole

  When I came out of the bathroom Shayne was sitting on the bed still toweling off her hair. My heart was still thumping in my chest but I didn’t feel as jittery as I did ten minutes ago. She was probably right. I shouldn’t have gotten that coffee.

  Her gaze met mine and a crooked grin pulled at her lips. “Better?”

  I nodded and sat across from her on the couch. Her long black hair was still damp and tangled and incredibly sexy. “Sorry fer attacking’ ya like that.”

  “It’s okay…Helped calm you down at least.” She smirked and her gaze roved over my bare chest and stomach. I bit my lip and shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the rush of blood running down to my groin. If Shayne noticed, she didn’t react. Her phone buzzed next to her. She picked it up, looked at the screen then me, and went completely red before putting it back down.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, it was just Darren.” She said in an attempted nonchalant manner, but her cheeks were still flushed. Embarrassed, Shayne looked positively adorable. I scratched at my stubble, doing my best not to grin.

  “What did he have ta say?”

  “Nothing. He’s just being stupid.”

  I sat forward, narrowing my eyes at her. “It was about me, wasn’t it?”

  “No!” She answered a little too quickly.

  I grinned. “Yer a terrible liar. What did he say about me?”

  “It’s stupid! He’s being stupid!”

  “Is he talking’ shite about me?”

  Shayne slid her phone behind her, redness rising up her throat and cheeks again. “No.”

  I got up and strode toward her and she let out a nervous giggle, scooting further back on her bed.

  “Oh come on, just tell me what he said about me.”

  Shayne chewed her lip and looked past me, but before she could make it off the bed I caught her around the waist and dropped her back down against the mattress. She let out a surprised squeal, doing her best to fight the smile tugging at her lips and instead forcing them into an overly dramatic pout.

  “Come on…it can’t be that bad.”

  “He was messaging me because I didn’t go over there last night.” She reluctantly surrendered her phone to me, avoiding my gaze. I stared at her for a moment, surprised at that. Why had she not gone? Did it have anything to do with me? Her features didn’t give up anything and I looked down at the phone. Darren’s message was still on the screen.

  :I see how it is. Guess you found someone new to dole out your spankings. :P :

  “Oh.” I cleared my throat and handed the phone back. Shayne stared up at me, still laid out on the bed, breathing heavy from our little tussle.

  “I told you it’s stupid.” Her brown eyes stared up at me.

  “What’s so stupid about it?” I asked, crawling onto the bed next to her. Just like yesterday I could see the walls going back up behind those eyes. She sat up, putting space between us.

  “That’s not something you’re into.”

  “Well, it’s not something I’ve ever tried, no.” I was too embarrassed to admit just how little I had tried.

  Shayne looked down at me, appraising my expression. Her lips scrunched together, trying to determine whether I was just trying to tease her again or not.

  “Is it…something you wanted to try?”

  “With ya, yes. I think I do.�
� I admitted. Shayne sucked in a shallow breath and bit her lip. Her eyebrows furrowed together with uncertainty. I sat up on the edge of the bed, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. “I mean, if ya wanted me ta. I know Darren’s yer dominant.”

  “Yeah, he is. And I haven’t let anyone else dominate me before.” She stared down at her hands, folding and unfolding her fingers. The room fell into uncomfortable silence and I pulled myself off the bed, suddenly feeling quite stupid. Of course she wouldn’t want that. I scrubbed a hand over my face, hoping to camouflage the embarrassment etched in my features.

  “Perhaps I should go.”

  “Kieran, wait.” She sighed, but I kept my eyes on the floor, searching for my discarded shirt.

  “Shayne, it’s fine. Really. I shouldn’t have even made ya show me the message.” My face grew hot. I snatched my crumpled shirt off the side of the couch, keeping my back to her.

  “Kieran.” Her voice was more insistent. I took a deep breath and turned around, forcing myself to face her. Shayne was on her hands and knees, facing away from me on the bed. Her brown eyes stared at me over her shoulder, vulnerability and want pulling at her features. She smiled, a sweet, nervous smile, then reached back and tugged her skirt up with one hand, presenting herself to me. Offering herself and her control over to me.

  I swallowed hard and discarded the shirt once more as I came over to her. She hadn’t put her knickers back on and I ran my hand over her smooth, pale arse. I traced my fingertips over the small heart tattoo on her right cheek and drew in a ragged breath.

  “Ya sure?” I looked back up at her.

  Shayne pressed her lips together and nodded, a nervous glint in her eyes. I raked my fingernails over skin, drawing in another slow breath.

  “What do I do? Just spank ya?”

  “If I say yellow, ease up. If I say red, that’s too much and I want you to stop.”

  “Right, then.” I swallowed hard and drew my hand back. Sweat dampened my palm and I wiped it on my jeans. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” Shayne’s answer came out breathless. She kept her eyes straight forward and pushed her arse back in anticipation. With a deep breath I lifted my hand and brought it down in a light slap.

  “Harder?”

  “I’ll let you know if it’s too much.” She said.

  “Right.” I took another breath and brought my hand back down a little harder. Shayne let out a soft whimper. My breath caught and I brought my hand down again, even harder. The force of it jarred her forward and she let out a low moan. My cock twitched at that sound and I spanked her again. And again.

  Shayne moaned, the sound a mix of pleasure and pain. Her arse, normally fair and pale, reddened under my touch. This sight of it made me drunk with the need for her. My hand came down against one cheek then the other, over and over. More splotches of redness spread across her skin and my cock swelled with the ache to be inside her. I had no idea the sight of it would have this effect on me, but I didn’t want to stop. I spanked her again and this time she fell forward. She pressed into the pillow and twisted the sheets, fisting them in her hands. For a moment I thought I’d hurt her. She mumbled something against the pillow and panicked I leaned forward trying to hear her.

  “Ya alright, Shayne?”

  “Fuck me, Kier. Please fuck me.”

  Need rippled through me in an overwhelming shiver and I tugged at my jeans in lustful haste. I managed to get them down to mid thigh and thrust into her without hesitation. Her muscles tensed around me and she whimpered. Shayne was slick and tight. I swatted a hand across her arse. She arched her back and her hair fell against her shoulders, messy and wild. “Harder, Kier. Harder.”

  Her pleading threatened to send me over the edge. Everything about Shayne threatened to send me over the edge. I put an arm around her throat and thrust deeper. Shayne let out a guttural moan and collapsed against the mattress, unable to hold herself up as her orgasm overtook her. Her body quaked and shivered. More muffled moans came from her and my own orgasm welled to a crescendo. I dragged my teeth across her shoulder and tightened my arm around her neck. My cock twitched, my hips bucked forward, and I came inside her, moaning into her hair.

  “Feck, Shayne…Holy feck.”

  Several minutes passed. We laid together as the waves of pleasure waned, a heap of sweaty bodies. I was afraid to look at Kieran, unsure of what was running through his mind. His fingernails trailed down my spine, then over the curve of my bottom and I finally looked at him then.

  He stared at the marks he’d left on my skin, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. My flesh was red and he traced the red blotches, the outlines of his fingers still visible against my normally pale complexion. I waited for him to say something—anything—but he leaned over, his mouth moving over mine in a lazy, drunken kiss.

  “Jahysus, I want ta do that again.” He laughed in a deep, ragged voice.

  “Really?”

  He kissed me again, giving me a satisfactory answer and I lay boneless against the bed. I’d never let anyone besides Darren this close before. Given Kieran’s initial reaction to my lifestyle, I’d expected him to run, to think I was some sort of freak. But he didn’t do any of those things.

  He cleared his throat, pressing his forehead against mine as he came up for a breath.

  “What else are ya into?” His blue gaze held mine with a curious, hopeful look. I slid out from under him and tugged my skirt back down before kneeling down on the floor beside my bed. Kieran shifted around, looking over the edge at the box I pulled out. “What’s in there?”

  My pulsed thumped in my throat, and I fidgeted with the latch. Darren had given it to me a long time ago, in case I wanted to play with someone else. He and I weren’t exclusive, but I’d still never felt comfortable playing with anybody else. Now, though… I looked at Kieran’s hand, the palm still red, then met his gaze. His eyebrow twitched up and that hopeful yearning burned in his pale blue eyes.

  “Do you really want to see?”

  “Yes.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Just The Tip

  “Where ya been?” Liam appraised me with a suspicious look as soon as I walked into his apartment that evening.

  “I was just hangin’ out with Shayne.” I said, quickly wiping the grin from my lips.

  “Hangin’ out? I didn’t know ya two made plans.”

  I shrugged, a little exasperated by his questioning. It wasn’t like I was still a punk little thirteen-year-old kid brother he had to watch.

  “We ran into each other. She was out shopping.”

  He let out grunt, narrowed his eyes at me, then turned for his room, satisfied with my answer for the time being. I went into the guest room and collapsed onto the bed. Thoughts of the last several hours ran through my mind, mixing with Shayne’s sweet, earthy scent that still lingered on me. The image of her bent over on her bed was burned in my mind. I’d never thought something like that could have that effect on me, but I found myself wanting more. More of Shayne, more of her strange little world. Her moans and whimpers still echoed in my ears and even with as tired as I was, I couldn’t fall asleep.

  I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of our bodies moving together, the tight warmth of her as she took me inside her. I breathed her in with a soft groan and undid my jeans. Just the mere thought of doing those things to her again was enough to make me hard. My mind shifted to the box she’d shown me. The gags and blindfolds, the paddles and clamps. I wanted to use them on her, tie her down and spank that beautiful arse of hers until it was red again. Christ, I wanted more. I came with a grunt and my seed spilled on my stomach. I wiped it away with my shirt and discarded it on the floor. My breath came in heavy pants and I stared up at the ceiling, completely satisfied and finally ready for sleep.

  “Feck, Shayne.”

  “Why are ya in such a good mood?” Liam gave me a sidelong glance, parking his charger behind the tattoo shop.

  “I slept well.” I said. It wasn’t total lie. I had sl
ept very well after my eventful day with Shayne.

  Music was already playing when we walked into the shop and Shayne was in the front, sweeping the floor. I drank in her smooth pale thighs and the fitted black skirt that hugged her bottom. I was beginning to wonder if she even owned a pair of pants. She shifted back and forth in her knee-high boots and I bit my lip. I could watch her do that all day. Finally she noticed us standing there and looked over her shoulder. A grin spread over her lips when our eyes met but she quickly hid it when she looked at Liam.

  “Why ya here early? Ya never get in before me.” He asked her. She shrugged.

  “I slept well. Woke up early.”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed and he looked between us. “Right. I’m goin’ ta set up fer my appointment. Ya goin’ ta set yerself up in the office, Kier?”

  “Hmm? Yeah.” I nodded. Liam stood there and waited until I turned for the office in the back. Once in the solitude of the office, I pulled up the half-written manuscript that I hadn’t been making any progress on and tried to absorb myself in re-reading it but my mind wandered back to last night.

  “That good, hmm?” Shayne’s voice startled me and I closed the document, looking up at her.

  I relaxed against the plush leather chair and laughed. “Um, no. Actually it’s shite.”

  “Won’t let me read?”

  “No, not that one.”

  She eased herself back against the desk with a sly grin and my gaze drifted over her. “You know I read your other book.”

  I cringed. “Oh God, why the hell would ya do that?”

  Shayne laughed and her bangs fell in her eyes. “Niall gave me a copy the other day. I read most of it in one night. You’re talented.”

  Heat rose in my cheeks. “Quiet, you.”

  Her grin widened and her big brown eyes connected with mine, challenging me. “Make me.”

  Tendrils of desire sprang up, and my cock stiffened noticeably, making me shift in the chair. I bit my lip and my voice came out in a low growl.

  “Turn around.”

  Liam’s tattoo machine buzzed away down the hall and I kicked the office door shut. Shayne stared at me with hungry, lustful eyes and turned around, placing her palms on the desk. I locked the door and came up behind her, pulling her against me.