by Laura Kaye
“I do, because I love you, too, Charlie.”
Charlie’s whole body trembled at Jeremy’s revelation, because they were words he never thought he’d hear directed at him.
“Aw, don’t cry, babe,” Jeremy said, swiping at the wetness he didn’t even realize ran from the corner of one eye.
“I love when you call me that,” Charlie said.
“Well, that’s good,” Jeremy said. “Because I like calling you that. Babe.” He winked.
“Jeremy?” Charlie said, his thoughts whirling and his emotions overwhelmed.
“What?”
For a long moment, Charlie struggled to make sense of the mess in his head, and then the words spilled out, “I would’ve endured anything if it led me to you. I thank God that I’m alive, not because it freed me from those horrible men, but because it led me here. Right here.”
“Fuck, Charlie,” Jeremy said, his eyes going glassy. “And I would’ve given anything for you not to have endured it at all.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing that happened,” Charlie said. “Because you are everything to me, and you were worth it all.”
“I FEEL THE same way,” Jeremy said, his heart more full than it’d ever been in his life. He kissed Charlie once, twice, encouraging him to recline on the bed. “However you got here, you’re right where you’re meant to be. At my side, in my arms, in my bed.”
“Yes,” Charlie whispered. “I love you so much.” He wrapped his arms around Jeremy and pulled him in tight.
Jeremy’s heart fucking soared, and he poured every bit of the euphoria he felt into his kiss. Their hands grasped and clutched, their lips tugged and pulled, their tongues circled and stroked until their cocks were hard and their hips were grinding together.
“I want you, Charlie,” Jeremy rasped, pulling the other man into a sitting position so he could remove his shirt. Jeremy slid off the bed and toed off his shoes, and Charlie followed suit.
Clothing flew off between playful laughs and desperate kisses, their panting breaths and moans spilling into the room.
Jeremy hauled Charlie in close and grasped both their cocks in his hand, stroking the two of them while they kissed and sucked and groaned.
“I want your cock in my mouth,” Jeremy said, nuzzling Charlie’s jaw, “while mine’s in yours.”
Charlie nodded, took Jeremy’s hand, and guided them back to the bed. And Jeremy absolutely loved it when Charlie took the initiative like that, because he knew it wasn’t easy for the other man to do. His Charlie was so much braver than he gave himself credit for.
His Charlie. God, Jeremy fucking loved the sound of that.
Charlie laid down in the center of the bed and Jeremy climbed up over him, his knees on either side of Charlie’s head. Jeremy took hold of Charlie’s long cock just as Charlie swirled his tongue around the tip of his. They sucked each other deep, and Jeremy reveled in every moan that spilled from the other man’s mouth.
Jeremy rocked his hips, fucking Charlie’s mouth and feeling his throat muscles work around his cock. Charlie took it all, his hands massaging Jeremy’s balls and squeezing his ass cheeks. Jeremy sucked on one of his own fingers, wetting it with his saliva, and then teased it against Charlie’s opening until Charlie was lifting his hips and offering up the sexiest pleading moans.
When Jeremy finally penetrated him, Charlie sucked Jeremy’s cock so hard and so deep that Jeremy had to fight back a scream.
One thing was crystal clear. Jeremy wasn’t going to be able to spend much time in Charlie’s mouth without finishing too soon.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Charlie rasped.
Jeremy pulled free and spun around. “I want you,” he said, claiming Charlie’s mouth for a kiss. Jer shifted to the edge of the bed and grabbed a condom and the lube from the nightstand, then turned to see Charlie flipping onto his stomach.
Which was when Jeremy realized that wasn’t what he wanted.
“I’ve never bottomed,” Jeremy said. He’d engaged in anal play before, of course, and he’d had one lover who had a big thing for toys, but he’d never been penetrated by another man’s cock. Despite how adventurous Jeremy generally was, he’d never even considered it.
Charlie’s blue-eyed gaze whipped toward where he sat on the edge of the bed, and the blond man smiled. “I figured. And that works out great, because I’ve never topped. Unless you want to count one really awkward attempt with a girl when I was seventeen.”
Jeremy stroked Charlie’s back. His heart raced and his stomach flipped and he was possibly more turned on than he’d ever been in his life, even if he was a little scared—or maybe even because of it. “I was never serious enough about any of the men I saw to give them that part of me.”
“I get it,” Charlie said.
“I am now,” Jeremy said, looking the other man right in the eye.
Charlie went still and his mouth dropped open. Slowly, he shifted into a sitting position. “Jeremy, you don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“No, that’s not what this is about,” Jeremy said, feeling the rightness of the idea down deep. “I’d just like for there to be one person who knows every part of me. And I want that person to be you.”
“Oh, my God,” Charlie said. “Are you sure?”
Jeremy smiled. “Absofreakinglutely.”
“You realize I have no experience. And I’m probably going to last about thirty-six seconds,” Charlie said, his cheeks going pink.
Jeremy chuckled and Charlie joined him. “I don’t care about any of that,” Jeremy finally said. “Will you?”
“Yes,” Charlie whispered. “Uh, what position do you want to . . . ?”
Climbing up onto the bed, Jeremy handed the lube and condom to Charlie and got onto his hands and knees.
Charlie moved behind Jeremy, making Jer’s heart take fast flight.
The click of the lube cap. And then Charlie circled two fingers against Jeremy’s asshole while he rubbed his slickened thumb against the skin between his opening and his balls.
Jeremy moaned as Charlie slowly inserted a finger while still applying pressure against his taint. Charlie’s other hand stroked his back, his ass, his thigh, relaxing Jeremy as Charlie prepared him. Although, shit, there wasn’t any finger that was going to prepare him for Charlie’s ten inches. For real.
Charlie chased the thoughts away when he added another slick finger and then rubbed them against a place inside Jeremy that made him gasp.
“Too much?” Charlie asked, his fingers stroking over his prostate again and again.
“Shit, no,” Jeremy rasped. “It’s just really intense.”
Charlie chuckled. And damn if that wasn’t fucking sexy.
After a few minutes, Charlie added a third finger. The stretching stung, but then Charlie reached underneath Jeremy and grabbed his cock. The stroking eased the burn, or maybe it was just that his body got used to it, but either way, Jeremy felt hotter and needier than he’d ever felt in his life.
“Now, Charlie,” he said. Charlie eased his fingers free, and Jeremy groaned. “Lots of lube, please. Like, the whole bottle maybe.” He looked over his shoulder at the other man and winked.
Charlie smiled from underneath long strands of hair and bit down on his lip. “Don’t worry, Jeremy. I’ll take care of you right.” He rolled on the condom and slicked up his long length. “Ready?”
“Want you, Charlie. Yes.” When he felt the head of Charlie’s cock right there, Jeremy took a deep breath and bore down, knowing that would help open himself to Charlie’s invasion. The first inch or two burned, but Charlie went slow, sinking deeper and deeper until Jeremy groaned at the crazy hot sensation of fullness. Finally, Charlie paused, holding himself deep inside as he reached around to stroke Jeremy’s cock. The combination of the pleasure with the pain was heady and overwhelming, and pleasure gained ground as Cha
rlie started to move in a series of shallow thrusts and retreats.
“Damnit, Jeremy. You’re so tight that thirty-six seconds might’ve been optimistic,” Charlie said in a strained voice.
A single laugh burst out of Jeremy. “Think of something that’s not sexy.”
“You are totally overestimating my capacity for thought right now. Shit,” he said, his hips rocking against Jeremy’s ass.
Jeremy looked over his shoulder. “Whatever happens, it’s already perfect, babe.” And Jeremy meant that, because the intimacy of their actions meant so much to Jeremy that he could never regret it. Not for an instant.
Charlie gripped Jeremy’s hip with one hand and caressed his back with the other as he settled into a slow, deep grind. The vulnerability of the act, the stretching fullness it made Jer feel, and the incredible sounds spilling from Charlie’s throat all combined to make Jeremy hard and hot and achy.
“I want to touch more of you,” Charlie rasped. “Lay on your side?”
They pulled apart as they changed positions and then Charlie’s stomach was tight against Jeremy’s back. Charlie added more lube and then pushed in again.
Jeremy breathed through the initial burn until Charlie settled into a rhythm that had Jeremy panting and moaning and stroking himself in time with Charlie’s hips.
“Let me,” Charlie whispered, brushing his hand away. He kissed Jeremy’s shoulder, his back, his arm as he fisted Jeremy’s cock and fucked him so goddamn good. “Love you, Jeremy.”
It was the words that did it. Jeremy was suddenly right on the edge and falling fast. “Fuck, gonna come.”
“Yeah?” Charlie’s hand tightened and moved faster around his cock.
And then Jeremy’s orgasm nailed him in the back, stole his breath, and roared through him. And it was like he’d never come before, because being filled so completely added a whole other level of intensity to his release. Charlie stroked him through it and he came so long and so hard that he got light-headed.
Charlie moaned, his hips moving harder, faster. “Love you, love you,” he rasped, and then his cock was jerking inside Jeremy. That sensation was so unexpectedly sexy that Jeremy found himself pressing back onto Charlie’s dick, taking him even deeper, giving him every ounce of pleasure he could.
Charlie heaved a long breath against Jeremy’s back and wrapped both arms around his chest. He squeezed Jeremy so tight that it was hard to breathe, but Jeremy wouldn’t have traded it for anything. This closeness. This intimacy. This absolute fucking perfection.
After a long moment, Charlie withdrew from Jer’s body. He got off the bed to dispose of the condom, and Jeremy hated every second of separation from the man who owned his heart.
Charlie climbed back into bed and snuggled in tight, his stomach to Jer’s back again. “How was it?” Charlie whispered.
Needing to see Charlie’s beautiful eyes, Jeremy turned in the tight embrace of his arms. Their faces were close, their breaths mingled, and their legs intertwined.
“It was amazing. Perfect,” Jeremy said, stealing a soft kiss. “I just may not be able to sit for a day or two.” He winked.
Charlie grinned. “Well,” he said, peering at Jeremy through strands of blond hair that had fallen across his face. “Every time you feel a twinge just remember it was because I was inside you.”
“Damn, Charlie. That was sexy as fuck,” Jeremy said, kissing him deeply and totally loving the idea of the reminder.
For a while, they lay quietly, just staring into each other’s eyes, not talking or kissing, just touching and looking and being present in the moment.
How could this day get any better?
Suddenly, Jeremy knew exactly what would make it better.“There’s one more thing I want,” he said in a quiet voice, his heart beating a little faster.
“What’s that?” Charlie asked, lazily stroking his fingers against Jeremy’s back.
“Move in here with me,” Jeremy said, the rightness of the idea settling deep inside his chest. Just thinking of Charlie’s belongings mixed up with his and waking up with Charlie in his arms every morning was enough to make his dick stir again. “We don’t have to do it right away if you need time to adjust to us, but—”
“Really?” Charlie asked, something close to awe filling his expression. “You really . . . want me . . . to . . .”
“Charlie Merritt,” Jeremy said, taking his cheek in his hand. “Listen to me good and believe it down deep. I want you in every single way. And I will tell you and show you that every day if that’s what it takes to make you believe it.” Jeremy kissed him once, twice, knowing that his father’s lack of acceptance made it so that Charlie was probably going to require a whole lot of reassurance. Jer was only too happy to give it.
Charlie nodded. “Then I would love to move in here with you.” His expression went serious. “I just want to say something, Jeremy. Your brother might’ve saved me, but you’re the one who rescued me from a lonely life not worth living. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And you’ll never be lonely again, Charlie. I promise you that,” Jeremy said, pulling him in for another kiss.
“So, when do you want me to move my stuff over here?” Charlie asked.
Jeremy was off the bed like a shot. He threw Charlie’s jeans at him while he jumped into his own. The biggest, happiest belly laugh spilled from Charlie’s mouth. Jeremy had never heard him laugh so freely before, and it was his new favorite sound. He would fucking live to give Charlie cause to make it again and again.
“Sooo, that would mean now, then?” Charlie asked, sitting up and still wearing a big smile.
“You better believe it,” Jeremy said. The team’s investigation might be impossibly complicated and their enemies enormously powerful, but no matter what, Jeremy would have the man he loved standing at his side. “I want to make you mine in every way I can, Charlie. And I want to do it right now.”
Acknowledgments
ONE OF THE biggest and most wonderful surprises to me about the whole Hard Ink series was how quickly Jeremy Rixey became a favorite character. From the very first book, everyone wanted to know if Jeremy was going to get a story, and I was beyond thrilled to be able to do just that in Hard to Be Good! For that opportunity, I first and foremost have to thank all the readers who wanted Jeremy to have his very own happily-ever-after. And then I have to thank my wonderful editor, Amanda Bergeron, for agreeing Jeremy’s story needed to be told—and for wholeheartedly embracing with whom he was going to find his happy ending. It’s been an amazing experience to work with an editor who so got my vision for this series and who loves the characters as much as I do, so thank you, Amanda!
My next thanks must go to Christi Barth, as always, for reading the book and giving me amazing comments that made it better and better. She’s been there beside me throughout the entire series, and I can’t thank her enough for helping me make the Hard Ink team shine!
Thanks also to my agent, Kevan Lyon, for diving into this series with me and for helping make Jeremy and Charlie’s story come true! And thanks to KP Simmon for being the world’s best cheerleader, shoulder to lean on, and (when necessary) conspirator! I’m really lucky to have such an amazing team of women to work with!
From the very first book people were suggesting that if the team was going to have a dog, they needed a cat, too. And, of course, it couldn’t be a normal cat! Thanks to reader-friend Krystal Boehm for the inspiration for Cy. From the time she posted a picture of Cyrus, her orange one-eyed cat, on Eileen’s Facebook page, I knew he’d have to make an appearance in the Hard Ink world. (But, of course, the guys had to twist his name just a little. I hope Cyrus understands!) Oh, and Krystal, happy birthday!
I must thank wonderful writer friends Lea Nolan and Stephanie Dray, who are always there for me. And I must thank my Heroes, my wonderful street team, too! You guys rock! Finally, thanks to my family for
making it all possible!
As always, thanks to the readers for taking my characters into their hearts and letting them tell their stories again and again.
With my love,
LK
Want to see the moment Nick unveils his new tattoo to Becca?
Keep an eye out for news of this exciting bonus scene at
www.facebook.com/LauraKayeWrites
for details coming soon!
Don’t miss the explosive final chapter of the Hard Ink series . . .
HARD TO LET GO
Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.
A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers’ Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger’s gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he’s also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat’s brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett’s sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies’ crosshairs.
Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.
Coming Summer 2015
Keep reading for a sneak peek!
THE WAREHOUSE WAS an abandoned shell. Empty so long that parts of the roof had caved in, most of the windows were gone, and nature had started to reclaim the concrete and cinder block, with bits of green taking root in the building’s cracks. Proof of the resilience of life, even in the worst of circumstances.
Most of Beckett Murda’s life was proof of that.
The whistling early morning wind and the distant sounds of Baltimore car traffic and ships’ horns were the only noises that made their way into this corner of what was left of the fourth floor, and that was just fine by Beckett. Because the height and the quiet and the seclusion made it the perfect place from which to protect what he cared about most.
