Bad Rep (Southern Ink Book 1)

by S. N. Garza

  Just as I was about to tap on her window, I heard her giggle. Who the hell was making her laugh? Was I being creepy eavesdropping? Maybe. When I heard her giggle again and then utter a name—a man’s name—that made me see red. There was no way I wanted another man in her head when she was here. That was for damn sure.

  Chapter 17

  Penelope

  I was texting Alan when there was a tap on my window. And it wasn’t a soft tap either. It sounded impatient.

  Deke was here. I knew Trixie wouldn’t keep her dang mouth shut once she saw me. Why did he even bother? Maybe if I pretended I was asleep, he wouldn’t bother.

  Nope.

  I was not that lucky. Another tap, firmer this time. I let out a growl, put my phone down as an incoming text buzzed. Alan was a distant memory now that he was here.

  I pushed back the curtain and gripped the blinds, pulling them hard upward.

  “May I help you? I was trying to get some sleep.”

  The hot, short laugh he made was harsh as his steel grey eyes burned through me.

  “Open up, Penelope. I know you aren’t asleep yet. We used to be best friends. Let me in. Please.”

  It was that please that made me falter. I rolled my eyes and tried unlocking the window. It’s been locked tight for almost two years and it was rusted from unuse.

  “Sorry. It’s too hard to open.”

  His eyes open wide with indignation and then said, “Front door.”

  I threw up my hands and let the blinds fall back down. I went to the front door and let him in. I didn’t care if anyone knew he was here. He grabbed the door, shut it and locked it. The click of the lock felt like an omen.

  Thank God I slipped on a sweater before coming out to the living room. The way he was looking me over made my nipples bead, and my core tighten with warm arousal.

  I wrapped my arms over my chest so he wouldn’t notice his effect on me. He’s seen me in less clothing so the sports bra and spandex shorts didn’t matter to me. I wanted to be angry with him. I was angry with him.

  “What are you doing here, Deke?”

  “I think you know.”

  “Actually, no I don’t.” I looked up at him with my own anger flashing when his intake of breath caught me by surprise. His hand reached out, grabbed my chin and tilted the side my father smacked to the dim light.

  “Who fucking touched you? I swear to God they’re dead.”

  I yanked my head away and rolled my eyes. Turning, I walked into the kitchen to grab a bottled water.

  I almost made it when Deke grabbed a chunk of my sweater, hauling me back into his big, broad warmth.

  His hand reached around me, cupping my unmarred cheek, tilting it upward so he could look at the fading redness of the hit.

  “Penelope? Who laid a hand on you, babygirl?”

  I didn’t know how to handle him calling me that. His other hand wove around my stomach until it sneakily slipped between my sweater and his warm, calloused hand spread out on the skin of my stomach.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m okay.”

  My heart was racing wildly in my chest as he pulled me back into him.

  “Now, Penelope.”

  “My dad.”

  Deke’s hands braced my waist and turned me until I was facing him. I knew I should be backing away but his hands held me firmly, bringing me in close. This way I had to look up at him. I hated that he was so dang tall sometimes.

  “He laid a hand to you? Why? It doesn’t matter why. He’s—

  I covered his mouth with my finger, keeping him from saying anything else. “I’m okay. It was just once. We just argued is all.”

  “Penelope, that’s all it takes. One time.” His thumb and finger crooked my chin up and to the side, where he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my sore cheek. His nose nuzzled into mine as he whispered, “I could kill him for this alone. No one ever raises their hand to you. No one.”

  I should push him away. He hurt me more than my father ever could with his callous words that day. Why the heck am I letting him touch me in the first place? Why did it have to feel so good and so familiar? So right?

  “I’m okay. I promise.”

  His hands caressed up and down my waist, and I couldn’t help but place my hands on his arms. His ink was colorful and vibrant on one side while he still had thorns as his other sleeve.

  One of his hands traveled up over my arm until it reached the nape of my neck, tickling the short hair I had there.

  “Why did you cut your hair?”

  I pushed backward, trying to put space between us, but his arms wouldn’t let me. He had me trapped against the wall of the kitchen so I couldn’t slink away like I wanted to do. Being so close to him, being able to smell the subtle hint of cologne on him, it was like a night rainfall. Brisk, refreshing and masculine. I should push him away, but oh, my God. Instead, I wanted to pull him closer.

  “I did it while I was in Houston with my brother. Fresh start and all that.” I couldn’t quite meet his eyes when I said that last part.

  “Fresh start? And how is Arizona treating you? You look really thin.”

  “I’m tone, Deke. Not thin. When I got into Kappa Alpha Theta, there was accommodations there that would allow me to exercise and after toning up a bit I started jogging. When I got used to it and stopped huffing and puffing, I got up to three miles. I switch from running one mile one day to three miles the next. And no I’m not in any sports. You know I’m not the best coordinated. But jogging I could do. Simple enough.”

  His hand took hold of the back of my neck, moving it until I was looking right at him.

  “And what do you wear when you jog?” his voice was tight and the muscle in his jaw ticked with lividity.

  “Clothes, Deke.”

  “Half-naked so men could lust after you?” The rigid voice barely passed between clenched teeth as he kept me from moving.

  “No. I wear what I’m comfortable in. I don’t pay attention to people while I’m jogging. I have my iPod Touch set to my jogging music. I focus on the jog, not anything else. And I can wear whatever the hell I like.”

  His swift intake of breath, his nose flaring, and his eyes burning gunmetal grey was all I needed to know how he felt about me talking back to him.

  “When guys like Castor, you remember Cas, right? Well, he saw you jogging in town and couldn’t wait to see you again so he could find a way into your panties. So the short little shorts, crop tops, whatever you’re wearing, is not jogging material.”

  “It is in Arizona. And why didn’t he do anything before?”

  His hot molten stare burned bright before closing, as if he needed to calm himself before speaking. His warm breath skirted over my cheeks.

  “You want him to do something?”

  “No.”

  “Then why did you say that?”

  “Obviously it riled you up. My night made.”

  “That hot, little mouth of yours is going to get you in serious trouble, Penelope. You want me jealous?”

  “Jealous? You? Ha. Gimme a break. After what you said to me—

  “Fuck what I said.”

  Then all I felt was his lips crashing on mine. His tongue licking over the seam before his teeth nipped and sucked at my lip. Oh, good God. His mouth over mine felt good. Too good. But that didn’t matter because my hands had wills of their own as they climbed up his arms and in need of something to hold, had grabbed onto his ears as I kissed him back. I shouldn’t be doing this, kissing him, pulling him closer. But his mouth—Jesus. His. Mouth. Then it was traveling from my lips, down my jawline to the groove of my neck before he sucked a patch of skin between his lips.

  I’m going to regret doing this. Especially after that phone call. Oh, God. It all came crashing down then. He slept with Vera. Idiot.

  “Deke. Stop. You slept with Vera right after me, remember?”

  The hands that had been roaming over my waist to my behind squeezed before gently gliding back upward, resting
on my hips. His breath was hot against my neck.

  A small growl rumbled in the back of his throat as he said, “She threw herself at me. All summer long. I felt sorry for her.”

  “Like you felt sorry for me?”

  His head jumped back and those grey eyes gentled. “I lied about that. I didn’t feel sorry for you. I wanted you. Check the boner I’m sporting now, that hasn’t changed.”

  “I don’t know, Deke. You really hurt me.”

  “I know I did.” That was it. No apology. Nothing. “Let me make it up to you.”

  “I’m only here for the rest of the week, Deke. It’s pointless and after the way you treated me, I don’t think I can trust you.”

  His hands let me go, and I immediately felt the loss shoot straight to my heart. But then his hands took the labels of my sweater until they slid up high enough, his gunmetal eyes steady on mine. He pulled the sweater over my shoulders, until the material was loose enough it fell the rest of the way to the floor, leaving me in my sports bra and boy short panties.

  Deke’s hands traveled back up my arms, goose bumps prickled my skin, making my nipples tighten and ache as they rubbed against the material of the bra. And I was already wet down there from all the kisses he had lavished on me. I think he knew the effect he was having on me just by the way he was looking over my body. He’s never seen me tone and tight like this. I never thought I was fat before, but the fire building in his eyes was enough to make my legs clench tight together.

  Naturally, he saw my reaction and his head lifted to mine, his nostrils flaring. One hand slipped to the wall behind me and the other had trailed down the valley of my breasts, dipping into my navel before tickling the band of my underwear.

  “You wet down here, Penelope?”

  “No.”

  He leaned in, his nose tickling my jaw as he whispered, “Liar.” Deke’s tongue licked over the cartridge of my ear before tugging gently on the lobe.

  “Deke. I think—

  “That’s where you’re going wrong. You’re still thinking.” Then his lips met mine in a tangle of nips, sips and tugs before I gave in.

  I pulled my lips back and said, “Just this night.”

  “I’ll take whatever you want to give me. Just let me have another piece of you.”

  His lips peppered my skin with a bevy of kisses, while his hands caressed up and down over my hips to the bottom swells of my breasts. They felt too contained and tight.

  He was making me forget everything I should be hating about him right now. My mind fogged over with heated passion as he peeled the straps of the bra down my shoulders and his lips followed the retreat of material until my breasts were free from the offending material. When his lips pulled at one tight nipple and latched on, I couldn’t help the whimper of need spilling from my lips.

  This felt amazing. My body was tingling with raucous sensations sparking my nerve endings. His free hand cupped the other one, his thumb gliding back and forth over the hard nipple, gently squeezing and lifting, circling the weight in his hands. It fit perfectly in his large palm. His teeth grabbed a hold of my nipple, sucking hard while his thumb and pointer finger tugged the other at the same time. He felt more ravenous this time than when we first had sex back then.

  And I loved it. There was a rough edge to this pleasure that shot straight to my vagina. It drove me insane. He twirled my nipple with his palm, circling over it before tugging and releasing the bud. And when he switched breasts? My fingers dug into his shoulders, and I felt his throaty moan vibrate against the tight flesh.

  My head braced itself against the wall and my body arched as I felt something ricochet inside me, making me cry out.

  His mouth released me and cursed low as he knelt down before me, pulling my panties over my hips and down my legs.

  “You just came, didn’t you? Sweet fuck, I need to taste you.”

  There was no other thought then the pleasure he was giving me. The only thing I managed to do was grab my sports bra and yank it over my head, letting it fall as my panties joined them.

  “Hold on, baby.”

  He lifted my leg and placed it over his shoulder, then spread me open for him. His tongue licked up my release as it coated my thighs. He pressed his face closer into the vee of my legs and he swirled his tongue over my vagina and then upward, reaching my clitoris and flickering over it with swift, strong strokes.

  “DEKE!” My hands ran up his neck and into the hair that he kept longer on the top and when he sucked hard I pulled at the strands and cried out his name again. I felt something inside my stomach turn and twist as something built again. One hand grabbed the cheek of my behind that had its leg over his shoulder and he kneaded the flesh, pulled it—me—closer to his mouth as he buried his face deeper.

  Then he brought his fingers to my opening, circling over the outer flesh with two fingers. Soft, tantalizing circles until I felt its penetration push forward. He didn’t push all the way inside me because just those one or two inches of him pumping his fingers into me was enough to make me come again. Deke lapped and drank at my release like he couldn’t get enough. When it began to feel too sensitive I let go of his hair and nudged him a bit.

  “I can’t…no more, Deke.”

  He shot up like a rocket and captured my lips and I tasted my flavor on his lips as he mated his tongue with mine. I heard a belt buckle release, the teeth of his jean zipper fall away as he freed himself. He disconnected our lips and ripped off his shirt, and I didn’t even have time to enjoy the view before our lips met once again.

  His hands roamed freely over my body until they were low enough to catch the back of my thighs. He lifted me clear off the ground, my legs wrapping around his waist on instinct.

  “Birth control?”

  “Yes.” I muffled against his lips and then I felt him at my opening and then he plunged deep inside, making me cry out in pain.

  “Penelope?”

  My eyes were closed tight. And I knew my eyes were burning with tears. I had not realized I would feel pain. I mean, I didn’t have my virginity anymore. I shouldn’t feel pain, right? I was wet and aroused. Why was their pain?

  “Dammit, babygirl. Show me those pretty eyes.”

  I opened them and a tear slid down my cheek. “Why did that hurt?”

  He sighed and his jaw hardened. “When was the last time you had sex?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Oh, God. Me. I’m the last time, aren’t I?”

  “Well, I haven’t had much opportunity, Deke!”

  “Thank fuck for small miracles. I’m sorry. I’ll go slow. I need to take you to bed where I can be gentle with you.”

  “I’m fine. Just move…slowly.”

  “The bed would be better.”

  “Deke. Either here or get the hell off me and get out.”

  He snarled and captured my lips with a punishing kiss as he slowly pulled himself almost out of me and only pushed a little back in.

  “Get used to me first.”

  After a few slow, shallow thrusts, he gave me just a bit more, letting me feel him fill me up slowly. When I felt our bodies connect, there wasn’t any more pain. I felt even more aroused.

  “Easy, Penelope. Take me deep and slow. Feel every inch of me taking you. Know only I can make you feel so good. So full that there is no end or beginning. Fuck, babygirl. You feel so perfect around my cock. I love feeling this sweet, little pussy clench and suck me in deep. Wanting nothing more than to take everything I got.”

  His hands fell to my hips, pulling me down as he pushed up.

  “Deke!”

  “That’s it, tell me who’s taking this body? Whose giving you pleasure?

  “You.”

  “That’s right, Penelope. Don’t forget that. Ever. Only I’ve had you.” His strokes became harder. His point made with each thrust.

  “Deke.”

  That was the only coherent thought I had right now. His name was a plea on my lips. I want
ed more. I needed more.

  The sensations were threading their way over every part of me. His body leaned in, mine plastered against the kitchen wall and he drove into me deeper and harder. The quick, powerful strokes made my stomach flutter, my muscles pulling him deeper and tightening around his shaft as he withdrew, then slammed back home. My hands were still on his ears, pulling him closer. I wanted to feel his body on mine. The sound of our flesh meeting was erotic as he brought me higher into pleasure.

  “Deke, I—I need to—

  “I know what you need, babygirl. Come for me, Penelope.” His hot whispered breath skirted over my ear and then he somehow held onto me as he snuck one hand between my legs, his thumb rubbing tantalizing circles over my clitoris.

  His lips kissed over my fevered flesh, kissing a line down my neck and to the top swells of my breasts. When his mouth latched on to my nipple and tugged on it was like a trigger being pulled.

  I groaned loud as I felt my orgasm rush over me. I knew his ears were probably in pain, but I pulled him even closer, his lips popping off as I squeezed him tight against me. Deke groaned between my breasts and then my back felt cool air as he walked us to the bedroom, my back met my cool comforter, arching at the cool material.

  Deke withdrew and I automatically felt bereft of his body as he stood up to toe off his boots, and let his jeans and underwear fall to his ankles. Just as I was lifting myself to view the man before me, his hands took a firm hold of my waist and flipped me until I laid on my stomach. He climbed on the bed behind me, his hands in the crease of my hips, lifting my behind in the air. One hand stroked up my spine and I looked back to see the other had a firm grip of the hard length of his erection. He brought it over the hot, sensitive skin of my vagina. The tip traced circles around my wet opening, coating the tip with my release. With each teasing stroke, I felt my body building again.

  “Fuck, I could come just like this. Your kitty is so fucking wet. Pretty pink folds glistening with your juices.”

  He stroked faster, grinding his hard tip against my clit, making me jerk with sensitivity. He stayed tucked right there in the vee of my legs, and just rubbed his length up and down the slick wet walls of my lips, teasing me, making my body writhe. Not entering me as his body came over mine. I couldn’t help but writhe wildly in need.