“Oh, and for the record, Sassy’s been here all along. Your daughter has hidden in her own city for over ten fucking years and you never noticed until you thought it could help your masquerade as the poor victim. Well fuck you and fuck the morals you think you have. Stay away from her or I’ll hunt you down like the swine you are.”
“Do you get us?” Rafe asked and Donald nodded.
Ian pushed the man away then strode out of the house. “You drive to Sassy’s. I need to make a few calls.” He’d ensure Sassy’s future regardless of cost or consequence. He had the money, the privilege, and the connections. He’d just make a few calls to those he worked with and they’d have so many eyes on Donald, he wouldn’t be able to scratch his ass without an audience.
Sassy was more important than anything he could ever lose.
“You really think she’ll be there?” Rafe asked as they drove.
Ian ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a place to start. I’m not giving up until we find her.”
“No shit,” Rafe snorted. “I can’t believe you punched her dad. She’s gonna be pissed.”
“No, she’s going to be annoyed she missed it.”
“That’s what I meant.”
Ian smiled and put his hand on Rafe’s knee, needing the connection. God, Sassy had walked out on them. With everything that had happened, it still hadn’t clicked that she’d left them.
They parked at Sassy’s place and got out. They each had a key and rather than knock and wait for her to not answer, they walked in, unprepared for the sight that greeted them.
Sassy sat in the middle of her L-shaped couch, her face pale, tear stains on her cheeks, her eyes vacant.
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Ian whispered, then hurried to her.
She just looked at him and closed her eyes. “I ran away. How stupid am I?”
Rafe came to her other side and pulled them both close. “That’s not stupid.”
“It was a knee jerk reaction apparently, and then I spent the day crying and wanting my boyfriends. God, I’m a fucking teenager.”
Ian took Sassy’s chin between his fingers and forced her gaze to his. “Stop it. You’re not a teenager. You’re allowed to cry and fight and act however the hell you want when someone who you are supposed to trust, someone who is supposed to love you betrays you.”
She licked her lips and pulled back. “So it was my father then? I didn’t figure it out until after I left you.”
“Honey, you were thinking about the pain and others, not about who could have caused it,” Rafe said. “You aren’t required to be all things to all people all at once.”
“What did you do?” Sassy asked.
Ian blushed. “Uh…”
“Oh my God. You went to him? Without me?”
Rafe glared at Ian but Ian knew he’d have to roll with it. “Yes, this first time. Next time we go over there to confront him, you’ll lead the charge. I promise we didn’t go over there to act like Neanderthals.”
Rafe coughed.
Sassy looked between them and then at Ian’s swollen knuckles. “You hit him. Didn’t you? Oh, my God! I missed it!” She punched him in the shoulder, and Ian was relieved to see the color back in her face. “I can’t believe I missed Ian Steele punching my dad.”
“I’ll do it again just so you can watch.”
Sassy smiled like he hoped she would and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. He obliged, missing the feel of her beneath him. She pulled away and did the same to Rafe before hitting them in the arms again.
“Don’t handle my problems.”
“Hey, they were our problems, too,” Rafe said.
“I told your dad to fix it in the media or I’d make life tough for him. You know I can do that.”
Her eyes widened. “Ian! But what about your company? What about Rafe’s family? What about Midnight? It’s not all about that one article. We could hurt a lot of people.”
Ian narrowed his eyes. “How? How could we do that? The only people we care about love us and support our relationship. Nothing else matters.”
“But Ian—”
“Sassy, it will be okay,” Rafe interrupted. “My family can handle it. They already knew things might get iffy for a bit at the shop if people start to care, but they don’t. Not really. And if things change? Then I can take a back seat and let my brother and father take care of things. My family isn’t going to leave me, and our shop won’t go under because of who I love.”
“And my company and its people are financially secure. That won’t be an issue. It’s in right now to be different in certain circles, and I can use that if I need to. Those people I trust aren’t going to leave me because of who I love. As for my parents? They don’t like me as it is, Sass. Nothing I do will change that and I don’t really care to. You’re my family now. You and Rafe.”
Her eyes filled and she blinked quickly. “I’m not going to cry again. I cried enough for the day.”
Ian cupped her face. “Okay then. Now about that last part. About Midnight? You made that family at the shop and those people fucking love you. They stand strong no matter what happens around them. There’s even a fucking threesome in the group as it is. I think we’ll be fine.”
Sassy blushed. “Okay, so I was reaching with that one.”
“Stop fighting us, Sassy,” Rafe whispered. “It’s okay to be happy.”
“It’s okay to take a chance,” Ian added. “Take a chance on us, Sass. Take a chance on our future.”
She bit her lip and blinked up at him. “I promise not to run away again. I’m in. I’m sorry I ran.”
Ian shook his head. “I’m going to spank that pretty ass pink for scaring me like that, but I believe you, baby. You’re allowed to get fucking pissed at what you read, but we’ll handle it together.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Rafe whispered.
Sassy pulled Ian down for a kiss, her tongue brushing his, and he moaned. “Love me,” she whispered against his lips.
“Always,” he answered.
“Take me to the bedroom,” Sassy demanded and Ian nipped at her lip.
“I thought I was the alpha one.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you two don’t know by now that I call the shots, there’s really no hope for you.”
Rafe stood, bringing Sassy to her feet. “We’ll see about that.” He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom as she squeaked.
Ian took a deep breath and smiled.
Finally.
She was theirs.
He stripped off his shirt and pants as he made his way into the bedroom, not at all surprised that Sassy was already naked and Rafe was between her legs, licking that sweet pussy of hers.
Her hands were tangled in Rafe’s hair and she grinned at him. “Told you,” she whispered.
“Really? You’re in control?” Rafe asked, then pumped three fingers into her heat and she bucked against him. “Pass me the lube, Ian.”
Ian chuckled and got the bottle and a few condoms from the nightstand. He squeezed a few drops on Rafe’s hand and cupped his dick as he watched Rafe fuck her ass with his finger, nice and slow.
“See? I’m totally in charge,” Rafe mumbled against her thigh.
“You win!” Sassy gasped.
“No, I win,” Ian murmured as he stood behind Rafe and dipped his own lubed finger between his cheeks.
“Holy shit, that’s cold,” Rafe shouted.
“I’ll warm you up,” Ian promised.
He rimmed Rafe’s hole with his finger then slowly pressed against it, the feel of the tight ring of muscles intoxicating. He couldn’t wait to feel it around his dick.
“That feels so good,” Rafe moaned.
“I know exactly what you mean,” Sassy panted beneath Rafe.
Ian worked Rafe until he knew he was ready. He slowly rubbed small circles over Rafe’s prostate and his lover shuddered.
“Don’t do that yet. Fuck. I’m going to come and I’m not
even in Sassy yet.”
“Then saddle up,” Ian teased.
“Did you just compare me to a—oh my fucking God that feels good!” Sassy screamed as Rafe slid into her pussy.
Ian gripped Rafe’s hips to steady him. “Let me know if I need to go slower,” he said, then pressed the crown of his condom covered cock at Rafe’s entrance. He pushed, the pressure giving way as he slid past that tight ring.
Both men—and Sassy—moaned as Ian moved. Inch by inch, he sank into Rafe’s ass, the tight feeling so fucking hot he knew he’d have to be careful or he’d come right then. Finally, at fucking last, he was balls-deep and ready to move.
“Ready?” Ian gritted out.
“Ready!” Sassy and Rafe yelled together.
Ian pulled out, the motion forcing Rafe to move back as well, his own cock deep in Sassy. Ian set the pace, each thrust thereby thrusting inside of Sassy. He pushed hard, his balls tightening as he forced himself not to come.
Sassy writhed under them, her fingers digging into Ian’s arms. He loved that she was touching him as well, connecting them in body, soul, and future.
“I’m going to come,” Sassy breathed, and then her body flushed, her nipples darkening as Rafe leaned back to rest his head on Ian’s shoulder.
Rafe pounded into her and Ian pushed the man down on top of her so he could do the same. Rafe shouted, his ass tightening around Ian’s cock as he came and Ian followed soon after, his body going lax as he filled his partner’s ass inside the condom.
Ian pulled out then laid on the bed beside Sassy with Rafe lying on her other side.
They rested there for a few moments before each man got up, took care of their condoms, then came with warm, wet towels. They took turns cleaning Sassy and each other up before throwing the towels near the hamper and lying back down on either side of their woman.
“I’ve missed that,” Ian panted. “God, I’ve missed that.”
Sassy laughed between them and patted both of their chests. “Next time I get to be the creamy center of our cookie. Then Ian can be. We’ll switch it up.”
Ian closed his eyes. “I think I need a nap first.”
Rafe snorted. “You’re getting old, man.”
Sassy reached down and cupped him, his dick hardening. “Naw, you’re both getting hard at just one touch. But don’t worry, I’ll let you rest. We’re not going anywhere.”
Ian turned on his side so he could look down at them both. “Never, Sassy. I’m not leaving you. I love you, both.”
Rafe turned as well. “I love you both, too.”
Tears filled her eyes and she smiled. “Happy tears. I promise. I love you both so fucking much. So. Fucking. Much.”
Ian let out a breath and took her mouth.
That’s what he’d waited to hear and knew that no matter what had happened, what would happen, as long as they had those words, they’d be fine.
They’d be better than fine.
They were together again.
Finally.
Epilogue
“Yes, Ian, darling, getting a tattoo hurts. Suck it up,” Sassy teased. She laid on her stomach as Shep inked her ass with the same tattoo Caliph was putting on Rafe, and Austin—their guest artist for the time being—drew on Ian.
While Rafe was smiling as Caliph inked their tattoo on his lower hip, Ian kept closing his eyes and gritting his teeth.
“What’s the matter, dude? Don’t like someone touching your ass?” Caliph snorted.
“I have a preference for who touches my ass, thank you very much,” Ian gritted out.
Austin threw his head back and laughed. “I’m touched that you’re letting me ink you then. I know your ass belongs to Rafe and Sassy. I promise to leave your dignity intact.”
“Fuck you,” Ian mumbled.
“I think we just said I wasn’t going to that, bro’, but thanks anyway. And you have this whole piece on your back. You’d have thought you’d already be used to ink.”
Ian let out a breath. “I’m relaxed. I promise. I just don’t like seeing Sassy wince.”
Sassy grinned as the men let out a collective “Awww”. “That’s sweet baby. Yeah, it hurts, but its okay. Shep’s hands are magic.”
“They better not be too good with the magic,” Rafe pointed out.
“Fuck you, Chavez,” Shep said and flipped him off. “Don’t let Shea hear you say that or she’ll kick you in the nuts.”
“And since I like his nuts, I’ll be sure to keep him from acting like an idiot,” Sassy put in. “How’s it looking?”
Shep grunted. She knew he didn’t like talking about how his work looked until it was done. He was temperamental that way. Between him, her men, and Austin, and Caliph, they’d come up with a design that would work for the three of them.
They’d finally found something small, but perfect. It was a ring of fire interlocking with a ring of ice encircling a red lily in the center. It was mostly black with subtle color shading so the red really stood out, and Sassy freaking loved it.
It was perfect for them.
They wanted the ink because after all, it’s what Rafe and Ian had come in for in the first place. Now she was part of it. And because they weren’t planning on a wedding until they could work out the details of their own lives and the legalities of it, the ink would represent their promises.
Their devotion.
She turned to look at her men as they got their ink and smiled.
Her second life began at Midnight Ink and she’d never forget that.
Her second chance at a true happily ever after, walked through Midnight’s doors ten years later. They were three in one, united and loved.
They were reunited and yet still themselves.
There really wasn’t anything else in the world she could have wanted.
Midnight Ink had given her love, life, and happiness.
Rafe and Ian were her center.
This was her future. After all,
The Sassy always knows best.
The End
Want more Ink? The first full length novel of the Montgomery Ink series, Delicate Ink, is out now. Follow Austin back to Denver and meet the rest of the Montgomery Clan.
Delicate Ink
A Montgomery Ink Novel
By
Carrie Ann Ryan
Delicate Ink
On the wrong side of thirty, Austin Montgomery is ready to settle down. Unfortunately, his inked sleeves and scruffy beard isn’t the suave business appearance some women crave. Only finding a woman who can deal with his job, as a tattoo artist and owner of Montgomery Ink, his seven meddling siblings, and his own gruff attitude won’t be easy.
Finding a man is the last thing on Sierra Elder’s mind. A recent transplant to Denver, her focus is on opening her own boutique. Wanting to cover up scars that run deeper than her flesh, she finds in Austin a man that truly gets to her—in more ways than one.
Although wary, they embark on a slow, tempestuous burn of a relationship. When blasts from both their pasts intrude on their present, however, it will take more than a promise of what could be to keep them together.
Chapter One
“If you don’t turn that fucking music down, I’m going to ram this tattoo gun up a place no one on this earth should ever see.”
Austin Montgomery lifted the needle from his client’s arm so he could hold back a rough chuckle. He let his foot slide off the pedal so he could keep his composure. Dear Lord, his sister Maya clearly needed more coffee in her life.
Or for someone to turn down the fucking music in the shop.
“You’re not even working, Maya. Let me have my tunes,” Sloane, another artist, mumbled under his breath. Yeah, he didn’t yell it. Didn’t need to. No one wanted to yell at Austin’s sister. The man might be as big as a house and made of pure muscle, but no one messed with Maya.
Not if they wanted to live.
“I’m sketching, you dumbass,” Maya sniped, even though the smile in her eyes belied her wrath. Hi
s sister loved Sloane like a brother. Not that she didn’t have enough brothers and sisters to begin with, but the Montgomerys always had their arms open for strays and spares.
Austin rolled his eyes at the pair’s antics and stood up from his stool, his body aching from being bent over for too long. He refrained from saying that aloud as Maya and Sloane would have a joke for that. He usually preferred to have the other person in bed—or in the kitchen, office, doorway, etc—bent over, but that wasn’t where he would allow his mind to go. As it was, he was too damn old to be sitting in that position for too long, but he wanted to get this sleeve done for his customer.
“Hold on a sec, Rick,” he said to the man in the chair. “Want juice or anything? I’m going to stretch my legs and make sure Maya doesn’t kill Sloane.” He winked as he said it, just in case his client didn’t get the joke.
People could be so touchy when siblings threatened each other with bodily harm even while they smiled as they said it.
“Juice sounds good,” Rick slurred, a sappy smile on his face. “Don’t let Maya kill you.”
Rick blinked his eyes open, the adrenaline running through his system giving him the high that a few patrons got once they were in the chair for a couple hours. To Austin, there was nothing better than having Maya ink his skin—or doing it himself—and letting the needle do its work. He wasn’t a pain junkie, far from it if he was honest with himself, but he liked the adrenaline that led the way into fucking fantastic art. While some people thought bodies were sacred and tattoos only marred them, he knew it differently. Art on canvas, any canvas, could have the potential to be art worth bleeding for. As such, he was particular as to who laid a needle on his skin. He only let Maya ink him when he couldn’t do it himself. Maya was the same way. Whatever she couldn’t do herself, he did.
They were brother and sister, friends, and co-owners of Montgomery Ink.
He and Maya had opened the shop a decade ago when she’d turned twenty. He probably could have opened it a few years earlier since he was eight years older than Maya, but he’d wanted to wait until she was ready. They were joint owners. It had never been his shop while she worked with him. They both had equal say, although with the way Maya spoke, sometimes her voice seemed louder. His deeper one carried just as much weight, even if he didn’t yell as much.
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