Negligee Behavior

by Shelli Stevens

  Glancing at the bathroom door she wondered just how much time she had before Marco wanted to run and grab coffee. Hmm. She probably had a few minutes.

  She shook her head, staring at the curls between her legs. Lots of women got waxed down there. Maybe it was time for her to take the plunge.

  Oh! She knelt down and opened the cabinet under the sink, remembering the shopping trip with Val yesterday. They’d picked up some necessaries at the drugstore, including a bottle of hair removal cream and a razor.

  Might as well make use of this stuff. But which one?

  She considered the bottle and the razor. Sweat broke out on her back as she stared at the razor.

  “Absolutely freaking not.” There was no way that blade on a stick was going anywhere near her private area.

  Which meant…the cream. She grabbed the bottle and squeezed a good amount into her hand, then began to liberally apply it on every piece of hair below her navel and above her knees. Recapping the bottle she set it down and sighed. Okay now what. Just wait a bit?

  Footsteps sounded in the hall, and she tensed. He wasn’t ready yet, was he?

  “Give me a few more minutes, Brandy. Sorry, Sebastian called.”

  “Not a problem,” she yelled back and stared at the white lotion all over her body.

  Wouldn’t he be surprised when he found her all silky smooth?

  She closed her eyes, envisioning Marco’s strong hands. Long fingers, calloused hands. Those hands on her…in her.

  “Marco, I am going to be one hot woman for you,” she muttered quietly. “When this stuff comes off—oh.” She blinked, shifting her stance. “Wow, that kind of hurts.”

  She looked down at the lotion and how red her lower body had turned. The slow burn intensified.

  “Wait, no ‘kind of’ about it. That hurts.” She reached for a towel and started wiping it off, gasping. “Oh God! It burns! It burns!”

  She waddled over to turn on the shower, her eyes watering.

  Marco was suddenly at the bathroom door, knocking.

  “Brandy? What is it?” The doorknob turned, but he couldn’t open it since she’d locked the door.

  “Nothing—ow! Damn! Shit!”

  “Are you actually cursing? What’s—”

  “Ouuuuch!”

  Wood splintered as he broke the lock and the door swung open. Marco rushed in, his frantic gaze seeking her out.

  “What the…Why’d you break down the door?” Her own pain was momentarily forgotten.

  “Because you were screaming in pain and not really answering me.” He rubbed his shoulder and stared at her, looking slowly up and down her body. “What’s all over your…”

  God, this was embarrassing.

  “Never mind,” she muttered and moved under the spray of water. “I was trying to make myself look sexier for you.”

  “You do look sexy.” His eyes darkened.

  “Are you insane? This devil’s cream is burning the hell out of my crotch and legs right now.”

  “I see it different. I see a naked woman in my shower.” He stood up and pulled off his shirt, then began to take off his pants. “That’s pretty sexy in my book.”

  Most of the lotion had rinsed off her body, the sting had begun to fade to a dull throb.

  He stepped into the shower with her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “What are you doing?” Her pulse quickened.

  His lips nuzzled her neck. “I figure you might need help easing that burn.”

  “You’re crazy.” She shook her head, then sighed when he cupped her breast. “But I’m not going to complain.”

  His thumb stroked her nipple, sending a different heat through her body.

  “Good. I hate complainers,” he murmured and covered her mouth with his own.

  She kissed him back, her body responding to his expert touch and kiss. Good lord she wanted him again. Even after all the times they’d done it last night.

  Moisture pooled between her thighs as Marco pressed himself closer. His erection brushed against her belly and she reached down to touch him.

  He groaned and grabbed her hand. “Princess, if you touch me…”

  “Yes?” She looked at him through lowered lashes and smiled. “Because actually, I had it in mind to do a whole lot more than just touch.”

  He drew in a swift breath. “Is that so?”

  “Mmm hmm.” Her heart sped up. Was she really about to be this bold?

  Before she could second-guess her decision, she slipped to her knees in the stall. She took his erection in her hand and moved her hand up and down the length of him. Then she leaned forward and drew her tongue across the tip.

  “Brandy,” he choked. “You don’t have to do this. I came in here to help you.”

  “And you did.” She tilted her head to look up at him. “Now I’m thanking you.”

  “I see.” He gave a ragged gasp when she kissed him again. “Then by all means…keep on thanking.”

  “You’re not pulling a double again are you?” Sebastian asked, sliding his shades up onto his head as he walked into the bar.

  Marco looked up from his task of straightening up some of the tables.

  “I figure I’ll stay until six. I’m thinking of sending Brandy home, we’ve been slow all day.”

  “Monday’s usually are,” Sebastian agreed and pulled out a chair, spun it around and sat on it backwards. “We do great during the weekend, but I think we’re losing money during the week.”

  “Yeah.” Marco scratched the back of his neck and pursed his lips. “We need to find a way to bring in more on weekdays.”

  “You guys should do karaoke,” Brandy said coming up behind them. She pulled out another chair at the table and sat down.

  She stared at him from a moment, before her cheeks tinged pink. Her lashes fluttered down again. “Seriously, I think it would bring in a lot of business.”

  Marco’s gaze lingered on her. The memory of last night and then their shower this morning still fresh in his head. He curled his fingers into a fist as the itch to walk over and touch her—kiss her, took hold.

  Karaoke. She’d mentioned karaoke. Get it together.

  “Hmm. Karaoke’s been done more than a two-dollar—” He broke off and winced, shooting an apologetic look at Brandy. “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, watch it, buddy.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m starting to understand that it’s a favorite phrase of yours, but you’re still not completely on my good side yet.”

  “Yes, mate, you’d better watch it,” Sebastian piped in. “Though I’m with Marco. Karaoke’s overdone.”

  “Hmm. Well what else could you do?” She drummed her nails on the table and pursed her lips. “I’ve got it. What if we brought in live music once a week? Feature local bands. That way you could even charge a small cover fee if you wanted.”

  “Local bands?” Marco asked, a little dubious on the idea.

  “Sure! I have a couple of students, seriously talented, who went on after high school to form bands. They would love this kind of opportunity.”

  “Are they even old enough to be in a bar?” he drawled raising an eyebrow.

  “Well let’s see. Phil graduated in…” Her forehead wrinkled in the cutest I’m thinking way. “Yes. He should be about twenty-three now.”

  “It might be a good idea.” Sebastian gave a slow nod. “Or maybe we could even do some kind of band competition thing.”

  “Exactly!” She snapped her fingers. “Like we bring in a bunch of bands, let them all perform, and the audience decides.”

  “What is this? The bar band version of that television show?”

  Marco finally pulled out a chair and sat down. The bar had emptied out again, and there was no point in standing around.

  “It could be. People do love this stuff.” Sebastian nodded. “I say we do it. Call it something like Dante’s Band Battle.”

  “I’m in. I’ll make up some fliers and we can go distribute them. How about next We
dnesday?” Brandy stood up and stretched. The tiny T-shirt she wore over jeans rose a couple of inches, exposing her belly button.

  Marco dragged in a quick breath and looked away. How many times last night had he kissed that tiny crater before moving lower to…

  “Works for me. Marco?”

  He blinked and jerked his head up. “Huh?”

  “Are you cool with that?” Sebastian asked, amusement in his eyes.

  “Yeah. That sounds great.” He gave a brisk nod and thrust his fingers into his hair. “Thanks, Brandy.”

  Had it only been four days since she’d jumped onto his bike and into his life?

  He watched her scribble notes onto a pad she usually took orders on.

  It was hard to fathom the idea of not having her around. And she seemed to be enjoying herself—in no hurry to get back to her normal life. To Gordon.

  He bristled in the chair at the thought of the other man. She’d gone to bed with him last night. Was she feeling guilty about leaving the fiancé? Well, probably not after finding him getting ready to nail some bucktoothed prostitute.

  The door to the bar swung.

  “Well screw me backwards. Is it dead in here or what?” Val walked in swinging a skull and bones purse clutched in her hands.

  “It’s dead,” Sebastian agreed and leaned back in the chair so it lifted onto its hind legs.

  “Well, there’s no need for all of us to be here.” Val sat on the table and looked around. “You guys should clock off and Sebastian and I can handle it.”

  “You’re sure?” Brandy pushed back her chair and tucked the pad into the pocket of her short denim skirt. She glanced at Marco. “That would give us time to go print up those Dante’s Band Battle fliers now.”

  “Dante’s Band Battle?” Val quirked an eyebrow. “Did I miss something?”

  “I’ll explain it to her,” Sebastian said after a yawn. “You two go ahead and go.”

  “Thanks, guys.” Marco slapped Sebastian on the back and winked at Val. “See you both tomorrow.”

  Val’s grin widened. “Have fun, that’s an order.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Brandy’s gaze met Marco’s, warm and hopeful before she turned and walked to the back room. “Let me just grab my purse in the back and clock out.”

  She wanted him to follow her. He hadn’t missed the message in her eyes.

  He cleared his throat. “I need to grab something in the back, too.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “Sure you do. Like her ass.”

  Ignoring his friend, he followed after Brandy who’d disappeared into the office.

  Pushing open the swinging doors, he met up with her in the back where she was scooping up her purse.

  Brandy’s eyes flashed with pleasure when she saw him. “Hi,” she said hesitantly, her mouth curving into a smile.

  “Hey.” He shut the door, closed the distance between them and then dragged her against him.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, already tilting her head up to offer her mouth to him.

  With a groan he covered her lips with his. She parted for him and he slipped his tongue inside, surprised at his possessiveness and need for a quick taste of her.

  The kiss deepened. Only her sweet cry pulled him up from the tidal wave of desire that threatened a repeat performance from last night. And hell, it’d taken him a good half hour to get his desk back in order as it was.

  He lifted his head and dragged in an unsteady breath.

  “Thanks.” She nuzzled her forehead against his shoulder. “I needed that.”

  “Not as much as I did.” He breathed in the scent of apples and the scent of his shampoo in her hair. “Maybe we should skip the fliers and just go straight home.”

  “Oh yeah?” He could hear the smile in her voice.

  “Yeah.”

  “And what would we do there?” She traced a finger over the tattoo on his arm.

  “Everything and anything.”

  “I do love the suggestion, but we should save that for tonight. Besides,” she lifted her head and looked at him. “I want one of these.”

  “One of what?” He brushed a few curls away from her cheek.

  “One of these.” She traced a nail up and down his arm again.

  “A tattoo?”

  “Yeah.”

  He frowned and for the first time, he started to wonder how far she was going to take this whole makeover thing.

  She sighed. “Stop it.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Thinking that I’m crazy for wanting a tattoo.” She gave him a chiding look.

  “You’re just so…”

  “Straight? Narrow? Innocent?” She shrugged. “Well, I feel like living a little more on the edge. So sue me.”

  He flinched at her last words, but fortunately she missed it as she stepped away and slipped her purse back on her shoulder.

  Still the smiley faces tote bag, he realized with a small amount of surprise. The bag was something that hadn’t yet changed about her.

  “We can go back to your place and make up some fliers, and then distribute them at some businesses around town.”

  She wanted to get off work and do more work?

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” She gave a quick nod. “And I want to drop one at a tattoo shop—and then get that tattoo. Today.”

  The air whistled from between his teeth and several beats passed before he could answer her. The makeover he was beginning to understand, but a tattoo was permanent.

  “Brandy—”

  “Don’t talk me out of it, please.” Her words were soft, her lips pursed.

  Marco bit back a groan and thrust his fingers through his hair. Shit. Like he could anyway? Chances were if he refused to take her she’d just take a cab to the nearest shop and do it herself.

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “Completely.”

  Chapter Ten

  So this was what the inside of a tattoo shop looked like. The flyer dropped from Brandy’s limp fingers and fluttered to the floor.

  “Long time no see, man.”

  Brandy stepped out of the way just as the employee inside the shop reached past to slap Marco across the back.

  “No shit.” Marco returned the slap and then pumped the guy’s hand.

  “So what have you been up to?”

  Brandy stepped back, letting them have their guy talk, and eyed the tattoo designs on the wall. So many choices and possibilities. Of course, it probably would have been a good plan to have some kind of idea of just what she wanted to have permanently imprinted on her body.

  She jumped as Marco touched her shoulder. “So anyway, Jack, I’m bringing you a virgin today.”

  Heat flooded into her face and she swallowed hard, lifting her head to look at the other man.

  Tattoos and piercings decorated every inch of his body that was exposed.

  “Hell, you know I love me a virgin.” He grinned, his teeth shining white against his tan skin. “What’s your name, kitten?”

  She licked her lips. “Brandy.”

  “I’ve never met a Brandy I didn’t like.” He winked. “Nice to meet you, any friend of Marco’s is a friend of mine. So what are you thinking?”

  “Thinking?”

  “Where and what?”

  “Oh.” She scanned the wall of art. “Umm…”

  “Still deciding?”

  She gave a brisk nod and checked in with Marco. He was smirking, his thumbs hooked into the belt loops on his jeans.

  “Hey, Jack, we were also hoping you’d let us put up a flyer. We’re trying something new at the bar. A band competition.”

  “Sweet. Go for it. I know a lot of my clients would be all over that. A lot of musicians come in here.”

  Music. Brandy blinked. Jeez, why hadn’t she thought of it earlier?

  “Can you do a treble clef?”

  “What the hell is a treble clef?” Marco asked.

  “Sure can.” Jack nodded. “Where do you wa
nt it?”

  “What the hell is a treble clef?”

  “It’s a symbol in music,” Brandy explained and then turned her attention back to Jack. “How about on my upper back, shoulder area?” She reached over her shoulder and patted the spot. “Here.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He went behind the counter and grabbed some papers. “Fill these out and we’ll get started in a few minutes. I’m going to run into the back and get some things set up.”

  Brandy took the papers from him and went to sit down to fill them out.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Marco asked, kneeling down beside her.

  She nodded, her heart pounding with nervous excitement. “Yes. I am.”

  “Why?” He shook his head, his brows drawn together. “Look you already did the makeover, which was drastic enough. But a tattoo is permanent—you can’t change your mind about it. I just don’t want this to be about you having a rebellious streak.”

  “It won’t be. Whether you realize it or not, you and Val both have done me a favor.” She bit her lip and spun the pen between her fingers. “You’ve helped me realize I’ve been smothering a part of me that I didn’t want to admit existed.”

  “I understand.” Something flickered in his eyes that made her think there were still things she didn’t know about this man. Things she hoped he’d share some day. He gave a slow nod. “You sure you won’t regret this?”

  She reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. “I promise you this is something I won’t regret.”

  As she spoke the words she realized the double meaning to herself. No. She would never regret getting a tattoo, or taking Marco on as a lover.

  He seemed to almost read her thoughts, as he reached out and squeezed her hand. “Okay. Then I’m behind you one-hundred-percent.”

  His words sent a calm through her, even while his gentle touch sent shivers through her.

  “So you ready, kitten?”

  Both she and Marco swung their heads to look at Jack as he came back out front.

  Drawing in a deep breath, she gave a small nod. “Ready.”

  “I’ll come in with you.”

  Relief seeped through her as they walked back to the tattoo chair. As much as she wanted this tattoo, she didn’t really relish the idea of doing it alone.