Inked: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

by Tracy Lorraine

  He holds his hand out, and although I don’t want his help after the way he just teased me, I’m powerless but to slide mine into his larger one just to feel him once again.

  Something happens when we touch, something I can’t describe, but I know it’s powerful enough to have me addicted.

  I allow him to pull me from the car and slam the door behind me before he pushes me up against it. Movement from my left catches my eye, but I ignore our one-woman audience. I’m too consumed by the man who’s pressed up against my body and stealing all my air.

  “I’m so glad you found me today,” he admits, his voice deep and gravelly as his dark blue eyes stare down into mine.

  “It seems the Universe—or Bailey—wants us to be together.” Something flickers in his eyes at my words, but he doesn’t give me a chance to ask.

  “It seems that way. And who would we be to deny the Universe what it wants?”

  His hand slips up the length of my neck before his fingers tangle in my hair. He grips and tips my head back slightly so I’m at the perfect position for him.

  “Friday night can’t come soon enough,” he mutters before his lips crash down on mine.

  My lips part the second his tongue seeks entry, and I can’t help a groan rumbling up my throat when they connect.

  I sag back against the car, relying on his body to hold me up, and he renders me useless with his intoxicating kiss.

  My head spins as he consumes me. His fingers grip tighter on my hair, his hard length pressing against my stomach and driving me crazy with need.

  His hand slips down from my waist and hooks my leg up around his hip. It causes him to press exactly where I need him.

  Knowing how easily he could make me fall completely under his spell is like a bucket of cold water. I pull my leg from his grasp and press my palms against his solid chest.

  After a few more seconds, he pulls back and looks down at me. His pupils are shot, the blue almost swallowed by the black of his desire.

  “Harlow?” His chest heaves as he tries to catch his breath.

  “Friday night?”

  “Y-yeah. I might need to move some clients around. Can I… call you?”

  I nod, heat creeping up my neck. I was just basically dry humping him against my car for all my neighbors to see. Why is it that the suggestion of him calling me turns me into an excited teenage girl with her first crush?

  “You can.”

  A car pulls up somewhere behind us, and, after a quick glance at it, Corey’s focus is back on me.

  “That’s my Uber.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you for today, Vixen. It was… unexpected from beginning to end.”

  A chuckle falls from my lips as he steps back and turns toward his awaiting car.

  “Hey, Brit boy,” I call.

  He looks back at me over his shoulder, a panty-melting smile on his face. A bolt of lust hits me as his eyes drop to my body.

  “Sneaking out this morning might have been the best thing I’ve done in my life.”

  His smile lights up his entire face. He knows as well as I do that if I were still in that bed when he woke this morning, none of this would have happened.

  “Until Friday.”

  I nod and smile at him, feeling dizzy with excitement. It’s a feeling that’s eluded me for a very long time.

  After watching his car speed off, I push through the front door before falling back against it and giving my heart a second to slow down.

  “You’re welcome,” comes from the living room where I knew she was watching. I can’t help but laugh. “Did you have a good afternoon?” she asks, appearing in the doorway.

  “What do you think?”

  “Well, from the fact that I just watched your little porno in the driveway, I’d say yes. But I never know with you.”

  I swat her shoulder as I walk past her and directly to the kitchen for a drink. I know I’m about to get a Bailey grilling, so I need a strong one.

  I’m pouring the rum into my glass when I sense her behind me.

  “I can’t believe you sent me there, knowing he’d be there.”

  “I didn’t know for sure. I was just hoping.”

  “You’re an interfering whore, you know that?”

  She barks a laugh. “Guilty as charged. But wasn’t it worth it?”

  My cheeks heat, knowing what she just witnessed.

  “It was okay, I guess.”

  “Okay?” she echoes incredulously. “He had you pinned to the car. I thought I was going to combust just watching you. How you allowed him to walk away, God only knows.”

  “We’ve had a really great day. After he inked me, he took me for dinner at a surf shack by the ocean.”

  “Whoa, hold up a minute. You let him do it? Let me see. Let me see.”

  Putting my drink down, I lift my dress to show her my back.

  “Ouch, that looks sore.”

  It’s only as she says it that I feel it. “I had a good distraction.”

  “True that. It’s stunning.”

  “He’s really talented.”

  “Oh yeah? Tell me more about those talented fingers.”

  “Nothing happened beyond what you just saw.”

  “But you’ve been with him for hours—practically naked, I’m assuming, to get that done. How—”

  “Because it was the right thing to do. This might sound crazy to you, but we just spent time together, actually got to know each other.”

  “You make me sound like a sex maniac.”

  I raise a brow at her.

  “What? I date.”

  “When?”

  “Err… I had one about four months ago.”

  “And you came home complaining that he was too boring because he didn’t try to touch you up.”

  “Well, he didn’t. I like to know they’re interested in what I’ve got to offer.”

  “Whatever,” I mutter, pushing past her in favor of the couch.

  “So are you seeing him again?”

  “Friday night.”

  She squeals in excitement as she curls herself onto the other couch where she must have been before we interrupted her evening, if her half-empty bottle of wine is anything to go by.

  “Book Friday off. I’m not working, we’ll spend the day getting you date-ready.”

  “I can’t, I’ve got too much to do.”

  “Too much to get a fresh wax for your Brit?”

  I throw a cushion at her and turn the TV up in hope of drowning her out.

  “Don’t do this to me,” she warns. “I tell you all about the guys I spend time with.” I groan. Don’t I know it.

  “I don’t ask for most of the shit you share, B.”

  “Maybe not, but I was hoping to get the same in return when you eventually found a guy.”

  “I wouldn’t describe one date as ‘finding a guy.’”

  She shrugs. “Not important. Is he as perfect and dreamy as he looks?”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  “A good guy? My dad is a good guy. Teddy,” she says with a sigh, naming our boss, “is a good guy. You gotta give me more than that. Does he give you tingles when he says your name in that accent?”

  “Tingles, yes,” I admit, much to her delight. “And I don’t know him well enough to give you much else.”

  “You’ve seen him naked. What more do you need to know?”

  “You’re a fucking nightmare.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Corey

  “What the fuck is up with you?” Oz asks after seeing his afternoon client out of the studio.

  I wasn’t aware that how I was feeling was written all over my face.

  “I’ve got a date tomorrow night,” I admit.

  “Yes, man. Get in there. Wait… why is that making you look like someone just drowned your puppy?”

  “I’ve never been on one before, let alone planned one.”

  “Huh.” He drops down on the sofa in front of me and puts his feet
up on the coffee table. “So I’m assuming you want to end the night fucking this girl?”

  I open my mouth to respond. Usually, I wouldn’t hesitate in giving anyone the details of my plans for ending the night, but with Harlow in mind, it seems wrong.

  “I wouldn’t be against it.”

  “Oh fuck, man,” he says excitedly.

  “W-what?”

  “She’s got you fucking whipped. Is this the girl Sledge was telling me about?”

  Fucking hell, I forgot those two spend their time gossiping like they’re at a fucking WI meeting.

  “Yes,” I admit reluctantly.

  “So is she your forever girl, or what?”

  I sit forward, my eyes wide. “Definitely or what. There is no forever girl for me. I don’t sign on to that shit.”

  “That’s what we all say until she sucks you in and never lets go.”

  I think about just how tight she sucked me in on Saturday night, and my jeans suddenly feel too small. She definitely made her mark on me, that’s for sure.

  “Anyway, what’s she like? Is she a party-all-night kinda girl or a quiet, romantic dinner and stroll on the beach kind?”

  “Dinner and beach,” I say without even having to think about it. I might have met her twice in a club, but anyone with eyes could tell it’s not her ideal night out.

  “Find a nice restaurant, something fancy. Treat her. Then take her to the beach once the sun is setting and see what you can get in the dunes.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

  “Is that how you got JJ?”

  He barks out a laugh. “No, that girl wouldn’t know romance if it hit her in the face.”

  I can’t really say I’m surprised, she definitely isn’t the kind who’d expect flowers every Friday night. “Glad I didn’t ask her then.”

  “You’d get nowhere, man.”

  The door chimes and Oz’s next client walks in.

  “You need any more help, just shout.” I nod as he walks off to his room, trailing behind his client.

  My head falls back on the cushion. I feel totally out of my depth right now. If it were anyone else, I’d have bailed, but there’s something about Harlow. Even after not seeing her for four days, my skin still tingles with awareness when I think about our parting kiss. There’s no question in my mind that we’re spending more time together. I just somehow need to figure out a way to not let her get the wrong idea about what I want. I’m all for enjoying ourselves, but there will be no serious future between us.

  I don’t do promises, and I certainly don’t do forevers.

  I’m still in the dark as to what to do when evening rolls around, and if I weren’t so desperate to see her again then I’d have cancelled already. Oz texted me some restaurants to check out after his client left, and when I looked them up my eyes almost popped out of my head at the prices. I can’t afford shit like that, no matter how incredible Harlow might be. It’s totally out of the question.

  By the time I finish up for the night, I’m not exactly in the mood to head to my aunt and uncle’s for a family dinner I agreed to weeks ago.

  I call myself an Uber and head to their side of town. They live in the picture-perfect house with a wraparound porch and swing seat out the front. White picket fence and all. It’s the exact kind of upbringing I’m sure I’d have loved. My aunt and uncle are both incredibly kind and gentle people, unlike my father who’s an uptight, controlling arsehole.

  I walk up their driveway to find my uncle’s arse sticking out from their campervan.

  “Corey, there you are. Sandy was starting to think you’d bailed on her lasagna.”

  “Never,” I say with a laugh, thinking of the home-cooked food I’m desperate for.

  He pulls me in for a one-armed man hug, allowing me to see the inside of the camper. It’s almost in its original state. It’s like a time-warp.

  “Whoa, this is impressive,” I say, continuing to look around.

  “Yep, she’s a beaut all right.”

  “You getting ready to take her out?”

  “I wish. We haven’t had a chance to get away in months. I feel guilty she’s not moved an inch off the drive.”

  Ideas start popping up in my head, but when my aunt spots me from the kitchen window and comes running from the house to pull me into her arms, I soon get distracted.

  “It’s so good to see you,” she cries as she flies at me.

  She’s a petite woman and her arms barely close around my middle as she holds me.

  “The LA sun looks good on you, boy.”

  “Thank you.”

  With one final look at me, she pulls me inside, telling me that Austin is already here. We find him in the kitchen prepping a salad to accompany the lasagna.

  “Hey man, you alone?” I ask, looking around for his girlfriend.

  “Yeah, she had to work. You’re stuck with just me tonight.” I roll my eyes like it’s a hardship, but he knows I’m joking.

  Spending time in this house is a reminder of the kind of family life I’d have loved as a kid but never got to have. We never had one home. We were dragged from military base to military base, mostly across Europe, wherever Dad was posted, and we just had to make the best of it. That was until we started secondary school. Then, we were abandoned in London at a private school and mostly left to do our own thing. There were certainly no family dinners or enjoying each other’s company after that.

  We sit and chat as the food is laid on the table and I eat as if I’ve not done so all week, much to their amusement.

  We chat about our lives and they ask about the studio like they really care. It makes me regret not wanting to come. I always tell myself it’ll be just like being with my family, but it’s never anything like it and I always enjoy their company.

  “Did you have fun at Austin’s birthday Friday night?” my aunt asks innocently.

  “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”

  I groan as Austin narrows his eyes at me. I was waiting for this. Not for a second did I think that Bailey would have been able to keep her mouth shut about Harlow and me spending time together.

  “Oh?” both my aunt and uncle say at the same time.

  “How is the lovely Harlow?”

  “I… uh…” My aunt’s eyes widen at the possibility of me finding a girlfriend. “I haven’t seen her since Sunday.”

  “So I heard. I also heard that you’ve got a date tomorrow night and that she has no idea what you have planned.”

  “She’s not the only one,” I mutter as they all stare at me. “I was actually going to ask you for a favour,” I say, looking at my uncle.

  “Go on.”

  “You said your camper hasn’t been out. I wondered if I could possibly borrow it?”

  He opens his mouth, I’m assuming to deny me of his beloved baby, but my aunt beats him to it.

  “Of course, sweetheart. It’s just sitting on the driveway doing nothing.”

  My uncle narrows his eyes at his wife, but all she does is laugh.

  “Come on, I’ll show you around.” She winks at me. “These two can do the washing up.”

  A few hours later, I leave my aunt and uncle’s house driving his beloved camper with a smile forming on my face. This is going to be perfect.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Harlow

  This week at work with my upcoming charity gala is crazy. It almost means I forget about the fact that I hear nothing from Corey until almost midnight on Thursday, by which time I’d pretty much decided he’d bailed and that anything between us was done. It was probably the way it should have been. I have enough on my plate with my aunt’s health and work, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed.

  I look down at his message again.

  Be ready for seven. I’ll pick you up.

  That’s it. No other instruction, no hint as to what we could be doing. Nothing.

  “So…” Bailey says, staring into my closet.

  “I’ve no idea. I’m sure
whatever we choose will be wrong.”

  “Choosing something that will make you look like sex on legs could never be wrong.”

  “This is a date, not a hook-up.”

  “They can be the same thing. You want to be prepared for the best outcome, always.”

  “Just grab me a denim skirt and top.”

  “Har—”

  “No,” I say, holding my hand up to halt her. “You can do the hair and makeup. I choose the clothes.”

  “Fine, fine,” she concedes, pulling my favorite skirt from the closet closely followed by a couple of tanks.

  “Black and this,” I say, grabbing a light floral cardigan.

  “Okay, yeah. That’s cute.”

  “Thank you.”

  I allow her to curl my hair, and to my delight she doesn’t go too heavy-handed with the make-up.

  I sip away at an overly strong rum and Coke Bailey made to help settle my nerves, but when my head starts to swim before he’s even here, I regret it.

  I want to keep a clear head so I can make decisions I won’t regret in the morning.

  The beeping of a horn has us both jumping up. Bailey runs to the window like someone set her ass on fire.

  “Oh my God,” she gasps.

  I take a step toward her, but she pulls the curtains closed so I can’t see anything.

  “No, go and meet him and find out for yourself.”

  “But—”

  “Nope. No buts. Just go and enjoy yourself.”

  I blow out a breath in the hope it’ll calm my racing heart. It does nothing.

  “Okay. I’ve got this.”

  I’m almost at the stairs when I hear her again.

  “Have you got condoms?”

  I don’t answer, although my cheeks do heat as I think about sliding a box into my purse earlier today. Like the man said himself: always be prepared.

  My legs feel like jelly as I make my way to the front door, my heart hammering in my chest.

  Pulling my purse up higher on my shoulder, I open the door and close my eyes for a beat in an attempt to prepare myself for what’s waiting for me.