Inked: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance Read online

  Before I can object, Katie takes off like a speed demon, leaving me all alone with Zane.

  Katie, you are dead, I send telepathically, wishing bad luck on my best friend for her treachery.

  Zane nods at Katie’s seat. “You mind?” I catch a whiff of alcohol on his breath. Whiskey. I don’t drink whiskey. Personally, I hate it. But the faint smell of it on his breath combined with his unique, masculine smell makes me want to lean into him.

  Do you even have to ask?

  I’m actually kind of surprised by Zane’s manners, considering that he looks like a fellow who takes what he wants without asking.

  Not trusting myself to speak, I shake my head. Zane grins and sits down next to me. Being this close to him, I feel my body temperature rise. I almost feel like I need a fan.

  Not noticing my discomfort, Zane signals the bartender, but the man who poured my earlier drink nods to the female bartender. She’s a slim brunette with big tits. She’s in the middle of serving some guy a drink, but I swear she puts on speed boots to get over to us.

  “What will it be, honey?” she rasps breathlessly, looking like she’s ready to bend over right then and there and let Zane fuck her in front of the entire crowd. Suddenly I’m wishing the other bartender were here, and not this bimbo.

  I start to look away to give them some fucking privacy, but Zane doesn’t pay her an ounce of attention and replies, “A cosmo for my lady friend here.”

  What the hell? I wonder. Is he a mind reader, too?

  “Nothing for you, Zane?” she asks, putting emphasis on his name. I’m reading her loud and clear, but if Zane is, he isn’t showing it.

  “Nah,” he says, putting a hand on my barstool, a little too close to my ass. “Just my girl’s drink.” My girl’s? I feel a blush rise up my chest and into my cheeks. I have to admit, being called his girl feels nice. But I’m quick to push those emotions down.

  The bartender looks at me for a second with disdain, and then she looks back at Zane and winks. “One cosmo, coming right up.” She sashays off to the mixer, swinging her hips with every step.

  I decide to ignore both his hand and claim on me and instead I gape at Zane with shock when she’s gone. “How the hell did you know I liked cosmos?”

  Zane grins, a boyish grin that makes my inner voice scream at me to run away now before it’s too late. “I’m good at reading women.” His eyes seem to say, ‘That’s not the only thing I’m good at, either.’ And I believe it.

  “Can you read my horoscope, too?” I ask playfully. You know, the one that says that if I don’t get away from you now, I’m in serious trouble?

  “Huh?” he asks and I almost laugh.

  Instead I smile and toy with the empty glass in front of me, running my fingers down the stem and leaning into the bar. I shake my head and say, “Nothing.”

  The brunette's back in a flash with my drink. “Anything else, handsome?” She’s trying hard to get Zane’s attention, practically sticking her tits in his face. But he only has eyes for me.

  “Nah, that’s all.” He tries to give her a tip, but she pushes it away.

  “It’s on the house,” she purrs as another patron calls for her service. She leaves with a wink, saying, “If you need anything else, just holler. It’s always my pleasure to please.”

  I’m not absolutely certain, but I’m pretty sure Miss Minx was letting Zane know that she's down to fuck whenever he's ready.

  “Do you get that all the time?” I have to ask, even though I already know the answer. He’s fucking hot. Of course he does.

  Zane shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “I’m used to it.” He stares at me. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

  Yep. He’s a mind reader.

  Shaking my head, I take a sip of my cosmo. I’m impressed. It’s actually really good. I half-wonder if she spit in it though, just to spite me. “No, actually. Katie and I are new in town. We move into our new place tomorrow.”

  Zane looks very interested. “Oh yeah? Where at?”

  Alarm bells go off in my head. Don’t tell him where. I don’t know why I don’t want to tell Zane where I’ll be living. It’s not like he would stalk me considering he can have any woman he wants.

  “1212 Candyland Road,” I lie. And the drink must be hitting me, because that is a horrible street name to think up. This town isn’t that big. He’s gonna know.

  Zane makes a face. “Candyland Road? I’ve lived here all my life and never heard of that street.”

  I gesture vaguely and take another sip. “It’s near the edge of town.”

  “Oh, okay.” From his demeanor, I can tell Zane knows I’m bullshitting, but he doesn’t press the issue. He gives me a grin and leans forward, looking like my lie was more amusing than anything else.

  “Aren’t you going to order yourself a drink?” I ask. I really don’t wanna get wasted while he’s sober. I’m actually surprised he’s not showing any signs of being tipsy with those shots he downed.

  “Nah. I think I’ve had one too many shots of whiskey.”

  “I saw.” I smile playfully. “How about something a little lighter, then? Like my cosmo?” It’s not in my nature to share a drink, but the thought of this man taking a sip from this girly glass makes me smile. Shit, maybe I’m already a little tipsier than I thought.

  “Nah. Not my style. Besides, cosmos are pussy drinks.”

  I know I should be turned off by his crude words and the diss on my drink, but the way he says it summons up the image of him down in between my legs and his powerful jaws clamped down on me.

  Jesus, I haven’t even known him more than five minutes and I’m already thinking dirty thoughts. Get a hold of yourself, Maddy!

  “Hey, they're not that bad,” I protest, hoping he's not clued in to the dirty image flashing through my mind. My nipples are hard, and my breathing is coming up short though. I clear my throat and take a quick drink. I need to get a grip.

  “I’ll stick with whiskey, or vodka,” he replies as he shakes his head.

  “You’re missing out,” I say as I take another sip of my drink.

  “Doubt it. I’m particular with my intake of sweets.” The way he looks at me drives home his pun.

  I nearly spit out my drink into his lap. Holy crap. Did the bastard know I was just thinking about him between my legs? I try hard not to let on that I’m picking up what he’s throwing down, but judging by the smirk on his face, he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Cocky bastard.

  “So what brings you two to this shithole town?” Zane asks, looking as if he's trying not to laugh at my reaction. “Wait, let me guess. You’re both going to the state university?”

  I gulp, trying to keep my mind clear of that image of him eating me out. “Yeah.”

  He grins. “I knew it.”

  “What about you? Do you go to college there, too?”

  A dark shadow passes over Zane’s face and I feel like I’ve hit a nerve. “No,” he says flatly after a second. That heat flowing through my body chills some. He obviously didn’t like that question. Shit, I’m not buzzed enough not to realize his displeasure. It was just an innocent question though. I retreat to my drink.

  The beats of the music fills the silence that ensues, and I wonder if Zane's decided I’m not worth his trouble. I figure the conversations he has with the women in places like these usually revolve around how soon can he take them home to his bed, not getting to know you type stuff.

  “So, what do you do?” I dare ask when the silence between us stretches on for more than thirty seconds.

  Zane seems to perk up at the question. “I’m a tattoo artist,” he says proudly.

  “Really?” Tattoos really aren’t my thing, but I have respect for people with artistic talent. “That’s pretty cool. I’ve never known a real artist before.” I turn in my seat to face him. I really like that he has a job that’s… different.

  “Yeah. I own my own shop, Inked Envy on Second Street.” He points at the serpent tattoo on hi
s arm. “I gave myself this one.”

  I gawk. The whole thing is so beautiful. “You did this yourself?”

  He nods. That’s impressive. I know next to nothing about tattoos, but I know that had to be hard.

  “How?” I can’t even imagine how long that took. I look at his right arm and see there’s no tattoos on that arm.

  “I’m good at what I do,” he says matter-of-factly, without a trace of bragging in his voice.

  “Wow.” Unconsciously, I reach out to touch his arm, feeling along the length of the tattoo. His muscles bulge underneath my touch, and once again, sparks seem to pop off his skin.

  “Your hands feel so soft,” Zane says, grabbing hold of my wrist and pulling me in close. He runs his finger up along my arm, shooting off more sparks. “I could fix you up, free of charge. Would you like that?” It takes a moment for me to realize he’s asking about a tattoo.

  I have an immediate urge to say yes, but I don’t, and I stare at him, trembling in his grasp. In that moment, I’m more afraid than I’ve ever been in my life.

  I feel like he has absolute power over me. His question could have been, “Will you come home and have sex with me?” and I would have said yes.

  That’s it. I have to get away.

  “Sorry, gotta go!” Not giving him a chance to respond, I jerk out of his grasp and quickly disappear into the crowd of people grinding on the dance floor. I look around for Katie, but don’t see her beneath all the flashing lights. Moving as fast as I can, I make my way into the club’s hallway and stop to rest against the wall.

  I breathe in and out, trying to get a hold of myself, my legs shaking. All I can think about is how close I came to losing control, and Zane had only asked if I wanted him to give me a tattoo!

  “Where do you think you’re going, sweet thing?” asks a deep voice that makes my knees weak.

  Oh no.

  I try to make a run for it, but suddenly I’m sandwiched between the wall and a rock-hard body.

  Fuck.

  “Did I say you could leave?” Zane growls in my face. His voice is soft and sexy, not meant to be a threat, only a dare to stay. The smell of whiskey is even stronger on his breath at this distance. Instead of disgusting me, it only makes me more turned on. His hot breath makes my nipples pebble. My core is soaked and my pussy is clenching around nothing. This isn’t good. I fucking want him. Every inch of my body craves him.

  “Y-y-you’re not my daddy,” I stammer, ignoring every instinct in me.

  “No. I’m not.” Zane gives me a cocky grin, moving in closer. “But I can be... if you want.”

  I’m almost on fire. My dress seems to be rising up my thighs, practically inviting Zane in. “What are you talking about?” I have to close my eyes and will the naughty images away.

  “I think you know,” he whispers in my ear.

  I do know. And it would be so easy to give in, so easy to just melt in his arms. And he wants me. He chased me. That has to mean something.

  “You know you want it.” He says it as if his words are a dare.

  He's right. I do want it. So fucking badly. My body is burning. Every inch of me wants him inside of me, even right here in this hallway. I don’t care who sees.

  Zane inches in closer as if coming in for a kiss. If his lips touch mine, I know it’s all over.

  I can’t do this!

  “Get the fuck off me!” I yell out as the thought of him sliding my dress up and fucking me against the wall becomes a very real possibility.

  At the last possible second, I summon every ounce of self-control I can muster and shove Zane away from me. Then I take off like a jackrabbit down the hall, and out the club, not daring to look back.

  Chapter Four

  Zane

  I watch Maddy’s back as she practically runs from me. Her hands grip the hem of her dress as she pulls it farther down her thighs. She’s speeding off like I just told her I was a hitman and she’s first on my list.

  What the fuck?

  I stand dumbfounded in a lust-filled haze. She’s leaving? It takes a moment and the sounds of the club filling my ears to realize she’s really gone. I was two seconds away from crashing my lips against hers and inching her dress up to give her the release she needs. Well maybe not here, where anyone could watch, unless she’d be into that.

  She pushed me away. What the fuck did I do? I replay everything in my head, but I don’t know where I crossed the line.

  She had to know I’d follow her out here. Shit, I know she didn’t think I’d let her get away that easy.

  And she was loving it. I know she wants me. Or wanted me. Fuck!

  By the time I think about chasing her and head out to the exit, she’s nowhere in sight.

  I push past the crowd and jog my way to the front. She’s not here. I check every dark corner, but Maddy’s fucking gone.

  I search the dance floor and find her friend. Fuck me, but I can’t remember her name for the life of me. Did she even tell me?

  She’s dancing with a group of women, having a blast and not paying attention to anything.

  I have to grab her arm to get her attention.

  She whips around like she’s gonna bitchslap me until she recognizes me. Her eyes dart around me and she looks confused. Shit, that’s not a good sign. I was hoping Maddy went to her before going wherever it is she went.

  I scream over the music, “I lost your friend!”

  “Fuck!” she yells out and starts pushing past me and everyone else, making a beeline for the door.

  I follow her outside. Shit, did I really chase her off to the point where she felt like she had to leave?

  I turn to look at her friend who’s now got her cell phone to her ear. She’s got one finger shoved into the opposite ear to drown out the sound of all the people still waiting in line. The bouncer’s watching us, but I give him a quick nod.

  “You good?” he asks with his brows raised. I give him a short nod. I’m not really good though. This fucking sucks. And I feel like shit for pushing her away like that.

  “Goddamn it,” her friend mutters after looking down the sidewalk and shoving her phone into her clutch.

  She makes a move to go back inside.

  “Did she leave?” I ask her.

  She shrugs her shoulders and says, “Sorry.” She gives me a sad look and a tight smile before making a move to open the door. Fuck.

  I get it for her, opening it wide enough, but I don’t go in.

  “You think you could give me Maddy’s number?” I ask her with a little embarrassment. I don’t think I’ve ever asked for a chick’s number before. And definitely not from her friend. She looks like she’s considering it, but then she scrunches her nose and shakes her head.

  “I’m sorry.” She really does look apologetic. “I’ll bring her ass back here though.” She nods her head confidently.

  “That’s alright.” I watch her go in as my hope of seeing Maddy again dwindles.

  I stand outside the club feeling the crisp cold air of the night against my skin. The bass of the music beats in my ears and it pisses me off.

  Anger replaces confusion. Not at Maddy, but at myself. I knew she was too much of a good girl. I needed to play it smooth and slow, and instead I went for the kill too fast and freaked her out.

  But damn, I couldn’t help myself. Feeling her body against mine… I stifle my groan.

  I just had my hands all over that lush ass. I could practically feel how tight that hot pussy was gonna be cumming all over my dick. Speaking of my dick, the damn thing is currently hard as fucking steel in my jeans.

  What the fuck did I do? She was all over me. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her. She felt so good with her curvy body pushed against mine. And she would’ve felt even better impaled on my dick. She was so fucking responsive, and I can only imagine what she’d be like under me.

  I take another look around the crowd and then back down the sidewalk to the left and the right. She’s not there. Fuck! I pushed t
oo hard, too fast.

  I run my hands through my hair and clear my throat.

  Well, shit. That fucking sucks. I close my eyes and remember the soft, sweet sounds of her moans. My dick jumps in my pants and I have to turn and head back inside.

  I need a drink.

  I make it halfway there when a hot platinum blonde with a tight ass and perky tits stops in front of me.

  “Hey handsome, I was looking to get out of here.” Her perfect white teeth bite down slightly on her bottom lip, drawing my eyes to her mouth. Vixen is the first term that comes to mind as I take her in.

  “I could use a ride,” she whispers in a low, sultry voice.

  Her lips are almost the same shade of red as her dress, and I have to admit that any other night with my dick this hard, I’d take her up on her offer, but not tonight. Not after Maddy.

  “Not tonight.” I give her a tight smile and move to walk past her. Her eyes narrow and she looks like she’s gonna yell at me for some perceived insult, but then she remembers where she is.

  “Fine, asshole,” she grumbles as she pushes past me with her fake tits brushing my forearm.

  I watch her walk off sashaying her ass and going right for another Koranav member. Yeah, she just wants to get fucked by a mobster. Doesn’t matter who. I grit my teeth, feeling more agitated than anything else.

  As I head to the back, all the thoughts I’ve been avoiding start coming to the surface. Fuck, I was feeling so damn good tonight.

  Maddy took that away. She was a beautiful distraction. But she fucking took off, and with every step I take I want more and more just to drown myself in a bottle to forget this shit. She could’ve distracted me tonight. She could’ve taken that pain away, even if it was just for the night.

  I walk back to the bar and my stool is taken by some redhead who’s got her legs spread and wrapped around Jackson’s thighs. His tongue is down her throat and his hands are up her dress. Usually I don’t give a shit, but tonight it pisses me off.

  “Wanna buy me a drink?” I turn my head to the left as I rest my hands on the bar and see a second redhead standing there. She’s sweet and cute, not like the viper in the red dress from a minute ago, but I can’t get Maddy out of my head. I give her a tight smile, 'cause it’s all I can manage.