Pretty In Ink: A BBW Novella Read online

  Her design business meant she could keep her own hours, so it was no hardship to adjust her schedule around his. She had been determined to make a career for herself, stand on her own two feet rather than rely on her Daddy’s fortune, but staying at home and doing that would have been impossible. It was one of the reasons she had moved out as soon as she reached eighteen, escaping her mother’s ever critical eye and her father’s indifference. The only person she missed seeing every day was her great aunt. Amy’s support had given her the confidence to spread her wings and fly the suffocating family nest. Having an income of her own gave her a satisfaction she hadn’t expected. The first month she made enough to cover her monthly bills, she cried like a baby. She wouldn’t pretend she wasn’t grateful for her privileged upbringing, but her parents used their wealth to control their children, and Marissa went along with it.

  Aubrey’s refusal to don the yoke of their expectations had driven a wedge between the sisters. The increasing criticism about her weight another. She’d barely spoken to Marissa since she’d walked away at dinner a few weeks ago, but that would have to change. The final dress fittings were still to take place. Had it been anyone else, she might have told them to stick their wedding somewhere unmentionable, but Aubrey would grit her teeth and get through it. A few more weeks and the wedding would be done with, and she could decide after that what to do about her sister’s attitude. So here she was, on her way to Sunday brunch, ready to smile and be polite. Just a couple of hours and then she would see Garrett and could put aside her family stress for a while.

  Aubrey had grown into her own self-acceptance and was happy with the way she looked, but it still gave her a boost to know he found her attractive. Not needing a man’s approval to understand her own worth was one thing. It didn’t mean it wasn’t a heady experience when one as gorgeous as him took every opportunity to compliment her. Sincerity shone in his eyes when he told her how pretty she was, how much he liked the way she fixed her hair. And when he lowered his voice to whisper in her ear graphic descriptions of all the hot and dirty things he wanted to do to her…Aubrey fanned her face at the memory.

  So why, three weeks later, is he still more words than action? The time had come for him to deliver on all those promises.

  She tugged her front door closed and hurried down the steps from her little two-bedroom house, head so full of Garrett, she failed to notice the man on the pavement until she was a couple of feet from him. Kenny lounged against the side of his upmarket sedan, hands in his pockets as though he didn’t have a care in the world. The shock of seeing him drew her up short, bringing with it a flash of embarrassment at the disdainful way he’d treated her. Furious with herself for letting him get under her skin for even a moment, she forced her feet toward her Jeep parked at the curb. The front bumper of his Mercedes was inches from the back of her car, and he gave her an unrepentant smirk when she cast a glare at him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I have something of yours.” The sly gleam in his eye remained as he slid his hand from his pocket and held out a familiar object. The distinctive pink case told her why Garrett had never found her cell; although, he’d tossed half the stock room and put his cleaning crew on alert for it. The phone company had replaced it within twenty-four hours and she’d put it to the back of her mind. “You left it on the seat when you staged your grand exit.”

  A cold shiver rippled down her spine. She’d been over and over those few minutes, trying to work out where she’d lost it. The phone had definitely been in her purse when she’d first entered the bathroom, she remembered placing it on the counter top when she’d dug out her comb. Her instinct was to call him on the lie, but the hard twist to his mouth told her that’s exactly what he wanted. He’d also kept it for three weeks. Why? She didn’t know what his game was, but she had no intention of playing until she understood the rules.

  Forcing a smile to her lips, she snatched it from his palm, pressing the security fob on her keys as she did so. The rear lights of her Jeep flashed twice, and she suppressed a sigh of relief at the solid thunk of the locks unfastening. “Thank you for returning it.” She yanked open the door and slid into the safety of her car and locked it behind her. Glancing back at him through the rear-view mirror, she suppressed a shudder when he raised two fingers to his forehead in a mocking salute. Fingers shaking, she fumbled her key into the ignition and lurched away from the curb. Kenny had always been an asshole, but he’d just upgraded to full-on creepy.

  The late afternoon sun warmed her back as she pushed open the door to the bar. Brunch had dragged on, and not even the presence of her beloved Aunt Amy had soothed the jagged tension between her and Marissa. Thankfully, their mother liked holding court, so there had been enough guests present for the sisters to avoid each other. Knowing Amy would side with her, Aubrey had remained tight-lipped about the problem. The small frown Garrett threw her way didn’t do much to soothe her ruffled feathers. He eyed the overnight bag in her hand, then nodded toward a corner table before excusing himself from the formally-dressed man at his side. The room was quiet, just a handful of patrons lingering during the quiet hours between lunch and the early dinner hour.

  “Everything okay?” Aubrey could tell it wasn’t from the tension in his shoulders when Garrett squatted on his haunches beside her chair.

  He shook his head. “He’s from the Department for Alcoholic Beverage Control. Surprise inspection.”

  “On a Sunday?”

  “They received some bullshit complaint we were substituting top-brand alcohol for inferior stock.” Garrett snarled. “We’re waiting for the proprietor now.”

  She frowned in confusion. “I thought you owned the bar, you Gina and Todd.” He’d told her as much.

  “We run it, but the license is in Pop’s name, same as the mortgage. After everything….” He stopped whatever he’d been about to say. “We just decided it would be easier if it all went under one name.” There was something evasive about his tone, but she let it pass. For the moment.

  The pinched look around his eyes spoke of more than being pissed off about some disgruntled customer complaint. “I should go.” She placed her hand on the overnight bag beside her, ready to stand up. Her gesture drew his eyes to the hold-all, and the shadows in them faded to a familiar gleam.

  “Stay.” Who knew such a small word could carry so much promise. Aubrey let him draw her to her feet, swaying into the heat of his body for an instant. He pressed a small ring of keys into her hand, folding her fingers around them. “It’s the one with the red tab. I’ll be another hour or so.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” she said.

  His apartment was decorated in simple shades of grey and blue, and a lot tidier than her own. A huge bed dominated the bedroom, the nightstand to the right-hand side scattered with books, a watch and a water glass. She placed her bag beneath the window. Another door led to the bathroom, and she sighed in pleasure at the huge shower stall. As much as she loved having a tub at home, the shower hanging over it left much to be desired. Unable to resist the temptation of the huge rainfall shower head, she decided to make use of it before Garrett finished downstairs.

  Steam filled the stall as she washed herself. The brush of her fingers over her nipples stirred memories of Garrett’s touch, and she moaned aloud as a kaleidoscope of erotic images flashed beneath her closed eyelids. Her fingers slipped lower, teasing her clit as she wondered what he would do to her when he came upstairs. Remembering the heat in his eyes when he’d sucked her juices off his fingers, she braced one hand against the tile as she rubbed herself, picturing his head pressed between her thighs. Cold air hit her back, and Aubrey turned with a gasp. Garrett stood just outside the open shower door, a gleam of hunger in his vivid blue eyes. “You are the sexiest thing I have ever seen,” he growled, tugging at the buttons on his shirt.

  Embarrassment warmed her face, already flushed from the hot water sluicing over her. She dropped her hand, but he shook his head.

  “Don�
��t stop. Touch yourself, Aubrey. I want to watch you play with your gorgeous pussy while I strip for you.” The shirt slid from his body, revealing a solid expanse of hard muscle. A dusting of dark hair stretched across his chest, arrowing down over his abs to disappear in a glory trail behind his fly. Pewter gleamed, and she licked her lips at the sight of the small metal barbells piercing his nipples. The black, red and orange flames she’d glimpsed on his forearm twined up his arms and across his shoulders. His fingers rested patiently on the button fly of his jeans, eyes fixed on her hand resting limply against her thigh.

  She backed up a step, until her legs touched the bench running along the back wall. Taking a deep breath, she lowered slowly to the seat, spreading her thighs wide. With the curtain of water falling between them, she trailed her index finger up and down the seam of her sex. The top button of his jeans popped, and he nodded in encouragement. Using the fingers of her other hand, she spread herself open to his hungry gaze. Dipping lower, she pressed her finger into her channel. He loosened the rest of his fly with one sharp tug of his hand. Pushing the thick denim down over his hips, Garrett stripped his jeans and boxers in the same move. More ink curled around the top of his right thigh, an elaborate crown twined with barbed wire. Her fingers itched to touch it. Almost as much as they itched to grasp the impressive length of his cock.

  She worked her clit harder while he palmed his shaft. He rolled his wrist in a single stroke, his thumb spreading gleaming drops of pre-cum over the head. Saliva pooled in her mouth, as he released his cock to step into the stall. He closed the door, trapping the steam once again. Moving into the stream of hot water, he towered over her, the tip of his cock level with her lips.

  He cupped her jaw. “I’m going to fuck this pretty mouth of yours, darling.”

  Chapter Five

  Her greedy moans echoed in his ears as she sucked him deeper. He threaded his strong fingers in the wet curls tumbling down her back. She licked and teased the notch behind the flared head, and he saw stars, his fingers tightening involuntarily in her thick tresses. A mewl escaped her lips, and she thrust her fingers deeper into her pussy. His anger and frustration melted away, drawn from him in slow increments with each pull of her lips on his shaft.

  “Yes, darling. Fuck your hand while you suck my cock. Jesus, you’re killing me.” His hips rocked forward and Aubrey relaxed her jaw, stretching her mouth wider to take more of his length, using her tongue to rub the underside of his shaft. Her lips slid further down until she bumped up against his fingers where they circled the base of his cock. Staring up at him, water glistening on her thick lashes, she swallowed hard. A snarl twisted his lips as he bucked against the sensation before pulling back. “I want to come inside you the first time.”

  Passing her a towel, he patted the water quickly from his own skin before turning to help Aubrey. He eased the cloth from around her body, lowering the material to reveal the secret wonder he’d spotted when he’d opened the shower door. Glossy dark green strands of ivy curled across her lower back and over her hip bones. Deep red roses bloomed between the loops and curls. He’d never imagined in a million years she would be inked. The contrast of color against her pale, creamy skin filled his cock to painful hardness. Dropping to his knees behind her, her cupped her hips, kneading the soft flesh beneath his fingers as he placed a kiss on the rose nestling at the base of her spine. The piece was exquisite, and close up he could really admire the detail and artistry of the design. He nibbled his way along a trailing vine of ivy, loving the way she shivered beneath his touch. He could spend hours exploring and worshipping her just like this.

  “You’re the first person to see it.” Her soft voice drew his gaze upward.

  She watched him over her shoulder, no trace of shyness at the fact she stood naked before him. His eyes moved to the full length mirror on the back of the door. She looked like a nymph, or a goddess painted by one of those Baroque artists – round, soft, inviting. And, most of all, real. The contrast between the darker tanned skin of his hands against her creamy whiteness fascinated him. He flexed his fingers against her hips before sliding them over the swell of her stomach and up to capture the delicious, heavy weight of her breasts. Pushing to his feet, he molded his body against her back, his cock settling beneath the cheeks of her ass like it was made to fit. “I need you in my bed, baby,” he murmured against her ear, flicking his tongue out to tease the pressure point just below the lobe. Her head fell back against his shoulder, giving full access to his questing lips, and she raised her hands to cover his over her breasts. Taking his cue, he twisted and tugged on her nipples, making her moan and writhe against him. “I’m going to fuck you so good. I’m going to sink my cock into the wet, delicious heat between your thighs and fuck you ‘til you see stars.”

  Opening the bathroom door, he ushered her toward the bed, closer to the condoms in the top drawer of his bedside table. She paused beside the bed and he looked up, a roll of foil packets dangling from his hand. Her eyes widened as he tore a strip from the roll and placed them on the pillow, keeping one packet back. “I like a man with ambition,” she said, a smile playing on her lips. “So, where do you want me?” The sultry note in her voice made him growl.

  Fisting his cock, he rolled the condom on. “On your hands and knees, get up there and hang on tight.” He pointed toward the wrought iron headboard and circled to the end of the bed. Aubrey placed a knee on the mattress, checked to make sure she had his attention, then crawled slowly over the dark grey quilt. She grabbed the base of the frame, lowering her head so her ass lifted as she spread her knees. The position exposed the dark pink folds of her pussy, and he licked his lips as he recalled the taste of her on his fingers. He couldn’t remember why he’d decided to wait so long to touch her again. “You look so fucking amazing.”

  He climbed onto the bed behind her, sitting back on his thighs to appreciate the view. Arousal glistened on her plump labia, and he dipped his finger to gather her juices, circling the tight knot of nerves at the apex of her sex.

  “Garrett, please.” Aubrey rocked backward, seeking him.

  He rose on his knees in response. “I’m here, darling. I’ve got you.” With infinite care, he pressed his sheathed cock into the hot, wet, heaven of her core until his hips rested flat against her body. A shudder rippled through her, and he gripped her hips, biting the inside of his cheek to maintain his control until she settled. “We good?” He needed to be sure she was one-hundred percent in the moment with him. Holding off had been about wanting her to know she meant more to him that sex, but it had strained his self-control to the limits. Worth it to see her spread before me like this.

  “Oh, so very good.” The sexy moan of her words blew the last functioning synapses in his brain, and he regressed to the most basic of instincts. Fuck. Possess. Claim. For the first time, he regretted the thin membrane separating him from the silken depths of a woman’s body. Not that she was just any woman. Aubrey. The feel of her, the scents and sounds of their bodies sliding together filled up every dark space inside him. He wanted nothing between them. He powered into her, determined to lose himself, to forget his cares and doubts and just feel her. Sweat poured from his body, darkening the tattoo across the base of her spine. A muffled gasp flew from her lips with every sharp thrust of his hips.

  Curling over Aubrey’s damp back, he slid his hands along her arms until he reached the point where she gripped the iron bedframe. Intertwining their fingers, he pulled her toward him, settling on his knees so she straddled his lap. The position gave him access to her breasts, spread her wider open and also allowed her to set the pace.

  Words of praise fell from his lips. “I love the feel of you draped over me, baby.” The lush fullness of her breasts filled his palms to overflowing, as he brushed his thumbs repeatedly over her nipples. Arching her back, she rocked back and forth on his cock. The little twisting motion she added made him groan.

  “Garrett! Garrett, please.”

  He thrust up, respond
ing to her plea, and she ground against him, reaching her arm behind them both to urge him harder against her. Pressing her weight forward again, he braced one arm on the mattress, delving between her legs with the other to find her clit. He rubbed her once, twice, and at the third stroke, she came apart in his arms. The muscles of her pussy milked him hard, and he gritted his teeth, trying desperately to hold on to his own orgasm long enough to chase her into a second. Wordless cries fell from her lips, and she quivered beneath him.

  “Again, darling. Come for me again,” he demanded. “Oh, Aubrey!” Heat boiled at the base of his spine, he pumped his hips, filling the condom with his seed. The force of his orgasm turned his joints to water and his sweat-soaked skin glided over hers as he collapsed, barely managing to twist them both sideways to avoid crushing her.

  Sprawled on his back, chest heaving rapidly, he stared mindlessly at the ceiling. Their legs were hopelessly entwined, and he knew he needed to move, to take care of the condom and make sure Aubrey was okay. He settled for resting a hand on her hip, raising his head as he felt her body shaking. Is she crying? Bolting up in fear, Garrett turned her toward him, confused when he saw she was laughing, not crying. “Aubrey?”