Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
See, Curt is like a toddler. He only wants what he can’t have. And he definitely can’t have me. So, I’m all he wants.
“What are you doing Friday night?” he asks.
“Not watching you strip, that’s for sure.”
“I’m off,” he says. “I was thinking we could go out for a romantic dinner, go back to my place, have a little private strip session just the two of us…”
I stop what I’m doing and stare him in the eyes. “What did I just say?”
“Alright,” he says, putting his hands up. “I can watch you strip if you prefer that.”
“Oh my god.”
I just shake my head and get back to work. The quicker I can get this anchor tattooed on this annoying man, the quicker I can get him out of my shop.
I don’t know why he’s picking an anchor anyway. Curt is the opposite of an anchor. During hard times, this man-toddler will just strut away and leave you on your own.
Once I get everything set up, I start putting ink onto his skin. I’m about ten minutes in when the front door opens. I’m busy shading so I don’t turn around.
“Julian!” I shout. “Your client is here.”
I hear Julian coming out, but before I do, the heavy masculine scent hits me like a truck slamming into my chest. I gasp as the heady intoxicating aroma burns down my throat like lava. My hand twitches and I fuck up the black line a little bit on Curt’s tattoo. I can fix it, but instead of worrying about that right now, my head is turning toward the door like it has a mind of its own.
“Hello, Victoria,” Adrian says in the deepest, sexiest voice I’ve ever heard.
My mouth drops open to return the hello, but nothing comes out. No words, no breath, no air. I’m just sitting there slack-jawed and in shock as I stare at my first ever crush now full grown into a gorgeous muscular man.
I thought teenage Adrian was something special, but he’s got nothing on this beautiful specimen.
My long dormant crush comes roaring back. Maybe it never left.
Adrian has filled out considerably. He’s taller, wider, and that face…
God help me.
It’s carved from my dirtiest dreams. Strong, angular jaw dusted with dark stubble. I want to feel it scratching between my thighs. I want to feel it under my fingertips as I pull his mouth to mine. Those lips, those cheekbones, even his nose is giving me shivers. He’s so, fucking, hot.
His eyes are the best part. They’re deep ocean blue and fixated on me like he’s already undressing every inch of me with no shame or mercy.
“Wow, Victoria,” he says with his deep, rich, growly voice. I nearly moan from hearing my name leaving those perfect lips. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
I let out a nervous laugh. I’d recognize him anywhere.
This man is tattooed on my brain. He’s lodged in my heart. You never forget your first crush, and crush or not, Adrian is unforgettable.
He’s built like a god whose powers are to seduce foolish female tattoo artists who don’t know when to stop staring.
Those shoulders are so broad and sexy. His chest is massive. His arms are thick and hard with corded tattooed muscle. Damn, I wasn’t prepared for all of this.
One minute, I’m tattooing an anchor on an annoying stripper fuckboy and the next, I’m lost at sea, spinning and turning under the waves, not knowing which way is up and unable to breathe.
Even my bear is reacting. She’s pacing around, trying to get out. Trying to get closer to him.
“Adrian!” Julian says, startling me from my daze.
I watch as my brother goes over and slaps hands with him. I don’t take my eyes off Adrian. Curt starts to squirm as I’m admiring Adrian’s tattoos. The colorful ink on his arms and the black ink that’s coiling down his thick neck and disappearing beneath the snug black T-shirt that stretches tight across his chest. I want to rip that shirt off his torso to see the rest of him.
“Who is that guy?” Curt hisses, clearly annoyed that another man has caught my attention.
“My brother’s best friend,” I say as I get another whiff of his delicious scent. It’s pure alpha and it’s having quite the effect on me. Wild and male and deep forest pine, but under that there’s something darker. Smoky. Spicy. Like cedarwood and sin. Like he’s been forged in fire and iced in snow. My lungs can’t take it. My bear can’t take it.
I feel a tingling between my thighs and it’s growing hotter with every deep inhale I take.
My bear starts to make her presence known. She’s pacing inside me and growling what seems to be ‘mine.’
Yeah, wait in line, girl. I got first dibs.
“Thanks for helping us out,” Julian says as he shows Adrian to Magnus’ workstation. “You can work here.”