Page 20 of Bound By Ink

He’s snatching clothes off the floor. “You gotta go, dude.”

“What?” I frown, I mean, I wasn’t planning on staying. I have work, but I also didn’t think I was gonna be woken up with him rushing around in total panic.

“He’ll be home in thirty minutes. Please, you have to go.”

“Who?” I sit up. “What’s going on?”

“My boyfriend. He works nights. Please, just go.” He throws my clothes onto the bed, and I move to the end. I shake my head in disbelief. I wasn’t expecting a relationship or anything, but a morning fuck and maybe breakfast if I was lucky before I left. I wasn’t expecting to be pushed out the door semi-naked.

After pulling my clothes on in silence, I don’t bother looking over at him. I walk straight out the door while he tries to clean up, making the bed, and emptying the bin.

“Good luck with that.” I grin as I walk out the door. The place stinks of sex and stale alcohol. I step onto the curb and tug my phone out of my pocket. I hear the windows open. And glance up, imagining him wafting the smell, trying to rid the apartment of me. I glance around, looking for a street sign. But have no idea where I am. A car pulls up, and a guy gets out.

“You lost?” He glares at me.

“Nah, just ordering an Uber.”

He scowls and climbs the steps up to the building.

“Thanks,” I call after him. Waiting on the street, I glare up at the open windows of the apartment I just left. I stand there for a few minutes, and then I hear muffled raised voices.Oops. I wonder if that guyisthe boyfriend.

Then I hear it: furious yelling. Screaming back and forth. A clatter rings out of the window and echoes off the buildings. I grit my teeth because not my circus, not my fucking monkeys. If he’d been honest, I wouldn’t have gone back. I don’t play those games. I have no sympathy, other than for the guy who’s just got home from work to find his boyfriend thoroughly railed and his apartment stinking of another dude.

The Uber pulls up, and I climb in, staring at the building. I give him my address, and I lean back in the seat as we make our way across town. When we pull up outside the shop, I pay the driver and climb out onto the street. I blow out a breath and make my way inside. I need to wash the night off me and reset. I’m covered in fucking glitter. That’s gonna be a bastard to get off. Whatever happened this morning, I had a great fuck, and I need to wash that off me too before I try to tattoo anyone.

Scott

Chapter 10

I wake and stretch, groaning as my stiff body bends and creaks. I’m tingling with excitement as I think about the night ahead. I’m too excited to sleep any longer, but I also have to get through the day first. I have a date with Derren tonight. He’s picking me up and taking me to dinner. Smiling, I wonder where we’re going. There are some really nice restaurants around here, and I daydream about how the night will end, if we’ll finally get to spend some real quality time. I want to lie there naked, in post-coital bliss. I want to learn all about him. To have these conversations while wrapped in each other’s arms. A warmth spreads through me as I think about him.

I really like him. I’ve seen him a few times while he’s been working when I’ve called in to get my sandwich fix on the way to uni. We’ve not been out since the last date when I made a fool of myself by getting wasted, and Killian brought me home. I also need to talk to him about that night. I’m not sure how to broach the subject of how much was spent on my card when we went out. I thought I paid for a round, maybe two, but the amount of money I spent was confusing. But I don’t want to rock the boat. Derrenhas come around, late in the evenings after he’s been out, but that wasn’t the right time. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

His words melt me. Heneedsme. Helongsfor me. He kisses me at the door before dragging me to my room. My heart races, my skin buzzes, and I can’t wait for him to touch me, to fuck me again. He takes me roughly, and it’s so hot the way he can’t contain himself.

The pure lust in his eyes as he fucks me leaves me breathless. But I never seem to getmyrelease. He never quite gets around to touching me. To pleasuring me. Maybe I’m expecting too much. I’m being needy and demanding. But I long for more. I’m alwaysalmost therebefore I’m left wanting more and feeling empty. I need him to stay, to spend more time, to make more effort to please me, but he always has to rush off. And then I’m left feeling selfish.

I’m hoping tonight will be different. Hoping I can get him to stay after our date and spend some time together. I want to feel like an actual couple. More than just a fuck. I want a relationship.

As I get ready, I change and change again. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Why do I need him to see me differently? I want him to want more with me. The beep of the horn startles me from my thoughts, and I rush for the door, snatching my wallet and keys from the table.

“I’m going out,” I yell as I run out the door. Steven’s hand raises in dismissal as I click the door closed behind me. I jog down the path towards the car.

My heart sinks as I reach the passenger seat to find one of Derren’s mates sitting there. He throws his thumb in the air, pointing to the back seat. My shoulders sag as Islide in beside his other friend. It’s a tight squeeze. He flicks his gaze to mine.

“Hey, baby.” He winks through the mirror before peeling away from the curb. I stare out of the window, my evening shattered. I kick myself for thinking we were going to spend some time together and get to know each other a bit more. They laugh and joke, drinking and throwing empties out of the window. I refuse everything they offer me; maybe I should take one if it will make tonight easier to get through. We pull up at what can only be described as a dive bar, and we climb out of the car and head inside. They all order drinks, and then Derren pats his pocket, “Oh shit, baby, can you get these. I left my wallet at home.”

“Sure.” I grimace, knowing I should say no. Not wanting to put a damper on the night, I tap my card. They snatch their drinks and head to the pool table. I take my drink and head over. I sit at the table and watch them. They laugh and push each other around, and I sit here feeling like a spare part.

Derren finally looks over at me and gives me a gorgeous smile, and my stomach does that fluttering thing he makes it do. He stalks towards me, crowds me, and then leans in and kisses me. His tongue forces its way into my mouth, and I lean into him. His arm wraps around me and tugs me against him. I grin into the kiss.

“Fuck, you look sexy.” He leans in more, kissing me again. The kiss turns aggressive, and it makes my knees weak. I love how he can’t control himself around me. It makes me delirious.

“Can you get the drinks, baby? We’ll have a couple more, then I’ll take you home and ravish you, because you look far too sexy sitting there.”

I smile and head to the bar. I keep looking at the guys laughing and playing pool. After I carry the drinks over to them, they snatch them from the tray. I got myself a vodka and Coke, might as well. I sit and sip at my drink while the others laugh, staring at me, and drinking. None of them asks me to join the game, and I start to feel a little self-conscious. When they finish their drinks, Derren wanders over to me.

“Can you grab another round, baby? I’ll pay you back.”