I stop breathing, soaking in her softness and the sweet smell of her skin.
“Thank you,” she murmurs against my ear.
My hands move to her hips, a completely inappropriate place for me to put them, but that doesn’t stop me. “You’re welcome, but thanks aren’t required. I just want you happy.”
“I am happy, and I’m excited for what comes next.”
“What comes next?” I ask, going stupid.
“Our date.”
I nod, dropping my hands. “Right.” I clear my throat, hoping to God she doesn’t see the wood I’m sporting and trying like hell to cover. “When?”
“I’ll call you.”
“Okay.” I smile, moving my stool away from her and out of her intoxicating orbit. “Let me wrap you up and get you out of here.”
“Sure,” she says, lifting her arms, giving me the most spectacular view of her stomach, tits, ribs…all places I want to explore with my tongue.
I’ve never wrapped someone up so quick, going over the directions, and sending them out the door. Instead of taking her to the front desk myself, I call Lily to the room to do it for me.
Lily pops her head inside, her eyes widening when she sees me shirtless. “What the…”
“It’s not what you think,” I reassure her, lifting my hands.
She flattens her lips. “Really?”
Arlo laughs as she grabs her book from the table. “Lil, he was a complete gentleman. I asked him to keep his shirt off so it would be fair.”
Lily’s eyes move to Arlo and brighten. “If you say so,” Lily says, but I know she’s judging me. “Come on. I’ll check you out.”
“It’s on the house, Lil. Don’t charge her.”
“I’m paying. I insist. You already paid for my car. I can’t let you pay for the tattoo.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “My treat.”
Arlo smiles and thankfully doesn’t argue with me. “I’ll pay you back,” she promises.
“I’m sure we’ll find another way for you to compensate me.”
Preferably by letting me explore her body, but since she’s allegedly a virgin, that would be highly unlikely. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try.
Lily glares at me, her lips twisting, but Arlo’s all smiles. “See you soon, Mello,” Arlo says before giving me another quick kiss on the cheek and leaving the room with my cousin.
I sit there, staring at the door, and I know this is all going to go very, very wrong.
9
Forty-eight hours have passed since Arlo walked out of Inked, promising to call, but my phone hasn’t rung.
The worst part is, I’ve been waiting.
I have never been the one to sit around, staring at my screen, trying to will the other person to call.
Is this how all the chicks in my life felt before?
God, I was such a dick.
It’s a shitty feeling, filled with self-doubt, self-deprecation, and self-loathing. I’ve hit every stage, though briefly, over the last two days.
When I can’t wait any longer, I grab my phone, quickly sending a message to Lily to see if the game has changed.
Me: Hey.
I immediately regret the message. The bitterness coating the back of my throat only grows as I stare at the empty screen, waiting for a reply.
“I’m a moron,” I whisper, tossing my phone on the bed to get ready for a night out.
There is no way I’m going to sit around on a Friday night, jerking myself off, waiting for a woman to call. I gave Lily my word, but so far, Arlo is the one in breach of contract.
But when my phone dings, I dive-bomb onto the bed, scooping up the sucker as quickly as possible.
Lily: Hey.
Me: How are you?
I have to make some small talk. Jumping right into asking about Arlo will be tipping my hand, and I never like to do that, even if it involves family.
Lily: Um, good. U?
Me: Great. Great.
Lily: What’s up?
Me: Why does anything have to be up?
Lily: You rarely text me outside the group chat.
Me: I’m turning over a new leaf.
Lily: You’re waiting for Arlo, aren’t you?
Me: No.
Lily: Liar.
That text is followed by a winky face on Lily’s end and a slew of curse words on mine. I hate that she knows me so well. She shouldn’t. She’s the sweetest and most innocent one in the family, but she and I click for some strange reason. I think it’s her insatiable need to fix things, including people.
Me: Heard from her?
Lily: Have you?
Me: Fuck. Would I be asking you if I had?
Lily: Interesting.
Me: What’s interesting?
Lily: Arlo not texting you.
I roll onto my back, throwing more than a few “motherfuckers” out there because