CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ariana
IT HAD BEEN three days since I slept with Bones, and apparently I’d put it on him so well that he died, because I hadn’t heard from the asshole since. He told me he couldn’t promise me anything, and I understood what he was saying, I just hadn’t expected him to disappear from my life completely.
After all, he lived next door.
Still, no sign of him. I fiddled with my phone, wondering if I should text him. Maybe he was hurt or something? Angel would know if Bones was okay. I could go next door and ask, but no matter how I tried to spin it in my mind, I couldn’t come up with a valid excuse for asking about him. Not without sounding desperate or stalkerish.
I had already used the ‘need help moving my bedroom furniture’ excuse, and that was way more pathetic than I wanted to sound ever again.
Guys need space, and coming off as desperate or stalkerish would probably only push Bones further away. I didn’t want that. No, I wanted lots more amazing nights with him deep inside me. With him turning me over and pounding into me from behind while he played with my clit and talked dirty in my ear.
Just thinking about it made me wet.
I wasn’t in love with Bones—love was a useless emotion that made people weak and stupid—but I was in lust with him. I wasn’t after his promises; I was after his body.
He’d called me a friend, but friends checked in with each other every once in a while. Friends came back for rounds two and three. Friends didn’t just vanish.
Friends didn’t allow friends to grow cobwebs in their coochie.
Clearly, he wasn’t craving my body like I was craving his, but a text now and then to let me know he was still alive would be nice.
Despite our lack of communication, Bones must have gotten his hands on my work schedule, because for the past two days a driver had shown up to take me to and from work. Even though I said I liked riding the bus, I loved Bones’s protective streak. It made me feel wanted and valued which only made me want him more, which, in turn, frustrated me further.
I don’t know what he’d done to turn me into such a sex fiend, but his body tempted me far more than any drug I’d tried. Why did he have to be so addictive? One hit, and I was done for. His body could easily become my new escape from reality, if only he’d come around again.
While I was aching for a repeat performance, someone knocked on my front door. Through the peep hole, I saw the object of my desire, and butterflies started fluttering in my stomach. I smoothed my hair down, took a nice, calming breath, and tried not to look too excited to see him as I opened the door.
“Hey, you, how are you?” I asked, sounding completely lame.
Bones gave me a crooked smile that seemed to highlight the dark circles around his eyes. He was back to his usual work attire, and I loved the way he wore his suit. It made me want to grab him by the tie and lead him to my bed. Maybe I could get him to tie me up with it. My gaze drifted down his body, enjoying every inch of it, before popping back up to his handsome face. He had more stubble than normal, but it looked sexy and rugged on him. The cut on his cheek was healing nicely, and it looked like the stitches were about ready to come out.
“Sorry I haven’t stopped by or called,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He had fresh cuts and bruises on his knuckles. I tried not to look at them, but must have, because he dropped his hand, settling it behind his back. “Work’s been kinda crazy. The boss isn’t letting me out much, but I was in the neighborhood, and…” he trailed off as his heated gaze roamed over my body. I knew exactly what he needed. What we both needed.
“Come in, Bones,” I said, closing the door behind him.
“You’re not pissed at me?” he asked.
I shook my head and stepped closer to him. “A phone call or a text would have been nice, but you were honest with me. You prepared me for what to expect.” Scooting even closer, I slid my hands under his suit jacket as we locked gazes. “I missed you, though. You look tired and stressed. I know how to fix that for you.”
He chuckled, sounding relieved. “I bet you do.”
The tent erecting in his pants encouraged me to keep going. I untucked his shirt and slid my hands beneath the fabric, so I could feel his skin as I leaned against him and raised my chin. He lowered his head and kissed my lips as my fingers roamed over his washboard abs, down to the waistband of his slacks. Within seconds, I had them undone and down to his ankles. Bones stepped out of them as he continued to explore my mouth.
Needy energy built between us as his kisses deepened, and my touch grew more aggressive. I grabbed his cock in my hand and slid up and down his shaft. He moaned into my mouth, tugging my T-shirt up. We broke apart long enough for him to get it over my head and toss it aside before slamming back together.
His hands were on my neck, my stomach, my back. He was tugging my bra straps down over my arms. My hands explored his chest, his abs, his back, and his cock. He smelled of metal and musk, and I breathed him in and let his scent make me crazy while we alternated kissing and stripping each other. Our groping became frenzied as he walked me toward my bedroom while we continued to shed clothing. By the time we reached my bed, I was naked, and Bones wasn’t far behind. He pulled his undershirt off, and his body enveloped me, holding me against him while he nibbled on my neck.
His cock pressed into my stomach and I grabbed it and angled it down to rub between my thighs. He thrust forward, feeling like he belonged between my legs. I moaned, and he kissed it away. As we made out, I continued to grind against him. He squeezed my breasts, dropping his head to suck in a nipple. Sucking, nibbling, the sensations were too intense. I threw my head back, trying to take a deep breath.
“I want you to fuck me,” I breathed.
Bones looked down. “Shit,” he muttered before running out of the room. He returned moments later, unrolling a condom over his erection. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help it. The way he stroked himself made me jealous of his hand and his cock. Before I could think too much about it, his lips were back on mine and he was lifting me in the air.
Surprised, I let out a squeal, but then he impaled me on his cock. I slid down it as I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Fuck!” I shouted.
He grabbed my ass and raised me up and down his cock.
“More Bones!” I arched my back to take him deeper. “Faster. Harder.” I nipped at his pecks and raked my nails down his back. He seemed to like the pain, because he took me down to the bed and drove into me harder, fucking me wildly as I continued to scratch and bite.
He turned me on my side and raised one of my legs over his shoulder, getting even deeper. He was so hard and so deep, that every time his cock drove into me, I got closer to the edge. He turned me again, settling me on my hands and knees before grabbing my hips and plowing into me. So deep I saw stars, I dropped my head to the mattress as my orgasm continued to build. He slapped my ass hard, and my pussy squeezed around him.
“Like that, do you?” he asked.
Unable to speak, I nodded.
He rubbed my ass cheek, then slapped it again. A mixture of pain and pleasure rolled through me. He slapped me again and I started to go over the edge. He spanked my ass throughout my entire orgasm, intensifying my pleasure so much my eyes watered. Then, once I was taken care of, he grabbed my hips and unleashed himself, plowing into me until he came.
Afterward, we were both wrecked. Lying on my bed in a tangle of arms and legs, we fought to catch our breath.
“How’s work going?” Bones asked, one eye closed, one eye cracked to watch me.
“Fine. It’s work. Your work is crazy right now, huh? Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nothing I can talk about.” He propped himself up on one elbow and opened both eyes to watch me. “You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, Ari. You deserve more than this. More than what I can offer you.”
I turned to face him, staring him right in his stubborn face. “What if this is what I want? What if you’re what I want?”
His expression looked tortured as he reached over and tucked a hair behind my ear before his hand trailed down to my waist. “This isn’t what I came over here for. I mean, it was a nice benefit, but I came to tell you Markie will be over soon. She wants to get ready with you.”
“Ready for what?” I asked, sitting up.
“We’re taking you to a late birthday dinner.”
A grin stretched across my face. “To where?”
“That’s a surprise.” Bones pulled me to him for another kiss before getting out of bed and beginning the search for his clothes. “And I gotta go get ready, too.”
“At least tell me what kind of restaurant it is so I know what to wear.”
“Nope. That’s taken care of as well. Angel will bring your dress and shoes over when he drops off Markie.”
Bones made it sound like we lived across town, rather than next door. Angel didn’t need to drop Markie off. No doubt she wouldn’t deny him that pleasure, though. Giddy at the idea of a birthday celebration and a new dress, I gave Bones one last kiss before shooing him out of my condo, so I could shower. Shortly after I got out, there was more knocking on my door.
I let my sister and her boyfriend in. Angel’s hands were full of bags. He went directly to my room and unloaded everything before rejoining us in the living room.
“You sure you’re up for this?” he asked Markie, wrapping his arms around her.
They were so damn perfect together they sometimes bordered on annoying. I loved my sister. I loved that she was happy, but sometimes her happiness had a way of making me feel lonely. I couldn’t help but wonder if Bones and I would ever have anything more than a sexual relationship. Would he ever look at me the way Angel looked at Markie?
“Stop,” Markie said, settling her hands against Angel’s chest. “I’m fine. The only danger I’m in is the danger of dying from boredom if I don’t get out of the house. The doctor cleared me. You heard him. Stop being crazy.”
He brushed a kiss against her lips. “I know. I just worry about you.”
She kissed him back. “And it’s sweet, but also a little stifling. Go get sexy so I can drool over you all night.”
He gave her one more kiss and made her promise to call if she needed anything before leaving.
Markie released a breath and turned to smile at me. She looked a little tired, but much better than the last time I’d seen her. Every day she was getting stronger.
“You look great,” I said.
“Not yet, but I will.” She picked up one of the bags Angel set on my bed. “We both will. Time to turn your bathroom into a salon.”
Markie and I chatted as we got ready. I told her about people at work, and she told me about books she’d been reading and shows she’d been watching.
“My life is so boring right now,” she complained. “I watched soap operas, Ari. Soap operas. And game shows. I’m not a watcher; I’m a doer. I can’t wait to get out and do things again.”
“Soon,” I replied. “Actually, tonight. How nice is this place we’re going to, anyway? Full makeup? Contouring?”
“Swanky. And yes, contour. You’ll want to look especially nice.” She gave me a cryptic smile but didn’t say more.
“Who all is going?” I asked.
“Just the four of us and Nonna.”
Nonna was Angel’s sweet little old grandmother. I’d spent some time talking to her while Markie was in the hospital, but it seemed strange that she’d come to my birthday party.
“Nonna’s coming?” I asked.
“Nonna got us in,” Markie replied.
“It required a Nonna invite? All right, this place has got to be super swanky.” And I was super excited. Finished with hair and makeup, I went into my bedroom to peep at the garment bags. “Bones said my clothing has been taken care of, so one of these is mine, right?”
Markie emerged from the bathroom with a smile stretched across her face as she pointed. “Yep. That one.”
Curious, I unzipped the garment bag and pulled out a gorgeous long black dress.
“Try it on,” Markie said, sitting on my bed.
She didn’t have to say it twice. I unzipped the back, and stepped in. It was sleeveless, floor-length, the neckline plunged down to show off my cleavage, the body was fitted through the waist and hips—down to the calves—then flared just enough for me to walk comfortably.
Markie gasped, her eyes watering with tears. “The fit is perfect. It’s perfect. You look incredible.”
“Then why are you crying?” I asked as she wiped away a tear.
“This stupid medicine they have me on screws with my emotions. It’s beautiful, though. Look for yourself.”
I went to the bathroom and checked myself out. The classy way it embellished my curves looked a lot like Jessica Rabbit meets Audrey Hepburn. “I look like a lounge singer. Where did you find this thing?”
Markie whistled her appreciation at me as she turned the corner. “Angel knows a guy. Seriously, you look gorgeous, Sis.”
Angel knew all sorts of guys, but they seemed more likely to design guns than dresses. The gown fit like it was custom-made for me. I’d never felt so beautiful in my life. “This is too much.”
“It’s exactly enough,” Markie disagreed.
“It must have cost a fortune.”
She waved me off. “You only turn twenty-one once. Angel and I wanted to make sure you had something you could leave an impression in.”
“An impression on who?” I asked. “Bones?”
“Him too,” she giggled. “But no. The guys wanted to keep this a secret, but I know it’s important for you to know so you can prepare. We’re going to the Acropolis, Ari. Nonna made some calls and got you on the stage.”
“What?” I asked, certain I must have misheard her. “Like for an audition?”
“No, for a performance.” Markie grinned as more tears leaked from her eyes. She fanned at them, complaining, “I’m going to ruin my makeup.”
“Ohmigod!” I shouted as I hugged my sister. She was serious. I was finally getting a shot at my dream.