Present Day
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were taking me back to the tattoo parlor,” Kerry says as we make our way down the cobblestone road to River Street.
“Well, you’d be right. There’s an apartment on the second floor. That’s where I live.”
“Get out!” Kerry looks at me. Her eyes grow wide. “You are so lucky.”
“More than you know.” I grab her hand and continue to the shop. I give her a brief rundown of how Padraig found me and helped me set up the shop.
“I cannot believe Padraig did all that. I totally had him pegged wrong.”
“He has a generous heart. It’s just his nature.”
We reach the door of the Lily. I unlock it and usher Kerry through before entering myself and relocking the door.
“The Jaded Lily,” Kerry says, running her fingers over a sticker with the shop’s logo on it, which is stuck to a corkboard hanging on the wall. “How did you come up with that name, if you don’t mind my asking?”
I stand beside her, looking at the logo. I run my hand gently up and down her back a few times. I don’t know why. I didn’t really think about it. It was just an instinctual move.
“It’s a funny story, really. Well, partially, anyway. My jerk of an older brother used to call me Lily when we were kids. He thought I was a mama’s boy because my mom obviously liked me more.”
Kerry laughs.
“Anyway, when I told him I was moving out of his place to live here and work as a tattoo artist, he told me the idea was stupid and that I was making a terrible mistake. So I used the name Lily as kind of a jab at him. To show him I didn’t care what he thought about my life’s plans. I knew if he ever cared enough to find out more about this place, the name would annoy the crap out of him.”
“Way to be vindictive. Giving a name to your shop only to spite your brother.”
“Well, yeah, that and it has a nice, kind of mysterious ring to it.”
“It’s definitely mysterious. So where does the ‘Jaded’ part come from?”
I knew that question was coming, but I still don’t want to answer it.
“Let’s just say that at that time in my life, I was heartbroken. I felt the world had done me a big disservice. I felt jaded.”
She places her hand on my bicep. “I’m sorry to know that.”
“It’s in the past. But it did happen, and it seemed appropriate to include it in the name of the place that was supposed to change my life. It helps me remember how far I’ve come.”
“I like the name. It fits this place. It fits you.”
“You think so?”
“Yes, but not in a bad way. You may not be jaded any longer, but I can tell there’s still some pain in there. In your eyes.”
“I won’t disagree.”
I take her by the hand and lead her to the door—which is tucked away in a hallway past the counter, next to the customer restrooms—to my apartment. I keep the door locked at all times to keep out curious wandering people. I unlock the door and allow Kerry to head up the stairs first.
The apartment is a humble studio with a small kitchen area. The best part about it is the space I set up near the window for painting and drawing. It’s almost as relaxing as sitting out next to the water. And I don’t have to worry about the wind or other elements while I work.
“Luca, this place is amazing.” Kerry walks over to the window, and I follow.
“Do you know how much money people pay in hotels per night to get this view?”
“I do,” I say, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her back into my front. We gaze out the window, watching the water of the river ripple as the moonlight reflects down onto it.
“Don’t the barges bother you? I can hear those suckers come through in the middle of the night from my apartment.”
“Not one bit.”
“So I’m guessing the street noise doesn’t bother you either, huh?”
“It doesn’t.” I kiss her neck, and she arches it back toward me. I’ve wanted to put my lips on her all night. Standing in front of the window is as perfect of a time as any. I don’t think; I just act.
“Do you ever worry about people spying on you? Since you don’t have any curtains?”
“No.” I kiss her neck again. “Not until just now.” I glide my hand up her back and down her chest. I whisper into her ear as my hand grazes the neckline of her blouse. “Is this okay? Do you want me to stop?”
“Please don’t stop, Luca.” I can hear the desire in her voice.
I slide my hand into her blouse. I run my fingers inside the cup of her bra.
Her breath hitches.
“Are you worried?” I ask. I remove my hand and turn her to face me. “If I undress you, are you worried about being spied on?”
Kerry slowly shakes her head while looking at me with a lustful gaze. She bites her bottom lip. I almost lose all control.
I move my hand down the front of her shirt. “I really want you naked right now. But if this is moving too fast, or if you don’t want to—”
“I want to. I need this. I need you.”
Without further hesitation, I grab the hem of her shirt and pull it over her head. Her honey-colored hair falls over her full green lace bra. I kiss her collarbone and work my way over to her shoulder. I slide down the strap with my hand and run the tip of my tongue down her arm. I move to the other shoulder and repeat the action. Kerry whispers my name each time. I reach around and feel for the back strap, find the clasp, and release her breasts from their constraints. I take a moment to look and appreciate them. I bring my gaze up. Kerry’s eyes are closed. I cup her face and bring my lips to her ear.
“Open your eyes.” I pull back to see her eyes almost sparkle with the moonlight set behind her. I run my thumb along the side of her face. “You are so beautiful.”
She smiles. That, coupled with her sparkling eyes, makes her absolutely irresistible. I kiss her hard. She wraps both hands around the back of my head. My tongue enters her mouth and dances with hers for a few moments. She moans into my mouth when I palm her breast and give it a tender squeeze. I pepper her jaw with kisses and trail my lips down to her neck, back to her collarbone, and land at her nipple. I take in a mouthful, sucking and swirling my tongue around its tautness. Kerry moans louder than before and tugs at my hair a little. I suck harder. She moans louder still.
If she moans this loud with nipple play, I can only imagine how loud she’ll get when I have my mouth between her legs.
Or when I’m inside her.
My cock grows harder. Didn’t think that was possible. I’m to the point of aching. I bring my hands to her face again. Kissing her lips, I guide her to the bed.
She rids me of my belt and unbuttons my jeans. I slide my hand from her breast down her smooth abdomen. She shudders slightly at my touch. We both toe off our shoes as I undo her jeans. I grab the back of my collar and remove my shirt.
We fall onto the bed together side by side. We kiss. Touch. Entangle ourselves.
I roll over so that she is beneath me. I kiss my way down her body until I reach the edge of her lacy panties that match her discarded bra. Pulling them off her body is almost too much for me to handle. I take a deep breath to get myself under control. I don’t want to ruin this moment.
I situate myself between her legs. I look up at her and she looks down at me, her eyes begging me to continue. I bury my face in her until she white-knuckles the sheets and screams my name so loud that I think people on the street might have heard her.
I reach over to the bedside table, open the drawer, and grab a condom. I slide it on and climb up her body, adding more kisses to her stomach, breasts, neck, and finally, her mouth. I kiss her hard as she clutches my hair, pushing her lips more into mine.
I groan and my cock twitches. I have to be inside her now, or I’ll blow for sure. I reach down, align myself with her, and push in slowly. Still kissing, she moans into my mouth and claws at my back. The slight pain from her fingernails excites me more. I push in again, slightly faster this time. I break our kiss and place my forehead against hers.
“You feel amazing,” I pant.
“So do you,” she replies.
I pick up my pace. Our breathing also quickens. When I kiss her near her collarbone, I can feel her heart racing, just as mine is. I palm her breast again and give her nipple another pinch before I reach down between us and make my fingers useful.
After only a few brief moments, Kerry’s chest begins to heave. I pick up my pace even more. She clutches the sheets again. “Oh my God, Luca.” I gently bite her nipple, and she screams. “Luca! Oh God!” Her body presses into mine as she attempts to arch her back. Then it falls back to the bed. A few more thrusts and I come harder than I think I ever have.
I kiss her glistening, beautiful, sweaty chest. Then I engulf her mouth with mine. I roll over onto my back after a few seconds, both of us attempting to catch our breath.
“Luca,” is all she says.
I reach for her hand and hold it for a few moments. Then I sit up and walk toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
As I clean myself up in the bathroom, I try not to think too much about the fact that sleeping with Kerry was by far the best sex I’ve ever had.
I try not to dwell on that at all.