I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT hearing from Royal was completely unexpected and surprised the hell out of me. I expected it to be Colton again, since he has already texted me twice today to tell me how much he misses me.
So when I saw Royal’s name flash across the screen, my heart jumped with excitement.
I’m dying inside to pick up my phone and continue talking to him, but I can’t until I’m done with my client and it’s making me shaky with anticipation.
Last night after he tattooed me, I went to his bed alone and tried my hardest to fall asleep, but all I could think about was the way it felt to have him inside of me, holding and kissing me. I’ve never felt something so pleasurable and intense in my life. It was absolute torture trying to fall asleep alone in his bed when all I wanted to do was feel him inside of me again.
My emotions were all over the place after that, and when I woke up in the middle of the night to see him lying there, all I wanted to do was look at how beautiful and peaceful he looked when he didn’t have be awake and hurting. He’s a beautiful, tortured soul, and seeing him in peace made my heart melt.
I had to stop myself over and over again from reaching over and touching his beautiful, soft lips. Having them so close caused an ache inside of me, craving to lean over and taste him again.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep with all of the emotions he brings out of me, I left and went home to sleep in my own bed.
Now that he’s texted me, I’m left with wondering what he’s thinking. Since he asked me if I was on lunch, I’m guessing he wants to talk about what happened last night.
It has my nerves completely working overtime right now and I’m hoping I can get my client out of here without a lopsided haircut.
“Can you take a little more off the right side?” My client asks. She turns her head from side to side, checking it out in the mirror. “Yeah, just a tad bit more. It’s not really even with the left side.”
I force a smile. “Of course. Let me take a quick look.” Checking out her hair, I turn the chair to the side to face me, to get a better look.
Then I carefully trim the right side to match the left. “Looks good to me. Take a look and let me know if you want me to fix anything else.”
I turn her chair back around and step back as she checks out her hair in the mirror.
My heart almost stops when I hear a motorcycle pull up outside of the salon.
Swallowing, I look over to see Royal hop off his bike, shirtless, with his hair pulled up into a bun. It instantly gives me naughty thoughts, bringing me back to last night. He’s so rough and fucking dirty.
Ellie must notice him at the same time as I do, because before I know it, she’s staring at the door and fixing her red hair. “Holy . . .”
She hits Anne’s arm, causing her to look over as well. “That man must be my lunch. Damn . . . I’d eat him right up.”
Ignoring them, I turn back to my client in hopes to get her the hell out of here before I freak out. “How does it look? Everything good?” I ask in a hurry.
She runs her fingers through her graying hair and lets out a small breath. “Looks even enough . . .” She stares into the mirror for a few more seconds, before turning around to face me right as the bell on the door dings.
Her eyes widen as she looks over at the door to see Royal walk in shirtless. Then she quickly reaches into her purse and pulls out a twenty, acting like she’s in a hurry to get the hell out of here. “Here. Keep the change. I’ll just call and make my next appointment.”
Keeping her distance from Royal, she squeezes past him and rushes to her car, most likely locking the doors once inside.
I can’t help but to smile at Royal as he lifts a brow and then turns to watch the lady speed off. “What can I say . . . She just can’t handle sexy very well. Her poor heart probably can’t handle it.”
“That’s most likely it,” he says stiffly. “Good thing I decided at last minute to wear pants.”
“You can take them off,” Anne says quickly.
“We don’t mind,” Ellie adds in. “Not one bit.”
My stomach knots up at the thought of Anne and Ellie getting a chance to see what’s under Royal’s jeans. It makes me sick with unwanted jealousy.
Royal must notice my discomfort, because before I know it, his arm is around my waist pulling me to him.
Wrapping his hand into the back of my hair, he slams his lips against mine, roughly sucking my bottom lip into his mouth as he pulls away. “You left last night,” he says tightly. “Don’t fucking do that shit again without me knowing that you’re safe. Got it?”
The intense look in his eyes has me nodding my head in agreement. “Yes.”
“Good.” His eyes search mine as if he’s trying to tell if I mean it or not. “Come on.” He grabs my hand and pulls me outside, leaving everyone watching us through the window.
He notices me watching them, so he places his hand on my chin, bringing my attention back to him. “Why did you leave in the middle of the night?”
I close my eyes as he rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “I couldn’t sleep,” I admit. “So I left to sleep in my own bed.”
“Why couldn’t you sleep? And no bullshit, Avalon.”
I swallow as I watch him watching his thumb as it slides across my lip again. “Because I wanted to touch you,” I admit. “But I didn’t know if you wanted me to.”
He inhales deeply and slowly releases it, looking taken aback with my response. “You still hungry?” He asks, changing the subject.
I nod my head, glad for the change of topic. “Yes. I’m starving.”
He releases my chin and grabs for a brown paper bag that is sitting on the seat of his bike. “It’s the biggest, juiciest steak sandwich that I could get. It should help you get through the day.”
Opening the bag, I place my nose in the top and sniff. “Oh my god . . .” I take another quick whiff, feeling my stomach rumble in anticipation. “It smells like heaven. Thank you!”
Feeling thankful that he came here just to bring me lunch, I grab him by the back of the neck and pull him to me, kissing him.
My heart goes crazy as he kisses me back, his lips tasting me just about as desperately as I need to taste him.
Without breaking the kiss, he grips my thighs, pulling me up to wrap my legs around his waist.
I feel him growl into my mouth, before he bites my bottom lip and roughly grips my ass, as if he wants nothing more than to fuck me roughly right here.
“Come over tonight,” he demands, against my lips.
Every part of me wishes that I could say yes. This is such a shitty feeling.
“I can’t,” I breathe. “I told Madison that I’d go out with her tonight.”
“Where?” His jaw clenches as he pulls me closer against him, slightly grinding his hips into me.
“Oh fuck,” I whisper, barely able to keep my control. “Hooligans. She needs a night out of dancing and doesn’t want to go alone.”
He grabs the back of my neck and meets my eyes. “You two are going alone?”
“Yes. We usually do.”
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, slowly releasing it against my lips. “Call me if you need me.”
“Alright,” I agree.
“Okay,” he says, setting me back down to my feet and looking me over in my jeans and white tank top. “Eat your lunch before your time is up. I need to go before I take up all of your time.”
I stand here with my lunch in hand, watching as he walks over to his bike and straddles it. “Thanks for lunch. I’ll let you know how it tastes.”
He nods his head and starts his bike, before quickly taking off, leaving me standing here with a racing heart and a sore lip from his bite.
I’ve never craved to be bitten so badly in my damn life. This man makes me want to be tied up to a bed and have every inch of my body bitten by his glorious fucking mouth.
That’s the power he has over me, and I could care less what anyone thinks about him.
I’ve never felt so alive in my entire life . . .