Page 15 of Bound By Ink

He pulls back and leans on the counter beside me. I stare up into those intense, bright blue eyes. “So, how are things going with David?” He smirks.

I sigh. “It’s Derren.” I roll my eyes at him.

“Oh, yeah.” He grins back at me, and I punch him in the arm. “Don’t be a dick, I like him.”

“Really?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “You couldn’t find a nice guy; you had to pick a total douche?”

“Killian, don’t, okay. I like him, he likes me.”

“Hey.” He steps closer and turns me to face him. “I’m here for you, you know that, right? You deserve someone who treats you like a king.” I glance down, but he lifts my chin, making me crane my neck. “You know that, right?” I nod, the flush rising up my cheeks. “Don’t let him push you around, or he’ll have me to deal with, okay?”

He pulls me against him and wraps his arms around me, squeezing me tight. He rests his chin on my head. “I love ya, Nerd.”

I breathe him in. His leather-and-spicy scent makes me feel safe, and I allow myself a minute to relish the feeling of him holding me.

Derren was not happy about the contact we shared in the tattoo shop and made me promise to keep Killian at arm’s length, but he’s been my one constant since my parents died. Stepping up when my own brother steppedback. I don’t know what I’d do without him. So, I grip him a little tighter, for a little longer while I can. I’m broken from my contentment when the doorbell rings.

“Scott, door!” Steven shouts from the living room, and I sigh, pulling out of Killian’s grasp. We both head towards the front of the house. Killian breaks off and goes into the living room, vaulting over the back of the sofa, crashing down next to Steven and snatching the remote from the coffee table. When I open the door, I’m facing the living room, grinning.

“Baby.” My eyes snap to see Derren on the doorstep.

“What are you doing here?” I gasp out as he walks into the house, pushing against me and kissing me.

“You said dinner tonight.” He sounds so sure, and I try to think back. Replaying it in my mind, I remember asking Killian. I definitely didn’t ask Derren, but he’s here now. I can’t say there isn’t enough.

I step back, letting him further into the house. He stares into the living room following the noise, and he scowls at Killian. “What are we having for dinner?”

“Sausage and mash.” I smile, heading into the kitchen and turning the pan down. I pull out the sausages from the oven and cover them with tinfoil. I’ll have to pad the meal out with Yorkshires; otherwise, there won’t be enough. But I can make it work. After I put the batter in the oven, I turn around, and Derren steps up against me.

His body presses into mine, and he grinds into me. A shocked exhale pushes past my lips. He grins as he leans in and kisses me. His arms wrap around me, and he grips my ass, pulling me harder into him.

“I’m sorry I was grumpy, baby. I missed you.” He nips at my bottom lip and sucks it into his mouth. His bodypresses against me, and I can feel his hard dick stabbing into mine.

“Derren,” I gasp. We haven’t spoken since the shop. He dropped me off at home, not talking all the way back, and as I climbed out of the car to say something to him, he wheel-spun away.

His tongue slides across mine as he kisses me, forcing its way into my slack mouth. I whimper as Derren groans and grinds against me. And it’s making me dizzy. He’s being so overly affectionate, his arm around me, kisses, but this, this is new, and I press myself against him.

“I want you so bad, baby,” he grumbles into the kiss.

I swallow hard. This has suddenly turned up a notch, and I’m a little nervous and excited. But then I’m startled from my thoughts as Steven and Killian shout at the game from the living room. I freeze, and Derren stops kissing me. Pulling back his face twists. “You don’t want that?”

“I do… so much. I just… After dinner?” I question, hoping I haven’t just ruined the moment. We’re getting to know each other, still trying to figure each other out. It’s been a rocky start, and I don’t want to go too fast and blow it up. I want to go further, to sleep with him. I just don’t think I can while they’re here.

He takes a step back. He doesn’t say anything, so I check on the dinner, switch the kettle on to make the gravy. I quickly slide the sausages back in and turn up the heat on the pans.

I bustle around the kitchen and set the table. Derren pulls out his phone and stares into it, clicking away at it while I busy myself. I know I’ve ruined things; he’s basically blanking me now. I sigh and blow out a breath asI pull the plates from the cupboard, setting them on the side, and grab a jug to make the gravy before dishing up the dinner.

I hear the ruckus of Killian and Steven pushing and shoving as they head into the kitchen. Killian freezes as he sees Derren sitting there.

“Who the fuck’s this?” Steven spits out.

“Erm, this is Derren.”

Derren drops his phone onto the table, stands at the side of me and snatches his arm around me. “I’m the boyfriend.” He yanks at me, crashing my body into his as he kisses my cheek, hard, aggressive, possessive. My knees weaken, my cheeks blush, and I gaze into his eyes. I feel like I’m falling for him.

There’s a sarcastic cough that breaks me from my spell. My eyes flick to Killian. The look on his face is blank, but dismissive. His gaze is fixed on mine as his thick arms cross over his chest.

“Great, do we get to eat now?” he mumbles.