Page 11 of Embraced in Ink

“Go,” the Montgomerys said in unison, and his family agreed.

Marcus tugged on her arm. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

“The presents are already in the back, but you don’t get to open them until we head to your house tomorrow,” her mother shouted.

“I promise. I know the rules.”

There hadn’t really been a good time for Bristol to sit down and open gifts, so she would do it with her family at her house the next day like they did after large parties like this. He liked the fact that they had little traditions like that. His family tended to just rip into them, but they also didn’t have cocktail parties like this one. Not that the Montgomerys did it often, but with some important occasions, sometimes, they did.

He walked her out to her car, sliding his coat over her shoulders as they made their way.

“Thanks. It’s not too chilly, but I appreciate it.”

“Should’ve been wearing a coat.”

“But I liked the strapless dress. And wearing a coat kind of ruins the lines.”

He was not going to think about lines. Except for crossing them. Because, apparently, that’s what he was doing.

“By the way, I only had half a glass of champagne, I’ve been drinking water all night. I knew I wanted to drive home and not stay over.”

“To get out of cleaning up?” he asked, laughing.

“No, jerk. Mostly because I like being in my own bed, you know?”

“Sure,” he said. He was not going to think about her in her bed. In any bed.

No, he was not.

She let out a sigh and turned to him as they stood in front of her car.

“So,” she said.

“So,” he echoed. He swallowed hard. “Another birthday.”

“Yeah, my thirtieth.”

He watched her throat work as she swallowed hard, and he had no idea what to say. What was he supposed to say?

“I guess this means we’re engaged, huh?” she asked. His breath caught, his whole body freezing.

“Oh my God. You’re engaged?” Andie screamed from behind them, hopping up and down on her heels. Then she turned around to yell into the house. “They’re engaged! Bristol and Marcus are engaged!”

“I knew it! Our babies are getting married! Finally!” his mother shouted before hugging Bristol’s mother as the two began to cry.

Marcus tore his gaze from his family and looked down at his best friend. All he could do was blink.

All color had leached from Bristol’s face, and she parted her mouth as if she were going to say something, but there really wasn’t much to say.

Because people were shouting and clapping, and Marcus knew that things had seriously just gone to hell.

Chapter 3

Bristol licked her lips before letting her head roll back, his mouth on her neck. He sucked, licked, and gently used his teeth on her skin. She shivered, sliding her hands down his thick muscles before letting them trail up his back. She sucked in a breath, shook as his hands went down her sides, gripping her hips. Thankfully, they were both naked, so it was easier for them to touch, to kiss. To look and caress. To feel and tobe.

His mouth traveled down her chest, kissing her breasts, sucking on her nipples. He sucked one peak into his mouth and twisted his tongue the perfect way to send her right over the edge. She came so quickly, it almost felt like a dream. Her legs shook, her body slick with sweat as she tried not to let her thighs spread even wider. She wanted to cling to him, to hold him there. Only he wasn’t making it easy, not with her so needy. So ready.

He moved to her other breast and sucked hard, almost to the point of pain, but she didn’t care. She wanted more,demandedmore.