It would be such a pleasure to gentle this woman to his touch.

“All right then.” He kissed the hand he’d been holding. “Get back to work.” He turned, knowing she probably needed some time to get herself together. God knew he needed that too.

7

She couldn’t avoid it any longer. She didn’t want to work on him any more that night. She’d gotten a lot done, but she’d worked on his back for nearly three hours and though he hadn’t complained, she knew he was going to be sore and tired, and she sure was.

Their conversation had left her sort of off balance, but he’d given her his back and had left her alone with her thoughts for a long while before starting in on small talk again. She’d agreed to monogamy. She hoped like hell she wouldn’t f**k it up because she really liked him.

She cleaned off his back. “I think that’s enough for tonight. Want to look before I cover it up?”

“Yeah.” He stood stretching, his arms above his head as his back cracked a few times.

He checked her work in the mirror, nodding his head. “I like it so far.”

“Thanks. Come back so I can get it covered up. You’ve done the tattoo thing before so you know it’s going to itch and you need to keep out of the sun, that sort of thing. I brought a tube of stuff for you to put on it. But then it’s on your back.”

She covered the tat and he turned slowly, a smile on his lips. “Then it looks like you’ll be the one to help. It comes with the service, right?”

He was so . . . much.

“Hm. You promised me food and a martini.”

“I’m ordering in. Once that’s done I’ll get us some drinks.” He pulled her in, surprising her. “First I need a kiss.”

She held on, careful to avoid his back, as he lowered his mouth to hers, taking it, owning it, and she gave over, opening up on a soft sigh. He tasted so good.

His tongue, sure, as sure as he was, swept into her mouth and a memory of his mouth on her pu**y flashed through her brain. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the ache, but it only made things worse.

He nipped her bottom lip and then took a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. Something warm washed through her as her muscles loosened. His lips cruised down her throat as he nibbled at the hollow, on her thundering pulse.

His skin was hot and hard as he held her tight, one hand in her hair, the other sliding down to take a handful of her ass.

She moaned and he made a sound, nearly a growl.

“Food. Drink. Then I’m going to f**k you.”

He stepped back, licking his lips as she struggled to gain her composure. And failed.

Jonah flustered her. She wanted him. That he wanted her with such avarice thrilled her. Her body didn’t give one tiny f**k that she was supposed to be annoyed with his caveman-type ways. Her clit and ni**les thought it was pretty fantastic actually.

She watched as he swayed to the phone. Broad shoulders led to a narrow waist and a spectacular ass. It was just as hot with his jeans on as it was when he was naked. And that was pretty f**king spectacular.

Raven busied herself by putting her gear away. She put aside the tools she’d need to run through the autoclave before using them again. Secured the inks. She cleaned off the chair where they’d been working and put the stool she’d been sitting on back.

When she’d finished she’d found some measure of peace, but when she turned back to see him in his kitchen, pulling martini glasses out, she couldn’t stop a wistful sigh.

“I like that you wore a red shirt.” He pushed a glass to her. “Olive or onion?”

“Olive.” And he’d shown a preference for red after all. And she had a million T-shirts, many of them red, so it wasn’t like it was a big deal.

He dropped in an olive and clinked his glass to hers. “To beginnings.”

She tipped her chin and sipped. He had not exaggerated his skill.

“This is a very fine martini.” Nice and dry.

“Food will be here in about half an hour. Come sit in the living room.”

She followed him. He sat, putting his feet up and patting the couch next to him.

Raven drank slowly, not quite trusting herself to say much.

“I did ask about you to your friends. Does that bother you?”

She thought about it and he didn’t press.

“Maybe. A little.” She shrugged.

“I wasn’t trying to dig up dirt. I like you. I’m interested in you and I wanted to know more. Daisy likes you. She’s a little in awe, I think, which is interesting given how fierce my brother’s girlfriend is.”

“Well, at least one of you has good taste.”

He smirked. “What do you mean by that?”

“Do you think I haven’t heard about your sister-in-law? The one who thinks Daisy is a dirty gold digger out for your family fortune?”

He sighed heavily, draping an arm over her shoulder, hugging her close, and to her surprise, she liked it.

“Gwen. Goddamn, she must give head like nobody’s business. It’s really the only thing I can think of that would blind Mal to her many faults.”

“Is that the key then? Cocksucking?”

“You do well with the c**k and the rest is sort of easier.”

“Hm.”

“What’s this mysterious hm you do? What does it mean?”

“Any and all manner of things at any given time.”

“Should you be harboring any ideas that I’m only here with you because of your cocksucking skill, though you’ve got it, you’re not easy.”