Shit, not again.

My body comes back to life, my mind back into focus. Oh, God, just seeing him again makes me want him. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to resist this pull. Images of him leaving me spread out on my school desk flash before my eyes and I remember what a douche bag he can be.

“Hello, Phoenix, nice to see you again,” I greet him, willing my raging heart to calm. How the hell does this man manage to affect me like this?

“Cut the bullshit, Kadence. Your little prim and proper act is getting old.” My eyes narrow to his, and he smirks like he has me all figured out.

“What do you want, Nix?” I give up my indifference. The bastard can see right through it.

“I wanna know where the fuck you have been wearing that.” He points down to my outfit. “Why you’re in my shop, pissin’ Sy off in the process, and I wanna know why the fuck you ran the other night?” His last question is directed with more authority.

Holly lets out a sigh and then announces to no one in particular, “That was so hot.”

Sy, aka scary tattoo guy, scoffs while I’m left processing his words.

Looking down at my skirt and black top that exposes a small amount of skin, I address his first question.

“What are you talking about? I’ve got clothes on.” He leans into my space and runs a finger down the exposed skin between my breasts,

"Babe, you're coverin’ less skin than you’re showin’.” I roll my eyes at his Neanderthal views.

“Shut up, Nix. Her outfit is smoking hot. Don’t be a pig,” Holly comes to stand at my side, saying the words on the tip of my tongue.

“I know it’s fuckin’ hot,” he agrees with her. “So does every other fucker who’s seen her wear it tonight.”

I scoff, not about to get into it with him over his caveman views, or the fact he can get fucked; what’s it to him? He doesn’t own me.

“I didn’t know this was your shop,” I say truthfully, addressing his second question. Maybe that’s why cranky tattoo guy looks familiar. Was he at the bar that night? I don’t remember. Pushing away the feeling that I know him from somewhere else, I think back to when he talked about his businesses. I don’t think we discussed the tattoo shop in detail. If we did, I was probably thinking of Nix and what we were going to be doing later that night.

“And,” I continue, “Sy here,” I point to scary but still hot tattoo guy, “was already in a pissed-off mood before we got here. I’d like to think that two young, single women coming in would brighten his night. Clearly, that’s not the case.”

Nix smiles and his dimple appears, the same one I found handsome on our one-time date last week. Shit, don’t get caught up in his alluring looks, Kadence.

“And the last?” he pushes, so intent for me to admit what he already knows. I let out a breath, knowing he isn’t going to let it go.

“Like we said, our one-time deal turned into a three-time deal.” I shrug, not wanting to get into with him, especially in front of Holly.

Sy, or cranky biker as I could refer to him, clears his throat, “Hate to break up the love fest, but are we piercing that belly or not?” His voice sounds pissed off, but I can hear a hint of teasing.

“Yes.” “No,” Nix and I both say at the same time.

“Nix, just because you’ve had your mouth on my pussy doesn’t mean you own it,” I blurt out and instantly regret it.

Jesus, the man makes me crazy and now makes me blurt out inappropriate things.

He smiles again as Sy grumbles and Holly laughs. Turning back around, I tell Sy, ‘Yes’ and watch as he looks past me to Nix. Rolling my eyes, he looks back to me and nods, obviously getting approval. Spinning back to face my new apparent keeper, I put on my sweet voice. “Oh, thank you so much, Daddy, for letting me get it done. I'll promise I’ll be a good girl.” Nix and Holly laugh out loud and as I turn I see Sy’s lip slightly lifted in amusement. Ha! I knew he wasn’t so badass.

Nix leans into my ear. “You can thank me later, babe, when I’m spankin’ your ass, and then you can call me daddy all you like.” Heat floods my cheeks; a dull throb makes me squeeze my thighs together. He quietly chuckles when he notices it. The bastard.

“Right, come on,” Sy grunts and I walk past Holly to make my way back to the piercing room. Holly hangs back but Nix follows close behind.

Stopping in my tracks, I look back at him. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“Comin’ with,” he replies, like he just told me he’ll walk me to my car.

“Umm, no,” I say, shaking my head.

“Umm, yes,” he imitates me back, and I bite my lip to hold in a laugh at watching him do that. He looks down at my lips and shakes his head.

“Babe, I’m not real comfortable with you lyin’ on the bed in that mini skirt, your top hiked up with Sy’s hands on you.”

“Wow, jealous much? Last time I checked, it wasn't your concern, Nix,” I inform him but he just shakes his head.

“You have no fuckin' idea,” he mumbles under his breath.

Not inclined to argue anymore, I continue down the hall, Nix close behind. First things first, I need to get this over with and then I can think about what I’m going to do with one possessive bossy man I seem to have on my hands.

Chapter Twelve

Nix

I need to get a grip. Fast.

Walking in and seeing Kadence with her long fucking legs in her sexy-as-fuck heels, I had to take a minute to compose myself. The woman is a walking wet dream. Her blonde friend saw me first. I gave her a wink, and brought my finger to my mouth, motioning her to be quiet. She nodded and didn't give me up. I think I have a supporter in her.

Once again, Kadence and her smart mouth made my dick hard and my head hurt all in the space of sixty seconds. The woman would fight with me over the color of a red pen, but boy, do I fucking love it. Her throwing her attitude and being sexy as fuck while doing it is more than I can ask.

Two minutes in her presence and I knew I had to have her again. I don’t think it will take too much to convince her. After watching Sy put his gloved hands on her, I need to find some release. I sat there grinding my teeth as his fingers touched her skin.

I’m pussy-whipped. I know it. I shot daggers the whole time at Sy, and the bastard fucking kept pushing me. With her top pushed up, he took great pleasure in trying to get a reaction from me.

The fucker will pay later.

His eyes skimmed over her scarred side, his hand a little too close for comfort. For reasons I don’t even know, it made me feel protective of her. I don’t know the story behind it, but I will find out soon enough. I kept waiting for the asshole to say something so I could rip him a new one. Kadence somehow sensed my stress and reached out, taking my hand in hers. Sy’s eyes came to mine, a silent question, but I just shook my head in warning to leave it. I don’t know what I’m going do with this woman, but whatever it is, I’m sure as hell going to enjoy finding out.

Kadence now sits behind me, her pussy pressed up against my back, her arms tightly around me. Sy took Holly home after I realized the girls planned on walking home. I was not fucking down with that idea and told them both just that. It took a bit of convincing, but after Holly had declared she couldn't wait to ride on the back of Sy’s bike, Kadence had no choice.

After throwing a little of the Kadence attitude I’ve come to appreciate, I told her she would end up like she did the other night on her school desk. She quickly shut up and agreed to ride with me. Holly demanded to know why the hell she didn’t know anything about a school desk, which earned me some more daggers from Kadence. Sy, on the other hand, didn’t seem too impressed. Don’t know why; Holly seems to be into him and she isn’t sore on the eyes, that’s for sure.