Page 58 of Stone: The Precursor

Somehow, he removes the rubber band from the end, sliding it on his finger, while his other hand unravels my hair, leaving the waves hanging over my shoulder. My brain stops working. He smooths the now-wet paint chips with his fingers, removing each particle. I watch, trapped by the sight of his tattooed fingers moving slowly between strands, finding the paint. It should be gross and disgusting, but it’s sexy and hot.

Stone rinses the washcloth and brings it to my face, running the warm terry cloth fabric along my bare arms, then up to my neck and across my collarbone, removing the paint splatters. It’s slow and sensual. He watches my skin the entire time, his brows furrowed in concentration. When he reaches my cheek, his eyes meet mine. The silence between us is heavy, erotic. Just the gentle swipe of the cloth over my skin is making it hard for me to think. I shiver at the cooling sensation, goosebumps popping out on my skin. The wet slop of the washcloth lands in the sink behind me, and I don’t stop him from re-braiding my hair. He’s quick, and I wonder about his expertise. Who did he practice with?

He pulls the rubber band off his finger using his teeth. The small, black, circular band is positioned between his white front teeth. He pulls it off and twists it, looping it around the end. The heavy braid hangs, brushing my nipple. A little moan escapes my lips, and his eyes flare. I want to touch him so badly, but I keep my hands locked behind me. My fingers ache from their hold on the edge of the porcelain sink. I blurt out the question I need him to answer.

“Will you do it? Will you pose for me?” I hold my body still. I want him to say yes. I need him to say yes.He steps back, and I exhale the breath I was holding.

“Make sure you lock up.”

With that, he leaves the room, and I bend at the waist, stunned at what just happened, at the way I was ready to pull down my pants and let him do whatever he wanted without any acknowledgement of the repercussions. I want to call him back, but I’m too embarrassed that I just moaned like a hussy because the man touched my skin with his calloused fingers. And why is he teasing me, testing me like this, taunting me with his sex appeal? Angry with myself, I scrub my hands again. I need to get his touch off my skin. I keep getting lured into these moments. The night at the club, where I thought there was something. Then again tonight. He’s like a tornado, and I’m ill-equipped to deal with him and the fallout.

Chapter 31

May

And as of a few days ago, I’m an aunt. Still hard to believe that less than 24 hours ago, Sophia went into labor right as we were having fun at Lara’s mental health expo. So much happened that day! Lara and her stepsister came to blows after her stepsister tried to make a move on Lara’s fake boyfriend. It would have been the third time she had tried to sabotage a romantic relationship for Lara, having done so twice before: first with Lara’s high school crush and then years later with her actual live-in boyfriend of over four years.

After Lara punched her sister in the mouth and the awful woman ran away, Sophia’s water broke, and she went into labor. The comedic horror of the moment is still in my mind.

“I thought it was just back pain!”

“Yes, Sparta! Labor pain! I’m going to spank your ass after you give birth.”

“Spanking is what got us into this in the first place, Park!”

My brother smiled and kissed his fiancée. “You’re right. We should save the spanking for baby number two. I’m thinking about next year.”

Sophia gripped my hand firmly on the other side as I helped her into the senior center to wait for the ambulance. “Nope. No more for a few years.”

“But you love it when I come insi?—”

“Stop!” I shouted, totally grossed out, refusing to let Jace finish.

Hours later, my niece Valentina Marie Park was born, and I was in heaven. She was utter perfection, with a cap of dark black hair and what appeared to be Jace’s green eyes, but I couldn’t be certain. She’s been asleep half the time. After Sophia gave birth, all the ladies and I headed home to rest, but I couldn’t resist showing up early the next day.

I just walked in a few minutes ago, eager to hold Valentina. Knocking on the door, I hear Sophia’s clear call to come in. Peering around the door, my eyes zero in on the new family. Sophia looks gorgeous, tired but still beautiful. Her short curly bob is wet, and she’s dressed in a stunning red robe.

She smiles when she sees me, lotioning her arms with what I know is her favorite lemon verbena lotion. I pause, struck for a second because it smells smoky, like a cigar. It smells familiar, and my body reacts immediately.

It’s him.

I’d know his scent anywhere. Looking around, I expect to spot the very man, brooding in the corner, but there’s only Jace, hovering over the clear plastic hospital bassinet where Valentina is wrapped up like a burrito. He touches her soft cheek repeatedly, cooing at her, his handsome face filled with adoration.

My brain is playing tricks on me to think that Stone would be here. He’s not exactly the warm, cuddle-a-baby type, but thenagain, do I really know that? I know next to nothing about him, except that he makes me horny, is rude as fuck, and tattoos for a living.

“Hey.”

Jace looks up and smiles, coming over to give me a hug. He lifts me off the floor, crushing the gift bag and grocery bag in my hand.

“Put me down you idiot! You’ll crush what I brought.”

He kisses my cheek, the grin on his face infectious. “Hi aunt.”

I respond in kind. “Hi dad.”

“God, I fucking love hearing that. I’m a dad. Can you believe it, Cam? Me? A dad.”

“I can believe it. She looks just like you.”