Enzo (Jinx Tattoos Book 1) Read online

  “Oh, yeah?” Her words warmed him. She took her religion seriously. The tone was playful, but the meaning behind them wasn’t.

  “Most definitely, so you’d better make it worth my while.”

  Her teasing tone wrangled the nerves. This was his Aibhlinn. Leaning down, he traced her plump lips with his tongue. “You doubt me?” He bit her bottom lip, hard. When she cried out, he slipped his tongue into her mouth and pushed her skirt up around her waist. Her pale skin was perfection against the black lacy underwear that showed glimpses of red curls. “Remember you asked for it like this.”

  Her breath shook. He hooked his thumbs into the sides of her panties and yanked them down. Neatly trimmed red curls covered her weeping sex. The aroma of arousal that was solely Aibhlinn hit him like an aphrodisiac. He parted the lips with his thumbs. “You’ve got such a pretty little pink pussy, baby. I can’t wait to taste it.”

  Propped up on her elbows she glanced down at him with electric green-blue eyes. Her tongue darted out, and she licked her lips.

  The sensual gesture had his dick rock hard. “Keep your eyes on me, baby,” he said, bending down to sample her. Her sweetness danced along his taste buds. He trailed her slit and flicked her swollen clit. Her hips bucked, and he pressed his hand down on her stomach. “You stay right there until I’m done.”

  She groaned.

  “Funny, I don’t hear that Irish tongue wagging.”

  Just as she opened her mouth to reply, he speared his tongue inside of her. She bucked, and he fucked her with his tongue.

  A pink blush covered her neck and cheeks. “Enzo,” she moaned with a helpless tone.

  He slipped a finger inside. “Damn right, I’m the one making you feel this.” He flicked his tongue and plunged in and out, marveling at her tightness. Whimpers spilled from her lips as she thrashed her head from side to side. He was watching her come undone, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He slid in another finger, stretching her out. “Let me hear you, Aibhlinn. Don’t you hold shit back.” He lashed at her bundle of nerves.

  “Ack, right there, En, right there. Yes.”

  Her walls flexed around his finger. He added a second digit and sucked her clit into his mouth.

  “Oh Lord. I’m coming.” Her body shook, and her walls clamped down. He continued to thrust in and out, as she came down. Pulling his fingers out, he kissed the inside of her thighs. Her eyes were glazed over, and her body was limp. His dick threatened to bust out of his pants. He moved from the bed shedding his clothes. This barely whet his appetite. Reaching inside his pants, he pulled out his wallet and removed a condom. After ripping the silver packet open with his teeth, he slid the covering down his swollen cock. The snug fit made him moan. She had him on the edge. He gritted his teeth, determined not to come until she found her pleasure first.

  Enzo helped her out of her dress and bra, then groaned when her high, firm breasts were freed. “Such a hot little thing, so ready for my cock. Lay back and spread your legs wide, and let me inside,” he urged.

  She did as he asked, watching him with blazing jewels for eyes.

  He knelt between her legs, rubbing his dick between her slick lips. His head tapped her sensitive clit with every thrust.

  She moaned, rocking her hips in time with his rhythm.

  “You ready for me?”

  She nodded.

  Entwining their fingers, he thrust hard, burying himself to the hilt. She cried out, coming off the bed, and he went still. She gripped him like a glove.

  “Fuck, baby, you’re so hot. I can’t wait to see my dick moving in and out of that pussy.” Her tense muscles relaxed, and he pulled out and pushed back in slowly, fighting the urge to fuck her into the mattress. Not yet. He had to give her time to adjust first. Leaning forward, he captured her nipple, sucking and nipping.

  She wrapped her legs around him, taking him deeper inside of her body.

  He pulled out and drove deep. Their flesh slapped together. The sight of her body accepting him made him growl. “Look down. See how well we fit together, Ave?”

  She moaned.

  “Look down, now,” he demanded.

  She blinked and turned her gaze downward. Her walls flexed around him.

  “Whose dick are you taking?”

  “Yours,” she cried.

  “What’s my name, Aibhlinn?”

  “Enzo,” she screamed.

  He pulled out. “Get up on your knees.”

  She scrambled into position, and he pushed inside of her. She wrapped her arm around his waist, meeting him stroke for stroke; he cupped her breast, pinching and rolling. “You like this big dick? Ave?’

  “Yes, fuck yes.”

  “Show me, come on my cock.” He moved his hand down to flick her clit, moving faster. The bed rocked, her walls tightened and her back arched. He sank his teeth into her shoulder. Her body shook and the pulsing of her pussy drew him over the edge with her as she milked him dry.

  Aibhlinn

  It felt like a dream. She lay tucked beneath Enzo’s arm unable to sleep as she basked in his warmth and scent. All these years had led up to one explosive joining. His breathing was deep and even. She craned her neck to get a better look at him. He appeared almost innocent in the early morning light. This was more than she’d ever dreamt. Her heart swelled with happiness, and her well-used pussy all but hummed with fresh desire. The man made her feel things she’d never experienced before. Easing away from him, she worked the sheet down over his hips and admired his frame. Golden skin covered well formed muscles, and the map of tattoos told a story. She trailed her nails down his chest, circling his nipples. They hardened, and he moaned in his sleep. She climbed over his body, straddling his hips as she placed her mouth to his chest, and she manipulated the hardened peaks on his pecs. She nipped at his flesh. His cock was at half-mast. She gripped his base, and took him into her mouth, coaxing him to life. His cock grew in her mouth, and she relaxed her jaw and throat to take him deep.

  His hands slipped into her hair and pulled the strands tautly. “So good,” he croaked.

  The tension on her scalp and the husky praise from Enzo had her wet. She bobbed her head, moving her hand up and down in opposition to her mouth. He was masculine, salty, and addicting. She hollowed her cheeks and increased her speed, twisting her wrist.

  “Ave, Ave,” he chanted her name as his cock twitched in her mouth.

  When she hummed, he pulled her head down and fucked her mouth. Her eyes watered and her throat took the pounding like a champ. She timed her breaths between thrusts, loving the way he claimed and used her. She had a naughty streak a mile long and curiosity about things she could only explore with this man.

  His dick twitched and went impossibly hard. He released a hot stream into her mouth as he grunted her name.

  She swallowed it down, choking slightly.

  He released his death grip, and she sat back on her knees, grinning as she pushed the escaped liquid into her mouth. His limbs twitched, and he pulled her up to his side, burying his fingers in her hair. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, he kissed her breathless.

  The desire and the love visible in his eyes melted her into a metaphorical puddle of goo.

  They parted for air, and he kissed her forehead. “Love you, Ave,” he whispered, pulling her to his side.

  “And I love you,” she whispered back as her heart sang. There was a rightness to being here like this with him.

  Enzo nudged her neck with his nose, inhaling her scent. His arm held her tight to him. “Now we sleep, so we can wake up and have round three.”

  His warmth and his promise lulled her to sleep.

  The bed rocked back and forth, rousing her from sleep. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and peered over at Enzo.

  Sweat ran down his forehead, as he tossed from side to side.

  He’s having a nightmare. “Enzo. Enzo,” she called, careful not to touch him.

  His eyes popped open, but she wasn’t sure he was
seeing her. He stared at a point in the distance she couldn’t see.

  “Enzo?”

  His head jerked to the side, and he stared through her.

  “Enzo, it’s okay, you’re here with me.”

  He stumbled from the bed, backing away like a feral child afraid of humans.

  Her heart wrenched. Is this what he goes through alone? Unsure what to do, she remained still.

  Enzo glanced to the left and right, locked in a nightmare that only he could see. He moved to the corner where he crouched down and wrapped his arms around his knees.

  Her stomach twisted. “Enz?”

  He buried his head in his arms, refusing to respond.

  She licked her dry lips. Do I let him play this out? She’d heard of flashbacks but never witnessed one first hand.

  His body shook, and broken sobs left his throat.

  Tears gathered in her eyes and spilled over. Soon, she was sobbing with him.

  After what felt like an eternity, he seemed to become lucid. “Aibhlinn?”

  “Enzo?” she asked cautiously.

  “Yes.”

  “What am I doing over here?”

  “You had some sort of flashback I think.”

  The color drained from his face. He got to his feet, swaying slightly as he rushed to her bathroom.

  The sound of retching ripped at her heart. He was a proud man. If she went to him on her own terms, he would push her away. So, she waited on the bed, anxious to see how he would respond. She’d never seen him so vulnerable before. Suddenly, his reluctance to get involved made more sense. It would be impossible to have a woman stay overnight when you might have a flashback or nightmare. Did I cause this? As the minutes crept by, her discomfort and concern grew. She’d never listened when Enzo tried to block her out, why would she now? Slipping from the bed, she grabbed his T-shirt from the floor, pulled it on, and carefully walked to the bathroom. “Enz?” she called, tapping the door lightly.

  “Oh, God, please go away,” he snapped.

  “Never going to happen, babe. We both know I’m even more stubborn than you when I need to be. What happened?”

  “Flashback. They happen sometimes. I can’t even tell you what I was remembering, and that’s probably a good thing.”

  She winced. “Can I do anything?”

  “Only if you can forget this happened. I haven’t had one in a long, long time, Aibhlinn.”

  Until now. The words hung in the air between them. She bowed her head. How could she ask him to keep doing this? “What do you want me to do?”

  “Give me a minute, let me take a shower, get dressed, and see if I can shake this, okay?”

  She nodded her head, backing away from him. “I’m going to work on breakfast.”

  Her head spun as she walked out to the kitchen. He was worse off than she’d ever imagined. The joy she’d felt drained away and became replaced with dread. They were a ticking time bomb, ’til he resolved the problems of his past that continued to haunt him.

  When he walked out, she glanced up from the plate of hash browns she was setting onto plates.

  “I’m sorry if I frightened you,” Enzo said quietly. He was withdrawn and somber.

  “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded.

  An uncomfortable quiet fell over the room. She busied herself buttering and jamming the toast, plating the eggs and bacon. “Sit, you need to eat. I think we both burned an insane amount of calories,” she teased.

  A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. He sat down, brooding. His brow remained furrowed, and his eyes were sad.

  She knew what was coming. Walking away, she poured him a cup of coffee—black—and then laced hers with a healthy dose of sugar and creamer.

  “Come and eat with me,” he said, patting the chair beside him.

  She did as he requested, unsure what to think when he pulled her chair flush to his own. He wrapped an arm around her and ate one handed.

  She cherished the small act and bit her tongue, letting him take the lead with the next move.

  “That was delicious, Ave.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, smiling up at him sweetly.

  “What you saw today, that’s par for the course with me. You see now why I say I’m not right. My choice to remain apart from you was more than fear. I’m a mess, and that may never change.”

  She closed her eyes. “But it could.”

  “I’m thirty-five, Ave, and unlike you, I don’t have the faith to believe in miracles and healings. I’m broken—”

  “You’re just a little bruised.”

  “No, I’m like a high functioning alcoholic. I have a sickness that I deal with in a manner that allows me to appear normal, but in the privacy of my own home, the darkness leaks out.” He took her hand. “I don’t want you to have to deal with this.”

  “Let that be my decision.”

  “No, because you don’t know how not to take the problems of those you care onto your own shoulders. This burden is too heavy, Aibhlinn. And mostly, I don’t want to hurt you. When I have those flashbacks, I’m not aware of my surroundings.” He shook his head. “I’d cut my hand off before I let that happen, a chroí.”

  The sound of her native land on his tongue ripped at the bleeding wound in her heart. “So get help.”

  “And you’ll what? Wait for me?” He shook his head. “No, I’ve been selfish enough to last a lifetime. You deserve to be happy, and if it’s not with me, I have to accept that. You have to accept that.”

  She shook her head.

  He placed a finger on her lips. “Yes, a chroí. Didn’t you tell me that Catholics believe love is willing the good of the other person?”

  “Oh, you asshole, using my own words against me.”

  He smiled. “I love you, but we both know there are times when love isn’t enough.”

  Her dreams shattered like a snow globe dropped onto the ground. She couldn’t push him after seeing what he lived with. “If I agree to this, do you promise to get some kind of help?”

  “Aibhlinn.”

  “If not for yourself, for me, please?” She gazed up at him

  “Only if you promise not to wait around.”

  She choked on her sob. “I won’t.”

  “Maybe a time of separation might be a good idea,” he said softly.

  She bowed her head. They’d been on the verge of something legendary, and now they were downgrading to so much less. “Okay,” she whispered.

  “This is what’s best ... for both of us.”

  “I understand.” But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.

  Chapter Six

  Enzo

  The past few weeks had shown him what he’d always known—life without Aibhlinn was hell. They kept in contact with texts and calls, but he was lucky if he saw her even once a week. It was his fault. He’d ask for it. It was the right choice. Only because you won’t deal with the underlying issues. He tapped the card he’d gotten from an office onto his desk. Dr. Laura Castells came highly recommended from his mother. Karen Jordan had the pulse on local counselors and psychologists. At fifty-five, his parents were still active with fostering, and they would always have a soft spot for the kids others would turn away.

  His mother had spent more time going back and forth with mental health caregivers than most humans. He trusted her judgment. So why are you hesitating? This is how you get Aibhlinn back. Part of him was terrified he couldn’t be helped, or he might make things worse. He understood what a trigger was—an event that brought back bad memories—and in a worst case scenario, flashbacks of traumatic things that had happened in the past.

  He went out of his way to avoid those things. It was why women never slept overnight, and he hadn’t attempted a relationship. He had a fucked up brain. Women made him cagey and paranoid when it got too deep. He could do the math and figure out why. He’d had a neglectful and abusive mother who’d abandoned him. The problem was, logic didn’t have shit to do with emotion
s. He couldn’t turn off that damaged mode. Regardless, he needed to keep his promise. He took a deep breath, and dialed the number.

  “New Life Counseling center, how may I help you?”

  “Yes, I’d like to book an appointment with Dr. Laura Castells.”

  “Have you been seen by Dr. Castells before?” the pleasant voiced woman asked.

  “No, this will be my first time.”

  “One moment, sir, let me see what she has available.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He held his breath as Michael Buble’s voice crooned in his ear about the holidays. He grimaced. To say he wasn’t in a festive mood was an exaggeration.

  “I see here she has an appointment available Friday, November the twentieth at three o’clock.”

  A week from now. “I’ll take it.”

  “Excellent. May I get your name, please?”

  “Yes, Enzo Jordan.”

  “Okay, Mr. Jordan, we need you to get here fifteen minutes before the appointment, so you can fill out paperwork.”

  His chest tightened, but his spirit felt lighter. He wanted to call Aibhlinn and celebrate. She would be proud of him. He spun the phone in his hand. They hadn’t spoken yet this week, so it wouldn’t be too much. He hit speed dial and waited, anxiously.

  “Hey, Enz, everything okay?” she asked. He heard a male voice in the background and frowned.

  “Yeah, did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked.

  “No, I was just showing Keir around town. Poor guy’s been cooped up in his apartment too long,” she explained with a teasing tone that told him Keir was listening.

  He scowled, remembering the Irishman he’d met at the art show. “Oh ... well, I won’t keep you. I-I just wanted to tell you I booked an appointment with a psychologist.”

  “You did?” she gasped.

  “Yeah. It, uh ... It’s for next Friday.”

  “That’s fantastic, Enzo! I am so proud of you. I know that wasn’t the easiest thing to do.”

  He could tell she was guarding her words to protect his privacy. It made him long for her even more. “A promise is a promise, right?”