Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
It’s after hours, and Heat & Ink just closed. Boss and Felon have already left for the day, and I step out to the reception area where Alice is shutting down the computer. “Hey.”
She’s already smiling when she looks at me. She’s been doing that a lot lately. “Hi.”
I lean against the door jamb. “You want the rest of your birthday present?”
She fingers the gold chain at her neck. “You got me this beautiful necklace, paid for a spa day, and threw me a huge party. I think you’ve already overdone it on the gifts.”
I hold my hand up and beckon her closer. “Come here.”
She doesn’t hesitate. She crashes into me, and I lift her up into my arms. Since the night I claimed her in front of the club, she’s been like this. She’s happy and carefree and doesn’t mind showing it.
I carry her to my tattoo room and sit her down on the table. Her legs are hanging over the side, and I fit my waist between her thighs. I kiss her because it’s been too long since the last time.
Her hands are everywhere. Across my shoulders, down my back, and when she pulls at the hem of my shirt, I break the kiss off.
She whimpers and leans into me. “Don’t stop.”
I grab her hands, panting. Fuck, I want her so badly, but if I give in, it’s going to be a while before we have this opportunity again. “I want to give you something.”
She smiles at me and then wraps her legs around my waist. “Yeah. I’ve thought about doing it in here since I first came to work here. I’m game.”
I groan. She isn’t making this very easy. “Tattoo first. Then I’ll give you what you want.”
She sits up a little taller. “You’re going to give me a tattoo?”
She’s so giddy, I know I’m doing the right thing. “Yeah, is that okay? Do you know what you want?”
She shakes her head. “No. I have no idea. Oh my gosh…”
I brush a piece of hair off her face. “Well, I know what I’d like to give you.”
Her eyes light up. “You do?”
I nod, and she cups her hands around my neck. “Then do it.”
I tilt my head. “You don’t want to know what it is?”
She seems to think about it for a minute and then shakes her head. “Nope. I trust you.”
I let out a breath. “Okay, shirt off.”
She pulls her shirt up, and underneath she has on a black silky bra. My breath stutters as I look at her full breasts practically spilling out of the cups. I cup one of them, running my thumb over her pert nipple. She arches her back, pushing herself into my hand.
She sighs. “I thought you were giving me a tattoo.”
I groan and pull my hand back. “Fuck, you make me crazy, princess. Now that you’re mine, I don’t want to keep my hands off you.”
She lifts my hand and puts it back. “You don’t have to.”
I knead her breast, pumping it in my hand, and then release her again. “Tattoo first. Then I’m going to make you feel good. Lay back and roll to your side.”
She lies on her side, and I put a hand on her ribcage. “I want to put it here. Okay?”
She lays her head down on her arm. “Okay.”
I get all my equipment ready and get her skin prepped. When I start the tattoo, she doesn’t flinch, but I only get a few seconds in and stop. “You okay? If you change your mind, just tell me.”
She laughs. “It’s fine. Keep going.”
I put my head down and focus on the tattoo. It’s roughly thirty minutes later when I finish, and I wipe at her delicate skin. Pleased with my work, I kiss her bare shoulder. “Done. Hold on. I’ll get you a mirror.”
She’s trying to see the tattoo, and I come back over, holding the mirror at an angle that makes it easier to see.
She looks at it. “A key… with your name on it.”
I nod at the intricate design.
She doesn’t stop looking at it. “What does it mean?”
Instead of explaining it, I lift my shirt and show her the tattoo on my chest. She almost saw it the other night, and I didn’t want to just spring it on her. She leans in to look at it and then puts a hand to her mouth. “That’s a locket… with my name on it.”
I nod and let out a breath. She seems happy, and relief fills me.
She shakes her head. “But that’s not a new tattoo. I saw that the other night. When did you get it?”
I lift my chin. “The day after you came to town.”
She points at my chest. “You mean the locket, right? When did you put my name on it?”
“The day after you came to town.”