Barber Shop Ink: Always Blue in Memphis

by Penny Blush

  "I am ecstatic J. Very, very ecstatic," I smiled, hugging him. “Thank Haun for me please.”

  “He sent the other items as well,” he indicated to the large, long, black box by the coat cupboard, near the door.

  “Thank you, Jensen, and thank Haun for that also.”

  I had itchy fingers since getting my blades back. I looked at Jensen and noticed that he was looking all wild and woolly, his hair was too long and his beard, which he wore long, was rough and misshapen.

  "Jensen, let me tidy you up as a thank you for coming all the way down here,” I said, spinning my razor around by the thumb ring.

  "No trouble kid, I had to come down this way anyhow, to pick Mary up from work. It's her last shift at the hospital before she has to go back to give birth." The smile he wore on his face shone in his eyes at the thought of his wife and child.

  "I bet Mary hasn't had time to pamper herself. I'll tell you what…" I said, excited by the prospect of getting to use my trade again. "You go and get your gorgeous wife and then come back here and I'll sort you both out. Who knows when you'll have time to do something like this again! And besides, the shop doesn't open until twelve, and there's still a barber chair downstairs.”

  "Sure kid, sounds like a plan. I know Mary would appreciate it and she’d love to see you. I'll see you in a bit," Jensen left, pulling the door closed behind him.

  I couldn't help the happy squeal that escaped my lips as I skipped off towards the bathroom to get ready. Today was going to be a good day.

  Chapter 23 Memphis

  That damn busted fridge completely ruined my Sunday plans. I wasn't going to blame Garry it wasn't entirely his fault, he'd kept that old heap going on gaffer-tape and prayers. The last scam-artist who looked at it and offered to ‘help him out' charged him a fortune and used inferior second-hand parts, leaving him with a fridge that was worse off than when the guy started. He couldn’t afford any more repairs let alone a new one. Garry, an ex-military man, is a prideful man, would not admit that he had been taken for a ride and ask for help. Garry had patched things up as best he could until the whole thing ceased, giving him no option but to place a call, asking for help.

  Between Garry and Pops, these old blokes are going to give me an aneurysm. If you need help ask for it!

  Even with Jax, Bishop and my help it took Darris almost nine hours to undo the dodgy repairs that had been done and replace the motor and everything else that was damaged. By the time, I crawled into the shit-heap I currently call home I was hot, dirty and smelt like raw meat. All I wanted to do was take a scalding hot shower to scrub the day and the smell of raw meat away and then flip the dial until it was ice-cold until I was blue, maybe then I would finally cool down. I was tired and sore and wanted to sleep for a week.

  No, actually what I wanted to do was go over to Hedge's place, crawl into bed with her, wrap myself around her and let her sweet fruity scent lull me to sleep. After a decent night sleep, I could double check that she was okay. I know she was tired, we both were, a lot of things were said, and a lot of things were left unsaid. I didn't want anything to be left unspoken and then have things turn weird, not when we were just getting comfortable together.

  I meant what I had said, though, Hedge had the potential to be something epic. This thing between us could be so spectacularly profound in fact that if it all went horribly wrong; I don't think I would ever recover.

  It almost killed me to walk away from her last night at the BBQ, but Vex had overheard her telling me to get off the damn phone and threatened her. Hopefully one day I can explain it, and she would understand that me leaving was all for her, to protect her and keep her safe, her and Cassidy both.

  Hedge was wrapped around me, rubbing herself against me, it was one of the hottest moments of my life, then in a husky, throaty voice, she whispered in my ear "Memphis Baby, get off the phone now, I need you; I'm so close." She was kissing my jaw as she used my body in an attempt to relieve the pressure and need building in hers. "Memphis, I need you to fuck me hard and make me cum."

  I almost lost it right then and there. I was rock-frigging-hard, with a hand full of boob and about thirty seconds away from telling Vex that he could fuck right off when his greasy voice got my undivided attention.

  "You don't want to pay up?" Vex chuckled down the line. "That's fine. How about I come down there and take possession of the slut that's with you, that I can hear begging for your cock, as your payment."

  "What the fuck did you say?!" I roared back, forgetting Hedge for half a second.

  Hedge thought that I had been talking to her. I placed my hand over her mouth cutting off her reply as Vex’ voice slid down the line.

  "I've told you before, do not fuck with me. You think I'm playing here? You think that you can ignore me? Disrespect me?" You think I don't know what is going on in your life?" His laugh made my blood run cold. "Be here in twenty minutes, or I'm coming down there, and I will TAKE what YOU owe me out of your women, and I'll make you watch. I will break every bone in your fucking body so that you can't move, but I will leave your eyes and ears in pristine condition so that you can see and hear every depraved thing that will happen. I will make you watch as the slut, and the pink-haired bitch pays your debt. I will sell them to the highest bidder, and they can do whatever the fuck they want."

  "Don't you fucking dare, you even think it, and I'll rip your fucking arms off and beat you to death with them." I hissed with all the hatred I felt for this low-life piece of shit.

  "Do not test me. I will not remind you again. Be here in twenty minutes. Do we have an understanding?"

  “Fine,”

  “Are you sure? ‘Cos, you don’t sound sure,”

  “I said, fine….”

  "You cannot fuck with me Memphis, don't even try ‘cos it is you that will get fucked. Do you understand? Say you comprehend Memphis."

  "Yes." I hissed out, and with that, the line went dead.

  It took Herculean strength to walk away from Hedge again. I had had my hand down her pants, my finger teasing her. She was so hot and soaking wet. Her soft, delicate fingers had been working my rock-hard cock. I was so close to spilling in my jeans, but when he had threatened Hedge and Cassidy, I had to put their safety ahead of my dick and its need to be buried balls deep inside her.

  Then I went and tasted her. I dragged my finger through her folds, across the tight bud of her clit collecting her arousal as I went and then licked my finger clean. Holy shit! Never in my life had I ever, tasted anything as sweet, as enticing and oh, so addictive. I had only had a taste, a sample, but I wanted more. Just thinking about it was making me hard.

  I had her in my arms right where I wanted her. I turned her on; made her wet and then I made her cry. It felt like my heart was getting ripped out of my chest. I did that to her; I had caused her to cry. Each tear that fell was like a slice into my heart.

  I had to go and deal with Vex. Once again, I had to hand over my hard-earn cash and stand there listening as he again described in horrific detail what would happen to Cassidy and Hedge if I didn’t keep my mouth shut and the money coming in. I could feel the anger and hatred pulsing through my veins, clenching and unclenching my fists trying to keep a lid on my anger. Thought’s flicking through my head that if his ever-present bodyguards weren't around, I would end his miserable life without feeling a shred of guilt.

  I couldn't keep going on like this, always looking over my shoulder. I wasn't concerned for myself. I was terrified though that Vex would follow through on his threat and the girls would be hurt. If anything happened it would destroy Cassidy, her tough exterior would shatter into a million pieces, and no amount of ‘crazy glue' would be able to put her back together. She may want people to believe that she's Teflon and that nothing affected her that everything just slid right off her non-stick exterior, but I knew better. I loved that girl like a kid sister.

  Hedge may have thought that she had everyone fooled but not me. I knew how deeply she loved, how int
ensely she loved and how deeply she felt things. I would do whatever I could to protect her and keep her safe.

  Just the thought of Vex with his hands-on Hedge made me want to forget that I was a good guy, with a moral compass that was pointed squarely on the right side of the law. I could feel myself turning into a snarling werewolf again; there was no way that I could go back to the party the way I was feeling. I stormed out of the cheesy bar that Vex used as his ‘office’ jumped on my bike and took off.

  I let the speed and the wind take my stress, anger and worry away in the slipstream as I leant the bike into every bend and curve of the road. I rode hard and fast leaving all my pent-up emotions behind with the rubber I laid out on the road.

  It was late by the time I got back to the BBQ, most people had gone home except for the usual suspects. I walked through the side gate to find Jax, Cassidy, Bear, Davis and Bishop all sitting around a fire-pit quietly talking. I tilted my head in question at Jax who indicated to the chair across from him with his half-empty beer bottle.

  There she was, curled up like a pretzel again, asleep in her chair. I walked around the back of the circle, clapping a hand on Jax' shoulder.

  "She's okay man," was all he said. His tone was a little harsh, and I raised an eyebrow giving him a ‘what's that supposed to mean' look, "Memph, really she's fine."

  Jaxon is the only one who knew about Vex. The only reason he found out was he knew I was being evasive and kept having to ‘duck out' so, he followed me one night when I went to make a payment. He was pissed as hell and offered to help to pay off the debt but I refused, it seems stubborn stupidity runs in the family.

  Jax knew that something was going on with Hedge and me, and like the good big brother/cousin that he is, he decided that we needed to chat. He let me know that he didn't have any issues with us being together, but if I hurt her, he was going to knee-cap me and break my hands so I could never work again.

  Jax had seen Hedge, and I disappear into the shadows, and then saw me come out alone, head down avoiding everyone heading towards the gate.

  "Memphis. Dude is everything okay?" he asked grabbing my arm, halting my escape.

  “No … Yes … No… Fuck I don’t know,” exhaustion flooded my system.

  When am, I going to catch a fucking break? I rubbed my hand along my brow trying to relieve the building tension.

  “Well, which one is it? Where’s Hedge?” he asked looking over my shoulder.

  “No, everything’s not okay, fucking Vex called.”

  “Shit!”

  “Yeah, look, Jax, the fucker has me on a clock. I need to meet him in twenty minutes." I looked back towards the alcove where I had been with Hedge and saw her disappear up the stairs to her apartment. "Jax, can you please go and check on her. She's upset and confused and probably very pissed off. We keep getting interrupted by stupid shit."

  “Dude too much information. That’s my cousin you’re talking about” he said shuddering.

  "She asked me if there was someone else. There's not," I reiterated quickly when rage flared in Jax’ is eyes. "Fucking Vex called, and I had to walk away from her again. Just check on her, Jax please."

  No one said a word as I walked up to Hedge asleep in her chair, picking her up then resettling her on my lap, snuggled against my chest. That was the way I woke up the next morning with her snuggled against my chest until I got the phone call from Garry in a panic.

  That was where I wanted to be right now, snuggled up in bed,

  with her using my chest as a pillow. That was the image I let lure me to sleep. I slept, but not as well as I would have if I had slept in Hedge's bed. Not only would it have her in it, but it was the most comfortable bed that I had ever slept in, in my life.

  I rolled out of my sorry excuse for a bed with a mattress made of concrete, showered and went to check in with Garry before I hit up the café for some much-needed coffee. I checked my watch while waiting in line to order, ten thirty, that gave me an hour and a half before the shop opened, which would give me plenty of time to go and wish Hedge a very good morning.

  I placed my order then sent a text:

  Good Morning Beautiful!

  I have coffee

  I’m coming up

  Be ready

  Clothing optional ;)

  I wasn’t one for texting much, but when I did, it was not with any douche-bag abbreviations. I'm sorry if you're going to call someone ‘beautiful' use the full word, in my opinion ‘bful’ doesn’t cut it. Look at me standing in a coffee shop having an internal argument about ‘text-speak’. Fuck me when did I become such an old man? Soon I’ll be sitting on the porch yelling at the neighbourhood kids to ‘get off my lawn’.

  I picked up my coffees and headed to the shop. All I could think about was Hedge. Would she still be in bed? I hope so, that way I could wake her up, but how would that be possible when I couldn't get into her apartment? I'll have to talk to her about leaving a key in the shop, you know for, emergencies. Would she be dressed and ready for the day? Or could I convince her to let me join her in the shower? I smiled at the thought of Hedge in her double shower, the water sliding down her naked body. The bubbles from her shampoo sliding across her creamy skin weaving a path between her plump, perky breasts, down the long line of her torso, skirting around her belly button descending south.

  I shook my head breaking the daydream the last thing I needed was to be popping wood on the street.

  Barber Shop Ink is on a busy street. During the day with business lining both sides of the road, the flow of foot traffic is steady and on street parking can be hard to find, thank God, we have off street parking for the staff.

  I turned the corner and saw a small group of people gathered out the front of the shop. The closer I got, I noticed that the group was mostly male. I saw Jason from the garage across the street amongst the gathering.

  “Hey, Jason, what’s up?” I asked giving a head tilt as a greeting, “What’s with the crowd?”

  In the brief time, it had taken me to reach Jason the group had turned into a mob.

  "Hey Memphis," Jason replied going to shake my hand until he saw that I was holding a coffee tray in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other. "You've been holding out on us brother."

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your sexy new hire,” Jason stated tilting his chin towards the shop window.

  I turned towards the window and saw Hedge walking towards a large, gruff-looking man sitting in one of the barber chairs that were left behind from when Pops had the shop that was now being used as waiting room chairs.

  It was Hedge, but it wasn’t. Once again, she had my head spinning. This version of Hedge was polished, sophisticated and cock-hardening, blood-igniting, hormone-stirringly hot as fucking hell! I stood amongst the crowd mesmerised by the vision in my shop window.

  Her hair was styled in a 1950's pin-up bombshell, big rolling curls and swept up in a leopard print bandana keeping her hair off her face and exposing the long line of her neck. She was wearing a black top that looked like a corset that accentuated her curves, highlighting her amazing cleavage. A red leather skirt that had twin gold zippers at the front running down the length of her thighs, stopping just above her knees drew my eye down her stellar legs encased in sheer black stockings. Black spiked heel, ankle boots added to her height, lengthening the extensive line of her legs and making her ass bubble out.

  “Dude seriously where did she come from?” Jason’s words were barely registering in my lust hazed brain.

  "I don't know," I honestly didn't. This woman as a chameleon, an enigma, always keeping me on my toes and I had a feeling that the surface of the real Hedge hadn't even scratched yet.

  “What?” Jason asked.

  “Umm, she’s Jaxon’s cousin,” I replied lamely.

  Someone in the crowd muttered “Holy Fuck!”

  I turned back to the window. Due to my height and the fact that the shop was raised, in case the river flooded, meaning
you had to climb two stairs to the front door, I could see over everyone heads, and I could see everything.

  Oblivious to the crowd of horny admirers outside the window, she stood laughing with the man in the barber's chair. Touching his arm as she raised her foot to the lever to lower the seat but the red leather skirt was so tight she couldn't quite lift her leg high enough to reach the foot pedal. She bent down catching the zipper tab in her fingers and slowly unzipped the gold teeth exposing her right leg to mid-thigh.

  An audible gasp left the crowd, as she once again lifted her booted foot to the lever lowering the chair, the leather shifting exposing her stocking covered thigh.

  Once she had the seat height adjusted, she sat down on one of our saddle stools and what I saw made me simultaneously pissed-the-fuck-off and horny as hell. Was I Porny? Or was it Hongry?

  Why would you wear a skirt that tight if you couldn’t work in it?!

  You don't just sit on a saddle stool like you would an ordinary chair; you straddle it like you're sitting on a horse. Again, the skirt was giving Hedge issues. Her delicate fingers slid the zipper through its teeth on the other side of her leather skirt exposing more flesh. The thing that stopped me from scratching out the eyes of every man staring at her legs was that the centre part of the skirt between the two zips fell between her legs.

  I needed to get inside the shop, put a stop to this and have words with the cause of my new explosively punchy state. If I had to bust heads to get to the door, I would.

  I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd, reaching the shop top step, balancing the bag of pastries on top of the coffees so that I could fish my keys out of my pocket. I shoved the key in the lock, pushed open the door, stepping inside and slamming the door in the face of the poor shmuck that thought he would follow me in side the shop.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” I couldn’t help the pissed-off growl in my voice.

  Replying as if she didn't have a care in the world, Hedge, sweetly greeted me. "Good Morning Memphis."