As quick-witted as I usually was, my brain could only come up with one word. “Pardon?”
His full lips tilted up at the edges as he prowled closer. “I get that Belle’s the one who has the appointment with me, but I’d rather tattoo you instead.”
2
Maddox
There was a design I’d had in my mind for years; one I’d sketched out right after I opened Ink Addiction. I wasn’t sure if I would ever ink it on someone’s skin. Then this red-headed goddess strolled into my shop, and I knew I’d found the perfect canvas.
“I think that’s a fantastic idea!” Belle effused, giving the red-head a slightly evil grin.
“Uh, no. We’re here for you, sister dear,” she protested with a shake of her head.
I was a little shocked to realize these two were sisters since they looked nothing alike. Belle was average height with almost black hair, whereas my woman was tall, with long dark-red hair, crystal blue eyes, and fucking awesome curves.
“You’re here to get a tattoo for your man,” she continued. I listened carefully to her next words because if some motherfucker out there was touching what’s mine, I was going to bury his ass under six feet of concrete. “I don’t have a man”—Life saved; jail sentence averted—"so I don’t have a reason to be branded.” Wrong.
I was about to jump in when Belle spoke again. “I double dog dare you, Ariel.” I almost burst out laughing until I saw the look on my girl’s face. She looked livid but resigned, and my eyes bounced back and forth between them. Was that really going to work on her?
She sighed, then grumbled, “This doesn’t get you out of yours, Belle.”
“I don’t know if Maddox can fit us both in,” Belle hedged. That was my cue.
“Actually, Belle. I asked Candice to come in early to do your piece. She’s the one who did Wendy’s”—I gestured towards the front desk—“and she’s the next best thing to me. She’ll do a fantastic job. I know you asked for me, but you and I both know that Griffith would kill me when he found out I touched his woman.”
Ariel snorted adorably and drew my full attention back to her. “I have to agree; you’d be a dead man”—her blue eyes swept over my body, and I grinned at the hunger growing there—“and that would be a devastating loss to womankind.” Pink tinged her cheeks, but she didn’t break eye contact and her smile was playful.
She was so damn beautiful and sweet, I didn’t know whether I wanted to ink her skin before I tasted it, or vice versa. Okay, that was a stupid thought. I definitely wanted to brand her first. Just the thought of my mark on her body had me ready to come. It was going to take every ounce of my control to stay focused.
“Let’s go, little mermaid,” I teased as I held out my hand. Ariel rolled her eyes but put her palm in my mine. When she stepped close, my hunger intensified, and I was suddenly starving. I glanced at Belle and murmured, “Follow me.” I led them to Candice’s station first and got Belle settled with her, then took Ariel to the rear of the store where my private studio was. I didn’t want to use my regular station. Depending on where I decided to put the tattoo on her body, I didn’t want anyone seeing things that were for my eyes only.
We stopped by a padded table, and I reluctantly let go of her hand. “Take a seat, baby. I’m going to get everything prepped.”
Her eyes were wide as she looked around the room, taking in the drawings and photos of my work all over the walls. “Wow,” she breathed. “You’re an amazing artist.”
Warmth invaded my chest. “Thanks, baby,” I said with a smile. I knew my deep dimples were showing when her blue orbs came back to my face and she stared at my cheeks. Her little tongue popped out to wet her lips, and I had to stifle a groan. I could practically feel it licking my dick. Up and down; around the fat head, then I’d thrust to the back of her throat while she swallowed and sucked on it like a popsicle—fuck, fuck, fuck! I spun around and marched over to my tools, taking a deep breath. I’d just about exploded in my pants like a fucking teenager.
Once I felt under control, I took everything I needed back to the little table by the bed. Then I threw a sheet over it and tossed a pillow at the head.
“Take off your shirt and lay on your stomach, baby,” I told her as I walked over to help her up.
Once she was on her feet, I stayed where I was, just inches from her and didn’t bother to look away. “Um, shouldn’t you go, and I’ll call you when I’m ready or something,” she asked, a pretty blush blooming on her face.
“Nope,” I responded, letting the p pop. “Strip, little mermaid.”
Ariel’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed for a moment, but then she took a deep breath and grabbed the hem of her purple T-shirt. As she lifted it up and over her head, my heart pounded harder with every inch of exposed skin. It was like fresh cream, and I wanted to lap at it before smearing it with strawberry jam and licking it clean. I nearly rolled my eyes at myself for the image. For some reason, all the naughty fantasies she inspired involved food.
Her bra was peach, and it cupped her big, round tits like a skin waiting to be peeled back, offering up the delicious fruit beneath it.
I licked my lips as I closed the tiny gap between us and when I took my next breath, I realized why my every sexual thought suddenly seemed to be edible. She smelled like sugar and spice. It reminded me of cake. And cookies. And chocolate desserts—all of it making my mouth water.
A small sound escaped Ariel’s lips, and my head whipped up from my shameless ogling. Her blue eyes were a little hazy, and her face was flushed. I swallowed hard at the amazing sight of my woman so obviously turned on.
I needed to get this show on the road, or I was going to throw her on the table and fuck her. And that wasn’t going to happen until I’d marked her as mine. Then I would make her mine.
“Lay down, baby,” I rasped as I grasped her waist and hoisted her up onto the table. It took a couple of seconds before the fog cleared, and she shifted to do as I’d instructed. “Pull your hair up.” While she did that, I walked around to the other side to take a seat on my stool. She grabbed the pillow I wouldn’t have provided for anyone else and hugged it to her chest for support as she laid down. I scooted close and cleaned the area behind her left shoulder with alcohol, then grabbed the gun.
“Aren’t you supposed to trace it first?” Ariel piped up, looking at me over her shoulder with wide, nervous eyes.
I grinned and shook my head. “Even if I did use tracing, which is rare for me these days, I wouldn’t with this design. It’s meant to be done freehand.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and she lifted up to twist around a little more. “This design? Don’t I get to choose my tattoo?”
“Nope.” My tone was matter of fact. It wasn’t up for negotiation. I stood and brushed the tip of my fingers down her cheek, then gently pushed between her shoulder blades until she returned to lying on her chest. “Trust me.” When she didn’t say anything else, I sat back down and got to work.
Three hours later, I pulled the gun away one last time and wiped the tattoo clean of excess ink. It was exactly what I imagined with a few minor improvements that had come to me while I was working.
“Come with me.” I flipped her over and scooped her up, then set her on her feet. I grabbed a hand mirror and led her over to a free-standing one a few feet away. I positioned her with her back to the glass and held up the smaller mirror so she could see the tattoo on her shoulder.
She gasped, and her expression lit with wonder. “It’s incredible,” she breathed. After staring at it a little longer, she reached over with her right hand, but I caught it before she could touch the area. “It’ll be sore for a while, baby.”
I grinned when she continued to just stand there and stare at it, but I only let her have a few more minutes because I wanted to get the Vaseline and plastic over it. Taking her hand, I brought her back to the table and set her on it. “Why do you keep picking me up?” she asked with a frown. “I’m perfectly capable of getting places on
my own.”
I went around the other side before answering. “I like having you in my arms,” I murmured against her ear and smirked when it made her shiver. “Also, I like putting you right where I want you.” She sputtered for a second, but it melted into a moan when I brushed a soft kiss over her bare neck.
I quickly took care of the wound and gave her instructions on how to care for it. Though, I intended to do it myself since I knew she’d be back in my shop breathing fire before too long.
3
Ariel
Letting a guy you’d just met ink whatever he wanted onto your skin was probably not the smartest decision I’d ever made, but it’d really paid off. The tattoo Maddox had done for me was stunning. I’d never seen anything quite like it before. It was intricate and delicate, yet somehow; it radiated strength. It was a beautiful mixture of different symbols; some I recognized and some I didn’t. The whole piece was inked with multiple shades of vivid colors. It was one of the most gorgeous things I’d ever seen.
When we walked back out to the reception area, Belle was already there. She was chatting with Wendy, and they both grinned when they saw that Maddox was holding my hand. I was in a bit of a daze from my tattoo session and that little kiss against the back of my neck, but I still knew what the smug look on Belle’s face meant. I was never going to hear the end of this.
After a quick glance up at Maddox to make sure he wasn’t looking at me, I stuck my tongue out at my sister. Her eyes went wide, and she slapped her hand over her mouth as she started to giggle. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, but I understood it when Maddox bent towards my ear to whisper, “If you stick your tongue out again, I’m going to take it as an invitation.”
Oh, my. I felt that sensual promise deep in my core as a shiver raced up my spine.
“And on that note, I better drag Ariel out of here or else she’ll never leave.” Belle came over and tugged my hand out of Maddox’s hold, offering him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but I kind of need her since she’s my ride. Griffith isn’t expecting us back for another hour or so, but he’s already blowing up my phone. Cyra came close to rolling from her tummy to her back, and he doesn’t want me to miss it if she tries again.”
Any thought I’d had of suggesting that Belle could take my car and leave me here flew out of my head at the mention of my adorable niece’s possible milestone. “I guess we’d better get going then because I don’t want to miss it, either!”
“Definitely, but first I have a bone to pick with Maddox.” Belle shot an accusing glare in his direction. “Wendy won’t let me pay for my tattoo. She said you sent her a text and told her that if I put up a fuss, she should just tell me to tip Candice what you’d normally charge for my session.”
“Yup.” He leaned against the counter.
Belle’s eyes narrowed. “Griffith pays you for his ink, right?”
“Yup.” His lips kicked up in a small grin, and I had to stifle a giggle at how he was torturing my sister like he’d known us forever.
“Then I don’t understand why I can’t pay for mine.”
Maddox shrugged his broad shoulders. “And I don’t get why this is such a problem for you.”
“Because you can’t just give me a free tattoo!” Belle stomped her foot.
Their argument was going round and round in circles with no end in sight, so I raised my hand like I was a student in a class who had a question. I waited for both of them to look at me before I asked, “Is mine free too?”
“Probably, since Wendy wouldn’t let me pay for yours either,” Belle grumbled.
Maddox’s blue eyes flared with an emotion I’d only really ever seen in Griffith’s when he looked at my sister. “You sure as fuck are not paying to have my ink on your skin.”
“Fine. I get it. I’m guessing that you’re not going to budge on this since I recognize that caveman look in your eyes. I see it all the time from Griffith,” Belle huffed. “As long as you keep it aimed in my sister’s direction, my hubby might get over the fact that another guy paid for something for me. Maybe.”
“Trust me, he’ll get it.” Maddox kept his eyes locked on me as he walked over to the door and held it open for us. Then he followed us out to my car and waited until I was buckled in my seat to bend down and whisper, “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon, little mermaid.”
After he shut my door, I watched him walk across the parking lot and back into Ink Addiction before I started up my car and pulled out. My sister only managed to wait about two minutes before she started in on me.
“So.” Belle’s brown eyes twinkled with humor. “You let him call you little mermaid? I thought you hated that nickname?”
“Don’t even go there,” I warned. “If you even think of using it, I’m going to go out and buy you every single piece of Beauty and the Beast memorabilia I can find. Then I’m going to tell your hubby how much you love the music from the movie so that he starts singing it to you all of the time. And how much you want him to role play as them...in bed.”
She held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Geesh! Pull out the big guns, why don’t you?”
“Yeah, well. I didn’t want you to get any ideas.” I’d gotten a lot of The Little Mermaid jokes as a kid, which she was well aware of. “Just because I let a super-hot guy call me ‘little mermaid’ doesn’t mean I’m going to let anyone else get away with it.”
“Since I have a super-hot guy of my own, I totally understand where you’re coming from,” she conceded.
“But Maddox isn’t mine,” I denied. “We just met a few hours ago.”
“Yeah, and I noticed you guys were holding hands when you came back out after your session with him. Did anything else interesting happen back there?”
“No, of course not! Why would you even ask me that?” I protested, my cheeks heating.
“What?” She blinked her eyes innocently. “I just figured there must’ve been a reason that he took you back to his private studio.”
I didn’t understand the point she was trying to make. “Where else was he supposed to do my tattoo?”
“He has a station a couple of doors down from Candice’s. She was surprised he wasn’t using it when she popped over to ask him a quick question after she was done with my tattoo. I guess it’s where he usually does his sessions. She couldn’t remember the last time a client was in his private studio,” Belle explained.
“Oh.” I hadn’t thought twice when Maddox had walked me past a bunch of stations, but I really liked the idea of him doing my ink in his personal space. It made me feel like my tattoo was even more special than it already was.
“While I was waiting for you to finish up, I asked Wendy about it. She thought maybe the last time he did a tattoo for a client back there was when he did work on some foreign dignitary who was in town and needed to have his security in the room with him, and that was last year.”
When I pulled up at the next stop light, I turned my head in Belle’s direction and rolled my eyes. “You’re such a nosy Nellie! Did you spend all your time after you were done with your tattoo grilling Maddox’s staff?”
“Of course I did, silly,” she laughed. “What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t ask questions about the guy when the chemistry between the two of you was probably visible all the way on the moon.”
“Like you have any room to talk,” I grumbled. “I’ve seen how you and Griffith are together.”
Belle flashed me a triumphant grin. “Exactly! Thanks for making my point for me, sis.”
We bickered back and forth good-naturedly the rest of the way to her house. She practically leapt from the car when I pulled into their driveway. “Slow down before you hurt yourself,” I called as I exited the vehicle. “Or else you’ll end up in the emergency room, and Griffith will blame me for it.”
“No, I won’t since I saw it all happen from the window,” he disagreed from their open front door. “Your sister’s right. You need to be more careful, baby.”
&n
bsp; He softened the warning by tugging her into his body when she got close and claiming her mouth in a deep kiss.
“Where’s Cyra?” I asked after they finally came up for air, and we headed inside the house.
“Sorry, she just fell asleep maybe five minutes ago. I tried to keep her up so you could see her, but my baby girl was beyond ready for her nap.” Griffith pointed at the monitor screen on the kitchen counter, where we could see Cyra in her crib. “What’d you two get up to while you were out?”
I figured that my sister would prefer to show him her tattoo in private since it was going to mean a lot to him to see his name and Cyra’s on her skin. But, she hadn’t seen mine yet, so I decided to show both of them and then get the heck out of dodge before she told him she’d gotten one too. “Belle talked me into getting a tattoo!”
“A tattoo?” Griffith echoed, his eyes narrowing. “You guys better have gone to see Maddox. I wouldn’t trust anyone else.” It wasn’t a surprise that he was worried. When he and my sister became a couple, he’d kind of taken on a big brother role with me. It was sweet.
“Of course she did.” I tugged the soft material of my shirt so they could see the spot on my left shoulder where Maddox had inked me. Belle oohed and ahhed over it, but Griffith was strangely silent as he stared at my skin. “What do you think?”
Vegas, Baby: Complete Series Page 21
