Heart Ink: A Fling To Ring Romance: A Bad Boy Tattoo Artist Romantic Comedy

by L. L. Ash

  Fourteen.

  Fifteen…

  The forty pound barbells dropped from my hands to the rubberized mat with a low thud.

  Stretching my back, I took a thirty second break before going for my last set of curls. Today was arm day, and yesterday was leg day, but luckily I’d been doing it so long I wouldn’t really feel the burn through the day like I did when I first started hitting the gym every morning.

  It’d become a habit for me ever since going to my dad and telling him I wasn’t going to be a partner in his empire, choosing instead to start my own shop, marking people’s skin with my art.

  Yeah, back then I needed the stress relief, and now it was basically a part of me. I couldn’t imagine going more than a couple days without working out my stress, aggravation, and lust out on the steel and iron, or running it out on the treadmill.

  It was my very own version of therapy.

  Last night before bed, I got a text from Fae going something like this.

  Fae: Hey sexy. Can I ask you a favor?

  Me: Hello beautiful.

  Me: What’s up?

  Fae: I’ve been thinking about this whole bakery thing, and I think I have a plan.

  Fae: Think you can give me some business advice? I’ll reward you with that dinner I owe you and a tasting of my proposed menu. At least eight different desserts.

  Me: Yeah, you basically made it impossible to say no.

  Fae: Good. That was the point.

  Just like that, I was planning on stopping by her house in the evening, getting a home cooked dinner that may or may not be good, and indulging in a host of fresh baked treats, created with pretty much my favorite hands in the entire world.

  Besides, another chance to see Fae? I’d fucking take it.

  Only problem? I had to convince someone to stay for the evening since I had planned on taking the late hours tonight.

  Fucking sucks. Nobody liked staying late, and I’d stuck Freddie with the shift so many times, I felt guilty asking him to do it again. He would, but I didn’t want to ask.

  Sighing, I pushed the thoughts out of my head and did my last reps before heading to the elliptical to do my cooldown. After that I’d go home, get a shower, then head to the shop to beg for someone to work tonight so I could get sweet with my not-quite-girlfriend.

  Shit...that had to change. I wanted her, all of her, all to myself. Tonight I had to try and make it a thing. Make it real.

  Already I felt so close to her. I’d talked to her about things I’d never told others before, and after the humping and chatting we’d done on my bike last weekend, I needed to get that woman locked down before someone else swooped in to take her from me.

  Tonight. I’d ask her tonight.

  “So, what’re you up to tonight, Tanner?” I asked my other full-time artist.

  He shrugged.

  “Not much. Probably going to catch up on some sleep. I was out so fucking late all weekend. So many ladies, Rome. So many ladies.”

  I held back my scoff and eye roll in fear of offending him before asking for a favor. So instead I just spit it out.

  “Well, I’ll make you a deal. You stay tonight ‘til close, and you can come in at noon tomorrow.”

  He turned to me and narrowed his eyes.

  “And why do I have to be here on your night?” he asked slowly.

  “Because I’m asking you to,” I answered simply.

  “Because he has a date,” Cambria sang as she let herself in the front door, flipping the lock and the switch for the ‘open’ sign on so we were officially open for business.

  “A date?” Tanner looked intrigued.

  “A date?” Freddie called in a similar sing-song voice as Cambria as he dropped his backpack behind the counter.

  “None of your fucking business,” I growled, but it was all out of my hands now.

  “Oh, Fae and Rome are going to her house and they’re having dinner in with a lot of dessert if you know what I mean.”

  After a series of about ten winks, I put my hand out to stop her malfunctioning eyelid.

  “It’s none of your business. I just need someone to cover the shop. Why I can’t be here is not your fucking responsibility.”

  “I’ll stay,” Cambria bounced her eyes.

  “And I suppose you’re going to tattoo people and pierce dicks too, huh?” I sighed at her.

  She pouted.

  “I’ll stay,” Freddie piped in quickly. “If Cam is hanging out with me, it won’t even seem like work, anyway.”

  Those two looked at each other with wild, animal eyes.

  It was kind of disgusting.

  “Ok, you just need to fuck or something and spare the rest of us,” Tanner quipped before moving away from the counter. “Looks like you have two very eager beavers to babysit for you tonight, Rome. You don’t need me anymore.”

  Just like that, he walked away and I was left handing my shop over to two dogs lapping at each other and sniffing each other’s asses.

  Fucking great…

  But it was worth it to see Fae.

  “Fine. But just remember,” I pointed at the ceiling. “I have cameras in here. If you fuck in my shop, I’m going to find it and make a porno out of it and put it on YouTube. Understand?”

  Cambria’s eyes flashed in excitement, and Freddie grinned this weird, devilish grin.

  Oh fuck me…

  Note to self, sanitize every chair and flat surface in the shop before opening tomorrow…

  The two of them went about their own business, but the heated glances they passed to each other were a dead giveaway that something was happening between them. I’d have to tell Fae about it. She’d get a good laugh.

  The day dragged on forever, but eventually it finally crawled its way to five-thirty. So I pulled my jacket on and headed for the back door, saying goodbye to everyone.

  Arriving at Fae’s house a few minutes early, I knocked anyway because I couldn’t wait another minute to see her.

  The door opened to a grinning Fae, wearing...yoga pants and a t-shirt.

  My mouth went dry as I got a peek at that tight ass while she led me into her house, and my cock engorged instantly at the sight.

  “You do remember what I told you I'd do if you wore yoga pants, right?” I asked her, my voice lower and more grating than I meant...but damn.

  “I seem to remember you saying something about a grandma kink.”

  Hot damn, that girl and her smart mouth.

  Striding forward, I took three big steps before I was on her, pulling her head to me and bruising her lips with mine.

  “You’re playing with fire,” I ground out against her lips.

  “Because I want to get burned, Rome,” she breathed back.

  “I can’t be held accountable for what I do to you in those sexy-ass pants, Pix.” I panted, my heart racing as I pushed her back into the nearest wall.

  Our hips pressed together and she arched into me, my cock pressing into her belly, throbbing.

  “Good.” She grunted, biting my lower lip as she hooked her arms around my neck.

  Fuck it all...technically this was date number three, and the rules didn’t state if it had to be after the date. I could argue that maybe the beginning of the date worked, too.

  My stupid, ridiculous rules had been met, and I honestly felt like we were meant to be. We burned up around each other physically, and we bantered like old friends. Something about this woman hit me right in the heart, breathing life into me for the first time in the two years since I’d lost Delilah.

  Without another word, I hoisted her up into my arms and walked her to the bedroom. Her mouth attacked mine with equal vigor and her hands pulled at the shorter hairs at the back of my head.

  “Is it finally happening?” She chuckled breathily, but I didn’t give her the benefit of a response.

  Instead, I dropped her onto the bed, hooked my fingers into the stretchy waistband of her pants and pulled.

  She shrieked but lifted he
r butt, helping me along.

  “It’s about freaking time, Italian!” She groaned as she pulled the large t-shirt over her head, revealing a barely-there lace bra.

  She was probably fucking planning on seducing me.

  But I was pretty damn easy by that point, let’s be honest.

  She sat up a little and unlatched the bra, flicking it off her shoulders and bouncing those perfect little perky breasts into view.

  My lips dropped instantly from hers to one powder-pink nipple, gratified when it pebbled instantly in my mouth.

  Her mewls egged me on, urging me with every arch of her back, every stroke of her hands on my arms and head.

  “Yes...” she breathed out as I rolled my tongue over the bud, taking a moment to nibble before moving down.

  I wouldn’t let another moment pass until my mouth was tasting her.

  It’d been so long since my fingers felt her soft skin, kissed her warm velvet belly… But now? Now I was heading for the promised land.

  Her panties were gone, probably tucked into the yoga pants I’d flung across the room. But as I dipped down, kissing every inch of skin beneath me, I paused, looking up at her.

  Yeah, I was asking permission.

  She looked at me when I stopped, probably wondering why the hell I wasn’t eating her out already.

  When our eyes met, she flicked her pink tongue out and licked her lips, giving me the smallest little nod that she likely didn’t even know she gave, but I took it as confirmation.

  Pixie had shaved or waxed or something, leaving herself completely bare to me, so I took advantage, pulling one fleshy lip slowly, achingly slowly into my mouth.

  A long, low moan breathed past her lips as her head fell back onto the bed again.

  I grinned at the sound.

  Fuck...I loved that sound.

  Her scent wafted over me and it was heady. I closed my eyes, soaking in that smell of sweet, floral musk with just a touch of salt.

  I could bathe in that scent.

  Her little sounds reminded me that I needed to get going and stop hovering there, breathing her in.

  In one long draw, my tongue lashed across her slit, eliciting a high pitched groan as her hands pressed into my hair, tearing into my little hipster bun, loosening the tie until it was falling everywhere. Her fingers tangling and gripping my hair like I was her last anchor to earth.

  Finding that ring that I’d put into her hood, I slowly circled my tongue around it, avoiding her clit altogether so the little metal barbell did the work, dragging across that swollen bundle of nerves over and over.

  Expletives dripped from her pouty lips, enough to make a sailor blush as I slowly encompassed her entire mound in my mouth, dragging my tongue and lips down, letting my chin and cheek get involved, the coarse hair there sending her into a new state of spiraling as my five o'clock shadow grated against her.

  Her belly caved as I reached in with my tongue, my finger taking residence at her piercing, moving it around in constant circles, slowly, slowly gaining speed until she was convulsing, her pussy contracting over my tongue.

  Damn, and I didn’t even get my fingers inside her yet.

  “I need you.” She started panting. “I need you inside me, Rome.”

  What my lady wants, she gets. Even if she’s a little impatient.

  “You don’t like foreplay, do you?” I asked her as I moved up her stomach, stopping for just a moment to kiss and bite each nipple before reaching her face.

  We indulged in a long, languid kiss before she broke away and smiled.

  “Foreplay after. I need you inside me.”

  “Always begging for my cock, pix. Your name suits you, you know.”

  “Oh yeah?” she breathed, pulling at the hem of my shirt.

  I got it over my head before unlatching my jeans, pressing them and my underwear down.

  “Yours fits you too, although Greek would be a better nickname.” She grinned, eyes scanning down my shoulders, chest and stomach.

  “Why’s that?” I asked, spreading her legs wider and hooking her heels around my back.

  “Because you’re my Trojan horse. You’re probably going to destroy me.”

  What the hell kind of thing to say right before fucking?

  “I do have a Trojan.” I smiled, trying not to think about the meaning of her words.

  I wouldn’t destroy her. I’d adore her and pleasure her for every moment of every day, if she let me.

  “Condoms in the drawer.” She pointed over my shoulder.

  As much as I wanted to feel her skin against my skin, I wasn’t going to start getting stupid all of a sudden.

  Throwing out the thought of digging for my own condom, I fumbled around her drawer for one and pulled it out, opening it with my teeth.

  “Should I be worried that you have a drawer full of condoms?” I asked her, rolling it on.

  “They’re for my vibrator. Keeps it clean and sanitary.”

  What the actual fuck?

  “Next time you think of using your vibrator,” I breathed into her ear, nibbling a little. “Call me.”

  With those words I pushed in to the hilt, her body already prepared and wet for me to take her.

  “Oh fuck...” She gasped, eyes opening wide at the intrusion.

  Fuck was right…

  I didn’t remember her feeling this good…

  Holy hell I could live inside of her, just like this…

  Her hips jerked and I took the hint to move mine.

  Humming, she gripped my arms, running her fingers up to my shoulders just to drag her nails down, probably leaving marks. And I didn’t fucking care.

  I lifted one of her knees, hiking her up a little to open her further for me so I could increase my pace.

  God she felt good.

  We were panting, sweat gathering on our skin as I drove into her, her hips lifting with each thrust until I was seated completely, then I pulled back out almost completely before doing it again.

  And again.

  And again.

  As she started gasping, I dropped my hand from her hips, pressing my thumb back into her clit until she was thrashing, moaning and panting beneath me.

  It was a damn boost to the ego.

  Her slick core clenched around me, milking me. I was grunting, spending myself until we were still, quiet except for our breathing.

  “I hate that you made me wait for that,” she told me breathlessly, shoving my shoulder playfully.

  “Was worth it.” I laughed quietly.

  “Oh my God...” she moaned. “I’m still throbbing...”

  Yeah, I could tell. She kept clamping around me as I softened inside her.

  I collapsed next to her, pinching off my condom and dropping it on the carpet beside the bed. I was too tired to go looking for a trash can.

  “Did you just drop that on the carpet?” she demanded, looking over me to see if she could find it.

  “I’ll take care of it.” I laughed, pulling her into my arms. “I just want to lay with you for a little bit.”

  She let me cradle her in my arms, ass pressed into my crotch and legs tangled with mine as we held hands, fingers meshed together.

  My eyes closed as I smelled her vanilla perfume, taking a moment to try and remember that scent specifically. It was unique, and it wasn’t just vanilla. But whatever it was, it smelled amazing.

  “So… you hungry?” Fae asked after a minute more, turning in my arms until she was looking at me.

  “I’m fucking starving.” I grinned at her, stealing a kiss from her swollen lips.

  “Then c’mon.” She grunted as she got out of bed, dipping down until she picked up my t-shirt.

  I grinned, still laying back as she pulled it over her head, the hem barely covering her ass.

  “C’mon lazy butt!” she called, giving me a sweet peek at those cheeks as she left the room.

  I laid back again, closing my eyes as I soaked in her smell, her sound, a big grin spreading over my li
ps.

  This woman…

  I could live for a woman like Fae.

  “Come on sexy man! Fuel up, because we’re definitely doing that again before you leave!”

  I chuckled, opening my eyes as I sat up.

  Finding my charcoal colored Calvin Kleins on the floor, I picked them up and slid them on.

  “And don’t bother getting dressed!” she called again.

  Anything for my girl.

  Dinner was awesome. Like, fucking awesome.

  Currently I was consuming sugary treat after sugary treat as we talked logistics.

  “Now, the hardest thing is finding a space in a good area,” I told her, tapping my pen against the pad of paper she provided for me.

  Numbers and figures were written over the front page as we added up how much inventory would cost, what she’d sell her products for, and what she’d have left after overheads.

  She nodded, picking a crumb off my chest from one of the brownies I was shoving in my mouth.

  “I could talk to a real estate agent.” She shrugged.

  “Well, at least you won’t need to consult with a lawyer.” I winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

  “But your menu looks awesome. It’s simple and understated, but fuck, it’s perfection, Fae. I mean, you could have a passion fruit caramel crunch cupcake from some other shop, but nothing’s more orgasmic than a perfectly moist chocolate cupcake melting on your tongue. No frills, nothing to hide behind. You’re a master at this shit.”

  She grinned and leaned in, pressing a kiss to my lips.

  “How do you know all this stuff, anyway?” she asked, looking at the complicated numbers I’d written out for her.

  “I went to school for it.” I shrugged.

  “For business?” She looked confused.

  “MBA to be exact.” I nodded. “And I happen to know one of the best real estate developers in the state, you know, if you want to look at shops. He’s a realtor, too, just FYI.”

  “Really?” She looked intrigued.

  “I know a little, but I’m not licensed, so it wouldn’t be much help. I can ask my dad if you want. Whenever you’re ready to take the next step and start looking.”

  “This just feels like it’s going so fast...” She blew out a breath. “I feel like I should spend years getting this all together...like it’s not a dream if it’s new...I don’t know. Does that make sense?”