by Maree, Kay
“Can I help you, Miss?” The deep voice makes me jump in fright and the gravelly pitch zaps through me.
I take a moment to compose myself before turning to come face to face....no, make that face to chest with a man who has to be at least a couple of feet taller than me. Well, damn! I take a step backwards and rake my eyes over the man. Jeans pull tight across his obviously muscled thighs, stretching them in a mouthwatering way. They’re matched with a black Henley which I swear must have been painted on. It’s rolled up to his elbows which shows off ink covered forearms that would have anyone drooling. His shoulders top layers of muscle and are broad. When my eyes lift to his face, I suck in a deep breath. His gaze is focused on my mouth, the look of hunger is like he wants to devour me. My belly flip flops out of control. When he swipes his tongue over his plump bottom lip, it takes all my control to suppress a moan. Heat radiates through every cell in my body and suddenly I find myself every bit as hungry for him.
Without realizing what I’m doing, I take a step forward. Then, another. I have an overwhelming urge to run my fingers over his five o’clock shadow and raise my hand. The moment I snap back to reality, I wave the hand around the reception area. I know I appear flustered while trying to put together my words.
“I...um...ah...tattoo. Shit!” I blow out a deep breath and step back, needing to put some distance between us so I can regain my sanity. Being so close to the man has me screwed up and I don’t know which way is up.
I suck in another deep breath and try again.
“I was after a tattoo. Do I need to make an appointment?”
I peer up and become fixated on his gorgeous blue eyes. They remind me of the ocean. Amusement at my discomfort is obvious which causes embarrassment to hike up a notch. I feel the heat creep up my neck and drop my eyes to study the floor. He chuckles and I try to shake off the effect the deep sound has on me.
“Miss....?”
I snap my head up, oops...he doesn’t yet know my name. I jut my arm towards him. “Ally.” I don’t usually shake hands, I don’t meet enough people so, I’m hoping I’m doing it right. Dad always said to use my manners and shake hands when introducing myself to someone new.
He looks down at my hand and I’m worried he isn’t going to shake it. A few seconds pass and then he slides his hand into mine. My body tenses with the contact and electricity fires through every cell.
His eyes lock on mine. “Xavier, but my friends call me, X.”
I release my hand while trying to figure out why my body reacted the way it did. Then, like a fool, words tumble from me before I can think of what I’m saying.
“Am I your friend?”
I feel like slapping myself upside the head. What the hell is wrong with my brain to mouth filter today? He must think I’m the biggest fucking idiot around.
He opens his mouth to speak when the music from above seems to get louder. So What by Pink blasts through the speakers and I can hear other voices speaking over the top of the loud music.
“Excuse me for a sec.” Xavier moves to the reception desk and twists a knob which has the music lowering.
“Touch it and I swear I’ll fucking stab you.” It’s the voice of an angry woman.
“Seriously?” A man bellows back.
“Try it, Beau. I’m warning you. Try it and see what happens to your nuts.”
I look through an opening which shows the tattoo stations in the back and bite my lip to keep from laughing. This has to be the weirdest friggin’ day I’ve ever had.
A gorgeous woman with blonde hair and covered in tattoos stands holding what looks like a pen. She has pulled back over her shoulder like it’s a knife. I watch as the man in front of her stands with his arms raised. He has a stupid smirk on his face as he tries not to laugh at her.
“It’s not funny! Pink is awesome. Leave my fucking music alone!” Anger seems to be coming off her in waves.
“Come on Peaches,” he croons.
“Don’t fucking call me that!” She’s angry, but I swear I see her lip twitch.
“I thought you loved me?” He dissolves in laughter which seems to diffuse some of the anger.
“Loving you is like a papercut....it stings at first, but then you get the fuck over it.”
“Fuck you’re cute, but your also psycho, Peaches.” He shakes his head and laughs as he strides towards a door and disappears into a hallway.
I turn my attention back to Xavier, wondering if this day can get any stranger.
Xavier laughs, I’m not sure if it’s at what just happened or at me. Either way, it doesn’t matter, I’m here for a tattoo, nothing else.
CHAPTER FIVE
Xavier
I couldn’t believe my fucking eyes when I walked into the reception area and my mystery girl was standing mere feet away from me. I had to grab my chest as my heartbeat picked up and thumped in my ears. I thought I was fucking dreaming.
Stepping up behind her, I had to keep a few feet between us because fuck knows what I would have done if I got too close to her. The minute I spoke, I heard how low and gravely my voice sounded, but I couldn’t help it. There was an onslaught of emotions swirling inside me and that was before she even spoke. I can’t even begin to explain the effect her voice had on me.....fuck. Every fucking nerve ending in my body finished at my cock and I couldn’t control a damn thing.
I have never been so hard, to the point of pain, in my life.
When she lifted her hand to shake mine, all I could think about was how many times I’d wished I could touch her. She made me feel like a nervous fifteen-year-old kid instead of the twenty-six-year old man I am. I know she wondered why I hesitated before slipping my hand over hers, but I needed to steady myself and take back control of my body. Otherwise, I was in danger of taking her up against the brick wall and not giving a fuck about who was here.
Finally, I had a name for the beautiful woman.
I grunted out my name, but the moment was broken when the music blared overhead and the dipshits in the back started carrying on with their usual bullshit. I stood watching Ally’s face as she witnessed the commotion, the way she drew her lip between her teeth in an attempt not to laugh.
I focused on blocking out Erica and Beau and seized the opportunity to take in every curve and dip of Ally’s body. My fingers twitched at my sides, I wanted so badly to run them through the long auburn locks which hung down her back in soft waves. I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against the reception desk to prevent myself from doing something stupid which would send her running. I tried to act cool, like I didn’t have a care in the world, while all the time, world war fucking three was going on inside me.
I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms, feel every delicious curve rubbing against me. I bit back a groan at the sight of her in tight black jeans, molded perfectly to her body and the white tank top which almost matched her milky skin.
“Xavier?”
I snap my eyes to Ally’s when she speaks my name. She has an expression on her face like she’s been trying to get my attention for a few minutes. I realize Erica and Beau aren’t arguing any more.
“Shit, sorry.” I shake my head. I might even shake some fucking sense into it.
“I was asking if I need to make an appointment?”
“For what?”
“For the tattoo I came in here for.” She giggles at me and it’s like hearing the best song ever played. Fuck, a tattoo. She wants a tattoo. I need to get my head back in the game. Looking her up and down, I wonder what it would be like to tattoo her perfect skin, to be able to touch her. My already hard as fuck cock jumps with excitement.
“No, I have time. I can fit you in right now if you want, honey.”
I snap my head around at the sound of Erica’s voice. She’s standing in the doorway, which leads back to the tattoo area and she’s looking straight at Ally.
“I’ve got this Erica,” I grunt. I don’t want her touching my girl.
If anybody is going
to tattoo her, it’s going to be fucking me.
“It’s okay X, I’ve got this. Go to lunch.” Erica smiles at me before looking back to Ally.
I struggle to hold back my anger because I was heading to lunch, but that was before my mystery girl appeared on my turf.
“Erica,” I say through clenched teeth. “I’ve got it.”
She tilts her head and gives me a funny look, I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Between you and Beau today, I don’t know what the hell is going on.” She shakes her head, turns to head back to the kitchen and grumbles under her breath as she leaves.
“I can come back if it doesn’t suit.” Ally’s voice comes from beside me and draws my attention back to her.
“No, it’s fine.” I reassure her
“‘But...”
“Come on, I’ll take you to my station and get you set up. What do you have in mind?” My voice still sounds husky despite trying to act normally as I head towards the doorway which leads through to the back. I cast a glance over my shoulder to make sure she’s following me. I blow out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding when she follows.
When we reach my station, which is set up ready, I indicate the black leather adjustable Inkbed for her to sit down. I take my seat on the swiveling stool and wait for her to get comfortable. I notice the way her hands shake as she positions her bag on her lap.
Reaching over, I place my hand over hers. A small gasp escapes her slightly parted lips and she lifts her eyes to mine. Being so close, I note for the first time how green her eyes are and the golden hue which surrounds the irises. My heart thumps and skips a beat. Shit, I’m back to reacting like a fucking fifteen-year-old again. I remove my hand, sit back and wait for her to find whatever it is she’s rummaging in her bag for.
“Are you nervous?” I ask quietly.
She gives a forced laugh. “Am I that obvious? I’m sorry, I’ve never done this before and needles scare the shit out of me. My friend, she has a few and well....” She drifts off and I try not to smile at her rambling.
“Shit, rambling. Sorry.” She huffs out a breath and blows at the hair which has fallen in front of her face.
“It’s fine. Are you sure you want to do this? Once I start, there’s no going back.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m just nervous.” She locks her eyes on mine and I can see the nervousness there, but I can also see the determination to do this.
After a moment of silence, I clear my throat. “So, what is it you want?”
She pulls a piece of paper from her bag and holds it towards me. The moment I unfold it, I know what it is.
“A sound wave?” I know I sound puzzled.
“Um... yeah, it’s a voice wave.” She gnaws on her bottom lip.
I study the paper and return my gaze back to her eyes, they are glassy with tears. Pain swims in their depths and it does some shit to my chest. I hate that she is feeling pain, I want to take it away. Whatever this is, it must mean a lot to her. I nod before standing and scanning the drawing into the computer. Once ready, I hit print and wait for the image to be printed onto the transfer paper before sitting again.
“Where would you like it?” I take the image from the tray and grab the scissors to cut around the image. When she doesn’t answer, I turn back to where she was sitting. All coherent thought flees on a gust of breath and I grip onto my table to prevent me from falling off my fucking chair.
Ally has taken her shirt off and is lying on the bed beside me. In her tight as fuck jeans and a tan sports bra, it’s like every one of my fucking fantasies is coming to life right before me.
“Can I please have it on my ribs? I was going to get it on my wrist but after seeing the Tree of Life Tattoo out the front, I’ve changed my mind.” She closes her eyes and lets her breath out slowly. I take a moment to allow my eyes to track every inch of smooth, perfect skin. I squeeze my free hand into a fist against my thigh, resisting the urge to claim her right now. I take a few deep breaths to settle myself and watch as she lays her shirt across her stomach.
Was that a scar near her belly button?
I look back at her face, her eyes are still closed but a look ghosts over her features which makes her seem fragile and delicate.
“That’s fine,” I manage to choke out. I pull on a pair of gloves and grab the razor to begin prepping her side. Once done, I pick up the design and get ready to place it.
“Where on your ribs would you like it?”
“Um, just below the elastic of my sports top.” She points out the area.
“Across or straight down?”
“Across, please.”
“I need you to lie on your side facing away from me.”
She rolls onto her side so her back is to me and I run my eyes over her body again. I’m drawn by the dip which leads to the curve of her hip and then to her ass which is shaped like an upside-down heart. My pulse kicks up at the thought of turning it pink with the palm of my hand.
Fuck, I need to get my shit under control. I lay the transfer over the area where she wants the tattoo and apply the ink.
“How’s that?”
She lifts her arm above her head and I notice the way her breasts move in the sports bra. I lick my lips and imagine sucking a tight, hard nipple into my mouth. Maybe even applying pressure with my teeth. I wonder how her skin would taste and swallow down the groan at the image which plays out in my head. Her voice washes over me, breaking me from my thoughts.
“That’s perfect, thank you."
I nod my head, worried my voice may betray what I'm thinking. Re-adjusting my painfully hard cock, I reach over, grab my tattoo gun and get to work while the scent of the sweetest apples I have ever smelt surrounds me, causing my head to buzz.
CHAPTER SIX
Ally
After what feels like forever, but was probably only an hour or so, the tattoo is finished and the excruciating, painful torture is at an end. I can finally get off this bloody bed, not that it wasn’t comfortable, it was until he started with the needle. As soon as it began to buzz, my whole body tensed. I relaxed slightly when Xavier began talking to me and asking me questions about random stuff but tensed again when he asked me about my family. It’s not that I meant to be rude, but how do I explain that I’m the reason my father was murdered? Now, my mother is a drunk who hates my guts and wishes I was dead instead of her husband. Nope, somehow I don’t think that kind of shit would have been easy to explain and I don’t need this sexy as sin man’s pity. I think it’s best if we just avoid that conversation.
I stand on shaky legs and head to a mirror fixed on the wall, careful to keep my shirt in place where it covers my stomach. I position myself side on and lift my arm to check out what has caused me so much pain. Tears spring to my eyes. “I love it, Xavier.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His husky voice smooths over me like silk over steel and I shiver. I can’t explain the reaction I seem to have to this man, I need to get out of this room.
I turn away from the mirror, my back to Xavier and hurriedly pull my shirt on. Moving back to the table, I grab my bag and wait while he snaps his gloves off. He then follows me out to the reception area, his warm palm at the base of my spine guiding me. I try to smother the hitch of my breath when shivers race through me and goosebumps prickle my skin.
I struggle to hide my reaction and quickly head to the numerous photo frames, again letting the beautiful tattoos draw me in.
How can a voice, both gravelly and smooth and the simplest of touches from this man have such an overwhelming affect on me? The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is....I must be losing my damn mind. I have never had anyone make me feel or react this way. I need to pull myself together, the last thing I need now, or ever, is a man in my life. Particularly this man. He has the ability to shred my already paper-thin heart and nothing would be able to fix it once he was done.
I take a few steps closer to the brick wall and study the intricate detail in each ph
oto. I still can’t believe how breathtaking they are.
I feel Xavier, rather than see him, come up behind me. I concentrate on controlling my body’s reaction to his heat I feel, shimmering behind me. Swallowing several times, I try to direct saliva into my parched mouth so I can speak. Before I get the chance, his voice washes over me again.
“I need you to fill out a client form, please.”
When I turn, he lifts a hand and runs it through his dark hair. My fingers itch to do the same. I watch as the flex of the muscles in his arm has me practically drooling. I nod, words have deserted me, take the form and pen from his outstretched hand and move to the reception desk where I begin filling it out.
“Sorry, I should have had you do it before you had the tattoo.”
I look over my shoulder to where he stands behind me, his eyes move over my body before lifting and locking with mine. He shrugs his shoulders, knowing he’s been caught checking me out. He’s not the least bit apologetic and something about his attitude has my body humming again.
“It’s okay.” My voice sounds shaky and scratchy – way to hide the reaction I’m having to him.
I turn my attention back to the card and hurriedly fill in the details before placing the pen on the desk. Shifting the bag on my shoulder, I spin around and offer my hand again.
“Thank you,” I mumble while preparing myself for his touch again.
“Do you want to grab dinner with me, tonight?” he asks as his palm connects with mine.
Snapping my eyes up to his, I get lost in the ocean blue orbs and it takes me a moment to formulate an answer. His thumb rubs small circles across the top of my hand and he reaches out with his free hand to run fingertips across my cheek. I suck my lower lip between my teeth when I feel myself trembling. Seconds feel like hours as they pass while I’m lost in his touch. Then, flashes of the last time I allowed someone to touch me have me snapping back to the present. I try to think of a way to say no to his invitation when all the while my body is screaming for me to say yes.
