by Haley Travis
Alison seemed surprised that I knew her name, and Leah gave me a soft smile that made me want to throw my arms around her and steal her away forever.
I set up my station quickly, looking at Alison’s photos of the sort of purple she wanted the center panel of the butterfly wings to be now.
“You were right about the baby pink,” she said with a shrug.
“Actually,” I said diplomatically, “I think this rich rosy purple will look even better. It will make the greens and teals pop more.
I got straight to work, noticing that Leah wouldn’t sit down. She hovered behind me, then backed up any time she felt that she was getting too close.
“I can get you a chair if you like,” I said to her.
“No, thank you,” she whispered.
“Chill out,” Alison told her, rolling her eyes. Turning to me, she said, “You’ll have to forgive my friend, she’s one of those fluttery little nervous people.”
Instantly I could see Leah’s energy shrink. “Nothing to forgive,” I said. “People are the way they are. That’s what makes the world interesting, right Leah?”
She flashed me a grin that made my chest feel too tight. I was over the moon for this girl. It had never been physically difficult to stop myself from reaching out to touch someone before.
“Alright, that’s about it. What do you think?” I asked Alison.
She analyzed the new color and grinned. “Perfect. Thanks so much!”
I turned away for a moment while Alison took a few photos, but could clearly hear her hiss to Leah, “I see you staring at him. There’s no way you’d have a shot with a guy like that.”
It was difficult to pretend I hadn’t heard. Glancing in the mirror above my station, I saw that Leah’s eyes were downcast as if she was trying to ignore her friend.
“Besides,” Alison continued, “Can you imagine what your stuck up boss would say if he saw you guys out together?” Her laugh was outright irritating.
Spinning back, I had the bandage and tape ready. “So, you likely know the drill, since this isn’t your first tattoo. Keep it dry for a few days, quick shower only. Mild unscented soap. This area is so small you should have no trouble healing, but take my card and an aftercare brochure from the front desk anyway and call if there is any issue whatsoever.”
Alison smiled at me sweetly. “Thanks, Grant.” She shot Leah a sideways look. “So, Leah wants to get a tattoo next.”
“No,” I said.
Alison stared at me with her mouth open. But Leah gave me another shy smile. “What do you mean, no?” Alison practically barked. “You can’t refuse to tattoo someone.” She seemed like she was about to get feisty on me.
“Leah, are you ready to get a tattoo?” I asked gently. “Look me in the eye.”
Her smoky water gaze met mine, and I felt it up my spine as she whispered. “Not yet.”
“That’s okay,” I smiled. “Just think about it for a while then.”
Alison seemed genuinely ticked off that Leah and I seemed to be communicating through glances, and it looked like she was about to drag her friend out of here.
I was torn. I couldn’t let Leah leave. But there was no way I was going to pressure her into getting work done when she was nowhere near ready.
“Hey, I have an idea.” Leah looked up at me, and I reached out to pat her hand where it leaned on the table without even thinking. “I sometimes draw tats on so that people can think about the coloring and position. Why don’t I draw one for you, to help you think about it?”
“Wow. Yeah, that would be cool,” Leah said.
Alison rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a chicken shit,” she laughed.
“Don’t make fun of her,” I said flatly. Although I said it quietly, she caught my tone.
“Okay, sorry. But Leah, don’t waste the guy’s time if you’re not–”
“She’s not wasting my time at all,” I said quickly. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to try out a new method for temporary tattoos. Leah, would you mind helping me? You could let me know how long this stuff lasts on your skin?”
“Sure,” she said brightly.
Alison shrugged, then went up to the front to pay while I pulled out a book for Leah to study. “Does anything catch your eye?”
She had the strangest way of tilting her head from side to side very slightly while she thought. “If I were to get a tattoo,” she said, as she flashed me a little grin. “Completely imaginary of course.”
“Of course.”
“I’d want it to have some meaning behind it.”
“I agree. Is there a new direction you’d like to guide your life in? Is there something you’re trying to overcome, or a part of your life where you want to focus more energy?” I asked.
I could see her hesitation, then she took a breath and looked up at me. “I don’t want to be this shy anymore. The whole world makes me a bit nervous, and I want to try to improve, just a little.
I could tell her how hard it was for her to say that to me. Reaching out, I took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Leah, I think that’s an amazing goal. And I think that’s really brave of you to tell me.”
I dropped her hand quickly as Alison came back.
“Well, I can see that you two are having a moment,” she said with a weird side-eyed glance to Leah. “I’ll text you later, okay?”
“Sure,” Leah said.
I was relieved that Alison was gone, not just so that I could be alone with Leah. I didn’t like that girl’s vibe at all.
“Some people think that symbols of nature are inspirational,” I said to Leah, flipping through the photo book of my previous tattoos. “Symbols of growth. Symbols of opening up to the sun.” I looked up at her with a wink. “Everyone has a little bit of hippie in them, right?”
She had such a lovely laugh. “Yes, I guess so. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have good, positive energy.”
“Precisely. So do you think a flower opening would represent you coming out of your shell and being more open? Blooming?”
“Absolutely,” she said.
“What’s your favorite kind of flower?” I asked, desperately hoping that I had some samples in the book of whatever it was.
“I’ve never really had one before,” she said thoughtfully, flipping pages slowly. “I don’t think roses are right. Too formal. I think something less structured.”
I nodded, turning the page with her and pointing. “What about that?”
“Oh!” she squealed. “I love that. What is it?”
“It’s alstroemeria. The lily of Peru.”
Her beautiful stormy eyes were quickly scanning the entire page of lilies. “When I was little we lived in the country, and lilies like this one –” she pointed to a bright orange marsh lily, “Would grow wild in the ditches of the country roads in some spots.”
“What if I sort of blended the two together and made something new?” I asked. “Use the color and size of your wild daylily, with the different tones and little freckles of the South American lily?”
She laughed again. “Can you just cobble together a flower like that?”
“Yes ma’am,” I chuckled. “I’m a mad scientist of art, and I can do anything. How big would you like it, and where would you like me to put it?” I cringed inside realizing how what I had just said could be interpreted.
I saw her mouth tense for a moment as if she was holding back laughter.
“I think I like the spot you mentioned yesterday,” she said. “But,” she glanced around the room. My station was tucked into the corner, so it was relatively private. “I wouldn’t have to lay out on your table half-naked or anything, would I?”
“Of course not,” I said. “I’ll just pull your shirt up a couple of inches.”
She hopped up on the table, and I pulled out a container of multi-colored pens. “Eyeliner?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “This is some new waterproof, smudgeproof eyeliner that everyone has been raving about, and i
t comes in a whole bunch of colors. So I thought, if it’s safe for your eyes, it must be non-toxic for the skin. Plus, it shouldn’t rub off on your clothing.”
“Okay,” she said agreeably, laying flat on her back.
I set the basket of pens on the table beside her, curling her arm around it so that her hand had a place to rest, and she could keep them from falling.
Pulling the waistband of her skirt down just an inch, and rolling her shirt up a little, I circled the spot over her hip bone and around her side with my fingertips. “Is this the spot?”
She was quivering. “Yes, but… It’s a little ticklish.”
I needed to make her quiver in other ways, the thought tightening my stomach. “Good thing these aren’t permanent then,” I quipped. “If you jump and I make a mistake, I can just wash it off.”
We spent the next twenty minutes chatting about her favorite artists, growing up in the country, and how I got into drawing because I was clumsy at sixteen and wanted to develop my fine motor skills. I was delighted to discover that she really was into art, even studying a bit of art history.
Although I was as delicate as possible, my hands were skimming along her soft skin, and she was definitely having a reaction. Every now and then I heard her breath catch as the palm of my hand adjusted. Her fingertips twitched when I had to pull her shirt up just a pinch more.
Having her sweet, curvy body laid out for me was making me almost painfully aroused. If I didn’t find a way to kiss her soon, I was going to lose my mind.
“All done,” I said, putting the pens away and helping her off the table to stand in front of the full-length mirror.
She held up her shirt a bit and gasped. “Grant, it’s amazing!”
The bright orange and peach lily was a hybrid of the two species, but the way it opened, and was surrounded by swirling green and teal speckled lines made it look like it was dancing.
I took another good look, then picked up a darker green eyeliner. “What if there was just a bit more shadow right here?” I asked while pointing.
“Oh, that would be perfect,” she said.
I dropped to my knees, placing my hand on the back of her side to hold her steady. I watched her stomach flutter for a moment, then began shading as soon as she was still.
It only took a moment, then I couldn’t resist blowing across the liquid eyeshadow until it dried.
She made the tiniest yipping noise as she jumped. “That’s chilly!”
I stood up, our bodies far too close as I looked down at her. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Um, what do I owe you?”
“No, Leah, this was my treat. But I would love to make you dinner tomorrow night.”
Her mysterious eyes regarded me carefully. It was as if time froze while I waited for her answer. “Okay,” she practically whispered. “That sounds nice.”
“It will be nice,” I said, my hand sliding around the small of her back as I pulled her close. “But you’re going to have to tell me quickly, gorgeous. If I kiss you right now, does that make me nice? Or a bad boy?”
Her lips fell apart in shock. Her gaze danced around my entire face for a moment, then stopped on my lips.
“You said you wanted to be more outgoing,” I said gently, twisting a lock of her silky hair between my fingers before cupping the back of her head, tilting her face up. “Kiss me, Leah.”
Her mouth was just an inch from mine. I waited. Five seconds felt like an eternity.
Then she stretched up, her lips moving against mine as gentle as a warm breeze. In an instant there was no space between our bodies, her arms around my shoulders as we dissolved against each other.
I could feel her trembling in my arms, then her lips slowly parted, as I tentatively tasted her, my tongue darting lightly inside her mouth as she moaned sweetly. When she finally pulled away, staring up at me breathless, her flirty little smile was the last straw. She was mine now. Completely.
My eyes darted over to where Penny was mouthing the words, “What the hell?” and silently snapping her fingers to tell me my next appointment had arrived.
“I’m sorry I have to get back to work,” I said softly while nuzzling her ear.
Her fingers slid off my shoulders slowly, reluctantly.
“I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night,” I said, finally stepping back to write my address and number on a sticky note. “Seven o’clock?”
She nodded. “Sure. Thanks for the artwork.”
“Take some photos and think about if you’d really like it there someday,” I said. “But not until you’ve thought it through for at least a couple of months.”
Leah giggled. “I love that a tattoo artist is strict about whether I’m ready or not.” She paused. “You know, you should advertise that you do temporary tattoos for people who are just considering it. I bet a lot of people don’t know that’s an option, and it would help them make clearer decisions. Maybe put a sign in the window.”
“You’re brilliant,” I said softly. “Thanks for the idea.” Then I kissed the tip of her nose before she grabbed her bag and took off. Every artist in the shop was very careful not to look up at me, and let on that they had seen anything.
No one had ever seen me focus any real interest on a woman before, so I’m sure they were curious. But they knew better than to ask.
CHAPTER FOUR
* Leah *
When I arrived at Grant’s small condo, I was extremely impressed. It was simple, light and airy, with amazing paintings that were obviously done by him. “Hey, baby,” he murmured against my ear, hugging me close against him. “Come on in and check out the place.” He gave me the most gentle, sweet kiss, a promise of what I hope was to come later.
I walked around while he stirred something that smelled amazing. “I know it’s microscopic,” he chuckled, “But this is what I consider my starter home. I’m saving up to buy a house, but I wanted to invest in something the second I could afford it.”
“It’s nice,” I said, skimming his books. Mystery, sci-fi, and a huge pile of art books overloaded the shelves. “When do you plan on getting a house?”
I looked over to the kitchen to take in his excited smile. “It’s a two or three-year plan. I want to make sure I have enough for real furniture, and some outdoor stuff as well. I need a backyard so that I can have a dog.”
I saw a photo on the shelf of Grant with a medium-sized dog that looked like half golden retriever, and couldn’t stop my little, “Aww.” He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I loved that he was always touching me.
“That’s Savannah,” he said softly.
“She looks a lot like Keiran,” I said sadly. “I had him when I was tiny, but he got sick when I was only seven. I don’t even know what he had.”
“Yeah, my little Savvie passed about ten years ago,” he said, rocking me gently. “When we have a house someday, we’ll pick out a frisky little puppy together, okay?”
I looked up at him in shock. He seemed so sure of himself. So completely confident in us. We hadn’t even had an actual date yet. Was he for real?
Then he spun me around to kiss my forehead. “Please don’t freak out that I’m dreaming about our future already, Leah. I just know that we were meant to be. For the moment, try to run with it, okay?” He flashed a dazzling grin while kissing my cheeks. “Like your imaginary tattoo. Just play pretend until things become real.”
The way he made me giggle so easily was addictive. Then I tried his spicy chicken and rice, which was even more addictive. By the time we were curled up on the couch together, I was falling into his dream of us being together forever.
“Imagine if the shop really took off, with a few more locations, and we needed a full-time accountant,” he chuckled, stroking my back.
“You’d get sick of me if I was there all the time.”
“Never.”
His huge hands pulled me close, and I could feel the exact second that his casual snuggling turned into something more. Grant pull
ed me into his lap, slanting his lips against mine in a deep kiss that sent tingles shooting through my entire body.
My experience with men was extremely limited. The one boyfriend I had two years ago was not romantic, not passionate, and I was pretty sure that I was playing the part of his girlfriend more than he actually wanted me there.
Grant was completely different. He didn’t seem into playing games or working by anyone else’s timelines. He didn’t care if anything seemed normal or regular.
It was odd how intensely focused he seemed on me. But I dearly loved it. I felt myself fall completely under his spell, craving more.
The way he touched me, kissed me, needed me… it heated something deep in my core that had never woken up before. Raw, primal desire that was so overwhelming it made me a little nervous. But I knew that with him, I’d be able to handle it.
Turning toward him, his tongue explored my mouth gently as his hands caressed my back, slipping down to cup my behind, kneading my flesh. I moaned, winding my fingers into the back of his thick black hair.
Pressing my breasts against his chest, my body began moving against his in a slow, sultry dance that was very clear about what I wanted. Every time he looked into my eyes, I felt like I was falling. He was obviously a man who was driven with purpose, but having all of his attention focused on me was incredible.
His teeth caught at my bottom lip for a second as he squinted at me playfully, then leaned back. “Leah, I’ve been hoping to find a sweet girl like you someday.”
“I guess I’ve just been hiding in the accounting department,” I said softly.
I felt somehow unable to sit still. As if my skin were magnetized, pulling toward his. He was so masculine, so grounded and confident.
“Leah, how old are you?” he asked.
“Twenty-two. And you?”
“Thirty-eight. Does that bother you?”
I shook my head. “No, not at all. If anything, it’s probably good for me. You seem to know a bit more about how the world works.”
He smiled sweetly. “Everyone has different things that they’re good at, and things they need to work on. It’s all a big puzzle. But I’ll always be right here to help you if you need it.”
