Bittersweet Symphony (The Damaged Souls series Book 2)

by Belinda Boring

  “Quit laughing at me,” she grumbled. Caylee elbowed me in the gut. I deserved it.

  “Do you trust me?” I asked, extending my hand out, inviting her to take it. “Or does it only work for street rats and Aladdin?” I knew using the reference would make her smile. Caylee had a weakness for all things Disney.

  This time she didn’t hesitate. “You’re lucky I love you.”

  “Yes, I am, sweetheart.” Grasping her hand, I turned and pushed on the door. The sound of soft rock music playing over the studio’s sound system greeted us. As I glanced about, I was grateful to find no one else waiting. While I wanted to do this for Caylee, I also knew we didn’t have hours to waste sitting around.

  “Be with you in a sec,” a males voice called from somewhere behind the counter. Images of tattoos hung on the different walls as well as books filled with examples on the counter and side tables. Dropping her hand for a moment, I approached the photos of people the shop had worked on, showcasing a wide variety of ink.

  There was a reason why Ink Edges came so highly recommended—especially the employee called Six. From what I could see, the dude had some serious skills with the needle, making me mentally file it away for the future. There were still things I wanted—coloring and a few more pieces—and good tattoo artists were hard to come by.

  There were artists and then there were artists.

  If this guy was legit, I would travel back here when the time was right.

  “How can I help you?” I looked up as a tall guy approached, a smile on his face while he quickly finished wiping his hands with a paper towel. Caylee returned from where she’d been casually browsing, curious to finally find out why we were there.

  I shook his hand. “I’m here to make my girl’s wish come true.” I got a small rush when I winked at her and she ducked her head and blushed. God, how I loved seeing how she reacted to what I said and did. I could study her for a lifetime and never be bored.

  Six busted out laughing.

  “What?” Caylee asked, unsure about what was so funny.

  “You’d be amazed at how many times I hear that,” he volunteered, dragging his fingers through his dark hair. “I just didn’t expect to hear it here.” When Caylee and I said nothing, he added, “I have a night job at Leathers.” We must’ve looked like idiots standing there with blank expressions. “It’s a strip club. I’m also an exotic dancer.”

  It was my turn to laugh when Caylee’s eyes widened, her gaze drifting up and down his body, her face turning that gorgeous shade of pink again.

  “Well, I guess we can save that for another day,” I joked, wrapping me arm loosely around Caylee. She still hadn’t said a word. “For right now, I’m looking at getting my nipple pierced.”

  That admission jolted her back.

  “What? Really?” Forgetting whatever she’d been thinking about, Caylee whirled to face me, her eyes so big that they resembled saucers. “Are you being serious?”

  I dragged her tighter to my body and whispered into her ear. “You did say what a turn on it would be.”

  Molten desire filled her gaze and, heaven help me, it made me want to take her into the back and bury myself inside her. One day I would need to let her know exactly how her reactions affected me . . . or maybe not.

  If she ever realized just how much I thought of us naked, of the things I wanted to do to her, how often I wanted to do them, she would run for the hills based solely on the way she seemed to undress me with her eyes at the moment, straight to the nearest bed.

  It was good to know I wasn’t the only one with a healthy sex drive. She poured gasoline all over mine and, when she struck a match, there was no holding back the intensity of the ignition.

  I loved knowing she was just as insatiable—that she enjoyed my body just as much as I did hers.

  Six glanced down at his schedule book. “I’ve got some good news for you then. There was a cancellation so, if you want to do it now, the spot’s yours. We have all the gear here to do piercings and I’m certified.” He pointed to the license and certificates also displayed for customers.

  “Sounds good,” I replied, moving to follow him back to wherever his instruments were set up. “Name’s Cooper, and this is Caylee.”

  Six led us into a neat space where the tattoo bench was empty and the tools of his trade lay organized on the counter and a wheeled shelf system. Just from what I’d seen at other studios, I recognized he took his job seriously. Everything looked spotless and sanitized.

  “Take your shirt off and lie up on the table.” Grabbing some gloves, he came closer. “My name’s Trey Jagger, but my friends call me Six. It’s great meeting you both.” He then grinned at Caylee. “And it’s my pleasure to make your wish come true today.”

  She squeaked.

  I laughed.

  “So Six? Military?” Sizing him up, he had the build of a Marine. Sometimes you could just tell by the way someone held themselves.

  “No. It was a nickname my grandfather gave me growing up and it kinda stuck.” Six snapped on his gloves and leaned in to take a better look at my chest. “I take it you are?” Before I could answer, his focus shifted to my tattoos. “Let me see . . . Seal. No, Marine.”

  He was good. “Marine. Served a few tours in Afghanistan before being medically discharged.” Caylee placed her hand on my arm, reassuringly. She was always so mindful when my service was brought up. While I wasn’t always so fragile and could handle certain topics, it meant a lot that she watched out for me.

  “Whoever did these pieces knows his stuff. Great artwork. Clear and concise lines. No ink bleed or breaking down of the design. I’m impressed.” Six dropped himself onto the swivel stool and scooted it closer. “These look like they have a story.”

  “They do,” I answered, and left it at that. “Once we’re done here, I’d love to talk about possibly coming back to Vegas and getting you to add to my sleeves.”

  “You’re not from here?”

  Caylee snorted. “You mean my wide-eyed, I-must-look-everywhere-at-once expression didn’t give us away?”

  Ever since we arrived, I’d worried about her getting whiplash from how many times she turned back and forth looking at everything. As a veteran visitor, I was used to the flashing lights, crowds, tinkling noise of the casino’s slot machines.

  I almost choked on the water I’d been drinking when Caylee had innocently asked where the hell she was supposed to look when on the Strip. Granted, that was after different people had tried shoving cards with naked women into her hands, but it still made me laugh. Between them and the cards discarded all over the floor, I was surprised she wanted to touch anything. I’d hugged her and suggested she try not to look down. She’d taken the advice seriously, immediately tipping her head back so she could gaze at the sky.

  Until she misjudged her step and almost tripped—right before renaming the Strip Porn Street.

  “I make it a point to never judge, but, yeah, I noticed.”

  “We drove up for a weekend getaway,” I offered, trying to relax as Six focused on my chest. It felt weird as shit having another man touching my nipple. “We’re celebrating Caylee’s academic achievements and going to see a friend’s band play.”

  He quietly tugged on my areola and I resisted the urge to punch him. “Sorry, let me know if it’s uncomfortable. I’ll be using a needle to numb the base here so I can start the piercing. Just need to see what I’m working with.” He must’ve been satisfied, because he pushed away from the bench, returning shortly after with a tray set up with alcohol wipes, a huge fucking needle or rod, and clamps. At the sight of it, Caylee face drained of color a little and her fingers tightened on my arm.

  It was cute how she was worried for me.

  “We’re good, man,” I answered. “I took a bullet in the back and thigh. I know pain. I can handle it.” I didn’t mention I also had a cabinet worth of pharmaceuticals in case I couldn’t.

  “So you’re in school, Caylee? My girl’s thinking about
registering for a course or two. What’s your major?” With a slight pinch, I felt the syringe’s needle break skin, and I clenched my jaw involuntarily.

  “Psychology. It’s my first year and I was just recently awarded a scholarship. It’s not a big deal.” Even now, Caylee liked to downplay her accomplishments.

  “Pfft,” I fired.

  “What he said,” Six added. “It’s a big deal. I’d be celebrating it too. Life’s too short not to. Brooklyn, that’s my girlfriend’s name, is looking at maybe doing a degree with History or English literature. She has a thing for learning, and me? I have a thing for sexy scholars named Brooklyn.”

  Keeping still as he injected the numbing solution into the other side of my nipple, I winked at her. “I hear you. I have a certain weakness and addiction to all things Caylee Sawyer.” It was cheesy as fuck, but I didn’t care.

  “You sure you want to keep watching?” Six’s question was for Caylee. I liked this guy a lot. He saw she was nervous and was helping to keep her calm. Made it easier for me to relax as well. “Or want me to bring you in a chair?”

  She shook her head. “I’m okay. Promise. If I feel like I’m going to faint, I’ll let you know.”

  Six paused, a white cotton swab between his fingers as he wiped away the blood and liquid oozing out of the two puncture wounds. “I don’t mind fainting. It’s just a bitch to clean up after squeamish stomachs. It’s the janitor’s day off so I’m the lucky bastard who gets to do it.”

  She held up her hand over her heart. “Then I promise to try extra hard.” He studied her for a moment and nodded.

  “Just in case.” Six pushed a trashcan over to her with his foot and passed her one of the handheld fans from a drawer. “Doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

  “You speak from experience,” I said.

  Six shuddered dramatically. “Hell yeah.” Holding up what looked like pliers or clamps, he opened and closed them, the metal prongs making a soft click sound. “Ready? If everything is sufficiently numb, let’s get started.”

  Caylee burst out into an almost manic laugh. “Oh my gosh . . . I just had this image pop up in my head.” Whatever it was made her cheeks redden. “Reminded me I need to make an appointment with my gynecologist.”

  It was our turn to stop, surprised by what she’d said. I was pretty sure my mouth was hanging open. “Say what?”

  “This reminds me a little about what it’s like getting a Pap smear. Are you ready? . . . You might feel a small sting or pinch . . . you know?”

  “Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you, but we don’t know. But I appreciate you trying to help me relax.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t. There’s nothing relaxing about getting a Pap smear. They suck and rank up there with getting your toenails pulled out with a plier. But hey . . . it was still funny.”

  “I like her,” Six whispered, smirking as he applied pressure to the clamp he had twisting my nipple around with. “How’s that feel?”

  “Something tells me there really isn’t a lot of appropriate ways to answer that,” I replied, my teeth gritted as I adjusted to how weird it felt. “But I’m guessing you’re asking if the numbing agent is working. It is.”

  “Then hold as still as you can, man.” And with that warning, he lifted another rod-like needle to my chest.

  Fuck.

  As he started sliding it into the base of my nipple, Caylee gasped, and I stared up at her.

  The things I did for love.

  For her.

  No regrets.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Caylee

  “I’m surprised he let you leave the hotel room looking like that, Caylee.” There was no point denying that Rebecca’s compliment made me feel good. Even though I hadn’t been the one to pack my overnight bag, there was no complaining over how kick ass the outfit made me look and feel.

  I hadn’t noticed the attention as we all climbed out of the taxi into the outside valet area of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

  But Cooper had. There was no mistaking the possessive curl of his arm around my shoulders as he kept me close. It was a clear signal to anyone watching that in order to get to me, they would need to go through him. Judging from the alpha gleam in his eyes, he was fully aware of how sexy the black designer jeans looked as the fabric hugged my behind like a glove. I had no idea where the tank top came from—the words, Good Girls Go To Heaven. Bad Girls Go Everywhere, scrolled across my chest. With a long chain around my neck, a blinged out skull hanging just below my breasts . . . I looked like sin. At least, that was the feeling I sensed from Cooper.

  At the last moment, Rebecca had shoved an assortment of leather bands for my wrist—one in particular with a series of crucifix tiles attached to the weaving. Those were my favorite.

  It was a little more rock girl than I usually wore which made it perfect. If we were here to celebrate and have a good time, there was no point playing it safe.

  Go big or go home.

  Or in my case, go back to the hotel and show Cooper just how bad I could be. I was his number one groupie and fan, after all. I had no problem rocking his world and then some.

  “Remind me to thank you tomorrow morning,” I whispered discretely, watching as Cooper, Marty, Aidan, and Troy scanned the casino for directions to where Wasted Malice were playing in an hour. There was an excited thrum in the air—part from the rush of gambling and from all the people milling about.

  Vegas was intense. It was a far cry from the quieter, less frantic atmosphere of Black Canyon.

  “What time are we meeting up with that stripper guy?” Rebecca asked, craning her neck so she could see him, which was hilarious because the only description she had of him was from me.

  For what seemed like the millionth time tonight I slapped my roommate, chastising her. “Dude, what did I tell you? You can’t call him that!”

  “Why not? It’s his job, isn’t it?” In true Rebecca fashion, she’d enjoyed my retelling of Ink Edges, asking to see Cooper’s piercing, cringing when she imagined the pain. But as soon as we told her we’d invited Six and his girlfriend, Brooklyn, to join us, she’d renamed him the Stripper Guy.

  I swear she was going to be the death of me. Sometimes, I didn’t know whether to be amazed and proud of how comfortable she was or mortified over what came out of her mind. The thought of her muzzled made me giggle. I had no doubt she’d be like Houdini and be out of that thing in a heartbeat.

  But it didn’t matter. Her quirks were endearing and I loved her for them—all of them.

  “So you’re the reason my ears are burning.” A deep, rich voice came from behind and we both whirled around. It was Six and his gorgeous girlfriend.

  “Hey, Six,” I greeted, elbowing Rebecca who had the decency to look embarrassed at being caught. “This is my roommate and best friend, Rebecca.”

  When she mumbled hello, I wanted to giggle over her sudden bashfulness. It wasn’t often she was rendered speechless that didn’t involve Marty. The last time I’d seen her this shy was . . . well, never.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Six replied as he kissed the back of his girlfriend’s hand. “And this is my Brooklyn.”

  “Your Brooklyn?” Her eyebrows arched. Humor crinkled the corners of her eyes as she peered up at him in part adoration and part spitfire. I instantly liked her.

  “You better believe you’re mine. Do you need another reminder?” Her gasp was audible over the loud noise coming from the nearby row of slot machines. He studied her features like a predator, ready to prove his claim. Most would have taken a step back, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the intensity.

  Brooklyn stepped closer—as if challenging him to do exactly what he threatened.

  Yep, I was definitely going to like this girl.

  Tonight had all the makings of something memorable.

  ****

  “Having fun, sweetheart?” Cooper’s breath was warm against my ear.

  Twisting so I could answer, I smiled. “I’m so glad we came!” I
had to yell to be heard over the thudding base coming from the band’s speakers. Wasted Malice had been performing for the last hour and didn’t show any signs of slowing down. The crowd had gone insane as soon as Cian walked onto the stage and hadn’t stopped since.

  Just like Cooper and the guys, this group held everyone in the palm of their hands—keeping them hostage with their lyrics and wicked beats. It was impossible to stand still, the music swirling about in the air, the vibrations thrumming through my body as I had no other choice but to dance.

  It didn’t matter that the heat generated caused a light sweat to trickle down the side of my temples, dampening my hair.

  This was the kind of cause—experience—that warranted throwing away all focus about whether makeup was smudged or hair out of place. Happiness filled me—both from having an amazing time and the fact I was here with people I loved. Even Six and Brooklyn had found a place in my heart. There was no way this was the last time all of us would hang out together.

  Forever friends.

  Sometimes, you just knew straight off the bat whether people were meant to be in your life. They were two of them.

  Glancing over at Rebecca, who also stood with her back against Marty’s chest, I offered up a quick prayer of gratitude. How did this become my life? How did I become so lucky?

  You would’ve loved them too, Owen, I silently murmured.

  As the song began winding down, I took in a deep breath. I was exhausted, but in a good way.

  “Are we going to the after party still?” I asked. Cooper had mentioned the invite earlier—how adamant Cian had been that we be there.

  He nodded. “That’s the plan.” Despite all the commotion, Cooper’s eyes never strayed from mine. “I love you.”

  Whether he spoke the words or mouthed them like he did now, the result was the same. A tingle started in the center of my chest that pulsed outward and didn’t stop until it reached the tip of my fingers, toes, and head. It was like a full body wave that left nothing in its path untouched.