“Got a client coming in shortly who’s getting a massive piece done. Specks created this program so I could create the transfer.”
“That’s badass as hell,” she replies, moving closer while staring at the screen. “You gonna need help placing it? I don’t have anyone on the books so if you do, I can give you a hand.”
“I might, yes. She’s a bit shy, but with you being another woman, she shouldn’t have any issues.”
“You planning to do all the outlining today?” she asks, her eyes still glued to the image.
“At least the back, yes. Then once it heals, I’ll outline the front, let it heal, then all the shading and coloring. That part will depend on her, though, and how well she tolerates it, you know?”
She nods in understanding. “Some folks can handle a lot at once, but with the size of this tattoo, there’s no shame if she breaks it down a bit.”
“I agree.”
“Well, let me know if you need me,” she says.
“Will do. Thanks, Kaya.”
“Any time, boss man.”
Once again alone, I play with some of the colors, trying to get an idea of how I’ll shade the design once it’s all in place. The sound of the jingling bell at the front door has me looking at the computer screen to see that CeeCee has likely arrived. Saving the changes, I stand and stretch then head out front to see the woman who has captivated every one of my thoughts since first meeting her. “Hey, Angel,” I say once I’m in the lobby.
“Hey, Loki.” Her voice is quiet, subdued, which has me concerned until I see the slight flush on her cheeks.
Getting a tattoo is somewhat of an intimate process depending on the location of the design. The one I’ve designed for CeeCee is large and will cover the areas of her deepest shame. Holding out my hand, I wait until she places hers in mine then pull her close and place a kiss on her temple. “No pressure, CeeCee. We’re going to start today, but if it gets to be too much, you just say the word and we’ll stop, okay?”
“I shouldn’t be nervous,” she murmurs. “You’ve seen the scars already, so why am I feeling this way?”
I don’t reply, choosing instead to take her into the room I use. Once the door is closed, I turn her to face me and say, “Because before you were just planning what you were going to do and today it’s going to start becoming a reality.” Her nod makes me realize she understood what I was trying to say. I’m not always good with words; however, CeeCee has the innate ability to read me, something I’m finding I like. “Okay, I printed off the transfer. We’re starting on the back first, correct?”
“Yeah, I think that would be best, don’t you?” she asks.
“It’s the largest part so that’s probably the smart thing to do. One of my other artists, Kaya, is willing to help me get the transfer in place if you’re okay with that,” I state.
“Just tell me what I need to do. I’m okay if she needs to help because I know it’s a big piece. Will she be helping tattoo as well?”
“No, she’s just going to help me ensure that the transfer is even, that kind of thing. I think two of us working on you at the same time might be too much, especially since this is your first time.”
“Okay. Why am I so nervous?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Because you’ve never had one done before, this is something you’ve wanted to do for yourself. Could be any number of reasons, sweetheart. Just trust that I will take care of you.”
She nods but still fidgets a bit. I motion to my chair and she sits down. “What do you need me to do?” she questions once she’s put her purse down.
“I’ll go print off the transfers while you take your shirt off and lay on your stomach. Once Kaya and I make sure the transfer is right where it’s supposed to be, I’ll raise the chair some so you’re more comfortable and start tattooing. We’ll take breaks whenever you need to, okay?”
“Okay.”
I pull her up and into my arms. “It’s going to be fine, CeeCee.” Before she can comment, I kiss her, pouring everything I’m feeling into the touch. Breathless, I pull back slightly, resting my forehead against hers. “You totally undo me, Angel,” I whisper. “Now, let’s get this party started, shall we?”
CeeCee
He makes my head spin with his kisses. Once he leaves the room, I quickly remove my shirt and bra, then lay back on his table. The cool touch of the leather on my heated skin does little to stop the flame that he ignited so I focus on my breathing in an attempt to calm myself down. With my head turned toward the door, I see him reappear, an attractive female right behind him. “CeeCee, this is Kaya, one of the other artists here. She’s going to help me position the transfer, okay?”
“That’s fine. Whatever’s easiest for you, Loki,” I reply. I watch them both as they wash their hands, dry them then slip on gloves. Loki opens up what looks like a container of wet wipes, then takes a bottle and sprays it across my back. The slight chill makes me jump which causes him to chuckle.
“Sorry, Angel. I tend to forget it’s a bit chilly,” he says before drying me off with the soft towelette he took from the container. “Okay, I need you to stay perfectly still for me.”
“Okay.” What else can I say? I’m kind of a captive audience at this point, my upper body bare to their gaze.
“Your tattoo is going to look so badass when it’s done,” Kaya says. Her enthusiasm makes me smile, but I don’t reply. I feel their hands as they position the pieces of paper across my upper back and shoulders. “Yeah, that looks good, Loki,” she advises. “Do you want me to do this side?”
“If you don’t mind,” he replies. “Hang tight, CeeCee, we’re going to put the transfer on now.” I barely nod but he must understand because I feel a light touch on my cheek which makes me smile. Coolness invades my back as their hands work to put the transfer onto my skin. One step closer to eradicating the visual reminder of my past. The paper is peeled back then tossed into the trash can. “Kaya, remind me to tell Specks that we need to move forward with a patent on this program. I think we’ve got a true game changer here.”
“Hell yeah we do. Think of how many more people that have extensive areas they want tatted we’ll be able to help, Loki,” she replies. She lightly touches my shoulder and says, “I can’t wait to see the finished product, CeeCee.”
“Thanks for your help with this, Kaya,” Loki states. I hear her move away and realize we’re alone. “You doing okay, Angel?” he asks.
“Yeah, but you haven’t really done anything yet,” I admit. I’m fine but no needle has come near me.
“Like I said, we’ll take breaks if you need to as often as you require. Just let me know.” I suspect he’s going to be watching me closely to make sure I don’t try to power through. I’m not a wuss, the scars alone prove that fact. But where I’m concerned, he seems to not want to cause me any undue pain.
“I will,” I promise.
“Okay, I’m going to adjust the table some,” he cautions. I stay as still as possible while he presses a pedal on the floor. Soon, the flat table is nearly upright. “Straddle the table like you would a chair,” he says. I adjust myself so that I’m now sitting up with my face against the backrest and my arms dangling. “Hold on, let me get your arms positioned better.” He does something else, and a small shelf comes up allowing me to prop my arms. “That’s better.” I turn my head so I can watch him and see him change gloves before he pours black ink into a bunch of small containers. They look like upside down game pieces which makes me giggle. “What has you laughing?” he asks.
“The things you’re using remind me of a game that Patsy and I played when we were little girls. Well, upside down game pieces,” I clarify when I see the puzzled look on his face. “The game Sorry had these pieces and they fit onto the game board. If you flipped them upside down, you could use them for your inks.”
He chuckles at my words, but I don’t feel like he’s laughing at me, more like he’s imagining doing just that. “Okay, sweetheart, let’s ge
t started, shall we?” he inquires once all the containers are filled.
“Let’s do this, Loki.” I’m not sure where this brave person came from, but I kind of like her.
“CeeCee? Let’s take a break,” Loki says. I shake my head a bit, not believing that I dozed off. At first, it was a bit startling, but the constant buzzing of his tattoo gun, the soft music playing in his room, and his gentle, firm touch, lulled me into a wonderful dream-like state.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” I state as I lean back. I can feel the slight sting across my shoulders and upper back, but it’s not horrible. More like a light sunburn. He helps me stand, then wraps a towel around my upper body that snaps shut. It’s comfortable and I immediately make a mental note to find some for me to use at home after I’ve showered.
“I figure you’d like to grab something to drink, maybe hit the bathroom, then we can continue,” he states, holding his hand out to me. I take it without thinking, lacing our fingers together. That zing or whatever the hell it is hits me again, causing my breath to seize in my chest. I feel so out of my element where he’s concerned. I’m an introvert, he’s obviously not. I’m inexperienced in the ways of the world, he’s traveled the world and based on how he looks, has likely experienced more in his lifetime than I can even conceive. As these thoughts run through my head, we reach the break room. I move toward the restroom while he heads to the fridge. “Coke okay?” he asks.
“That’s fine with me. I’ll be right out.” I feel slightly embarrassed but realize he doesn’t care so I quickly take care of business, then wash my hands before I remove the sheath thing and turn. I gasp as I see his tattoo taking shape across my upper back and shoulders. True to his word, he has areas that will obviously be colored, but I can already visualize the finished product. I quickly adjust the cover-up once again then leave the restroom. “Loki, it’s going to look awesome when it’s done,” I state as I sit down across from him and take the soda he’s handing to me.
“You peeked, hmm?” he teases.
Grinning, I reply, “Yeah, I couldn’t help myself.”
We settle into easy conversation as he asks about Squirrel and Moose. Soon, he’s laughing about their latest antics. They watch the outside birds at the feeder and have started yelling at them. George was right that they would start picking up words because the other day, Squirrel hollered that he was going to bury them in the backyard. Maybe I should pay better attention to what is playing in the background, but I enjoy watching my crime documentaries. Sometimes I can figure out who the perpetrator is before the big reveal. “They’ve got some unique personalities, that’s for sure,” he finally says once he stops laughing.
“What about Thelma and Louise?” I ask as we toss our trash and head back to his room, my hand once again ensconced in his.
“They’re still getting used to their habitat, but I think they like it. I gave them the rest of the strawberries last night before I went to sleep.” He nods at the table and I assume my prior position, slipping the coverup off once my chest isn’t exposed to his gaze. I don’t know why I’m so shy especially since once this heals, he’ll be doing the outline on my chest. There’ll be no hiding my boobs then, that’s for damn sure!
Chapter Ten
CeeCee
I managed to sit still while Loki got my back completely outlined. In fact, he started doing some of the shading since, according to him, I was handling it so well. Now, I’m waiting on him to clean up his area since we’re apparently going out to eat. “You ready?” he asks, interrupting my perusal of the artwork hanging in his room. His personality shines through in the prints he has; some are obviously of tattoos he’s done, others are of the men in his club, his brothers.
“Yeah,” I reply, placing my hand in his when he holds his out for me. Once again, our fingers are laced sending another thrill through me. We’re really doing this; the shy girl and the biker. I wonder what Momma M will think then realize she’s only ever wanted me happy. He makes me happy.
He walks me to my car then opens the door for me once I’ve unlocked it with the key fob. “What are you in the mood for?” he asks, leaning down.
“Mexican?” I phrase it as a question since we’re still getting to know each other, and I don’t know if he likes it or not. It won’t be a dealbreaker for me, but I hope he enjoys some of the same foods I do.
“Sounds good to me but no alcohol for you so no margaritas,” he advises. “Alcohol thins your blood, and we want your tat to heal without any issues.”
“Well, that just sucks,” I fuss, making him chuckle. “Do you want me to follow you or what?”
“I’ll follow you, Angel,” he replies, giving me a quick kiss. “Now buckle up so we can hit the road. I’m in the mood for some queso.”
Once he’s on his bike, I maneuver out of the parking lot toward a little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant that makes the best nachos and queso around. He stays close to me, which has me grinning the whole way there. As I park, he backs his bike into the spot next to me and by the time I’ve shut the car off, he’s opening my door to help me out. “This place doesn’t look like much, but I promise, the food is awesome,” I say as we walk to the door.
“Some of the best places I’ve ever eaten at are like this,” he replies, holding the door so I can step through. The interior is cozy with brightly decorated walls. Booths line the walls, with a bunch of tables scattered throughout. The sign says to seat yourself, so we walk toward a booth that’s far enough away from the door that we won’t feel the constant air flow disruption. I slide in and he sits across from me. “You going to get Patsy to help with the lotion tomorrow?” he asks.
“Yeah. I talked to her already and she said she’d help.” Thank goodness for Bluetooth in the car; the call wasn’t long by any means, I only wanted to check to see if she’d help me.
“I’m glad, CeeCee. She’s a good friend.”
“The absolute best,” I advise. Before he can respond, the owner comes over to our table.
“Senorita, it has been too long,” he says, looking at me. “Es este tu novio?” he asks, his eyebrow raised. I may be a bit of a homebody, but Jorge and his wife, Maria, ‘adopted’ me the first time I came into their restaurant.
Deciding to be bold, I reply, “Si, Jorge. This is Loki.” He holds his hand out and Loki takes it.
“You take care of mija, young man,” Jorge commands. I feel the heat on my face at the fact this older man, who has grandchildren, is addressing Loki like he’s a child.
“I plan to do just that, sir,” Loki replies. He doesn’t look upset, maybe a bit curious, but he’s not angry. I also realize that he understood what Jorge asked me, which has me blushing even more.
“Si, good. My Maria would have my head if someone hurt her CeeCee.”
“I see you’ve got more people in your corner, Angel,” Loki says, squeezing my hand.
“Apparently so. Of course, I only ever come in with Patsy or Momma M, so this is a bit of a shock to him, I’m sure,” I tease.
“I’m glad you brought me,” he states. “So, you going to order for us?”
“Oh! Absolutely. Jorge, can we have some of the primo queso with chips while we look at the menu? I’m not sure what I want right now.”
“What about drinks, mija? You know the chiles are sometimes a bit spicy.”
“Um, I’ll have a soda. Loki?”
“Beer. Whatever you’ve got on tap is fine. Also, can we each get a glass of water?”
“Si, I will have them out shortly,” Jorge states, handing each of us a menu.
He walks away, leaving me with a highly amused Loki who asks, “Was he letting me know he’ll hurt me if I treat you badly?”
I can’t help myself; I start giggling. “Um, yeah, I think he was. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, I think it’s wonderful that he’s so protective of you, Angel. So, what do you recommend?”
I flip the menu to the back where all the specials are listed. “T
here’s a combo plate that’s pretty good. It’s got flautas, chimichangas, a quesadilla as well as rice and beans.”
“That sounds pretty good to me,” he replies, putting his menu to the side. “I think I’ll get one of those.”
“Me too.” While we wait for Jorge to return with our drinks and the queso, I find myself thinking about and discarding several topics.
His hand covers mind. “Stop thinking so hard, CeeCee. I’m not one who has to have every second of every day filled with chitchat.”
“It just dawned on me that I spend so much time by myself I’m probably not a very good conversationalist,” I admit.
“I wouldn’t say that. We’ve found plenty of things to talk about when we’re with one another.” The smile he gives me tells me that there are things we haven’t talked about yet, but they’re coming.
“Here you two go. Have you decided on what you want?” Jorge asks as he sits the queso, chips and our drinks on the table.
“Can we get two orders of the combo plate?” Loki replies. I watch as he opens one of the straws and puts it into my drink before he does the same with his. That simple act of putting me first makes me smile deep inside.
“Absolutely. CeeCee, Geraldo made the queso fresh when he found out it was for you,” Jorge states.
“Who is Geraldo?” Loki’s question isn’t unexpected. He doesn’t sound jealous, which is another mark in his favor, he simply sounds curious. Like he’s trying to figure out where these people fit into my life.
“My grandson. He adores CeeCee and her family, so when he found out she was here, he made the queso fresh,” Jorge says.
“I like that for you, Angel,” Loki states, squeezing my hand. “The fact that you have so many who look out for you makes me happy.”
Jorge doesn’t say anything, merely smiles as he raps his knuckles on the table before he heads back to the kitchen to put our food order in. “I’m really lucky, Loki.”
Loki's Angel: A Poseidon's Warriors MC novel - Book 3 Page 8
