A raw tension fed the air around us, the room thickening with attraction and desire.
So I did the one the thing I knew would keep her here, I agreed. “A tramp stamp... Classic. For you, absolutely.”
Red's lip curled, eyes slit tight. “Tramp stamp?”
“Exactly, it seems it would fit you perfectly.” Running a hand over my jaw, I dragged my fingers down through my beard. “Let me draw something up quick.” Turning to the blonde, I held a slight smile. “And for you, I'll draw you something special. Give me thirty minutes.”
Rolling her eyes, Red crossed her thighs, face softening back into its original color. “What should we do while you draw?”
Grabbing two clipboards off the desk, I handed them to the girls. “Fill these out, and I'll be with you in a bit.”
Taking one last glance at the gorgeous girl with curves, I let my eyes ride over her body before disappearing into the back.
A flash of her bare skin, untainted and pure, rode my spine. She was unspoiled, a blank canvas. There was no one else that had touched her the way I was going to.
This night definitely just got a little better.
While the idea of tattooing the obnoxious girl, with the body of a starved island survivor, was less than ideal; the thought of letting my fingers run over the nervous girl's skin sent a shockwave right to my cock.
I was going to do hers last, savor the feel of her flesh, enjoy the sight of her vulnerable nervousness.
I wanted to feel her squirm, shiver, tremble beneath my hands.
And I was going to put my mark on her.
The image would never disappear, it would never fade.
An inked reminder of my existence.
A permanent display of the man she would never forget.
Chapter Three
Willow
I can't believe I'm doing this.
Never in my life had I ever imagined I would be here, about to stain my skin with an unerasable image.
What's he going to draw? God I hope it's not some sort of fire breathing dragon.
The time seemed to slowly tick by, my palms getting sweatier and sweatier with each second. Beth didn't seem nervous at all, she was giddy. Laughing at nothing, and prancing around the room looking at all the pictures on the walls.
I had to admit, I was impressed by some of the depictions hanging. The pictures ranged from evil flaming skulls, to beautiful landscapes of oceans and trees. From an artist's perception, there was talent here.
Whether it was the artist behind the curtain or someone else, I didn't know. All the images had a small design in the bottom left corner. It wasn't a name, or initials; it was a tight loop, swirling off the side with two dots directly underneath.
A mark, all the paintings were marked with a signature in shape.
It wasn't an artist I was familiar with. Then again, I'm not an art dealer. I had some knowledge on famous and well known artists, but I didn't know them all.
Show me a van Gogh, or a famous shoe painted by Warhol, and I'll give you some history. But toss a new age artist in my face, and I'm empty.
The loud screech of heavy metal played around us, bright lights shined down onto our heads. There were seats resting against the front wall, but I couldn't sit.
My nerves were on edge, the frightened feeling scaled my back, wrapping my shoulders in a warm blanket.
I can't believe I'm doing this. Dammit Beth!
And the fucking guy about to stick my skin, he made my frame flush with goosebumps. I was trying to push that feeling out, force the bubbling adrenaline down and away.
My body was roaring to life, thighs pressing together with a wanton need I didn't understand and didn't want to accept.
He was fucking hot, a taste of raw, and real. A lot of people around here wore fake expressions and false personalities. Everyone in this town was looking for their big break, and I was no different.
But I was still me, I hadn't turned into someone else. And this guy seemed the same.
A thick beard coated his hard jaw, encasing his perfect lips in a natural frame. His arms were covered from wrist to shoulder in art; colorful, dancing art, that moved across his muscles as he spoke.
I had never been attracted to a guy like him before. He looked hard, and dangerous, the complete opposite of what I thought I found attractive.
But he spoke with confidence, and a certainty that glossed my brain. He knew what he was doing, and I couldn't deny that.
It was his eyes that drew me in and kept me locked in place. Their bright green hue hooked my stare, the deep emerald color popped against his dark olive skin tone. His beard was a dark brown, speckled with reds, and yellows.
And when he zeroed in on me, my heart jumped. My stomach whirled with flutters, blood turning icy and heating to a boil as he closed the gap between us.
The feet separating us warped into inches, the warm gust of air his lips expelled, circled my face and rolled down my neck. My whole body was tingling, wanting him to touch me, and wanting to bolt out the door at the same time.
But my feet were motionless. It was as if he had glued me to his floor by just the idea of his hands on me. An imaginary chain clamped around my ankle, keeping me in place, a statue to his shop.
I didn't want to be here, but I couldn't leave.
The man who disappeared behind the curtain reminded me of the great Oz, withdrawing himself to a room shrouded in mystery. His room to make his creations, to draw.
Maybe that was the attraction I couldn't deny, the love of drawing. I knew what it felt like to let your fingers carve out an idea, to let them paint the vision in your mind.
So what was his vision for me?
“Are you excited, Lo?” Beth plopped herself into the plastic blue chair behind me. Her long leg swung over her thigh, fingers tapping eagerly against the synthetic material.
“No,” I said, trying not to look her in the eyes. I was afraid she'd be able to read me.
Beth knew me better than I think I knew myself. If she even so much as caught a whiff of my attraction to the tattoo artist...
I'd never hear the end of it. And she'd make sure to drop her not so subtle hints of my feelings.
Beth would make childish remarks about us being soulmates, and how cute it'd be if we kissed.
No thank you.
I had to keep my head clear. There was no way I was really attracted to this guy. I couldn't be.
It had to be just the fact he seemed to give me an ounce more of attention than he gave her, an extra flick of the eyes no one else had ever divulged for me.
I was always the shadow in the corner, the third wheel.
Beth was always the one to leave with the guy on her arm. Not me, that didn't happen in my world.
At least it never did with her around. She was a model, I couldn't blame the surrounding wolves for wanting fillet instead of a fatty piece of strip steak.
So why did he seem to be drawn to me?
Why did he swoop to my side and stare at me the way he did?
Stop it Willow! You're being ridiculous!
Shaking my head, I forced the girlish crush from my thoughts, and brought myself back to earth.
“Oh, come on. This is going to be fun.” Yanking a file from her purse, Beth brushed the emery board across her nails. “Just think, when I leave, you get to stare at your new ink and remember this night. How awesome will that be?”
A smile dangled on the corner of my lips. “It'll be pretty cool.” My brows crinkled, dipping into my nose. “Another memorable night, one that will last forever.”