I make quick work of it, putting on a metal playlist I’ve saved and listened to a hundred times.
Arlo stares up at the ceiling, one arm over her head and the other down at her side so I can get full access and see everything too.
I put on my gloves with my eyes trained on her skin. Everything else is ready to roll, but there’s a knot in my stomach, something I can’t quite place as I pick up the gun. “Small line at first so you can see how it feels.”
“Okay,” she whispers and holds her breath.
“Make sure you breathe. It’s important. I don’t need you passing out on me.” She doesn’t even flinch as I touch her skin.
“Yes, Mello. I’ll breathe, but I may need you to remind me every once in a while.”
“I’ll remind you, babe. I got you.”
She turns her face toward me and smiles. “I know you do.”
When the needle touches her skin, she squeezes her eyes shut and stops breathing. “You sure about this?” I ask her one final time, because a line, I could make into something pretty and quick, but anything more and there will be no turning back.
“Yes,” she whispers, keeping her eyes closed. “I want this. Stop asking and get to it.”
“You got it.” I go straight into work mode. Ignoring that she’s a pretty girl and one I’m going to fake date for the next month.
I am here to do a job, and she deserves my best damn work.
But three hours in, she starts to squirm more than she has before, and I’ve given her a break every hour. “Let’s finish this tomorrow.”
“No,” she says, those green eyes meeting mine. “I can do this, and I don’t think I could come back and do this again. Finish it now.”
“One sec,” I tell her, going to the sink and grabbing a washcloth down from the cabinet, wetting it under the cold water.
I place it on her forehead, to which she sighs and then smiles. “That feels so good. Thank you. So much better.”
“I’m going to do this as fast as possible.” It’s getting tough for me to watch her in so much pain. But she’s sat through every second without whining, which is impressive because I’ve seen some burly-ass men turn into the biggest pansies under my needle.
“Pain is a state of mind, Mello. I promise I’m fine. Just keep going,” she reassures me.
And I do.
A few hours later, I’m wiping off her tattoo, and Arlo’s skin is red and angry. Her body sags as soon as the word Done comes from my lips.
“How’s it look?” she asks me, staring up at the ceiling, her skin covered in a slight sheen of perspiration.
“Stunning,” I tell her, unable to take my eyes off my design gracing her body. “Want to see?”
“Yes,” she whispers and starts to move.
“Go slow,” I say, taking her hand to control how rapidly she gets up. I can’t take my eyes off her as she makes her way to the mirror, staring at my mark on her skin.
“It’s perfect. So perfect,” she whispers, tears dotting her eyes. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something more beautiful.”
“Me either,” I murmur.
“Do you like it?” she asks, not hearing my comment.
“I love it, Arlo.”
She turns, places her hands back on my bare shoulders, leans forward, and places her lips against my cheek.
I stop breathing, soaking in her softness and the sweet smell of her skin.
“Thank you,” she murmurs against my ear.
My hands move to her hips, a completely inappropriate place for me to put them, but that doesn’t stop me. “You’re welcome, but thanks aren’t required. I just want you happy.”
“I am happy, and I’m excited for what comes next.”
“What comes next?” I ask, going stupid.
“Our date.”
I nod, dropping my hands. “Right.” I clear my throat, hoping to God she doesn’t see the wood I’m sporting and trying like hell to cover. “When?”
“I’ll call you.”
“Okay.” I smile, moving my stool away from her and out of her intoxicating orbit. “Let me wrap you up and get you out of here.”
“Sure,” she says, lifting her arms, giving me the most spectacular view of her stomach, tits, ribs…all places I want to explore with my tongue.
I’ve never wrapped someone up so quick, going over the directions, and sending them out the door. Instead of taking her to the front desk myself, I call Lily to the room to do it for me.
Lily pops her head inside, her eyes widening when she sees me shirtless. “What the…”
“It’s not what you think,” I reassure her, lifting my hands.
She flattens her lips. “Really?”
Arlo laughs as she grabs her book from the table. “Lil, he was a complete gentleman. I asked him to keep his shirt off so it would be fair.”
Lily’s eyes move to Arlo and brighten. “If you say so,” Lily says, but I know she’s judging me. “Come on. I’ll check you out.”
“It’s on the house, Lil. Don’t charge her.”
“I’m paying. I insist. You already paid for my car. I can’t let you pay for the tattoo.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “My treat.”
Arlo smiles and thankfully doesn’t argue with me. “I’ll pay you back,” she promises.
“I’m sure we’ll find another way for you to compensate me.”
Preferably by letting me explore her body, but since she’s allegedly a virgin, that would be highly unlikely. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try.
Lily glares at me, her lips twisting, but Arlo’s all smiles. “See you soon, Mello,” Arlo says before giving me another quick kiss on the cheek and leaving the room with my cousin.
I sit there, staring at the door, and I know this is all going to go very, very wrong.
9
Forty-eight hours have passed since Arlo walked out of Inked, promising to call, but my phone hasn’t rung.
The worst part is, I’ve been waiting.
I have never been the one to sit around, staring at my screen, trying to will the other person to call.
Is this how all the chicks in my life felt before?
God, I was such a dick.
It’s a shitty feeling, filled with self-doubt, self-deprecation, and self-loathing. I’ve hit every stage, though briefly, over the last two days.
When I can’t wait any longer, I grab my phone, quickly sending a message to Lily to see if the game has changed.
Me: Hey.
I immediately regret the message. The bitterness coating the back of my throat only grows as I stare at the empty screen, waiting for a reply.
“I’m a moron,” I whisper, tossing my phone on the bed to get ready for a night out.
There is no way I’m going to sit around on a Friday night, jerking myself off, waiting for a woman to call. I gave Lily my word, but so far, Arlo is the one in breach of contract.
But when my phone dings, I dive-bomb onto the bed, scooping up the sucker as quickly as possible.
Lily: Hey.
Me: How are you?