“I bet you’re blowing his mind, which rocks, because he’s sure as shit blowing yours.” Emma beamed at him, and didn’t that feel good?
“I like him a lot. I like how he makes me feel. I love to look at him. All his ink… oh man. I want to know what makes him tick.” I want to see him with my marks. I want to make him scream for me. I want to hold him after.
“I can’t wait to meet him. Seriously. He sounds amazing.” She grinned at him. “He sent you salad.”
He laughed. “Yeah. You want it? I’m all about calories today. Plus I better get back to Deb’s bike.”
Not to mention a piece of chocolate cake.
“Sure, if you don’t want it. It’ll save me going out.”
He might share the cake with her later. Maybe.
He handed Emma the salad. “I’m guessing Troy was covering his bases in case I wasn’t up for a burger and fries. He’ll learn. I’m always up for a burger.”
He made his way back over to the fenders, only then remembering his finger, which had a little red mark on it but didn’t seem to hurt at all anymore.
“You’ll remind me about this moment if I get cold feet, right?” He wanted Troy, he just knew there were going to be those days.
“You have my word. Tell him to send two pieces of cake next time.”
He grabbed his wrench and the second fender, and got back to work. “I’ll do that.”
Maybe he’d ask for personal delivery too.
14
Troy felt like a new man after a nice long shower and a longer nap.
Today had gone by in a daze, which was normal, post-ink. That wasn’t strange at all. What was odd was that his whole world, his whole brain was focused on Saul.
His Master.
Carter kept trying to tease, to give him shit, but it didn’t matter, he didn’t care. He wanted to get through his shift, bathe and rest.
He had someone to pick up from work and to feed.
He hopped in his truck and headed over to the bike shop, singing along with the radio like he was George Strait.
Saul was locking up when he arrived and giving a hug to a woman with wild dreadlocks who had to be the other manager of the store. He got a wave, and Saul led her over to his truck by the hand.
“Hey baby, I wanted you to meet Emma. She runs the store with me.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He held his hand out in greeting. “I hope y’all have had a good day.”
Baby. Oh, didn’t that feel nice?
“We have. Saul’s been in a very good mood today. He even shared his cake.”
“Some of it. Mostly I was greedy.”
He’d send two next time. “Did y’all like it? I love that one and the chocolate pie best.”
“Oh, send the pie next time.” Emma winked at him and then smiled at Saul. “I’ve gotta run. You two have a nice evening. It was very nice to meet you, Troy.”
“Night, Em. Be good!”
“Not on your life!” Emma laughed, gave them a wave and headed off in the other direction.
Saul climbed into his truck and gave him a quick kiss before putting on the seatbelt. “I may have mentioned you once or twice today.”
“That’s good to hear. Did you have a good day? Are you hungry?”
God, Saul was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in forever, and that was saying something because he was a cowboy.
“A little. I had this big lunch. Can we stop by my place real quick?”
“Yes, Sir. Just point me and shoot me. I was pondering tacos.”
“Ooh. That sounds good.” Saul gave him directions to an apartment complex just a short drive away. “I just wanted to grab my… you don’t have to come in. I mean, you can if you want, but I’ll just be a minute.”
“I’m fine out here. No worries.” He offered Saul a smile. The last thing his ego needed was for one of Saul’s roommates to think he was Saul’s daddy.
“Be right back.” Saul hopped out and disappeared into the building. He really was back quick, with a duffle over one shoulder and a big yellow toolbox in the other.
As soon as Saul got settled, he bumped their shoulders together. “I was thinking about having Rincon deliver. I’m addicted to their tacos al carbon.”
“Oh yeah. Make it two, please.” Saul grinned at him, looking happy as could be, and reached for the radio. “And a beer.”
“There’s cold fridge in the beer.” He stopped, snorted, and rolled his eyes. “Or, beer in the fridge, even.”
Saul reached over and gave the back of his neck a squeeze. “Tired, huh? How’s the ink?”
“Mmm… It’s sore. I lubed it up real good after my shower. I took myself a little nap too, which I needed.” The sheets smelled like you. I liked it.
“I can imagine. You were so gone last night. I don’t think you moved once you fell asleep.”
“Yesterday was the wildest day I have had in a long, long time. I slept like a rock.” They pulled into his driveway. “Can you hit the garage opener, please Sir?”
Saul glanced at him, then reached up and hit the button. “A truck and a garage. I’ve got a long way to go.”
“Oh, when I moved, I stayed with Geoff and Carter for almost a year, just working as a dishwasher and trying to get through one day at a time. You’re already a manager. You’re doing good.” He’d been a hard-core disaster there for a bit.
“You’d been through a whole lifetime by then. I’m just starting.” Saul squeezed his leg and then got out of the truck, hauling the duffel and the toolbox out too.
“Would you like some help?” He got out, locked the truck up. “And, I know it sounds bizarre, but you know what? I feel that way too, in a lot of ways.”
“You do?” Saul put the toolbox down. “You can grab that, boy. I’d like it in the bedroom.”
“Yes, Sir. There’s a spot in the closet this can fit, no problem.” He picked up the box. “And yes, I do. I feel like I’ve been treading water for a very long time.”
Saul followed him inside. “I get that. I feel kind of like I’ve been biking uphill on gravel, you know? I’ve had a lot of almost.”
“I hear you.” He’d had a great love affair too, and he didn’t regret that for a single second, but the last two decades had been tough.
“Hey.” Saul smiled, smoothed a hand over his scalp, and kissed him soundly. “It’s good to be here.”
“Lord yes.” He had to smile—had to. “Let me run this upstairs and I’ll grab you a beer and order supper.”
“Sounds great. Take my bag too? It’s just some stuff in case…” Saul grinned and shrugged.
“Of course.” He hauled the stuff upstairs and put the toolbox in the big closet, propping the duffel up against the built-ins there. He called for supper on the way downstairs, stopping in the kitchen to grab a couple of Coronas before he made his way into the front room.
He found Saul sitting on the sofa waiting for him. “For me?”
“Yes, Sir. I ordered supper. They said forty-five minutes to an hour.”