Chapter 2 - Max
Maria's eyes widen slightly as the words leave her mouth, almost as if she can't believe she agreed to get a tattoo. I can't help but smirk, enjoying the way I've managed to catch this put-together woman off guard.
"Well, if you're free, we can do it right now," I suggest, pulling out my phone to show her some examples of my work. "That way you can get a taste of the needle before fully committing to renting me the space."
I scroll through the photos, showcasing my bold linework and shading skills. Maria leans in, examining the images with curiosity.
"These are really good," she admits, chewing on her lower lip. "But I'm a little nervous about the pain."
I laugh softly.
"Don't worry, I'll be gentle. How about we start small?" I tap on a simple butterfly design. "This could look nice on that delicate wrist of yours."
Her eyes dart to my finger hovering over the picture, and she gives a tentative nod.
"Okay, yeah. A tiny butterfly to start."
Without a word, I step closer, gently taking her wrist in my hand and turning it over to expose the smooth, unblemished skin on the inside. She inhales sharply at my touch but doesn't pull away.
"This is perfect," I murmur, letting my thumb graze over her pulse point. "The needle will barely hurt here."
Maria's throat bobs as she swallows hard, and I fight back a grin. Getting a rise out of her is proving to be immensely satisfying.
"Should we go ahead and get you set up?" I ask, meeting her wide eyes. "I can have you marked up in no time."
There's a brief hesitation, then she gives another small nod.
"Yeah, okay. Let's do it."
Grabbing my portable inking kit, I begin prepping the necessary supplies while stealing glances her way.
Up close, it's impossible not to notice just how beautiful she is. Long lashes frame those expressive eyes, and her lips are full and inviting. My gaze drifts down to the tantalizing glimpse of cleavage peeking out from her v-neck top, and I have to clench my fists to maintain control.
I quickly remind myself this is just a simple tattoo, not an excuse to ogle the client.
"Have a seat," I instruct, gesturing to the chair as I finish setting up. "And try to relax. Tensing up will only make it worse."
Maria obediently takes a seat, though the tight set of her shoulders betrays her nerves. I grab a cloth and some disinfectant, gently taking her wrist again.
"I'm just going to clean the area first," I explain, keeping my voice low and even.
She gives a jerky nod but doesn't speak. With practiced motions, I swab the inside of her wrist, feeling the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath my fingertips.
"You sure you're ok with this butterfly?" I ask, forcing myself to meet her eyes instead of letting my gaze travel elsewhere.
"Y-yes," she manages, her voice slightly shaky. "I want to start small."
"Smart move," I praise with a hint of a smile. "We'll go nice and slow for your first time."
Her pupils dilate at my choice of words, and I mentally kick myself. Get your head out of the gutter, Max.
Shaking off the inappropriate thoughts, I transfer the stencil design and quickly prepare the tattoo gun. This part I can handle without issue - it's the tempting proximity to Maria's entrancing beauty that has me struggling.
"Deep breaths," I remind her as the needle buzzes to life. "I'll make this as painless as possible."
As the needle meets her skin, Maria sucks in a sharp breath. I pause, giving her a moment to adjust to the slight pinprick sensation.
"Still with me?" I ask, my voice a low rumble.
She nods jerkily, her eyes squeezed shut.
"Yeah, just...wasn't expecting that."
"Don't tense up," I remind her gently. "Breathe through it."
Maria forces herself to exhale slowly, and I take the opportunity to study her features once more. A light dusting of freckles spans the bridge of her nose, standing out against her fair skin.
The steady buzz of the gun fills the air as I continue working, my motions sure and practiced. Maria's grip on the armrests slowly relaxes, the crease in her brow smoothing out.
"So," she speaks up after a few minutes. "Who told you about my little storage room being available?"
I pause briefly to wipe away a trickle of excess ink.
"The girl who works at the bakery next door. Jenna, I think her name was?"
A surprised laugh escapes Maria's lips.
"Of course it was Jenna. She's my best friend - been pestering me to rent out that space for months."
"Lucky for me, she's a persistent one," I reply with a small smirk. "This arrangement is working out nicely so far."
A faint blush tinges her cheeks at my words, and I resist the urge to reach out and trace that lovely flush with my fingertips.
"Almost done," I murmur instead, tilting her wrist to better access the final details. "You're being incredibly still for your first time. Most people can't help but fidget a bit more."
There's that blush again, deepening as she realizes the unintentional double meaning. Rather than call attention to her flustered state, I simply continue my measured strokes until the last line is perfectly etched into her creamy skin.
"And we're all done," I announce, swiping over the area with another coating of ointment. "What do you think?"
Maria blinks her eyes open, glancing down at the simple yet delicate black butterfly now adorning her wrist. A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.
"It's beautiful," she admits softly. "Thank you! Were you always a tattoo artist? Or did you have a different career before this?" Maria asks, still admiring the fresh ink on her wrist.
I pause, considering how much I want to reveal. In the end, I decide a little honesty can't hurt.
"Actually, I was in the military before this. Did a few tours overseas."
Her eyes widen in surprise, "Wow, I never would have guessed. That's quite a shift - going from the military to tattoo artistry."
Chuckling dryly, I nod.
"Yeah, it's about as opposite as you can get. But you'd be surprised how well the skillsets can transfer."
"How so?" She leans forward, clearly intrigued.
"Patience, precision, ability to stay focused for hours at a time." I tick off the shared qualities on my fingers. "Not to mention dealing with rules, regulations, handling equipment carefully. Plenty of overlapping traits between the two fields."
Maria considers this for a moment.
"I guess I never thought about it that way, but you make a fair point. Though I imagine the subject matter is vastly different from what you dealt with in the military."
"You've got that right," I agree with a wry smirk. "Swapping things that go boom for things of beauty has been an...interesting adjustment, to say the least."
"Beauty and ink seem to suit you just fine from where I'm sitting," she remarks offhandedly, then immediately flushes as if regretting the compliment.
I raise an eyebrow, fighting back a grin.
"Thank you. Always nice to receive such high praise from a lovely lady."
Maria ducks her head, but I catch the hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah, well, don't let it go to your head, tough guy."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I assure her, unable to resist pushing slightly. "I do aim to maintain some semblance of humility. Emphasis on some."
She rolls her eyes good-naturedly at my teasing, "I'm sure your humility knows no bounds."
"You wound me," I lament with a dramatic sigh, pressing a hand to my chest. "And after I so delicately and expertly marked your skin."
"Oh please, that little butterfly was hardly a feat for someone with your obvious skills," Maria scoffs, though her eyes are alight with amusement.
"You're right, it was child's play," I readily agree. "Which is why, next time, you'll have to let me ink something a bit more...elaborate."
Her breath catches at my suggestive tone, cheeks flushing prettily.
"Is that so? And what did you have in mind, Mr. Hotshot?"
"Well, now that you've had a taste, I think it's only fair I get to show off more of my...talents," I drawl, letting my gaze roam over her frame pointedly. "Maybe something larger, more detailed. Though the canvas is the real work of art."
Maria's tongue darts out to wet her lips - a telling nervous tic I file away.
"You're...you're just full of lines, aren't you?" she manages, clearly flustered.
I lean back with a low chuckle.
"I'm an open book in more ways than one. No need for lines when the truth is right there for you to see."
Our eyes lock, the charged air crackling between us. Part of me wonders if I've taken the flirtatious banter a step too far.
But then Maria surprises me by holding my stare, her gaze dropping meaningfully to the ink peeking from beneath my shirt collar.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time," she murmurs huskily, "You'd better be prepared to put your ink where your mouth is."
A slow grin stretches across my face as the challenge registers. This woman is going to be fun to get under my needle - that's for damn sure.
As tempting as it is to continue our flirtatious back-and-forth, I force myself to glance at the time. With a start, I realize I've been here for over an hour already.
"As much as I'm enjoying our little game of wits, I should probably get going," I reluctantly admit, rising from my stool. "Still got a few things to arrange after arriving in town yesterday."
Maria blinks up at me, almost looking dazed for a split second before composing herself.
"Oh, right, of course. I've taken up enough of your time playing canvas."
"Not a hardship in the slightest, believe me." I flash her a roguish grin as I begin packing up my supplies. "In fact, I'd say this has been one of the more enjoyable...sessions I've had in a while."
"Is that so? Well, I do aim to provide a quality experience for all my...patrons."
"You're off to an excellent start," I assure her, slinging my kit over my shoulder. "Though I must admit, I'm already looking forward to our next appointment."
Maria rises gracefully to her feet, absently rubbing at the fresh ink on her wrist.
"You move fast, don't you? We've barely begun this landlord-tenant relationship."
"And yet you've already let me mark you," I can't resist pointing out with a smirk. "I'd say that's grounds for us to get a bit...friendlier."
The blush is back, staining her cheeks an enticing shade of pink. Rather than responding, she simply holds my gaze, that hint of challenge glinting in her eyes.
"I'll check back in a day or two about getting this space set up properly," I tell her, feeling reluctant to leave despite my earlier claim about needing to go. "Unless you'd like to discuss rental terms sooner?"
"I think that timeline works just fine," Maria replies evenly, though I detect the slightest waver in her tone. "Let me know if you need anything else from me...for now."
The emphasis on that last part has me suppressing a grin. This woman is going to keep me on my toes, I can already tell.
"You'll be the first one I call," I assure her, holding her gaze for a heated moment before turning towards the exit. "Until next time, Maria."