Chapter 16 SIERRA
SIXTEEN
SIERRA
“You need to take your panties off and hold this towel over yourself. If I need to shave the area, I will.” Crane looks uncomfortable, but I’m glad he’s being professional.
Partly.
Because the sight of him sitting astride the chair that he’s skating around on is making me feel strange. His hair is messy, and he’s making no attempt to brush it away from his eyes, meaning my fingers are itching to do it for him.
Nodding, I slide my underwear down past my thighs, slipping one leg out and grabbing the towel to protect my modesty. The thought of Crane getting an eyeful of my most intimate area does something to me deep inside.
Crane clears his throat and gestures for me to move my dress up to my waist.
His eyes travel up my bare legs, but his expression doesn’t change.
It’s like I don’t affect him at all, I realise grumpily.
“Cool, so where is it going?”
His voice is husky and soft, and I feel at ease showing him the spot where I want my first tattoo.
“Here.”
My fingers circle the area, and Crane leans closer, inspecting my skin with a gloved finger.
“I’ll put the stencil on, and you can have a look, see what you think.”
He cleans my skin roughly, muttering something about not needing to shave me.
No, because I’m completely shaved.
Once I’ve given him the go-ahead to ink me, he looks up at me, that annoyed look on his face again.
“Are you absolutely sure?”
I gaze at him, licking my lips slowly.
I want him to know I’m not a kid anymore, but I don’t think he will ever see me as otherwise.
Fuck it.
“Do it.”
Crane nods, focusing on my skin before he drags the needle over the first stencilled line. The pain isn’t as bad as I expected, and the view isn’t either. Crane’s focusing so intently I see the passion in his eyes, the concentration etched on his face.
He’s stunning.
“How is it?” he asks suddenly, snapping his head up to mine.
“Fine,” I breathe, digging my fingers into the chair beneath me.
I want to brush the soft tendrils that are in his eyes, stroke the olive skin beneath it.
He wipes the skin, which burns a little, before continuing silently. Every now and then our eyes meet, and it’s always him who looks away.
His fingers could slide a little lower, down my shaved skin, brushing over my clit…I suck in a breath.
How good would that feel?!
“Are you alright?” Crane frowns, stopping.
“Huh?” I ask, dazed.
Yes. I’m fine, just leave me to fantasise about you finger fucking me.
“You’ve gone red and all breathless,” Crane points out, handing me a bottle of water. His eyes search mine, and for a second in time, I want him to kiss me.
“Oh, I’m good.”
Crane continues tattooing me, and the image of him so close to being between my thighs makes me want to moan.
“It’s looking great.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
“So what’s with Potion?” Crane continues, pursing his lips.
“You heard that?” I grimace. “Kiki got us an interview.”
Crane lifts his eyes to mine, shaking his head.
“You can’t work there.”
A flicker of annoyance passes through me, and it’s my turn to narrow my eyes at him.
“You’re good tattooing me but not okay with me working at a bar?” I shoot back, sounding sharper than I intend.
Crane lifts an eyebrow and leans closer to me.
I can smell him much more now, and whatever cologne he’s wearing is killing me slowly. His eyes drift over my legs again, and before I can help myself, I’m moving the hair from his eyes.
Crane moves back with a frown.
“It’s not just a bar. It’s a place where seedy deals take place.”
“Is my tattoo finished?” I ignore his comment, instead tapping the tender skin around my tattoo. “Luckily for you, it’s nothing to do with you where I work.”
Crane clenches his jaw, nodding stiffly.
“I won’t be too long. Lie back.”
His words are cold, and whatever warmth there was between us is gone.
The tattoo is finished silently, and it’s only when he cleans it up and holds a mirror for me to see it that I gasp.
It’s perfect.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, admiring the thorns around the rose. “Yet twisted.”
Crane nods, taping cling film to the tattoo.
His fingers against my skin make me bite my lip, but he’s so focused on the task at hand that he doesn’t notice.
“Keep it clean and dry. Diaper cream works best for helping it heal, but for fuck’s sake, don’t let your family see this.”
“I won’t. I don’t tend to walk around naked,” I drawl, watching as he helps me hook my foot back into my underwear.
He turns away, the sound of his latex gloves peeling off filling the room.
“Thank you.”
Crane doesn’t answer; instead, he slips out of the room before I can get to my feet.
I’m buzzing from getting my tattoo, but I’m disappointed that Crane left as soon as he could.
Doesn’t he like being alone with me?
I mean sure, I’m his best friend's little sister, but that doesn’t mean we can’t flirt a little when we’re alone.
Right?
Heaving a sigh, I head back to the front desk to pay. Crane is nowhere to be seen, and the only person in the room is Heather.
She looks up at me with a grin, watching me walk over slowly.
“Tender place to get inked, isn’t it? Especially for your first tattoo.”
I shrug.
“It’s not too bad. Where’s Crane?”
Heather glances around, waving her hand toward the back room.
“I saw him head to the kitchen. Want me to get him? Is everything okay?”
Disappointment wells up in my stomach, but I shake my head, forcing a smile.
“No, he just left quickly.”
Heather smiles, saying nothing.
“Tell him I said thanks,” I mumble, tapping my card on the payment machine.
“Will do, thanks, darling.”
As the fresh air hits my face, under the fabric of my bottoms, I can feel the sting of my tattoo as it brushes against the bandage, and I can't help but smile.
My little secret.
Our little secret.