Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
INK
S utton and I ride to the shop with her tightly pressed up against me on my bike. Her body molds perfectly to mine, almost like she was made to be right here.
Ever since I first learned to ride, I was constantly told you don’t just put anyone on the back of your bike. That shit means something.
I’d tell her she’s the first woman to ever be on the back of my bike, but knowing her, she isn’t going to believe me and doesn’t understand what it means.
She’s not from this life. She doesn’t know our way.
Not yet anyway. Sutton’s soft tits pushed up against my back feels like heaven in itself.
The kind of heaven I’ve been searching for.
When she asked me what I was doing in her bed, I didn’t know what to tell her because I didn’t know the answer to that myself.
After we finished church, I headed up to bed with every intention of picking her up from Evan’s in the morning before work.
My insomnia has always made it hard for me to pass out as soon as I lay down unless I’m black out drunk.
It’s just how it’s always been.
What I wasn’t planning on was her scent to be lingering on every inch of my sheets. It didn’t matter what way I twisted or turned, all I could smell was her.
Smelling her without being able to reach out and touch her was doing my head in. Next thing I knew, I had my jeans back on with my cut in hand as I made my way out to my bike and rode next door.
I didn’t have to pick the lock this time because Prez was just getting home as well.
“I knew your ass would show up.” He laughed as he let me in.
Seeing her sleeping so peacefully made me feel at peace.
For once, everything in my head stopped. Exhaustion hit me full force as I stripped and slid into bed next to her. Last night was the first time in a very long time that I actually slept through the night.
She made it all stop.
She’s my peace and I’ll die protecting hers.
“Do you think Gage is mad at me?” Sutton asks as she looks unsure at the door in the alley as I get off my bike.
“If he is, I’ll beat his fuckin’ ass. You did nothin’ wrong.”
“Ink!” she exclaims. “I didn’t tell him to not pick me up! Do you know how rude it is to give someone a ride and they’re not ready? It’s right under someone chewing with their mouth open.”
“Babe,” I say as I try not to laugh, because I know she’s being very serious, but she’s just too damn funny. “To be fair, you didn’t know he was pickin’ you up. Get over it. I already am.”
“It’s still rude,” she mumbles under her breath as she follows me inside.
I leave her to it. I figure she would want some space to process what happened this morning. I know the poor thing is probably confused. She doesn’t have experience with a man like me, and I keep popping up when she least expects it to lay more on her.
I knew she was annoyed with me about being right about Gage. He wasn’t fucking mad, just like I told her. In fact, he didn’t even bring it up. She blurted out her rushed apology like she was scared he was going to fire her about it.
“Thanks, man. This looks fucking sick,” my client says as he admires the sleeve I just finished on him in the mirror.
“No problem.” Snapping my gloves off, I throw them into the small trash can by my workbench. “Once you’re ready, we can head up front and get you squared away.”
“You’re a member of the Dirty Devils, right?”
I’m able to contain my outright sigh, but I’m only so strong. My eyes roll up to the ceiling as my jaw clenches.
I knew this was coming.
This is a new client who came with a recommendation from a regular. I’m not big on taking people I don’t know, but because my regular has dropped some serious cash over the years, I figured it would be cool.
As soon as we were a couple of hours into the first session, I realized it wasn’t going to be cool. The only time his eyes left my cut was if I went back over a line and he had to breathe through the pain.
It’s pretty easy to pick out who wants an invitation to a club party or not.
Women are always welcome but a random dude?
No fucking way. Someone we’re cool with needs to bring you and vouch for you.
And even after all of that, they’re still responsible for your ass.
If you fuck up and get your ass beat, that’s on you.
I can tell this dude would definitely get his ass beat.
“Mhm,” I say, dismissing him as I start cleaning up, hoping he gets the hint.
“There a party tonight?” he asks after a beat. He’s stalling by acting like he’s checking out my work in the mirror still when really he’s watching me.
“Probably.”
“You think I can get an invite?”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
Why do so many people feel entitled to every aspect of your life just because they gave you some business ?
“Come on, bro. I dropped some serious cash on you for my piece. The least you can do is invite me back for a beer.”
Alright. I’m done with this motherfucker.
“I’m not your bro. Don’t stand here and act like you were doin’ me a favor. You got the roles twisted. I was doin’ Rick a favor by takin’ your ass on, which was a mistake, apparently. We’re done here. Sutton will take care of you up front.”
He opens his mouth and looks like he’s about to say something but thinks better of it. That’s probably the smartest decision he’s made all day.
He grabs his shit without saying another word and walks to the front.
Sutton’s voice carries down the hall as she checks him out. That girl is too sweet for her own good.
The bell dings above the door as I’m turning the lights off in my room, finished for the day.
“You still thinking about that piercing?” I hear Tommy ask.
Curiosity gets the better of me as I find myself walking up front to see who he’s asking, even though I think I already know. It’s not Gage. If that fucker wanted something pierced, he would do it himself. His crazy ass pierced his own dick and didn’t flinch once.
“I don’t know. I think so. I like the idea of having something that no one else knows is there.” Sutton sighs. “Don’t laugh, but I think it would feel a little… scandalous with no one knowing. I think that’s what I’m comfortable with.”
What the fuck is she talking about?
“Dudes dig that, babe. It’s always a happy surprise when they’re unwrapped.”
“What the fuck are you two talking about?” My question comes out more aggressive than intended. I wince, seeing Sutton jump from being startled by me sneaking up on them.
Tommy shoots me a knowing smirk. “Sutton here found some jewelry that she liked yesterday when she was helping me restock the case. It hasn’t sold and I’ve got time, so I was just seeing if she was still interested.”
“Which piece is it?”
My eyes dart between the both of them.
My sweet little bunny’s face is on fire as she looks like she wishes she was anywhere else but present for this conversation, and Tommy looks like he’s having the time of his life.
“I’ll show you,” Tommy says as he unlocks the case.
If he doesn’t pull out a pair of earrings for her lobes, Tommy’s ass might be fired.
Tommy returns with a pair of barbell nipple rings that I picked out during the last order. The black ravens decorating each end stuck out to me. If they sell well, I figured I would keep them as a permanent option since they fit the shop’s branding.
What I wasn’t expecting was little miss Sutton to be the first one to pick them out.
“So… are we thinking yay or nay?” Tommy waves the box in front of her, looking a little too eager for her response.
Sutton doesn’t move a muscle as she battles whatever is running through her head.
“Look, we don’t have to do this today if you aren’t ready. I’ll set the jewelry aside for you and we can do it whenever you want,” Tommy says, already putting the jewelry aside.
I’m ready to ease off, not wanting to push her past what she’s comfortable with because the last thing I want to do is make her run, especially from me.
“What if I want it now?” she asks, her voice so soft I almost don’t hear her.
“Then let’s do it.”
She eyes the drawer Tommy tucked the jewelry away in before agreeing. “Okay.”
Tommy claps his hands together as he lights up like a little kid. “Let me go get everything ready. ”
“Not so fast,” I grunt, pulling Tommy back by the collar of his shirt. “You’re not piercing anything on her body.”
It’s been years since I’ve pierced someone.
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell him before letting him go as he shrugs me off and I turn back to Sutton. “Let’s go to my room.”
I follow her down the hall and into my room, closing and locking the door behind us.
Are we really doing this?
“It’s a little more of a pinch than an ear piercing, but it’s nothing you can’t handle,” I tell her, trying to ease her nerves as I get the needle and clamps around.
Sutton’s attention doesn’t leave the bed as she speaks, refusing to look at me. “This is my first piercing, I wouldn’t know.”
My brow lowers at her admission. “First body piercing?”
She shakes her head. “First piercing ever.”
This is her first piercing ever, and she wants to start with her nipples?
For someone who hasn’t really experienced life, she sure does nothing half assed.
I mean, I’m all for it. What person with a dick wouldn’t be? She’s been the definition of go big or go home lately and that’s what worries me. The last thing I want is for her to wake up one day and regret all of this. Granted, I guess it is all cosmetic. She can change it back just as fast.
“You don’t fuck around, do you, bunny?” I say, trying to lighten her mood as I wheel my tray stand next to the bed.
She lets out a short laugh. “When you’re told what to do your entire life, it doesn’t take much for you to say yes to something now.”
“I’m going to need you to take your shirt off,” I tell her softly. Her hands go to the hem of her tank, but she hesitates, looking over her shoulder at the door. “It’s locked. And do you really think I would let anyone see what’s mine?”