14. Jaxon
“Hey Boss, your appointment is here.”
I look up and sigh. “Thanks, Mira.”
“I don’t understand why you took this appointment.”
I roll my eyes. “She asked specifically for me and I was standing right there. What was I supposed to do? Plus, she’s like 70 or something and wants a freaking tattoo.”
“Do I even want to know where she is putting it?”
I slowly shake my head and she grimaces.
“Well, I’m glad you're dealing with her. I don’t think Dom could handle her without taping her mouth shut.”
“I can't handle who?” Dom says, standing in the doorway to my office.
“Jaxon’s next appointment, Ms. Cook.”
“How much duct tape you got? ”
Mira jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “See?”
I laugh. “Yeah, yeah, that is why I’m doing it. She was trying to convince Jasper to give her a piercing before I stepped in.”
“I'm going to assume it wasn't her ears?” Mira says.
I slowly shake my head.
Dom's brows shoot up. “Alrighty then.” He clears his throat. “Do you want to grab lunch when you're done?”
“I can't, Alex and I are going to get fitted for tuxes for the fundraiser.”
“Oh, yes, the fake fiancé fundraiser.” Mira plops down in the chair on the other side of my desk with her elbows on her knees and her hand under her chin. “So, how is that whole thing going for ya?”
I throw my pen at her, “Oh, shut it!”
“But you're going to tell me later, right?” Dom says, and I roll my eyes.
“Don't you guys have work to do?”
“Hello, does anyone even work around here?” A voice comes from down the hallway.
“See?” I say.
I get up from my desk, “Well, let's not keep the lady waiting.”
As soon as I enter the hallway, the classic rock that was playing in the overhead speakers stops and is replaced with “taps”. I give Jasper the middle finger and he smirks as I make my way to my client. She just may kill me before this is all said and done.
“Hey Ms. Cook,” I say, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Why don't you follow me and we'll get started.”
I lead her to one of the semi-private rooms. I am not going to subject the rest of our clients to what is about to go down.
Yesterday she emailed me, after she tried to fax it, I kid you not, a picture of a mermaid with long flowing blue, purple and pink hair. I sketched out the drawing so it was all ready to go last night while Alex was working.
Sitting and watching Alex at his desk across from me was like torture. Every time he concentrated really hard, he had this habit of chewing his bottom lip and every time I wanted to unstick that lip using my mouth.
The disappointment that washed through me when I woke up alone was palpable. I should have told Alex that I wanted him in my bed last night, but I was so exhausted by the time I went upstairs it did not even occur to me that he would sleep in his own bed. I didn’t even get a chance to see him this morning because he was up and out of the house so early. I don't know where he keeps going, but that's two days in a row.
“So how do you want me?”
I shake the stray thoughts away and look at Ms. Cook who is now standing naked.
“Oh Jesus, put your clothes back on!” I quickly turn around so as to not damage my corneas. “There is no reason to remove your shirt and at least put your underwear back on.”
“Who says I wear undergarments?”
“Oh for fuck’s sake. Here.” I grab a clean towel off the shelf and hold it out to her, still not looking.
I’m so happy I’m gay right now.
I hear her rustling around behind me as she gets up on the table.
“Go ahead and lay face down on your stomach.”
Now this is where one would think they would be in the clear from having to see old lady butt, but no. I turn around and she is laying flat on her stomach with the towel that is meant to cover her ass, laying underneath her.
Fuck my life, I think to myself as I look up at the ceiling like it holds the answers to the universe.
Taking an extra towel off the shelf, I spread it out, covering her naked derriere.
“Alright, are you sure about this?” I say, verifying this is what she really wants.
“Of course I’m sure. Why? You don't think she will like it?”
“No, it's not that! I'm sure she will love it. It's a very nice gesture, getting a tattoo of a mermaid for your… friend,” I stammer, because who the fuck knows what they are to each other. It's a town mystery. What I do know, without a doubt, is that Ms. Cook and Ms. Brandy are best friends.
I sit down on my stool before rolling myself over to my desk, grabbing the transfer paper and rolling back.
Okay, here I go. It's gonna be fine.
I center the design on her lower back and take a deep breath.
Fuck me, I’m about to give an old lady a mermaid tramp stamp.
She jumps when the needle touches her skin.
“You okay?” I ask, pulling off.
She huffs, “Do you not see all the other tattoos? This is not my first rodeo. Just warn a gal next time.”
“Sorry,” I chuckle. “Ready?” She nods, and I get to work.
Everything is going great for the first fifteen minutes, then the questions start in.
“Did you hear about what happened to poor sweet Alex?”
I knew there was an ulterior motive. Leave it to the town gossip to use getting a freaking tattoo as a way to get information.
“Ms. Brandy heard his apartment flooded and now he's living in his car,” she muses. “Well, I told my best friend that there was no way he was living in his car because I saw his car parked over at the auto shop just last week.”
“I’m sure you already know the answer,” I say with slight annoyance.
“Of course I do, sweetie, but I just need confirmation… So, how's the new roommate?” she says, looking over her shoulder with a wink and mischief written all over her face.
If the town is going to gossip I might as well make sure it's accurate gossip.
“Yes, Alex is staying with me and his car broke down but the car has since been fixed.” I go back to shading in the colorful mermaid hair, hoping that is enough information.
“How is he holding up?” she asks, this time with more sincerity in her voice.
I give her a genuine smile. “He's doing alright. Alex is tough, he has been through a lot and yet he has still been able to accomplish so much, plus, given the fact that he's still so young, he has a lot going for him. He’ll make it through this just like he always does.”
“That boy is wise beyond his years.” She gives a hearty sigh. “He reminds me of his grandmother in a lot of ways. She was a tough cookie, that woman. I just… I don't want to see him go through life alone like she did. That wears a person down, you know.”
I stop what I’m doing and roll so I’m facing her.
It's incredibly sweet to see just how much the residents of Camden care about Alex. The people in this town might be a little quirky, but I’ve never seen a community root for each other the way we do.
I smile at the memory of Spencer's mom, because she was the one who put this into play all those years ago. She showed other businesses what it meant to really support each other. And that supporting each other was good human decency and also good business.
“You don't need to worry about Alex, Cookie. Can I call you Cookie?” She nods her head at the nickname used by her close friends.
“Alex has all of us at Ink Me and Dragonfly looking out for him. He has us to lean on when life gets rough and I promise to make sure he does even if I have to tie him to a bed.”
The old lady smirks and it dawns on me what I just said. I try to cut her off before she starts in, but she beats me to it.
“Now, while poor Alex is tied to your bed, are there any other plans? Maybe something to help him relax?”
Why? Just… Why? I shudder at the words coming out of her mouth but my traitorous cock twitches as images of Alex tied to my bed all naked and needy fill my head.
“Wow, look at the time,” I say, rolling back to where I was, needing to finish this tattoo so I can end this conversation.
I’m still fighting the same semi I’ve had ever since that crazy old lady put the dirty images in my head. Images I find myself liking too much.
Okay, maybe not tied to the bed, that is more Dom’s thing, but Alex laying naked, with his perky ass all on display for me. Yeah, those are images I can get behind. No pun intended.
“So, what do you think?” Alex says, checking himself out in the mirror.
Now I have to further torture myself by watching Alex try on perfectly tailored tuxes, and each one I find myself wanting to rip right off of him. His ass looks like a delectable peach in those pants, the way they hug all the right curves .
I know at some point we need to talk about last night, but right now? I’m at my breaking point. I get up and stalk over to Alex. The need to touch him becoming too much. He looks at me through the mirror and his eyes go wide.
We are in a semi private area of the store, so I don't even hesitate when I reach him, wrapping my arms around his waist, my front to his back and placing a soft kiss to the base of his neck.
“See, here is where the problem lies,” I say, moving my lips along his neck until I reach that patch of sensitive skin behind his ear.
Alex whimpers as he tilts his head, giving me all the access I need to drive him wild.
“What seems to be the problem?” he asks breathlessly.
“Although you look incredibly handsome and completely fuckable in a tux, I can't help but to want to tear it off you.”
Moving my hand down I cup his junk through the soft fabric. “I don't know how I’m going to last a whole night at this fundraiser when I can barely keep my hands off you for five minutes.” His cock hardens under my touch. I give it a squeeze before pulling my hand away. The frustrated whine that leaves him makes me chuckle, but we are in public, and in the middle of someone else's place of business.
I give his ass a squeeze, “I like this one,” I say, referring to all of it. The suit, the ass, the person.
He hums, closing his eyes and leaning back against me. “What if I want to wear the tux you had on yesterday? I thought it highlighted your ass ets nicely, maybe it can do the same for mine.”
I growl into his neck, “Oh baby boy your ass ets are already perfect, but you can wear it anytime you want as long as it's just for me,” I whisper in his ear, “Mine.” letting my possessive side show. Alex groans and I see his eyes roll in the back of his head through the mirror.
Damn! We need a full length mirror in our bedroom, because that was sexy as hell.
I plant more kisses along his neck and hug him tighter.
“We need to talk about last night,” I say and Alex stiffens.
“It's nothing bad, but I think we should discuss our expectations. I know it's complicated, but I missed you in my bed this morning.”
He relaxes back against me. “Yeah, okay, tonight.”
With a sudden spin in my arms he plants his hands on my shoulders. “Now it's my turn to ogle you,” he says, leaning up to plant a kiss on my cheek before pushing me in the direction of the changing room.
I stare at my tux, already hanging in the tiny ass room. There is not even a place to sit down in here. How am I supposed to put on my shoes without sitting down?
I move to close the door, banging my elbow in the process. “Ouch, fuck!” I hiss.
“Are you okay in there?”
“Yeah, it's just so tight in here,” I say.
Alex mumbles something about saying that later, and I chuckle to myself. Me too baby, me too.
Our tuxes complement each other. We are both wearing black pants and while I’m wearing the standard white shirt and black jacket, Alex is wearing the opposite with a white jacket. This man always looks so damn good in white.
Somehow I manage to get everything on, except the shoes, with limited bruising.
When I make my way out of the dressing room Alex is perched on the arm of the couch, and I can’t help but laugh.
“What?” he asks, looking around behind him.
“I’ve noticed this thing you do with beds and couches. You never really just sit on them.”
He looks down at himself sitting on the arm rest and smiles. “I can't help it, plus anything that makes you smile while doing it is never a bad thing.”
I lean down and give him a kiss, “No baby, it's never a bad thing.”
Alex’s skin turns a delicious shade of red.
“What do you think?” I say, walking to stand in front of the mirror. “I’m surprised by how well it fits.”
Alex gets up from his perch.
“I knew we would be crunched for time so I may have looked through your closet to get an idea on sizes ahead of time,” he says, brushing off my shoulders.
“Oh, you went through my closet? Did you find anything you liked? ”
“I… a… I’m sorry, I should not have just gone through your things. I swear I just looked at sizes.”
“Oh, that's a shame. I think there is a box in there that you would have enjoyed.” I wink and he blushes.
“How is everyone doing over here?” Gloria has been Alex’s tailor since Harper studios took off and he needed fancier duds for when he met with clients and investors.
“Well Alex, it looks like you have the eye. You compliment each other well, and Jaxon, this fits you wonderfully,” she says, tugging on my sleeve, before bending down and measuring the pant leg.
Good thing my hard-on went down when I was banging around in the dressing room, otherwise this would be awkward.
“I think it only needs a ⒈／⒉ inch hem on the bottom and you should be good,” Gloria says, standing back up.
“Great, the fundraiser is next Friday. Can you have it done by then?”
“Yeah, that should not be a problem. The only client I have right now is old Mr. Wilkers, who wants to have his burial suit fitted.”
I pull my face back in horror and look at Alex who is wearing the same expression.
“Right?” Gloria says, “And that old man is nowhere near dying… What is with the older generation in this town, they are all two bolts shy of the loony bin.”
“After what I had to deal with this morning, preach on, sister!” I say. Alex looks at me with a hint of concern.
“Later,” I mouth to him. There is no way I’m bringing up him being tied to the bed until we are at home and in private.
Once Gloria has everything she needs, Alex and I head out. I agreed to let him pay for the tux, but only after he wore me down with logic. He said it was the least he could do since I agreed to being his fake fiancé. It was a hill he was willing to die on, so I relented… But only after he agreed to let me buy him lunch.
When we walk into Dragonfly Cafe, the place is packed with the daily lunch rush.
“I’ll go place our order, why don't you go sit down. ”
“Actually, I think I’m going to go over to the bookstore. There are a few new releases that I want to pick up.”
Despite all the people surrounding us, I lean in and give Alex a soft kiss on his lips.
“I need to order mine to go so I can get back to the shop. Do you want your food for here, or to go?”
“Here, please.”
“Okay. See you at home tonight?”
He nods his head and I plant one last kiss on his lips.