Epilogue
The sound of a Harleypulling up had Tymber looking out the window of his tattoo shop, Twisted Ink. Ember and Lincoln, his two best friends and business partners, glanced up as he muttered, “Fuck me!” At the sight of Ivy climbing off her bike, he was sure his tongue had hit the floor, along with his tattoo gun. He stared, mouth agape as she turned her back to his shop, her ass in a pair of tight-fitting jeans that molded to her curves like they’d been painted on, while she bent and placed her skull cap on one of the handlebars. Fuck, he wanted to run his hands over every dip, and...he pulled his mind away from what he wanted to do with Ivy. Having a major hard-on wouldn’t be on his list of things to do in the middle of his shop, especially with Ember and Lincoln staring at him.
He turned to see if they noticed, but both of their eyes were trained on his woman, making him all kinds of irrational. The first thing his caveman instinct wanted to do was punch both men in the nose, rendering their ability to look their fill null and void. The second thing his inner Neanderthal wanted to do was rush to the door and take her back to his place, where he could strip her naked and do all the dirty things he’d fantasized about. Instead, Tymber tossed a balled-up bunch of paper towels toward Ember, who was closest to him, before striding toward the front door to meet Ivy. “Be on your best behavior, assholes,” he warned.
“I’m always the best,” Ember agreed, wagging his tongue obscenely. His tongue ring glinting in the light.
Lincoln grunted. “You’re only the best when I’m not involved, then you’re second best. Don’t cry like a bitch, though. It’s hard to compete with all this.” Lincoln grabbed his crotch.
Tymber stopped before opening the door, seeing their antics through the reflection in the window. “Nope, not happening. You two are not going to scare her off. She’s...special,” he breathed.
Ember tossed his hands in the air. The man lying on his table laughed. “Don’t even say it, jackass.” Ember pointed the tattoo gun toward the guy, silencing him. “Of course, she’s special, brother. All you’ve done since you’ve met her is talk about her. We’ve been waiting for her to return since you inked her the first time.” He crossed his big, brawny arms covered in tattoos, emerald-green eyes narrowed.
Tymber shrugged but didn’t respond right away. His stare went outside. He and Ivy had spent the last few weeks getting to know each other better, solidifying their relationship. Within a very short time, he knew she was the woman for him, and she had said the same about him. Shit, she’d fallen asleep under his tattoo gun while he’d been inking her ribs, a spot that was usually tender, yet Ivy had not only not made a peep, she’d fallen asleep hard.
He pulled the door open but glanced backward. “I know. I’d apologize for not having her come by sooner, but I’d be lying. I didn’t want to share our time together just yet.”
Lincoln laughed. “You got it bad, boy.”
“Oh yeah,” he agreed as he walked out, meeting Ivy on the sidewalk. “Hey, gorgeous. What’re you up to?” Before she could answer, he tugged her into his arms. The need to feel her lips under his overrode all other thoughts. He was sure his caveman instincts were in check. Clearly, he was wrong. If they’d been behind closed doors, he was positive he’d have had the both of them naked. Or at least minus enough clothing, he could’ve been buried in her sweet pussy. However, the sound of a car honking brought his head up.
“Hey,” she whispered.
He lifted his hand to trace the moisture left on her lips from his kiss. “Hey, yourself.” Unable to let her go, he locked his arms around her waist. “Do you have any clue how fucking sexy you look sitting on your bike, getting off your bike, and hell, even standing next to it? I think I’ve come up with a dozen fantasies of you and me fucking on my bike.”
She grinned. “Why’s it on your bike? I thought you said I was sexy on my bike?”
His right hand trailed down to her ass, cupping one cheek in his palm. “Baby, I’d fuck you on either one of our bikes, but I think my seat is a little bigger, making it much more accommodating for what I have in mind.” His dick jerked beneath his denim, letting him know he was more than willing to give it a go. When he’d first met her, he had no clue she even owned a bike, yet after finding out she was associated closely with the Royal Sons MC, she had been gifted one years ago by King, the President. Since Luke’s death, Ivy thought the club would take her bike like they’d taken Luke’s. King, being the standup guy Tymber knew him to be, wouldn’t hear of it.
“Jesus, you make my panties wet just thinking about it.” She pressed her forehead against his chest, shivering in his embrace.
Tymber loved how responsive she was to his words and touch. Since the first time they’d made love, she never shied away from whatever he suggested. His girl liked it soft, hard, sweet, or dirty. Whatever way he chose to give it to her, Ivy loved it. “Come on inside, I have a couple dickheads wanting to say hi.”
Ivy lifted her head. “I came to see if you would ...give me another tattoo. Remember when we talked about what I wanted?”
His mind raced. One night after they’d made love, she said she wanted to get another tattoo, this one she wanted to see about doing something like the semi-colon, only making it personal. When he’d realized the significance, his mind began working on designs for the suicide symbol and how he could personalize it for her.
“Yeah, I have a couple of drawings for you, but if you don’t like them, I can start over.” He brushed his lips over hers again, unable to stop himself. “Come on, let’s take a look.” He took a step back, keeping one arm around her.
Ivy looked at the shop next door. “High Maintenance? I’ve heard of that salon. One of the Ole’ Ladies goes there. I really need a new stylist. Maybe I’ll stop in there one day.” She nodded toward the closed shop with the colorful window front.
“They’re usually open. Not sure what’s up.” Tymber held the door to his shop open, the familiar buzz of the tattoo guns filling the air.
“Yo, Ivy, you ready to leave him for me yet?” Lincoln asked, not looking up from the woman he was tattooing.
Lux snorted. “Sure, she’ll leave the good one for the bad seed.”
“That hurts. Come kiss it better.” Lincoln scooted back and spread his legs.
“Pretty sure that’s sexual harassment.” She pretended to write a note in the air. “Keeping notes, boss man,” she said without heat.
Lincoln grinned. “I like the way that rolls off your tongue. I want to hear it when you...”
Lux held her hand up. “If you finish that, I will come over there and staple your lips shut.” She held the stapler up, making it click together.
“I’m not into that kind of shit, that’s Ember’s gig.” He pointed his free hand at the other man.
Ember raised his head, eyes narrowed. “You’re just jealous. Besides, how do you know if you’d like it or not if you haven’t tried it? Am I right?” He asked the room at large.
The woman lying on Lincoln’s table laughed. “I think you’re all nuts, but then again, I’m lying here getting a tattoo by my ex’s enemy, so it’s all relative.
Silence fell on the entire room.
“Um, who is your ex?” Lincoln asked.
She turned her head, meeting his blue gaze. “Tommy Pelosi.”
The name didn’t mean shit to Tymber, but it had Lincoln freezing, his usual friendly gaze hardening. “What the fuck are you doing in my shop?”
“Tommy and I got divorced yesterday. I wanted to do something...for myself, and this was something he forbid me to do.”
Lincoln pushed away from the table, running his hand down his face. “What? Get a tattoo, or get a tattoo from me? ‘Cause either one would put you in the shit house with him. Fucking Pelosi’s woman.”
“Man, you gonna be able to finish, or you need me to come in clutch?” Ember asked.
“Nah, I just finished. I was getting ready to clean her up.” He took a deep breath.
Tymber looked at Ivy, then at the woman. “Give me a minute?”
Ivy nodded.
“Here, let me take care of that,” he offered, holding his hand out for the solution bottle they sprayed on a tattoo before wiping away the excess ink. Lincoln shook his head, holding the bottle tighter.
“I got it. Lux, this one’s on me. Can you print the aftercare instructions out for Mrs. Pelosi, please?” His tone was neutral, the same one he used on clients he didn’t know.
Tymber and Ember stayed close, not because they didn’t trust Lincoln, but because he was their brother, maybe not in blood, but by choice. They’d been through war together. They’d lost other brothers in countries they didn’t belong, yet their bond stayed strong, and they stayed best friends. Whatever was going down, had gone down before they knew one another, wouldn’t change their dynamics.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. Th...this was my taking back something he took from...never mind. Thank you for this.” She waved at her thigh.
The piece his friend had done was a work of art and had gone up almost to the woman’s panty line. If her ex ever sees it, it would mean he was up close and personal to her private parts.
“It’s a beautiful piece. Too bad you got it for revenge,” Lincoln said, getting up and walking away.
Lux came over to the woman. “Here you go. Now, let me explain to you about aftercare.”
Tymber looked to the back, then at Ivy. Shit, he didn’t want to leave Link in a fucked up state. They all had demons they fought. He knew more than anyone how screwed up things could get.
“I got this.” Ember stood up. His hands were no longer covered in gloves. The man he’d been tattooing was shrugging into a T-shirt. “I’ll see you in six to eight weeks for your next session, man. That tat is looking fucking badass.”
“You’re a genius, Ember.” He handed over some cash, walking out without looking back.
Lux held the door open for the woman and man. She strode toward the back, following Ember, leaving Tymber with Ivy.
“Well, that was quite the shitshow,” Tymber said, coming to stand between Ivy’s legs where she sat on the bed.
She looped her arms over his shoulders. “I liked seeing how you all were ready to have your friend’s back.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in snugly with his body, loving how she automatically wrapped those long legs of hers around his hips. “He’s my brother,” he said.
Ivy gave a little tug, bringing his head down to hers. “You’re sexy when you get all protective.” She nipped at his lips.
He groaned. “You’re sexy when you breathe.”
“Ah, you two going to get nekkid and do it on the table? Asking for a friend,” Ember said, strolling into the room while tossing an apple in the air. He caught it in one hand, then bit into it, letting the juice run down his chin.
“You’re such a voyeur,” Lux muttered.
“And?” Ember asked.
“Just pointing out an observation.” Lux moved back to her spot at the front of the store. “But, if you two are going to do it, I suggest you wipe that table down really good. You never know what might’ve spilled on there. I think Ember may have slept there...and had a naughty dream earlier.” She moved her hand up and down in a jack-off motion, then made it as if an explosion occurred, sound effects and all.
“I did no such thing. Take it back,” Ember hollered, his apple half-eaten sticking out of his mouth, making the words garbled.
“Link, was Ember snoring and moaning on Tymber’s station earlier this morning?” Lux asked.
Tymber turned to see his other best friend stop in his tracks, looking at Ember, Lux, then him, his bottom lip trapped between his teeth. “Listen, I’m not one to tell a lie, so I’m just going to go and clean up my station. I’m done for the day.”
“I rest my case.” Lux did her jackoff motion and explosion imitation again, making Ember toss the apple core toward her before he growled fuck you.
“You sure you want me to tattoo you here? I can take my kit back to my place and do it there?” The thought of inking her where there was a bed and no spectators had him itching to reach for his keys.
“Alright, I’m out,” Ember announced. “Don’t mourn my leaving, you two. I’ll see you both tomorrow, maybe the next day. I’m sure I’ll see you before either of you miss me.” Ember leaned over Tymber and kissed Ivy on the cheek, jumping backward to avoid Tymber punching him.
“Lock up,” Lux said, strolling out after the other two, leaving Tymber and Ivy alone.
“Fuck, I didn’t think they’d ever leave.” He ran a finger down her cheek a few times, wiping away the trace of Ember, at least in his mind.
“Hmm, whatever shall we do now?” She leaned into his touch.
Tymber looked toward the enormous front windows and the passing cars. “Hold that thought.” He went through the motions of closing up, locking the door, and pulling the huge gate across, then realized her bike sat out front. “Let’s move your bike out back. We have a private entrance where we all park.”
Ivy hopped down, hurrying to move her bike around. He finished locking up, meeting her at the back door, his tattoo equipment already in the apartment, ready for him to use. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand.
The small apartment they kept wasn’t anything extravagant, but it was comfortable and fitted with the thought of big men in mind. He led Ivy through the door, engaging the security system. “Did you decide on which design you wanted?” he asked once they were settled at the dining room table.
Ivy pointed at the design that had the sugar skull incorporated with the semi-colon design. He was going to add it to the words he’d already inked onto her ribs, making it the ending to her words. Only it wasn’t the ending to her story, but rather a new beginning.
“Will you be able to do a sugar skull that small?” she asked, looking at the design.
Tymber raised a brow. “I won’t be putting a lot of filigree into the design, but enough to make the skull feminine and you. You trust me?”
IVY’S HEART WAS BEATINGa mile a minute. She absolutely trusted Tymber with her everything. Why this man, when no other man had tripped her trigger, she had no idea. However, from the moment she’d seen him standing in the crisis center hallway, she’d known she could count on him for anything. Like his name, Tymber, he was as sturdy as the most substantial trees in the forest. Unlike her name, which she’d hated growing up. Ivy, like a vine that covered things. She never wanted to be clingy. Yet he seemed to like it when she wrapped herself around him. “I do. I trust you.” And she did.
“If I fuck it up, you can tattoo me. Deal?” Tymber’s deep voice rolled over her, making her nipples hard points beneath her shirt.
She laughed. “Trust me, you don’t want me anywhere near you with a tattoo gun. You’d have a bunch of squiggly lines or probably just one squiggly line that resembled an image of sperm. Have you seen what those look like? You’d be the laughingstock of the tattoo industry,” she sighed. “No, it’s best for you to stick with the art while I stick with what I’m good at.”
She hadn’t thought she’d be good at anything until Luke and Darian had encouraged her to follow her dreams. Now, she was glad she had, so she didn’t have to rely on the MC for her bread and butter.
A chick as a mechanic was an oddity in their town, but she was good at what she did. She had good enough of a reputation that her business wouldn’t be hurt now that she wouldn’t be working on the Sons’ bikes.
“Hey, what’re you thinking?” Tymber sat her down in a chair, getting down on one knee in front of her.
Ivy bit her lip, wondering how this gorgeous man was still single. “I’m amazed no woman has snapped you up.” Her hand flew up and covered her mouth. “Oh shit, forget I said that.”
He chuckled, pulling her hand away from her face. “Trust me, I needed a little housebreaking. I think you’re just the woman for that job.”
Her face had to be ten shades of red. “I suck at this...relationships,” she exclaimed.
Tymber shook his head. “Nah, you just hadn’t found the right man. Neither had I. Well, I hadn’t found the right woman. You and me, I think we were waiting for each other.” He kissed her palm, placing it over his heart.
“What if I fuck up. What if we fight, or this thing fades?” She waved her hand between them.
He grabbed her other hand, standing up, pulling her with him. “Listen to me. Relationships change, but when two people care about one another the way I care about you and hopefully the way you care about me, then we’ll be fine. Better than fine, ‘cause we’ll be together.”
“You said you liked the fire in me. What if...what if my spark dulls?” There it was, her biggest fear.
Instead of answering right away, he lifted her into his arms and sat in one of the chairs with her in his lap. “Ivy, I know you think nobody will be there to pick you up if you fail or you fall, right? Well, guess what, sweetheart? The first thing you need to know is that I’ll be right here by your side, ready and willing to help you, but I also know you’ll never lose your spark. Yes, you might stumble and fall, and if you lose your spark, you’ll rise back up, and you’ll be the whole damn fire.”
She sniffed; a tear rolled down her cheek. “That’s so damn beautiful.”
“No, you’re so damn beautiful. You and everything about you is. Now, you ready for that tattoo?”
Ivy wiggled, trying to get up without looking like a fool. “I’m ready, but not for the tattoo, not yet anyway.” She lifted the hem of her shirt over her head, leaving her in the bra and jeans. A deep inhale could be heard from Tymber, but she didn’t stop, wanting to be naked and in his arms. Her riding boots were next, followed by the jeans, which weren’t as easy to shimmy out of. Last, she slipped her thumbs into the side of her panties.
“Wait,” Tymber barked.
She paused with her thumbs on her hips under the elastic sides. “What?” she asked, tipping her head to the side.
He twirled his finger. “Turn around, I want to see your ass as you take them off.”
Her mouth went dry looking at him with his legs sprawled out in front, his right hand massaging his dick through the denim. “You want me to turn around and—take them off with my back to you?”
“Mmhmm,” he murmured.
Fuck, that was one of the sexiest sounds coming from him in that deep guttural command. She turned, her hair swishing along her back.
“Spread your legs a little and bend down as you push them to the floor,” he instructed.
Her body ached to have him touch her. The flimsy material was soaking wet already. She inched the sides down, taking her time to ease the silk fabric down, bending like he’d told her to do at the waist, keeping her legs locked so her ass was in the air. A growl was her only warning before she felt his hands on her ass, spreading the cheeks, and then his fingers were there, followed by his lips and tongue. “Keep your head down while I have my snack.”
Holy shit, holy shit, she chanted in her head. She gripped her ankles, holding herself steady as he worked her up to a hard, fast orgasm, screaming his name. “Tymber, oh god, I can’t stand,” she gasped. Her legs shook from the pleasure.
His arms holding her were the only things that kept her upright, and then he was easing her onto his thighs, his huge cock pressing into her. She didn’t know when he’d undressed. She only knew she was glad to see she wasn’t the only one so affected by her teasing.
“Goddamn, woman, do you have any clue how much I love you?” he asked, his fingers twisted in her hair, turning her face to the side to meet his lips as he pumped his hips upward.
Ivy moaned, her body working to take all of him into hers. “Half as much as I love you?” she teased.
Tymber bit her lower lip, then soothed it with his tongue. “Wrong answer, baby. You’re my everything. I used to be glad I woke up and would say just one more day. It was one of the things that kept all of us going. Now, being here with you, balls deep in you, I know I’d fight anything to be right here. We can’t let the past ruin our future. Because we didn’t give up, we woke up and said fuck you, our journey isn’t over, we’re here, together. For that alone, I thank my lucky stars.” He powered in and out with every word, keeping his eyes locked on hers.
“God, I love you, Tymber Black, more than I thought I could ever love anyone. You make me whole, make me want to be better.”
He stopped moving, lifting her off him and turning her to face him. “Ivy, if you were any better, you’d be a real-life angel. Now, shut up and fuck me like you mean it.” He pulled her onto his cock, not giving her a chance to respond.
Ivy gasped. The new position had her clit hitting the perfect spot with each push and pull. She used her arms and legs to work her body over his, glad he helped with a firm grip on her hips when her legs began to shake.
“Yes, right there. Oh faster. Help me, Tymber,” she begged.
His fingers dug into her sides. The familiar tingle began in her breasts, working its way down her chest, and then exploded throughout her body, squeezing the dick buried inside her. Ivy panted, her voice hoarse from crying out.
TYMBER BARELY HELDhis orgasm back the first time Ivy came, but the second time her little body clamped down on his, there was no holding back. His balls drew up. Tingles raced throughout his body seconds before he came, hard, coming deep within Ivy. They’d had the disease talk, both agreeing they didn’t want anything between them and had proof they had clean bills of health. Now, with her body milking him, he honestly wouldn’t have cared if she hadn’t been protected from pregnancy as he wanted everything with her, even the two point three kids, a dog, and a house in the hills. Yeah, he had it bad for his sexy little biker chick, but he couldn’t see his life without her in it.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to fuck you on the floor of the apartment,” he groaned. His legs would pay for the extra workout they’d been given, but not one ounce of him regretted it.
Ivy lifted her head from his shoulder, her smile radiant like always. “You don’t hear me complaining.”
He ran his hands up and down her sides. “You’re probably going to have bruises on you.”
She shook her head, smiling down at him. “Again. You don’t hear me complaining, do you? Actually, we could have them tattooed on me, so you knew where to place them next time.” Her eyes twinkled.
Tymber pictured her wearing his permanent fingerprints. “How about we get up and see about your other tattoo first?”
Ivy shimmied on top of him. The slow roll and grind of her body made him shudder. “If you insist.”
Life with Ivy would be full of twists and turns and bumps and grinds, but there was one thing he knew for sure. It was going to be one hell of a wild ride. Once you find that one person who completes you, who doesn’t want to dull your shine but will do all they can to fan your flame, you grab hold and hold on tight. He was going to hold on so tight; she’d be wearing his fingerprints even when she wasn’t with him, but she’d be smiling from ear to ear, remembering the pleasure he gave her when she got them.
The End!