Chapter Thirty-Six
One Week Later
Bella
This time, when I pull into the parking space near Twisted Ink, it’s a different feeling. I no longer fear that Dominic will never notice me. I know he notices me and no one else. And I’m not jealous of his ‘happily married’ boss.
Dominic is the perfect boyfriend. He takes me out to dinner. Holds my hand. Kisses me in public. And at night? The man blows my mind. I didn’t intend to move in with him, but who wants to traipse back home in the middle of the night when they’re depleted of energy? Not I. Especially with soaked thighs? It’s easier to sleep together, and it makes waking up a lot more fun.
And my brothers? We just pretend I don’t live there when they ask.
I turn off the ignition and hop out of my car. The sun is out, but the temperature remains mild. Fall is my favorite time of year. The weather vacillates between warm and crisp, and the trees are starting to change, making the landscape gorgeous.
When I step up to the etched glass door, it opens and a large man with tattoo-covered arms walks out and nods. “Hello, darlin’.” His voice is deep and rattles my nether region.
Darlin’? I bite back a giggle. “Hello.” My eyes continue to rake over the guy. He’s huge. Big, muscular, and reeks of big dick energy mixed with a gentle giant vibe.
He smiles as he shuts the door with a snap. “You must be Dom’s girl.”
“Yes, I am.” I smile in return.
“Getting some work done?”
“Yes. Dominic is doing some finishing touches on a tattoo he did for me.”
“I used to do work here before I got married.” He shoves out his hand and engulfs mine. “My name’s Maverick.” He releases my hand after a perfunctory shake. “Your boyfriend is a talented artist. What piece did he do on you? Was it your first one?”
“He did some wildflowers, and yes, it was my first one. He said he forgot to add something to it, but I think it’s perfect.”
“Ah….” Maverick’s eyes twinkle as he steps aside to let another customer file out of the tattoo shop. “I bet he makes it his best piece of artwork to date.”
“Were you getting some work done?”
“Yes. Rob worked on a tattoo I had designed a year ago for my wife and kids. He was adding our last child’s initials.”
“Congratulations.”
There’s nothing flirty about his comments or our conversation. It’s that weird tattoo community connection that happens whenever someone recognizes a kindred spirit.
Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d ever be part of that tribe, but as soon as Dominic finishes this one, I want another design. I already have it planned out–a single wildflower like Dominic has with a serpent around it. I want a piece of him on me like he has of me.
Maverick crosses his arms over his chest. “Rissa has been trying to get Dom to enter a contest to get his work included in a magazine. The top designer gets a full article spread about their work and potentially showcased in an art exhibit. He keeps blowing her off, saying he’s not that good. He’s that good. You should try to sway him.”
“I’m not sure I can sway him.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “Any man’s woman can sway him to do any number of things. And the way he talks about you, I think you could get him to do just about anything with the crook of a finger.”
Heat covers my face as happiness swells up inside of me. The fact he talks about me with that much emotion makes my knees weak. And to think, I thought he couldn’t stand me a few weeks ago.
“Thank you. I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“You should. Ember can get me to go to a bookstore with one pouty bottom lip. Even though I know she’ll consider it a job, and we’ll be there all day. That’s why I built a library for her in our house. But no….” He shudders. “She must go to a bookstore to buy more books.”
“You’re too funny.” I laugh at the mixture of adoration and horror on his face. Here’s a man who worships his wife.
“Not that I don’t read. I do, but again, only to please my wife.”
The door swings open. “Dude,” Dominic barks. “What’re you doing?”
Maverick raises his hands in mock fear. “I’m only talking to your lady, and I’ve been a perfect gentleman. Besides, you don’t need to worry about her. I can tell that she’s not the type to cheat.”
“I know that.” Dominic glares at Maverick and stalks between us. “But that doesn’t mean I want her hanging out with you.” He waves his hand toward Maverick. “You’re a billionaire, and you look like that. I can’t compete with….”
“I get it.” Maverick smacks Dominic in the upper chest. “I’m a whole lotta man to compete with.” He winks, turns on his heel, and ambles in the other direction.
“Wildflower.” He grabs my chin and swivels my face to meet his. “Maybe I shouldn’t have had you come down here.”
“You have nothing to worry about.” I lace my arms around his neck and sink into him, loving the feel of his heat surrounding me. “He’s a good-looking guy, and I’m not going to lie and say that when he said, ‘darlin,’ I didn’t get a bit weak in the knees.”
When his eyes narrow, I laugh. “But you have nothing to worry about. I’ve seen hundreds of good-looking men in the past, and none of them swayed me from wanting you. And that was before I knew what a good lover and attentive boyfriend you are.”
He growls low in his throat. “You’re going to be the death of me.” I don’t complain when he presses his lips to mine and makes my knees completely weak.
“See….” I lazily open my eyes. “All it takes is one kiss, and I’m putty in your hands.
Dominic grabs the back of my neck and holds his thumb over my pulse point. “You’d better be because you’re mine, and I’m all yours. Now, what did he want?”
“Is it bad that I love how jealous you are?”
“You don’t know the half of it.” He bites his bottom lip, and my pulse skips under his thumb. “When I see another man looking at you, I want to get in his face and tell him that you belong to me. And when someone touches you….” His eyes darken as his mouth descends to mine. I whimper as he claims me again.
Lord. I shudder from head to toe at the possessiveness of his embrace. His tongue slices between my lips and mates with mine. Heaven. My head spins as a horn honk jerks my attention back to reality. I blink, but he doesn’t let up. Instead, he deepens the kiss. Heat and desire pool in my panties as I brush my clit over his thick thigh.
He pulls back and stares down at me. “You need to get inside so I can finish the design.” The deep tone of his voice causes me to whimper as his fingers clutch harder, pressing into my skin. “I trust you, but it’ll be a while before seeing another man talking to you doesn’t mess with my head. I’ve spent too many years wanting to be with you and thinking it would never happen.” The raw vulnerability in his eyes makes my stomach flip. “It leaves me terrified that I’m going to lose you.”
“You won’t. I feel the same way.” I lick my lips as the sound of a car door slamming in the distance reminds me that we aren’t alone. Hell, we’re in the middle of the sidewalk on a busy street, but that doesn’t seem to matter to either of us. “I hated every girl that got close to you.” My eyes lower for a second as I swallow past the lump in my throat.
“Baby, you don’t have anything to worry about. I’m all yours. Today, tomorrow, and always.” With his free hand, he clasps my hip and rocks me into his erection. He’s been possessive and demanding in the bedroom before, but never like this in public. “Now, get inside so I can get you in my chair.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“That’s better.” His eyes flash as he gives me a quick swat on the ass and marches to the door, locking it behind us.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re my last client of the day, and everyone else has finished their schedules.”
“Oh….” My heart thuds in my chest. Sex in a tattoo studio? Holy hell. I fan myself. Reality is better than any fantasy or book.
His eyes drink me in as he stands on the black floor that shines under the lobby lights. “I’ve been thinking about your gorgeous ass all day. Now, unzip your pants and hop onto the chair.”
“Yes, Sir.” It takes everything inside of me not to run to the room. Over the years, I’ve had this fantasy countless times. But this is real.
After unzipping my pants, I adjust myself onto the chair and wait. He stands near the door as his chest expands with each inhaled breath. The black T-shirt with the Twisted Ink logo is stretched so tight that every bulging muscle is clearly defined, and the bars of his nipple rings poke out against the fabric. I’m the luckiest woman alive.
My eyes narrow, and I fold my arms over my chest. “You need to only tattoo men. You’re too sexy to ink women and not have them thinking about fucking you in this very chair.”
He stalks across the room, grabs the waistband of my pants, and yanks them down my legs. “Like you did?”
I gasp while unfolding my arms and grasping at the black leather chair so I don’t end up with my ass on the floor. My eyes narrow as I glare at him. “Yes, like I did.”
There’s no use pretending. My breathing is ragged as the tension in the air vibrates with need. Mine. His. It swirls together until the room is about to have an orgasm.
“I don’t think you’ll need these.” He pulls my pants off the rest of the way, dropping them to the floor but leaving my panties intact. “This body belongs to me. And no one else touches it without consequences.” He hooks his foot on the tattoo chair, grabs the tattoo gun off the silver rolling table, and flips it on.
I watch in fascination as he loops his pinky finger in the top of my panties, exposing the tattoo he did several weeks ago. Once he has my skin sanitized, he asks, “Now, what did Maverick want?”
“What?” My brain short circuits. Why is he talking about Maverick? When he’s right here. Right where I–
The needle stings my flesh as it connects with my skin. The ink is black, and the line he draws is thicker than an outline.
“He wanted me to convince you to submit your work for an art exhibit.”
“Is that right?” He lays his palm over my mound and swipes his thumb along my clit.
“Yes-s-s,” I hiss and fight the urge to rotate my hips. I don’t know what he’s drawing, but I don’t want it to look like shit. This is my skin, not an Etch a Sketch pattern.
He licks his lips and strokes a constant rhythm over my clit while leaning over my body to watch his artwork. His breath is hot as it fans over my skin, eliciting a multitude of goosebumps to dance along my body.
“Good girl. Don’t move. Let me take good care of you.” His thumb swipes between my lips, pressing my panties into my soaked slit.
I whimper and steel my muscles to keep steady. With the gun, he continues to draw as if he’s not doing anything else. “Such a hot, sweet pussy. Is this what you fantasized about happening when I did your tattoo?”
“God, yes.” My neck and jaw muscles are tight, and I pray his concentration is better than my own.
“Let me see those perfect tits while I work. I need to gauge which piercing I’d do by studying them.” He lifts the gun a second as I quickly remove my top and bra. “Gorgeous tits. They’re perfect.” He swipes his finger under the edge of my panties and thrusts two fingers deep into my core. “Such a good girl. I love the feel of your pussy sucking my fingers. Getting them all sloppy and wet.”
“It feels so good. Don’t stop.”
His eyes blaze with hunger. “Pinch your nipples.”
“This is crazy hot.” My nostrils flare as I watch him fucking me with his fingers. When I don’t follow his direction, he lays the gun down and stops moving inside of me.
The second I pinch my nipples, my eyes roll back into my head, and his fingers dive deeper. “This is way better than the fantasy.”
“Darlin’, it should be.” He yanks off my panties and spreads my thighs until my legs drop onto either side of the chair. “You’re so beautiful like this. All laid out for me.” He wraps his hands around my thighs, pulls my hips off the chair, and devours me.
I suck down the air that’s tinged with the sweet smell of sex and tug on my nipples, pulling them tight. Loving the feel of their tautness. He curls his fingers and adds a third, and I nearly lose consciousness. It feels so good. My mouth drops open as my legs shake.
“That’s my good girl. You’re so soaking wet and ready to come.” He brushes his thumb over my clit. “Come on my fingers.” He inserts a fourth finger and pinches my clit between his thumb and hand.
“Oh fuck!” I scream as my hips shoot off the chair, jerking uncontrollably as he demands every quake of my orgasm.
“My fucking pussy feels so good squeezing my fingers,” he growls as spasms continue to rack my body. His movements slow, but he continues to slide in and out of my sex.
Seconds turn into minutes, and finally, I lay limp on the chair. “Jesus.” My head flops to the side as it’s too much effort to keep it facing the ceiling. He smacks my pussy, causing me to gasp in shock. “This is mine, and don’t forget it. No one else but me, and possibly your doctor, will see it. And if they do, they’ll know who you belong to. See for yourself.”
I glance down at the tattoo. “Dominic.” His name is signed below his tattoo like a street artist tags graffiti art.
“You’re mine.”