16. The Lines We Cross
Chapter 16
The Lines We Cross
Ash
“A
sh, you are a work of art,” Raven muses, admiring the fresh ink adorning her hip.
I set my tattoo machine aside and shake out my hands. Four hours of precision work have taken a toll on my digits, although the result so far is a masterpiece. “Not even close, but that beauty will be.”
To be fair, it may be one of my best pieces and it’s not even finished. But the outline is perfection. Two ravens perch atop a wrought-iron gate, with thorny vines twisting through the rails, spelling out the word Unbreakable. Roses curve between the thorns, the black and grays popping against Raven’s ivory skin.
Just wait until I add the hints of color throughout the piece on her next session. This one is definitely headlining my portfolio.
“Your skin took the color beautifully,” I murmur, before placing a protective bandage over the design. “You know the drill—wash with a gentle soap, pat dry, apply a thin layer of ointment and avoid the sun. ”
Raven chuckles and shoots me a flirty grin. “Do I look like I spend much time in the sun?”
“No, you’re pretty much vampire status.”
“Good thing you like vampires.”
I ignore her heated reply and focus on massaging my palms with my thumbs, trying to ease the stiffness that’s taken up residence. My hands ache, but it’s a small price to pay for creating art.
There are two things I love in this world—tattooing and sex. Some may call me arrogant, but I worked my ass off to master my skill, and it’s way more than pushing a needle into flesh. I listen to my clients. I hear their stories—a random collection of the best and worst moments of their lives—before guiding them to a piece of art that encapsulates that moment.
And watching someone release a long-held toxic belief or trauma after gazing upon their new skin art? There’s no better feeling in the world.
Except for sex.
Not just any sex, either. The kind of raucous lovemaking that turns you inside out and leaves you ravenous for more.
Great sex is hard to come by. Knock-down, run-you-over-like-a-steam-engine sex? Even more rare, and there have only been two women to drive my mind over the ledge like that.
One ripped my heart apart years ago and the other—Ori—never returned tonight.
Even though my focus remained on Raven’s tattoo, I shot numerous glances at the people gathered around my workstation, hoping my petite brunette neighbor would be hanging out in the crowd. There’s something about her presence that’s warm and inviting. As crazy as it sounds, I feel safe knowing she’s nearby.
I also feel an overwhelming need to rip her clothes off, but that’s hardly surprising after the night we spent together. Let’s put it this way: if Braden hadn’t burst into the supply closet, I would have torn Ori’s pants down and licked her sweet pussy until she couldn’t stand. Hell, I was tempted to do it even after he discovered our hiding spot. Why not give the good patrons of Black Lotus one hell of a show?
But Ori didn’t come back, and I don’t believe her story about One More Page being that busy.
No, she practically ran out of here, all thanks to Raven and her backhanded compliment.
In Raven’s defense, her comment about Ori is dead-on-balls accurate. She does have an adorable bookish look about her, an air of innocence that covers a brilliant and dirty mind. Not to mention an incredibly delicious set of curves.
What that little librarian fails to realize is her effect on the male population.
Oriana Thorne is fucking beautiful, and she has no idea how many men around this town lust after her.
But after paying close attention over the last week, I do, and it’s too damn many.
These guys think they’re slick, as they peruse the shelves of her store and ask questions about books they’ll never read, all the while dropping hints about how they’d love to show her around Sparkwood.
They find a reason to linger outside the shop or by the coffee bar, hoping they might say something witty enough to whet Ori’s appetite .
I’ve yet to see one succeed in scoring a date, but I’ve watched it play out on five separate occasions.
With one particularly dedicated would-be suitor, I strolled outside Black Lotus and leaned against the front glass window, my arms crossed over my chest as I fixed him with a look of death. Sometimes, words aren’t necessary—he heard me loud and clear.
Look, Ori’s a tiny woman. It’s my duty to protect her from the undesirables around here. Even if in her mind, I’m the most undesirable one at the moment.
Something I plan to remedy just as soon as I finish cleaning up.
Zane pokes his head into the studio space and flashes an admiring grin at Raven. “Locking up now. You two ready to go?”
“We’ll catch up with you,” Raven replies for both of us, as she bends over to pull on her heels, offering us a view of her plump ass.
That adage about when you’ve got it, flaunt it, works double time with a woman like Raven. What God didn’t give her, a plastic surgeon supplied, and she’s more than happy to work every angle of her physique.
Guess that’s why she’s one of the hottest adult film stars in the industry. I can claim I didn’t watch her flicks after meeting her the first time, but why lie? Plus, I didn’t have to look up a damn thing—Zane gladly offered to wrangle up some video evidence. Let’s just say the woman has some serious moves, one in particular that involves some rope, a chandelier, and plenty of candle wax.
I’ll leave you to fill in the blanks.
And I know Raven’s end game, at least for tonight. She flirted incessantly with me during our session, even allowing her blouse to slip low enough to reveal one pert, pierced nipple.
Subtle, she is not.
It’s not the first time, either. When she visited Black Lotus to commission her custom piece, she dropped numerous hints about us spending some quality time together.
No doubt where her head is at, now that we’re both off duty.
Zane gives the doorframe a light smack, a smirk crossing his face as he shoots me a look that says I’m the luckiest man alive right now. “Guess I’ll see you two later … or not.”
Then he’s gone, leaving me alone with porn’s hottest commodity.
“I need to book another session, but you better not make me wait too long,” Raven says as she leans against the wall, her lips curved in a pouty smile. “You’re addictive, Ash. I think I’ll need several more rounds with you.”
Quite the compliment, considering I’ve yet to show Raven any of my talents beyond tattooing.
Tugging a hand through my hair, I slide my machine into its case and thumb the latch closed. “Book yourself a slot anytime. Can’t wait to finish that piece. You’re happy now? Just wait until I’m done.”
Here’s the thing: I didn’t mean my reply to sound sexual. Honest to fucking God.
But the second the words leave my lips, I realize that’s exactly how she’s going to take it.
“You read my mind. How about we slot in time tonight? See how happy we can make each other?”
I chuckle and click my tongue against my teeth. There it is. I wondered how long it would take her to lay it out there.
A week ago, I’d have been all over her plan for extracurricular activities.
But that was before my tiny neighbor turned my world upside down, even though I’d sooner die than admit that fact aloud. So long as I keep it stashed in the recesses of my brain, I’m safe.
More importantly, my heart is.
Still, I invited Ori to the party tonight. There’s no way I could—or would—desert her to copulate with Raven in an adjoining room.
That would be rude.
Now, taking Ori into a private area to defile her delicious body all night? That is high on my list of priorities.
“Well?” Raven crosses the small space, giving me a slight hip check.
I pull my jacket from the hook, nodding toward the door. “Actually, I’m bringing someone to the party, so I’ll meet you there.”
A low laugh rises from her chest as she waves her hand at me. “Let me guess. Your little librarian? Don’t give me that look. We both know I’m right.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply with feigned innocence.
Raven smirks and reaches up to wipe her finger along my lip. “Really? So, you two just like wearing matching lipstick?”
I drag a hand over my mouth and chuckle. “Thanks for waiting four hours to tell me.”
Now she’s staring at me, her arms crossed over her chest, as if waiting for me to dig myself in deeper. “You’re not denying it, either. Damn, you really like her.”
Her words hit me like a jolt of electricity. I’ve been accused of many things over the years, but falling for a woman isn’t one of them. At least not since Lucille.
If Raven can read my emotions this easily, then everyone else can, too.
Time to play it off like it’s nothing, because that’s all it is.
A harmless flirtation. Some sexually charged moments. A few delicious memories of one delectable woman.
A woman I can’t get out of my damn brain.
I force a smile, shrugging off her statement. “Come on, Raven, you know me. It’s just a little fun. Nothing more to it than that. She’s just a friend.”
The second the words leave my mouth, I realize I’m trying harder to convince myself than her.
And neither of us is buying it.
“A beautiful friend,” Raven adds.
“She is beautiful.” Along with sexy, smart, and absolutely incredible in bed.
Raven grabs her purse and releases a noisy sigh. “Three is a fun number, too, although something tells me you don’t plan on sharing Ori with anyone.”
She’s right, on all counts. Threesomes are a ton of fun, and I’ve no doubt Raven’s libido would wear both Ori and me out, but this time, I’m not game for the game.
Ori is everything I want. For tonight, at least.
Must keep reminding myself of that, before I do something really stupid, like fall for her.
“Never was big on sharing.”
“At least not where Ori is concerned. Am I right?” Raven doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Oh well, looks like I’ll have to find someone else to adore me tonight.”
I motion toward the exit with a smile. “You won’t have any trouble. There’s always a line of men desperate for you.”
“But I wanted you , and you had to ruin it by developing a crush. Bastard.” She pivots in front of the door, her red lips once again curved in a teasing grin. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll be back in Sparkwood next month for my follow-up session, and then you are taking me to dinner. I deserve a fair shot, too, and knowing your storied history, you’ll have moved on to the next woman by then.”
No doubt about it, Raven is the female version of me. She works hard and plays harder, but her heart never gets involved. She gets my motives and respects my boundaries.
On paper, she’s perfect for me. No strings, no entanglements. Just good, dirty fun.
But life doesn’t exist on paper and my current reality orbits around a different woman. Although Raven is likely correct that I’ll be past any lingering feelings for Ori within the next few weeks.
Crush or no crush.
But until that happens, I need to maintain my distance from other women.
“See you next month,” I answer with a smile.
“Goodnight, gorgeous man. Have fun tonight.” She presses a kiss to my mouth before exiting the building, her hips swaying as she walks to her sports car.
I lock the door behind her, my foot tapping out an erratic rhythm as she drives away.
“Interesting decision,” I mutter under my breath. “I need a drink. ”
But that’s not true. What I need is to see Ori and pick up where our earlier tryst in the closet left off. Except maybe this time, we’ll play around in her store.
After a last glance around my shop, I cross the connecting hallway to One More Page, noting the darkened interior.
At least all the customers are gone, which means there’s nothing holding Ori and me back from playtime, a fact which makes my dick harden in anticipation.
Fuck, what she does to me.
With a quick adjustment and a grunt, I knock on the door.
Mina appears a moment later, her face sullen when she sees me on the other side of the etched glass. She pulls the door open, her fingers drumming the doorjamb. “What’s up?”
“I’m here for Ori. She around?”
“Not for you, she isn’t.”