Chapter Thirteen
Axel
A few days after the attempted assault, Axel was at The Skin Canvas when Sophia walked in. He spotted her immediately and made his way to her. “Hey, babygirl. What brings you by?”
“Hey, Axel. I was in town and thought I'd check on the status of the tattoo you were designing for me,” she replied. “I know it's been a lot longer than just a few days, but I just hadn't gotten around to it until now.”
“Yeah, I finished it a while ago. I was going to bring it by Elysium later since you hadn't been in to ask about it yet.”
“You wouldn't have seen me. Indi gave me the week off. Since I'm here, can I see it?”
“Of course. Follow me."
He led her to his station. Since he was also one of two piercers, his station was enclosed for privacy.
“Have a seat. I'll pull it up,” he told her and patted the tattoo chair.
While she settled on the chair, he went to his computer, pulled up the design, and printed it off.
He'd taken her infinity symbol idea and made what could have been a simple design into a thing of beauty. It was in shades of black and reddish brown with what appeared to be silver lines that made it resemble stained glass.
Behind the symbol was a black feather with hints of reddish brown dusting several sections. There were two pale peach roses, situated diagonally on each end of the infinity symbol, and beneath it was a single word: Strength.
“Oh. Wow. It's beautiful Axel,” she breathed.
“But? I hear a ‘but’ in there,” he commented.
“Yeah. It's… I'm not strong. If I was, you wouldn't have had to save me.”
Axel closed the distance between them and gently took her face in his hands. “Hey. Look at me, babygirl. That's not true. Being strong doesn't just mean defeating someone who is bigger than you. It also means having the strength to do what's best for you.
“You traveled nearly across the country to meet the father you never knew, all while knowing that, if he turned you away, you'd have nowhere to go. You would be completely alone in this world. And yet, you did it anyway. That, babygirl, took more strength than you realize.”
“I… guess you're right,” she finally said. “Thanks, Axel. I needed to hear that.”
“You're welcome, anytime, babygirl. You just let me know when you're ready for this beauty,” he told her.
“How about now?” she replied. “Unless you have a client coming in?”
“Nah. I'm free. Where would you like it?”
“Ummm. How about right here,” she said and pointed to the center of her chest.
“I can do that. You'll have to remove your shirt while I print the transfer,” he pointed out.
“I am aware,” she replied and he watched her remove first her coat and then her shirt.
Axel swallowed at the sight of her standing there in a black lace bra. Fuck, she was stunning.
He turned around quickly and discreetly adjusted himself before I printed the transfer and set up everything he would need. Then, he put the transfer where she wanted it, sat down, and got to work.
Despite making a few pained noises, Sophia stayed perfectly still, and when he finished, he showed it to her and took a photo of it for his portfolio.
He put a thin coat of ointment on it, covered it with gauze, and gave her care instructions.
“In a few days, it's going to start itching. Do not scratch it. You can smack it lightly, that sometimes helps, but no scratching or it will mess up the tattoo.”
“No scratching. Got it.”
He turned away to clean up while she put her shirt back on.
“Hey, Axel?”
He stopped and turned to face her. “Yeah?”
“I just wanted to say thank you,” she said softly.
She leaned up and pressed her lips to his and his resolve crumbled. A groan escaped him, his arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her closer.
When Sophia gasped, he took advantage and dipped his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss.
A mewling sound escaped her and he had to force himself to not strip her down and take her right then and there.
When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless. He pressed his forehead to hers and gazed at her.
“This could be a total disaster,” he told her.
“Why?”
He heard the hurt in her voice and felt like a heel. “I just mean, your father will go ballistic. You might have only been in his life for the last few years, but you're still his little girl and he's going to want more from you than just some biker.”
“What he wants doesn't matter. Not to me,” she countered. “But I understand what you're saying. Maybe… for now, until we're ready to tell him, we can just keep it quiet.”
He lifted a hand and caressed her cheek. “Are you really okay with that? Keeping this a secret?”
“For now? Yeah. I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with him. He read me the riot act over me working at Elysium, until I pointed out that if there's something wrong with me working there, he must think poorly of Rose and Indi.”
Axel laughed. “I'm sure that went over well.”
"About as well as it did with you,” she said cheekily.
“Figured as much. Okay. We'll keep him in the dark, because I'm tired of fighting. Four damn years is long enough.”
“Four? You've wanted me for four years? I didn't even think you'd noticed me.”
“Babygirl, I have wanted you from the moment I saw you, but I kept telling myself that I couldn't have you.”
“I had no idea,” she said softly.
He leaned in and kissed her again. “You should probably get out of here before I strip you down and make you scream my name loud enough for everyone to hear.”
Her shudder, followed by a whimper, had him groaning.
“That sounds so hot.”
“Don't tempt me, woman. I don't want the first time I'm inside you to be on a damn tattoo chair.”
“So rain check then?" she quipped.
“You're killing me, woman. Go on. Get out of here before we give Ripper a show.”
Sophia laughed. “Okay. I'll cut you some slack.”
She gave him one last kiss and he watched her walk out. Whatever happened going forward, he was all in.