Epilogue
Becky
Three Months Later…
The hum of the tattoo gun was a soothing sound at this point, and apparently, my pain tolerance was a hell of a lot better than my ex’s.
The Bride of Frankenstein piece was one Nyx and I had designed together, based off a style from one of my favorite artists, and today, we were taking the first steps in making my first tattoo a reality.
She’d been drilling away at the linework for a few hours now, and we’d paused for breaks several times, but altogether, I was handling the session fine.
The tattoo needle felt a bit like a beesting, and after awhile, the feeling faded into the background.
Nyx kept me talking throughout the session, a clear effort of distraction.
Life with her had been better than ever, and we were flirting around with the idea of me moving into her place when my lease was up.
I couldn’t fucking wait. Bast adored Nyx, and the traitor had started to sleep next to her whenever Nyx came over, which was frequently.
We spent every night in bed together, whether at her house or mine.
“How’re you hanging in there? We’re almost done for the day,” Nyx said as she continued on a line along my upper arm.
This was going to look so gorgeous when it was complete.
My heart skipped a beat. Her brows were drawn together in concentration, and her black hair was pulled back into a low bun.
She wore a cutoff black vest today, the buttons undone to expose her cleavage, and she looked so fucking hot.
Between that and the sheer competence on display, the tingling between my thighs had increased exponentially.
“All good,” I said, even though sweat pooled on my palms, an aftereffect of the adrenaline rush. “Please tell me we’re going somewhere to eat after.”
“Babe, I wouldn’t leave you in a bad way,” Nyx said. “I have sandwiches in the fridge from Gennaro’s. Roast beef for me, Italian for you. We can scarf them before going to Owen’s.”
“Ahhh, I love you so much.” Thank fuck my girlfriend thought ahead. My stomach rumbled something fierce, which she’d already warned me about due to the adrenaline crash after. I’d be less peppy once we got to Owen’s, but everyone already knew I was getting my first tattoo, so they’d understand.
I’d never had a friend group like the tight-knit family at Alchemy Ink, and I was so thrilled to be a part of it now.
So many of them hung out at the shop too, and I’d gotten to know the crew, to talk to them all over the last three months that Nyx and I had been dating.
Honestly, it felt like we’d been together longer.
The more time I spent with her, the more I knew she was my person, the one I wanted to end up with.
“Love you too, sweetness,” Nyx said in that low, sexy voice.
Her focus was still on tattooing my arm, but affection hummed in the air between us, that care that she showed every morning when we woke up together to every night when we fell asleep.
I was so hopelessly in love with her, and I was grateful every day she’d been the one tattooing Kevin when I showed up here.
“Okay,” Nyx said, moving away and turning off the tattoo gun. She came back with a paper towel and wiped away the excess blood from the area. “We’re going to stop here today. Give it a look.”
I glanced down at the gorgeous outline of the Bride of Frankenstein on my arm, and my heart sped. Damn. Nyx was so fucking talented, and she was all mine. And now I’d have her art on me for the rest of my life.
Guess it was good I planned on keeping her forever.
“I love it,” I said, and Nyx got that soft little smile on her lips that I adored. “And when it’s all colored in, it’s going to be stunning.”
“Proud of you,” she said as she cleaned off the area again with a wipe and then grabbed the second skin. She placed it over my fresh ink in quick, economical motions. “Okay, do you want the spiel?”
“The one I’ve heard you give a million times to clients and could recite in my sleep?” I teased. “If you’re that worried, I’ll promise to ask any questions I have.”
Nyx wrinkled her nose. “I mean…”
“If it makes you happier to give it, I’ll listen.” I stared down at my new tattoo as she launched into a shortened version of aftercare, and my chest hummed with happiness. My stomach growled again, and I interrupted right as she was reaching the final steps. “Can we eat now?”
Nyx shook her head with a grin. “Yeah, okay. Let me grab our sandwiches, and then we can head over to Owen’s.” She disappeared, and I sat there, my head slightly dizzy from the adrenaline crash. The intensity of a tattoo was no joke, but every second had been worth the pain.
Nyx reappeared with two wrapped hoagies in hand.
“Okay, here.” She passed me the Italian one, and I tore it open, not even hesitating.
The process of eating felt like an out of body experience as my mind vacated the premises, and I shoved food in my mouth like it was my last meal on earth.
The salty lunchmeats and vinegar exploded on my tongue.
I’d crammed a half a hoagie into my stomach before I paused to take a breath.
Nyx was over by the counter, running tools in the autoclave, and the surfaces all sparkled from a fresh sterilization. When the fuck had that happened? “We’ll be good to go in a second.”
“Did you eat?”
“Nah,” she said. “Figured I’d wrap up here and eat mine once we get to Owen’s. You, on the other hand, needed food in your system at once.”
My cheeks heated with a blush, and Nyx finished her work with the tools, put them all away, and then stepped up to me.
She pressed a kiss to my lips, soft, sweet, and settling.
“This happens to everyone post tattoo, and we definitely went for a solid-length session. I’m so honored you let me be your first.”
“Of course I’d go to you,” I said, tipping my forehead to hers. “Not only are you my super hot and amazing girlfriend, but you’re one of the most talented tattoo artists in the area. Win-win there.”
“Let’s get up the road to Owen’s,” she said, a sparkle in her eye. “Can’t wait to show everyone.”
“Hell yes,” I said, pushing up off the seat and tossing my garbage into the nearest trash can. I made quick work of grabbing my purse and slipping on my cardigan, careful with my upper arm so as not to brush against the skin too much.
Nyx waited for me by the door, her hair pulled back, a winsome smirk on her lips. My heart thumped hard. Most days, I still couldn’t believe she was mine.
She led the way as we wove through Alchemy Ink, which was already shut down for the day.
Only a few lights were left on, and when we reached the front, Nyx shut those off too.
Everyone had already left, since we were just finishing up the tattoo after hours, when it didn’t take away from Nyx’s regular book of clients.
With her level of talent, she was always booked out months in advance.
I plunked into the passenger’s seat of Nyx’s sedan and settled back comfortably.
The drop after the tattoo and food was real, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
Nyx turned on the ignition and set off down the road.
My lashes fluttered as my eyes grew heavier and heavier, even though Owen’s house was only a few minutes away.
“Sweetheart, do you want to just go home?” Nyx asked, her voice breaking through the haze.
The car wasn’t moving anymore.
“Did we stop somewhere?” I asked, my voice all bleary.
“We’re at Owen’s,” Nyx said. “But we can also go home if the tattoo session took too much out of you.”
I blinked, my vision coming back into focus.
As much as I was exhausted, I wanted to show off my new ink to the crew.
And I didn’t have to be high energy for a movie night.
They’d accept me as I was, and I could just curl up with Nyx and snuggle.
“Nah, I want to see the movie. What’s the movie again? ”
Nyx laughed and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Sleepy Hollow.”
“Oh, fuck yeah,” I said. “I love that movie. We’re going in.
” I forced myself out of the car, that sluggishness not as bad after the couple of minutes of sleep I’d stolen.
Owen’s house was a powder-blue two-story and cozy as anything.
The big bearded man looked gruff and forbidding especially covered in ink, but he was such a softie.
His place showcased that side of him with the carefully arranged flower beds and the cozy blankets and pillows strewn around his couches.
We walked inside the house, and the smell of cedar and murmur of voices washed over me at once. Just like every time I stepped into Alchemy Ink, a comfort existed, one brought to life by the people who worked there.
Nyx stepped into the living room first, and when I followed behind, a roar of applause and whistles sounded from the couches—primarily generated by Rory.
“Take it off,” he called out. “We want to see the ink.”
Owen’s leather couches were filled with the staff.
Rory, Harper, and August had piled on one, and Owen sat on the other, an empty space still available, while Caspian claimed a recliner to himself.
All of these faces had become so familiar over the last few months, and I loved how easily they’d accepted me into the fold.
I tugged off my cardigan with care and then turned to the side to show off the Bride of Frankenstein linework.
Owen let out a low whistle. “Come here. I want to see it up close.”
I headed over to the couch and stood in front of Owen while Nyx claimed the empty spot beside him. He popped up and examined the piece, shaking his head.
“Damn, Nyx,” he said. “This is stellar work.”
“I wanted it to look perfect,” Nyx said, a softness in her voice that was clear in her eyes. My throat tightened, that warmth bubbling out of me. Fuck, I just loved her so much.
“This is so nauseatingly sweet I’m going to choke,” Caspian said in his normal droll tone.
Nyx lifted a middle finger in his direction and then looked up at me and patted her lap.
I settled right between her spread thighs, and she wrapped her arms around me, careful not to brush against my new tattoo.
Connected like this, I could feel the steady thump, thump, thump of her heart, and the rhythm sent a wash of contentment through me.
“Are we ready to start the movie, then?” Owen asked, grabbing the remote. He pressed play, and the opening strains to Sleepy Hollow boomed out from the speakers.
“Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp is a win-win for me,” August called out, and Caspian whooped in agreement.
“Glad you guys made it,” Owen said. “You did good with the first tattoo, kid.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re like, what, five? Seven years older than me? Pretty sure that’s out of kid territory.”
Owen broke into a big smile, one even his bushy beard couldn’t hide. “Fair. You two can join me in the retirement home then.”
Nyx snorted, and a laugh escaped me. I settled back against Nyx, getting comfortable, and she rested her chin on my shoulder.
“Proud of you,” she murmured again. I’d never been in a relationship this good before, after years of dating partners who treated me like trash.The praise washed over me, a constant with her, as she was always lifting me up, encouraging me.
I’d gotten so lucky the day I walked into Alchemy Ink and walked out with the number of this woman who lit me up inside.
Who treated me like a treasure—both inside the bedroom and out.
Nyx was my final girl, and I’d pick her every time.