Maddox
BEFORE
“So, what things do you like? Any suggestions?”
Ian looks around the trailer, and I don’t know why I feel insecure about it. I don’t give a shit that I live in a trailer park. I think judgy people are stupid. So why does my stomach tighten as he looks around?
“This your place?”
“My mom’s, but she’s never here.” I wish she’d spend more time at home, but I guess that’s asking for trouble. I should feel grateful she lets me live here, even if she doesn’t approve of what I’m doing. “Follow me.”
I lead him down the hall. If I pay a little rent, she lets me have the bigger room. It’s still a small space, but it works for now. My bed is against the left wall, while my makeshift tattoo station takes up a lot of room. I turn to find Ian looking at my wall. “You did all these?”
I walk to him. “Yeah.”
“They’re beautiful.”
I watch him as he looks at the wall of drawings I have.
I could keep them in my sketchbook, but I like looking at them.
Up close I can see soft freckles along his cheeks.
He’s very handsome. Unsure and a little quiet.
He side-eyes me then turns his face to me.
Oh yeah, those freckles and dimples. His eyes are this greenish blue that I don’t see very often.
“Why are you staring?” he asks.
“I’m just observing a piece of art.”
“What?” Then he realizes I mean him. “Oh, god.”
“How much? I might have a buyer who’s interested.” I wink.
His face twists. “Ew. Horrible line.” I laugh as his lips break into a smile. “You should be ashamed.”
I shrug. “Shame has no place here.”
Ian shakes his head. “You like to hear yourself talk, don’t you?”
“I think you like listening to me talk.” He scoffs. “Ouch. My ego.”
“You’re too ridiculous to have an ego.” Ian smiles.
I try to think of something to say but words are lost to me. I just watch him. He’s so easy to rile up. I love it. “Come on. Sit down and let me work my magic.”
With a roll of his eyes, he sits in my chair. I sterilize everything and snap my gloves on. “Any preferences?”
“No. Just don’t tattoo a dick on me or something.”
“Well, now I’ll have to think of something else.”
He laughs. “I don’t care. Do whatever.”
“Very trusting.”
“I trust nobody.” His green eyes hold me, and I know what I want to do. “But your reputation is at stake, so I trust you don’t want to make yourself look bad.”
I bite back a smile. Fuck, I think I like him a little too much. “Close your eyes, okay. It won’t take long.”
Ian settles and closes his eyes. I begin to tattoo—freehand.
It’s easy enough since I know what I want to do.
The soft buzz of the machine is my own personal lullaby.
I’ve been tattooing since I was twelve. For practice of course.
It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I gave Anna her first tattoo when she was sixteen, somewhere hidden so her parents didn’t ground her.
I check on Ian again. If it hurts, he doesn’t move.
Soft lips and closed eyes. “I can feel you staring at me.”
“You are very stareable.”
“You’re the worst.”
“Give me the chance and I’ll be your best.”
“Do you ever stop talking?”
“Only when my mouth is on a gorgeous man.”
He snorts and lets me tattoo. I’m nearly done. I notice him tighten a bit when I get to the outer edge of his wrist. “Can I look yet?”
“Not yet.” I clean him up, kind of sad he may be leaving after this.
I didn’t want to start him out with something huge, although if he’s willing, I have some art in mind that would look good on him.
I’ve always had this idea for a galaxy piece that makes your body disappear.
The black ink of space would swallow his pale skin.
Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I may never see him again after this. “What about you?
“What?”
“Have you ever thought about tattooing?” With his eye, I’d love to get him to try.
“No. Why? You’d show me?”
“Oh, Ian, I’d show you a lot of things.”
“Another terrible line.”
“Who’s saying it’s a line? It’s a promise.” I smile like an idiot since he can’t see me.
“Smooth.”
“That’s me, baby. Smooth as silk.” I take a look at the tattoo with a smile. It’s so clean. On the surface it looks simple, but sometimes those are the trickiest pieces. Not a lot of room to hide mistakes in. “Okay, you can look.”
He takes his blindfold off then looks down and tilts his head. I’m nervous. Why am I so anxious? “An infinity symbol?” He looks down at it. “It looks like ink.”
I smile, looking at it.
“It looks like it comes straight from a calligraphy pen. It’s really good. Like, really.” He watches it. “Why an infinity symbol?”
I smile wider. “Because it’s us. Meeting on the eighth day of the eighth month. My birthday is November eighth as well.” Ian groans. “What?”
“I don’t want to tell you.” He shakes his head, looking at the tattoo.
“Tell me!” I whine.
A deep sigh leaves his lips. “My birthday is January eighth.” My eyes blow wide. “No, don’t. Don’t! It doesn’t mean anything.”
How can he just say that! “It’s fate, Ian!”
“It’s coincidence.” He looks at the tattoo, and my eyes drop to his mouth when he drags his bottom lip between his teeth.
“That doesn’t sound very whimsical either.”
“You and whimsy.” He rolls his eyes.
“You know what would be whimsical as fuck?” I grin.
“What’s that?”
“If you kissed me.” He barks out a laugh. “Peak whimsy.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I’m also a great kisser.”
He shakes his head, but I see the smile he’s trying to hide. Damn. “Come on, Ian. I think if you left here without kissing me, it’d be a tragedy. I’d go so far as to say bad luck. We’d be mocking fate right in the face after it was nice enough to bring us together on our special day.”
“You really don’t stop talking?”
“I told you. Only when I’m kissing a fine man” I grin wide. All teeth. “Come on, Ian. Shut me up.”
I think he’s going to give me the finger.
Instead he leans in.
For a moment he just brushes my lips as if struggling with the idea of giving in to me, lingering for a moment before he presses the full weight of his lips to mine.
Then he deepens it, slow and certain, and it ignites something inside me I’m not ready for.
I know I asked for this, and part of me was just teasing, but he’s fucking me all the way up. This kiss.
Finally, he pulls back as if he didn’t just steal the breath from my lungs. I can already feel the dumbass grin on my lips.
“Idiot.” He sinks back into the chair.
“Oof. You liked kissing me.”
“I liked the silence.” But his freckles pop against the soft blush on his cheeks.
I grin, leaning in, kissing him once more. Firmer, my thumb sweeping along his jaw. I can feel something hit my chest, and although I just met him, I have a feeling it’s more permanent then the tattoo on his wrist.
“I think you like me.”
His tongue runs along the inside of his cheek before he smirks. Then he looks down, taking in the tattoo. “Why give this to me?”
“So you can remember me when you leave.”
“Who says I want to remember you, Maddox?” Those bluish eyes go hazy, and yeah, damn. My heart amps up a touch. He’s got really pretty lips.
“Ian.” I smile. “If I have it my way, you’ll never forget me.”