Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
He got settled in the chair while I loaded the ink, adjusted the overhead light, and readied the transfer paper. I’d drawn the tattoo for him weeks ago.
“All set?” I depressed the foot pedal to switch on the machine and lifted the needle loaded into the instrument. He didn’t want any shading, so these would be simple, clean lines.
He gulped as he shifted his elbow on the armrest. “Go for it.”
“Just keep breathing,” I reminded him. “And stay still.”
And then, not wanting to draw out the anticipation, I just went for it.
He winced when the needle made contact with his skin, but he held his arm steady, watching me instead of the machine.
“You’re doing good, baby,” I murmured, trying to offer him reassurance.
A blush crawled across his cheeks. “I like when you call me that.”
Fuck, he was killing me. I nearly turned off the machine to take him in my arms and kiss the hell out of him.
As I swiped away the excess ink with a squirt bottle and paper towel, Bailey and Jordan wandered over to watch me work.
“It looks great,” Jordan said. He lifted his phone to snap a photo, then texted someone I could only guess was Steve. They’d been a couple for a few months now, which was cool.
Looking back, my jealousy over Jordan’s flirtatious personality had been juvenile, but I still wouldn’t be able to help myself if some other dude came along to chat up my guy. I wanted Alex all to myself, and maybe my fears and family history figured into that. But mostly, it was because I’d never been happier in my life, and it had everything to do with the incredible guy trusting me right then as I held a needle to his skin.
“What do you think, Bailey?” I asked over my shoulder since he hadn’t said anything.
“It looks awesome so far,” he said in a wobbly voice. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” Alex admitted, and I smiled, glad for that affirmation. And not only for my brother’s peace of mind.
“I can do yours next unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“No way. I want to do this.” He glanced toward the reception area, where his teammates were waiting. If I had to guess how this whole thing went down, it would’ve been over some beers or weed and one guy after another deciding it was a good idea. Bailey would’ve been resistant at first, except he didn’t like being left out, so he’d come around. Always the team player… Okay, maybe that was unfair. Like me, he was loyal to people or things he cared about, and it was a happy medium that connected us, so I’d take it.
When Bailey and Jordan wandered away to check on another teammate, Alex smirked. “Heads-up, the girls’ swim team is probably next. They loved this idea when we were at Shenanigans last night. Danica agreed that guys with ink were pretty hot.”
I chuckled. “Ooh, the whole bad-boy tattoo thing?”
Alex eyed me appreciatively. “There is something to it.”
I paused to wipe away the excess ink. “Careful, or I might drag you to the back room.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Maybe.” I smirked. “And now that you have an approved break from the pool, I’m tempted to leave some different marks on you.”
“Fucking hell.” He tried not to squirm. “You better stop, or I’ll walk out of here with a boner.”
I laughed. “Come over later, and I’ll make good on my promise.”
Alex groaned. “You’re definitely awesome at distracting me.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied and resumed working on him.
A few minutes later, Alex asked, “What do you think your parents will say? Will they think I corrupted Bailey?”
“Maybe we both did. It was a joint effort,” I said, and Alex grinned. “Mom will be cool with it, I’m sure, and Dad will eventually come around. But this will be good for Bailey.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “What do you mean?”
“Good for Bailey to defy Dad a little.” I threw him a quick glance. “He deserves to be his own person too.”
“True. Maybe he secretly wanted a tattoo all along.”
“To be cool like his brother?” I winked. “Obviously.”
When his tattoo was finished, Alex couldn’t stop admiring it, and I breathed out in relief. After he showed it off, I wrapped it and gave him the same care instructions I repeated ad nauseam to customers all day. They were important and would help with healing.
Bailey wanted Jordan to go next, so I inked a diver on his ankle, which looked pretty cool if I did say so myself. A couple of the others got FU Kings tattooed in the purple-and-gold school colors, but Bailey wouldn’t dare. That would’ve been too racy for him.
When it was finally Bailey’s turn, he asked for a simple pair of goggles on his bicep. Easy-peasy. He couldn’t stop admiring himself in the mirror afterward, and I almost teased him but decided to hold off until later. This was huge for my brother.