“Princess, trust me. Okay?”
Her hands released his, and he undid the snap and zipper, spreading the placket wide. His thumb traced along the edge of her panties. “Right here, I think. Low enough nobody gets to see it unless you want them to.” His eyes met hers, and he could see his touch was having an effect on her. Her chest was rising and falling with her accelerated breathing. He needed to get started before she freaked. “Stay right there. Let me get my stuff.”
He moved off and returned in a few minutes, laying his tools out on the felt beside her. He watched her eyes fall on the equipment as he plugged it in and returned to the table. Scooting the barstool up, he sat between her knees. Then he snapped on a pair of black surgical gloves and picked up a marking pen to sketch out his design in freehand on her belly. He paused, looking up. She was staring down at the pen poised over her belly. “Na-uh. No peeking.”
She rolled her eyes and looked away, but a moment later they returned to his hands as she jumped at the first stroke of the pen tickling her belly.
His eyes met hers as he leaned over her. “Babe, you jump like that when I got the needle to your skin, it’s not gonna be pretty.”
“Sorry.”
He started the sketch again, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. “You’re watching.”
“Sorry.” She looked away.
He tossed the pen down, getting up.
Her eyes came back to his. “What are you doing?” She followed him as he moved around the table.
“Solving this problem.”
“What problem?”
“You. Not being able to keep from peeking.” He returned to the table with one of her scarves in his hands.
Her eyes fell on it and got big. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Blindfold you. Make sure you can’t peek again.”
“Oh, no you’re not.” She started to scramble up. He pushed one open palm to her chest and gently pushed her back down.
He grinned to reassure her. “Relax, Shannon. It’ll help you relax if your eyes aren’t darting all over. Now close your eyes, calm down and trust me.”
Reluctantly, she did as he asked, and he tied the scarf over her eyes. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
He dropped back on the stool, and leaning over her, he slid his fingers in the top edge of her panties and tugged them down a bit. She gasped in a breath and wriggled against the felt. “You gonna punch me in the head when I break out the needles, darlin’?”
“Maybe.”
His murmured a warning. “This is going to feel cool and wet.”
“What is?”
“Antiseptic.” He swabbed a cloth over her belly.
She jumped at his touch.
“Relax, sweetheart. This is the easy part.”
“Sorry. I guess I’m not used to your hands on me.”
He smiled as he began sketching out the design freehand. “You will be.” It didn’t take long for him to complete the sketch. He reached for the tattoo machine, and a soft buzzing filled the room. He saw her flinch, and her hands tensed on the felt. Crash leaned forward and lowered his voice. “It’s gonna pinch a little when the needle goes in. You be a brave girl now and get through this, and I’ll give you a reward when we’re done, okay?”
She nodded.
“You ready, Princess?”