Loren lying on my table waiting for me to ink her was close to the most erotically beautiful image I’d ever seen. The first had been watching her fall apart in ecstasy in a crowded room as I plunged my fingers in her under the table. Ideas of bringing her to that point again swirled in my head, and I had to shift my erection before I sat down on my stool. I’d been dreaming of inking Loren since I’d thought of the idea. Taking her hand, I linked our fingers together, excited the moment was here.
“Alright, Beautiful. I’m working on an intricate design for you,” I said, watching her breath hitch at the idea, and I knew my assumption had been correct. “But,” I winked, “for your first tattoo, I thought it was only fair to do something small. I wanted it to have meaning for you, even if it was a bet. I’m not going to tattoo ‘loser’ or anything on you. My hope is, you’ll be like most people, and once they get one, they love it and become an ink junkie.” She relaxed at my words, her face bright now with anticipation.
“I really hope you don’t hate the experience, but if you do, then hopefully it won’t be something you regret. Though my hope is you’ll like it, and the next one will be your decision to get. I’ll be ready with my design when you are. So, today’s tattoo won’t take very long. Do you want to know beforehand and perhaps add some suggestions or wait until I’m done?” I arched my eyebrow in question, waiting for her response. Loren looked me in the eyes, assessing me thoroughly, but it only took a few seconds before she decided.
“I trust you.”
Those three words had never meant more to me, and my heart soared. The realization I could have the dream I’ve wanted, which now encompassed her, hit me squarely in the chest. Loren had changed me, giving me something to look forward to, a person to fight for.
And I’d almost lost it.
This was my chance, and I would do everything in my power to not screw it up again. Smiling, I squeezed her hand.
“Okay. Did you pick an area?” She bit her lip, but then pointed to her wrist, a question in her gaze.
Nodding, I reassured her it would be perfect. “Well, let’s get started.” Cleaning the area, I sketched the design on her carefully, wanting everything to be perfect. Once I had it ready, I prepped my gun and looked up. She’d been watching me, not what I was doing, but me. A rush of endorphins filled me, and I smiled happily at the beautiful woman I was falling in love with.
“Alright, Beautiful. It might sting a little. Do you want to listen to music? Talk to those two knuckleheads? Or I don’t know, watch a movie? Everybody has a different process, so do what feels good to you.”
Loren’s breath hitched, and she began to panic a little. Her skin grew clammy to the touch, and I wondered if I’d pushed her too far. Opening my mouth, I was about to offer her an out when Monroe stepped in.
“Hey, Lo, tell me about how you bested Wells with the dog you’ve been working with.” His brows crinkled in delight while Wells scowled at him. It didn’t have his typical vehemence, though, so I knew it was all for show to get her to relax. I motioned to Monroe in thanks for distracting her. I wasn’t sure if Loren would’ve been able to distract herself on her own, too much in her thoughts.
Brushing my thumb over her pulse point, I waited for it to calm before I began. Turning on the gun, I let her get acquainted with the sound first and slowly brought it to her wrist. Loren tensed at the first press of the needle, jumping a little, but I’d been prepared, so I held it until she became used to it. The guys kept her distracted, asking her things, and I found myself actually thankful they were here. As much as my fantasy was to ink her up and have my way with her, it wouldn’t have been today.
Focusing on my work, I zoned out, concentrating on the ink. When it was finished, I turned off the gun and wiped it clean, admiring the way my work looked on her creamy skin. It was sexy as hell, and the erection I hadn’t managed to get rid of yet, became even more uncomfortable and pushed against the zipper. Rubbing my thumb over the ink, I found myself nervous as I waited for Loren to see it. What if she hated it? Had I overstepped?
Clearing my throat, I took a deep breath. “Hey, Beautiful.”
She turned, her face a brilliant smile and her eyes alight with happiness, and I sat and stared for a second. I’d told her I’d deal with figuring out how things worked with her dating other guys, but inside I’d been jealous, set on making her see I was the one for her. Then Sax had entered, and I knew I couldn’t win against him, and despite Atticus’ denial, it was clear he found her fascinating. I’d ignored the reality, only wanting to get her back in my life first.
But here I was with two men I didn’t know well, and for the first time, it didn’t seem like such a crazy thing. If I got the benefits of them making her happy, how could that be bad? Loren wasn’t just any girl. I’d already discovered that when I had to be without her for nine excruciating weeks. I didn’t think she would tell me she wanted to be with me if she didn’t have feelings for me. Nor did it seem like she would eventually like one of us more than the other. Even though she was new to dating, experiencing sex, and all it had to offer, she excelled at it.
Perhaps it had to do with her natural ability to care for people and to have multiple people she helped on a regular basis. I didn’t understand how her job worked, but I knew it was more than teaching skills to others and listening. There was a whole emotional aspect that you either had or didn’t. I was starting to believe this part of her that could care about multiple people at once could also potentially love more than one person at a time. When I really thought about it, I hadn’t felt left out or excluded in the few times she’d been with me and other men present.
I was jealous. I envied the time she spent with them, but I hadn’t felt discarded. Even when Loren was in the arms of another man, I’d still felt seen by her. That was something to consider.
“It’s done already? Wow, that wasn’t too bad at all.”
Loren’s voice was soft, and I nodded at her question, butterflies filling me. I watched her face as she looked down at what I’d drawn. She gasped, a tear sliding down her face as she looked up, and it was the moment I knew I’d never want any other woman. She’d just enraptured me forever with one beautiful look.
“Nicco, it’s breathtaking. I don’t even know what to say.”
I looked briefly over at the other two. They looked curiously at the tattoo but were giving us a little bit of privacy. Reaching up, I wiped her tears with my thumb, saving them. Whispering, I relayed the meaning, not sure how much she’d shared with the others.
“It has a few meanings. The infinity symbol represents your never-ending hope. The birds are meant to symbolize a few things. This big one is you, showing your freedom as you fly your own path. This one… I’d like it to represent me, but maybe it’s more about the people you’ll meet along the way that are helping you spread your wings and try new experiences.” The last one, I touched reverently, looking down at it before I looked up. She lowered her eyes, and I knew she understood. “This little one, it represents loss, but it’s not lost or forgotten. It’s part of your future as you soar toward it, never to be forgotten. Mostly, I wanted something simplistic and meaningful to represent you taking flight, no longer living on the sidelines.”
She dipped her head, and I wiped another tear with my other hand. “Your life might be different than you imagined, changed from what you thought it would look like, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be better. Beautiful, you have the whole world to explore, and I hope to be part of it.”
I hadn’t planned on kissing her, but as I stared into her eyes, sharing this moment, it felt like the right time finally. So I pressed my lips to hers, not caring there were two other men in the room. In fact, until I heard one of them move, I’d forgotten, lost in the feel of Loren’s lips beneath mine.
It was a simple kiss, just a press of our lips together. But it sealed my heart on hers, as I pledged to never hurt her again, vowing to do everything in my power to always be what she needed… at least from me. Ultimately, it was a kiss placing my heart in her hands now. Before, I hadn’t been careful enough with hers, and now, I had to trust she wouldn’t crush mine. I might not be the only one, but I accepted I would be okay as long as I was one.
Pulling back, I smoothed her hair back, staring into her eyes. “You have me if you’ll accept me, however, you need. Even if I’m not the only one.”
Loren peered back, and I watched as this beautiful woman transformed in front of me, almost like she’d just gotten back a piece of her own heart, strengthening the core of who she was. When she smiled, I was glad I was sitting down, or I might’ve fainted from the pure beauty of it.
“I want you there, Nicco. I do need you, more than you can possibly know.” I kissed her nose, placing our foreheads together for a moment. “Besides, you are my tour guide after all.”