* * *
“I’d like to get my belly button pierced,” the bubbly, bleach-blond bimbo asks, twirling her hair around her finger.
“And I’d like to get my clit pierced,” her equally bleach-blond bimbo friend adds with a giggle.
I’ve only been helping out at Forbidden Ink for a few hours and I’m already the hell over it. One thing I’ve learned is that because Lachlan is the newest hire, he handles the majority of the walk-ins, which includes the piercing—which are usually women. I already knew this rule, but I didn’t think about the fact that at the moment he’s the new guy.
So far today, he’s pierced a woman’s nipples and the hood of her pussy, tattooed a chick’s hip bone, where she insisted on taking her pants off, leaving her in her barely there panties. Two of the women have left me their number to give to Lachlan, and one asked for his number right in front of me. He didn’t give it to her, mentioning he had a girlfriend, but it still had me bristling. This is a freaking workplace for crying out loud!
I glance down at the schedule for today and see Jax has an opening at the same time Lachlan does. “Sure, just have a seat and someone will be with you shortly.”
Stomping back to Jax’s room, I knock once, and he announces to come in. “How’s it going?”
“Why must you guys pierce private parts?”
“Because we’re a tattoo and piercing shop,” he says with a confused look. A few seconds later, though, his lips tip up into a knowing smirk.
But before he can call me out, I say, “Well, you have two women who need to get pierced.”
Jax laughs. “I don’t pierce.”
“You can.”
“But I don’t,” he volleys back, his smirk never faltering.
“Just because you’re a part owner doesn’t make you exempt from doing the gritty work once in a while,” I snap. “Everyone else is busy.”
“Everything okay in here?” Lachlan asks, and my back straightens. Oh, jeez, Jax, please don’t embarrass me…
“Yeah, everything is good.” Jax’s smirk turns into a full blown grin. “My sister was just asking me to do a couple of walk-in piercings.”
“I can do them, man,” Lachlan offers. “I’m wide open.”
“Really?” Jax laughs. “Quinn, here, said everyone else was busy.” Damn him! What happened to the brother who treated me like a princess?!
“Quinn,” Lachlan says, giving me a perplexed look. “I am open, right?”
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Sorry, I forgot,” I say dumbly. After glaring at my brother, who just cackles louder, I stomp out of the room past Lachlan.
“Hey, wait!” Lachlan grabs ahold of my arm. “What’s going on?” He guides me into his room and closes the door, sitting down on his stool and pulling me into his arms. My body immediately relaxes, and I’m able to finally think clearly.
“I’m jealous,” I admit.
“Of what…who?” He looks confused, but not mad. He never gets mad. Every time a weakness of mine plows through, he handles it with such patience. He may be several years younger than me, but he never acts like it.
“Of the women you’re piercing and tattooing.” I huff. “I swear you see more vagina and boobs than a gynecologist!”
Lachlan bites down on his bottom lip to stifle his laugh. “You know you’re the only woman I want.” He pulls my head down to his level and kisses me.
“Why do you put up with me?” I groan, fully aware I’m acting like a crazy person. “I’m such a hot mess.”
“Because you’re my hot mess,” Lachlan says with the most adorable boyish grin. “Speaking of which, I talked to Jax. He and Willow are taking Kinsley Saturday night. I’m finally taking you out on a proper date.”
“Really?” I beam. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
When I pout, he laughs softly. “How about I do those piercings you mentioned and then we pick up some takeout and head home to relieve the sitter?” Home…the word coming out of his mouth sounds so right.
“That sounds really good.”
After the blond bimbos leave, I head back to Lachlan’s room. He’s cleaning up his station, so I hop onto the tattoo chair and lie back while he finishes up. “I hope that chick’s clit gets infected,” I say half-jokingly, and Lachlan chuckles.
“You’re so adorable.” He throws several empty containers of ink into the trash.
“And that stupid girl who got those stupid seahorses on her hips. I hope when she gets pregnant and fat, they expand into killer whales.”
Lachlan just laughs harder. “When are you going to let me tattoo you?” he asks, leaning over and kissing me. His lips are soft yet demanding, so damn perfect. My fingers tug on his strands of hair, trying to pull him on top of me. He chuckles into my mouth, but doesn’t obey. “Not here, babe,” he says, pulling back.
“See? You’re already denying me. It’s because you saw like fifteen pussies today, isn’t it?” I pout, and Lachlan snorts in laughter. “It’s not funny. You never say no to me.”