It’s what she promised me.
It’s what I have to look forward to with Snow.
And I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.
Always.
Chapter One
“Quit being such a pussy and hold still,” I tease my client with a playful eye roll.
Virulence and Vanity Body Arts seems to be the place where college girls come and test their pain threshold. The traditional butterfly usually does the trick but this tiny brunette that I’m working on can barely stand the pain of the outline.
I’ve never heard more whimpers and whines from someone in my life. She’s even cried a couple of times.
Today is going to suck.
“I don’t know if I can finish,” she manages to squeak out and I sit back and sigh. I let my foot off the pedal, then set the gun down on the sterile, metal tray.
“How about we take a break and you go outside and get some air. If you decide you’re done, then we’ll leave it as is, okay?”
I would hope that she wouldn’t want to walk around with a half-drawn butterfly, though I guess in some circles it could be seen as an abstract piece.
Personally, I see it as unfinished business and it makes me cringe.
The last thing I want is someone walking around with that telling people that it’s my work when word of mouth goes far in this business.
But I guess being kind would go further.
The tiny brunette agrees and wipes the sweat from her brow with the palm of her hand. I chuckle and shake my head; if only she knew this was the worst of it, she’d sit still and let me finish.
I take the gloves off my hands and toss them into the trash can under my desk. Reaching for the energy drink I opened before I started working on her, I take a swig before I get to my feet then walk out of the room with the can still in my hand.
I follow the sound of the loud metal music and poke my head into Carter’s room. He looks up and gives me a nod, so I take it that it’s alright for me to check on the design he’s working on.
I head over and stand next to him, tilt my head to the side and lean down slightly.
“That’s bad ass, man,” I tell him, and I mean it.
He’s working on a back piece that’s taken him a few sessions to finish and now there’s just the color left to do.
It’s a massive lily with a koi fish on either side and I clear my throat as he sits back and sets his gun down.
“Alright, go take a breather and we’ll finish it up when you come back in,” he tells his client. She nods as she reaches for her shirt and holds it against herself on the way out.
I wait for her to get up and leave before I close the door and run a hand over my face.
“Why do you always get the easy ones?” I grumble.
Carter chuckles as he pulls his gloves off and shrugs, “You’re a bastard; karma likes to kick you in the balls sometimes.”
I grin at him.
I can’t respond to that because it’s the truth, I just wish that karma would give me a fucking break once in a while is all.
About twenty minutes into energy drinks and bro-chill, Carter’s client walks back into the room and gives me a sympathetic smile.
“You okay?” I ask raising an eyebrow.