“Man, you impress me more every fucking day. Thank you.”
A wad of fabric hit Harley in the face as he sat back again, and Grease laughed smugly.
“There’s your shit, you lazy bastard.” He set the key on the table and disappeared down the hall, returning a moment later.
“VP, she can get changed in my office. Who wants a beer? I’m not offering, I’m saying someone beer me.”
Once I was wearing sweatpants, pushed down to my knees, and wrapped in a blanket, so I could expose my left thigh for Rocket, he adjusted his position and cleaned the area with a wipe, making conversation the whole damn time.
“You know, normally the biker goes first, and then his old lady, or back in the old chapter, where there were two of us, we’d do one each, so they’re being inked at the same time. It was cool.”
The first buzz of the gun made me jump, and the moment he started etching my skin, I gasped, and pulled Harley’s hand onto my other thigh, squeezing it with both hands. It hurt more than I’d expected, but I knew he’d have to suffer the same, so I could handle it, right? Couldn’t I? There were several other largemen watching, so if I backed out now, I'd look like such a wimp. In some ways, that pressure helped to keep me fighting my instincts, which wanted me to run from the pain, and the touch of a man other than Harley. I can do this.I will do this.
“Brought a shot of vodka for the little lady, thought it might help.” Henley reached out with a tiny glass, and even though I wasn’t a big drinker, and I barely knew him, I grabbed it and knocked it back in one huge gulp, gasping afterward as it burned its way down my throat.
“Oh god!”
“That’s my girl,” Harley said with a chuckle, kissing my temple, “thanks, Henley, good call. Maybe keep the bottle on standby in case she needs more?”
The new guy pressed a bottle of beer into Harley’s hand as he backed off.
“Sure thing.”
HOURS LATER, AFTER WE’D both had tattoos, and we’d all tucked into pizza that they sent one of the prospects out for, we retired to Harley’s room on site, and finally closed the door on the noise that’d been battering my ears for hours. My thigh was burning with every movement, but my tattoo was beautiful. Me with a tattoo! I loved it.
Seeing my name being inked onto Harley was something magical too. He didn’t seem to wince or feel it at all, and unlike my tattoo on my leg, his was on his upper chest, almost by his shoulder. It felt like we’d just married each other, but without the stressful day and months of planning. It felt right. It was perfect.
“That was the strangest night of my life, but also the most amazing,” I whispered as we snuggled under the covers together. A month ago I’d have said there was no way I’d date a man, let alone sleep with him, and here I was, comfortable and at peace, in the arms of a naked man, in his bed, and I’d slept with him a few times now. Sure, there were things I’d never be able to do, or at least I didn’t believe I would, but he’d chosen me anyway. Knowing me, and all of my issues and flaws, he hadn’t even hesitated.
“It was the best night for me too. I really thought you were coming in to break up with me. I’d have understood, even though it would have devastated me,” Harley murmured, his chest rumbling beneath my ear with every word.
“I could never. I mean, I was panicked, sure, but V made me realise something important.”
“Shit. It can’t be good if she said it!”
I reached up to press a finger over his lips.
“Sometimes it’s shush time, Harley. She said something very wise and smart, that reminded me that you’re the best man there is, and that you’d go through pain for me too. So, maybe thank her when you see her next.”
Harley chuckled, but I could see the surprise on his face. She wasn’t a man hater as such, but she hadn’t really shown him or Rocket her best self yet. I was hoping things would improve for her soon, even if she was having to restart her life from scratch.
“She was right. And I’ll definitely thank her. For now though, I think I have something very different I’d like to do to you.”
I giggled. “Sex? Right now? I’m all snuggly and tired, and we might hurt my tattoo.” Introvert burnout was no joke, and I had it in spades after the many hours surrounded by noisy bikers.
Harley groaned, kissing the top of my head as I rested it on his chest again.
“Fine. You can sleep for a few hours, but then I’m going to have you, baby. Remind you who you belong to now. Overwrite Rocket’s touch. You know. We men are territorial bastards.”
“Okay…” I mumbled sleepily, “but do you really plan to do that every time a man even gets close to me?”
A chuckle rumbled through his chest as my eyes drifted close.
“Count on it, baby. Forever.”
THE END
Epilogue Two
