I put Smile Number One on, the casual all purpose everyday one, but it starts to melt into a smile I've never smiled before. There’s a tickle in my groin so strong that I freeze to the spot for a second. I’m wearing two pairs of boxer briefs because I was savvy enough to think ahead to take measures to prevent a rebellious dick situation making things more awkward, anddamnthat was a good call.
“Hi,” she says easily, and I mouth it back, which I don’t usually do when I sign - there’s no point, and I schooled myself out of the habit - but for brief, easily recognizable words here and there, it’s OK.
There’s a pause while we both look at Emily, who seems to take the hint. “Right, well, we’re off,” she says, flushing as she seems to realize she’s been watching us like she’s about to break open the popcorn. Eli appears just behind her, giving Liadena quick, more subtly curious glance, but he’s nothing if not discreet, and he looks over Em’s head towards me.
“Y’alright locking up, man?”
Yeah, all set, thanks. I give him a thumbs up.
He nods. “OK, text me if you need anything.” There’s a wealth of meaning in those words. Text me if you feel overwhelmed. Text me if you have a flashback. Text me if you have a gold standard meltdown with hallucinations and barfing, and I’ll come running.
His arm goes around Em’s waist and tugs her gently away. As they leave, her neck is craning around the door jam, and her eyes are filled with happy curiosity. I know she’s happy for me, for what she thinks could happen here. I don’t want her hopes up, but I also don’t want to make her face fall.
It’ll all even out soon, when nothing happens.
Anyway. Let’s do this.
I turn back to Liaden. Her hair is piled up in a full top knot with a couple of strands escaping, keeping the mass of pink out of the way. She’s in yoga pants and a loose fitting, cropped white t-shirt. Wayward desire careens through me once again when I notice, from the way her nipples are pointing at me, that she’s almost certainly not wearing a bra, or if she is, it’s thin as heck.
And here come the mental images of her pulling her t-shirt off and letting me see…
Fuuuuuuuuck.So much for my frail hope that my attraction to her was just a fluke. This is gonna be a long night.
I steel myself to be cool and offer her a thumbs up with a questioning look.
“Yes, all good thanks, and you?” I nod. “Super. I did everything you told me to. I made sure I had an early night last night. I didn’t actually go tosleepuntil the usual time, but hopefully the extra rest counts for something. Had the craziest dreams about my family morphing into a pack of deer. Wait,is it a pack? No, it’s a herd. Aherdof deer. Not sure what that dream was supposed to signify. I’ll have to look up the symbology of deer. Oh, and before I forget…” She rummages in her handbag, a larger one than last time. “I bought a couple of sports drinks on the way here, one for me and one for you, because I imagine you must get thirsty when you work, too. I got, let’s see…orange or raspberry, which one would you like?”
So on top of being cool and pretty and smart, she’s also a really nice person? Right. So I’m really not being given any shred of a chance, then. I reach tentatively for the orange one, ready to switch if that’s the flavor she wanted.
She grins. “Excellent. I was hoping I’d get the raspberry one. Raspberry is always my go-to flavor option anyway, and this one tastes just like this amazing raspberry sorbet I had on holiday in Devon when I was a child. Have you ever been to Devon?” I shake my head. “It’s definitely worth a visit, just for that ice cream parlor if nothing else. Oh, and the clotted cream…” She shivers happily. “If you ever do go, cut a jam doughnut in half, dollop on a generous amount of genuine Devonshire clotted cream, eat it like a sandwich, and think of me.”
I grin back at her, loving how her rapid, almost dizzying chatter breaks up the silence of my day. I’m really enjoying how mile-a-minute she is. It’s energizing. She’s a whirlwind, and it’s fun to get swept up in her.
“Anyway, I thought it would be smart to wear loose-fitting clothing, because I imagine I’ll be a little sore afterwards. I brought a towel along as well, just to cover up my front. I’m sure you probably have them, but I always like to be prepared. Didn’t they say a towel was an essential emergency pack item in some science fiction novel or other? What was it, what was it…” She snaps her fingers. “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. That was it. So, where do you want me, and is my design ready? Did you enjoy creating it?”
I nod sincerely, because I did. It was a great creative stretch. Reaching over for the sheet I showed Leo, I hand it to her with nervous anticipation. I open up some pre-typed text for her appointment on my tablet and hand that to her as well.
I’ve tried to incorporate some of every symbol on there, and I’ve made it as accurate and lifelike as I am able to get it. Let me know what you think - if you don’t like it, I won’t be offended, and we can discuss how to make it fit your vision better.
She reads the tablet first, and then I watch as she takes in my drawing, her eyes flickering over it like dancing fireflies. Her smiling mouth drops open, and I’m ready to punch the air because it’s clear that she likes what I did. “Wow,” she breathes, “this is even better than I imagined it. How do youdothat? Make it look so realistic? It’s like a photograph!”
I bow slightly, preening inside and feeling like a frickin’ king. I get a lot of happy clients, but this…this feels better, heaps better than any other time.
She hands them both back. “OK,” she says with a cute little jump, “how shall we start?”
I hold up one finger so she’ll wait, and then pull a lever on the side of my chair which flattens it a little more. “That works for me,” she agrees, and loops her bag over the headrest for easy access. She tips her head to one side. “I’m nervous. Why am I so nervous?” Her eyes meet mine, and the smile she gives me is not one of her usual polished, confident grins. This is the smile of a nervous human looking for a little comfort, and I am more than happy to offer her a sympathetic look in return.
It seems to reassure her well enough. She takes a deep breath and looks more like her usual self. “Well, it’s obvious, really. People are innately afraid of the unknown, and this is a new and unfamiliar experience that will inevitably involve a degree of pain. Logic dictates that ofcourseI’d be apprehensive,right? EvenIcan’t defy human nature. But what Icando is place my trust in you, and the fact that you are a well respected tattooist with some very impressive photos in your portfolio,anda lot of five star reviews - kudos, by the way, some of them make for fascinating reading - and I really ought to stop blathering at you and let you do your job.”
She has dimples.
I want to kiss them both.
I point towards the chair to indicate that she should lie down when she’s ready, and she grabs the towel out of her bag. Before I can turn and offer her some privacy, she starts to take her t-shirt off, completely unabashed and unashamed, making little to no effort to cover up or turn away herself. I whirl around before I see too much. Just the slight under-curve of her breast…
Focusing determinedly on putting my rubber gloves on, pretending I’m not in the least affected even as my mouth goes dry and my dick throbs against the double layer of briefs, I wait to turn back again until she says, “OK, I’m ready.”
I’m equally disappointed and relieved to find her lying on her front, smiling at me over her shoulder. She’s in the perfect position for me to work.
