The loud knock momentarily preceded Cujo throwing the door open and sticking his head in.
Harper grabbed for the strings of her bikini top in a panic, but Trent simply put his hand over hers as she tried to tie them while he continued to clean up her back with a cloth.
“What are you crazy kids doing back here?”Trent’s thumb continued to rub against her wrist, soothing her.If she stayed lying down on her front, it wasn’t like Cujo could see anything.
“I’m expanding Harper’s musical knowledge into the metal genre.Right, darlin’?”
“Something like that.”Harper turned her head to look at the bald-headed giant who was grinning at her.
“So what’s next on the playlist?Metallica?”He walked in and leaned on the bed, looking at her back.
“Nah.I’m gonna end with that.Probably some Killswitch Engage, maybe some Converge and Cannibal Corpse, Dio and probably some Korn for old times’ sake I think.”Oh my God.Didn’t they realize that she was lying practically naked between them?They were having this super-normal conversation.
“This looks epic, T.Could be the best work you’ve ever done.You can hardly see the… erm… well… you know.”He trailed off.
There was an awkward moment.Harper swore she could see a tumbleweed drift by.
“It’s okay.That was the general idea, so it’s good you can’t see them.”
There was a sigh of relief.“Glad you said that, Harp, ’cause I think your boy was about to rip me a new one.”
“Still might, you dumb-ass, if you don’t get out and quit eye-fucking my girl.”Trent laughed and picked up the tattoo machine to load up the next round of ink.
As Cujo closed the door, he pressed play with his free hand.
“Sorry about that, darlin’,” Trent said.“He doesn’t think sometimes before he engages his mouth.”
A blowing wind whistled through the speakers, followed by an electric intro.Trent surprised her by singing along about a holy diver being down too long.She could feel the bed vibrate as he tapped his foot along in time to the beat.
“Sorry… good memories to this tune.Me and Cujo playing air guitar.Came out when I was three, but Cujo’s uncle was a huge fan, still plays it today.Back onto metal.So we talked about interchangeable lineups… this is Dio, ‘Holy Diver.’He replaced Ozzy in Sabbath for a few years before doing his own thing.Not my favorite stuff, but had some fun times along to it.”
Harper found her zone and settled as Trent continued to work his way along her back.As much as she hated to admit it, the music was way better than she’d thought it would be.Perhaps it was because Trent was taking the time to explain about the bands and why the style was interesting.She’d listened to most of it, only asking Trent to skip a few songs, much to his amusement.It would appear that death metal and something called math-something-or-other were definitely past her audible limits.
“This is really starting to look deadly, Harper.By the time I wrap up the lettering and the rocks today, it might only take one more appointment.You okay for another few minutes or so?I just wanna tighten up some more of the details.”
Starting to feel pretty tired, she simply nodded her head in consent.
“Last song of the day.Metallica.”Her head was starting to hurt, but she wasn’t going to tell Trent that.He’d tried so hard to keep her mind occupied while he focused on her tattoo.
A slow, acoustic guitar started to play.Harper waited for the heavy, electric guitars to come screeching over the top, but they didn’t.There was no grunting or screaming vocal.Just a long, sweet guitar intro.
“‘Nothing Else Matters.’Supposedly written while singer James Hetfield was on the phone to his girlfriend about how they were still close together even when they were apart when he was on tour.Closest you’ll get from a metal band to a love song.”
The lyrics were beautiful.About having never opened up this way before and how every day is something new.Harper relaxed and let the soft melody wash over her, focusing on the words that had been so carefully chosen and yet could have been written for her.She sighed.It had to be pretty incredible to have someone special write such a poignant song for you.She couldn’t even comprehend how it must feel for it to become a legendary hit.
Trent was taking his time cleaning up her back.She could feel the water being sprayed on to help wipe off all the excess ink.
The cream he smoothed on her was cool, and he was so gentle with her burning skin.He’d be there to help her through the pain of the first night this time.Smiling to herself, she remembered the night after the first tattoo appointment when he’d talked her out of taking herself to the ER.He must have thought she was pathetic.
The feel of his fingertips softly sliding down her back ignited fireworks inside her.There was something about the intimacy of lying practically naked as Trent had worked on her tattoo that suddenly felt incredibly erotic.
As his hands continued to stroke and massage in the cream over her back, a warmth started in her belly and spread its way through her core.Pulling her knees tighter together on the bed, she squeezed her thighs before remembering Trent could see exactly what she was up to.
The rumble of the wheels of his stool stopped in front of her.Opening one eye, Harper looked up at him and smiled softly.It was written all over his face that he was feeling the same way.His soft gaze was heavy with emotion and his mouth was slightly open as he brushed his forefinger over her lower lip.
Lifting her chin, she met him halfway as he moved in to kiss her, a heartfelt meeting as his soft, warm lips brushed across hers gently before moving his hand into her hair to pull her in toward him.
He tasted of coffee, red licorice, and something uniquely Trent.A flavor she couldn’t seem to get enough of.
