Her eyes narrow and her mouth drops into a slight frown. “No I—I’m just thinking about what to get.”
Likely story. “Oh that’s easy. I get to pick for you.”
“What?”
“Mhm.” I’m sure she’s about to back down any second.
To my surprise, a wicked gleam enters her eye and I start to get the feeling I’ve done it now.
Rose leans back on her heels, drumming her perfectly manicured fingers atop her arm. “Truth or dare, Rí?”
My eyes narrow and I approach this one with caution. I know she knows my game now. I’m not going to pick truth. I let the tension drag out a little longer between us before I speak.
“Dare.”
She smiles. “I dare you to get a tattoo, too.”
I glance down at my body. I’m already covered on most of my chest and back, and a full sleeve on my right arm. I can’t think of why she looks so excited, so I shrug again.
“Fine. What’s one more?”
Seemingly satisfied, I arch a brow when she suddenly struts forward, taking my helmet out of my hands and pulling it over her head, remembering how to do the straps.
Swinging her leg over the back, she settles in and leans up against me.
“Alrighty then, but remember I get to pick for you.”
Bloody hell.
“Ay, Rí!” Jace shouts over the loud metal music blasting in his tiny shop, spotting me as we walk in, and I’m holding the door open for Rose. “What can I do for you?” He closes the distance and I’m greeted with a familiar palm slap, pulling me in close and clasping me tight on the back.
I feel Rose poke her head out from behind me. When my cousin’s eyes drop down, before meeting mine again with the addition of two raised brows, I narrow mine, silently telling him tokeep his fucking mouth shutand he nods in understanding, holding out a hand to the girl at my back.
“I’m Jace. Rí’s cousin. Nice to meet you.”
“Rose, and likewise.” She takes his hand, giving it a solid shake, and looking him in the eye when she gives him her name, which says so much about her, since Jace is an intimidating motherfucker. He’s just as tall as me, short hair bleached silver, tattoos and piercings as far as the eye can see. Well, she gave him herfakename; that is, I knowRoseisn’t her real name just as well as she knowsRíisn’t mine, but it’s part of the game. I don’t know her, she doesn’t know me, we can just be us without any of the expectation. A novelty I didn’t realize I needed.
“What can I do for you guys?”
“Sorry to bother you, but err—” Rose’s eyes flick up to mine and I help her out.
“Rose here has got a dare to complete.” I take off my motorcycle gloves, sliding them into my back pocket.
A grin spreads across Jace’s face. “Is that so?”
She glares up at me, cerulean eyes bright with challenge. “So does Rí.”
“Interesting.” My cousin smirks but one look from me and he spins, motioning us to follow him back to his chair, stopping to turn down the music a fraction along the way. “Let me guess, it involves a tattoo.”
“If it’s too late—” Rose hedges and I give her a look.
“It’s never too late to tattoo,” Jace says, and he means it. The guy doesn’t have an apartment above his shop for nothing. I’ve spent the night here more times than I can count. He does his best work after midnight.
“But if you want to back out…” I offer, not wanting her to do anything she doesn’t want to, as much as it gets me off to push her outside of her comfort zone.
“Never.” She lifts her chin defiantly. A surge of heat travels south and my fingers flex at my side, resisting the urge to grab that chin and tug her closer.
“Ladies first.” I gesture to the open chair beside us, ignoring the shit-eating grin on Jace’s face as he pretends to be busy prepping his tools. My keen eye picks up how Rose’s gaze lingers a little too long on the needle.
