I startled, glancing over my shoulder at him again, and was met with a smile. “Really?”
He nodded. “You were staring. That’s what you were doing right now, like the day at the market. Right? You were thinking about a tattoo for me, weren’t you? You and Declan have them, and I’d… thought about it, I guess. And I’d like something, too.”
“This isn’t something you have to feel pressured into, baby,” I murmured, kissing his arm. The scent of jasmine filled my nose and I grinned. He’d used our favorite soap.
“I know, but I want to.” He lowered his eyelashes at me with a smile that was so sweet my heart flipped in my chest, and in that moment I knew I’d do anything for him.
“What were you thinking?” Dec asked, kissing Logan on the cheek. He ran his palms down Logan’s chest and then up my spine and to my shoulders, massaging them. I moaned and threw my head back against Logan’s chest. “Jake’s got his roses and our wedding vows on his arm.”
“And this.” I flicked the nipple piercing and shivered because I loved the pleasure that shot through me. Logan reached over and pinched it, too, and I trembled, grinning at him.
“And that.” Dec laughed. “And I have the chest tattoo, my team ink, and the Roman numerals on my shoulder of when we got married.”
“I….” He leaned his chin on my shoulder, and I caressed my fingers over his cheek. “You told me that you would tattoo a phoenix on me if you had the chance. Do you still think I’m strong?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “But the phoenix might be too big to start. Maybe something smaller to begin with. Some people start big and can’t finish their ink because they can’t handle the sensation of getting a tattoo.”
“Okay, I trust you.” And by the look he gave me, he did, and my insides melted. All thoughts of his stupid ex and how nice it would feel to put a hit on her slid away.
“Maybe we could start with some words on your arm here.” I grazed my fingernail over his forearm, eliciting goose bumps on his flesh. “This area isn’t as painful and it’s a good place to start.”
“What would you ink on me?” he whispered, his breath tickling the shell of my ear.
“Honestly? Words.You are someone.” I turned my head and kissed his cheek. “Because that’s what a lot of people forget. They are someone. No one else’s feelings matter over theirs. They deserve to be happy as much as the next person, and if that means walking away to protect themselves, then they have that right.”
He blinked at me and I thought I saw tears in his eyes, but he nodded and cupped my cheek, kissing me. I closed my eyes and took the time to kiss him gently. By the time it was over, my dick was standing up between my legs. Between Logan’s lips and Dec’s hands, which were still on my shoulders, I was complete in every way. This was home.
“Can I come in tomorrow and get it done?” he whispered. His gaze was fiery with determination, and while I could respect that, I’d seen people regret tattoos later, after that feeling disappeared.
“If you’re sure about this. Tattoos are for life.”
He nodded. “I’m sure. I need that reminder. I’m someone.”
“You’re someone.” Dec curled his arms around Logan’s chest. “You deserve the world.”
Logan smiled at him, then at me. “Thank you.”
My heart swelled.
Later that night I messaged PD to see if it was okay to bring Logan in for a tattoo. Since I was doing it, we’d only pay for the materials, and even though Logan fought us on it, we refused to budge. I wouldn’t take his money. We were already in the process of talking to people about building a studio in one of the spare rooms for him, too. Both Dec and I had jobs that involved our passions, and we wanted Logan to get to the same point.
PD said I could bring him in at eight. Dec had training, but after some smooching up to Coach he didn’t have to go until later, which was a rarity. Coach was clearly in averygood mood, and Dec took the win.
By the time we got Logan to the Ink Well, he was nervous. He wrung his hands together and bounced his knee the entire way in the Jeep. Once Dec was parked, though, Logan had talked himself into being confident.
“Are you sure you want to do this? It’s forever, baby. We’re not pressuring you into anything.” Though I’d love nothing more than to get my hands on his skin and ink it.
“I want this.” He raised his chin and walked through the shop’s doorway, and all we could do was laugh and follow him inside. PD was already there, sitting behind the cash register and glaring at a sketchpad like it had pissed him off while he twirled a pencil, his bowler tilted forward.
“Hey, boss.” I strode in just as PD glanced up, and he grabbed my hand in his, slapping the back of it in a typical PD handshake. “You didn’t have to come in so early. I could have opened up.”
“Nah, I have a consult to get ready for later. No worries. What’s up, man? This your other partner?” PD stood from the stool and made his way around the counter, holding his hand out to Logan. This time he did a typical handshake. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard things.”
As rough as PD looked, he was a cool guy. He had an array of tattoos of his own, but his most prominent ink was a black bird on his neck, wings spread out around his throat. He routinely wore black, but as soon as he entered the shop, he took off his leather Kings’ jacket. He’d told me before that as much as he loved his club, his shop had its own values, and he didn’t want to scare off customers.
Logan nodded. “I was actually in here once before, and we briefly met at the market.”
“We did,” PD agreed before he turned to me. “I got the chair ready for you. All the equipment is there, too.”
