Becky leaned against my counter with her mug of coffee in hand, a casual comfort to her posture that stroked right through me. This was what I’d been searching for. Not just someone for fevered nights and intense exploration but the quiet mornings, the easy jokes, the cozy camaraderie over a cup of coffee.
I’d been through enough mistakes, enough bad relationships, to recognize when something right—truly right—landed in my lap.
And I sure as hell wouldn’t let go.
Epilogue
Becky
Three Months Later…
The hum of the tattoo gun was a soothing sound at this point, and apparently, my pain tolerance was a hell of a lot better than my ex’s.
The Bride of Frankenstein piece was one Nyx and I had designed together, based off a style from one of my favorite artists, and today, we were taking the first steps in making my first tattoo a reality. She’d been drilling away at the linework fora few hours now, and we’d paused for breaks several times, but altogether, I was handling the session fine. The tattoo needle felt a bit like a beesting, and after awhile, the feeling faded into the background. Nyx kept me talking throughout the session, a clear effort of distraction.
Life with her had been better than ever, and we were flirting around with the idea of me moving into her place when my lease was up. I couldn’t fucking wait. Bast adored Nyx, and the traitor had started to sleep next to her whenever Nyx came over, which was frequently. We spent every night in bed together, whether at her house or mine.
“How’re you hanging in there? We’re almost done for the day,” Nyx said as she continued on a line along my upper arm. This was going to look so gorgeous when it was complete. My heart skipped a beat. Her brows were drawn together in concentration, and her black hair was pulled back into a low bun. She wore a cutoff black vest today, the buttons undone to expose her cleavage, and she looked so fucking hot. Between that and the sheer competence on display, the tingling between my thighs had increased exponentially.
“All good,” I said, even though sweat pooled on my palms, an aftereffect of the adrenaline rush. “Please tell me we’re going somewhere to eat after.”
“Babe, I wouldn’t leave you in a bad way,” Nyx said. “I have sandwiches in the fridge from Gennaro’s. Roast beef for me, Italian for you. We can scarf them before going to Owen’s.”
“Ahhh, I love you so much.” Thank fuck my girlfriend thought ahead. My stomach rumbled something fierce, which she’d already warned me about due to the adrenaline crash after. I’d be less peppy once we got to Owen’s, but everyone already knew I was getting my first tattoo, so they’d understand.
I’d never had a friend group like the tight-knit family at Alchemy Ink, and I was so thrilled to be a part of it now. Somany of them hung out at the shop too, and I’d gotten to know the crew, to talk to them all over the last three months that Nyx and I had been dating. Honestly, it felt like we’d been together longer. The more time I spent with her, the more I knew she was my person, the one I wanted to end up with.
“Love you too, sweetness,” Nyx said in that low, sexy voice. Her focus was still on tattooing my arm, but affection hummed in the air between us, that care that she showed every morning when we woke up together to every night when we fell asleep. I was so hopelessly in love with her, and I was grateful every day she’d been the one tattooing Kevin when I showed up here.
“Okay,” Nyx said, moving away and turning off the tattoo gun. She came back with a paper towel and wiped away the excess blood from the area. “We’re going to stop here today. Give it a look.”
I glanced down at the gorgeous outline of the Bride of Frankenstein on my arm, and my heart sped. Damn. Nyx was so fucking talented, and she was all mine. And now I’d have her art on me for the rest of my life.
Guess it was good I planned on keeping her forever.
“I love it,” I said, and Nyx got that soft little smile on her lips that I adored. “And when it’s all colored in, it’s going to be stunning.”
“Proud of you,” she said as she cleaned off the area again with a wipe and then grabbed the second skin. She placed it over my fresh ink in quick, economical motions. “Okay, do you want the spiel?”
“The one I’ve heard you give a million times to clients and could recite in my sleep?” I teased. “If you’re that worried, I’ll promise to ask any questions I have.”
Nyx wrinkled her nose. “I mean…”
“If it makes you happier to give it, I’ll listen.” I stared down at my new tattoo as she launched into a shortened version ofaftercare, and my chest hummed with happiness. My stomach growled again, and I interrupted right as she was reaching the final steps. “Can we eat now?”
Nyx shook her head with a grin. “Yeah, okay. Let me grab our sandwiches, and then we can head over to Owen’s.” She disappeared, and I sat there, my head slightly dizzy from the adrenaline crash. The intensity of a tattoo was no joke, but every second had been worth the pain.
Nyx reappeared with two wrapped hoagies in hand. “Okay, here.” She passed me the Italian one, and I tore it open, not even hesitating. The process of eating felt like an out of body experience as my mind vacated the premises, and I shoved food in my mouth like it was my last meal on earth. The salty lunchmeats and vinegar exploded on my tongue. I’d crammed a half a hoagie into my stomach before I paused to take a breath.
Nyx was over by the counter, running tools in the autoclave, and the surfaces all sparkled from a fresh sterilization. When the fuck had that happened? “We’ll be good to go in a second.”
“Did you eat?”
“Nah,” she said. “Figured I’d wrap up here and eat mine once we get to Owen’s. You, on the other hand, needed food in your system at once.”
My cheeks heated with a blush, and Nyx finished her work with the tools, put them all away, and then stepped up to me. She pressed a kiss to my lips, soft, sweet, and settling. “This happens to everyone post tattoo, and we definitely went for a solid-length session. I’m so honored you let me be your first.”
“Of course I’d go to you,” I said, tipping my forehead to hers. “Not only are you my super hot and amazing girlfriend, but you’re one of the most talented tattoo artists in the area. Win-win there.”
