“How’d they work for you?”
“Uh, amazing.” She slides her hand lower, wrapping her fingers around my swiftly hardening cock. “I think this one tickled some special zones I never knew I had.”
Unexpected laughter bursts out of me. “Discovering new lands, I like that.”
She gives me a gentle squeeze that turns my laughter into a low groan. “I’m serious.” She releases me and shifts her body so we’re almost eye to eye. “Did you do it for an ex?”
Ahhh, now I get what she’s after.“No. You’re, um…” I clear my throat. “The first one to test them out.”
“Bullshit.” She pulls back and frowns at me.
“Notmy first. The first since I had them done,” I clarify.
“Oh.” She laughs softly and pink spreads over her cheeks. “What made you do it? Did it hurt?”
“It hurt like a motherfucker. But only for a few minutes.” I shake my head. “I had an apprentice in the shop last year.”
She tilts her head, waiting for me to continue. I rub my thumb over her hip, hoping the tame backstory won’t disappoint her.
“He needed the experience. Can’t have my shop on someone’s resume if they’re a menace to the world, ya know?”
That’s the clean, easy answer.
She blinks.
“You volunteered?”
I shrug and consider a joke to laugh it off and move on. But she’s staring at me intently, waiting for my answer.
“Yeah, I volunteered. It felt like a choice I finally got to make.” I pause, searching for the best way to explain it. “My whole life, decisions have been made for me. Even my own body.” I rub my hand over the horse tattoo on my pec and the chains trailing over my ribs. “I didn’t choose these. They were burned into my skin when I turned sixteen.”
“That’s why they move and react the way they do,” she whispers.
I nod and trace my finger over her shoulder. “I don’t have a pain kink, and it wasn’t for a partner.” I swallow hard. “It’s just a modification that I chose.”
Her expression softens. “Something all yours. I get that.”
“Yeah.” I exhale, relieved.
“And you helped out a fellow artist.”
“Well, Lucy supervised?—”
“Wait, she what?” Emery pokes my side.
“Trust me, it was as horrifying for her as it was for me.” I squeeze my eyes shut and force an exaggerated retching sound from my throat. “We made a pact to never, ever speak of it. And not to have any more apprentices in the shop.”
Emery bursts into laughter, the movement jiggling her breasts in the most distracting way. “Poor Lucy.”
“Poor Lucy!” I widen my eyes with false outrage. “What about poor Declan?”
“Yes, having two people—wait, did anyone else have tosupervise?” She sputters the words in between fits of laughter.
“No.” I can’t help grinning.
“You’re laughing.” She points a finger in my face. “I like it on you.”
“Thanks.” I cup her breast again and swirl my thumb over the tip. “I didn’t do as thorough an inspection as I’d planned. But you’re a blank canvas, aren’t you?” I push her hair aside and pretend to peer over her shoulder.
