ChapterOne
RUBY
“Welcome to Shoreditch Ink. How can I help ya?” The most gorgeous set of brown eyes I’ve ever seen peer up at me from the desk.
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to someone about a design for some new ink I want.” His eyes blaze a purposeful trail over me, goose pimples erupting on my skin.
“Follow me.” He stands, taking quick strides to a booth in the corner. I’m not shy in my perusal of his arse. The way the material of his jeans hug it just right.
“So, what can I do for you…” He trails off.
“Ruby. Pleasure.” I stick my hand out for him to shake.
“Trevor. Believe me, pleasure’s all mine.” The second his hand touches mine, electricity sparks up my arm and moves through my body. Damn. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a visceral reaction to a man. Trevor, with his dark hair and tattooed arms, is tall. Ripped jeans hug his thick thighs. He’s a wall of a man. One I wouldn’t mind climbing.
“So, Ruby, what do you have in mind?” Trevor pulls out a notepad, sitting at a desk. He kicks a stool over for me to sit next to him.
“This is what I’m thinking.” I pull out my phone and show him the picture.
“A peacock.” I didn’t miss the extra emphasis on cock. I’ve only known this man for five minutes, but I already want him to throw me down on this table and do wicked things to me.
“It means positivity. Optimism. Hope.”
“And where do you want this tattoo, Ruby?” Trevor’s voice is pure sex.
“Here.” I lift the side of my white t-shirt and show him the mostly blank canvas of my side. I’ve been collecting tattoos for years, but have been waiting to get this one.
Trevor’s hand moves me in front of him so he can see what he’s working with. He’d have to be blind to miss the obvious reaction of what his hand on my bare skin is doing to me.
“I’m assuming you want color, yeah?” His fingers trail down my side, heat radiating from the slight touch. I feel it down to the tips of my toes.
“Obviously.” He laughs at my retort.
“Okay, Ruby. I’ll start with some sketches, but I should be able to get you on the books in a few weeks.”
“Fab.” Trevor grabs a pencil and starts drawing. His hand moves easily over the page, bringing my idea to life.
“Don’t forget the flowers in the tail.” I point out where he’s drawing, but he gives me a look. One that says he is not to be messed with.
“Sorry, you’re the master.” I hold my hands up, but lean closer in to watch him while he’s working. The spicy scent of his cologne overpowers the clean smell of the shop. Afternoon sun filters in through the front window. Old lights reflect off the black and white chequered floor. Artwork of all kinds lines the walls.
“So, Trevor. Have you been doing this long?” I cross my leg, the platform heel of my boot tapping a rhythm out on the floor. As much as I want him to draw this design for me, I want to feel his eyes on me.
“A few years. Been down in Shoreditch now for about a year.”
“Best spot in London.”
He looks up, giving me a bright smile. It hits me straight in the stomach. Butterflies are threatening to burst out of me. “You’re a smart one Ruby. How does this look?”
He turns the paper to me, a mockup already coming to life. “Fucking hell, that’s beautiful.” It will be even better in color. The peacock’s tail is twisted around various flowers, as it’s looking behind its back.
“There will be a lot more detail, but this will look incredible on your side. How big are you thinking?”
“The whole side.”
“A girl who knows what she wants. My kinda lady.” Trevor winks, sending heat straight to my core.
“This lady wants to take you out for a pint.” I settle my chin on my hand, leaning further into him. I’m not one to shy away from asking a man out. With colours dancing up his arms from tattoos that disappear under his sleeves, I can only imagine what ink he has covering the rest of his body.
