Walking over to him, I held out my hand, and he took it in a heartbeat. “Good to see you, brother.”
“You, too, Tucker. My favorite customer. I can’t wait to get started on you. I’ve always said you’re too clean.”
“Fuck off.” I laughed. “I’ve got what I need where I need it.”
“Still refusing to let me put the snake on your dick?”
“You go anywhere near that and I’ll be displaying your dick in a trophy cabinet on the walls of this club.”
“Always so violent.” When he smiled, he flashed two silver plated teeth that seemed to sparkle under the dim lighting of the room.
“I’d actually like to introduce you to your next victim.” Placing a hand on his back, I turned and waved an arm out in front of us both, gesturing to Ayda. “Stinger, this is Ayda. She’s my…” I paused, narrowing my eyes and smiling. “Woman.”
Stinger feigned surprise, slapping a hand over his mouth and screeching out loud. “There is a God. Miracles do happen.” When he dropped his hand, he walked over to Ayda and held out his hand. “So the inks on you today, honey darlin’?”
It was hard to decide which was the more dominant emotion that flashed through Ayda’s blue eyes as they met mine. There was shock, a little bit of fear, and resignation, but it was all pushed away as her polite smile graced her lips. “I guess I am. Are you the artist who gave Drew all of his tattoos?”
Stinger nodded proudly. “Every man in this building has been touched by my skilled hands. In a purely professional manner, of course.”
Ayda relaxed and held out a hand to him. “Then I’m absolutely honored to have you tattoo me.
I moved closer to her, needing to make sure she was happy. “You say the word and Stinger will get off you and jump on someone else. You don’t have to do this. I just thought…”
With a genuine smile aimed at Stinger, she released his hand and stepped closer to me, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she stopped. “Shut up and kiss me. I was the one who mentioned it to you. I always forget you don’t waste time with later when you can do it now.” She pushed onto her toes, one hand reaching out and gripping the nape of my neck as shepulled me in for a long, heated kiss. “Thank you.”
The brothers around us started howling, laughing, and heckling, but I didn’t care. I grabbed hold of her waist, dipped her in the kiss and mumbled against her lips, “Whatever keeps you with me, baby. Whatever keeps you with me.”
Chapter Fourteen
AYDA
Ihadn’t expected to be getting a tattoo today when I’d only mentioned it to Drew in the van less than two hours earlier. I should have known better. Drew never did anything by halves, and as I was sold on the idea, my small twinge of fear soon gave way to tremulous excitement. I already knew that I wanted the patch. I also knew the symbolism and significance of getting the MC’s symbol inked on my skin, and not just with Hounds, but with every one of their rivals, too. This tattoo would tell the world I was with the club, with the boys, with Drew. This would tell the world that the club had accepted me indefinitely.
I knew for a fact that not many of the girls had any club representation on their skin. Having something so permanent was an honor that old ladies got after years of being with their Hound. The only woman I knew who had something even close was Deeks’ old lady, Autumn, and hers wasn’t the patch. Autumn’s tattoo was a small paw on her hip with a really pretty calligraphic D in the biggest pad.
Bouncing in Drew’s grip again, I linked my fingers together at the base of his skull and rested my forehead against his, unable to contain my smile as our eyes met and held. “Where? Where should I get the tattoo?”
I already thought a lot about where I wanted the ink to show my love and loyalty to Drew and his brotherhood, but I also wanted his opinion. It felt as though the tattoo should be something that we decided between us, even with every guy in the bar watching us and talking quietly amongst themselves in speculation.
“I guess the question is where do you see the club in your life? Behind you, watching over you, or in front, leading the way. Go from there,” he offered quietly. “It can be as big or as small as you like, Ayda. There’re no rules.”
“I have a thought,” I said quietly, releasing the grip on his neck and dropping my hands to his shoulders. “I was thinking of having it on my back. Over the scars. You’ve always had my back, and I think I’ve always known that, but the pack… that night the pack were at my back, and all of you made me stronger. Does that make sense?”
He grinned. “Back it is.”
I stood up straight and released all the breath from my lungs and smiled at him. “I’m really doing this,” I squeaked. “I’m getting a tattoo, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Spinning, I smiled over at Stinger, who—to my relief—was cradling a mug of coffee, rather than beer.
“What do I need to do?” I asked him and the room in general.
Stinger gave Drew a nod, and within minutes chairs were being repositioned, and Stinger’s bag—followed by a huge case of equipment—was brought next to him. The bar as I’d known it just five minutes before was being transformed into a mobile tattoo studio, with the Hounds of Babylon all creating a slightly intimidating, intrigued circle around me.
Lowering a stool, Stinger took a seat on it and dragged itacross the floor with his feet, stopping next to a low-backed chair before he reached down into his bag for some latex gloves. He was putting them on as his eyes rose to find mine.
“First of all, I need to know where it’s going and what I’m doing. Then you need to grit your teeth and smile through the sting.” He flashed all his teeth at me, looking as creepy as he was charming.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled my sweater up over my head and headed toward him, ignoring the whistles and teasing of the guys around us. It wasn’t like they hadn’t seen me like this before. The bra I was wearing was thick cotton and looked sturdier than a bikini top, so I knew it shouldn’t bother Drew.
