Straddling the low back chair next to Stinger, I smiled at him and threw a thumb over my shoulder. “I’d like the tattoo on my back, please, and Drew has the choice of tattoo.”
I grinned over at Drew shyly before crossing my arms over the back of the chair and resting my chin on them.
He raised a brow at me, his arms folded across his chest as he held my gaze. “That’s dangerous, Hanagan.” Drew smirked. “You sure?”
I stared at him for a moment, giddy when the only thoughts that ran through my head were:Damn, I love you. And I did, even when he was trying to rattle me, I trusted him. “Never been surer.”
Dragging a chair in front of me, Drew straddled it, copying my pose as he stared into my eyes. “Skull and hounds?” He was asking my permission, even though I’d already given it. Something he would never have done when we first met. It only cemented my certainty of his feelings for me.
I swallowed, smiled, nodded in consent and listened asa quiet murmur moved around the guys in the room with us. I heard Stinger working quietly, and jumped when he rubbed something freezing cold across my back without warning.
“A patch is something I’m familiar with, darlin’. How big do you want it?”
My eyes met Drew’s again, our mirrored poses making it easy to read him when he tilted his head in awhat are you thinkinggesture.
“Stinger?” Drew called out, his eyes fixed firmly on me. “Do me a favor…”
“What’s that, Chief?”
“Try not to cover her scars too much. They remind me how strong she is. I’m learning to love the scars we both wear.” His eyes fell to my mouth, his own lips parting as he took in a small breath. “I don’t ever want to forget that I almost lost you. It’ll remind me that I need to make sure I keep hold of you that little bit tighter.”
Unable to find the volume to my voice, I mouthed the wordsI fucking love youat him and gave him a watery smile. We met glances, and he held mine as Stinger set up what he needed. From the feel of what he was doing, the skull and hounds were going to sit neatly between my shoulders.
It seemed to take forever for him to get ready to start, but when he was ready, it only felt like a breath had passed. Drew was unmoving, and as always, proved once again that he was another well of strength for me to pull from. I wasn’t afraid of pain. I wasn’t worried about that at all, and as the buzz of the tattoo gun started, I found myself smiling at him.
“Yours,” I whispered inaudibly at him.
I don’t know what I thought a tattoo would feel like, but having a tiny needle dispensing ink into your flesh eighty to a hundred and fifty times a second—I Googled this during the tattoo process—wasn’t quite as bad as I’d imagined it to be. The process was painful; there was no escaping that. If tattoos didn’t hurt everyone would have one. The pain just wasn’t as significant as I’d expected it to be. Every line Stinger made in my skin felt like mini flaying. Every line felt like a burn, hot and violent against the skin, only far easier to accept. Not something I was eager to repeat anytime soon, but not something I would be against doing again in the future either.
Drew stayed, his fingers tangled with mine, even when he would chat with Harry or Slater. Deeks had arrived not long after I’d started and was smiling over at me like a proud parent, which only made my insides tumble with elation. Tate was still in bed, but it was only a matter of time until he joined us, too.
What surprised me most about this little ritual was the acceptance of the men who slowly crowded into the bar around us. Allowing me a tattoo of their patch was ultimately Drew’s decision, and there weren’t many who would question his choice, but I hoped not many would want to. All these men that I adored so much only met my eyes with nods of pride and smiles of encouragement as I grinned up at them.
By the time Stinger was finished, my back was feeling a little tender, but I was utterly satisfied and happy. I breathed out a sigh of relief as he cleaned the area by wiping away the small beads of blood and excess ink. Stinger gave me instructions while I accepted theCokethat Deeks offered and watched Drew rise to inspect my back.
“Well?” I asked, rolling my eyes as though I could keephim in my line of sight. “I know Stinger does amazing work but is my back a good canvas?”
Drew’s arms were straight, resting on the back of the chair as he pressed all his weight on his hands to balance. When he dipped his head to look down at me, his cheesy grin was clear to see. “I think I’ve got a chubby already.”
I grinned up at him and turned my head to Stinger, who seemed to be cleaning his equipment.
“Thank you so much. Can I go and see in the mirror?”
It only took one nod, and I was on my feet, hissing as the swing of my arms made the pain ripple over the patch of skin. It felt like I had sunburn on the spot now the raw feeling was slowly passing. The moment I was behind the bar, I spun and peered back over my shoulder, smiling at my reflection with satisfaction. The skull had its sneering smirk in the center of my back, the two hounds branching to my shoulders. One twitch made them move like they were trying to escape my skin, and I was fascinated with the sight.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Fucking perfect,” Drew muttered behind me.
“Your turn, Tucker?” Jedd asked suddenly.
I turned and leaned my elbows on the bar as my eyes met Drew’s. I tried not to flinch when the skin on my back pulled a little. Now that the tattoo was done, I was feeling a little naked in just my bra and jeans. I smiled, instinctively reaching into the cooler and pulling a beer out for Deeks as he approached me.
“Thanks, sugar. You’re one of us now,” Deeks mumbled, accepting the beer as he turned to watch Drew and Jedd as they faced off. I smiled at his back, knowing the acknowledgment was a congratulations.
“You want me to ink you, Drew?” Stinger asked while fiddling with some equipment without even having to look at what he was doing. “I have time.”
“The question is, do I have the money?” Drew muttered back with a grin. “You’re not exactly cheap, Stinger.”
