“Could you please write the words I have never known love across my ribs right here?” Paige gestures to her side, up high. With one final glance at me, Rocco switches into professional mode and rolls his stool closer. His gloved hands come to her side as he turns her slightly, and goddamn, do I hate that he’s touching her there first.
“Yeah, we can do that. Depending on how big you want it, it can wrap around to the front or back.”
Paige turns to me, blinking innocently. Her shirt is lifted so high, I can see the barest hint of lace cupping her tits. “What do you think, Wyatt? Should it curve to the front or the back?”
“Front, definitely front,” I croak out, earning a subtle laugh from Rocco. The asshole knows exactly how much I’m affected right now. I take a step back as Rocco gets Paige situated on the table, and I use the opportunity to turn away slightly and adjust myself. This is becoming a problem, and frankly, I’m shocked Paige hasn’t noticed my physical reaction to her. Or maybe she has and she’s got the decency not to draw attention to it. Either way, I need to fucking get it under control.
“Okay, you ready to get started?” Rocco asks, and Paige’s hand shoots out to grab mine.
“Yes.”
I give her a reassuring smile. “It only hurts for the first little while, then your endorphins kick in and it’s no big deal.”
Rocco laughs from his position by her side. “Don’t lie to her, man, you know that only happens on bigger pieces.” He lifts the needle from her skin and looks at Paige. “This is gonna hurt, pretty lady. But if it ever gets to be too much, just say so and we’ll take a break. Although, honestly, this is only gonna take maybe half an hour.”
Paige’s head bobs up and down. “I’m fine. Lets get this done.”
I use my free hand to gently tuck some hair behind her ear that had fallen into her face. It’s an intimate gesture that reminds me of last night when she was pressed in between my legs. Fuck, if she hadn’t been wasted, that night would have gone a lot differently.
Clearing my throat, I force my thoughts elsewhere. “So, what’s the meaning behind the quote?”
“It is a line from one of my favourite books.”
“Yeah? Seems a bit depressing for your one and only tattoo.”
I shoot a glare at Rocco because even though I was thinking the same thing, his reply has Paige’s face falling slightly. She composes herself and keeps her eyes on me. “The character who says it is someone I resonate with. I understand and appreciate his emotions. Romantic love isn’t for everyone and that’s fine. You can live a perfectly satisfying life with only platonic relationships.”
Even Rocco doesn’t have a retort for that, and he dips his head down and gets to work. I squeeze Paige’s hand and try to reply.
“I think it’s perfect that you’re getting something that has a lot of meaning for you. That’s what your first tattoo should be, in my opinion.”
I see her face and shoulders relax. Guess that was the right thing to say. Rocco finishes quickly, and I try to slip him some money, but he waves me off.
“Consider it a favour.”
Paige also tries to protest, but Rocco’s Italian spirit comes through and he stubbornly refuses, ushering us out onto the street after giving Paige her aftercare instructions.
Back in the cool night air, her hand finds mine once again and our fingers thread together naturally. We walk in silence for a little while before I ask the question I’m dying to ask.
“Are you going to tell me what book the quote is from?”
“It’s…a romance novel. I doubt it would interest you. The author, E. Peake, is fairly new to writing, but her books evoke such emotion. This one is called Trouble Me.”
I file that away in the mental box of random facts about Paige.
“And the guy who says this — he doesn’t believe in love? How does that work if it’s a romance novel?”
Her lower lip tucks between her teeth. “Well, he eventually falls in love. But only once he finds a partner who meets him where he is emotionally: comfortable living his life alone and outside of the societal norms. Someone prepared to love him exactly as he is and makes him feel as if he finally belongs somewhere.”
I don’t stop to think about why I’m reacting to her explanation this way, I just act, pulling her in to my arms and kissing the shit out of her.
It’s rough and passionate, and she meets me stroke for stroke. Our tongues are dancing together as if they’ve done this a hundred times. She lets out a little moan and my hips tilt into her, letting her feel the full effect she has on me. We stay here, locked together with our arms and our mouths, for what feels like forever, but in reality is probably only a minute or two before the sounds of people walking past us filter into my consciousness and I force myself to take a step back.
“Damn, Paige.”
“We should go back to the hotel,” she gasps. I take in the burning fire in her eyes, her flushed cheeks, her heaving chest, and my dick throbs in the confines of my jeans. For a woman who says she doesn’t believe in romantic love, she sure is letting herself feel lust.
“Let’s go.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and tuck her in close to my side, needing as much contact as possible. Neither one of us says a word as we walk the streets of Vancouver back to the hotel, but the energy around us hums with something so heady, so powerful, it’s staggering. That kiss back at Rocco’s tattoo parlour almost made me come unhinged. I am dangerously close to finding a wall to push her up against and sliding my hands down the front of her pants. And knowing that she’s equally as turned on? Just means my hotel room needs to be a lot closer, right now.
