Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“I came up with three designs, but, of course, I can change anything or even go a completely different way,” the guy I don’t know explains.
Still not completely sure what’s going on here, I glance over at Quinton for an explanation.
“This is Billy.” Q offers, “He is the one who did my tattoo, and if you want, he’ll tattoo your back today.”
“Oh…” My mouth stays in an open O shape long after the word has fallen from my lips. Realization settles in, and my whole body relaxes.
“Like I said, you don’t have to do this,” Quinton repeats.
“I want to,” I blurt out. “I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
“Why don’t you look at what Billy came up with, and we can go from there?”
“So I came up with this.” Billy points at three drawings laid out on the coffee table.
Never letting go of Quinton’s hand, I take a few steps closer until my thighs bump against the table's edge. My eyes go wide as I take in the drawings. All three are stunning.
The first one is a lotus that looks so realistic it’s coming right off the page. The second is a serpent winding itself around a rose. It’s drawn in an edging style that looks both interesting and artful. The last is an intricate fine-line mandala with so many little details it’s hard to look away.
I take all three in, trying to figure out how the hell I’m going to choose. “They are all stunning. Honestly, I don’t know how to pick one. I love them all.”
“Could you somehow combine the three ideas?” Quinton questions before I can voice the same idea.
“Absolutely.” Billy doesn’t hesitate. He actually seems pretty excited about the idea. “Give me a few more minutes to draw up the stencils.” He gathers his papers and pencils, then sits at the small desk next to his bed, where he starts drawing.
“Do you really like it?” Quinton asks softly. “I thought you could use it to cover up the scar you hate.”
The reminder of the scar feels like a jab with a knife. I have become good at hiding my pain every time I remember what happened to me that night, but I’ll never be good enough to hide from Quinton.
My husband wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his strong chest. “I’m sorry,” he whispers into my hair. I’ve told him a million times to stop apologizing. It wasn’t his fault, yet he blames himself.
I bury my nose in his shirt, letting his unique scent calm me through the dark thoughts. They always linger in the back of my mind, but times like these have them trying to claw their way to the front until my head is consumed with dread, fear, and grief.
Q holds me, drawing small circles over my back until Billy finishes drawing my tattoo.
“Here it is,” he announces, bursting with pride. One look at the drawing tells me why. It’s stunning. “If you want anything changed, let me know. Quinton told me the most important thing is to cover up the scar. I can definitely hide it in the petals of the lotus. You won’t even see that it was there at all.”
I stare at the beautiful drawing. He really did combine all the ideas, leaving the fine lines of the mandala in the background, the lotus in the center, and below, the snake will line up with my spine like it’s slithering up my back. It’s both feminine and badass. “I love it!”
“Perfect. I need you to take off your shirt.” As soon as the words leave Billy’s mouth, both he and Quinton go stiff. Billy’s eyes go wide as he realizes what he just said. “I mean just to tattoo… obviously. Nothing more. I’ll go to the bathroom while you get changed. You can lie down on the chair; I’ve already disinfected everything.” He scurries away into the bathroom, and I give Quinton a knowing look.
“You knew I had to take my shirt off for this.”
“Knowing and actually doing it are two different things. The thought of someone else seeing your bare skin, even if it’s just your back, drives me insane.”
“Good thing we’ll only have to do this once.” I grab the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head.
Quinton’s gaze lowers to my boobs immediately, like two magnets pulling his eyeballs toward me. The thin fabric of my bra is still between us, but that doesn’t stop my nipples from hardening and tingling with excitement.
“Maybe we should have had that quickie after all.” Quinton circles me, dragging his finger over the tender skin on my stomach, ribs, and lower back until he stands right behind me. His skillful fingers unclasp my bra, and I let the straps slide down my shoulders slowly. Cool air washes over my already heated skin.