"So, I'm to finish up around the wrist first," I said. "Then we'll take a break. After that, it's all touch up work. I want to get this done, but if you need to stop, you just let me know."
"We're good, River," Jed said. "I need this. I need to win something this week."
I nodded. "Then let's get it done."
Jed put his earbuds in and gave me his arm.
It was amazing what the ink meant to people. When we were younger, it was all about being cool. To be a teenager with a tattoo was instant coolness. Instant bad boy kind of stuff. But as you got older, you realized they were all stories. They were memories not saved in our mind, but memories we wore on our skin.
Nothing else could be more special.
With all that said and thought, I took a deep breath and got myself ready.
I needed to be in the right mindset. Let the world slip away. Become a part of the tattoo that I was creating.
The buzz of needle always made my heart jump.
Lucky for me, I was good at what I did for a living.
Why?
Because there was no focusing.
All I could think about was Lacey.
I would be anything she needed me to be.
I just knew one thing for sure.
She was never going to get away from me again.
I sat down on my stool and let out a long breath. It had turned into a really long appointment. Not by anyone's fault, those were just the requirements of amazing art.
Jed was happy.
The noise out front had died down.
Life was good again.
Throughout St. Skin came the buzzing of needles and the music everyone chose to listen to. It was a mismatched mess of noise, but there was nothing quite like it. It was the closest thing to home I could possibly feel at that moment.
I exited my room and went to the front to see if anything had been scheduled with me. I tried to keep an open flowing schedule the best I could. I liked my sense of freedom; if the moment struck me and I had to take off for a day or two. Tate didn't care, because he knew that I did great work and respected everyone in St. Skin and how they worked.
What I didn't expect to find was Lacey standing there, staring at the wall of tattoo designs. She was close to the wall, admiring all the different designs. Everything from wicked tribal stuff to hearts and skulls, all the way to a small gallery of animals.
I stepped up behind her and said, "I can put a tiger right on your shoulder."
She gasped and jumped.
She spun, and her eyes locked to mine.
Nobody around us could possibly understand what that look of hers did to me. I still saw the innocent yet wild girl in those eyes. But her body had morphed into that of a beautiful woman. Curves showed up in places where they were meant to be. Curves that begged for my hands to trace along them, leaving their own invisible tattoo memories for me to savor for a lifetime.
"River," she said.
"You want to get something done?" I asked. "I've got time."
"No thanks."
"Do you have any tattoos?"
"That's a secret," she said with a smile.
She could always try to flirt, but I knew how to do it better.
I leaned in and put my lips close to her ear.
"I'll find out one way or another, darling," I whispered.
I felt the heat between us sizzling. I was afraid the fire alarms were going to start going off.
When I turned and grabbed at Lacey's hand, here came Prick and Axel.
Ah, shit.
"And who do we have here?" Prick asked.
"Guys, this is Lacey," I said. "Lacey, this is Prick and Axel."
"Your name is Prick?" she asked.
Prick winked at her. "Lacey, huh? Why is that name familiar?"
"That's the one he's been waiting for," Axel said. "Built a damn cabin for her, too."
"Really?" I asked.
Axel laughed. Then he looked at Lacey. "And you're midnight wonder, huh?"
"Excuse me?" Lacey asked.
"Your friend, Karen. She tracked me down to track down River."
"Oh, this is getting interesting," Prick said. "Give me more."
"There is no more," I said. "Don't you have work to do?"
"Don't you have a bed to clean out?" Prick asked with a devilish grin.
I let go of Lacey's hand and went after him.
Axel quickly blocked the way, hand to my chest. "Easy, River. You know he's an asshole. If that's your girl right there, you better do something about it. You've been hinting about her for a long time. Now she's here, huh?"
"I'm leaving," I said. "I don't know when I'll be back. My cell is on. My schedule is clear."
"Have fun," Axel said.