Savior:A Tattered Club Story(15)

“Three two-hour sessions. I didn’t think a guy—” Niko looked over his shoulder then back to the tattoo gun he was prepping. “Like you could handle more than that at one time.”

Ethan wanted to take the food and shove it in Niko’s face. The asshole had no idea the amount of pain he’d endured over the last two years. First, his dad throwing him out then Charles knocking him around for over a year. Who was this guy to think he could judge? Besides, if he could do the one thing to himself that caused the most pain, he could stand a six-hour tattoo.

“Thanks for the insult, but a guy like me can handle more than you could ever know.”

Niko didn’t turn around. “Sit down and eat.”

Damn the guy to hell, but he was hungry and this might be the last chance he’d get to eat a full meal for a couple of days. “Fine, but I’m going to pay you back for the food. I don’t want anyone’s handouts.”

Now that made Niko give Ethan more than just his back. “Neither do I, so do me a favor and let me put my art on you. Don’t pussy out on me because of money. Here’s the deal. You wear my tat and tell your friends, the guys you work with, hell anyone you talk to where you got it and we’ll consider it even.”

Ethan stopped unwrapping the sandwich. The foil warmed his palm. His stomach growled and heat burned his face. Being desperate didn’t look good on anyone, but he wasn’t in the position to argue. “I can do that, but I’m still paying you back for the sandwich.”

Niko walked to a long wooden desk and picked up a bright green neon can. Ethan never understood how people could stand the taste of energy drinks. He turned up his nose at the cough medicine flavor. “What?” Niko took a long sip.

Ethan didn’t mean to be rude. He focused on the grilled chicken sandwich and took a bite, almost choking as he frantically chewed. Niko looked away and, back to organizing the equipment on the small metal table next to the massage table.

Scarlet came through the door with a can of soda in her hand. “Sorry, I forgot to drop this off.”

“It’s for him.” Niko tipped his head toward Ethan.

Ethan rubbed his palms on his jeans and flinched. The cuts were still fresh. “Thank you.” He waited for Scarlet to shut the door then turned his attention to Niko. “So, what did you come up with?” He stuffed several fries in his mouth at one time. “This sandwich is amazing.”

Niko spun the stool around and rolled over to the drafting table. “You’ll see. Trust me.”

“But, don’t I get to see it first?”

Niko grabbed a bottle filled with green liquid. “No.”

With nerves already sparked from the ordeal of needing to find a place to live ASAP, the last thing he needed was getting a tattoo he might not like. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Niko finally looked up. Ethan stopped chewing. The fine layer of dark shadow on his cheeks meant Niko had been running late this morning. The last time they’d met, the smooth contours of his face had accentuated the pink tones on his cheeks, but not this time. This Niko was rugged, handsome—not quite so intimidating.

Sliding their lips together would leave evidence on Ethan’s face. With such sensitive skin, he’d wear the burn as a reminder every time he looked in the mirror that Niko’s mouth had been on him. Ethan wiggled in the seat. His Aussie Bum underwear had been already snug, now they were downright tight. The bulge pushed against the zipper of his shorts.

“You ready, skinny jeans?”

Ethan looked up from where he’d been studying his growing cock. Shit. “Um...”

Niko rolled the chair back around. “Ethan, get you and that hard-on in your pants on my table. Now.”

“Jesus, you can’t see—”

He spread a white towel on the cushion and patted the table. “Come on, stud. And, yes, I could see you adjusting your junk under the table.”

Crawling under the chair seemed like a better option than standing and letting the hottest guy he’d ever seen check out his bulge and say something embarrassing again. “Fine,” he grumbled and pushed the chair back. Trying to act casual, Ethan let his hands hang in front of his crotch as he walked to stand in front of Niko.

“Take your shirt off.”

Shit. No. “Can we do it on my—”

The grey and black shades of curves and scrolling lines on his neck stretched when he shook his head. “Naked, topside, now.”

Ethan’s heart burst back and forth in his chest. He wasn’t muscular like the beefcakes most gay guys went for. Being pretty meant he usually attracted older men who thought he could be a plaything. The last time he had a guy his age show interest it ended in a one night stand. And the fact he liked to top just didn’t work with the big guys. They saw his lean frame and instantly thought he was a weak bottom.