Vida swallowed hard. “I didn’t—”
“Yes, you did. Don’t deny it.” Colton didn’t look up at her, merely continued working, wiping her shoulder off. He slid his stool back. “You’re done.”
Vida got out of the chair, going to the mirror to look at her new tattoo. Staring, she was tempted to touch it, but didn’t. If was a beautiful butterfly. Its fragile, colorful wings were captured in whirls of lines and colors.
“Thank you, Colton. It’s beautiful.”
“Glad you like it. Now let’s go home.” He put his equipment up after cleaning his station while Vida admired how professional he was, and surprisingly meticulous.
“Let me wrap it.” Vida turned back to him as he placed a wrap on her tattoo. “I’ll put some lotion on it later. Make sure you don’t get it wet when you shower.”
“I won’t.” Vida nodded happily at the same time that Colton smiled indulgently.
Turning of the lights in his room, they closed the shop and drove home. The night air on his bike always refreshed her, but much too soon, they were at his apartment.
Vida went to the kitchen to fix them something to eat. By the time Colton got out of the shower, Vida had fixed them chicken and rice. She had discovered both of them had big appetites, but didn’t like cooking. To stay fair, they took turns cooking.
They ate while Vida questioned Colton how he had began tattooing.
“I always liked to draw and was really good at it. In the Predators, one of the brothers was a tattoo artist. He gave me my first tat then, seeing I was interested, took me on as an apprentice.”
“You’re really good,” Vida complimented. “Do you miss not being in the Predators?”
“Yes, they became my family. My dad took off when I was ten-years-old and never came back. Mom remarried; he was cool, but I could tell he wanted Mom to himself.” Colton shrugged, taking the dirty dishes to the sink before grabbing a beer from the refrigerator and sitting back down at the table. “So when I was sixteen, I started hanging out at the Predators’ clubhouse.”
“Your mom didn’t mind that you were hanging out with outlaw bikers?”
“No, because my stepdad was a Predator.”
“Oh.” Vida didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t ever imagine willingly letting a child of hers become involved in a motorcycle club.
“They’re not all bad, Vida. The Predators are loyal. Their activities may not be completely legal, which is why the brothers can’t let me visit without notice. If I’m around drugs, guns or convicted felons, I could lose my parole.”
“I’m not going to say anything negative about them, Colton. They helped save me from Digger, and if they scare him enough to get Sawyer back, I’ll owe them a big favor.”
“Don’t tell them that or you’ll be giving private performances for the brothers at the clubhouse,” Colton said seriously. “I’ll handle any gratitude they have coming.”
Vida packed her own dishes into the sink and then filled it with hot water. “You going to strip for Ice?” Vida teased.
The dishes didn’t take long, Colton sat at the table until she finished.
“I think I’ll take my shower.” Vida didn’t want to sit and watch TV with him as she had the last few nights. She was beginning to look forward to spending time alone with him now that he was opening up, telling her about his past and drawing her closer to him.
Vida couldn’t let herself get attached to him. She kept telling herself this over and over, remembering her mom after each and every one of her relationships had ended. Colton was more of a horn dog than any guy her mom had dragged home.
She showered, careful to keep her tattoo dry, and when she finished, she dressed in pajama pants and a top. After brushing out her long hair before she braided its thick length, she exited the bathroom to find Colton waiting for her.
“I need to rub some lotion on your tattoo and rewrap it. Have a seat on the couch.”
“Okay.”
Colton sat down on the couch, waiting expectantly. She sat down next to him, reaching up to tug her pajama top to the side, but Colton forestalled her by reaching out and casually unbuttoning her top and sliding it off her shoulder.
“What the hell?” Vida screeched, trying to pull her top back up.
“Stop it, Vida. Don’t be ridiculous. You do realize I saw your strip act. Not only that, but I’ve had your nipples in my mouth.” Vida didn’t appreciate being reminded of him seeing her naked.
Gently, he unwrapped her tattoo.
He grew tired of her fidgeting with the top. “Sit still, Vida.”