“Got a problem with that, River Madden?” I retorted, my grin deepening.
His smile quirked to one side, eyes still on me, his thumb rubbing a path of small circles at my wrist. Was he doing it absentmindedly? I wasn’t sure, but I was addicted to his touch already. He finally admitted, “I like a woman who isn’t afraid to speak up. So what makes a girl like you get a tattoo like this?” He began working the outline of the scar. The memory of the night that altered my life irrevocably slammed into me. The memory I was trying to eradicate from my mind—and my body—right this moment.
“Didn’t peg you for a man who spent time on useless things like judging people.”
“No judgment,” he replied. “Just curiosity.”
“The truth is…” I paused, wondering if I was ready to say the words out loud. “Truth is it’s from the one night that ruined my life, and I’m trying to cover it. It has nothing to do with a boy.”
He nodded, eyes flicking up to my face and then back to his work. That explanation was the most I could muster. I didn’t talk about the night that shattered my life, cracking it wide open, and leaving me bleeding out. No one talked about that night. Life was better that way.
It’d taken me a year to finally find just the right design to replace the bumpy white scar I carried. And then it’d taken me months even to get on River’s books. I’d been going out of town for all my tattoos, most happening on drunken, reckless nights with friends where I hardly even remembered where I’d been. But this tattoo, I wanted to get it done in this town. Call it some twisted sense of closure, but it felt like the right thing to do.
“Want to take a break?” River offered, swiping at the fresh ink pressed into my skin and causing me to wince. “Ribs are a tender spot.”
“No, I’m good. Keep going, I like it. It was painful getting the scar, it should be painful when I destroy it too.”
I caught the surprised look on River’s face. His eyes held mine for long beats, air pregnant between us before his fingertips were sliding across my ribs again, sending zaps of fire through me. There was no way he hadn’t noticed the outline of my nipples by now. I cursed myself for not wearing a thicker bra or a sweater or anything to prevent his fingers on my skin from turning me on so damn much.
His deft hands worked across my skin, wiping tenderly and checking me often. I found I liked being under his touch, the center of his world for even a few minutes, even if he was torturing me with a tiny gun.
“Got plans after you leave here today?” His voice was thick, gravelly, like there was something else on his mind other than what he was saying.
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m in no rush. In fact, I’d rather hang out here all day than go back to where I’m going.”
“Oh, yeah?” River switched inks then, turning his attention to the bright red drops of blood dripping from the heart. He wiped tenderly, one palm flat on my tummy as he assessed the work so far. “Why would a girl like you want to hang around a place like this?”
“It’s a nice vibe, good people. I like it. And anything is better than home, to be honest. Dad works constantly. Mom is…well, not really here anymore.” Why was I revealing so much? Being chatty wasn’t like me at all.
“Sorry to hear that.” His gorgeous dark eyes flicked to mine, gaze heavy with understanding.
“I’ve applied a few places, just something to get me out of the house more, but there’s not much going on in this town.”
“You aren’t wrong about that.” He pushed the hemline of my shirt up a little more, his pinkie finger settling on the edge of my bra and sending a river flooding between my thighs. I’d come to get inked; I had no idea it’d be a near-orgasmic experience. Or maybe it was just River’s talent. I couldn't stop the illicit thoughts swirling in my head, all inspired by this man.
“You know…” His raspy voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Been lookin’ for someone to run the front, answer phones, make appointments. Dev has been bitching about wanting to tattoo more. It’s time I hired someone else.”
“Really?” I could feel a smile shoot across my face. “You’d let me work here?”
He laughed. “So, it sounds like you'd take the job if I offered?”
“Um, yes! I’ll take anything you’re offering.” I felt warmth crawl up my chest with the double entendre of my words. I stumbled to recover. “Seriously, if you weren’t inking me, I would hug you right now.”
His eyes grew large. “I kind of have this thing about personal space, but an exception could be made—”