Wicked Beat (Sinners on Tour #4)(114)

She contemplated the idea, knowing he was trying to find out what she, Trey, and Isaac had really been doing in Isaac's apartment. After a moment, she shook her head. "I don't think so. I don't want to catch crabs."

Eric laughed and sucked water down his windpipe. He was choking so hard, Rebekah stood to whack him on the back.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He nodded, still choking. "Jeez, woman," he gasped between coughs. "I'm the one who's supposed to crack all the stupid jokes."

"Sorry. I'll try to come up with smarter jokes from now on. The stupid ones are all yours."

"This is why we work," he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Compromise."

"I thought it was the great sex."

Her flippant comment elicited several stares from nearby tables.

"Well, there's that too," Eric said.

After dinner, they walked across the parking lot to the mall. They found the jewelry store, but when they arrived the metal gate was down, and the lights were off. 

Rebekah's heart sank with disappointment. "Closed? How can it be closed? What time is it?"

"It's after eight," Eric said.

"Why is it so late?"

Eric lifted his eyebrows.

She made a sound of annoyance. "Of all the days for Isaac to come out of the closet." She gazed into a display window with longing. Not because she really wanted a ring, but because she wanted the world to see proof that she'd given her heart to Eric. "These are all too girly anyway," she said, trying to make herself feel better about having to wait at least another day.

Eric chuckled and wrapped an arm around her back to direct her to the parking lot again.

"There's probably someplace still open that's more suitable to brand you as mine," he whispered into her ear.

"Yeah, a tattoo parlor," she said with an unladylike snort. Once the idea took hold, she grew excited. "Eric!" She grabbed his forearm and stopped walking abruptly. "I want your name as my tramp stamp." She lifted the back of her shirt and pointed to her lower back. "Right there. Your name and music notes on either side. Maybe some little butterflies."

"Are you serious, Reb? That's permanent, you know."

"I know. You don't want me to?" She traced a tattoo on his forearm with one finger. It showed a dagger through a skull. It was a beautiful piece of art, but masculine. "Would you rather I get one that matches yours?"

"I would love my name permanently etched on your sexy little back. I could stare at it while … " He lifted her shirt and took a peek at the area in question. "Damn … " he said breathlessly and gave himself a little shake. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."

He scooped her into his arms, tossed her over his shoulder, and headed toward his car.

"Right now?"

"Yep. And I'm going to get your name tattooed down the length of my cock."

"You are not!"

"Yeah, I am."

She wondered if her name would get bigger when he was hard. She wondered about something else. "How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?"

"Several weeks."

"Then you won't be able to have sex for several weeks."

"You're right. Forget that then. Where do you want your name?"

She thought for a moment. What was the sexiest part of Eric's body, besides his cock? That sweet V-shape at his lower belly that disappeared into the waistband of his underwear. That's where she wanted her name. Then when he held her back against his belly, their names would press together.

"Put me down," she said. "Let me show you where I want it."

He gently set her on her feet, and she lifted his T-shirt in front. She pushed the waistband of his jeans lower and traced a swath of bare skin above his underwear. "I want it right here."

He drew a breath through his teeth. "That is going to hurt."

"More than it would on your cock?"

He chuckled. "Good point." He hurried her to the car and opened the door for her. "I know a great artist. He's done all my ink and the smiley-faced flower on the top of Jace's foot."



       
         
       
        

"Jace has a flower on his foot?"

"Yeah, I got him really drunk. Let's just say his judgment was impaired. Usually, they won't tattoo someone when they're that inebriated, but I've known Butch for years. And Jace said it was okay before he passed out. We both got our nipples pierced that night too."

"Kind of like when girls get their nails done together."

He looked grievously offended by that comparison. "Uh, no."