I nudge Madison in the side as she shamelessly checks out Blaine’s ass as we follow close behind him.
“Madi,” I snap, quietly. “Close your damn legs. You’re almost worse than them.”
She elbows me back, but then grabs my arm for protection as some big burly looking dude in a leather jacket growls at her and then licks his lips.
“And they’re pretty bad,” I add.
As soon as we step into the hall, all I hear are the sounds of a tattoo gun buzzing. It echoes throughout the small hallway, making me nervous now.
I stop and look through the open door at Royal and my heart literally skips a beat at the sight of him. He’s leaned over, concentrating on some middle-aged man’s back piece that he’s working on. Jax is chilling next to him, watching, them both looking just as sexy as the other night.
Madison stops next to me, raising a brow as she sets sights on Royal as well. “Well spank my ass and call me Sally,” Madison says with a moan. “Sexy, sinful, tattoo heaven . . . I’m never leaving. Just saying.”
Royal glances up with a snarl, but then turns his gun off and sets it down when his eyes land on me, watching me watch him. “We’re done for tonight,” he says to his client. “Jax will call you a cab.”
Looking as if he’s not bothered one bit by Royal dismissing him, he stands up, grabs for a stained up white shirt, and walks past us, almost falling into the wall.
Jax stands up and reaches for a bottle of Vodka, pouring five shots. “Did Blaine here give you guys a tour of the building on the way in? Zip up your shit, dude.”
“Fuck off,” Blaine says playfully, snatching up one of the shots while zipping his fly.
I turn my eyes back in Royal’s direction, but keep my head still so he doesn’t notice me watching him.
He looks conflicted as he starts cleaning his table and chair off. “Didn’t think you’d be back,” he says stiffly. “You change your mind on that tattoo?”
I grab a shot glass when Jax hands one to Madison first and then myself. “Your friend asked us to come and my friend here, forced me to agree.” I throw my shot back, emptying the glass, hoping for some kind of liquid courage. “So here I am.”
With stiff muscles, Royal stands up straight and grabs the last shot glass, slamming it back, before shoving the empty glass at Jax. “Come here,” he demands.
I stand here for a second, not moving, until Madison shoves me forward and calls me a pussy. I look back at her and glower, before stopping in front of Royal.
Grabbing my hand he pulls me to him, and grabs my hips, digging his hands in. “I have the perfect spot for your first tattoo.” Reaching for the bottom of my dress, he lifts the front so only he can see, and runs his thumb over my hipbone. “Perfect.”
Yanking my dress down, I back away and watch him as he starts preparing his tattoo equipment. “I never said I was going to let you tattoo me.”
His jaw clenches as he looks back at me. “You scared that Colton is going to be pissed or some shit?”
I shake my head. “At this point, I could care less about what he thinks. As far as I’m concerned, we’re on a break.”
“Okay . . .” He sits down and runs a hand through his messy hair, his eyes studying mine. “You don’t want one then?”
“I do,” I say quickly, realizing that I do, but I’m just being a pussy, exactly what Madison called me.
“Come on, Ava,” Madison says from behind me. “We’re already here and from what I can see, Royal is very capable of giving great tattoos. I’ll let Blaine over there tat me up next.”
Royal raises a brow in question, when I turn back to him. “What do you say, babe? Take that damn dress off for me?”
I swallow and look around the room. Having three other sets of eyes on me is making me nervous, extremely nervous.
“Out,” Royal suddenly barks out. “Keep the girl close by and make sure Porter stays away from her. He’s on some shit tonight.”
“Madison can stay,” I say firmly, not wanting to send her away. “I don’t care if she watches.”
Madison looks between Jax and Blaine and bites her bottom lip. It’s clear what she wants to do, and that’s most likely both of them. “I’ll be good with the boys. Plus, I want to check out the party animals in the next room.”
I take a deep breath and watch Madison as she follows Jax and Blaine out the door, shutting it behind her with a wink.
I suddenly feel nervous, realizing that I’m alone with Royal. He’s so damn intense that I have no idea what to expect from him.
“Lay down.”
Swallowing, I sit down on the black, leather chair that is already laid back into a bed. I jump from the coldness on my skin, but then close my eyes and get comfortable, waiting on Royal’s next move.
With my eyes still closed, I can see the shadow from him standing above me, before I feel his rough hands brush my upper thighs as he grips my dress and lifts it, stopping just under my breasts.
“Any certain design? I can do it all.”
“A feather,” I say softly. “Blue with purple highlights; feminine and pretty. Can you do that?”
He lifts an eyebrow while pulling on a pair of black gloves. “I can definitely do feminine and pretty. Like I said, I do it all.”
I suck in a breath and grip the seat, when I feel his hands brush against my skin as he prepares to mark me for life.
Grabbing my hand, he places it on his thick thigh. My heart speeds up from the feel of his muscular leg beneath my palm. “If it hurts, dig into my leg and take it out on me. It will help you feel better.”
I hear the buzzing of the gun and instantly grip his thigh, feeling anxious. When I open an eye to peek up at him, he’s smirking.
“Ready?”
I nod my head. “Mmm hmm . . .”
I feel my fingers dig deep into the denim of his thigh as the needle hits my sensitive flesh. My stomach instantly sinks and I flinch, more unprepared than I thought.
I do my best to keep my eyes closed through most of it, but then open my eyes closer to the end, when my skin starts to feel numb. It’s a bit of a relief.
Royal’s face is stern, set in a line of concentration. I notice that he even bites his bottom lip once in a while when he really gets into a good spot. I find myself watching him, my legs slightly opening, as I get lost in my own little world. He’s delicious to watch. There is absolutely no denying that.