“I appreciate it, gentlemen,” Ephraim said.
“I thought for sure you’d flinch or cry or something. You’re really disappointing me, Dad.” Chris was half teasing, but it was obvious that he really liked saying it.
Ed looked up at Ephraim with a curious look. “I would have guessed he was your brother.”
“Nope, he’s my son.”
“I’m adopted,” Chris said proudly.
“Well, your Dad’s a bad ass. I’ve had bikers who cry and squirm under my needle. Not your old man. Not one move.”
“It hurts like hell, but I don’t want to mess it up.” He lied. He barely felt the burn of the needle. He'd learned long ago how to block out pain.
“Smart man. One f**k up and this would be totally messed up.”
He frowned. “That’s what I thought.”
“So, Dad, where are you going to put the third one?” Chris asked.
“On my bicep.”
“Really? If you think you can handle it John should be back from his break in a few minutes. He can do that. Jeff, what do you think?”
“Hey, as long as everyone stays in their own space and he doesn’t move we should be good.”
“Sounds good,” Ephraim said. It really didn’t hurt that much. The skin healed as they worked. Plus, he’d had worse from Nichols.
“You know I think you should skip the tribal tattoo on your arm and instead put fangs, bloody fangs, big ones.” Chris grinned hugely.
Ephraim narrowed his eyes on him. Chris’ hands shot up in a gesture of surrender. “Just kidding.”
“You want an ‘M’ in the middle of the tribal band on your arm, right?”
“Yes.”
“She might not like that,” Chris commented.
“It’s not for her. It’s for me.”
“Okay, whatever you say.” He chugged his soda down. “Hey, can I get a tattoo.”
“Not without your father’s permission and even with that I won’t do it until you’re at least seventeen,” Ed said.
“I can wait. Dad, can I?”
“We’ll see how the grades and behavior are. If they’re good then I’ll take you.”
“Sweet.”
******
He groaned. What the hell was he thinking getting a tattoo with her initial on it? The woman hyperventilated just hearing the word “love” and here he was sporting a tattoo with an ‘M’ in the middle. She was going to flip out. He’d be lucky if she didn’t kick him out of her bed for good.
A light snore caught his attention as he closed the hallway door. She was asleep thank god. At least he had a short stay of execution. The good news was he could catch up on his sleep and be well rested for the day of yelling he was going to have endure tomorrow. That was something.
After making sure she was really asleep and not waiting to ambush him he stripped out of his clothes and climbed into the bed. He curled up against her and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder before drifting off.
With his teeth clenched and eyes still shut from sleep he threw his head back and moaned. This was either the best wet dream of his life or Madison was riding him, hard.
Her hands ran over his stomach and then chest as she moved on him. She was moaning and panting loudly. “Oh, Ephraim! Mmm, baby, you feel so good!” Her body clenched and spasmed around his. She moved harder and faster on him until she was screaming.
Ephraim grabbed her, pulling her down onto him and in one move had her on her back. He started thrusting into her hard, setting off another orgasm and then another until he finally joined her. When his body relaxed he lowered himself on her.
“Good morning, Madison,” he murmured against her skin. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“Mmmm, good morning, I was wondering how long it would take you to wake up and realize I was taking advantage of you.”
He chuckled softly. “I thought I was having the best dream ever,” another kiss, “turns out I was having the best morning.”
Her hand gently caressed the left side of his chest. “Did I mention I like your tattoo?”
“Yeah?”
“Mmmhmm, it’s very sexy.”
He pushed himself up so he could hover over her. “Sexy, huh?”
“Mmm, very.” She traced the black circular tattoo with her finger. “It’s like a maze, is this Celtic?”
“No, but I guess I can tell you. It’s an ancient Hebrew symbol with a slight variation.” Holding himself up, he pointed to the symbol in the middle of the maze.
“Hey, I didn’t even notice that until you pointed it out. That’s really cool….wow…it’s the same symbol Chris has.”
“Yes, it’s the Sentinel symbol. The design prevents anyone from seeing it unless it’s pointed out to them or they know to look for it.”
“So it will identify you? Can’t someone else get the same tattoo and trick them?”
He shook his head. “No, take a better look at the maze on each side what do you see?”
“Words, but I can’t read them.”
“They’re from an ancient language long ago forgotten. The Sentinel’s don’t even know what they mean anymore, but it’s their motto and would identify me. No one other than a Sentinel knows these words.”
“What if they told someone?”
“They wouldn’t.”
“But you told me and I wouldn’t have noticed unless you told me. Aren’t you breaking a rule?”
His eyes shifted and then took on a guarded look. “No, I told them I would show you. You haven’t told anyone my secret. They appreciate that.”
“And if I told anyone those words?” She looked at his chest.
“They would take you.”
“Take me?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t let them. Besides, there’s nothing to worry about. You won’t tell.”
“No, I won’t, but it’s still unnerving.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I won’t tell you anything else then. I don’t want to stress you out. You don’t know the words anyway so you’re fine.”
“Okay.”
“Just forget these are symbols and don’t point anything out to anyone and you’ll be okay.”
“So, just let them think my man has really sexy tattoos?”
He groaned, “I like it when you call me your man.”
She giggled and wiggled beneath him. “I can tell.”