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“Is it possible to die by way of orgasm?”
Roane’s chest vibrates beneath my head as laughter erupts from deep in his belly. “Maybe we’ll found out one day.” His fingers skim along my arm. “You feeling relaxed and good now, baby doll?”
“Mhmm,” I murmur, rubbing my fingers through his chest hair. I never thought chest hair was sexy, but Roane makes anything hot. I kiss his pec, sucking his nipple between my teeth and nipping him playfully.
“Good. Let’s go downstairs and see about that ink.”
I tense up. “Right now?” I’ve feared needles since I was a kid. I love tattoos and think they are beautiful it’s just the thought of the needle that ruins the whole idea.
“You don’t want my ink on you?” I can hear it in his tone. I’ve wounded his pride.
“It’s not that trust me. I don’t expect you’d remember everything, but needles scare the shit out of me.”
“Well don’t go shitting the bed, sweetheart. I’m not into skat play.”
I punch him in the stomach lightly. “Into what?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Come on. I’m taking you to dinner then we’ll talk more about that ink.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“We’ll drop by Pam’s and you can change. We can see if her and Link want to join us.”
My face lights up. “Really?”
“Yeah, I’d do anything to keep that look right there on your face.” My cheeks are pink, colored in happiness. Lips stretched upward, curving into a bright smile. All because of this man. “Happy looks real good on you, Jules.”
“Being here with you...it does make me happy. Getting to be near Pam...it’s all great. I only hope that my situation doesn’t make you feel pressured into something you aren’t ready for. I know I could stay with Pam until I get on my feet.”
“Stop. Don’t look for excuses to discount the way I feel about you. I wouldn’t have called in a favor to get all your shit here so fast if I wasn’t serious about this. About us.”
“I’m trying. Be patient with me.”
“We have forever, baby doll.” His words reassure me, and I slide out of bed and shimmy back into my dirty jeans I borrowed from my sister. Roane gives me one of his long-sleeved Harley tees. It swallows me but it smells like him, making it perfect.
I keep thinking that any minute now I am going to wake up and this whole weekend will have been nothing but a dream. What are the odds that I’d end up in bed with my high school sweetheart on New Year’s? This sort of thing never happens in real life. It’s the sort of story you read about online or see in a movie, but these types of good lucky things, don’t just happen to me. I’m trying to embrace it and roll with things as they come but there’s this voice nagging in the back of my mind that sounds a lot like Sam telling me that Roane could never love my fat ass and that I don’t deserve to be happy.
He drives us over to Pam and Link’s. This is what I have always wanted. My man and my sister’s man being good friends. Sam wouldn’t be caught dead hanging with the likes of Link based on his appearance alone. He’s rough around the edges.
Roane is out in the garage smoking and having a beer with my brother-in-law while I get changed and my sister talks my ear off.
“I gotta say, Sis. You sure shocked the hell out of me. I thought for sure I’d have to twist your arm to get you to agree to move home, but all I needed was Roane to give you that mega dick.” She howls with laughter.
The woman is a damn cracker jack. “Shut up. I can’t believe it either really. It’s surreal. I feel like an imposter living someone else’s life to be honest.”
“So what kind of tattoo you think he’s going to give you?”
My stomach drops. All color washes from my face.
“Relax. Nothing to fear. Roane does great work. You won’t feel a thing. If you’re scared about hearing the buzzing sound of the gun, we can put you some headphones in and play you relaxing sounds or some shit. Light soothing candles. Whatever you need. Smoke a joint. Just saying.”
“Only you.”
“Let’s go eat. I’m starving after the workout Link gave me last night.”
“I don’t need to know the details of your sex life.”
“Oh whatever.” She loops her arm through mine. “I have to know. Did Roane live up to his reputation?”
I make the motion of locking my lips and throwing away the key.
“Don’t you dare. Tell me everything. Well okay not everything but is he really that big?” She holds her hands apart guessing his size.
“Bigger. Much bigger.” I giggle as her brown eyes widen.
“Well damn. And you ain’t even walkin’ funny. My baby sister is a ho.”
“You aren’t wrong. The things he can make me do...” I bump my hip against hers and we both laugh.
I end up driving my car to the restaurant, so we don’t have to swing back by Pam’s for it later. We end up at a pizza joint and arcade. One I used to come to after school when we dated.
“C’mere and look at this.” Roane motions me to a wall of photographs and points. There’s a picture of us. His arm is around me and we both have the cheesiest grins plastered on our faces. I lean into him and he pecks my lips with a soft kiss. “You and I were always meant to be, baby doll.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. C’mon. Let’s order.”
I slide into the booth next to my man and I can’t help but embrace the giddy feeling washing over me. This is what I’ve been missing. Roane. Pam. Even Link.
This is right.
He’s right.
I belong with Roane.
**
“You ready for this?” Pam stands behind the chair in Roane’s shop ready to hold my hand if needed.
Roane is taking his sweet time sketching a unique design. He does this for every client. He doesn’t do the same tattoo twice. He goes through all the prep steps and I put in headphones, turning my playlist up loud to drown out the sound, I close my eyes. I’m unable to watch. If this wasn’t so important to him, I wouldn’t be going through with this. The last time I had blood drawn I fainted on the spot. I feel a small stinging sensation and it’s not as bad as I imagined. The process takes longer than I’d like but it definitely could be worse.
After an hour and a half, Roane’s lips press against mine. He pulls an earbud out and I open my eyes. “All done. You did great. Come look in the mirror before I bandage your wrist.”
It’s a black and grey shaded lotus flower with tribal patterned leaves and his name around it. It’s beautiful.
“The lotus is a sign of rebirth, the leaves represent growth, and I think my name is obvious.”
“I love it. Thank you.” I cup his furry jaw and go in for a kiss. His tongue probes deep and wet against mine. The way this man kisses ought to be a crime. So good. I pull back realizing I don’t hear my sister’s sassy mouth. “Where’s Pam?” I look around for my sister.
“Her and Link had to get to the clubhouse. She said she’d see you tomorrow. Let’s get you bandaged so we can go up and get ready for bed.”
“Sounds good to me.” I help Roane clean up after he bandages my tattoo. “Did you mean it that you wanted my help with managing your shop?”
“Yup.”
“Wouldn’t you get sick of spending so much time with me?”
“Never.” His arms come around me, cupping my backside and giving me a squeeze.