| |
Ally
It’s been just over a week since I had coffee with Cynthia and our conversation has been running on a loop through my head ever since. I have thought constantly about tattoos and the way they mark certain moments in time. I guess it’s the reason why I find myself standing in front of the tattoo shop we passed by last week. I’m contemplating whether or not I should just suck it up and walk in there. I know what I want, but I have to swallow my fear so I can sit in a chair and have a needle stuck into me......over and over again!
“Ah, screw it, you only live once,” I mumble to myself as I push through the glass doors and step inside. Cold air from the air conditioning, which must be cranked up high, assaults me and it’s welcomed. Outdoors is as hot as Hell. I wipe away the small droplets of sweat which had formed across my brows on the walk here and take a look around the small waiting area.
Music wafts from the speakers overhead, I’m not sure of the song, but it has a good beat. I turn slightly and take in the large area – leather couches, magazines with images of tattoos laid out on a couple of small tables. Everything is neat and clean including the charcoal colored flooring. Overhead is a huge copper fan and I focus on it for a few moments. It spins slowly and is stunning in it’s raw simplicity. Bare brick walls with horizontal copper piping resembles an industrial warehouse, but there is warmth to this place. I bypass one of the huge leather couches to where photographs have been carefully hung from the pipes on one wall. So many beautiful pieces of art are showcased and I can’t resist the urge to run my fingertip over the cool glass, following the intricate lines of a beautiful Tree of Life image. It’s been placed over the ribs on the side of a body. I’m totally captivated and don’t realize someone is standing behind me until they speak.
“Can I help you, Miss?” The deep voice makes me jump in fright and the gravelly pitch zaps through me.
I take a moment to compose myself before turning to come face to face....no, make that face to chest with a man who has to be at least a couple of feet taller than me. Well, damn! I take a step backwards and rake my eyes over the man. Jeans pull tight across his obviously muscled thighs, stretching them in a mouthwatering way. They’re matched with a black Henley which I swear must have been painted on. It’s rolled up to his elbows which shows off ink covered forearms that would have anyone drooling. His shoulders top layers of muscle and are broad. When my eyes lift to his face, I suck in a deep breath. His gaze is focused on my mouth, the look of hunger is like he wants to devour me. My belly flip flops out of control. When he swipes his tongue over his plump bottom lip, it takes all my control to suppress a moan. Heat radiates through every cell in my body and suddenly I find myself every bit as hungry for him.
Without realizing what I’m doing, I take a step forward. Then, another. I have an overwhelming urge to run my fingers over his five o’clock shadow and raise my hand. The moment I snap back to reality, I wave the hand around the reception area. I know I appear flustered while trying to put together my words.
“I...um...ah...tattoo. Shit!” I blow out a deep breath and step back, needing to put some distance between us so I can regain my sanity. Being so close to the man has me screwed up and I don’t know which way is up.
I suck in another deep breath and try again.
“I was after a tattoo. Do I need to make an appointment?”
I peer up and become fixated on his gorgeous blue eyes. They remind me of the ocean. Amusement at my discomfort is obvious which causes embarrassment to hike up a notch. I feel the heat creep up my neck and drop my eyes to study the floor. He chuckles and I try to shake off the effect the deep sound has on me.
“Miss....?”
I snap my head up, oops...he doesn’t yet know my name. I jut my arm towards him. “Ally.” I don’t usually shake hands, I don’t meet enough people so, I’m hoping I’m doing it right. Dad always said to use my manners and shake hands when introducing myself to someone new.
He looks down at my hand and I’m worried he isn’t going to shake it. A few seconds pass and then he slides his hand into mine. My body tenses with the contact and electricity fires through every cell.
His eyes lock on mine. “Xavier, but my friends call me, X.”
I release my hand while trying to figure out why my body reacted the way it did. Then, like a fool, words tumble from me before I can think of what I’m saying.
“Am I your friend?”
I feel like slapping myself upside the head. What the hell is wrong with my brain to mouth filter today? He must think I’m the biggest fucking idiot around.
He opens his mouth to speak when the music from above seems to get louder. So What by Pink blasts through the speakers and I can hear other voices speaking over the top of the loud music.
“Excuse me for a sec.” Xavier moves to the reception desk and twists a knob which has the music lowering.
“Touch it and I swear I’ll fucking stab you.” It’s the voice of an angry woman.
“Seriously?” A man bellows back.
“Try it, Beau. I’m warning you. Try it and see what happens to your nuts.”
I look through an opening which shows the tattoo stations in the back and bite my lip to keep from laughing. This has to be the weirdest friggin’ day I’ve ever had.
A gorgeous woman with blonde hair and covered in tattoos stands holding what looks like a pen. She has pulled back over her shoulder like it’s a knife. I watch as the man in front of her stands with his arms raised. He has a stupid smirk on his face as he tries not to laugh at her.
“It’s not funny! Pink is awesome. Leave my fucking music alone!” Anger seems to be coming off her in waves.
“Come on Peaches,” he croons.
“Don’t fucking call me that!” She’s angry, but I swear I see her lip twitch.
“I thought you loved me?” He dissolves in laughter which seems to diffuse some of the anger.
“Loving you is like a papercut....it stings at first, but then you get the fuck over it.”
“Fuck you’re cute, but your also psycho, Peaches.” He shakes his head and laughs as he strides towards a door and disappears into a hallway.
I turn my attention back to Xavier, wondering if this day can get any stranger.
Xavier laughs, I’m not sure if it’s at what just happened or at me. Either way, it doesn’t matter, I’m here for a tattoo, nothing else.