“Sit back and get comfortable,” Declan orders. I jolt, my face flushing. I silently thank whatever gods might be listening that Declan is too busy setting up his station to notice. When I’m comfortably sitting with my head against the back of the chair,Declan scoots closer on his wheeled stool. “I’m going to sanitize the area first, then use a marker to put a small dot where the piercing will go.”
I nod, unable to find the words as he sets to work doing exactly what he just described. It’s hotter than it should be, watching him work. Being his client. Something about the whole thing is just sointimate. He’s tucked in close at my side, fully blocking my view of Sean’s station behind him. His gloved hands are gentle on my skin, and even though it’s only myear, my body reacts as if he’s run a hand down my back, or maybe a thigh. It doesn’t seem to know the difference when Declan is touching me.
I try to keep my breathing steady, because I’ve already embarrassed myself enough where Declan is concerned. No need to start panting after him.
I’m so distracted by the way his forearm presses against my shoulder as he works that I don’t realize he’s talking to me until I hear a low, measured, “Elsie.” I can tell by his tone it’s not the first time he’s tried to get my attention.
“Hmmm?” I mumble, because per usual, I’m a wordsmith extraordinaire when Declan is around.
He reaches to the wheeled cart beside him and picks up a needle that ismuchlarger than I was expecting. My eyes snap to his so I don’t have to look at it, and there’s an intensity there I wasn’t expecting.
“Next time you want something pierced or tattooed, you come to me,” he says, his voice low and just a little bit gravelly.
“Okay,” I agree with absolutely no hesitation. My body and my brain are both traitors, and neither seems to remember how to function when Declan is involved. “How come?”
“Because I said so,” he grumbles. He looks away, examining the needle in his hand as if it’s the most fascinating thing he’s seen all day.
“Tell me why,” I insist.
Declan’s eyes flit back to mine, his nearly black irises glinting in the overhead light. “I don’t want to sit back and watch while someone else has their hands on you,” he grits out.
“Oh.” I open my mouth, unsure what else to say, then snap it closed again. Because what do I even respond to that?
Declan chuckles and scoots closer. He runs his left forefinger along the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine that Iknowhe notices. That infuriating cocky smirk of his gives him away.
“Are you ready?”
“Sure,” I tell him. “I mean, yes.”
He grips my ear in one hand and holds the needle in the other. When he hovers over my upper ear with the needle, my whole body goes taut.
“Just relax,” he says, his voice low and gentle in my ear. He’s so close I can feel his breath skate across my cheek. “One quick pinch and then it’ll be over.”
I take a deep breath and try to let some of the tension out of my body. Declan gives me a few moments, then nods.
“Perfect,” he murmurs. “Here we go.”
I let out a long, slow breath and keep my eyes trained on the parts of Declan I can see from this angle – his stubble-covered cheek, his ear that’s surprisingly free of any piercings, his shoulder. When the needle pokes through my cartilage, I try my hardest not to flinch. Ithurts, but I remain still while Declan removes the needle and replaces it with a simple stud earring to match my others.
“That’s it, baby,” Declan murmurs. “You did good.”
Baby. The word echoes around my head like a ping-pong ball. He probably hadn’t meant anything by it; I’m sure it just slipped out.
Still, I can feel my cheeks flushing once again, against my will.
Declan hands me a mirror and I inspect his handiwork, turning my head to get a good look at the new jewelry in my ear. I smile, pleased with the result. I make a mental note to thank Grace for dragging me in here.
“I love it,” I tell Declan. “Thank you.”
I look up to find him staring down at me with a look I can’t decipher. His eyes dart between mine and my new piercing, and for some odd reason, his Adam’s apple bobs on a hard swallow.
“Declan?”
He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. “Sorry,” he mutters. “Glad you like it.”
“Let me see!” Grace calls out, hurrying across the shop with Eddie in tow. I climb out of the chair and show off my new jewelry while she does the same.
Sean, who I hadn’t even realized wasn’t at his station, emerges from the back of the shop and wanders over to us.
