"The eyes were something I've wanted for a while, but after I texted you, I heard someone humming this song, and then this popped into my head."
"Well, it's pretty sick."
She scrolls back to the second image. "These eyes are my favorite, but I like the flames on this other one a little bit better."
"Great. Let me switch them out and see what you think." I take the tablet back from her and make the edits she suggested. "How's that?"
"Fucking perfect." She's beaming. I love it when I can make a client smile like this. It makes me confident that they are actually in love with what I'm about to permanently ink on their body, rather than just saying yes so I don't feel bad. But something about B tells me she'd have no problem letting me know exactly what she thinks.
"Let's get started then."
"So do I take my shirt off now?"
I chuckle. "Yeah, you can take your shirt off now. There's a wrap right there on the chair that you can put over your chest if you're not wearing anything under your shirt. And there's a bathroom right around the corner if you wantto change in there." I turn my back for a second, pretending to do something at my workbench to give her a moment of privacy. Not like she wants that, but it's best practice. As hard as it is with her–for some dumb fucking reason–I need to be professional.
I don't know what it is about her. I've had plenty of beautiful women in my chair. I've tattooed labia, breasts, asses, you name it. All without batting an eye, but here I am getting nervous about this woman taking off her shirt behind me to expose her stomach.
"Ready."
I turn to find her sitting in the same spot–just topless–like she never moved. I noticed earlier that she wasn't wearing a bra under her shirt, her pierced nipples giving her away. Now she has the wrap I laid out binding her chest, leaving the rest of her upper body bare. I now have a clear view of all the art that covers her body. I force myself not to stare too long, but I can't help it.
"Should I lie down?"
"What? Yeah...yeah. Lay down."
She situates herself so she's in the center of the chair and lies back. "This good?"
"Perfect." It comes out as more of a whisper than I was intending. Fuck, that sounded creepy. But she does look so perfect lying there. "I'm going to go print out the stencil, and I'll be right back."
"I'll be here."
I walk around the corner to where our printer is set up. While the piece prints out in various sizes, I lean back against the wall and close my eyes.
"Dude." My eyes shoot open, startled by the sudden voice in the hallway with me. "You're so fucked."
I put my middle fingers up, but Arlo just chuckles,shaking their head, as they walk back into their office. My head is so messed up right now.
I grab the printed stencils and make my way back to where B is still lying there, playing on her phone.
"Actually, you can stand up for a second while we pick a size." She sits up and dangles her feet off the edge of the chair again. "Here are some options; let me know if you want it bigger or smaller."
"Bigger is always better."
I just can't help myself. "Well, you don't want to go too big."
"Right. It might not fit."
I know what she's doing. Why am I playing into it? Maybe because she seems very amused with herself, and I like it.
"Exactly."
She takes the stencils from me and stands in front of my mirror, holding each one to the upper portion of her stomach. When she finally decides on one, I place it dead center, just under her chest. When she's satisfied with the placement, she lies back down on the chair, and I get my supplies ready.
She chokes on a laugh when I approach her.
“What’s so funny now?”
“You’ve got a little…”
