Page 69 of Live Love Lasso

Today ain’t the day for us to explore vampire orgies, though.

I step to the glass-top front desk and slap my credit card down. “Cairn, this is Lemon. And, yeah, she’s what we’re workin’ on.”

Lemon’s silent as he reaches out and shakes her hand.

He waves toward the back. “Furyon, get your shirt off. We’re in Bay 1. I’ll grab my things and be with you shortly.” He disappears through a dark red curtain toward the storeroom.

I slip my fingers through Lemon’s and pull her around the desk, past rows of books with tattoo ideas. Locating Bay 1—Cairn’s work area—I press Lemon onto the extra stool in front of the work table.

She smiles up at me, the tears gone as her gaze roves over my face. Finally, she’s looking a little bit more like herself.

“Take my shirt off,” I command, hopping onto the table and pulling her rolling stool around between my thighs.

Her nostrils flare, and she smirks, but she dutifully pulls each button open. The snick of the pearl snaps makes me hard, which ain’t exactly ideal given that Cairn’s going to show up at any moment. But I want to get my woman outta the shitty headspace her family put her in.

Lemon stands and pushes my shirt off my shoulders, sliding it down my arms. She has to lean forward to get it all the way off me, and I love how she hovers close enough for me to bury my nose in her throat and suck in a deep, appreciative breath.

Cairn clears his throat. “You two ain’t gonna be canoodling this whole time, are ya? ‘Cause I am not liable for what this tat looks like if you can’t be still, Furyon.”

I chuckle as I lie backward on the table. Cairn pumps a pedal with his foot, and the top half rises until I’m basically seated in a recliner. Lemon watches in silence.

Cairn pulls on gloves and turns his gun on, dipping it into the magical silver dye he uses for my work. He looks down the bridge of his nose. “This design is intricate, Furyon. I wasn’t kiddin’ about you being still.”

I grin.

He looks over at Lemon. “Don’t distract him, pretty thing.”

She nods dutifully.

“It’s your face,” I say with a low, possessive laugh. “So I can feel you even better than I do now.”

Lemon’s mouth drops open. Cairn bends over my chest and gets started. The pinch of pain is nothing compared to the look of shock and need on my woman’s face as she watches him carefully outline her delicate, gorgeous features. He and I designed this earlier this week. It’s her with a soft smile, long hair flowing in the breeze. It’s Lemon all wild and free, the way I think she’s meant to be. It’s her the way I saw her at the bull riding event.

Happy.

He works fast, and she holds my hand, eyes locked onto Cairn as he moves between the thin lines and refilling his gun with ink. He’s fucking masterful with a tattoo gun, and the work only takes about half an hour. I don’t flinch, and I don’t look away from my woman. I hold her hand lightly in my lap, stroking her fingers as I admire her.

“How does this work, exactly?” She sits quietly by my side, watching Cairn’s careful strokes.

I focus on her, ignoring the pinch of the tattoo gun. “You know, of course, that dark elf power means we read other monsters well, and we channel that into the types of jobs you’d expect—security, healing, law enforcement. For me, I always sensed animals more strongly than other monsters, and I prefer their company too.”

Cairn looks up with a wink. “That’s why he gets on with me, on account of my wolf side.”

Lemon laughs and waves at the tattoo. “And the tattoo does what?”

Cairn waves at the jar of silver ink. “This is spelled ink. Very expensive but used to enhance a monster’s natural abilities…whatever those may be. So, in the case of Furyon, it helps him get a better read on our animal population.”

Lemon tucks her feet under her butt and leans forward. “And you need to read me better, for some reason?”

“Always,” I say with a soft smile, resisting the urge to thread my fingers through her pale hair. “Plus, I been savin’ that spot for you, city girl.”

Her smile grows thoughtful.

“Done.” Cairn sets his gun down and swivels slightly away, eyeing the work. “Damn, I’m good. Looks just like you.” He grins over at Lemon, who leans over my chest and cocks her head to one side.

“Wow, it really does.” She laughs and plants her hands on her hips. “You’re stuck with me now, Furyon. If we bust up, you’ll never be able to forget me.”

I sit up and swing my legs over the edge, pulling her between my thighs. “I couldn’t forget you if I tried, Lemon. You’re the only thing on my mind all day. That ain’t ever gonna change.”