Page 64 of Perfect Chaos

“Same side or opposite sides?”

“Let's do the same side.”

“You got it. I’ll have you sit down for this, but I can't exactly tattoo you with the hoodie on, though.”

“Right, my bad.” I remove my hoodie, revealing the plain black tank top with a built in bra I'm wearing underneath, before climbing onto the tattoo table next to Atlas. My feet swing back and forth in the air as I try not to pick at the skin on my thumb.

“First tattoo?” There’s a hint of both amusement and understanding in Malik’s voice as he strips off the gloves he had on, throwing them away.

“How did you know?” It is all I can do to not let my voice tremble, despite my excitement.

“Other than the lack of ink, your feet swinging gave you away.” He does chuckle at that, while replacing the ink cups and filling them.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Most women sit better than men.” I know I am not the only one who catches the hidden meaning when the pink-haired girl coughs and Gavin clears his throat.

“Really?”

“Really. I've seen grown men cry while women take a nap.”

He repeats the same process he did with Atlas. He covers the areas I point to in cling film before moving out of the way.

Atlas tilts his head to the side, inspecting both spots as he slides off the table. “Whose bite do you want where?”

“I want yours on my collarbone, and Gavin’s on my trap muscle. I want us to match. I figured it was only fair since this is technically his idea.”

Both of them nod their heads, moving instinctively. Atlas parts my legs, caging me in at the same time I feel Gavin press against my back. The feeling is so intense, so unexpected when they simultaneously bite down on their respective film. I feel both sets of hands digging into my hips, grounding me as pain explodes across my skin before quickly fading to pure heat at being between them like this. Atlas presses his hips into me. I can feel the thick ridge of him against my core. Gavin’s heat at my back and Atlas in front of me, at the same time short circuits my senses. My body moves on its own accord, trying to get closer to Atlas, chasing more of the sensations they are giving me. I wrap one leg around his waist, careful to avoid his fresh tattoo. My own hips try to rock against him but their iron grip keeps me locked in place when they bite down harder. My head drops back against Gavin, my mouth parted and I can feel how wet I am. I have to cover my mouth to keep most of my moan from slipping out. My eyes snap open and widen in surprise at myself. Of course I would get turned on by being bitten.

The guys release at the same time, quickly stepping back and I wouldn’t put it past them to have been using their eyes to communicate. I instantly miss the closeness of both of them. Malik mumbles under his breath and I see him adjust himself in his jeans. Oops, it looks like we are affecting him as well.

My mind is in a haze as I try to come down from the high I just experienced. Malik removes the film, snaps on new black gloves then begins tracing my bite mark on my trap muscle first. I watch while he sets up his tattoo gun with a fresh needle. Once the mark is outlined, he moves to my front and repeats the process. When he is satisfied that he has the bites good enough, he turns on the gun, filling the needle with ink. I feel bad making the man hard before he has to tattoo me. It’s not entirely my fault. I am glad to see that he keeps his professional composure tightly in place.

The first drag of the needle across my trapezoid muscle burns but it’s also soothing in a way. The shock makes the adrenaline course through me, dulling any pain I thought I would have and I feel like it is a feeling I may become addicted to. It’s mentally freeing. All the stress and tension from the last few weeks bleed out from my body as he inks Gavin’s and Atlas’ marks onto me forever. My collarbone hurts slightly worse than my trap, causing me to hiss through my teeth and grip the bed tightly as I adjust to the change in feeling and pressure of the needle grazing my bone.

Once my bites are done with the ointment and the second skin is in place, I hop down. Atlas pulls me into him when Gavin sits in the chair in the room instead of on the bed like Atlas and I had been. Malik inspects Gavin’s arm, shaking his head. “Damn man, what did you do?” After putting on fresh gloves, he leans over Gavin and begins tracing all of the places that need to be redone with a red marker.

“Car accident; the airbags burned me.” Gavin avoids eye contact with all of us as he says it, the melancholy lingering underneath his soft tone. My chest caves and my own eyes blur with tears as I fight the memory of what he went through. I know it’s a touchy subject. He feels like he failed us by getting captured and I'm hoping that covering up the scars will help him heal.

“I'm sorry to hear that.” There is genuine remorse in Malik’s voice as he finishes his doodling on Gavin and sits up.

“It's fine. Just tell me if you can fix it.” Gavin says it dismissively, obviously ready for a change in conversation.

“What kind of question is that? You know I can.” Malik’s humor lightens the mood.

“Good, I can't have Atlas' sleeve looking better than mine.”

All three men laugh at that, and it feels real and wholesome. The feeling is something we all could use a little more of lately.

Malik goes through the process of refilling inks and changing to a fresh needle again. Gavin takes a deep breath and settles back against the chair, relaxing and letting the breath out. His eyes flutter closed as soon as the needle touches his skin and he remains that way the entire time. He doesn’t make a sound, only moving when Malik directs him to do so. I don’t see him this at ease very often. Gavin’s tattoo takes a little bit longer than Atlas’ and mine did. We silently watch as Malik works, the moment feeling too heavy for conversation.

Malik works with undivided focus and dedication. He probably knows how important this touch-up is to Gavin. He goes back over a few spots, making sure they are perfect before setting the tattoo gun down. He cleans off the tattoo, applies the same ointment and second skin to Gavin as he did to Atlas and I. Now that Gavin’s tattoo is complete, Atlas and I both seem to breathe a little easier when Malik leans back to stretch and then moves to clean his station, letting us know that we can pay Sofi at the front counter. I'm assuming that is the name of the woman with pink hair because I haven’t seen any other person for the entire time we have been here.

I wait until both the boys pay, splitting the amount evenly, before I spring my plan into motion. I grab both of their biceps as we walk towards the car.

“Can we go to Elixirs tonight? It's Saturday.”

“I don't know if that's a good idea, Little Tornado.”