Page 13 of Spring Break Fling

I bit my lip, hesitating. But my friends would eventually wear me down. We all knew it. “Okay, fine. He was incredible. Confident, passionate, attentive. His body is fucking amazing.” I took a deep breath, letting the memories wash over me. “He was unlike anyone I’ve ever been with before. So intense and focused, like he was determined to make it the most mind-blowing experience of my life. And he absolutely succeeded.”

Tara squealed with delight. “I knew it! That man was pure sex on a stick. I’m surprised you were able to walk straight after.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Barely. He’s… well-endowed.”

Rachel’s eyes widened comically. “No way. How did you even⁠—”

“Stop!” I gasped. “You guys are embarrassing me.”

They laughed at me, but it was all in good fun. We sipped our orange juice, each of us lost in our own thoughts for a moment. The bustle of the cafe faded into the background as my mind drifted back to last night.

I could still feel the ghost of Nikko’s touch on my skin, his hands roaming over every inch of me with a possessive hunger that had me melting into the mattress. The way he had taken control, guiding me through waves of indescribable pleasure, pushing me to heights I’d never dreamed possible. Just the memory was enough to set my body on fire. I almost fanned my face but knew they would all give me crap about it.

Last night was something out of a dream. I was glad it happened. I wasn’t the one-night stand type, but I didn’t regret it. He was a memory I was not going to forget. When I got back home to Idaho with my limited prospects, I was definitely going to be thinking about him.

We finished our brunch and walked outside. “Beach?” I asked.

Tara flashed a grin. “Nope. Tattoos.”

“You guys are getting tattoos?” I asked with surprise.

Tara linked her arm through mine. “You’re getting a tattoo. We all are.”

“No ifs, ands, or buts,” Maddie chimed in, her teacher voice in full effect.

“I’m not sure I want to,” I protested, though my voice lacked conviction. “I mean, I want the tattoo, but the pain…”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “You’re tougher than you give yourself credit for.”

Tara nudged me. “And don’t forget, you just survived Nikko. If you can handle him, you can handle a needle.”

“Guys, sex is for just one night,” I said. “Tattoos are forever.”

I should have known my protests would fall on deaf ears. They steered me toward the tattoo shop we had passed yesterday and I let them, although my steps were dragging. I had seen plenty of tattoo shops. There were different level shops. There were those that catered to the rough and tumble crowd that weren’t afraid of tetanus or any other diseases. Then there were those that were all shiny and clean. The one they were dragging me to was not one of the nice ones, raunchy and intimidating.

Maddie opened the door for us. I walked in, pushed up my sunglasses, and stopped dead in my tracks. There he was.

Nikko.

He was bent over, working on a tattoo on some guy’s bicep, his focus intense. The sight sent a wave of heat through me, followed by a mortifying rush of memories from last night. The way he’d looked at me. Touched me. The way he’d⁠—

I shook my head, trying to banish the thoughts before my cheeks caught fire. But then he glanced up, spotting me. His lips curled into a grin so wolfish it made my stomach flip.

“This is a bad idea,” I blurted out, half to myself.

“Shut up,” Rachel said, giving me a little push. “This is a great idea.”

“That’s him,” I hissed, pointing slyly at Nikko, who was now wrapping up his client’s tattoo with what looked like plastic wrap.

My friends exchanged gleeful looks.

“Well, what a small world.” Tara grinned.

“Did you know?” I hissed. “Are you guys trying to set me up?”

“Nope,” Maddie said. “This is a happy accident.”

A young woman with a sharp bob and a sharper attitude greeted us from behind the counter. She looked like a biker chick. Black eyeliner, a nose ring, and tattoos up her arms and even on her fingers made her look edgy. She was wearing all black with combat boots. “Hey there. What can we do for you today?”