Page 32 of Ink

Thirteen

INK

Ispend the rest of the day pissed off to no end because my one client of the day isn’t a talker.

That leaves me having to listen to Derrick’s voice all afternoon. Usually, tattooing works out any emotions I have. I get lost in the art. It’s therapeutic.

Not today.

All I want to do is punch that son of bitch’s face in.

Thinking he can hit on my staff like we all don’t know where his trash ass has been. It’s a fucking insult that he even tried it knowing I would never let something like that slide.

Sutton was almost unrecognizable this morning. When I came out to see who Gage was talking to, I thought it was a walk in. What kept me in pursuit of seeing her face instead of going back to my room and minding my own business was the hair color. The black faded into my favorite color, midnight blue. My brain didn’t have a chance to catch up to my body that was already on the trajectory of seeing what the face of the person with the most gorgeous hair I’ve ever seen looked like.

I know the man downstairs wouldn’t do me so dirty to make the only thing I can’t stop staring at ugly. It looked so thick and luscious. I couldn’t stop picturing all of it wrapped around my hands as she sucks my cock.

But when she turned around?

I felt like I was stuck in a trance because somehow the big, round hazel eyes that trapped me the first time I saw her standing in my lobby snatched my soul. And she has no fucking clue. No fucking clue.

All of this is doing my head in. I’ve never been this guy. I’m the charmer. The sweet talker. The one all the club girls feel like they can be vulnerable with until all they want to do is fuck away their feelings.

I don’t think I’ve ever been unable to form a sentence in my life, especially around a woman, but Sutton did that for me. She looked like a different person but also looked exactly like she should have been looking like, all at the same time.

And I’m sure as fuck not about to let all of that beauty be wasted on a douche canoe like Derrick.

“You ready to head out, darlin’?” I yell to Sutton while I’m finishing up cleaning my room.

“Yeah!” Her soft voice carries from up front.

“Don’t worry about lockin’ up. Gage will do it. His client is still here.”

“Kay!”

A few moments later, Sutton is standing in my doorway with her bag in hand, ready to go. I keep my face even, but I’m shocked she didn’t give me lip about taking her home today.

I knew the blond hair didn’t suit her. She looks so full of life now. A life I know she hasn’t lived.

“Let’s go, darlin’.”

I hit the lights and follow close behind her toward the back entrance. As we pass Gage’s room, I see Derrick is still on the table, staring at us as we walk by.

“You walkin’ home?” Gage asks Sutton as he looks up at her briefly, pausing her from walking by.

“No,” she mumbles. Gone from earlier was the woman who almost accepted the date, and in her place was the Sutton I knew before she dyed her hair.

Taking a larger step so I’m inches from touching her ass, I give him a head nod as I grab my junk just for Derrick, letting him know what’s up. “I’ve got her.”

Fucker.

A satisfied smile takes over my face as I start up my bike, knowing that Derrick hears the pipes loud and clear as we pull out of the alley with Sutton on the back.

This time when I pull into the motel parking lot, I cut the engine.

“How’d you get here?” I ask once she’s off my bike.

Sutton lowers her brow as the confusion sets in from my question. “You just drove me here…”