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“Twelve,” I say.
“Well, let’s get to it. Don’t want this one chickening out.” He winks at Olivia, then he guides us down the hallway to an open area with tattoo chairs. When Olivia enters, Ryke stops me by clasping my shoulder. “Congrats, man. I know what this tattoo means to you.”
With that, he turns and rubs his hands together. “So, where’s this tattoo going? Do we need a private room?”
“Private room?” She blinks rapidly before her gaze slingshots to mine, wanting an answer.
“Do you need to take any clothes off for where you want the tattoo?”
“Oh!” Her eyes go wide. “No. No private room is needed.”
“Where am I putting the tattoo?”
Olivia holds up her right hand. “On my wrist.” Ryke guides her to take a seat in a black, leather tattoo chair. He then gets to work tracing the skeleton key design onto transfer paper.
I pull up a stool on her left side so I can be with her for her first time. She stretches out her hand to me. I intertwine my fingers with hers and softly rub the pad of my thumb over the soft skin of her palm.
“What was that with Ryke? A man moment?”
I laugh. “Something like that.” Bending down, I place a kiss on her wrist.
A few minutes later, Ryke returns and stretches on a pair of black latex gloves. He tells her everything he’s going to do as he preps the area. He asks her which direction she wants the tattoo to face, and she tells him. The buzzing of the tattoo gun fires up, the only sound in the room. On the first touch of the gun to her skin, Olivia pinches her eyes closed and flings her head toward me. She inhales a sharp breath through her nose and then slowly lets it out. A few seconds later, she slowly opens her eyes, meeting mine.
“You got this, duchess. I’m here for you.”
All she does is nod her head.
Over the next thirty minutes, I continue to hold her hand. When the pain subsides and she relaxes, she sneaks glances at Ryke’s work as it comes together. Every swirl, every line connecting to make the perfect piece of art. Something my girl will have with her forever. She’ll have a piece of me forever.
When Ryke is finished, he pushes his stool away. “You’re all done.”
She lifts her arm to inspect her wrist. The shape of a skeleton key is outlined in red. “Oh my God. I love it,” she whispers.
Both of us admire the mostly black tattoo with areas of shading. At the bow are three circles connected by half swirls on the side, along with a few other decorative design elements. At the beginning of the shank is another circle, and at the end is the bit with three notches.
“Did it hurt?”
“At first it was startling, but eventually I got used to it.”
“I have to ask, why your right wrist?”
She smiles, soft and sweet. “So, whenever I press my palm to your heart, I’m unlocking it.”
“You and me against the world. Together, we’re unstoppable.” My words are quiet so only she can hear. She mouths “I love you.”
Just then, Ryke reappears with some ointment and a wrap for her new ink. After he’s finished with her aftercare and providing direction for what she needs to do at home, I grip her other hand, intertwining my fingers with hers. “Let’s go home.” Our home. And fuck, it feels good to say that.
THIRTY-SEVEN
EXORCISE A FEW DEMONS
Olivia
My eyes flutter open and I attempt to stretch my arms, but I’m pinned to the mattress. A big arm inked with colorful artwork is draped over my chest just below my breasts. A slow smile graces my lips. It’s been over a week since I’ve moved in with Ledger. I love seeing my things mixed with his, but most of all, I love waking up in his arms every morning. As if he knows I’m thinking about him, he pulls me closer.
I think he likes it too.
You’d never guess a thirty-one-year-old has never cohabitated with a guy before, but I always had my own house. And I very much enjoyed having my own space, so the desire to share with anyone didn’t exist. Until now. They say everything happens for a reason. Taking the seat next to Ledger, kissing him, and falling head over stilettos in love with him is my reason.
