“Only you.”
“Let’s go eat. I’m starving after the workout Link gave me last night.”
“I don’t need to know the details of your sex life.”
“Oh whatever.” She loops her arm through mine. “I have to know. Did Roane live up to his reputation?”
I make the motion of locking my lips and throwing away the key.
“Don’t you dare. Tell me everything. Well okay not everything but is he really that big?” She holds her hands apart guessing his size.
“Bigger. Much bigger.” I giggle as her brown eyes widen.
“Well damn. And you ain’t even walkin’ funny. My baby sister is a ho.”
“You aren’t wrong. The things he can make me do…” I bump my hip against hers and we both laugh.
I end up driving my car to the restaurant, so we don’t have to swing back by Pam’s for it later. We end up at a pizza joint and arcade. One I used to come to after school when we dated.
“C’mere and look at this.” Roane motions me to a wall of photographs and points. There’s a picture of us. His arm is around me and we both have the cheesiest grins plastered on our faces. I lean into him and he pecks my lips with a soft kiss. “You and me were always meant to be, baby doll.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. C’mon. Let’s order.”
I slide into the booth next to my man and I can’t help but embrace the giddy feeling washing over me. This is what I’ve been missing. Roane. Pam. Even Link.
This is right.
He’s right.
I belong with Roane.
**
“You ready for this?” Pam stands behind the chair in Roane’s shop ready to hold my hand if needed.
Roane is taking his sweet time sketching a unique design. He does this for every client. He doesn’t do the same tattoo twice. He goes through all the prep steps and I put in headphones, turning my playlist up loud to drown out the sound, I close my eyes. I’m unable to watch. If this wasn’t so important to him, I wouldn’t be going through with this. The last time I had blood drawn I fainted on the spot. I feel a small stinging sensation and it’s not as bad as I imagined. The process takes longer than I’d like but it definitely could be worse.
After an hour and a half, Roane’s lips press against mine. He pulls an earbud out and I open my eyes. “All done. You did great. Come look in the mirror before I bandage your wrist.”
It’s a black and grey shaded lotus flower with tribal patterned leaves and his name around it. It’s beautiful.
“The lotus is a sign of rebirth, the leaves represent growth, and I think my name is obvious.”
“I love it. Thank you.” I cup his furry jaw and go in for a kiss. His tongue probes deep and wet against mine. The way this man kisses ought to be a crime. So good. I pull back realizing I don’t hear my sister’s sassy mouth. “Where’s Pam?” I look around for my sister.
“Her and Link had to get to the clubhouse. She said she’d see you tomorrow. Let’s get you bandaged so we can go up and get ready for bed.”
“Sounds good to me.” I help Roane clean up after he bandages my tattoo. “Did you mean it that you wanted my help with managing your shop?”
“Yup.”
“Wouldn’t you get sick of spending so much time with me?”
“Never.” His arms come around me, cupping my backside and giving me a squeeze.
Chapter 10