Barber Shop Ink: Always Blue in Memphis

by Penny Blush

  Chapter 21 Hedge

  I woke up, what felt like hours later, in my bed, fully dressed and alone. I got up, used the bathroom, removed my makeup, brushed my teeth and put on my PJ's. Wearing a Wonder Woman tank-top and frilly boy shorts, I sleepily padded out to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

  I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and walked back into the lounge room, heading for my bed when movement and the sound of rustling plastic caught my attention. I turned, my heart pounding a million miles a minute and found Memphis attempting to sleep on my two-seater couch, the larger one, still wrapped in plastic. I stood looking at his tall frame, draped across the sofa. He looked downright uncomfortable.

  Why was he trying to sleep there, when I had a perfectly good king bed in my room?

  I walked over to him and without thinking crawled onto his lap, looking at his sleeping form. Memphis was insanely hot when he was awake, but asleep he had a quiet beauty about him. I sat there, watching him sleep, listening to the soft rumble of his snoring. His face relaxed in sleep; all his worry lines melting away. I may have only known him for a few months, but even I could tell that he was more stressed than usual. I took his face in my hands, stroking my thumbs across his beard covered cheeks.

  "Memphis Baby, what possibly could have you so damn worried?" I whispered, lowering my lips to his to kiss him awake.

  He looked like such a little boy as he stirred, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "Hey Baby Girl, what are you doing awake?" he murmured.

  “I woke up in bed alone,” I replied, kissing him again, a long soft caressing kiss. As much as I wanted to go further, I was too exhausted. I just wanted to sleep, wrapped in his arms.

  "Well, I didn't want to presume that I was welcome," giving me two quick kisses in reply, "in your bed."

  “Memphis.”

  “Yes Hedge.”

  “Come to bed with me.”

  “Hedge ….” He started growling.

  "Hush Memphis, as much as I want your sexy ass, I'm too damn tired. I just want to go to sleep." I looked in his sleepy eyes, running a hand through his beard. "No offence Baby, but you look like crap and you need sleep too, restful sleep in an actual bed," I kissed him again because, well, because I could.

  “You think my ass is sexy?” He asked with a sleepy sly smile.

  “Shut up Memphis,” I smiled back, playfully smacking him on the chest before sliding off his lap, standing in front of him, holding out my hand, “come to bed.”

  Memphis stood, taking my hand, letting me lead him into my bedroom. I curled up in bed, watching Memphis undress toeing off his boots and socks. The way his shoulders, arms, and chest moved as he reached behind him, made my breath catch as he began dragging his tee over his head. His now shirtless body, revealing the broad expanse of his torso and chest, unveiling a colourful array of tattoos that my eyes were drawn too but were too tired to focus on.

  Watching the man move, I rolled onto my side, resting on my elbow, my head in my palm, taking in the show. Memphis winked at me as he undid his belt, popped the buttons on his jeans then slowly slid them down his long, sturdy legs.

  Memphis stood at the foot of my bed in nothing but a pair of dark boxer briefs, tattoos decorating his right leg. Sweet-Mary-mother-of-all-that-is-holy, the man is a fucking god. I licked my lips giggling as he crawled up the bed towards me, the mattress dipping under his weight.

  "Baby Girl, don't you go laughing at me when I just stripped down to my trunks." He dropped his weight down on me, pinning me against the mattress, making me giggle more.

  “Memphis, please,” I kept giggling.

  “Please, what Hedge?” He asked, kissing his way down the side of my neck.

  Grabbing his face, I looked into his sparkling eyes saying breathlessly, "Memphis you're massive. Baby, you're crushing me."

  Laughing, he rolled off me, slipping under the covers, reaching out, dragging me across the bed to him, wrapping his arms around me, my back against his front.

  "There," he said, kissing me on the sensitive spot behind my ear, draping his arm across my hip, "that's much better."

  I melted into him. I turned my head, capturing his lips, sighing into the kiss, "Baby, you comfortable now?" I asked, running my nose along the line of his jaw, breathing him in.

  He gripped my hip, pushing his knee between mine until he wedged his thigh between my legs. "Now I'm comfortable," he said, kissing my jaw, cheek, and lips.

  “Memphis, behave,” I warned.

  “But we didn’t get to finish our earlier conversation,” he replied, kissing me again.

  Speaking of previous conversations, I said rolling onto my back so that I could look into his eyes, "Memphis."

  “Yes Hedge”

  “Please don’t play with me,” I quietly pleaded.

  “Hedge, but I want to play with you,” he replied, his fingers tickling my belly where my tank had risen.

  I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but I needed to get out what I wanted to say. It had been weighing on my mind, and it needed to be said to protect my sanity and my heart.

  "Memphis I'm serious," I said closing my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts. I felt his lips on mine in a soft kiss. I opened my eyes to Memphis giving me an encouraging smile. Looking into the depths of his beautiful, dual colour eyes, I said the thing that I feared the most. "You could break me if I let you."

  “Baby Girl, talk to me," he crooned smoothing my hair behind my ear, "what's causing you to worry your pretty little head?"

  The way he looked at me the gentleness of his voice, calmed my nerves enough to express what was weighing heavy on my heart.

  "Memphis, I don't know what is happening between the two of us, but to me, it seems real," he nodded for me to continue. "I have never felt whatever this is that’s between us, for anyone before in my life. Ever. It's so intense Memphis, and I'm scared," I finished in a whisper.

  Time seemed to stretch out as Memphis lay beside me studying my face. Shit! Me and my stupid mouth, I’d said too much too soon. We had only known each other a few months. I’m a lot fucking smarter than this! I would never lay it all out on the line like this. My heart sunk with the realisation that I had just blown my chance at something that could have been phenomenally life changing. I closed my eyes, feeling tears running across my cheeks, I turned my face away from him succumbing to the grief, mourning the loss of something that hadn’t even started. After what felt like an eternity, Memphis spoke.

  "Hedge," I didn't reply I just kept my head turned as my tears silently fell. "Hedge, Baby Girl, please, look at me," I kept my eyes closed but allowed him to turn my face back towards his gently. "Please, Sweetness, please look at me," he kissed my cheeks, softly kissing away the tears that continued to fall.

  "You are the most amazingly beautiful, sweet..." I opened my eyes, "tough, badass, vulnerable, complicated woman I have ever met." I saw his smile through my watery eyes, he brushed my ever-flowing tears from my cheeks, kissing me softly and sweetly, "and you scare the shit out of me."

  "W...W... What?" I asked trying to steady my trembling lip. "I frighten you?"

  “Umm-hum."

  “Why?” I asked barely above a whisper.

  "Because you could break my heart," he kissed me halting my reply. "If that happened I don't think I would ever recover," before I had a chance to respond his lips touched mine; it was a slow, softly passionate kiss that had my head spinning. "Hedge, whatever this is, it’s important to me. You are important to me, please don't doubt that."

  "But you keep walking away from me," I couldn't help the insecurity I felt seeping into my voice.

  "Not my choice" I wanted to protest and argue that it is his choice; every time he walked away, he chose to leave. “There is some left-over bullshit from my Pops that I have to deal with that I really and truly wish I could tell you about, but it's safer for you if you don't know."

  “Memphis what is that supposed to mean?”

  “I’m w
orking as hard as I can to sort this shit out. Please, just trust me Baby Girl okay."

  A million questions were running through my head, but with everything that had happened in the last six months, this afternoon at the BBQ and tonight in my bed I was emotionally drained, and exhaustion hit me like a freight train. “Memphis just please don’t lie to me, I want you to talk to me and be honest with me. Okay."

  He answered me with a kiss, lingering and unhurried. “Are you feeling better now sweetness?”

  “Umm-hum."

  "You sure? Cause you seem like you could use some convincing," he grinned.

  With a cheeky glint in his eye, he walked his long fingers across my skin laying his palm flat on my stomach. His thumb under the edge of my tank top and his pinkie finger dipping under the waistband of my sleep shorts, the heaviness of the mood lifting.

  "Memphis, what are you doing?" I asked my skin prickling, where his firm hand touched me. "Baby, I do feel better, and I'm sorry for making things feel depressing," I reached up capturing his face bringing his lips back to mine. "But I'm tired."

  "Hedge I want you to know that you don't have to hide from me. I want you to talk to me okay; you can tell me what you're feeling." The cheeky look was back in his eyes as he slid a hand under my tank top his fingers tracing my ribs as his thumb brushed the underside of my breast. "Tell me Baby Girl what you are feeling right now," he whispered, his thumb gliding across my nipple.

  "Baaaaby," I moaned, capturing his hand. "Memphis I'm just so exhausted we're just supposed to be going to sleep, remember. Besides, consider this penance for walking out on me earlier."

  "I know Baby Girl. I'm sorry. I'll take my punishment." He sighed, placing one last kiss on my lips, "I know you're tired, I'm tired too," he winked at me tilting his chin for me to roll over. "This will just have to do for the moment," I moved to my side, and he snuggled against me again. "Let's just sleep, for now, get some energy back and then we can have some fun in the morning.”

  I lay there, wrapped in his arms, his leg once again between my thighs, comforted by his musky heat. As I let the Sandman sweep me up and take me away to dreamland, I thought I heard him whisper, "Sleep sweetly Baby Girl", as I drifted off into the most peaceful sleep I've had in months.

  Chapter 22 Hedge

  I woke with a smile on my face, feeling energised and rested. I rolled over, stretching my hand out searching for Memphis and found nothing but a cold, empty bed. I got up and walked into the kitchen following the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

  "Memphis, Baby," I called out, but no response came.

  On the kitchen counter, I found a box of pastries and a large vanilla latte on top of a hand-written note:

  Morning Baby Girl,

  I know I said that I would be here when you woke, but Garry from the butchers called, their fridge broke down overnight, and he needed help.

  I would have preferred to stay in bed with you, then go and help move a shit tonne of meat but he was desperate. I have roped Jax and Bishop into helping also, so hopefully, I should be back with you soon.

  Please have some breakfast, drink your coffee and go back to bed, you deserve a break.

  I’ll be back soon as I can.

  Memphis xxx

  There was no way that I could go back to sleep. I ate breakfast, had my coffee, showered then went down to clean up from last night. I was pissed off that he had done it to me again, but at least this time I knew why he had gone and really, I couldn't be mad when he was helping out one of the shop owners. I had met Garry he was a nice old man, ex-military and I had a soft spot for military men.

  I finished cleaning the yard and then with nothing else to do on a Sunday, I went back to my apartment and got to work on unpacking.

  I got a few messages throughout the day from both Jax and Memphis, to let me know that it was a bigger job than they had expected. All the boys had helped move all the stock from the butchers into a portable cool-room that Garry had hired and then hung around waiting for a friend of Bishop's who said that he could come out and have a look at the shop cool-room. If the fridge is repairable, Bishop's friend will do the job for cash, if it couldn't, there would be no charge. Garry offered to pay for all the boys' time in steaks, being full-blown meat-a-sauruses, the boys graciously accepted.

  I had just finished unpacking all my clothes and sorting out my wardrobe when my phone rang. I couldn’t help the little heart flutter when I saw that it was Memphis calling.

  “I woke up alone,” I said by way of answering.

  “Baby Girl, come on, you know I didn’t want to leave you. I woke up with you lying on my chest all warm and soft. Do you know what I thought?”

  “No, what were you thinking?” I asked, unable to keep the smile on my face from seeping into my voice.

  “That this was the only way I wanted to wake up from now on, with you in my arms.”

  I couldn’t help the happy dance, jumping up and down, silently screaming upon hearing his words. Clearing my throat trying to sound like I wasn’t ready to jump out of my skin with excitement, I said hopeful, “Baby, are you finished? You could come back here, you know if you want.”

  “Sorry, Baby Girl,” he chuckled, “I seem to be saying that to you a lot, but I am sorry.” He sounded tired. “We’re still going here. Garry’s daughter and grandkids just brought down some food, so we’re just having a quick break before we get back to it.”

  Sinking onto my bed, I asked, "Do you know what happened?" My sheets and pillow still smelt like him. I curled around the Memphis scented pillow, listening to him talk.

  “Not too sure, this thing is older than Moses. Darris, Bishop's friend, has just about had to rebuild the whole thing - motor, cooling system and all." He blew out a tired breath. I could picture him in my mind, toeing the ground, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

  “Baby, you sound tired.”

  “I am. Apparently, I don’t need a decent night’s sleep to function,” he joked.

  "When you're all done, you can come back here, that way you don't have to go all the way home." As I made the suggestion, I realised that I didn't even know where he lived.

  "Baby Girl, I would love nothing more, but I'm filthy, I smell like meat, and I don't have a clean set of clothes."

  "Oh. Okay. No worries," I replied, deflated.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t have anything to wear to work tomorrow.”

  "It's fine Memphis, really you don't have to justify yourself to me."

  "Hedge,"

  “Yes, Memphis.”

  "I like going to sleep with you. I love waking up with you, and I plan on that happening a lot more preferably naked," I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke.

  "Maybe you should leave an emergency stash of clothes here?"

  I couldn't help but giggle. The man makes me all giggly.

  "I might just do that," I could hear Jax calling out to him in the background. "If it's not too late, I'll call to say good night, if not I'll see you at work tomorrow."

  I couldn’t help the disappointment that seeped into my voice as I quietly said, "okay."

  I didn't want him to feel pressured into staying or like he was under any obligation. Apart from the fact that I wanted to screw his brains out, I just really wanted to spend time with him, he makes me feel things. Things that I now know, I never felt for Thomas. Besides, the man makes the most fabulous snuggle pillow.

  “Hedge,”

  “Yes, Memphis.”

  “If I don’t get to say it to you later, sleep sweetly Baby Girl.”

  I didn’t get to speak with him or see him again that night. I went to sleep, cuddled up to my Memphis scented pillow - it was a poor substitute for the real thing.

  I woke, alone and slightly disappointed by that fact, but excited and ready to start my first official day as a full-time employee of Barber Shop Ink.

  I stood in my kitchen eating Nutella and banana on toast when there was a knock on my do
or. A nervous flutter went through my chest hoping that it was Memphis, but no.

  "Hey Jensen, what are you doing here? How did you get in the outer door?" I asked, standing back to let him in. At my question, he raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh right … Silly question."

  I met Jenson during a more, shall we say sketchier part of my life.

  “Haun sent me with this,” he said, handing me a package.

  I took the black wooden box from Jenson with silent reverence and gently placed in on the counter, treating it like a delicately fragile bird egg. A package from Haun Morimoto could only mean one thing.

  “Kid, you gonna open it, or just keep staring at it?” Jenson watched me looking at the box like it held the secrets of the world.

  "It's silly I know, it's just that it has been so long," I murmured.

  I ran a finger delicately along the top of the box. Taking a deep breath, I popped the latch opening the lid of the box and there, nestled on soft, red velvet was my blade master tools. The very expensive tools of my hairdressing trade, my scissors, thinners, and razors.

  I let out a happy cry. It had been forever since I held my blades. Once my tools were discharged from the evidence locker, I had them sent to Haun to look over to make sure they weren't damaged and to repair them if needed. These weren't just any ordinary hairdressing blades these were handmade by Haun Morimoto, the Blade Master.

  Haun made custom tools using the same ancient techniques that were used to make Katana swords. By rolling and folding layers of steel on top of each other several times, it created millions of thin layers ensuring that the blade remained strong and sharp. They were perfect for cutting hair. I had saved up for what felt like forever to be able to afford them. The mastery employed in the making of the blades was transferred to me when I used them; they made me a better stylist. I loved the way they felt in my hands, the precision they afforded. The blades and tools that Haun created for me were genuine works of art, and I cherished them and loved them as if they were my children.

  "You okay over there, kid?" Jensen asked in his gruff voice.