Sacred Skin

by Terra Sinclair

  Brooks wasted no time doing what I asked, his pulled his fingers out swiftly, leaving me gaping. A moment later, I could feel the tip of his cock at my entrance. Brooks lowered his body down on top of mine and let out a deep breath before pushing inside.

  “Oh my god,” he groaned. Brooks stilled inside me, looking down at me as he supported his weight on his bulging arms. “Leo.”

  I closed my eyes, letting the feeling overwhelm me. There was no going back now. I belonged to Brooks. It was plain and not so fucking simple. I was falling hard and fast for the tattooed man.

  “Please baby. Please fuck me,” I whispered.

  Brooks moved, thrusting his hips over and over as his thick cock scraped against my prostate. I rolled my hips beneath him, wanting him deeper. Desperately wanting that connection. I reached for my slick cock, wrapping my fist around it and tugging. With each thrust of heat, Brooks was branding me. Leaving his mark. I shuddered as Brooks cried out, letting me know he was on the edge. I was right there with him and as I felt Brooks’ cock pulsing inside me, I clenched around him, milking the last of his pleasure out as he cried my name. I came with him, white hot cum spraying between our torsos before Brooks fell on top of me, his chest heaving and his whole body trembling. All I could do was lie there and take in everything that had just happened. Everything that had just changed.

  14 Brooks

  Leo left early for work, but not before a quickie. I had held him all night. I lay mostly awake, scared that if I would move, he’d wake up and the spell would be broken. Leo and I had slept together. Twice. And I couldn’t shake just how amazing it had been. I’d slept with a fair bit of women in my time but nothing was like this. Being with Leo was different and it wasn’t just because he was a dude. We connected. Really connected. I could tell he felt it too.

  I went through my morning workout routine, feeling pumped about the day. When I’d showered and gotten ready for work, I made my way down the street to the shop. Sacred Skin was only a block away from my apartment building and I felt like taking in the crisp morning air and contemplating all that had happened the night before.

  When I got to the shop, I was startled to find Pyro and one of his buddies waiting out the front. I spied Marlena through the window. To say she looked pissed was an understatement. She scowled at me and turned away to disappear behind the screen.

  “What are you doing here? I’m not supposed to pay you for another week,” I said, keeping my confidence as I spoke to the men. It was the kind of attitude you needed to give people like Pyro or they’d walk all over you.

  “Boss is away next week so he wants his collections early,” Pyro said, walking towards me with his arms stiff at his side. He was about a foot shorter than me but made up for it in stockiness. He looked like he could survive a bullet or three to his midsection.

  “A bit of warning would have been nice. I don’t have the cash right now,” I told him, my heart suddenly beating like a drum as I thought about Jay and what could happen to him if I missed a payment. I sighed. “Can you come back later?”

  Pyro looked at his friend before taking him aside to talk in private. I watched from the distance, rocking between my heels and toes nervously. What started out as a perfect morning and quickly turned south.

  “We’ll be back in the afternoon. If you don’t have the money then… well, you know what will happen.” Pyro smiled at me.

  Fucking asshole. “I’ll have the money,” I said firmly, not showing any weakness.

  I watched as the pair got on their motorcycles and left down the street in a whirl of loud engines. Unfortunately, the Outlaw Angels weren’t my biggest problem this morning. I now had to deal with Marlena and I could tell she wasn’t going to let me make any excuses.

  I walked into Sacred Skin. The shop didn’t open for another half hour and Marlena was still disappeared behind the back screen. I dumped my satchel down by Marlena’s desk and went to find her. She was in the break room, making coffee and giving me the silent treatment.

  “I’m sorry,” I told her. Marlena still didn’t say anything. Just flicked the switch on the coffee maker and turned around to glare at me. “Say something. Please.”

  Marlena sighed, twirling her black hair in her finger the way she always did when she was anxious. “Do I even want to know, Brooks?”

  “There’s a reason I didn’t tell you. I mean, you’re smart enough to figure things out. I didn’t want to involve you. I know you don’t want to talk about —“

  “Jay?” Marlena cut me off before I could finish my sentence. “You’re damn right I don’t want to talk about him. But it seems we’re gonna have to because whether I like it or not. So, what is it? He’s in debt with the Outlaws?” Marlena looked like she was about to punch something.

  I walked up to her and put my hands on either side of her shoulders. I knew she was hurt by what Jay had done. She’d always loved him and viewed it as some sort of betrayal to her. In Jay’s own twisted way, I think he did it for her. Like he thought having money to lavish her with expensive gifts was the way to her heart. The idiot didn’t realize he already had it.

  “Hey, look at me,” I told her. “Don’t lose your shit over this. Just breathe.”

  “Too late,” Marlena looked at me. “I really thought this time it was gonna be for real. I thought this shop was going to be the change all of us needed. Don’t get me wrong, Brooks, I love this place. I love working with you and everything we’re creating. It just… feels different. This was something we talked about together. He’s not here and he’s never going to be here, is he?” I could tell she was fighting back tears.

  “He’s a fucking idiot,” I said, shaking my head. “But he knows what he did was wrong. You know I’ve been visiting him whenever I can. He still wants this.”

  “Ha,” Marlena snorted. “It’s a little too late for that, though. So what’s Pyro and his boy doing here every other week? No more secrets, Brooks. I want to know what’s going on.”

  I took a deep breath. Marlena deserved to know the truth. “It’s to protect him on the inside. Jay might not be a patched Outlaw but he’s affiliated enough to make him a target. Outlaws won’t protect him without compensation. I’m afraid if I don’t… something will happen to him.”

  Marlena’s face dropped. “Is… Is he okay?” there it was. The surface of her anger cracking to reveal a heart that never stopped loving that stupid brother of mine.

  “Yeah. He’s okay. He’s really trying to stay out of trouble. He wants to get clean when he’s out. That’s what he’s been saying,” I admitted. Hoping she would really believe it this time. I knew that was hard though. Jay had let Marlena down before. He’d let us all down.

  “What about the money?” Marlena asked. “I know the shops doing well but you’re still paying off the bank loan for everything. I hope you’re not too much out of pocket. For fucks sake. Jay really is a giant douche bag.”

  I laughed at the last bit. He definitely was a giant douche bag. Money was tight, I couldn’t deny that. Between paying off what I owed to the bank and paying for Jay’s protection, I was turning a profit that was only just enough for me to get by. I didn’t want anyone to know that though. As far as everyone was concerned, I was doing well. There was no way I would let Marlena worry about the shop.

  “I’m booked out for months,” I said. “Money isn’t an issue. In a couple of months, this will all be over with anyway. Please don’t worry about me.”

  Marlena smiled sheepishly before falling into my arms. I held her close to me, rubbing her back.

  “I do worry about you though. You’re like a brother to me, Brooks,” she said softly. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Shh, nothing’s gonna happen to me. Or Jay. Or anyone. The shop is safe. Everything’s good,” I assured her, even if only half of me believed it was true.

  I guessed now wasn’t the best time to tell her about Leo, even though I had been dying to share it with someone. Marlena would
be the first one I’d confide in. She didn’t have a judgmental bone in her body and I knew the news would be greeted with nothing but love and support. I looked at the clock.

  “Shit. I better get set up for my 11 o’clock. You can take a couple of hours off if you need,” I told Marlena. “Frankie and I will manage things.”

  “No. It’s fine,” Marlena assured me. “Everything is fine.” She playfully nudged my arm before grabbing a mug and pouring the pot of coffee. “Want some?”

  I nodded. Everything was fine. At least for now.

  15 Leo

  It was my day off, so I’d decided to go downtown with my camera. I was starting to get a feel for street photography. Before, I’d been too shy to approach strangers and ask to take their portrait but I had this new found confidence that I didn’t even want to question. I knew in some way it related to being with Brooks. He just made me… feel better about myself. Like I was a person who was good at something. Who was worth something.

  I’d just finished photographing a group of nuns on their way to church and was about to buy a hotdog from a street vendor when my phone went off in my pocket. It was Brooks asking if I wanted to meet him for lunch. I smiled, tapping out a reply - Of course, I’ll meet you at SS in 30. The hotdog would have to wait.

  I arrived at Sacred Skin in good time, having walked the few blocks with a spring in my step as I stopped to pat dogs along the way and capture a few on camera. Marlena waved at me as I walked through the entrance.

  “Leo!” she said enthusiastically. “I didn’t know you had a booking today.”

  As usual, Marlena looked radiant with her luminous golden skin and jet-black hair. Her green eyes sparkled like she was genuinely happy to see me. I wondered if Brooks had told her about us. He hadn’t mentioned it so I would keep my mouth shut. The last thing I wanted was to out him before he was ready.

  “Hey!” I replied. “Actually, I’m here to-“

  “Hi,” Brooks said, appearing beside Marlena. “We have a lunch meeting.” He winked at me.

  Marlena looked slightly confused but went along with what Brooks was saying. “Oh, nice. Have fun!” she told us.

  Brooks grabbed his dark blue denim and shearling jacket and threw it on. “Let’s go,” he told me, scooting me out the door. We walked in silence and as soon as we were out of view from the shop, Brooks pulled me into him and kissed me hard. “Holy hell, I’ve missed you,” he said, looking intensely in my eyes.

  I let out an intelligible sound, my breath being completely taken away by Brooks, along with my brain. “Me too,” I whispered back. What the fuck was going on? What was this man doing to me?

  We walked side by side, our bodies brushing against one another every so often until we arrived at a little sandwich shop. Brooks and I lined up along with the other patrons and ordered our sandwiches and drinks. There wasn’t much in the way of seating at the joint, but people were mostly coming in for takeaway orders to eat back at their offices. We sat on two unoccupied stools at the bar and Brooks asked me about my day.

  “My street portraits are definitely improving. I can’t wait to process this film,” I told him. “I even managed to get some dog portraits,” I laughed.

  “I pictured you as more of a cat person,” Brooks said, unwrapping his turkey on rye.

  “Nah. Dogs all the way. I always wanted one when I was a kid but we moved too much and we never really had a stable home. One day,” I said, wistfully.

  “Growing up, we had a Rough Collie. She had the most original name too - Lassie,” Brooks laughed. “I loved that dog. Always wanted one of my own too but it’s never felt like the right time.”

  I laughed along with Brooks, imagining this kid version of him curled up with a giant pooch. It was a cute image.

  “I was thinking of starting a blog or something too for my photography. Some other way to make money,” I admitted. “I mean, I make an okay living at the gallery but it would cool to have some extra income.” I didn’t know exactly why I was telling Brooks this but that’s what people did when they went out for lunch right? I mean, the guy had already seen my asshole so telling him about my financial situation wasn’t that farfetched.

  “I think that’s a great idea. I’m looking for ways to make some extra cash too,” Brooks said.

  I was surprised by that. The impression I’d got from Brooks was that Sacred Skin was doing well and I knew he owned the place. Brooks personally was booked out for months. “What about your paintings?” I asked him, picking the sliced pickles out of my pastrami sandwich.

  Brooks faced scrunched up. “What about them?” He asked, reaching over and taking my discarded pickles and tossing them in his mouth.

  “I’m sure you could make a side income selling them. There’s definitely a market and we have quite a few art buyers coming through Inspire. We could put some of your pieces in the gallery,” I suggested.

  Brooks looked surprised, “you really think so? I don’t know.”

  I smiled at him. “I know so,” I told him. I loved seeing all the different sides to Brooks. To anyone in that restaurant he probably looked like a big tough guy but I knew how he was inside. Brooks was sensitive and sweet. And incredibly sexy.

  “I’m kind of shy about my art,” Brooks said. “It feels… personal. It’s not like my tattoos, you know? That stuff I do for me.”

  “I know baby,” I said, almost putting my hand to mouth after I realized what I’d just called him.

  Brooks’ eyes widened and he chuckled softly. “Baby?”

  “You never heard nothing,” I told him, suddenly mortified. I felt the redness prickle my cheeks.

  Brooks slid his hand across his lap and squeezed my thigh. No one could see unless they were looking at us but Brooks didn’t even look around first before he did it. “But I did, baby,” he whispered. “Fuck, you’re cute.”

  I bit my lip. I didn’t know what I had done to deserve Brooks.

  16 Brooks

  When I came back from lunch with Leo, Marlena gave me a look. The kind of look that said I need details right now. I acted like nothing was up as I went over to my workstation and set up for my next client who would be here any minute. I watched Marlena with amusement as she swept the shop, stopping every now and then to look up at me then shaking her head like she couldn’t go through with what she was wanting to say. After a few more minutes of the same act, I stopped her.

  “What’s up?” I said. “Something you want to ask me?”

  Marlena stopped and glared me. “What are you doing after work?” she asked.

  “Ah.. No plans,” I said. “Probably pizza, beers and Xbox.”

  “Okay, not anymore. We’re going out for drinks. It’s been a while since the two of us sat down and talked properly. And I’m not just talking about the shit with Jay. I know something’s up with you,” Marlena said. “You’re gonna tell me everything tonight.”

  “Alright,” I said. “You keen as well Frankie?”

  Frankie looked up from his desk where he was busy working on a design. “Sounds good to me!”

  “Perfect,” Marlena said.

  I knew I was going to have to tell them sooner or later about Leo and I’d rather it was sooner. Now that Leo had come by the shop to meet me for lunch, I realized how much I liked the idea of him dropping in to visit me and it didn’t seem fair on him or Marlena and Frankie if we had to put on an act. We might not have been an official couple yet but I was realizing more and more each day that it was what I wanted. I wanted Leo to be my boyfriend.

  My 2 o’clock client came through. Christie was an alternative model who I’d already done a bit of work on. Today, I was tattooing a portrait of her Siamese cat on her shoulder. She walked into the shop like she owned it, cleavage out, her dark purple hair big and curled and a seductive stare as she twirled her lip ring with her tongue. She was the kind of client I had to watch out for. The type who was down for more than a tattoo. I spent the next couple of hours dodging her advances which I’d
realized was exhausting. After a while, she gave up.

  “I don’t get it,” she said to me. She was still lying on the tattoo bed and I was finishing up the last of the shading on her tattoo.

  “Get what?” I asked, unsure what she was talking about.

  Christie sighed. “I’ve been getting tattoos off you for a couple of years now Brooks and every time I come to see, I try and flirt only to be shut down completely. I guess I’m just not your type, huh?”

  I was taken back by how bold she’d been to come out and say exactly what she was thinking. “Ah. I guess not. Sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. Christie was objectively sexy as hell. She’d done spreads in tattoo magazines and worked as a promo girl at all sorts of conventions. She was a bonafide babe and she was a sweet girl, too. Albeit a little forward. I was probably a total idiot for not being interested but the thing I was starting to realize was that girls just didn’t do it for me.

  “Would you… tell me why?” she asked, looking a little hurt and I realized my response had probably come across as quite harsh.

  I looked around the shop. Frankie was out on a break and Marlena was in the front where she couldn’t hear anything I said. I decided fuck it. I was at a point where I felt like I had nothing to lose. I’d already made peace with the fact that I was… bisexual or maybe not even that. Maybe I was just full on gay.

  “Look, you’re a beautiful woman, Christie,” I said. “There’s not a question about that. It’s just that… Women in general don’t do it for me.” I stopped tattooing her for a moment.

  Christie gasped. “Holy fuck. You? You’re…” she whispered the last part. “Gay?”

  I nodded. “Yep…” It felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest but at the same time, the air was knocked out of me. It was both liberating and absolutely fucking terrifying.

  “I honestly had no idea,” Christie said. “That’s…. That’s totally cool though. No hate here, baby.”