Barber Shop Ink - Book 2: Between a Hedge and a Hard Place

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Barber Shop Ink - Book 2: Between a Hedge and a Hard Place Page 16

by Penny Blush


  Cassidy is the best client a hairdresser could ever ask for. She's brave and willing to try anything always saying, "it's just colour. If I don't like it, it's not like I can't change it."

  Her bright red fringe, which was now cut in a triangle coming to a point in the middle of her forehead, was straightened and smoothed. The sides swept up barrel rolls that looked like two-toned bear ears. On anyone else, they would have looked cheesy but on Cassidy rocking her Goth queen look, it looked sexy as hell.

  Her makeup looked amazing, exaggerated winged eyeliner. Thick, feathery falsies helped to plump up her naturally long lashes. Magenta eyeshadow and magenta and black ombre lipstick rounded out the sexy vampire look.

  Tabby looked amazing as always, rocking a classic 1940's Hollywood starlet look. Her hair and makeup were flawless. The sparkly silver dress she wore with a jewel neckline hugged her body and hit just below the knee. Her nude colour Christian Louboutin platform stilettos gave her extra height.

  I finished getting the girls ready and showered and got myself ready. I decided that if we were going to glam up Cassidy, then I was going to get my glam on as well. I decided to ditch the contacts. I forgot about them half the time, anyway - ever since Memphis notices my eyes. He gave me the strength not to hide them anymore.

  I took extra time getting my eyes just right. We were all going for the shock and awe. I applied dark cobalt blue and deep purple sparkly eyeshadow, winged liquid eyeliner with ultra-dramatic fan lashes that made my eyes pop. Deep purple lipstick finished the look. I swept my hair up into an intricate faux-hawk ponytail.

  I achieved my glam rock chick look with tight black leather pants, dark purple, and black lace bustier and a pair of black suede platform biker boots with spiked heels. Not that I needed the height, at almost six foot I didn't need any help there, but I loved them. Tabby wolf whistled as I walked into the kitchen.

  “Holy guacamole babe, looking hot! You are going to make Memphis so maaaad.”

  “What? Why?” I asked looking down at my outfit trying to figure out what could be wrong.

  “Umm, let me see,” she tapped a black stiletto shaped nail against her lips, while she appraised my look. “Your pants are spray-painted on. Those fuck-me boots are making your stellar ass pop out, and that top only just contains your ta-tas.”

  “What are you talking about Tabby? You gave me this top. It's fine the girls are entirely contained,” I said, planting my hands on my hips.

  “Honey your nipples are hanging on to your top for dear life.” She raised an eyebrow at me, “I love it, and you look sexy as fuck.”

  It was always funny to hear the words of a sailor come out of the lips of a delicate Asian princess.

  “Okay, girlies what do you think?” Cassidy said from behind me.

  I turned to look at her and my breath caught in my throat. She was stunning. I always thought she looked gorgeous, no matter what she wore but holy hell.

  She had on a blood red lace corset top, a short black tutu skirt, fishnets and the most fabulous pair of thigh high boots I had ever seen. They were chunky black platforms with a thick heel and straps with silver buckles all the way up.

  “Cassidy,” I gasped.

  “Holy shit,” Tabby whispered.

  “What? What’s wrong? It doesn’t work, does it? It's too much. I should go and change. I’ll go and change.” She spoke at million miles a minute having an entire conversation by herself.

  “NO!” Tabby and I exclaimed.

  “Don’t you dare! You look beautiful,” I said, hugging her.

  “Holy, hot tamale! Seriously if Jaxon doesn’t take you home, you’re coming home with me,” Tabby remarked.

  After dealing with Tabby and her inappropriate comments and touching all afternoon, Cassidy took her declaration in her stride.

  “I might just take you up on your offer,” she replied.

  “Alright foxy ladies, let’s get our pregame on and finish off these mojitos and then complete any last-minute touch-ups. The Uber is due here in an hour,” Tabby declared, topping up everyone’s drinks.

  An hour and a half later we were hand in hand with Cassidy between Tabby and me, making our way to the bouncers on the door of La Biz, bypassing the queue that was snaking its way around the block.

  “Tabby baby, how are you, Doll?” The biggest human I had ever seen said by way of greeting.

  “Tiny my love, how have you been? How’s that lovely wife of yours?” she asked, kissing his cheeks.

  “Pregnant, with twins,” he replied opening the velvet rope of us. “Have fun ladies. Johnny said to make sure you go and say hi before you head to the bar.”

  “Congrats Tiny and thank you, are the boys here yet?” Tabby asked, kissing his cheek again.

  “Not yet, I’ll let them know you’re here.”

  We walked down the dark hall that had track lighting embedded in the floor, proving a runway into the club.

  It was just after nine PM and the dance floor was packed. Bodies moved and swayed to the music. Lights and lasers flashed across the sea of writhing bodies.

  We found Tabby's brother, Johnny, said hi and thanked him for putting us on the VIP list. Johnny loved his little sister and treated her like a princess and would do anything for her. She had him wrapped around her little finger, and she knew it.

  “Here, wear these,” Johnny said handing us blue and silver VIP wristbands.

  “What are these for?” Cassidy asked.

  “You are my guest’s everything is taken care of, just show these to the bar staff, your night is on me. Here are extra’s for the boys,” he handed extras to Tabby.

  “Johnny, that is very generous of you, but there are eight of us, it’s too much,” I protested.

  “Nonsense, please, you will insult me if you refuse,” he winked at me. “Go enjoy yourselves.”

  With that, he directed us to a table that had been reserved for us and had a waiter bring us a round of shots, along with a round of mojitos.

  “Ladies let’s toast,” Tabby declared hoisting her shot in the air. “To a fabulous night. Amazing friends and new beginnings. To hot men and the ladies who love them.” We threw back the shots, laughing. Then another round was placed on the table in front of us. “Cass, honey, your turn,” Tabby said raising her next shot.

  “Umm, okay.” Cass took a moment, thinking about what she wanted to toast to. “To hope, love, friendship, and women who know what they want.”

  Again, after the shots were downed. Another round appeared on the table in front of us. I was starting to think there were drink ninjas employed to serve here.

  “Hedge, babe, you’re up,” Tabby giggled, shot glass in hand.

  “To the most amazing friends, a girl could have. To tattoos and beards,” I giggled. “To finding the person that makes your heart sing and who lets you know that you are truly deeply loved without needing words. To an amazing night.”

  “And Cassidy getting laid!” Tabby added.

  Three quick rounds of shots down, on top of the drinks that we had had getting ready, and we were all pretty buzzed.

  “Let’s dance!” I shouted as Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson started playing.

  “What about our drinks?” Cassidy asked.

  I knew what she was thinking, ‘never leave your drink unattended’.

  “Don’t worry about it its fine. There is a guard assigned to our table all night, so we can leave our drinks and bags unattended, and no one will touch them.” Tabby explained.

  “Wow, that’s some service,” Cassidy said impressed.

  “No, that’s some overprotective brother,” I laughed, linking my arms with the girls.

  Being the tallest, I could see a free spot in the crowd and lead the girls there. We danced and shimmied and laughed through three songs before I felt eyes on me.

  I knew who belonged to those eyes. Just knowing that Memphis was watching me dance made me hot and tingly all over.

  “The boys are
here,” I said to the girls. Cassidy tensed and stopped dancing. “Cass honey just relax. Don’t react, just keep dancing.”

  “Yeah, make them do some of the work,” Tabby said swaying her hips. “Let him come to you. He will, you know. They’ll all be over here soon enough.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Definitely. I know that Memphis is standing at our table looking sexy as hell, watching every move I make. As much as I want to go over there and climb that man like a tree, I am going to stay right where I am.”

  “How the hell could you possibly know that?” Cassidy asked. “Your back is to our table.”

  “Because I can feel his eyes on me.”

  “How do you know that they are his eyes?”

  “Because my man is very intense and there is only one man that can make me feel the way he does by just looking at me.”

  “They haven’t moved,” Cassidy said, sneaking a look over Tabby’s shoulder.

  “They will.”

  “How…” Cassidy started but was cut off by Tabby.

  “Watch,” she said pointing at me.

  I closed my eyes and started to sway my hips, I raised my hands up in the air, gliding my hands up my body as I went. I turned to the side bending over so that my long legs and ass in my leather pants that were like a second skin were on display.

  “Any minute now,” I whispered in Cassidy’s ear.

  Tabby shimmied up to me grabbing my hips, using my body as a stripper pole. Gliding up and down. She winked at Cassidy, smacked my ass and mouthed, “Five, four, three, two, one.”

  No sooner had she finished mouthing ‘one’ and there was a growl in my ear and strong hands on my hips. I melted back into Memphis’ tall, muscular body.

  “I know what you’re doing, Baby Girl,” his deep voice rumbled in my ear.

  I linked fingers with him, bringing his hand around so that his slightly calloused fingers grazed the skin of my stomach. I raised my other hand to his cheek as his lips grazed my neck.

  “Is it working?”

  “Fuck yes, it’s working,” he ground his growing erection against my ass as proof. “Unless you want to get fucked right here on the dance floor in front of all these people, you better behave.”

  I turned in his arms, linking my hands behind his neck, my thumbs massaging small circles. “Don’t say things like that Mr Blue, ‘cos I might just beg you to do it.”

  He growled again, dipping me back over his arm kissing across my chest and up my neck as he brought me back upright, crushing his lips to mine. He kissed me like a starving man. I forgot my friends and the other people around me and got lost in the kiss.

  “Hi Baby,” I smiled against his lips as Tabby Cassidy, and the boy's wolf whistled and cheered at our display.

  “Hey there Pretty Girl,” he smiled giving me a quick kiss then held me at arm’s length. “Let me look at you.”

  He took my hand and holding it above my head. I slowly spun around for him, despite the fast pulsing beat of the music. Gathering me back in his arms, he nuzzled into my neck.

  “You look absolutely,” he kissed my neck, “gorgeous,” he whispered his lips against my ear.

  I stepped back, taking his hand raising it up, and he indulged me by spinning around. I laughed out loud when he had to duck under my arm. God, I love this goofy man.

  “Not bad yourself,” I said once again wrapped in his arms slow dancing in contrast to the dance music. “You better stand with your back to the wall though,” I teased.

  “Why is that?”

  Looking up at him, I bit my bottom lip, “’cos Baby, your ass in those jeans. Mm mm mmm.” The dark denim hugged his perfect ass making me drool.

  “Hedge,” Tabby said touching my shoulder, “we’re getting another drink come on,” she tilted her head towards our table.

  “Okay,” I extracted myself from Memphis.

  He reached out and grabbed my hand, “what about my ass?”

  “Damn Baby, that ass is made to be bitten.”

  I gnashed my teeth at him and then squealed as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. Smacking me on the ass as he walked me off the dance floor. I giggled and squealed until he set me down on my feet at the table. Memphis claimed a seat before pulling me into his lap.

  “Where are Cassidy and Jax?” I asked the group around the table. Tabby smirked, pointing at the dance floor.

  “About time,” Memphis muttered.

  “What? Where?” I asked, looking around, searching for them until I found them.

  In the center of the dance floor wrapped in each other’s arms, eyes locked, slow dancing. The beat from Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack thumped and pulsed around them, but they were locked in their own private little love bubble.

  “Awwweee,” I cooed, hugging Memphis.

  I didn’t realise that while I was getting lost in the romantic, squishiness that was Jax and Cassidy, that I had hugged Memphis’s head to my chest.

  I was busy oohing and aching and didn’t realize that while I was running my hands through Memphis's silky hair, I was making him motorboat me. His tongue sweeping over my cleavage got my attention.

  “Sweetness, if the girls wanted a bit of attention you could have just asked,” he smirked.

  “I’m sorry Baby. I promise that you can give the girls all the attention you like when we get home,” I dipped my head and kissed him slow and passionately.

  “Is everyone having fun?” Johnny asked taking a seat at our table as a waiter placed a tray of drinks in the center.

  “Thanks again Johnny,” I stood, leaning over Tabby to kiss him on the cheek.

  Did I know that leaning over my friend would put my leather clad ass right in Memphis’s line of sight? Yes. Yes, I did.

  Did I care? No. No, I did not.

  Did I love it and get incredibly turned on when he growled at me and smacked me on the ass? Hell Yes!

  “Everyone, this is Johnny, Tabby’s big brother,” I said taking my seat back on Memphis’s lap. “Johnny this is Bear, Davis, Bishop, and this sexy beast is Memphis.”

  “So, this is the man who stole you away from my sister,” he teased.

  I loved Johnny to death. He’s a bit of a chameleon - his look is always changing. His current look reminded me of Harry Shum Jr.’s Magnus Bane from the TV show Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments. In other word’s Johnny is a stunningly attractive gay Asian man with impeccable dress sense.

  “Did you two…,” Davis asked, waggling his finger between Tabby and me, with a look of hope on his face.

  Tabby and I have had that question before, and while she was open to love/sex/romance in whatever form it came in- male or female. Me, I am a peen girl all the way. I leant my elbows on the table, turning to Tabby, who ran her finger down the side of my face.

  “Davis, my little Honey Bee, you will just have to use your imagination. A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” Tabby said seductively giving me a lingering kiss on the lips.

  The kiss was lips only, but it had the desired effect. Memphis growled wrapping his arms around me pulling me back against his chest growling darkly and possessively at Tabby.

  “Mine,” he declared which made both Tabby and I laugh.

  “It’s ok Memphis you can have her but, just know that if you hurt her, I’ll hurt you. Then spend my days consoling Miss Hedge making sure that she forgets all about you.”

  “Oh my God, I think I’m in love. Yep, I’m totally in love. Tabby, my Queen, will you marry me?”

  “Davis, you have to ask me for permission to marry my sister,” Johnny admonished smacking him on the shoulder.

  “Johnny, can I have her? Please, please, pleeeaaasssseeee,” Davis begged, his hands clasped under his chin, like a little kid asking his parents if he can have a puppy.

  “Well, because you asked so nicely. Tabby, my sweet sister, I have accepted this man’s proposal on your behalf. You are to be wed in the fall. Davis, my good man I expect delivery of the dowr
y upon the morrow.”

  “Yay, Hedge, I’m getting married!” She clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, oh you have to be my maid of honor!”

  “Not too fast sister of mine. Davis, what do you have to offer to me as the dowry?”

  Davis started patting himself down and looked around, searching for something that he could provide as payment. Mischief lit up his eyes as he clasped Bishop on the shoulder.

  “Bishop. I offer you Bishop as payment.”

  “What? Hey, you can’t…” Bishop started to protest.

  “I accept your offer, the deal is complete,” Johnny announced with all the authority of an Emperor making a decree.

  “Excellent, I will take immediate carriage over the safety and welfare of Queen Tabatha,” Davis got up pulling Tabby out of her chair, wrapping her up in his arms, dipping her and kissing the life out of her.

  “The courtship ceremony is complete,” Bear declared, and the table burst into laughter as Jax and Cassidy approached.

  “What’s so funny?” Jax asked.

  “David just sold Bishop to Johnny so that he could marry Tabby,” I explained.

  “Oh, right so, just an ordinary Saturday night then,” Jax confirmed, taking a seat pulling Cassidy into his lap.

  “Umm, Congratulations?!” Cassidy said, and the table burst into laughter again.

  Chapter 14 Memphis

  The girls had all hit the dance floor again. Bear, Davis, and Bishop were in an intense bullshit competition with Johnny. They were all trying to outdo each other telling stories, and Johnny was trying to guess if it was truth or bullshit. While everyone was distracted, I took the opportunity to have ‘The Talk’ with Jaxon.

  “So, finally removed your head from your ass,” I said more as a statement than a question watching Cassidy and Hedge on the dance floor.

  “Yeah man.” He scrubbed his hand down his face, “took me long enough,” he laughed.

  “So, what happened?”

  “You want to know the story of out cute-meet?” “Are you going all girly on me, Memph?” He asked smirking at me.

  “Damn straight, that’s my baby sister you’ve been making goo-goo eyes at your whole life, so spill.”

 

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