She stared up at him with big doe eyes. He wanted to possess her. Seduce her. The ache to be with her was so strong he had to stop himself from swaying toward her.
“We want to share our dynamic with you. We’ve been somewhat open about playing with other women.” Haleigh stiffened and he soothed her cheek. “Mostly helping out the other members. Not much full intercourse, just simple stuff.”
“How simple?” she asked through gritted teeth and he barely caught his triumphant smirk.
“I’ve never been with a woman before. Ever.” He brushed his lips across her collarbone, making her shiver. “But I’ve always wanted to be with you.” He nibbled on the skin of her neck, trying to step away, but she’d grabbed a hold of his shirt.
“I want you too, but I’m not experienced. Have no clue what you’re telling me.”
“You’re submissive, Haleigh. You want to please someone who’s able to take control, but only what you willingly relinquish. You have an obvious pain fetish since you almost came by Scott piercing you.” Her irises darkened as he spoke. “I heard your moan in the shop when you saw us making out. Was it because you were watching two guys kiss?”
She nodded jerkily, her exhales coming in short pants as he continued. “That makes you a voyeur too. Plus, at least part exhibitionist if I had to guess after what you did with Scott. Anybody in the front section could have heard you.”
He watched her bite her lip and then lick it, leaving a moist trail of wetness from her tongue. “You should go and have the other nipple done. Just make sure I’m there. I want to be there to help this time.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip and she exhaled on his hand. “We want to take you, Haleigh girl. We want to pull you down the rabbit hole.”
“Take me where?”
He whispered it in her ear, “To The Library. A private BDSM club where Scott and I are members.
She panicked, and asked the oddest question. “But what if you don’t find me attractive?”
Being tazed wouldn’t have been more shocking.
“You’re beautiful. Inside and out.” She opened her mouth to say something, but he caught sight of Scott moving toward them. “Hold on.” He grinned. The timing was perfect.
Under her breath and below the noise of the crowd he could have sworn she whispered, “Not anymore.”
Scott stepped around several tables to reach them. Kyle’s smile lit the room. Haleigh wouldn’t meet his gaze and she already looked poised to run, but he didn’t expect her to be easy to win over.
He’d walked in while they’d been immersed in some heated conversation, and he liked the way Kyle touched her. He had more Dom in him than either of them realized. What a fucking turn-on.
He approached and Haleigh was already making excuses that she needed to leave. “I can’t stay longer. I’ve got an appointment really early tomorrow morning. I can’t miss it, so I need to get home and get some sleep. I’m really glad we got to talk.”
“Thanks for listening.”
“I’m glad you finally told me what happened. It means a lot to me that you trusted me with it.”
“What are friends for?” Kyle laughed.
“Getting beer,” Scott grunted before Haleigh could reply.
“You could get it yourself,” she countered.
“But what other excuse will I use for sending Kyle away so I can talk to you? I’m here to offer my sincerest apology for taking delicious advantage of you last weekend.” He didn’t say it like an apology, more like a sensual reminder, and it hit its mark. She lengthened her spine, her chest filled on a sexy inhale and she craned her neck slightly to one side.
Kyle noticed it too and shifted closer to her. She recovered quickly, shaking herself out of it. “Uh huh,” was all he got verbally from her. But it was a start. He cleared his throat.
“All right. Keep your pants on.” Kyle rolled his eyes and kissed him quickly, sending tingles along his flesh.
Kyle faced Haleigh again. “I’ve got your number but you don’t have ours. Let me see your phone.” She gave it to him and he started whizzing through it faster than Scott could keep up. He added them in, going so far as to take pictures of both of them to add in their contact screens.
He handed the phone back, leaning in close to kiss her. Indecision was plain on her face, she couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed at the brief contact. Kyle tried to soothe her. “Take a few days to think about everything, then come see us at the shop. Hopefully, all three of us can talk and see what the next step is.”
“Maybe.” Yeah, hard nut to crack. He was glad they’d had enough time for Kyle to at least put the idea in her head.
Kyle hugged her, and she returned the gesture, snuggling in but still trying to fight it. One foot dangled over the hole in the ground, but she scrambled to stay on the vanilla soil she was certain was meant for her.
“Scott, something on draft or on the rocks?”
“Draft is good.”
“Bye, Butterfly.” He kissed her one last time then disappeared into the growing crowd.
Haleigh followed his progress, lingering on him until too many people stood in her way.
“I’m glad you told him,” she admitted.
“About what, Haleigh?”
“You know,” she added a bit louder. Her voice turned edgy and he decided he really liked it with that rough edge. Her unfettered responses were so much more appealing to him.
“What part are we talking about? The part where I pierced that pretty nipple of yours, you climaxing on my mouth or you running out like the room was on fire?”
Her breath left her in a whoosh and she stood there with her soft lips parted oh so slightly.
When she didn’t say anything in response, he stepped closer, probably close enough for her to feel the heat pouring off him. “Complete honesty is the only way a D/s relationship can work.”
Her eyelids flared in arousal she probably wasn’t even aware of.
“I want you to stop by the shop some night this week, and the two of us will pierce your other nipple. You don’t strike me as a coward, and the pain isn’t what you ran from that night. You were scared, but it was more than Kyle finding out what we did. Did Kyle tell you who he was? Who we are and what we are together?”
“He told me why he walked away, and that you helped him find himself.”
“Is that all he said?”
He waited for her to answer. She chewed on her bottom lip, and it was all he could do not to lick it for her. “He said you want to take me to a club. A private club, and show me how it can be.”
“Sounds like he gave you quite a bit to consider. Did you tell him the real reason you didn’t find him in the time since you went to college?”
Her gaze snapped up to his, and he knew he’d guessed right. “How could you know why I—”
“I don’t know what it is, but something’s there putting that fear in you. I don’t expect you to trust me…yet. But Kyle deserves the truth, same as you did.”
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Or is it that you don’t want to risk him hurting you if he knows the truth?” He stared at her, and she stared right back. Never flinched, never gave any indication she heard him except…the light in her eyes died. He held her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Sometimes you have to lay your heart on the line before you can truly live. We’re more alike than either of us would care to admit,” Scott added after she blinked away her tears.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because we both love him.”
She was quiet for a few seconds and surprised him by answering so honestly. “Yes, I guess you’re right, but the difference between us? He’s already chosen which one of us to love in return.” She spun around and walked away with her lovely blonde hair flowing behind her.
“We’ll see about that, princess.”
She was out the door way too fast for his liking. A group of guys glanced her way as she left, and then back at Scot
t. He raised a brow, narrowing his eyes at them. They couldn’t look away fast enough.
Scott took a seat as Kyle joined him, setting down two beers.
“Why do you call her Butterfly?”
Kyle took a drink, setting the glass on the table. “A nickname from when we were growing up, because she was so dainty and beautiful. She’s just like joy embodied.” Kyle paused, lost in the past.
Something about her called to Scott, not only the Dom, but the man as well. He wanted to claim her and he barely knew her. The possibility of having her as a third threw his arousal into high gear, and made his heart thud heavily in his chest.
An image of a tattoo climbing along her spine took shape in Scott’s mind, and he hoped she came to the shop again. He wanted to get his hands on her for quite a few different reasons.
Scott stared at Kyle, wondering how long it was going to be before he accepted he already loved her. Over the last week of them talking Kyle hadn’t admitted his true feelings. He only acknowledged she was the one woman he’d wanted to sleep with. It would have been much easier if he could simply order Kyle to admit it, but when it came to love the lines of submission and domination were forever blurred.
Chapter Seven
She showed up.
Scott knew she would eventually, but he was still shocked when his heart surged against his ribs as she walked through the door.
Soon he was going to salivate whenever the chime on the shop door went off. Pavlov had nothing on his reaction to this little blonde pixie.
Today she wore jeans and high-heeled boots, with a white blouse and a brown sweater thing that flared behind her on each step. She also had a black bag Mary Poppins would be proud of slung over her shoulder.
Damn, she was pretty.
It was always a combination of naughty and nice with her. Girl next door meets Playboy Bunny. He swore she had no idea the naughty resided beneath her skin. She challenged him to peel away the layers to expose the goddess he knew lay underneath. Vulnerability and steel wasn’t a combination he’d thought he would witness seamlessly woven together, but they were synonymous with her.
It had been more than a couple days since either of them had talked to her. He didn’t want to admit that he’d been nervous she wouldn’t show up, but he was aware of the tightness in his chest easing at her mere presence in the shop.
She spotted him at his tattoo station and he said, “I’m finishing up. I’ll be ready for you in a sec.”
She grinned, walking over to see the smiling face of a golden retriever staring at her from the right pec of the guy sitting in front of Scott.
He added highlights in white, turning the photograph into what he hoped was a 3-D work of art. The subtle shading, the sparkle in their eyes—if that didn’t come out right the tat would never be perfect.
“What’s her name?” Haleigh asked as Scott set the gun aside. He hosed the guy’s chest with a squeeze bottle, catching the excess with a wet rag below his ink. He wiped it down one last time, checking to make sure the likeness was perfect.
“Gretel. She was the best dog ever. I lost her a couple months ago.” The guy answered with obvious sorrow, but undiluted fondness. Haleigh bent over to take a closer look, studying the ink, which was just as alive as the photo sitting on the tray alongside his gun.
“And you’ll get to see her every day, now, smiling back at you in your reflection.”
The guy stood, hovering his fingertips over the ink. He studied it in the full-length mirror by the front windows before pulling on a button-up shirt. He settled it in place, letting it hang loose, showing off his new memorial.
“Just like she did every day I had her.” He shook Scott’s hand, “Stellar job, man. I appreciate you working me in on short notice.”
“Anytime, Max. Let me get you bandaged and you can get outta here.”
“Excuse me? Umm, could I take a picture…before you leave? Of the tattoo I mean.” Haleigh asked Max.
He smiled and said, “Sure.”
“Scott, is it okay?”
“As long as Max’s cool with it, it’s fine by me. Take your time, I’ve gotta clean up anyways.” Scott yanked his gloves off, tossing stuff in the trash. He cleaned his gun and gathered everything he needed to re-sterilize in the autoclave.
The entire time he was aware of Haleigh. She moved Max several times, like a woman moved furniture. She even snagged the photograph from the table and took quite a few pictures from different angles with Max holding it up next to his chest. For several, she stood on one of the chairs to peer down at him.
She and Max were bosom buddies by the end of their impromptu photo session. She wrote something on a small notepad she’d pulled from her bag. Could have been a phone number, email address or Max’s dick size for all Scott knew.
He wouldn’t acknowledge the fact he wanted to lay a wet, possessive kiss on her mouth and growl at Max when he taped on some gauze. If it hadn’t been for Oscar working on a huge piece up the rib cage of a woman laid out on his table, he might have. But he sure as hell didn’t want to have to explain anything to Oscar again, so he kept his feet planted firmly in the here and now instead of mauling the clients.
At least Duke was in the back piercing some dude’s junk and he didn’t have to worry about him witnessing him channeling a pit bull.
The door chime registered Max’s departure. He raised his chin in Scott’s direction then walked to his Harley.
“So, princess, you ready to have a matching pair or did you come by because you missed me?” Haleigh palmed her camera like it was an extension of her arm and walked up to him with a slight sway to her hips. It made him ache to adjust his cock because tenting his slacks was a foregone conclusion if she wasn’t careful.
“Not exactly.”
“What? Still scared about the piercing? You handled it more than fine last time, and this time I’ll be the perfect gentleman.” He drew an imaginary halo over his head as he teased her.
“You and perfect gentleman in the same sentence are quite a stretch, don’t you think? Would you mind if I asked Oscar’s customer if I can take pictures of her tree during their session? I’ve got something in mind I’d like to try to put together.”
“Knock yourself out.”
Haleigh beamed and Scott figured he knew what Santa Claus felt like on Christmas morning.
She crouched beside the woman lying naked from the waist up and before long they were both smiling and talking like they were old friends. She snapped photographs while Oscar inked Cheyenne’s side. Haleigh moved a lot until she found the right angle, gently positioning the woman, snapping dozens of photos.
She kneeled next to her, spoke for a few minutes afterward, writing down something on her spiral. She brushed the woman’s shoulder.
Haleigh packed up her camera and Oscar said, “You like it. Taking photographs I mean. You love it a lot, huh?”
She practically glowed with delight. “I’ve always adored taking pictures. Capturing something permanent or fleeting. It’s amazing how you can assume everything is perfect for a shot then pull them up on the computer, and something’s just not right. Or maybe one you were sure was going to be awful turns out amazing. Happy mistakes can create the best memories. It’s relaxing for me and I do really enjoy it. I’ve been considering making a career out of it, actually. My mother doesn’t approve, but I’ve decided I need to find what makes me happy.”
Scott watched her for a moment before asking, “Now what?”
“Will you tell me about your tattoo?”
Okay… Not what he thought they would be discussing, but whatever. “What do you want to hear?” he asked as he gestured for her to sit on the couch. He sat beside her and they faced into the shop.
“Why did you decide on that artwork, how long have you had it, who did it…everything.”
The soft buzz of Oscar’s tattoo gun in the background calmed Scott, so he stretched his feet out in front of him and clasped his hands behind his head. He was q
uiet for a moment, processing all of the reasons behind his tattoo.
“His name was Simon, my younger brother by two years.” He chuckled as he remembered. “He was my best friend from the instant he was born. He’s been gone almost fourteen years.”
He went quiet, and appreciated that Haleigh didn’t push or ask questions he wasn’t ready to answer. All she did was caress his thigh and wait. Comfort wasn’t something people offered him very often nor would he accept it if it was. With her it was different. He intertwined his fingers with hers, unable to keep from touching her.
“I did the art for the piece, and then took it to this guy outside of Houston. He was the best I could find and this had to be killer. Sang Young ended up becoming my mentor and he taught me everything I know. He was amazing.”
“You never got any others?”
“Tattoos?” Scott asked and she nodded. “It’s the only ink I’ve put on my body and it will be until something else equally important comes along.” He remembered and grinned. “Simon and I, we watched out for each other growing up. We were kind of scrawny and got picked on for whatever reason kids come up with in school. He was always there for me, even though he was ill. He was younger than me but he was a fierce protector. I pictured him being my guardian so that’s why he has a white robe and the wings that span my shoulders.”
“How did he die?”
“He had a bad heart. Born with it, actually. I felt guilty growing up healthy and he had so much trouble. He started having issues in grade school. Doctors passed it off, and then they found this murmur. He couldn’t have been more than ten. He had valve problems, and surgery wasn’t an option because he was almost guaranteed not to make it off the table. My parents were bound and determined to find something or someone to fix him but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“I like the name Simon,” Haleigh added when silence stretched between them.
Nostalgia hit him square in the solar plexus. “We use to play ‘Simon Says’ all the time. It was actually the last thing he said to me before he passed. ‘Simon says, be happy’.”
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