Chapter 15

Nox

Everything Adam said about it being unlikely for Harrison to be the one behind the vandalism made sense. But, a prickly feeling on the back of my neck keeps me from dismissing the idea all together.

When we get back up the the apartment Gage suggests Kira is the most likely culprit. He doesn’t know about my psycho ex, though. And, something about the message gives me the uneasy feeling Harrison might somehow know about my date with Adam. Maybe he’s here

and stalking me. Maybe he’s jealous. I know he never loved me or even gave a shit, but it’s easy to believe he’s the ‘if I can’t have you, no one will’ type.

“I don’t see Kira doing this,” Adam argues as we wait for a police officer to come by and file a report.

“Dude, she faked a pregnancy to keep you, pretended her mom had cancer to gain your sympathy, and told Dani she’d claw her eyes out if Dani ever touched you. Kira is two scoops of crazy.”

“You have a point,” Adam agrees, stroking his beard and staring off into space.

“We didn’t get to eat, you must be hungry still. I’ll finish the pancakes while you wait for the police,” I suggest. I’d rather make myself useful rather than sit around freaking myself out about Harrison.

A few minutes later I hear the buzzer and then shortly after the sound of the front door opening. The low rumble of a man speaking comes next.

I finish cooking the pancakes and then put them in the over on a warm setting to keep them from getting cold before Adam finishes up with the police officer.

I head into the living room to join them. I feel like I should let the officer know about Harrison, even if it is nothing more than me being paranoid. He never gave me the impression he’d stalk me if I left him. Then again, he never gave me the impression he’d set me on fire either. Sometimes you just don’t know people like you thought you did.

The police officer is kind of gorgeous. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got nothing on Adam. But there’s something to be said for the mountain of masculinity before me. His dark hair is buzzed rather short and his bright blue eyes pop against his deeper complexion.

“Do you have any idea who might have reason to vandalize your car?” the officer asks.

“Maybe this girl I used to fool around with. She came around the other day and was pretty pissed when I told her there was no chance in hell of us hooking up again,” Adam offers and then gives him the details on Kira’s full name, address, and place of work.

“It could’ve been my ex,” I jump in.

The officer turns his attention in my direction, noticing me for the first time. When his gaze lands on my scarred arms his lips turn down in a frown.

“I’m Cas Bratton,” the officer holds his hand out to greet me. “Do you want to tell me about your ex?”

“He was a piece of shit,” I say with a laugh. “As far as I know, he doesn’t know I’m in Seattle but I figured I’d better mention him. He tried to kill me just over a year ago.”

Cas’ frown deepens as he starts to scribble down the information I’m giving him.

“Thanks for the information. I’m going to make sure we look into this and let you know if we turn anything up. In the meantime, here’s the case number your insurance agency will want to get the claim filed.”

“Thank you so much,” Adam reaches out his hand and shakes Cas’. “You look familiar, have we met before?”

“I’ve seen you guys at O’Malley’s. My roommate, Beau, is a bartender there.”

Adam’s eyes light up and he casts a quick look in my direction, the implication passing silently between us. This is the guy Beau said he’s hooking up with.

I’ll have to tell Dani how sexy the roommate is. She’ll be even more eager to find a way between them.

“See you around, then. And thanks again.” Adam sees him out and then follows me into the kitchen for our delayed breakfast.

 

 

I climb out of the backseat of Adam’s rental car at Heathens Ink the next morning, and I still can’t shake the unsettled feeling I’ve had since yesterday morning. I tossed and turned all night. Every time I managed to fall asleep for a few minutes I had flashback nightmares of the night Harrison tried to kill me.

I don’t remember much of that night, thanks to the heroin I’m assuming. What I do recall is the heat clawing at my throat as I tried desperately to breathe through the smoke, and the hopeless feeling of not caring if I lived or died.

I cast a glance at Adam as he playfully messes up Gage’s hair, to which Gage responds with a punch to Adam’s stomach.

Maybe I finally have something to live for. It feels like I might. I’m not rushing into anything and I’ve got my eyes wide open. I know for Adam this is likely a bit of experimentation and fun. But I can’t deny the light feeling in my chest. Or the fact that I felt cold last night trying to sleep alone. One night in Adam’s arms and I’m ruined. I’m kind of okay with that.

When Adam gets bored and decides to move on, or realizes he can do so much better than a junkie whore like me, I’ll let him go gracefully and hope we can still be friends.

“I have to put in an inventory order real quick this morning and then this afternoon I’ve got some appointments you can join me on. Then, I was thinking I’d let you have a shot at finally laying down some ink on skin. What do you say?”

“Really? On who?”

“On me,” Adam says with a smirk.

“You really trust me to do that?”

“Sure. If you fuck up I can just get one of the other guys to cover it up,” Adam assures me with a laugh.

“I’m glad there’s a plan B,” I chuckle. “You want me to stick with one of the other guys while you do the order or man the front desk?”

“I think Madden should have an appointment he can let you in on this morning. “

I nod and head toward Madden’s work station.

“Morning,” I say peeking my head in.

“Morning,” Madden greets me with a smile. “You look tired this morning. Trouble sleeping?”

“Yeah, sort of,” I admit. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Madden sets his sketch book down and gives me his full attention.

“How do you deal with the little voice in your head that tells you that you don’t deserve your man because you’re nothing but a junkie?”

“Let me guess, does that voice sound anything like your ex?”

“Little bit,” I laugh.

“Tell that voice to fuck off. My shrink has me do these affirmations. It feels kind of stupid at first to look into the mirror and tell yourself you’re a badass, but it does help a lot. You should try that. And, at the end of the day, remind yourself the guy you’re with is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. If he didn’t think you were good enough, he wouldn’t be with you.”

“You are so very wise.”

“Just call me Yoda,” Madden jokes with a wink. “So, you’re already seeing someone? You’ve only been here two weeks, you work quick.”

I feel my face heating. Am I jumping into something with Adam too fast? I know him better than I’ve known anyone in my life, and he knows me better than anyone. True, we only met in person for the first time two weeks ago, but that doesn’t change the unique bond we have.

“I’m only teasing,” Madden assures me. “I’ve always been a boyfriend guy myself. I hated being single and it was destructive for a while because I’d stay with shitty guys just so I wouldn’t have to be single. Not that I’m saying you’re jumping into something because you’re afraid to be single.”

“I’m not,” I assure him. “I’m definitely not jumping and it has nothing to do with not wanting to be single.”

“Good. And if you ever want to talk more specifics I’m here for that, too. Although, for really effective sex talk Royal might be your better option.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

The day winds on uneventfully, my mind fully fixed on the thought of getting to ink Adam later. I’m a little worried about fucking up, but while I was in rehab and healing I practiced tattooing on sides of pork I picked up at the butcher. I read pig skin is almost the same as human skin, so I don’t feel like a total newb. I’ve been agonizing over what to ink. And, I’ve been doing my best to tamper down my excitement at the idea of my mark on Adam’s skin permanently.

The last thought has been enough to keep me at half-mast all day long.

“Ready to test your skills?” Adam asks after his last appointment leaves.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I take a deep breath to steady my nerves.

“Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.”

I nod and roll my shoulders back to loosen them.

“Where are we putting this?” I ask.

“I don’t know what you’re putting on me so it’s hard to make a judgement. Wherever you think it’ll fit best. You might’ve noticed last night my arms and most of my torso is pretty covered.”

“You don’t want to know what it is?” I ask incredulous.

“Nah, it’ll be more fun as a surprise. So is it big?”

I let out a chuckle at the double entendre.

“I didn’t realize you were a size queen,” I joke and Adam gives my shoulder a little shove.

“Oh my god, you know what I meant, perv.”

“The design I have in mind is fairly big. It might look pretty cool on your thigh, if you’re up for it?”

“Yeah, consider me your canvas.”

I nearly salivate at his words. The idea of having free reign to create lasting art all over his body is a dream come true.

I start to set up the equipment as Adam strips out of his jeans and settles into the chair in his red boxer briefs. Having him partially naked in my periphery I start to make mistakes and Adam has to call out a few corrections to my preparation.

Eventually it all gets done correctly and as I slip my hands into a pair of gloves I will them to be steady. I can’t fuck this up. I know Adam said it would be okay if I did. But, I want this to be perfect.

As I set to work Adam gives me pointers here and there, correcting my technique and complementing things I’m apparently already a natural at.

“I give up, what is it?” Adam finally asks once I have the entire outline done.

“It’s a Griffin.”

Adam cocks his head questioningly and I feel heat creeping into my cheeks.

“It’s a half lion, half eagle and it’s known for being a protector.”

“I love it,” Adam says, his voice slightly strained.

When I pause and look up to make sure I didn’t fuck up somehow Adam catches my lips with his in a tender kiss. It’s not hot and urgent like yesterday. It’s a slow coupling, more of a tease than anything. But I’m still left breathless by the time he pulls back.

“You’ve saved my life in more ways than you’ll ever know.”

Adam rests his forehead against mine and a heavy silence falls between us, filled with unspoken words and unnamed emotions.

After a few seconds Adam clears his throat and sits back.

“Do you need a break or want to call it good for today and pick this back up later?”

“If you need a break that’s fine, but I’m okay so far.”

“Do your thing then. But don’t be afraid to rest if you need it. It can take a bit until you get used to the prolonged vibrations from the machine making your hand go numb.”

“I feel like there’s a sex joke in there somewhere, but I’m going to leave it alone.”

Adam chuckles as he leans back in the chair again and we fall into light conversation as I continue to work.