Ally

After what feels like forever, but was probably only an hour or so, the tattoo is finished and the excruciating, painful torture is at an end. I can finally get off this bloody bed, not that it wasn’t comfortable, it was until he started with the needle. As soon as it began to buzz, my whole body tensed. I relaxed slightly when Xavier began talking to me and asking me questions about random stuff but tensed again when he asked me about my family. It’s not that I meant to be rude, but how do I explain that I’m the reason my father was murdered? Now, my mother is a drunk who hates my guts and wishes I was dead instead of her husband. Nope, somehow I don’t think that kind of shit would have been easy to explain and I don’t need this sexy as sin man’s pity. I think it’s best if we just avoid that conversation.

I stand on shaky legs and head to a mirror fixed on the wall, careful to keep my shirt in place where it covers my stomach. I position myself side on and lift my arm to check out what has caused me so much pain. Tears spring to my eyes. “I love it, Xavier.”

“I’m glad you like it.” His husky voice smooths over me like silk over steel and I shiver. I can’t explain the reaction I seem to have to this man, I need to get out of this room.

I turn away from the mirror, my back to Xavier and hurriedly pull my shirt on. Moving back to the table, I grab my bag and wait while he snaps his gloves off. He then follows me out to the reception area, his warm palm at the base of my spine guiding me. I try to smother the hitch of my breath when shivers race through me and goosebumps prickle my skin.

I struggle to hide my reaction and quickly head to the numerous photo frames, again letting the beautiful tattoos draw me in.

How can a voice, both gravelly and smooth and the simplest of touches from this man have such an overwhelming affect on me? The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is....I must be losing my damn mind. I have never had anyone make me feel or react this way. I need to pull myself together, the last thing I need now, or ever, is a man in my life. Particularly this man. He has the ability to shred my already paper-thin heart and nothing would be able to fix it once he was done.

I take a few steps closer to the brick wall and study the intricate detail in each photo. I still can’t believe how breathtaking they are.

I feel Xavier, rather than see him, come up behind me. I concentrate on controlling my body’s reaction to his heat I feel, shimmering behind me. Swallowing several times, I try to direct saliva into my parched mouth so I can speak. Before I get the chance, his voice washes over me again.

“I need you to fill out a client form, please.”

When I turn, he lifts a hand and runs it through his dark hair. My fingers itch to do the same. I watch as the flex of the muscles in his arm has me practically drooling. I nod, words have deserted me, take the form and pen from his outstretched hand and move to the reception desk where I begin filling it out.

“Sorry, I should have had you do it before you had the tattoo.”

I look over my shoulder to where he stands behind me, his eyes move over my body before lifting and locking with mine. He shrugs his shoulders, knowing he’s been caught checking me out. He’s not the least bit apologetic and something about his attitude has my body humming again.

“It’s okay.” My voice sounds shaky and scratchy – way to hide the reaction I’m having to him.

I turn my attention back to the card and hurriedly fill in the details before placing the pen on the desk. Shifting the bag on my shoulder, I spin around and offer my hand again.

“Thank you,” I mumble while preparing myself for his touch again.

“Do you want to grab dinner with me, tonight?” he asks as his palm connects with mine.

Snapping my eyes up to his, I get lost in the ocean blue orbs and it takes me a moment to formulate an answer. His thumb rubs small circles across the top of my hand and he reaches out with his free hand to run fingertips across my cheek. I suck my lower lip between my teeth when I feel myself trembling. Seconds feel like hours as they pass while I’m lost in his touch. Then, flashes of the last time I allowed someone to touch me have me snapping back to the present. I try to think of a way to say no to his invitation when all the while my body is screaming for me to say yes.

“Um....” I’m struggling with what to say when the front door opens and our attention is drawn to a couple who enter.

I pull me hand back fast and step back as if I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t. Xavier gives me a confused glance before turning toward the man he obviously knows.

“Justin.” Xavier lifts his chin in that way men have of saying hello.

I study Justin and notice how handsome he is. He looks like a surfer; his dirty blonde colored hair is up in a man bun so I’m guessing it’s long. The sides are shaved shorter. His arms are covered in tattoos, he’s broad shouldered and almost as tall as Xavier. When I turn my head towards Xavier, I note his attention is focused on the woman at Justin’s side.

“Cass, what are you doing here?” He sounds annoyed with the woman.

“X, baby, I missed you.” The woman’s voice is sickly sweet. She looks at me like I’m a piece of trash from the street. An ugly sneer forms on her heavily caked-on made up face.

Oh, shit! Did Xavier really just ask me out when it’s clear he has a girlfriend? Typical. What a fucking jerk. I run my eyes over the length of her. She’s tall and skinny, nothing like my five feet two with curves. Her dark brown hair has blonde streaks and dances on her shoulders. I grudgingly admit, she’s gorgeous. I need to leave. Now! I don’t want, or need, the drama this moment could develop into.

“I need to get going.” I drop my head and hurry towards the door.

“Ally!” X calls out.

When I glance back, the woman moves to him and wraps her arms around him; pushing her body up against his. My stomach twists with a bite of jealousy and I’m angry with myself. I have absolutely no reason to be jealous. I don’t even know the damn guy. He’s just a guy who tattooed me. A temptation I don’t want or need. A temptation I cannot allow into my life.

Without a backwards glance, I push through the glass door and make a beeline for my apartment. It’s only ten minutes away, but as each step leads me further away from Xtreme Ink and him, it gets harder to breathe.

I stop and grab two coffees from the café on my way into work on Monday morning. I’m feeling guilty that I ignored messages from Cynthia on Saturday night, she wanted us to catch up. After the tattoo on Friday and visiting my mother on Saturday morning, I was in no mood to spend time with anyone.

Mother had been in her usual good form, throwing insult after insult at me. It all served to reaffirm what I already knew. So, I returned home, ordered takeout and snuggled into bed to read The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott before falling asleep and dreaming about finding a love like in the book.

I push through the solid wood door and take a deep breath, allowing the smell of old books assault my senses.

Cynthia looks over from the desk where she is checking in books and smiles when she sees it’s me. Striding over, I place the cups on the desk and push one towards her.

“I’m sorry about Saturday, I wasn’t feeling a hundred percent.” Not the truth, but not really a lie. She doesn’t need to know all about the crap in my life.

She waves a dismissive hand in the air and hums when she sips at the coffee.

“This makes up for it,” she laughs. “I can’t believe it’s Monday already.”

“I know, the week flew by,” I groan which causes Cynthia to laugh again. “What did you end up doing?” I move behind the desk and stash my bag.

“Not a lot. JT and I had a movie night on Saturday and yesterday I took him to the pool.”

JT is her six-year-old son. I haven’t met him, but he sounds like a good kid.

“Aw, damn. That would have been great, sorry I missed it.” I pick up a stack of books which need to be placed back on the shelves.

“I’m taking him to the park after work this arvo, would you like to come with us? We can have coffee and check out the single dads while he plays.” She wiggles her eyebrows and smiles.

I smile for the first time in days and nod. “Sounds like a great idea, count me in.” I head to the stacks to put books away.

Xavier’s ruggedly handsome face with his ocean blue eyes flashes before my eyes. Not for the first time since I’ve met him. There is something about the man which drew me in. As quickly as he enters my mind, I push him aside, reminding myself, he’s taken. I would never be the woman who chases after someone else’s man. I return the books in my arms to their rightful places and notice a trolley stacked high with others needing to be put away. It should keep me busy for a while and my mind off other things.

After placing the last book where it belongs, I glance at the clock on the wall to find it’s time for my lunch break. I head back to the desk and grab my bag.

“Do you want anything?” I ask Cynthia.

She looks up from the computer, a devilish smile curls her lips.

“How about we be naughty and have something sickeningly sweet?”

“Hmm, how naughty are we talking? Donuts? Cheesecake? Or, chocolate mud cake drizzled with chocolate sauce?” I try not to laugh or moan as I speak.

“Definitely the mud cake.”

“Sounds like a damn good idea to me.” Laughing, I hoist the strap of my bag onto my shoulder and head for the door.

I make my way to Darby Street, cross to the opposite side of the road so I don’t have to walk past Xtreme Ink and make my way to the beach. Tilting my head back, I look up to the grey sky and hope it doesn’t rain.

When I reach the beach, I slip off my shoes, step onto the cool sand and breathe in the salty, sea air. I stride to the water’s edge and as the water rushes over my feet, a peacefulness settles within me. I stare off in the distance and watch ships as they sail past before watching small waves roll into shore.

A familiar feeling of being watched has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end and I look to where old wooden bench seats line the promenade. A man is near one of the benches. The same man who is always here and seems to be watching me. This time he’s standing and making no secret of the fact he is looking straight at me. My eyes are drawn to him and a familiar warmth settles in my stomach.

Keeping his eyes on me, he starts towards me carrying something. He takes the concrete steps two at a time and doesn’t bother removing his shoes as he takes measured strides towards me. As he nears, I note the two travel cups in his hands

He comes to a stop before me, hands me a cup and without thinking, I accept it. We continue staring at each other. My heart seems to lodge in my throat and then that gravelly voice washes over me.

“I thought you’d like that.” He nods to the cup in my hand.

“Xavier, what are you doing here?”

“You’re welcome.” He chuckles before taking a sip from his cup.

“I’m sorry, thank you.”

“You never answered me the other day.” He speaks simply, as if I didn’t see another woman’s arms wrapped around him.

I know I sound angry when I speak.

“You seemed to have your arms full and I don’t fool around with guys who already have girlfriends.” I turn and head back up the beach, kicking myself for how jealous I sounded. I hear him come up behind me, but don’t pay him any attention.

“Jealous, Sweetness?”

“Nope. I don’t know you well enough to be jealous and I don’t get jealous.” I hate the fact my words sound like a lie even to my ears. Friggin’ hell, what the hell is this guy doing to me? I hurriedly make my way up the steps and head for work.

“Ally, have dinner with me!” he calls out.

Is this guy for real, did he not hear what I just said? I don’t bother to answer. What’s the point, he doesn’t appear to listen to me.

“She isn’t my girlfriend and means nothing to me.”

My foot pauses on the top step when he speaks and the warm feeling returns on hearing he’s single. It doesn’t change anything though, I can’t go out with him.

“It doesn’t change anything.” My head is lowered, my voice soft. I’m not even sure he hears me.

“It sure fucking does,” he growls.

I jump and spin around, not realizing he was directly behind me until he spoke. How the shit does someone as big as him move so fucking quick and so quietly.

“How does it?” I challenge him. I look up and wish I hadn’t. His eyes capture mine and his earthy scent mixed with the salt air has my head spinning. He hasn’t shaved since I last saw him and the growth on his chin is longer. My fingers itch to run through it. Damn him for being too friggin’ sexy for his own good.

“Tell me you feel it too.” He leans forward and cups my jaw, sending shivers racing down my spine.

His voice is deep, his touch soft, gentle.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” I whisper before turning away, forcing his hand to drop down.

I will myself to walk away. He’s a temptation you don’t need plays on a loop in my head. But, I take one last look into those deep blue orbs and see a million emotions playing in them. A small thrill shoots through me, knowing I can affect him in the same way he affects me.

Walk away, Ally. Turn and walk away. Now!

“I’m sorry.” I increase the pace of my escape and don’t stop to wash my feet as I usually would.

“I’ll prove you wrong, Sweetness,” he calls out to my back.

Something inside me grabs onto those words and I hope that one day he will indeed prove me wrong.