I begin to feel a little anxious as we leave the house. Maybe Grey is right; something bad will go down at the party. But as long as he’s out of the gang and we don’t have any enemies, there is nothing to worry about. Plus, Grey’s hand on my thigh helps soothe the anxious thoughts until they are all gone.
As we near a line of various off-brand stores and stop in front of a one-level building, I listen to the roars and laughter and loud music, all colliding to make a nervous but excited smile take over my face. There are bamboo trees that line up against the side of the building, and through the little cracks and low height, I can see arms in the air and tall men dancing behind girls in jeans and short shirts. There are strung up lights, and beers clinking together, and cursing.
We enter, passing by a girl getting a tattoo on her lower back. She is biting onto a leather belt while her boyfriend cheers her on. I almost, out of worry, rush over to her and see if she’s too intoxicated to get a tattoo, but she raises a glass of dark alcohol and chuckles after taking a large swig. I then look around and notice other people are getting tattoos too.
What a party…
“Which font should it be in?” Grey asks me.
I turn to him and see he is staring at a wall of pinned up sample tattoos. “What are you talking about?” I grimace at a tattoo of a machine-like teddy bear having sex with a big-breasted woman. Gross, why would anyone want to get that?
“Your name,” he says and looks at me with a crooked grin.
“You’re joking,” I say with a little nervous laugh. He can’t be serious. I love him and everything, but to get my name imprinted on his skin forever would be actually insane!
“Oh, I’m doing it. And I’ll do it in a nice pretty font you’ll love.” He taps my nose and sits down on a leather stool, in front of a bald guy covered in tattoos, a metal contraption in his hand.
I widen my eyes and shake my head. “No, don’t do that! Are you insane?”
The man chuckles. “You’re a lucky lady. This guy’s really committed.” He winks at me, and I flush. Committed? Yeah, in the sense of getting a tattoo of my name, but not in the sense of marriage or kids. Just saying…
“Heh,” I laugh nervously, and Grey grabs my hand, pulling me forward.
“Don’t worry, babe,” he says with a smile, like marring your skin with another person’s name is nothing.
“I am going to worry because this is a huge and very stupid thing to do,” I snap, pulling at my hand, but his grip is too tight. I whine his name.
“Stop worrying, princess.” He kisses the back of my hand.
I blush and bite my lip. “If you do this…then I’ll get your name on my forehead.”
He bursts into laughter and shakes his head. “You’re too much of a wimp.”
“Wanna bet?” I raise a brow. He knows how much I love to prove him wrong.
“I don’t want your delicate skin marred.” He presses his soft lips to my skin again, and I burst into a rosy color on my cheeks. “Stay my perfect angel, m’kay?” His voice is rough, but his words are silk, making me gush and nod.
“O-okay.” I smile down at him.
He laughs, and the machine in the man’s hand starts up. The sound emitting from the metal makes me grimace, and I take a fearful step back. Grey’s hand tightens, and he gently pulls me toward him. He lays his forehead against my stomach, and I’m shocked by his tender affection in public around these people. I blush but wrap my arms around him and listen to the clanging sounds of the machine as it presses into his skin.
“Does it hurt?” I ask after a while. He has been still for about ten minutes, unflinching. Given how many he has already, I doubt it even feels like a pinch.
“Nope,” he mumbles, then rests his chin on me as he looks up at me with a childishly large grin. “Maybe you should get a tattoo.”
“Of what?” I thread my fingers through his thick hair.
“My face.”
“Shut up.” I tug his hair and his lips curl, tongue sliding through his mouth. “Stop that.”
“Oh, you want your last name on my ass?” he jokes, and I roll my eyes.
“I wouldn’t be the only one embarrassed,” I point out, and he shrugs.
“Just don’t test me.” He reaches around and pinches my butt.
I gasp. “How much longer?” I mumble.
“A few more minutes,” the man says, eyes trained on Grey’s back.
I stand on my toes to peek at the tattoo that I don’t believe for a second is my name, but Grey tugs me down and bites my stomach.
“Hey!” I frown at him, tugging his hair.
“Don’t look yet. It isn’t finished,” he whines.
“Fine.” I lean down and kiss his head. I pull back and smile at the grin splashed over his face. I stand around for maybe ten more minutes, lightly gripping his hair, listening to the buzzing of what Grey explained is a tattoo gun.
“Done!” the man whose name I learned is Rick exclaims and rolls back from Grey. “You gotta keep it under wraps and apply the cream I know you already have for a few days,” he instructs.
“Got it. Thanks, man.” Grey sits up, letting his shirt stay rolled up. He digs into his pocket and hands Rick money. They talk for a quick second before he finally stands up.
“I want to see it,” I tell him, nervously chewing on my lower lip and tugging the top.
He chuckles but nods and turns around. “Like it?”
My eyes gravitate to the fresh tattoo among the others. I gasp when I see it. It definitely isn’t my name, but something much better. Something that makes me light-headed and tear up.
You are my middle ground, princesa, the tattoo reads, floating in large, thick gray clouds.
“Oh no, Grey—” I start, throat thick with emotion.
“Don’t say it’s insane or anything because…princess.” He laughs, eyes tearing up. “You’re quite literally it for me. And I know how you want a family and all that, but I…I just can’t do that. But this is my commitment to you.” He holds my hands and whispers, “My promise to love you forever and always.”
“Sappy,” Rick groans behind Grey.
Grey merely raises a middle finger in the air, eyes never leaving mine.
“So…what do you say?” His voice is shaky from nerves. I can see how much he wants to touch his lip out of anxiety, but he won’t let go of my hands.
I answer him with my lips pressed against his. I kiss him with every single ounce of love and passion that burns deep within me, all for him. I grip his neck and bring him down while pressing up into his mouth, biting and licking his lips. He wraps his arms around my waist and tugs my hips up. Before this can go any further, I pull away and press my forehead against his.
“I say…forever and always,” I whisper, and he grins, kissing me hard once again.
“Fuck, I love you so much.” He spins me around, and I squeal, latching my arms tightly around his neck.
“Grey!” I scream his name, and he whispers something dirty in my ear. “You are too bad.” I hit his shoulder, and he shrugs, glancing at my lips. I do the same with him.
“Not too bad for you, right?” he asks, licking his lips, my eyes following the action.
“Never…”