Epilogue

One month later, at Silky Ink

Silk

“I still think you could have found a way to do this naked. Or topless, at least. I’m topless.”

I gave my man an eye-roll as I snapped on a pair of gloves. We’d been living together for a month, since he’d patched in, and he was still completely insatiable. Two weeks ago, Gabs had moved out. She told me it was to give us more room, but I think it was because she was sick of trying to avoid finding us naked and at each other all over the house.

As much as I loved Gabs, I liked having the whole place to ourselves. And I’d even taken to wearing short skirts like Eagle had asked all those weeks ago. It really was simpler. Fuck, but I loved how he would just grab me, shove up against the wall, or over the arm of the couch, flip my skirt up and fuck me.

“Sorry, babe. You need to have your shirt off so I can ink your beautiful skin. And all my gear is here at my station, and in full view of the rest of the shop, so I’m not going naked.”

“We won’t mind in the least if you want to strip down to do it, honey.”

Eagle tensed on the chair with a growl at Taz’s teasing.

“Taz, shut the fuck up before Eagle comes over there. I don’t need him tensing up on me. And Gabs doesn’t need you laughing while she’s trying to ink you.”

Gabs was doing some more work on Taz’s chest. The man was going to be completely covered the way he was going. Mac, Taz and Eagle all got their club tatts done the day after the club settled shit with Sabella. Today’s ink was something personal, not club related. And something I’d been working my ass off to get perfect since we were at the cabin.

I picked up the transfer and carefully placed it over Eagle’s shoulder and around to his collarbone. A grin stretched my lips as I peeled the paper away, leaving the outline of the kickass eagle holding a tattered American flag in its talons that I’d drawn for him. When I’d finally shown Eagle the completed design last week I’d been beyond nervous. Naturally, he’d totally loved it. And damn, did I get fucked well that afternoon. No matter how many times I drew a tattoo up, I was always worried the client wouldn’t like it. And when it came to Eagle, I really wanted him to love what I was going to ink on his skin.

“Let’s get this party started.”

I leaned over and gave him a kiss, groaning when he held my face to him to take over the kiss. Within seconds, he had arousal spiraling through my body. I turned my face with a groan.

“That’s not fair. I can’t focus if you kiss me like that.”

He ran his knuckles over my cheek before releasing his hold. “You started it, babe.”

Shaking my head at his teasing, I grabbed my water bottle and took a mouthful.

“Did you want to look in the mirror at the placement? Make sure you like where I’ve got it sitting.”

He sat up straight and turned to look in the mirrored wall at the rear of the room. When he grinned widely, my muscles relaxed. He was happy with it.

“Looks awesome, baby. Can’t wait to see it all inked up.”

With that, he settled back against the chair that I had set to recline nearly all the way flat.

I picked up my gun, and just like every time I started a new tatt, a buzz of excitement flowed through me. I loved my job, loved giving people a piece of art they would carry with them forever. Inking Eagle was extra special, and it was with a light heart and happy smile that I loaded up my gun with black and leaned over my man’s silky-smooth skin to start the outline.

True to his Marine nature, he barely flinched as I did the outline. Even when I did the long lines that I knew felt like I was slicing razor blades through his skin, he scarcely tensed. If only all my clients were this tough. Over the years, I’d had people do all sorts of shit from the pain of getting a tattoo.

I paused to spray and wipe down his skin.

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah, babe. I’m good.”

That he was. Damn man was good at just about everything he did. Especially in the bedroom. I paused a moment with that thought. I hadn’t told him what I’d discovered this morning yet. I wondered how he’d react to the news that his sperm were apparently as hard working and determined as the rest of him.

With a smile, I got back to inking my man. I had a special plan to reveal my news. Hopefully he’d play along with it.

Eagle

I could watch Silk work for hours. Glancing at the clock, I realized I’d done just that. I’d been here all afternoon, but Silk had told me I would. The eagle she was inking on me was fucking big. It needed to be. To shrink Silk’s epic artwork down to a small size would be criminal. With how it was placed on my shoulder, I couldn’t see much of the tattoo, but I could see all of her–the lines of concentration, the small smile she wore the entire time she was dragging her needle over my skin. I could see I was going to be getting more ink, just so I could watch her deliver it.

I rather liked the idea of her branding me with her art. Made our connection more permanent. Thinking about connections made me think about the ring I had my pocket. She was wearing my patch and we were living together. And I was doing everything I could to get the woman pregnant, but we hadn’t discussed marriage. I wasn’t sure if she’d want it. Hell, I hadn’t ever thought it was something I’d want. But when it came to Silk, I wanted every tie I could to bind her to me.

A wide smile spread over her face as she reached for her spray bottle.

“Nearly done. Can you close your eyes for a minute? I want to get it all cleaned up, then reveal it to you.”

Warmth engulfed my chest. She was so fucking sweet.

“Sure, babe.”

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of her fingers over my skin as she sprayed the cold liquid over the fresh ink and wiped it down. I frowned when she stuck something else to my skin, just below the tattoo. What was she up to? Whatever it was, I knew she’d never do anything to hurt me so I kept my eyes shut while I tried to figure out what kind of stunt she was pulling on me. She wasn’t using her tattoo gun, so whatever it was, it wasn’t permanent.

“Right. Take my hand and let me help you stand. No peeking!”

I was instantly aware that the shop was now silent. Like, I could hear a pin drop silent. What the fuck had she done? I let her guide me across the floor, keeping my eyes closed, because whatever she’d done, was done now and there was no stopping it, so I might as well let her have her fun.

And I’d spank her ass for it later if she’d done something too stupid.

“Okay. Open your eyes.”

Her voice sounded rough, as though she was really nervous. I blinked open my eyes and focused on myself in the mirror. The eagle looked as awesome as I knew it would, both the bird and the flag done with such skill they looked like they would come to life at any moment. I frowned at what was in an arch underneath it all.

“I’m going to be a father?”

Whoa. My head spun I turned so fast. I snatched Silk to me and held her close.

“You’re pregnant, baby? For real?”

Tears filled her eyes as a grin spread across her face. “Yeah, for real. Although that part of that tattoo isn’t. It’s a fake. It’ll wear off in a week or so. I just thought it was a cool way to tell you the news. So, you’re happy?”

“Happy? I’m fucking ecstatic! You know I’ve wanted this. Hell, I’ve been at you every chance I get, hoping I’d get you knocked up.”

She feigned hurt. “What? All that sex was just to make a baby?”

I held her face and gave her a deep, passionate kiss. I wished we were alone, because I wanted nothing more than to be inside my woman.

“Baby, I fuck you all the time because I can’t keep my hands off your sexy self. Getting you pregnant came in second to that. I promise.”

With a chuckle she stepped back and wiped her eyes quickly.

“Um, let me cover that tatt and then we’re all done.”

“Not yet we aren’t. Come back here, baby.”

I wouldn’t find a more perfect moment than this. I briefly flicked my gaze over to Gabs, who was crying, and Taz who gave me a thumbs up to do it. He and Mac had both been with me when I bought the ring.

I tugged Silk’s hand until she stood back in front of me, then after quickly swiping the ring from my pocket, I dropped to one knee.

Silk gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

“Claudine Bennett, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She whimpered behind her hand and panic started to rise when tears leaked from her eyes. Surely she wouldn’t turn me down? Would she?

“Of course I will! I’d love to be your wife, Colt Benally.”

I slipped the ring on her finger, and before she could get a good look at it, I had her pressed close against me and my month on hers again. I would never, ever, get tired of kissing and loving this woman. I pulled back when Taz’s whistling and commentary got quickly too much to bear.

“Taz, shut the fuck up man. You know I got sensitive hearing.”

Bastard just laughed, but I didn’t care. I was too busy watching my woman, my fiancé, my old lady, the mother of my child, who was cleaning over my tatt, applying cream and covering it up so we could get out of here.

“I love you so fucking much, Silk. I never thought I’d have a wife or kids of my own. You’ve given me everything. A home, a family.”

She stopped what she was doing and cupped my face in her palms.

“And I love you, more than anything else in this world. I have no idea why you came to Bridgewater, Texas. But I’m so fucking glad you did.”

Yeah, that made two of us.