CHAPTER THREE
SOPHIA
“Hello!” Jade called as we entered the tattoo parlor. It was a small place right across the street from Ravenous and next door to Knox’s repair shop.
“I’m in the back!” The man’s rumbled answer was deep and sexy making me wonder who hid behind a voice like that.
“Come on Sophia, you’re gonna love this!” She whispered excitedly, pulling me through a red curtain and into a back hallway. “Wait here, he doesn’t like to be surprised.”
I leaned against the wall of the dank and empty corridor, the walls were painted black and the red neon exit sign reflected a red hue against them. Beyond the door, I could clearly make out Jade’s voice.
“Baby, you think you have time for a piercing?”
“A piercing? I’m not doing any working today, Jade. How did you get in, anyway?” This man’s voice was rough and sounded pissed already.
I heard a pair of keys dangling. “You did give me an extra pair.”
“I told you that key was for emergencies,” he grunted. “Besides, I thought you didn’t believe in damaging your body.”
“Oh, stop it! I’ve gotten tattoos.”
“One tattoo, one. And it’s a tiny heart on your ring finger,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“Anyway, it’s for my friend. She’s right outside. She wants to get her tit pierced.”
I heard the man sigh. “What did I tell you about bringing friends over, Jade?”
“No. She’s not just any friend, she’s our new dancer at Ravenous. I wanted to give her a Hell’s Lovers welcome. Come on, baby. Do me this one little favor, and I’ll do one for you later tonight?”
The man groaned and his rumble made my insides flutter. “Fine. I’ll see what I’m working with and you can keep your favors, Jade.”
“Awe shucks, and here I thought I could convince you with a little lip action.”
I heard him grunt in response and Jade laughed. “Believe me baby, in this case I’m doing you a favor.”
“I doubt it. I need to get back to Ravenous. I can’t leave Riggs and Seth alone.”
“They can deal with shit for a little while,” she insisted.
My nerves got the best of me and as I was about to make a break for it, I was grabbed and dragged into a brightly lit room. I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the light and then I heard Jade’s voice.
“Cain, this is Sophia. Sophia, meet Cain Scardino. Hell’s Lovers’ Sargent at Arms and the best tattoo artist on all of the west coast.”
My vision cleared and my jaw dropped when I saw the man before me. He was just as gorgeous as the last time I had seen him. Tall, broad shouldered, with a powerful build. He had a thick beard that covered his chin and I itched to feel it’s roughness along my skin. He had the most perfectly chiseled jawline and thick neck. His muscles moved under his white tank and by God I felt my panties drench. He was absolutely all sexual and all man. But what mesmerized me most, were his eyes. In the brightness of the room they were like blue steel reaching into my soul. Dread ran through my veins as what Jade said sank in. He was a Hell’s Lover.
“Hey,” his hand reached out to me and I paused for a moment before I took it. I’m glad I did, because the electric shock that ran through my body at his touch had me yearning to sit in his chair, open my legs up wide, and have Cain Scardino claim me as his. Fuck, he was tempting. But he was also dangerous. A man that looked like him had to have some dark secrets.
I breathed out as his warm hand engulfed mine. “So, what can I do you for?”
“Anything,” I breathed.
“I’m sorry?” He blinked.
“Um…I mean, um…I wanted a nipple piercing.”
Oh my God has it been that long? I’m a grown woman, for God’s sake! I don’t need to act like a prepubescent teenager! A man’s a man, just like any other.
It was inevitable. I was about to have an all-out panic attack in the middle of a tattoo parlor in the presence of, none other than, the Hell’s Lovers sexy as sin Sargent at Arms.
“Okay then, have a seat.”
Jade turned to me and winked. “Don’t worry sweetheart, I leave you in the best of hands.”
I grabbed her hand. “You’re leaving me here?”
She laughed and leaned in. “It’s not like he’s gonna bite you, unless you want him too,” she winked. “Besides, I have a quick errand to run. What do you think, Cain? Will she be done in an hour?”
His eyes lingered on mine and his lip curled into the most incredible smile I’d ever seen. “An hour should be just fine.”
She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and winked. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I watched her leave and realized I was all alone with this man...this gorgeous... dangerous... man. Did I say he was dangerous?
“Okay, sweetheart, hop up and let’s do this.”
I turned to him and froze in place as his eyes settled on mine. I instantly looked down and I could feel a slight blush creep up my cheeks. In the silence of the room, I heard the wheels of his chair rolling across the floor, and then warmth engulfed my hand as he held it gingerly.
I looked up and my eyes found his, all dark and filled with sensual sins yet to be discovered. “Is this your first time?”
“I’m sorry?” I whispered, feeling slightly breathless.
His lip curled and he gave me a side smile that nearly undid me. “Piercing something.”
“Oh, yes,” I nodded.
“Nervous?” He tugged me towards the chair and sat me down.
“A little.”
He grunted. “Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it.”
“Is it going to hurt?”
He looked me in the eye and I was held mesmerized by that steely gaze. “Depends on if you like pain.”
I scrunched my eyebrows. “I don’t think anyone likes pain.”
He shrugged. “Like I said, it depends.”
“On what, exactly?”
“On how wet it gets you.”
I sucked in a breath and held it. His words got me wet, and his presence excited me like nothing had in a long time.
“How old are you, sweetheart?”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to ask those types of questions?”
He shrugged. “Is that a rule or something?”
I smiled at him. “Or something...I’m thirty.”
His eyes narrowed and assessed me, lingering on my lips and drifting lower to my breasts and then my bare legs. His gaze made their way up my body again leaving hot tingles in its wake. “Fuck, you look good for thirty.”
I smiled shyly. “Thank you.”
He licked his bottom lip and I shivered. “I’ve seen you dance.”
I bit my lip and squirmed in my seat. His eyes were making my panties drench in need. “I know. I’ve seen you watch me dance.”
“You look good up there.”
I nodded slowly, trying to figure out what he was getting at. “Pole dancing is a good workout.”
He grunted. “Oh, I could see that. I could definitely see that.”
He held my eyes for what seemed like an eternity, until he swiveled around and started to get some items ready.
“So, have you decided how you want it pierced?”
“Umm…no,” my voice sounded unsure even to me.
He nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
I sat there for a moment, taking in the room. The walls were coated in a deep red and art sketches and photos of motorcycles aligned the back. White cabinets stood against one corner of the room and an array of tattoo guns sat on the counter. Everything looked neat, in its place, and most of all…sterile. Cain walked back in holding what looked like a tray. He set it down beside me.
“Okay. I’ve got barbells, shields, dangling hearts,” he lifted a steel circular barbell with two pink heart charms that dangled from it. It looked delicate, and I smiled.
“You like that one, huh?” He smirked and pulled it out. “Yeah, I think you’d look sexy in it too.”
He met my eyes and my pussy clenched. His words were simple statements that had me swimming in arousal. I watched as he pulled out the piercing and set it aside. “Although, a shield would be nice too. If you’re a good girl I may just gift you one of these for later.” He winked at me and my insides did a never ending somersault.
I picked up a set of piercings that looked like a chain necklace. He took it from my hands and chuckled. “This is a laurel chain, steel nipple shield.” He pressed one shield to one breast and the other against my other breast and I nearly came from the sensation of his fingers on me. “The chain would dangle down to your belly button,” his finger dragged down my tank top and circled my belly button. My breath hitched and my body was covered in goose bumps.
“Let’s go slow though, sweetheart. If you like the first one, I’ll give you the second one later.”
I nodded and watched him prepare. He was so precise, so meticulous in what he did.
“Okay, baby. Show me what I’m working with.”