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Max grabs him before he's out of his reach and shoves him against the wall, his forearm pressed against his throat. "I said, give them their money back, you pathetic excuse of an asshole. Not even shit wants to come out of your mouth."
Nick tries to fight, but it's no use. He tosses the money, and Max releases him. "You're never allowed back in here."
"Motherfucker, you don't want to do that."
"And why the fuck not?"
He pulls on his Drifter kutte and smirks. "Because I'm part of a motorcycle club. Trespass me, and I'll have every single one of them in here every fucking day. And they won't be as nice as me. We don't like being banned from getting our tattoos."
Rolling his shoulders, he tries to stand taller. "Fine. As long as you have an appointment, you can come here for services."
"I mean it, Nick. No more shop fees, and no more shit talking. Especially about Daphne. You outed yourself and your plan for her, and that ain't ever gonna fucking happen. This is her shop. Her dad's shop. You're temporary, and if I catch you doing that shit again, I'll fucking kill you where you stand. Got it?"
Not waiting for a response, Max turns on his heel and walks outside before he's too tempted to actually hurt the man. He can't blame Daphne for wanting to slit his throat when all Max wanted to do was snap his neck. Never again will someone bash Daphne in front of him.
Chapter Twenty
Summerville
Daphne
Max storms out of the tattoo parlor, and Daphne watches the streetlight illuminate him in the night. Nick pissed himself, and he tries to blame everyone else for it. But everyone knows they have Max to thank.
She can't let him leave. Not like this. She runs out after him. "Max!"
The tall, dark-haired man with more tattoos than she has and just as many piercings turns around. "Yeah?"
"Thank you," she says, pulling him into the alley as the shop doors open.
The two other artists working walk out laughing. "Dude pissed himself!" Geoff says with his slight Australian accent. He's beenin the states since he was five, but certain words have yet to become Americanized.
"At least we got our money back. And one hell of a good laugh," Yohan says. "I can't wait to tell Jenny about this."
They pass by, unaware of Daphne and Max standing close together in the dark shadows, and Daphne looks up into Max's eyes. His green eyes stare hard into hers, and she doesn't fight it when his lips crash onto her mouth. Their tongue rings clash against each other in a frenzied kiss. Her hands snake up to wrap around his neck while his hands reach down and cup her ass. The comments he made in the shop weren't just placating like she thought, and his obvious need pressing against her body proves that.
"You're welcome," he breathes against her ear. "Call me if he starts this shit up again."
He turns to leave, but her hand takes his and stops him, turning him to face her. "Did you mean what you said?"
"When?"
"That you think I'm hot."
"Baby, if you were mine, you'd never question yourself again."
His words, especially the term of endearment he uses, sets her on fire. "You don't think I need some work to help make myself better balanced?"
Max closes the space between them and presses her back against the wall. "Daph, you're perfect."
"Except for what I have up here," she says, cupping her tiny tits. "I mean, it's like a child."
"Uh... babe, they're pierced. So, not like a child. Let's not compare them that way ever again because it makes it creepy if I ever compliment them. Also, while tits can be nice, it's not hard to play with smaller ones. What I really like, though, is this."
His hands reach around and grip a cheek in each hand. Her teeth bite down on her bottom lip as she looks into his eyes.
"I want something of substance to grip onto. To caress and knead. Things can get pretty wild, and I want to make sure we're both anchored."
"It's just a little hard to believe. All my life, men have always told me what they don't like about my body. What I should change. It... it feels a little unbelievable that you'd like everything I have and not feel I'm lacking elsewhere."
