Page 170 of The Comedown

“Really? Right now?”

Nodding, he places the marker in my upturned palm. His eyes never stray from mine, and the longer I look into them, the more weight they hold. All of this feels heavy, even me, like my center of gravity just shifted, anchoring me to something other than Earth.

“I guess.” I blink. “On what?”

Beside us, Finley pauses what he’s doing to stand from his chair, mumbling something about needing to use the restroom.

Julian’s colorful hand goes to his chest, drawing my attention away from the abandoned tattoo gun, and he points one long finger at his sternum.

“Julian?” My eyes search his.

“You got your name on your back because you’re the only one that’s ever had it.” His knees bend, sending me forward, and my newly tattooed arm that’s been crossed over my front reaches out near his head to catch my weight. “And since you’re the only one that’s ever had my heart, I want your name on it, too.”

My eyes drop to his lips, then to his chest.

“That’s not just your heart.” The heart lies slightly to the left. I should know, mine’s beating against my ribs like a rowdy prisoner desperate to escape from its cell.

“You don’t have just my heart.” His voice lowers. “I’m so fucking in love with you, Collette.”

A million reasons why this is bad spin in my head, trying to find purchase, but I swat them all away to bite the marker’s cap between my teeth, pulling it off, then I sign his chest just like I’d sign anything else put in front of me, even crossing the double T’s with an exaggerated swipe.

Not once do Julian’s eyes move from my face, and when I’m done, I recap the marker, tossing it aside.

I lift my forearm, twisting it to reveal the fresh ink.

“Gems… They look good,” he says thoughtfully.

I smirk.

Starting at my wrist where my pulse point is located and extending up the long axis of my arm toward the crook of my elbow, brilliantly colored jewels appear to be spilling out from my radial artery. Finley did an amazing job making it seem realistic with what looks like skin peeled back in certain places.

“They’re jewels because this tour changed everything for me,” I whisper as my voice cracks, unable to keep my emotions in check. “Head over heels, inside out, I’m so fucking in love with you, too, Julian.”

He cups the back of my head, dragging me to him, and our lips lock together like they alone are responsible for sealing our fate. Fleeting kisses don’t compare to everlasting ink, but somehow in this moment, that’s exactly how it feels.

“Is it safe for me to come back in now?” Finley asks from somewhere outside the door, and chuckling, I try to sit back.

Julian doesn’t let me go though, calling out, “You got any cameras in here?”

“No, sir. We offer this room specifically to clients tattooing the more delicate areas for added comfort and privacy away from others, but none of our tables are filmed. The only cameras we have onsite are in the waiting room and outside the front entrance for security purposes.”

“Perfect. Give us ten minutes and you can double your fee.”

“He’s kidding,” I say, attempting to wiggle back down Julian’s thighs, but his hold on me tightens as he thrusts his growing erection against my center.

“The fuck I am,” he says to me, then to Finley, “Ten minutes.”

Not needing any other incentive, Finley tells us he’ll be outside, taking a smoke break…for ten minutes, then closes the door.

This is crazy. We can’t have sex in a tattoo parlor after everything that just happened with Bodee.

I search around the small room. No chance of someone sneaking photos for my ex. No cameras. No blinking lights. No windows. The only mirror is the one above us, so I know it’s not a two-way.

We can…but—

The tip of Julian’s hard cock straining beneath his jeans hits my clit.

We can.