Page 21 of Ink & Desire

I shake my head, but I’m smiling. We both know I’m not really mad at her for her teasing. And a small part of me worries that she might be right. There’s something between me and Corbin that feels bigger than mereattraction. It’s a sexual tension I’ve never felt before. But I’ll be damned if I risk my future career on it.

“I’m not going to fuck him,” I whisper, trying to inject as much resolve as possible into my words. “We’re going to keep things strictly professional.”

“Sure, you are,” she says in a voice that makes it clear she doesn’t believe me for a second. “Just do me a favor?”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“When you finally do fuck Tattoo Daddy, I want all the dirty details. Don’t hold back.”

I cover my face with my hands. “Please don’t call him that.”

“Why not? I think it suits him.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

I try to ignore Cass’s prediction as we get into the elevator, but secretly I think she’s right. Corbin looks like the kind of man who would take control of everything when it comes to sex. And his partner would probably thank him for it afterward. I think about his words last night about me begging him. It’s easy to say I’d never beg a man for anything. But remembering his hand on my neck has me wondering if maybe he was right. And now I’m thinking like Cass again. I can’t think about sex with Corbin. He’s off limits.

“I need you to have my back on this,” I say, my voice serious. “I want this apprenticeship to work out. I want to be a great tattoo artist. So, I can’t think about having sexwith Corbin. Which means I need my best friend to help keep me in line, not encourage me to make bad choices.”

“Are you so sure it would be a bad choice?” she asks. When I just raise my brows at her, she sighs. “Fine. I’ll drop it. But just know that I think you’re missing out.”

Secretly, I think she might be right. But I don’t voice that aloud. I want to drop the subject and focus on my future. And that means I need to stop letting my lady bits control my thinking. If I’m going to be a great tattoo artist, my focus needs to be on this apprenticeship. Not on whatever that was between me and Corbin. I’m sure he feels the same way. He seems like he takes his business seriously. I doubt he’ll want to muddy the waters by adding sex to the mix. I tell myself that’s a good thing, even as a small pang of regret stabs me. Because deep down, if I let myself really think about it, I know Cass is right. Sex with Corbin would probably be amazing. Not that I’ll ever find out.

Cass and I spend the rest of the afternoon lounging around my apartment in pajamas, watching Pride and Prejudice and swooning over Darcy for the millionth time. It takes me back to our college weekends and the carefree feeling of knowing we didn’t have any responsibilities. Not that it’s true now, but it’s nice to pretend for a few hours. Monday is soon enough for reality to come crashing back in. For now, I’m happy to keep pretending. Tomorrow, Cass will go back to New York, leaving me to deal with my uncertain futurealone. I know she’s only a train ride away, but it’s a poor substitute for having her here with me all the time.

“I’m going to miss you,” I say, turning to her as the credits roll on the movie.

She sighs. “I know. I hate living so far away from you.”

“You should just move here,” I say. “We can live together, share clothes. It’ll be just like college.” My voice is full of wistful longing.

She gives me a sad smile. “We had to grow up eventually, A.”

For some reason, I feel my eyes prick with sudden tears. I blink against the sting, forcing a smile. “Don’t remind me.”

Reaching out, Cass puts an arm around me, pulling me to her in a hug. I lean into her and rest my head against her shoulder.

“As long as we don’t outgrow each other,” I say.

“Never gonna happen. You’re stuck with me for life.”

“Good.”

Chapter 12

Corbin

I don’t emerge from my office until I’m certain Avery and her friend are gone. I’m not in the mood to play nice with them or try to explain my decision. Hell, I'm not even sure I can explain it to myself. I should have known Jessie wouldn’t let me get away that easily, though. When I open my office door, she's waiting for me, a knowing grin on her face.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I say. “It’s creepy.”

If anything, her smile grows wider. “I like her.”

I roll my eyes at her. “You don’t even know her.”

I brush past her on my way to the small employee break room in the back. Of course, she follows me. My sandwich is still sitting there, half-eaten. I probably have time to finish it before my next client arrives, but I don’t have much appetite anymore. All I can think of is the agreement I just made and how badly I’m going to fuck it up.

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