Page 42 of Ink & Desire

“Get your shit together,” I mutter once I’m in the quiet safety of my office with the door closed.

I adjust my perpetually hard dick, trying in vain to find a comfortable position. I don’t know why I bother. My pants haven’t been comfortable since Avery started working here. I heave a frustrated sigh as I flop into my chair behind my desk and close my eyes. Resting my headagainst the back of the chair, I try to clear my thoughts of anything related to my sexy little apprentice. It’s no use, though. It hasn’t worked for the past 22 days. What makes me think it’s going to work now?

I hide out in my office for as long as I think I reasonably can without everyone suspecting that I’m avoiding them. Even though that’s exactly what I’m doing. Before Avery started working here, I wouldn’t have given a second thought to how much time I was spending in my office. Before Avery got here, I avoided this fucking room as much as possible. Now, I’m doing the opposite. Eventually, I admit to myself that I’ve got to stop being such a chicken shit and man up. It’s not like I’ve done or said anything that would make someone suspect I’ve got the hots for my new apprentice. But if I keep actively avoiding her, people are going to wonder what the fuck’s wrong with me.

When I finally emerge from my office, Noah is applying a stencil to a woman’s ribcage while Avery watches. She’s got the sketchbook I gave her in her lap, but her focus is solely on Noah as he talks through the positioning of the stencil.

“It’s not rocket science,” I say. “But it’s easy to mess it up if you’re not used to the flimsy paper.”

Noah nods as he peels the transfer paper off the woman’s ribcage. “He’s right. I’ve screwed up a few in my day.”

Avery nods. “I’ll remember that,” she says.

“Go take a look,” Noah tells the woman, gesturing toward the mirror on the wall.

She walks over and turns this way and that studying the position of the design on her skin.

“What do you think?” she asks, turning to look at Avery.

Avery hops to her feet, setting the sketchbook on the table beside her. She walks over to where the client and Noah are standing near the mirror and starts discussing the design. I see a flash of white from the corner of my eye and notice a piece of paper on the floor near where Avery was just sitting. I look around the shop, but I don’t see Jessie anywhere. The others are still studying the image in the mirror and helping the client decide if she likes the placement. Before anyone notices, I bend down and pick up the piece of paper.

I can tell immediately that it’s one of Avery’s drawings. I recognize her work after weeks of watching her draw. I should put it on top of her sketchbook and walk away. I should leave it where I found it. But knowing what I should do and making myself do it are two very different things. Before the others can turn and see me, I fold the paper twice and stuff it into my pocket. I feel bad about the creases, but not bad enough to make me change my mind about keeping it.

Chapter 19

Avery

The summer days pass quickly, and I settle into a sort of routine at work. I usually spend the first two hours at the shop doing office duties. I’ve organized my various tasks into different days so I can get everything done and still have time to learn the tattooing side of things. Things in the office are running smoothly now. I’m not sure how they were before I started working here, but I’d like to think I’m making a positive difference. Notthat Corbin has said or done anything that might hint that he approves of what I’ve done. But he is being a little nicer to me, I think. I try not to read into his small gestures of kindness. It’s not like he’s buying me flowers. He gave me a freaking sketchbook to draw in while I’m at work.

I ignore the small part of me that whispers that for someone like Corbin, that is a big deal. He’s not the kind of person to be nice for the sake of it. I get the feeling you need to earn his respect. I know he and I started off on the wrong foot, but I think things are going well now. I wouldn’t exactly call us friends, but he’s being cordial most days, even if he’s not outright friendly. He’s not joking around with me the way he does with Jessie and Noah. I’m not sure we’ll ever get there; but he makes time to show me things I haven’t seen before.

The other day, he was tattooing a client and using a shading technique I hadn’t seen before. When I asked him about it, he didn’t huff in annoyance at the interruption. In fact, he’d looked sort of pleased that I’d asked. He explained his reasoning behind using the technique and the way it would affect the finished design. We’d talked while he worked and for the first time, I’d felt at ease in his presence. There was still the underlying sexual awareness, of course. I doubt that will ever go away. It’s too bad. I’d like to be able to work with him without constantly wanting to jump his bones. Maybe that will come in time.

Today, Corbin has a full schedule and I’ve been fielding calls all afternoon for people hoping to sweet talktheir way into an earlier time slot than the website is telling them. It’s irritating. Don’t these people know how to read? Do they think the website is somehow lying to them? I don’t know how people at call centers deal with things like this all day long. By the time I finish telling the 5thperson in a row that Corbin is booked up until November and no, he doesn’t accept walk-ins, I want to throw the phone out into the street and hope a passing truck runs it over.

“Ugh!” I groan, glaring at the phone, daring it to ring again.

“Just forward it to the answering service,” Corbin says. “You don’t have time to keep telling them the same shit they can read online.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” I say, pressing the buttons to forward incoming calls.

“I’ve got a client coming for a cover-up soon,” he says. “This one will be a little difficult. It’ll be good for you to see it.”

Excitement courses through me at Corbin’s invitation. I try to tell myself that I’m just looking forward to seeing something new, but I know the truth. I’m excited that Corbin went out of his way to invite me to watch him work. I’m excited to watch him work.Idiot. He’s training you. That’s literally why you’re here.Still, he doesn’t usually give me a heads-up about what he’s doing. I’ve had to just tag along and ask questions and hope I’m not annoying him. But maybe he’s finally starting to realize I’m serious about learning to tattoo.

Ten minutes later, I hear the bell above the door ring. Looking over, I see a tall, gorgeous woman standing there. I’m immediately struck by a sense of familiarity. She looks like she’s a little older than me, but not older than mid-thirties. Her cool, blue eyes are striking when combined with her long, dark hair. She’s got the kind of curves that I’d need plastic surgery to achieve. Thanks, genetics. I’m pretty sure everything she’s rocking is totally natural. I’m immediately intimidated by this beautiful woman. Before I can figure out why she looks so familiar, she spots Corbin and smiles, transforming her from gorgeous to insanely gorgeous.

“Corbin,” she says, walking toward him with her arms wide.

To my utter shock, Corbin gives her a brilliant, full smile. It’s the kind of smile I’ve never seen from him. The force of that full smile hits me hard and it’s not even directed at me.

“Izzy,” he says. It’s been too long.”

The woman—Izzy—plants a kiss on Corbin’s cheek before pulling him in for a hug that seems to last far too long. Something hot sizzles in my chest and I look away from them, turning my attention to the computer, though I don’t have anything open on the screen. I just need an excuse to look away from Corbin and the stunningly beautiful woman who looks like she was made for him. It’s no use, though. I can still hear the two of them talking, catching up like two old friends. I didn’t even think Corbin had friends.

“Avery?”

It takes me a second to realize that Corbin is saying my name. Blinking, I turn to look at him. He’s still standing too close to Izzy, but at least they’re not hugging anymore. Though I doubt I’ll be able to forget the sight of her kissing his cheek. Or the way Corbin’s smile completely transformed his face from stern to something resembling happy.

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