Page 12 of Fool's Bargain

“I’ve waited this long already. I can survive a little longer.” I paused and fixed my gaze on her in a more businesslike fashion. “So, have you settled on a design already or are we freestyling? Should I get my tablet?”

“I want you to create the design, of course. You’re intimately familiar with all of Bodhi’s tattoos. The elemental aspect of those is what I want to replicate, but in something self-contained. Something that evokes what they are to me.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to me with an apologetic smile. “Here are therequestsfrom the guys. See what you can make of it.”

I scanned the list, which for the most part sounded reasonable—each of her men had listed an element: earth, air, water, fire—but I shook my head at Bodhi’s scribbled note about his location of choice. When I saw her worried look, I rested a hand on her shoulder.

“I saw how you six are together. You told me your story. They literally built you a soul. That is...” My chest went tight again the same way it had when Keagan had first explained that detail about their recent experiences. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to finish the thought. “That’s pretty fucking epic love, if you ask me. Not easy to distill down into a single tattoo, but these are good notes, so I’m game to try.”

I turned and grabbed my tablet off the counter behind me from among the scattered sketches and colored pencils strewn about my workspace. The other side of my actual work area where I did the tattoos was pristine, but when I was designing, I needed clutter. I pulled up my stool and sat at Deva’s side, tapping the stylus on the screen to bring up a new project.

She went still and watched me as I tilted my head and looked her up and down. She was slight of build, average height, but had gorgeous curves. Her full breasts filled out a tight black tank top and I gave them a long look, indulging myself partly to spite my ex. Bodhi had always been a breast man, and as openly sexual as this group was, I had no doubt he’d indulged in some of his filthiest fantasies with her already. The thought made me warm between the legs, but a smile tugged at my lips.

“I have it,” I said. “And I know Bodhi will love it. Do you mind taking off your top for a sec? The shop is still locked up. Nobody will bother us for the rest of the day.”

Without hesitating, she shed her supple leather jacket and peeled off her top, revealing breasts as gorgeous as I’d imagined. I held up the tablet and snapped a quick picture, then settled down with my ideas, drawing the design I had in my head atop the photo of Deva’s torso.

“You can put your shirt back on. This will take a little while. And feel free to make yourself at home.”

She slipped back into her shirt but remained in the chair and after a few minutes eyed me with a curious look. “Are you always this serious when you work?”

I glanced up from the design, my mind already abuzz with the vision that had formed in my mind when she’d shed her top. “I’m just in the zone. This design is going to blow their minds.”

She smiled. “I always relish a chance to do that.” She leaned forward and peered over the top of my tablet, slipping her legs off either side of the chair to get a better view. I set the tablet down in front of her and kept working where she could watch the pattern unfold. I had hidden the photo of her chest shortly after starting the design—I’d just needed it for an idea of general shape—but was gratified that she didn’t express any objection when she saw what I had so far.

She lifted a hand and pressed it to her sternum, over the spot where the peak of the tattoo would begin, then traced her fingers down as if describing the pattern I had so far. A funny look crossed her face and I stopped drawing.

“What is it? Is it completely wrong?”

“No!” She shook her head vigorously. “It’s perfect. I just don’t remember telling you that this spot...” She pressed her thumb at the base of her sternum. “This is where souls reside. It’s like you’ve externalized mine perfectly. Every bit of it. And satisfied Bodhi’s request to have it between my boobs in the process.”

“Just wait until I add color.” I grinned at her and got back to work.

Over the next half hour I made the finishing touches to the digital version, happy that her opinion of it only grew more enthusiastic. When I left to print it, I came back to see a small, unfamiliar container resting on the tray atop my tool cart. It was tiny and covered in delicate filigree, a faint glow emanating from inside.

Eyeing it warily, I settled down on my stool once more. “Shirt off,” I said. As I prepped her skin to accept the transfer, I tilted my chin toward the vial. “Want to tell me what that is?”

“I’m immortal,” she said without preamble, her tone so casual it didn’t even occur to me to react. But strangeness had become the theme for the day, with the weirdly appropriate Christmas music blaring from next door and the revelations happening in my shop making it too easy to believe I’d woken up in some alternate dimension this morning.

But I remained silent, knowing better than to draw any conclusions from that statement, though the possibilities were endless. I grabbed my tits and nodded, indicating for her to follow suit and hold them up so I’d have room to work. “Go on, I’m listening.”

“Your needles won’t be able to break my skin, but if I breathe fire on them, they will. That won’t be enough for a permanent tattoo though. Even after tempering the needles with my fire, the tattoos still heal within a day or two, as if they were never there. So we need to add magic to the ink to make them stick.”

“And that’s the magic?” I asked.

“That and your own innate power as a nymphaea hybrid, hopefully. The vial contains a small measure of my own blood. Just mix a few drops with the ink before you begin.”

I left the vial where it was and moved in to transfer the design to Deva’s chest. I pressed the paper with the pattern firmly beneath her breasts, hyperaware of how soft her skin was. I couldn’t help but imagine Bodhi’s reaction to her, but the thought was abstract, distant, and I didn’t feel any of the jealousy that had first flared when they’d entered my shop earlier. I simplygot it. I got why he’d have been drawn to her, why they belonged together, and why I wasn’t the one for him. And it felt good to be rid of the weight of that unanswered question.

When I peeled the transfer paper away from her skin, the outline of the pattern remained behind centered beneath her breasts. The design rested right over her solar plexus. It resembled a lotus flower with five petals, each with a different design etched within to represent the elements of her mates, and each would receive a different color. The central petal was anchored to the stem of the flower, the antimony symbol rising up the middle.

In one of many conversations Bodhi and I had shared, we’d pondered our outlook on life and the powers that existed in the universe. He’d gravitated toward the symbol because it represented a catalyst to the elements—the fifth element that could merge all the others. He saw himself both in and of the various realms he enjoyed so much: water, sky, earth, and fire. I’d refrained from pointing out how that symbol was perfect for his personality too.

I hadn’t completely identified with his need to experience all those things. Water was the only love we’d ever really shared. We’d met in the water, surfing off the coast near the pier five summers ago. Water had been the first thing we had in common but eventually turned into the only thing as we evolved during our relationship. Now I understood why I could never have been enough for him. It was far more fundamental a difference than I could have ever guessed.

The scrollwork I’d added around the flower extended beneath Deva’s breasts like dark lace, framing both shapely globes. I tamped down another flare of desire for her. It was misplaced, mostly borne of envy for what she shared with her mates. My attraction to her might be deeper, but I guessed it had more to do with her nature than any true connection.

“What is it?” she asked. “The design looks perfect. They’re going to love it.”

“It’s important thatyoulove it. You’re the one whose skin it’ll be etched in for eternity. You did say you were immortal.”

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