Page 4 of Tess, Property of Blaze

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Not at all. I’m already thinking about what other tattoo I can get.”

I laugh. “Oh no… that’s how it starts. After you get one, you always want another, then another.”

She laughs through her tears. “Well, I guess I’ll see you soon, then.”

“I guess so.” I walk over to the sink and grab the cream I use to protect fresh tattoos. “Now, I’m applying this antiseptic cream, and I’ll cover it with some cling wrap. It may get itchy, so please try not to scratch it.” I hand her a smaller bottle of the same cream. “Here, take this, make sure you apply it every couple of hours, you need to keep it moist.”

“Okay, thank you so much, Tess.” Tanya lets her top fall to her hips and takes the cream out of my hand, placing it into her purse beside the chair.

Realizing I’m early for my next appointment, I walk out with her, planning on getting a bite to eat, but stop in my tracks when sitting on a chair in the waiting room, reading a car magazine, is the most gorgeous-looking man I’ve ever seen. I’m not exaggerating, either. I’m talking dark hair and eyes, a chiseled jaw with at least a three-day growth there, full, luscious lips, and from what I can tell by his unbuttoned shirt, toned muscles wrapped in flawless skin—a body you only see in magazines.

Not hearing what Tanya is saying anymore, my gaze stays glued to his face. He looks up then, his lazy stare changing to a flicker of interest. He smirks, and I swear all the air in my body vanishes. His smile is something else.

I nibble on the inside of my cheek, and then I hear, “Tess…? How much do I owe you?”

“Tess!” Jeff repeats, and I’m suddenly brought back to the present. I look over at Jeff, who’s got Gunner in the client chair, ready to get his tattoo done. I don’t miss the second smile from the stranger before I take my eyes off him.

Is he…? Could he be…? Is this guy my next client? I thought Gunner’s friend was a biker? I don’t see any biker cut on him.

Hearing Tanya’s nails drumming a beat against the counter, I quickly walk around behind it and look her up on the computer. “Your balance is eighty-five dollars today, Tanya.”

I take her payment, process it, then say my goodbye. I watch her walk out of the shop, then feel heat hit my cheeks when my eyes lock once again with the stranger’s sitting in front of me, his magazine now closed and forgotten on his lap, one leg folded and his ankle resting on his thigh.

“Am I next?” he asks. Crap… his voice is hot as well. Deep, demanding, and sexy.

“Um….” I look at the computer again, seeing the name Gunner’s Mate written in my appointment schedule. Shoot, I forgot to get his name.

He stands, his light blue denim jeans snug against his thighs. His black shirt is open at the collar, revealing a silver chain tucked underneath.

He walks up to the counter and places his hands flat against it. “Hey, sweetheart, I’m Blaze, you really doin’ my tattoo?” His eyes shine brightly as he gives me a panty-dropping grin, and that’s when I notice the piercing on his lip, adding that extra sexiness.

I clear my throat. “Yes, well, if you’re Gunner’s friend who he booked in, then yes, you’re my next client.”

“Sweet…. Can’t say I’m not happy about a hot woman tattooing me for my first time.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Your first tattoo? You have to be kidding?” I say, not believing him. I’d thought Gunner was joking when he made the appointment.

“It’s true, sweetheart, this body hasn’t been touched… well, not by a needle that is. By a woman? Well, that’s a different story.”

And there it is… the arrogant biker who thinks he can get all the ladies.Well, he hasn’t met me yet. I’m sworn off men for now. Plus, I’m married, and the last thing I need is a fling with a biker—even if he is God’s gift to women.

“Yeah, well, I’m just here to do your tattoo, what you do outside of here is none of my business.”

He leans up against the counter, his gaze boring into me. The subtle scent of leather and a hint of spice hits my senses, and I can’t help but stare at his forearms, exposed with his shirt rolled up to his elbows. I’ve seen a lot of arms in my day, but these here, have to be the hottest one’s going around. What is it about a man’s bare forearms?

“What if I want it to be?”

Coming out of my daydream state, I realize he’s said something, and I completely missed it. “Um… sorry, what?”

“I said, what if I want it to be?”

I tilt my head slightly. “Be what?”

“Be your business, what I do?”

His smirk is drop-dead sexy, but at the same time I’m thinking, he can’t be serious.

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