Page 2 of Chic Steel

The only way I could think of talking to her was to request a piercing. But only if she did it.

There was a board behind the counter with a list of options, and my eyes snagged on ‘nipple piercing.’I’d glanced at her furtively and noticed hers pressing against her tight green shirt, swallowed thickly, and thought, why not?

When I asked her to pierce me, I hadn’t considered the fact she’d need to touch me to do it.

That was a new kind of torture.

Her small hands were covered in clear rubber gloves, but I could still feel the warmth from them on my skin. Could see her dark head bent over me while she carefully placed a black dot and asked if I was happy with the placement.

If she’s happy, I’m happy.

I also hadn’t considered the pain. Or the fact she was shoving a needle through my skin. Thankfully, I have a cheek to bite to disguise my whimpers and managed to keep my wide-eyed reaction at having metal pushed through my nipple to a minimum.

At least I thought so. Ella took one look at me and bit her lip until it was red and glistening to keep her smile at bay.

“All right?” she’d asked, and I nodded and followed her out to pay, keeping my eyes above her waist instead of on her tight jeans.

As I tapped my card, I noticed an asterisk at the bottom of the board stating ‘genital prices on application.’ My chest seized, and I choked on air. I didn’t know it was something you could do.

“Is that…” I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence. She looked at me inquiringly, and I tried again. “You pierce genitals?” My voice sounded squeaky.

She blinked at me a few times before her throat bobbed and she replied, “Yes. Are you interested?”

“I didn’t know you could do that.”

Her cheeks flushed, stark against her dark hair. “Some people find it helps with…pleasure.”

“Oh.” I frowned, not understanding how it would work. “For who?”

“Depends on the piercing.”

An awkward silence fell as we stared at each other. Red spread down her neck, and my heart pounded harder until I could barely hear over it and the crowd of people waiting in line.

“Thank you for your help,” I croaked out and spun for the door before she could respond.

I still don’t know what I was thinking, asking about genital piercings. The fact I returned a week later to get one caused more confusion. After a thorough deep dive on the internet, I decided why not. It’s totally normal to ask your crush to pierce your dick in the hope you can figure out how to talk to her.

If I ever ask her out and we become intimate, maybe she’ll like the feeling of the metal? And seeing her claim on me. Because that’s what it is. Her claiming me in a small way. Or me forcing her to claim me?

It doesn’t make sense. Either way, I enjoy seeing her mark on me, even if she doesn’t see me that way. I get a new one added every year. Maddy laughed when she found out.

Today I’m not getting a piercing. Just a jewellery change to set eyes on her, and figure out how to see her outside of her store for once. It’s going to happen this time.

It will.

I enter her store and nod to the woman behind the counter. It’s not Ella. This woman started working here two years ago and has long hair with streaks of colour through it.

“Is Ella in today?”

The woman’s eyes widen, and she nods rapidly.

“Is she available to help me?”

“I’ll check.” She launches herself through a door that bangs against the wall, and I flinch at the sound.

Good. She’s here. That’s good.

But now I have to talk to her.

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