Page 26 of Moments in Ink

“You’re going to drop me.”

“Maybe. But then I’d, you know, kiss you where you fell.”

“Sure. I’d be the one bruised, though.”

I looked at her then, that seriousness washing over me once more, but I ignored it.

Because this was fun.

We were friends.

Friends who joked around and ate cheesecake and talked about eating pussy in the kitchen.

It couldn’t be anything more than that.

I wasn’t going to let it.

As her lips crashed onto mine, and I held her tighter, needing more, I told myself that wasn’t a lie.

I had never been good at lying.

Chapter 7

Meredith

“Istill think it’s fucking hot,” I said, knowing I was blushing.

Zia lifted up her shirt a bit more, the underside of her breast peeking out. I swallowed hard, knowing she needed time to heal, and I shouldn’t pounce on her right then. But damned if I didn’t want to.

“I love the shading that Maya did.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “Thank you for coming down to Denver with me to get it done.”

“Are you kidding me? It was a blast. I miss my old artist, and I’ve heard such amazing things about Montgomery Ink, but I can never get in.”

“And now that you know me, and I happen to know a Montgomery, you are on the list.”

“I could have been on the list since I know Aaron, you know.”

Zia rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m your in. Not him. Just saying.”

“I’m on the list with Callie,” I said absently. “Who has the perfect style for me. Did you see that koi fish she had on her back?”

“I did. She had on that tank top that showed so much skin I was afraid you were going to fall right off your stool.” Zia blinked.

“She was also like nine months pregnant and hot, and her husband pretty much could break us over his knees.”

“Is that a daddy kink I didn’t know you had?” she asked, and I snorted, grateful I had set down my glass of wine.

“He was all silver foxed with that gray and white right at his temples. It was pretty hot. But no, daddy kink is not my thing.”

“Oh, well.” Zia shrugged, her eyes filled with mischief. “Anyway, you have four months until you can get in with Callie, which is amazing. I remember when Callie was still the apprentice there. She’s doing so well for herself.”

“You’ve known the Montgomerys a long time, then.”

“Yes. Through Bristol first, before I met the rest of them down south. They’re all different, and they’re one huge family that constantly adopts people into their fold when needed.” Zia shrugged, frowning. “They adopted me.”

“I’m glad they did. You have people.”

“Yeah. I need people.” She looked at me then, and I wondered what she was going to say, but she looked as if she shrugged it off before looking back at the ivy along her ribcage.

---