Page 83 of Strelitzias in Spring

Laughter and tears bubble out of Serena, and before I know it, she’s hysterically crying into her hands. Instinctually, I go to her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my body. I let her sobs soak my shirt as I look at her mother and offer an awkward smile.

“Hi, I’m Wolf. Serena’s boyfriend.”

36

Serena

“Princess, are you sure?”

“I’m fully healed, and after the day I’ve had, I am not taking no for an answer,” I threaten, dragging Wolf into Ink and Needle. “I need these butterfly penises off of me, now.”

“Hey, guys. Wolf, you’re supposed to be off today. Why are you here?” Aubrey asks as soon as we enter the shop.

“He’s giving me a tattoo,” I respond, weaving Wolf through the design tables and toward his room. I release Wolf’s hand as soon as we walk into his space. “I would close the door if I were you. I’m going to take off my shirt now.”

Wolf stares at me, a raised eyebrow and smirk adorning his features. “You sure you’re ready to sit for an hours-long tattoo?”

I unzip my sweatshirt and throw it on one of the green chairs. “Wolf, I have so much adrenaline right now, I doubt I’ll even feel the prick of the needle.”

He sighs, reaching behind him to close the door. “Fine. But if it gets to be too much, then you need to tell me.”

“Wolf, I can promise you, I need this.” I strip off my shirt and bra, throwing them in the same direction as my sweatshirt. “Pants, too?”

He nods. “I’m going to have the stems and flowers come up from your hip.”

“Fine.” I bend down and strip off my leggings, too. Unlike the last time I was here, I feel no awkwardness at Wolf seeing my body. “Set up the station thing.”

“Okay, Serena, you need to slow down. Don’t rush me, princess. I’m going to prep the table and get all my equipment set up, but I need to make sure everything is good before we start, so sit down, get comfortable, and don’t interrupt my process. Okay?”

I nod, dropping down to the chair without my clothes on it, and lean back.

—

It takes fifteen minutes for Wolf to set up the station; I’d know—I watched the clock the entire time he readied his equipment. When he finally motions for me to come to the bench, I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Finally,” I mumble as I climb onto the paper-lined tattoo bench and lie down. My quip earns me a sharp smack on my ass.

“Smartass.”

“Grandpa.”

“Serena,” he warns, spraying cool liquid on my skin before wiping me down with a paper towel.

“Fine, sorry.”

“Good, now stay still. I need to place the stencil on your skin and then see if I need to add any additional elements.”

“Will you have to redraw the stencil?” I ask, curious about the process.

“No, the stencil is fine. But I may add a few things to the piece freehand. Give me a minute to apply this, and then I’ll see what it needs.”

I shut my mouth and stay perfectly still as he lays a large paper over my back, pressing it down with gentle force. He peels the sheet from my back and stays quiet for long minutes, seemingly considering his next move.

Finally, he breaks the silence. “I’m going to add a few things. Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” I don’t hesitate to respond.

“Good, then I’m not going to tell you what I’m doing. You’ll see it when you’re done.” A cool tip presses against my skin, and I fight a shiver at the contact. Minutes bleed into each other as Wolf modifies the tattoo, adding to the drawing at the center of my back and right hip. I don’t know how long I lay there as he draws on me, head down and eyes closed, but I startle at the sound of his voice. “Okay, you ready, princess?”

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