Page 9 of Daddy Issues

Want a seat at the table? Sign your fucking soul over.

I’d do it again, to protect Eli, to give him the life he deserved. His mom was shit, but most of her family was even worse. I’d keep him safe from that until I took my last breath.

Pushing Kenna’s sketch into the pile with the dozens of others, I glanced at the top one. So much anger, so much rage, made it difficult to see her through the deep reds of those earlier drawings. But with each one after, that disappeared a little more, and I could see her face more clearly.

Dozens of pictures of her, sketched from memory, but none of them did her justice. Seeing her at the club had ripped the breath from my lungs.

Since then, I’ve worked on a new one of her in Jester’s lap, kissing him—but looking at me. I grinned then, because damn if she didn’t do it for me. If she only knew how much she turned me on, I’d be in big trouble.

Needing to get back to work and Kenna out of my head, I pushed the drawings to the side and focused on the sketches for my clients. This was the part of the job that relaxed me, made it easier to forget all the fucked up shit I’d done.

Until the text pinged through my phone.

A deal’s a deal.

Kenna

The bell above the door to the tattoo shop jingled as it closed behind me. The rush of vanilla and sandalwood scented cool air soothed and welcomed me. I’d spent most of my day off contemplating whether or not this was a good idea. I’d risk seeing Puck, but tattoos and piercings were expensive.

And he’d offered.

David’s girlfriend, Nadine, got off work early. Since she’d moved in, she’d made it very clear how she felt about me being there—but only when he wasn’t around. I was bitter over her presence in my home.

His home. Not mine.I had to keep reminding myself of that. No matter how much he did for me, how much love he’d shown me, he wasn’t my real father. I had no family. Just me, looking out for me.

Fuck it. I was going to do something for myself.

I had high, perky breasts and cute little nipples. Piercing them would be hot. Even better if they were free. My hood was already pierced. Why not complete the unholy trio?

Besides, there was no gleaming chrome Harley with flaming skulls on the tank parked in front of the shop. It meant Puck wasn’t there. I shot him a quick text that I was dropping in to take him up on his offer.

And have someone else do the work. Puck piercing my nipples would be too much torture for one night. Especially since I wanted him to do way more than that.

“Hey!” Chelsea, the pretty platinum blond with bangs and colorful tattoos covering both arms, smiled brightly from her station. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m thinking about piercing my nipples.” I found a purple barbell with shimmering balls on each end. A large, long-fingered hand opened the case.

“Doing both?” A familiar voice rumbled.

My heart did a jumping jack, chill bumps rushed over my skin, and I bit my bottom lip to keep from cursing out loud.

No need to look up. I knew he was watching me, studying me in that quiet, unnerving way he had that was so fucking hot. “Yeah.” I swallowed hard. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Our discussion in the parking lot had been a lot to unpack. I still wasn’t sure where I stood with him.

“You weren’t supposed to be here,” I squeaked.

“Avoiding me?” He pinned me with a sexy as hell, teasing glare.

When I didn’t say anything, he smirked.

He was so tall; he had to bend across the counter to me. “Pick what you want.”

I had to steel myself to look at him. Puck was everything I’d ever thought a man should be. His long, brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the base of his neck, and he’d braided hislong goatee. He was all sexy Viking with eyes the color of an angry ocean—more spent charcoal than blue.

He was so close when I turned my head, all I had to do was stretch up on my tiptoes and I could brush my lips across his. I could still feel his arms around me from last night and remember how close I’d been to crawling all over him. Better than the kiss from Jester.

To keep from doing something stupid, I glanced at the girls that waited on the couch. They were both staring right at him—one slack jawed and the other blushing.

I could totally relate. Puck was gorgeous and massive, rippling muscles covered in tattoos. Yup, I could lick him from one end to the other and take my time doing it.

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