Page 45 of Connected By Love
“It took me long enough,” he says, continuing. “I just wish I had been braver sooner because she’s wanted me for a very long time, and I mean averylong time. She can’t keep her hands off of me, and I wasted a lot of years that I could have been enjoying that,” he grins and points to his fiance.
“Oh my God. You are so full of it,” Bella laughs. “But you aren’t wrong. You missed out.” I shake my head and grin at the two of them as I turn off the machine and change the needles.
“I have the rest of my life to make it up to you. Starting with holding your hand because it’s your turn now.” I hand Maverick the mirror, and he grins at the tat. “It’s perfect. Thanks, Trav.”
“I love it,” Bella beams at me. “Let’s do this.”
I wrap Maverick and make sure he’s all good before he gets up and changes places with Bella. She removes her shirt and wears a black bikini top like I asked her to. I wanted to get the placement right since it was important to her that it shows when she’s wearing a suit.
We do the transfer, and she takes a deep breath as I grab the tattoo machine.
“You ready?”
She squeezes Mav’s hand and nods. “I’m ready.”
“If it gets to be too much, just let me know, and I’ll stop. Try and breathe through it, and it will be over before you know it.”
She nods, and I begin the first outlines of the artwork. Mav starts talking to her to distract her, and before she realizes it, I’m done and putting away the supplies.
“You did awesome, baby.” Maverick grins at her and kisses her on the lips.
“It wasn’t as bad as I had hyped up in my head,” she laughs.
“The anticipation is always worse,” I agree. She looks in the mirror I hand her, and her eyes fill with tears.
“It’s beautiful, Travis, thank you. I love it so much.”
“You’re welcome.” I wrap it up for her, and they both put their shirts back on.
“You are stuck with me now, Mav. We have matching tattoos and will forever be connected.” She grins up at him.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he grins.
I walk them back out to the front, and Mav slips away to use the bathroom. “Sophia told me she’s getting a tattoo as well, and you’re surprising her with the design?” She arches her eyebrows at me, and I laugh.
“Yeah, I almost have it done.” I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it and have started over numerous times, but I always end up back to what I first designed. I just have no clue how she’ll react when she sees it.
“She must trust you an awful lot. It’s not like Sophia to give up control like that.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s still in control,” I say under my breath. At this point, I feel like I lose all control when I’maround her. The moment I saw her, all the walls I had put up to create a safe space for Max and me began crumbling.
I see her hesitate before she speaks. “I know you’ve only known her a short period of time, but I’ve known Sophia since birth. She’s been my best friend my whole life and the most caring, selfless person I know. I don’t know the whole story about Max’s mom, but I do know Sophia’s heart. She’s fiercely protective over those she loves and will do anything for them. If you are one of the lucky ones to receive that love, it will be the greatest gift you’ve ever been given.”
I feel the emotions that I’ve been fighting rise inside me. Rubbing a hand on my chest, I break away from her gaze and nod at her.
“It also goes without saying, though, that if you hurt her, you’re going to have a lot of people in this town on your doorstep, and I’ll be right there leading the way.”
“Noted,” I laugh. “Noah and Maverick made that perfectly clear as well.”
“I’ve got a mean kick to the balls as well. We both took self-defense classes together.” She grins at me.
“Why does that not surprise me?” I grin at her and shake my head.
“You ready, baby?” Maverick comes up and takes Bella’s hand. “Let’s get Travis paid and grab some lunch. I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving,” she laughs.
“I burn twice the calories now that you’re in my life. I’ve got to refuel constantly to keep up with you,” he grins and hands me his card.
