Page 46 of Smudged Lines (Tattooed Hearts Duet 2)

“Okay, Slade, truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

Smiling wide, I asked my question, hoping he’d give in this time. “I dare you to let me tattoo you.”

He watched me with no emotion at first, and then grabbed the tequila, taking a shot causing my heart to sink. Slade slammed the shot glass down, doing a full-body shudder as the liquor coursed through him. “God, that’s awful.” He looked up, noticing my face.

“What’s wrong, Peach?”

Shaking my head, I held back my disappointment. “It’s your turn to ask, Simon.” Realization appeared in his eyes before he was up, grabbing my hand and leading me downstairs. “I wasn’t taking the shot to avoid the dare, Peach. I was taking it to prepare myself for the pain.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. But I have an amendment. I’ll let you tattoo me if you let me tattoo you. Besides, I think you owe me, right?”

Nodding, I smiled, happiness filling my steps. Long ago, I’d agreed to let him give me my first tattoo. It had been a promise I made at eighteen when he’d started out at a shop. I’d held onto the promise, even when I thought he’d pretended the whole time, something telling me it was important I did.

“When you told me no last time, it was the first time I wondered if I had it wrong. Because if you’d known, I thought you would go for it, or if you didn’t care about the promise, then you’d go for it or already have one. Either way, I was fully prepared to tattoo ‘liar’ on your ass or something. But when you declined, and said you had reasons, it made me stop and wonder.”

“You’re not going to still tattoo ‘liar’ on my butt, are you?” I asked, horrified.

“No, Peach. I have the perfect thing designed for you. We’ll have to do it tomorrow as it will take too long tonight.”

“Okay, I feel anxious all of a sudden.” He ignored me, though, asking me a question instead.

“What are you going to give me? I’m sorry I never told you, but you’re very talented, Peach. I’ve been tracking your designs on the feed, and I’m mad at myself for not giving in to you years ago. You’re going to be so busy soon with requests you won’t be able to do walk-ins.”

“You really mean that?” I blushed, appreciating the recognition.

“Do I lie?”

“Well…”

“Fair, and that was more like keeping it to myself, but have I ever lied to your face?”

“Well…”

“Okay, I was an asshole in the past. But I’m not lying to you now. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

I moved him toward my chair and started pulling out items. There were a few other people in the shop, but they ignored us, and I got to work, blocking out the fact I was about to put something on Slade’s beautiful inked skin. He didn’t have very much free space, but I knew where I wanted it.

“Can you like, look at Simon. If you watch me, it will freak me out.”

“I want to watch you work, Peach.”

“Then you might end up with a dick on your finger.”

Rolling his eyes dramatically, he turned his head away and began to talk with Simon, who had pulled up another stool and was looking around at everything. I grabbed Slade’s hand and cleaned the area. Taking a deep breath, I sketched the design onto the inside of his ring finger. It only took a few seconds, the design was small, but once I had it, I went to work and inked him. He didn’t budge as the tattoo gun started, and I laughed for a brief moment as I recalled my panic dream where I closed my eyes to pierce people.

Blowing out a breath, I filled in the design, carefully holding his hand steady as I did. Ten minutes later, I was done. I sat back, the cute little design a stark contrast to the rest of his skin, but somehow it also fit. Cleaning it, I wrapped it and covered it, not wanting him to see it.

“Done. But you have to wait to see it.”

“Now I think you really did draw a dick on my finger.”

“I was tempted, but I didn’t, just look at it when I’m not around.”

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