Page 10 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

With a half-hearted smile, I flicked through the prospects on my dating app while Maddie peered over my shoulder. "Oh, come on, Julia. What's with all these beefcake gym rats? Is there any variety on this thing or what?"

I chuckled, swiping past a guy flexing his abs in front of a gym mirror. "Apparently not. Seems like protein shakes and bicep curls are in season." I loved Miami, but something about the place attracted the kind of guys who loved to take mirror selfies with their tongues out and their shirts pulled up over their abs. In other words, not my kind of dudes.

Maddie let out a theatrical groan, nudging me in the side. "Okay, let's be real here. You deserve more than a conceited flexing bodybuilder in front of the gym mirror."

Before I could respond, a ping from my phone pulled my attention away. A message from someone named Tim had popped up. His profile was a collage of gym selfies, tank tops, and oddly enough, a picture of him chugging down what appeared to be a protein shake. His bio wasn't much better, it was all about boasting his deadlift records and his "gains."

“Hey! We’ve got a live one!” Maddie exclaimed. “What’s his deal?”

“Let me look…”

His message, as expected, was laden with bro-language and an overconfidence that only mirrored his self-proclaimed alpha status. He asked if I was free to chill that night.

Maddie and I exchanged glances, her mouth twisted in a smirk. "Well, what do you think, Mads? Should I give gains here a chance?"

Maddie let out a snort, her eyes filled with mischief. "Why not, Jules? If nothing else, you can always use a good laugh. Besides," she leaned in, her voice low, "Maybe you can at least get your kitty petted."

I couldn't help the laugh that burst out of me, the tension from earlier finally ebbing away. With a roll of my eyes, I replied to Tim, agreeing to meet up later that evening.

"This is going to be interesting," I muttered, locking my phone and tucking it back into my purse. "I'll let you know how it goes, but I’m not hopeful."

Maddie winked over her shoulder, laughing again as she disappeared into her corner of the studio. When she was gone, I found my mind drifting back to the owners. I stared at their retreating figures, my eyes tracing the outline of their muscular forms, my mind spinning the impossible thoughts that had kept me up late at night on too many occasions.

I let out a sigh, my heart aching with a longing I couldn’t quench. I wanted the four of them, those unattainable gods of Blackjack’s, but I knew better than to wish for the impossible. Kai, Finn, James, Andrew... they were my bosses, not my lovers.

My mind wandered down a darker, far more dangerous path. My breath hitched as I thought about what it would be like to be with all of them at once—an idea that had crossed my mind more times than I could count. To be the object of their combined attention, their lust... to be claimed by them in every way imaginable.

Just the thought of it made my body throb with a heat that left me breathless. I indulged the fantasy, biting my lower lip, my heart pounding against my rib cage like a wild animal. I clenched my thighs, my cheeks flushing as I pushed down the desire clawing through every nerve ending.

Work. I needed to focus on work. I quickly turned away, my gaze falling on the abandoned corner of the studio where the crew had worked their magic on Klaus and his gang. I needed to clean up, to distract myself from the forbidden fantasies spiraling in my head.

As I worked, I allowed my mind to wander, drifting to the upcoming date with Tim. Already I knew it was nothing more than a diversion. A distraction. But from what? A fantasy? Or a reality that was too overwhelming to accept?

A slew of failed online dates scrolled through my mind like a hall of shame. There was the guy who’d had more interest in his own reflection than in me, the one who couldn’t stop talking about his mom’s home cooking, the so-called alpha who turned out to be a mere sheep in wolf’s clothing… the list went on.

Each one of those dates had ended in disappointment, each one taking a little more of my hope with it. I tried to hold on to the shreds of optimism I had left, but the truth was, none of them compared to the four titans that dominated my fantasies.

As Maddie and the rest of the crew began to pack up for the night, I kept my eyes focused on my work, doing my best to keep my mind off the images that seemed so keen on keeping me in a constant state of need.

"Jules," Maddie called out, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced up, seeing her standing by the door with her bag slung over her shoulder. Her smile was warm, her eyes twinkling with that usual sassy spark. "Don't worry about the dates. One of these days, you're gonna find a guy who's just right for you."

I managed a half-hearted smile. "Hope so. Thanks, Mads. Goodnight."

As the sound of the closing door echoed around the quiet studio, I found myself alone. The silence felt comforting in a strange way, giving me the space to reflect, to breathe.

Just as I was getting into my end-of-night routine, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Hey, Julia. Do you have a minute?" I turned around, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of Kai leaning against the doorframe of the back office, his eyes filled with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Sure, Kai," I managed to stammer out, my stomach fluttering with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. "What's up?"

“The guys and I wanted to talk. You mind?”

“Yeah, of course,” I said. “Let me just shut the computer down.”

Kai nodded, then turned and disappeared back into the office, leaving me standing in the dimly lit studio, my heart pounding in my chest. I took a deep breath, attempting to steady myself before following him. I shut down the front desk computer, the screen going dark as it turned off. As I walked toward the office, my heels clicked against the hardwood floor, the sound echoing throughout the empty studio.

Upon entering, I was instantly hit by the undeniable masculine presence of the room. The office was a reflection of the men who inhabited it—full of deep, dark leather furniture, steel accents, and a distinct edginess that was undeniably raw and intoxicating.

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