Page 24 of Inked Beasts

“To commemorate the shop’s opening, we got new tattoos, and had our beasts inked on our skin. It was a way to say we were all in.”

“Something from the past taking you into the future. I like that.”

As she ponders it, I find myself wondering whether she’s seen Kai’s beast tattoo. Then her eyes scan my body, little flames glimmering beneath her lashes, and I forget all about Kai.

She licks her lips, and just as I knew she’d be back in our lives, I know we’ll be together. I know she’ll discover the tattoo on my upper thigh, along with the one over my heart, and all the others. But I’m not going to rush things. I can be very patient.

She has a lot going on right now. Massive life changes. I don’t need to push.

“It makes perfect sense that you became tattoo artists, and I’m definitely not surprised that you’re successful, but how did you end up on tv?” she asks.

I shrug and shake my head. “It just happened. When our clientele grew and we started to get a reputation in town, we moved into a bigger place, closer to the Strip. Not where we are now, but a place with more foot traffic than where we started out.

“One day, a woman came into the shop, scouting for new reality tv ideas. There were shows about local pawn shops, custom car builders, motorcycle shops, casinos… she was just looking around for something else to fill air time.”

“You’re being modest. I can understand why she’d think the two of you would draw in viewers.”

I shrug again. “It was fun at first, but it got old quick. The show was fine when it filmed us working on clients, but it pushed a little too far into our personal lives for my taste.”

“So you ended it?” Lexy asks.

“We didn’t have to. The network changed hands and they never renewed the contract. There was talk of it continuing at some point, but it hasn’t happened.”

She’s watching me closely, and I anticipate more questions, but instead, she says, “Definitely looks like it was good for business.”

As I nod, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I reach for it, excusing myself. I wouldn’t normally pay attention to it when I’m with Lexy, but it might be my mom, and sure enough, it is.

“Excuse me for a moment.” I step into the kitchen and tap to call her, because Mom isn’t really a fan of texting. After a brief just-the-facts conversation, it becomes apparent that I need to cut my time with Lexy short.

Returning to the living room, I make my apologies. “That was my mother. One of my cousins is in town, and her car has broken down. I need to go help her.”

“Oh, I hope it’s nothing serious.” She’s understanding, as I knew she would be. “I can get an Uber back to my place.”

“I can take you. It’s on the way.” It’s a white lie, but I can drop her off and still get to my cousin in plenty of time.

“I’ll have to get a rental,” she says. “I can’t have you chauffeuring me all over town every day.”

I file that bit of information away as I rinse our glasses and set them in the sink. “Why not?”

She returns the smile I give her, and as we retrace our steps back to the parking garage, she folds her hand into mine. “I really love your place,” she says.

“Then you’ll have to come back very soon.”

The two of us squeeze each other’s hand at the same time, and I’m reminded of long-ago adventures and a few occasions, the four of us out exploring after dark, when Lexy got spooked and reached for my hand.

I want to be her security, her safe place, and so much more.

LEXY

I haven’t had much time alone since I’ve been back in Las Vegas, and though I could definitely use the solitude to make much-needed plans, my head is instead full of thoughts of Kai, Gage, and even Thorn.

I can’t decide if I’m relieved or disappointed that my time with Gage was cut short this morning. There’s a pull there that’s becoming impossible to resist. I have so many questions for him, and things I want to catch up on; meanwhile, anytime I’m with him, my body is urging me to tackle him and have my way with him.

When I realize that list-making isn’t soothing my racing mind, I change into the workout clothes I’d brought along on the trip, and wander out of my room to find out if the hotel has a gym. I’m not a big fan of exercise, but Scott always encouraged it, and I did discover, while trying to look good for him, that sweating also provides mental health benefits.

The thought of perspiration summons images of other ways I’d rather get hot and sweaty, but for now an exercise bike will do.

It turns out Belle Epoque has a small but nicely appointed gym, and I end up seeking relief on a treadmill equipped with an interactive video screen that provides a good temporary distraction. But though I push myself to near exhaustion, it turns out that I can’t outrun the past or the present.

---