I pulled my Mercedes up to Jade’s shop a few minutes before noon. Her car was already there, and the parking lot was full. As I approached the front door, I realized the lobby was also full of people. At least ten were standing near the front desk, and four or five were sitting and looking through portfolios.

  I opened the door and glanced around for Jade as I stepped inside. A second later, she emerged from the back with a man trailing behind her. He had his shirt off, and his chest was covered in plastic wrap where I assumed he’d just been tattooed. I could see him staring at Jade’s ass as she walked in front of him, and I immediately felt my back stiffen. I was surprised by my reaction. I rarely got jealous, but seeing him looking at her like that made me want to kick his ass. I glared at him until Jade moved toward Dustin’s desk to grab a sheet of paper, blocking my view of him.

  She was wearing shorts, and I couldn’t help but look at her legs as she leaned against the desk and talked to her client. On one thigh, she had two crows perched on a branch covered in red flowers. Her other thigh had the same design and style, but the birds were doves and the flowers were blue. The artwork was beautiful, and for some reason, I found their locations incredibly sexy.

  By the time I was done admiring her ink, my eyes made a trail back up her body where I found her watching me with a sexy smirk.

  “Mr. Clarke, so nice to see you.”

  Everyone in the lobby was watching her, and their eyes came to me when they realized whom she was addressing.

  “Ms. Holliday,” I replied with a grin.

  I spotted a few of the women in the room checking me out while the men seemed to be sizing me up. Jade said something else to her client before directing him over to Dustin.

  Walking toward me, she winced before asking, “Do you mind waiting just a little bit longer? I’m sorry. I had no idea we were going to be this busy.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Take your time.”

  She smiled and put her hand on my arm before lifting up on her toes and kissing my cheek. It took me by surprise, and by the look on Dustin’s face, I wasn’t the only one. He took a second to glance back and forth between the two of us before getting back to the client in front of him.

  “Thanks,” she said with a warm smile before going back to the front desk to help more people.

  I sat there for the next twenty minutes, watching Jade answer questions about tattoos—how much they cost, how long they’d take, her opinion on different designs. All the while, Dustin made appointments, and the two other artists were busy tattooing the clients in their chairs. It was obvious she needed help around the shop, and in my mind, I was already making a list of things she needed to do. I decided I’d offer her my help at lunch, if she wanted it.

  I sat on the couch with my elbows resting on my knees. Two young women sat next to me as they browsed through a portfolio and whispered back and forth to each other.

  “Are you Jade’s boyfriend?” the girl next to me asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

  I peered over my shoulder at her, and she immediately started blushing.

  “What?”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her eyes moved to look at something beside me. Turning back around, my eyes landed on Jade’s stomach. I peered up and saw her smiling down at the two giggling girls and me.

  “You ready?”

  I got up, and she stood there with her head tilted back as she looked up at me. Her eyes were so gorgeous and bright, and it took everything I had not to kiss her plump, pouty lips.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said, lifting my hand to move a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could still see the girls curiously watching us. Glancing over, I winked at them before grabbing Jade’s hand and leading her toward the door.

  “I think those girls just fainted,” Jade said.

  I laughed as we walked out the door.

  Thirty minutes later, Jade and I were sitting at a small bistro on the oceanfront. She was browsing through the menu as I watched her. I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes off of her.

  Peering up at me, she smiled and smoothed her hair behind her ear. “What?”

  My mouth lifted into a lopsided grin, and I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said, my eyes studying her face.

  “Then, why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?” She wiped her cheek with her hand.

  “No. I just can’t seem to look at anything else.”

  Her hazel eyes gazed at mine as a shy smile crept onto her lips. “You’re making it really hard for me to concentrate over here,” she said, blushing, as she looked back down at her menu.

  “I’d recommend the salmon or crab cakes,” I said with a grin before taking a sip from my water.

  “Crab cakes it is.”

  She dropped the menu on the table, and we both smiled as she leaned back in her seat. Jade took in the view of the ocean in front of us, and I did the same.

  “I love the ocean. It’s so beautiful out here.”

  I nodded. “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Do you spend much time on the water? You said you live near me, so you don’t live on the beach?”

  I shook my head. “I have a beach house, but it’s on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I like the beaches better out there…less crowded.”

  Her eyebrows lifted, and she pursed her lips, looking impressed. “Wow, a beach house. That’s nice. I’ve always wanted a house on the beach and a big boat. I love boats.”

  I smiled because I had a boat, too.

  “I’m sure you could have both of those soon. By the looks of the shop today, you should stay pretty busy.”

  Her eyes widened as she took a sip from her water and swallowed. “I know, right? It was a madhouse in there today. The guy I tattooed this morning said that the latest episode of David’s show aired last night, and I guess they got video of me mentioning my move to Virginia Beach.”

  “Ah. So, they tracked you down.”

  She shrugged. “I guess so. It’s all so surreal—especially when I meet people, and they already know my name and where I’m from, but I have no clue who they are.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “You do?”

  Running my hand through my hair, I peered out at the ocean before meeting her curious eyes. “My dad is pretty well known around here. My family actually owns a large portion of the city.”

  Jade’s jaw dropped just as our waitress came to take our order.

  “Are you ready to order?”

  We both looked up at her, and Jade closed her mouth and struggled to remember what she wanted.

  “She’ll take the crab cakes, and I’ll have the salmon.”

  The waitress smiled and wrote down our order. “Yes, sir, Mr. Clarke. It’ll be right out.”

  Jade looked at me. “I guess we have something in common then,” she said, smiling.

  “Yeah, I guess we do.”

  Jade

  I knew Jay was rich, but I hadn’t realized just how rich until that moment. A few months ago, that probably would have intimidated me, but now, I was almost relieved. It was good to know he wasn’t just dating me because of my recent celebrity status or money. It was also nice to know he could relate to me on a level that most men couldn’t. We both knew what it was like to have people more interested in what we could do for them than anything else.

  “So, how are things going at the shop?” Jay asked as he relaxed back into his seat.

  I smoothed my hair over my shoulder and leaned back into the seat, too. “It’s been crazy. I mean, I don’t even have my sign up yet, and the clients are pouring in. It’s not that I mind the work, but I just feel like I have so much catching up to do.”

  “I don’t want to intrude or anything, but I’d be happy to help you. I have some experience in this department,” he said, grinning.

  “Seriously?”

  “Sure.”

  “That would be amazing. I’ve never done any of this before, so I could use all the help I can get.”

  Jay’s eyes met mine, and I could feel the butterflies in my stomach flutter. They hadn’t gone away since I saw him in my shop today. I still wasn’t fully convinced that he was real.

  “You could come to my place sometime this week, and we can go over everything.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Your place, huh?”

  Jay chuckled just as our waitress approached the table with our food.

  That was fast.

  After placing our plates down in front of us, the waitress stepped back and clasped her hands in front of her. “Can I get you anything else, Mr. Clarke?”

  He glanced up at her, and I could sense the air of authority I’d felt the first time we met. It was unbelievably sexy. He gave me a questioning look, and I bit my bottom lip as I shook my head.

  “No, thank you,” he replied politely to the waitress.

  “Okay. Well, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  He nodded once, and she left.

  “Wow.”

  Jay picked up his fork and paused to look at me before touching his food. “What?”

  “You’re like the Godfather or something.”

  Jay chuckled and shook his head before taking a bite.

  “No, I’m serious. Do you not see how people get all nervous and professional around you? It’s crazy.”

  Picking up his napkin from his lap, Jay peered at me as he wiped his mouth with it. “You don’t.”

  I played with the straw in my glass before looking back at him. “You make me nervous sometimes.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “Why is that?”

  I pulled my hand back and smirked at him before picking up my fork. “Because you excite me.”

  Jay’s eyes followed my fork to my mouth as I took a bite, and I watched as he licked his bottom lip. My insides tingled as I imagined that tongue in other places. He looked me in the eyes, and I crossed my legs, trying to soothe the ache I felt between them.

  “You excite me, too.”

  Jay and I got back to the shop just in time for his appointment. I was still high from all the flirting we’d done at lunch, and I was glad we still had a few more hours to spend together. When we walked in, only two or three people were left in the lobby. Dustin was typing things into the computer as Jackson tattooed a girl’s arm. Trix must have been on a break.

  Dustin stopped what he was doing and looked at Jay and me as we walked in. “Hey¸ boss,” he muttered before getting back to work.

  “Hey, Dustin. How did everything go?”

  “Fine. The sign shop is coming by tomorrow, and my sister said she could come talk to you on Thursday morning around ten.”

  “Awesome. Thanks.”

  Dustin glanced at me before his eyes moved over to Jay. I was used to him and Trix giving guys a hard time when they hit on me, and I usually welcomed it, but I didn’t want them messing with Jay.

  “Dustin, you remember Jay, right? He’s my two o’clock.”

  “Right,” he said, giving Jay a chin lift.

  A second later, the back door to the shop opened, and Trix came walking in. He looked Jay up and down as he approached us. “Who’s this?”

  “Trix, this is Jay. Jay, Trix.”

  Trix stopped in front of us and continued to blatantly look Jay over. “You’re a big dude, but don’t think I won’t kick your ass. Dustin over here”—he jerked his thumb at Dustin—“took karate for, like, four years, and I’ve been to jail a few times.”

  My jaw dropped. Oh. My. God.

  Jay put his hands up in front of him like he meant no harm.

  “Trix, are you serious? Jay is my friend. Don’t talk to him like that!”

  I saw Jackson laughing and shaking his head behind Trix.

  “I’m just sayin’. I want him to know you got dudes in your corner, ready to kick his ass if he tries to get fresh.”

  I peered up at Jay and felt relieved when I saw him smiling.

  “Please don’t pay attention to this person. I love him, but he’s crazy.”

  “No, it’s cool. I get it.” Jay chuckled. “I’ll treat her with the utmost respect,” he told Trix, who was still glaring at him.

  Trix grunted before walking over to the couch and plopping down next to a guy looking through my portfolio.

  “Anyway, we’ll be done around five,” I told Dustin. I grabbed Jay’s hand and led him back to my office. “I’m sorry. I probably should have warned you about them before we came back.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  I opened the door to my office and invited Jay in before closing it. When I turned around, he was standing directly in front of me. I could smell his cologne and feel the warmth of his body. My lips parted as I looked up at his handsome face, the sexual tension thickening the air between us. Jay’s blue eyes searched mine before he lifted his hand and ran his thumb along the curve of my bottom lip. My heart started beating faster as he slid that same hand into my hair. It was like I’d fallen into a trance, my body frozen as it savored his touch.

  I closed my eyes as Jay leaned down and pressed his soft lips against mine. My entire body ignited. I couldn’t think or worry about what might happen next. All I could do was kiss him back. His warm tongue slid across my top lip, and I instantly met it with mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my grip tightening, as my body molded to his. I wanted him so bad that it hurt. His kiss was demanding and tender at the same time as he controlled the rhythm of our movements. His other hand was on my lower back, and he pulled me in closer, pressing our bodies together, as he continued kissing me senseless.

  Just as I was ready to rip off his clothes and fuck him in my office, the music on the shop’s speakers was turned up, and I could hear Trix and Dustin shouting the words to “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys.

  Jay broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine, and we both worked to steady our breaths.

  “I’m going to kill them,” I murmured as I peered up into Jay’s eyes.

  He chuckled and lifted his head before pulling me in for a hug. I rested my head on his strong chest, and I could feel his erection through his pants. I was impressed. He definitely wasn’t lacking in that department.

  “I guess we’d better start this tattoo, huh?” he asked as he kept his arms wrapped around me.

  I nodded. “I guess so.”

  Jay

  “Okay, are you ready?” Jade asked.

  I was lying on my stomach in her shop’s back room.

  She’d shown me her sketch, and I was astounded by the amount of thought and detail she’d put into it. It was far more than I’d ever imagined. She’d already prepped my back and applied her stencil. I heard the buzz of her tattoo machine and watched as she dipped the needles into black ink.

  “Absolutely.”

  Her eyes met mine, and she smiled before putting her gloved hand on my back. “Okay, here we go.”

  I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the needles vibrating as they pierced my skin. Jade started on my left shoulder, filling the outline of the drawing she’d created. After a few seconds, she paused to wipe my shoulder with a wet paper towel. The cool texture relieved some of the sting.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve done an entire back piece,” she said as she continued tattooing.

  I peeked one eye open. “Oh, yeah?”

  She nodded. “I love doing big pieces like this. It’s a lot more fun for me to do something original, not just the typical flash art, you know?”

  She wiped my skin again.

  “I can imagine that it gets kind of old, doing the same things over and over.”

  “Well, I can’t complain too much. When I first started out, I had to deal with that but not so much anymore. Now that I’ve made a name for myself, people tend to come to me for more creative pieces.”

  “As they should. You’re a talented artist.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jade and I grew quiet for a few minutes as she continued working on my back. I let my eyes close again as I listened to the tattoo machine and focused on the warmth of Jade’s hands while they touched my skin.

  “So, can I ask what inspired this piece?”

  I opened my eyes again and glanced at Jade over my shoulder as she continued working. I knew this question would come, but I hadn’t really thought about how to respond.

  “My life…maybe just life in general. What do you see when you look at it?”

  “I see someone who feels torn between two worlds—or maybe stuck between them. The throne kind of gives me the impression that there’s an obligation, an expectation to live up to.”

  I took a deep breath as I listened to her words. That was exactly what this tattoo represented, what it meant to me.

  “All of us have a darker side, things we keep hidden. I suppose this is my way of exposing mine while reminding myself that we always have a choice between the light and the dark.”

  “And which have you chosen?” Jade wiped my skin and dipped her needles in more ink.

  “Today?”

  Jade paused with her needles above me, and we both laughed a little.

  “Yeah, today.”

  I felt her eyes on me, and I met her gaze before replying, “When I’m around you, everything looks brighter.”

  I watched as a smile crept over her face. Then, I relaxed against the table beneath me and closed my eyes again. I got lost in the pleasure and the pain as Jade continued leaving her mark.

  Jade

  I didn’t think I’d ever wanted to please a client as much as I wanted to please Jay. I wanted him to fall in love with this tattoo, and every time he looked at it, I wanted him to think of me. I knew firsthand how getting tattooed could be like a healing process, and I wanted this piece to provide Jay with some sort of release from the demons he was fighting. Although he seemed to always be honest and straightforward, I felt like there was still so much I didn’t know about him.

  There was something mysterious about Jay, and it was obvious he didn’t let many people in. I couldn’t blame him after finding out who his family was. I’d only been on television for a few weeks, and I was already shutting myself off from the rest of the world. I couldn’t imagine being born into a life where you never knew who to trust. His past must have been full of betrayals and insincerity, but somehow, he was still willing to pursue something with me. That realization had my stomach doing flips. It also made me wonder what it was that had attracted him to me.

 

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