Messy Love Read online

  I gently punched him in the ribs, but it’s more a light push than a punch. “Thank you.’’

  He nodded and went back to his client.

  “Scared to confide your arm to an apprentice?’’ I asked Ralph with a huge smile I couldn’t control. I must look goofy, but I was ready to burst with excitation. Everything else that had been in my mind for the last few days suddenly wasn’t important and had taken a backseat.

  “Nah!’’ He smiled back at me, mirth dancing his brown eyes. “And if you mess up you would owe me a lot. A. Lot.’’ He winked, and I laughed at him.

  “Follow me then. We’ll talk in the room out back and see what we can come up with.’’

  “Yes, ma’am.’’

  I led Ralph, and unfortunately Wyatt down the hall to the office and the back room. I opened the door to the right to the back room where a tattoo station was waiting to be used, a cabinet holding sterilized tools for Sophie to pierce the skin and a desk in the corner with two chairs facing it. On top of the desk was a notepad along with different pens, pencils and sharpies to sketch for the clients and take notes.

  I sat, and both men grabbed the chairs on the other side of the desk. Ralph still had a smile on his face and Wyatt, well, he wasn’t scowling anymore. His eyes observed me as I got the notepad in front of me and a pencil to start out sketching. He seemed more curious than anything else.

  I frowned at how focused on him I was instead of Ralph. I stared down at my fingers wrapped too tightly around the pen. If I wanted to draw, I couldn’t choke the thing.

  “Ralph, can you show me your arm again?’’

  He extended it on top of the desk while I leaned closer, watching the way the flames were a blend of yellow, orange and red while they licked trees, grass, and a few wilted flowers. I nibbled on my lip as I tried and found something that wouldn’t clash with the sleeve and also cover the old tatt completely.

  “What do you say if we include embers under the flames here? It’d be a blend of black, brown, deep orange and red. We could also try and add something laced in the ember, something that’d have meaning for you if you want. A quote, a symbol… anything.’’

  Wyatt leaned over the desk, eyed the tattoo on his best friend’s arm and then me before he leaned back, head tilted to one side and arms crossed. I fidgeted in my chair and glanced back at Ralph’s arm. I really thought it was a good idea and it would respect the bigger piece on his arm. Anyway, Wyatt’s thoughts didn’t matter.

  Ralph mulled it over before he nodded. “I like the idea. And a quote could be great, but can you show me how it’d be?’’

  “Of course. I can make a quick sketch first, and I’ll work on something more detailed later once we’ve tweaked things until you’re satisfied,’’ I answered, once again smiling as if my life depended on it. I had no control over my lips, and it’s very maddening when they tingled whenever Wyatt stared at them like he was right now. He might be surly and quiet, but he didn’t need to talk since his presence was potent. “You guys go and ask Sophie some water or coffee while I do this. I’ll have something ready in fifteen-twenty minutes.’’

  ***

  WYATT

  Ralph started walking back to the main room of the tattoo shop, but I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. I was all kind of fucked right now, and I needed a damn minute to gather my bearings.

  Marissa Thornton was fucking with my head.

  “What?’’

  I leaned heavily against the white wall and shook my head with my frown back in place. I rarely smiled, and I wasn’t known to be the kind of man who did it easily, but these days I was worse than my usual.

  “I don’t fucking know,’’ I grumbled, rubbing my forehead as if it’d get rid of these thoughts. Thoughts of bending Marissa over that desk in the room. Thoughts of tasting her and fucking her until she screamed my name on the station. Thoughts of seeing her blue-violet eyes flashing in anger at me right before I took her mouth and kissed her until she didn't remember what an ass I was.

  I hated what she represented, who she was to my adoptive mother, but I wanted her fiercely.

  Ralph’s eyes went from my face to my cock, hard and pushing against the dark denim of my pants. “I think I know, asshole,’’ he said and smirked, fighting off what I was sure was a laugh that’d grate on my nerves and strip me of my last strand of control over my volatile emotions.

  “You checked out my cock?’’ I shook my head at him and adjusted myself when the zipper started to become uncomfortable.

  “Oh come on, it’s not like I swin' that way.’’ He leaned against the wall next and crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly looking more severe. “Don’t get in her pants just because you’re pissed and you want to hurt her. She seems like a sweet girl, Wyatt.’’

  “You have an excellent opinion of me.’’ And yeah, it hurt when your own best friend thought so little of you. Maybe I shouldn’t blame him for it because I’ve given him enough reasons to think I’d use this chick to get my kicks out of it. I frequently fucked girls just to get off, and in a way, I was using them, but it’s different. These women knew what I was all about going in and they didn’t expect anything else. If they did, then it’s their wishful thinking doing the damage to their heart and self-confidence.

  “Hey, you’re the one bitchin' about her, scowlin' at her as if your damn life depends on it. And now, you want to fuck her? Come on, what am I supposed to think?’’

  “Great.’’ I grabbed a handful of hair on top of my head and tugged until the sting got my cock under control.

  “What now? Are you pissed at me?’’

  I turned my head toward him, and when he saw the look on my face, he winced. “You surprised? Damn it! Instead of judging me, you should try and understand this fucking mess. And next time, if you’re afraid for your little Marissa, don’t drag me with you in your plans to get in her pants. She’s all fucking yours.’’

  He went to say something, but then Marissa walked out of the back room, notepad in hands. We both stopped fighting and looked at her as she took a couple of steps before she stopped at seeing us still in the hall. But these two steps were enough for me to see her round hips sway, the way the skin tight jeans showed off shapely legs, the kind you could hold on when you thrust into a woman balls deep, the kind that had a vice grip on you when you brought her to orgasm. Lust shot through me, and I had to close my eyes to stop my cock from getting hard again at the visual of this chick walking and the kind of thoughts it conjured up in my head.

  If she had been any other girl, I’d have found a way to get Ralph to leave, and I’d have fucked her on that little desk in the room behind her. I bet I’d have a blast watching her come apart and trying to be quiet, so the others wouldn’t hear her.

  “What are you doing here?’’ she asked, confused. “Never mind.’’ She closed the space between us. She held up the sketching pad for us to see. “Keep in mind this is just a doodle. I’ll have something more detailed another day if you like this.’’

  “Shit,’’ I mumbled, eyes riveted to the drawing. “It’s really good.’’

  She managed to capture a vague outline of Ralph’s tattoo and underneath, blending with the flames she had drawn embers burning. The colors, brown, black, orange and red, were coming together in such a way you’d think these were real. And then, in the middle, she’d let a few scribblings for where a quote would go, a touch lighter than the colors of the embers.

  “Hmm… thanks, Wyatt.’’

  Hearing my name coming from her mouth made me look at her again. Her cheeks were a bit red as if my compliment flustered her. I loved that idea. My mouth twitched when I felt the urge to crack a smile, but I tempered it. It wasn’t because she’s smoking and that I wanted to fuck her until she’s nothing but spent and boneless that I was going to get all soft.

  “You have real talent, Marissa,’’ Ralph said after a few more seconds. “And you can do that on me?’’

  She nodded and looked at her
sketch again, determination hardening the look on her face. “I can. I don’t have the experience, but I can. Now, we just need you to give me a quote—something rather short—and then I’ll make the flash for the tatt. But before Kam gives me the green light, we need him to review the design.’’

  “Let’s go see him now and book an appointment. I have a quote. ‘Talent is a flame. Genius is a fire.’’’

  “How fitting for your ego,’’ I mumbled and got an elbow in my ribs.

  “Do you have preferences for the font?’’

  Ralph shrugged. “Not really. Don’t use something girly and I’m good.’’

  She grinned and laughed to herself as she led us back to the main room, still busy with clients chatting with the artists and machines buzzing.

  “Thank you, Ralph. I can’t tell you how much it means that you’re willing to let me put my design on you. It’s a first for me, and I won’t forget it.’’

  Ralph smirked over his shoulder at me. “That’s really good, babe. Now, I know you won’t forget me anytime soon.’’

  I ground my teeth again, and the muscle in my jaw ticked while my hands clenched. I put them in my pockets, hoping to hide how on edge I truly was and that it went beyond my usual disposition. Ralph had always known where to hit to make me go nuts, but right now it wasn’t just mildly annoying. I actually wanted to put some sense in his dumb head. With my fucking fists.

  “Marissa,’’ Ralph said, a hand on her elbow to stop her before we reached Kam who was now applying antibiotic cream on the guy he’d been working on and giving him the usual warnings of how to tend to a fresh tatt. “Do you have somethin' planned tomorrow night?’’

  What the fuck.

  “Well, not really. I finish work here late.’’ She glanced at me over Ralph’s shoulder before she quickly averted her gaze when she caught me looking at her. I bet my dark eyes weren’t sending friendly vibes.

  “It’s alright. A friend of ours is a bartender at QB District. Heard of it?’’ At her nod, he went on, ignoring the tension mounting from me, tension Marissa had a hard time ignoring as she fidgeted and toyed with the pages of the sketchbook. “Why don’t you join us for a drink. We have a few friends comin'.’’

  I rolled my eyes and tried to remember why this guy was my best friend and why I shouldn’t shoot him in the balls here and there.

  “Thank you, but I wouldn’t be able to get in. I’m twenty.’’

  He waved her argument away and leaned closer to her. I had to take a step back when the first thing I almost did was to grab him by the collar and pull him away from her. What’s wrong with me, damn it?

  “We’d get you in, don’t worry. What d’you say?’’

  I was looking down at my old chucks, but I felt it when her eyes landed on me. They burned through me, stocking the damn lust that had taken residence in my veins, pumping blood to my fast hardening cock. I’d never felt like I wanted to fight a chick and fuck her at the same time before.

  “Sure, I guess.’’

  I didn’t have to look at Ralph to know he’s smiling his smile that often got him laid by the end of the night. “Let’s exchange numbers so you can text me tomorrow when you’re there. I’ll get you in.’’

  I tuned out after that and left the tattoo parlor with a wave for Kam and no other words for the others. I’ve had enough of this shit.

  MARISSA

  “Thank you for coming with me, Jamie. I hope it doesn’t bother Aimee,’’ I said, tightening my grip on his arm when QB District came into view with its electric blue neon shining on the façade of the nondescript building. My palm was so sweaty my hand kept on sliding over the leather of his jacket.

  “She's having a girls’ night with her cousin and sister at home. She was happy to see me leave. And anyway, after what you’ve told me about that Wyatt guy, I want to meet him. We’ll see if he’s a prick when I’m around too.’’

  The anger in my brother's voice had me reconsider my supposedly brilliant idea of inviting him to this night out. Jamie wasn’t a fighter at heart, but I knew that in some instances he didn’t hesitate in throwing himself in with all the rage he could muster up. A few things could set him off, and the easier way to make him go ballistic was to hurt his wife or me.

  “Don’t… you know, punch him.’’ I sighed, and with my free hand, I kept my leather jacket closed when a gust of wind swept over us. For a spring night in Atlanta, it’s oddly chilly compared to the usual hot and humid air. “I don’t want him to know he gets to me. The asshole would get off on it.’’ I screwed up my face at the thought and got my phone out of my pocket.

  “I’m pretty sure he already knows, sis. You’re not that good at hiding your thoughts. Or your anger.’’

  I mumbled something noncommittal and quickly typed a text for Ralph to let him know I was out. I glanced at the line of people waiting to get in, and I had my doubts as to if he’s going to be able to get me past the brick house of a bouncer at the door, checking IDs even when girls in barely-there attire tried to charm their way in.

  “Is this Ralph?’’ Jamie asked me, tearing me out of my thoughts and pointing at someone going out.

  I didn’t need more than a second to know it wasn’t Ralph, but Wyatt. He wasn’t wearing any jacket and his muscular arms, tattooed, stood out against the light blue of his t-shirt. As a future tattoo artist, I couldn’t help the appeal I felt at seeing his ink. But one quick glance at his scowling face killed the warmth invading my body before it reached out too far, and yet, his presence alone had me sucking in my breath while my heart went into a frenzy of beats in my chest.

  With his long legs, it didn’t take him long to reach us, but he barely spared me a look. No, his scowl and dark eyes were on my brother, cataloging every single thing before he stopped in front of us and finally decided to stare my way.

  “Marissa.’’ His voice was low, gruff.

  “Wyatt,’’ I replied in the same manner, but it came out more shaky than I’d like. My whole body coiled tight while my fingers dug into my brother’s jacket. “I thought Ralph would come out.’’

  “You mean you’d have preferred it,’’ he retorted with a sinister smirk that had me shivering. “He’s a bit busy in there.’’ He waved distractedly at the building behind him. “Who’s your guy?’’

  “Jamie is my brother. Why?’’

  Maybe it’s a trick of the city lights and the bright neon behind casting an eerie blue halo around him, but I thought his shoulders relaxed. A surprised look temporarily replaced his scowl as his eyebrows got lost behind his thick hair hanging over his forehead. He ignored me and faced my brother, extending a hand. I glared at them when my brother shook it without hesitation. I pulled my hand away from his arm and huffed silently.

  “Hey man, I’m Wyatt Burton.’’

  “I gathered. Just a friendly advice, keep your temper in check tonight around my sister.’’

  Wyatt tilted his head, still fixing my brother, towering over him and muscles bulging as he crossed his massive arms over his equally big chest. I cringed and silently prayed these two weren’t going to go into it right now. I covered my eyes with a hand and took a deep breath.

  “Duly noted,’’ Wyatt said with sarcasm so thick it’s grating.

  I dropped my hand and glared at him. “Nice. Now get us inside.’’

  “Eager to see Ralph again? I must warn you. He’s currently in much better company.’’

  I hid my sudden disappointment, and to someone else, they’d probably think it’s because I was interested in the faux-hawk wearing guy, but it’s nothing like that. I came here tonight because Ralph was a friendly guy and I assumed maybe he’d play interference between his friend and me. Now, I could only count on my brother. Unless…

  I took in Wyatt and shrugged. Maybe the asshole would find someone to keep him otherwise occupied.

  “What do you want me to say, Wyatt? You think you have me pegged anyway.’’

  We stared at each other in silenc
e, and I forgot that my brother was standing next to me, that we’re in front of a club… That I hated this big surly guy.

  He was one of those people that when you looked in their eyes, looked deeply enough past the bullshit standing in the way, you found yourself trapped in something you couldn’t name, but that made everything inside you go berserk.

  Jamie cleared his throat, and it’s as if he slapped the back of my head just like when we were kids and I annoyed him. I turned my face away from Wyatt and thanked the blue neon and the night that must be hiding most of my sudden blush.

  “Come with me,’’ Wyatt said and turned around without waiting to see if we followed.

  “What was that?’’ Jamie asked me in my ear, close and quiet enough, so the big guy didn’t hear.

  I didn’t say anything. There’s no answer. I had no idea of what happened, but I knew the resulting issues.

  I was turned on, going back from a very foreign high.

  I’d been with men. I’d had terrific sex, some sweet sex, some bad sex, but nothing had prepared me to feel turned on by a glare from a scowling giant when all I wanted was to slap him across his smug face. That was, that’s what I had thought I wanted. Now, I wondered if my hatred for this man hid a deeper longing I’d rather squish before it took over the forefront of my mind.

  People in the line waiting to get inside started complaining as we passed by them and the bouncer let us in with a nod and a wink for me that made me shudder. The man was probably more than twice my age with yellowish teeth and a receding hairline.

  As soon as we gave our jackets to the people waiting in the short dark hall leading to the club, we entered the main room. I had to blink a few times to get accustomed to the strobe lights, the pack of moving bodies in the middle and the long bar in the backlit by blue neon lights that were so bright it made my eyes water. Or maybe it’s the smell of spilled liquor and sweat that affected my tear ducts.

  Wyatt had no issues leading us through the moving bodies, and as I followed him with Jamie behind me, it stunned me how many hands landed on his ass, chest, and arms.