More Than Lies (More Than #1)(34)

“No way, I’m absolutely serious. I do want this tattooed onto my body and I want it now.”

The design is a thick storybook, opened and placed onto my hip. The spine of the book is on my hipbone. There are swirling words and birds placed as if they are flying from the pages. Little black birds are flying in every direction, trailing words behind them. Words like: love, hate, joy, tears, drama, pain, and so on. There is even a slightly larger one trailing the letters “HEA” behind it.

There are almost no words to describe what I’m looking at.

Perfection is the closest.

“Now?” He’s questioning me. I don’t think he understands the way I feel, and I have to make myself clear if I’m going to talk Shawn into letting me have this and doing it himself.

“Yes, now. Come on, do this for me, please. Besides banging the first tramp you see in a bar, what do you have to do tonight? There will still be plenty of time to screw a random whore after you do me.”

That last part came out wrong.

“Tara, a tattoo is permanent.” Well, freakin’ duh. Does he think I’m stupid?

“Really? I had no idea. Thanks for the heads up, Mr. Genius.” He huffs at my sarcasm. He deserved that.

“No, I’m not doing it. I’m not going to put something on you that you might regret. No, Tara, not happening.”

“What the hell makes you think I’m going to regret it? I wouldn’t. Shawn, you’re an amazing artist. You’re the only person I’d want tattooing me, but if you aren’t going to then I’m going to get someone else to do it.” Apparently, I’m not above blackmail here. “I want this design and I want it tonight.”

The chime of the door sounds. Shawn and I turn our heads just as Adam walks through the door.

“Forgot my GD phone.” He looks in our direction and is taken aback when he sees me. “You’re never here this late. What are you doing here girlie?”

“Adam,” I sing, at the same time I turn to face him. “What do you think of this?” I widen my smile into a toothy grin. If I have to pretend I want Adam to tattoo me in order to get Shawn to do it, then so be it.

“Nerdy, but hot on you.” He strides over, not taking his eyes off my body.

“Shawn won’t do it. Will you?” I raise my T-shirt up a little to give him a better look.

“Besides the nerdy side of it, it’s a pretty rockin’ tat and it looks killer on her. What gives, brother?” He aims his question in Shawn’s direction. I glance over, taking in the hard eyes that are staring at Adam. I don’t know if it has to do with the tattoo I want or what I revealed to Shawn about the business he’s buying.

“Because I said she’s not getting a tattoo. Period. End of fucking story.”

I’m getting this done whether he likes it or not.

You see the thing about Adam is, he likes a girl with an extra-large chest. I don’t flaunt what I have around here. Heck, I don’t flaunt it anywhere, really. But if I need to use it to get what I want, why the hell not, right?

Taking the hem of my shirt into my hands, I pull it up and over my head in one swift move.

A girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do.

“You haven’t seen it all. It goes all the way up my ribs.” The birds stop an inch below my bra line.

“Fuck.” Adam’s eyes aren’t on the side of my body. He’s staring at the center of my chest. “I’ll do it.”

“Like hell you will.” Shawn grabs my elbow, pulling me away from Adam. “Put your fucking shirt back on.” His face is on fire. I’d laugh, but I’m not trying to piss him off; at least not in that way.

“The lady wants a tattoo. The lady shall get what she wants.” I twist, or attempt to, in order to face Adam. He’s saying everything I want him to say.

“What part of no do you not understand?”

“Shawn, stop.” My voice is stern. He needs to know how serious I am. “I really want this and if you aren’t going to—” He cuts me off.

“Fine.” Shawn throws his hands up. “If you’re determined then it’ll be me that does it.”

“Thank you. That’s all I wanted.” I smile up at him as I wrap my arms around his neck. Shawn closes his eyes for the briefest of seconds, as if savoring the moment. I know he’s not. That’s only wishful thinking on my part.

He sighs and pulls away from me.

“You know this is going to hurt, right?”

“Probably.” I’ve seen every expression imaginable in this place. Tattoos bring some to tears. Others seem to experience pure bliss. There are even those whose whole being seemed locked in terror. “I’m guessing needles poking into my skin hundreds of times, over and over again, won’t feel peachy.”

“Peachy?” Shawn shakes his head, but he smiles. “Get in the chair. You want this, let’s do it.”

I walk backwards a step and sit down swinging my legs onto the seat and lean back.

“Put your shirt back on, please.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if I—”

“Tara, please.” It’s a plea.

“Fine, whatever.” I sit back up and pull my shirt over my head.

“Tuck the right side into your bra.” I do as he says, but I still think it would have been easier to leave it off. “Are you really sure about this?”