Princess Next Door(27)

“I like this one,” she said.

“I’ve not had any woman or man ask for that one.” Ray moved toward his books and opened one up, showcasing the design so that she could get a good look at it.

Another customer came in, and Zane stood beside Princess as she stared at the strange design.

“You like it?”

“I know it’s weird, but I don’t know. It just … it’s really striking, don’t you think?”

He stared down at the book, and saw the intricate design of each flower.

“It’s beautiful.” He didn’t lie either. The flower didn’t have any real design on an actual rose, but it stood out, the colors, sharp, vibrant.

“You sure you want to do this?”

“I’m totally not sure. I’ll probably cry like a baby, but we only live once, right? I want to do this. It could be a whole lot of fun.”

Resting his arm across her shoulders, he kissed her temple and waited as Ray finished dealing with another man before coming back toward them.

“You’re sure this is the one you want?” Ray asked.

“Positive.” She held the book out and gave him a big smile.

“Where would you like it?” he asked.

She turned to the side and lifted up her shirt. “Could you do it trailing from my hip up to underneath my breast?”

“Are you sure about that?” Zane asked. “It’s pretty big for your first time.”

She smiled at him. “I may never do this again. Go big or go home, right?”

“Right.”

Zane didn’t like it as Ray stepped forward and looked at her side, his fingers pressing against her skin. Ray wasn’t doing anything untoward, but it pissed him off that another man had his fingers on her skin.

“I don’t see a problem with this. Do you want to get started?”

“What do you think, Zane? Do you think it will look good?” She held the design of the book against her, and he thought she looked so cute.

“It’s going to look epic. No backing out though. Now is your last chance.”

“Why do you keep thinking I’m going to chicken out? I want a tattoo.”

Following Ray into the room, Princess was adamant that he join her.

She got comfortable on the chair, moving so that she was on her side, and she held his hand as Ray prepared the area.

“It feels so weird being here,” she said.

“Why?”

“I never thought I’d get a tattoo. The rebel inside me is totally winning. Do I look hot right now?” she asked.

He chuckled and kissed her lips.

“No sexy time in my office. I have to keep everything clean.”

“Sorry, Ray,” she said.

“I’ll be good and keep my hands all to myself.”

He took her hand, which she squeezed a little tighter when Ray began to work. Throughout the work, she’d close her eyes, and he watched her as the ink marked her skin. Neither of them spoke, leaving Ray to work without any interruptions.

Staring at her hand, he kept their fingers locked together. Her fingers were much smaller and paler than his. In his mind, he saw their hands getting older, and still, he kept on holding them, keeping her against him, binding her to him for the rest of his life.

He’d never really known what love was.

His family had disowned him, and the women over the years just wanted to screw him. Nothing and no one besides his friends had stood out to him.

Princess was the only exception to that.

They were the complete opposites, and yet, they matched somehow. She was his fire, his passion, his inspiration. He knew he gave her strength, and helped her to live her life rather than just existing.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You seemed to disappear on me there.”

He waved a hand. “Just thinking about a song.”

“You need to call your friends.”

“I will.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You can call them. Please, Zane. You know you want to.”

Ray nodded at him, and he left the room, heading outside. Pulling out his cell phone he saw several missed calls from the guys.

He dialed Silas’s number, waiting for his friend to answer.

Zane didn’t have to wait long.

“Man, we’ve been trying to call you all night.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I … I was with Princess, and we decided to get away for a few days.”

“We’re worried about you. We’ve never seen you this devoted to one woman, and it’s you we’re thinking about. We don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I get it.” He turned so that he stared at the wall. “You’re right. I do love her. She means more to me than anything else I can remember.” Just saying the words gave him a sense of peace. “I shouldn’t have attacked you like that though, Silas. I shouldn’t have attacked you at all. I know you guys are worried, and you’re going to have my back, but I can’t give her up. I won’t.”

“Zane?”

“She may not want me forever, and that’s fine. I know she’ll be my girl forever. Stepping out when we had to play was wrong. I’ll handle everything so that we play this Friday, okay? We’ll meet up in a few days.”