Throttle Me (Men of Inked, #1)(45)

Now she f*cking intrigued me. “What would make her feel like a freak?”

“She has this fantasy about being kidnapped and sold into slavery.” She whispered the last words and I looked up at her.

I almost f*cking choked when she said kidnap and slavery. “Suzy?”

“Don’t be so shocked, Joey. She just wants to be owned, if you know what I mean. She may be a control freak, but in the sack she wants to be used and controlled. Think you’re up to the challenge?” she moved her eyebrows up and down with the biggest smile plastered on her face.

“I think I’m just what the doctor ordered. Tell me more – this shit is good.”

“She has fantasies, but will probably never share them with you.”

“Why not?”

“No one has ever asked her, so don’t expect her to just cough up that shit. You have to pull it out of her.”

“Got it.”

“Just don’t break her heart, City, or I’ll crush your balls. Got me?”

“Loud and clear and I think you’d do it too, Sophia.” Sophia didn’t seem like the type to not follow through on her words. She reminded me of those strict teachers that you didn’t want to f*ck around in class and get that pissed off teacher look from, but I knew she was sweet too cause Suzy wouldn’t be friends with someone who wasn’t.

“Oh, I have no issues inflicting bodily harm when necessary.”

“Kayden must be one hell of a guy to handle you, Sophia.”

“He’s complicated.”

“Suzy mention something along those lines about Kayden.” I dipped the gun into the black to finish the shading as I hit the home stretch on the beautiful design on her leg.

“I normally wouldn’t take as much shit as I did from him, but when you love someone and you know you’re meant to be with them, you stick it through. I couldn’t abandon him in his time of need. Someday I’ll tell you the whole story cause it’s a long f*cking tale.”

“Almost done, just a few more lines. Was it worth it?” I know the answer, but I want to hear her say it was worth the struggle that I feel she had to endure to find the love of her life.

“I wouldn’t trade a moment of our f*cked up journey. We were meant to be together. I don’t regret a second of my time with him.”

I liked hearing about Kayden and Sophia. All my friends and siblings were single and had been put through the ringer. I wanted to hear that it was possible to find love in today’s f*cking jaded world.

I put the machine on the table and began to wipe the tattoo to clean her skin so she could get a good look at it. “There ya go, darling. Hop up and look in the mirror.” I leaned back in my chair and stretched my back.

Sophia jumped up and walked up to the mirror, holding the side of her pants down. It was beautiful and permanent. “Whatcha think?”

“Oh my God, City. It’s amazing. I f*cking love it.” She turned to the side and stood closer to the mirror. “The color’s amazing.”

I took my time working on the art that would decorate her flesh for an eternity. “Will Kayden like it?” I asked. I’m sure he’d love it, what man wouldn’t love their woman to have their name on their skin. She was marked and his forever.

“He’s going to freak out. The guy has a thing for tats and he has my name on him. I can’t wait to show him.” She just stood there and stared in the mirror with a giant smile across her face.

“He does?”

“Yep, huge down his leg. There’s no way to cover that shit up either. He’s mine forever and I’m his,” she said as she walked back over to the chair.

“I never advise anyone to tattoo a boyfriend or girlfriend’s name on their body. It’s asking for disaster. You’re brave.”

“Brave? I’m never leaving that man, City. No one will ever love me like he does.”

“I’ve seen the chemistry you two have. I did my part in warning you, but I can’t deny you the design you want.” I rubbed the salve on her skin and covered it to keep it clean. “You know how this works and about after care?”

“Yep, it’s my fifth tattoo. I got this shit.”

“Well then, darling, you’re all done.”

“I have to use the ladies’ room, where is it?” she asked.

“Down the hall to the right. I’m going to go check on Suzy.” I wanted to see her and make sure Mikey kept his paws off her.

I pulled my gloves off with a snap and threw them on the table. I cracked my neck and rounded the corner to see Mikey and Suzy sitting in the chair talking and sitting a little closer than I’d normally feel comfortable with, but this was Mikey.

They began to laugh. “Oh stop, Michael, you’re killing me,” she covered her mouth and slapped her knee.

“I shit you not,” Mikey said and looked up at me and cleared his throat. “Oh, big brother. How’d things go?”

“What the f*ck are you two talking about?” I knew Mikey wanted to find any way to embarrass me; my family was fantastic for that shit.

“Nothing at all.”

Suzy’s face turned red and she could barely look me in the eyes without breaking out into a fit of laughter. “Don’t you worry, we’re just sharing family memories.”