His gaze followed my finger, and when his eyes flicked back up to mine, there was heat in them. But he kept his voice steady. “That’s gonna hurt a little.”
“I can take it.”
“I’ll be gentle.”
“You better be,” I said. “You fuck up my thigh, and I’m not fucking you anymore.”
He scoffed, grabbing a marker. “Yeah, you will.”
I cocked a brow. “Wanna bet?”
Doubt: It’ll be a weak bet. You fuck him every time you say you’re not gonna.
Why are you still here again?
He laughed under his breath as he clicked the cap off. “Alright, alright. Hold still, Sweetness.”
He bent down, one warm hand anchoring my leg as he sketched on my skin. I felt his breath fanning across my knee as he focused. He pulled back after a few more strokes and angled my leg so I could see the design. The bear was adorable—round belly, button eyes, tiny paws clutching a heart that saidTin soft, curly script.
I laughed. “You gave my bear your initial?”
He shrugged. “Gotta brand what’s mine.”
My stomach fluttered.
“Okay,” he said, snapping on a pair of gloves and turning on the machine. “Last chance to back out.”
“Do it,” I said, gripping the edge of the chair.
His gaze found mine, steady and intense. “I’ll go slow.”
And then the buzzing filled the room and he began.
The needle hit my skin, and I sucked in a breath. It wasn’t the worst pain, but it wasn’t comfortable either. Theo’s hand gripped my thigh, steadying me as he worked. His gaze never left the tattoo, his focus absolute.
As time passed, I adjusted. The discomfort became more bearable, almost soothing in its predictability.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
I nodded, biting my lip to keep from wincing. “Yeah. Just… getting used to it.”
“You’re doing so good.” He paused momentarily, and then his voice dropped. “This is gonna look so fucking good on you.”
I shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sit properly for a week, though.”
Theo chuckled. “That’s the price you pay for art.”
I felt the needle buzz again, sharper this time as he worked on the detail of the teddy bear’s paws. The tingling, numbing sensation spread as he continued, but all I could think about was how close he was.
“I’m so happy you got this on camera. I can’t wait to watch this back and see your face.”
I wined and twisted as he raked the need across my skin, “Shut up, Theodore.”
When he finished, I glanced down at the bear. It was perfect—cute and simple, but with just enough warmth. The heart was a soft, almost pastel pink with the faintest curve of the “T” in the center, the edges a little frayed from the hand-drawn look.
I smiled, satisfaction curling through me. “That’s… exactly what I wanted.”
Theo gave me a small, almost shy smile. “I told you I’m good.”
