73 - The chapter with all the tattoos - part II

CHRISTIAN

He was right, I knew that, but I still didn't want to talk to her without making sure she was willing for exclusivity. I didn't want to risk spoiling what we had, so my bet was to slowly start including situations we hadn't done before and gauge her reaction. Anyway, our arrival at the tattoo studio, where the girls were already waiting for us, put an end to that conversation, and we headed inside the building to meet them, pretending to be natural, even though Liam was already visibly paler.

" Hey, you took your time," Rose approached, while Camille and Sky leafed through an art catalog, pointing to one or another drawing.

" We were trying to find a way to keep Liam from fainting at the sight of the needle," I explained, receiving an amused look from the girl at the front desk.

" Davis, that was classified information," he murmured.

" We've learned that the risk is real, so be prepared," I ignored him, lowering my voice a little so that only Rose and the girl could hear.

" You know, Rose, have I ever told you about my cousin Ivan? " Liam put his arm around her, smiling broadly.

I crossed my arms, scornfully staring at him as he pulled her away from me, leading her to where Sky and Cam were standing.

" Who is Ivan? " Camille raised her face as he approached.

" The cousin I will have the pleasure of introducing to my little sister here if she agrees to go home with me for Christmas.” He explained in a sharp tone.

If he thinks he can provoke me with this...

" Really? Is he handsome? " Rose joked.

" Hey, Sky... Liam came all the way over here telling us how he would like to be the first to get a tattoo.” I raised my voice, drawing the group's attention, smiling as I saw Liam lose what little color he still had in his face.

" Really? I thought you'd be the first one to try to escape," she joked, "I picked out a design for you, want to see?”

I winked at Liam with a disdainful smile on my face as he promised me silent revenge.

" That was cruel," Theo approached.

" He deserved it," I shrugged.

" Our two tattoo artists will start working on you, so let's split up the group.” The receptionist approached.

" I want Josh," Rose warned, asking for the same guy who had tattooed her the first time and I couldn't judge her, he did a great job.

" I will keep her company" I shrugged, approaching her, "do you want both tattoos today?”

" Two tattoos? " Cam stared at us.

" Yes, it all started because I'm giving her one as a Christmas present," I explained.

Everyone stopped and turned toward us, looking surprised by this information.

" So, do you want them both or not? " I insisted.

" There will be seven tattoos today," she smiled at the attendant.

In the end, Cam was the first to receive the new permanent adornment on her skin, the small Serotonin molecule was engraved behind her ear. And Theo got his golden ratio on his forearm before Rose and I entered the room, as Sky and Liam seemed to be renting the second tattoo artist for an eternity.

" What did you guys think? " Cam moved his hair out of the way so that we could see the design.

" It looks great, Cam," I complimented.

" My parents will kill me if they find out," she groaned, hiding her face with her hand.

" It's in an easy place to hide it," I reassured her, "if you keep your hair loose no one will see it.”

" But while you’re on campus I expect to see you with your hair up, so you can show off your tattoo and your face.” Theo smiled at her.

" What?”

" I'm just saying, you have a beautiful face, you don't have to be afraid to show it," he shrugged.

I stared at him for a few seconds, it wasn't the first time I had noticed the way Theo tried to get closer to the girl. I just hope she doesn't take too long to notice.

" Davis, you can go in," the receptionist warned me.

I got up and walked to the room where Rose was sitting. She was wearing only her bra and pants and had put her hair up in a bun, showing off the delicate brush over several colored spots etched into the back of her neck.

" What did you think? " she glanced over her shoulder as I appraised the perfect work of the tattoo artist who stood beside us.

" Amazing, wow it really is perfection," I complimented.

" I know I'm perfect," her smile broadened.

" Hey, what have I told you about your ego? I was complimenting his work, congratulations, man," I decided to tease her a little, seeing a small smile on the face of the tattoo artist, who usually pretended that we didn't exist.

Rose just gave me the middle finger as I walked around her, reminding me of our first meeting that took place in that very room. It was the first time I experienced first hand the damage her nails could do, and I didn't expect to enjoy that feeling so much in a few months.

" She said that you chose the other design " The boy interrupted our interaction.

" Yes... the phases of the moon," I walked him to his computer, where he showed me some options.

It didn't take long for me to choose the one I wanted, telling where the drawing would be and the size, returning to Rose, who was watching me curiously.

" So, what's up? May I ask why there is so much mystery? " she observed me.

I pulled up a chair, sitting down across from her while I waited for Josh to finish the sketch of her tattoo. Focusing my attention on her face. her brown eyes, which I adored, her sharp, slightly upturned nose, and her lips that looked as if they had been drawn, every delicate detail formed a set that bordered on perfection.

" I just wanted to surprise you," I shrugged.

" And now may I know what it is? " she asked.

" All the phases of the moon," I leaned toward her a little, running my finger along the line of her right shoulder, running it all the way up to her neck, feeling her soft skin, "right here.”

Rose took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second, as her skin tingled with my touch, making me smile.

" You definitely have good taste in tattoos. You'll get all of mine," she teased.

The tattoo artist returned, and after a few touch-ups I left the room, waiting my turn to get a tattoo. To my surprise, Camille, who probably wasn't used to staying out this late, was sleeping on Theo's shoulder, while Liam was sitting panting on another couch, drinking what looked like a glass of water.

" Is he okay? " I asked Theo.

" He got his tattoo, he didn't pass out, and we're trying to make sure he stays that way," he returned.

" Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? " I stared at him.

" Davis, why don't you go bother Rose and leave me alone? " Liam muttered.

I watched the traffic outside the studio as it slowed, we had been in there for a few hours, and would probably be out of there by dawn. I returned, sitting down next to Liam to wait my turn.

" Seriously, I don't know how Rose managed to put herself through this three times. I almost died," Liam stammered, "and don't even remind me how pathetic I am.”

" You're not pathetic, we're all over you, but in the end, no one chooses what they're afraid of.” I tried to tranquilize him.

" Yes, we are all afraid of something," Theo agreed.

" The difference is that we're all assholes, so we'll pick on you for it, so get used to it.” I stretched myself

He straightened up as Sky came out of the second door, coming toward us with a small condescending smile at the sight of Liam.

" Hey, how are you? " She leaned over to take a closer look at him, stroking his face.

His expression improved considerably at this little caress, making me roll my eyes. He doesn't even disguise it.

" I'm fine, it was nothing," he assured her.

" Liam, the tattoo artist was afraid you'd gone into shock at the end. You looked really pale.”

" Sky, I'm fine, really," he gave her a meaningful look as Theo and I stared at each other with amusement.

" Davis, you can go back in, Josh just end up with your friend," the girl at the front desk warned.

Great, then it would soon be my turn. I stood up, making my way into the room, finding Rose with a smile on her face looking at the results in a large mirror, already covered by a clear bandage, while Josh cleaned up, beginning to sanitize all of his equipment.

" What did you think? " she asked as I stood directly behind her, running my hand up her arm, feeling satisfied at the end result.

" Incredible " I moved my hand down to her waist.

" Me or his work? " she asked with amusement.

" Both," I winked at her, kissing her cheek.

" Davis, I'll finish sanitizing everything and be ready for you, and you can get dressed, Rose," Josh warned.

Rose walked over to where the sweaters she had been wearing were hanging and I was getting rid of the clothes I needed to get my tattoo.

" Do you want me to stay and hold your hand, Davis? " Rose scoffed as she watched me walk over to the gurney.

" Do you want me to imitate Van Derr Waal and fake a faint, Rose? " I sneered, noticing Josh's amused look at us.

" I'm sure he didn't have to fake it," she returned and headed for the exit, "Josh, please tell me if he cries.”

I waited until everything was ready to start the process, my tattoo was much simpler than Rose's, so it would be quick.

" Rose said that you decided to make a tribute to each other's course," Josh commented as he sanitized the area to start the tattoo.

" Yes, and now you are wondering how someone from chemistry ended up in the middle of a bunch of artists.”

" Something like that crossed my mind," he admitted.

" Rose won't take no for an answer," I explained, clenching my jaw as I felt the first contact of the needle on my skin.

" She seems like a girl...intense...have you been together long? " He probed me, and I knew why.

I should have known that the guy wouldn't be such a professional as to not be affected one bit by all that beauty.

" Not as long as you might think," I blurted.

" I remember the first time you came.”

" That was the first time we went out together," I returned.

That information surprised the boy, who moved the needle away from my skin for a second, frowning as he stared at me.

" Are you serious?”

" Yes, we left a party, she forced me to accept a ride and then dragged me here and made me choose a tattoo for her and never left my life again," I returned simply.

" Like I said... intense…”

Josh went back to work, spending the next few minutes in silence. He only spoke up again when he finished his work, showing me the result before applying an ointment and a bandage similar to the one Rose had received earlier.

" Shall I tell her to come in?”

" No need, she'll see it later," I denied.

" Man, I hope you don't mind, but I asked your girl to take some pictures of the tattoos and send them to the studio. It's just that they look really good and your girl, she's..”

A hot girl who would definitely be a great advertisement for your work. I answered mentally, trying not to get angry about it.

" I know, why do you think I keep choosing new tattoos? " I returned in a suggestive tone before reaching for my sweater, even though I internally felt like hitting it with one of his trays.

Come on, Christian. You can't be jealous of her before you work things out.