“You okay?”
“Yep, just pay attention to what you're doing.”
He laughed and continued his work. The outline was done and he was on to the shading in no time, and that's where everything went downhill for me. I'd been so focused on trying to figure out what it was from lines he was making, that I didn't even have time to think about his big hands touching me. And now it was all I could think about. I was trying to do breathing exercises so I wouldn't hyperventilate, but Chase said I was moving too much. His hands gripped and pulled my waist, hip, stomach and butt as he shaded and it took everything in me to stop the shivers that wanted to make their way through me. I ached for his hands to go lower, to feel his long fingers caress me. God this was wrong. Think about Brandon, think about Brandon…I was going through songs in my head when the gun stopped and Chase tilted his head towards me.
“Are you humming?”
“Maybe.” Crap, I hadn't realized I was doing that out loud.
He laughed and ripped off his gloves while rummaging through a drawer. Walking back to me, he handed me his iPhone and a pair of headphones. “You're doing great, I'll be done soon.” He pressed his lips to my neck and went back to work.
The music ended up being a great distraction from the steamy scenarios that were flashing through my mind, but more than once he had to put a hand on my upper thigh to get me to stop keeping time with the bass, and that would start the scenarios all over again. My hip was so numb I didn't realize Chase was done until he placed a quick kiss to my lips. My eyes shot open and I ripped out the ear buds.
“Am I still moving too much?”
“No Princess, I'm all done.” His smile and the way his eyes were shining made my heart squeeze. “Are you ready to see it?”
“You have no idea!”
He chuckled and shook his head slightly, “Close your eyes again, I'll let you open them when we're next to the mirror.”
He placed his hand on my right hip, grabbed my left hand and walked me a few feet away. Turning my body slightly he whispered into my ear, “Open your eyes Harper.”
The first thing I saw was his anxious expression in the mirror. He was worrying his lip waiting for my reaction. I inhaled quickly and his body locked up when I looked down to my left side. It was beautiful. There were four large orange lilies wrapped around my hip, and I couldn't believe how amazing they looked. I stepped closer and took in the perfect shading and detail to each flower. From the sketches I'd looked at and his drawing of me, I had known Chase was amazing, but I'd never thought he could make something like this look so real. His forced swallow was audible, and I realized I still hadn't said anything. But there were absolutely no words. First my ring, and now this? Did anything get past him? I turned to face him and ran a hand through his messy hair.
“Please tell me what you're thinking.”
Unfortunately, I wasn't. I crushed my mouth to his and he quickly deepened the kiss. Right away the other tattoo artists started hooting and yelling for us to get a room. I pulled back and knew there was nothing I could do about the deep blush on my face. Chase led me back to his table and put ointment and a wrap over my tattoo before fixing my shirt, he was all smiles.
“What made you choose those?”
He beamed his white smile at me, “I heard you talking to Bree and Mom about them being your favorite. And ever since that day all I've wanted to do was get you orange lilies, but I knew I'd probably get punched again. This was my way around it.”
“It looks amazing Chase, thank you.”
He shrugged, but he still couldn't contain that smile.
“I'm serious.” I grabbed his face with both hands and brought him close, “I love it, thank you.”
Chase kissed me once and skimmed his nose across my cheek. “God, you're beautiful Harper.”
My phone rang then, Brandon's name flashed on the screen. “Hey babe.”
“Hey, how's the tattoo look?”
“Um, it's not done yet, can I call you after?”
“I'm going out with some buddies from high school, I'll just talk to you tomorrow, kay? But send me a picture when it's done. I love you.”
My stomach clenched, “I love you too. Have fun tonight.” I pressed the end button and looked up at Chase's closed off expression. “Chase –”
“So you'll need to go buy some anti-bacterial soap to clean it.”
“Please talk to me.”
“I'm trying. Look, here are some aftercare instructions. Don't take the wrap off for at least an hour. If anything looks wrong give me a call.” He dropped the paper on my stomach and stepped back.
“Chase!”
“I have another appointment, and he's waiting. I'll see you later.”
I looked into his guarded eyes and exhaled deeply, “What do I owe you?”
“Nothing. It was a gift. But I'm busy, please go.” He turned away from me and walked to the back.
Aces.
***
Everyone loved my tattoo, even though Bree wouldn't talk to me for about an hour because I hadn't told her beforehand or let her come with me. Chase really had done an amazing job and I wished I could fix things with him, but he'd been avoiding me since the tattoo parlor. It didn't seem to matter how we ended things lately, he always avoided me after. It was probably for the best though, Brandon would be back two nights from tonight, and I already had enough guilt eating at me, I didn't need to add more. I hated myself when I thought of the kisses with Chase, how Brandon trusted me completely and I'd gone and kissed the one guy he had always worried about.