Chapter Two

Raine POV

Who is this guy? He’s tall, broad and has stubble, his brown eyes, if I look closer, are rimmed in green. His black hair is slicked back, and he looks intimidating but hot.

“Looking for Raine,” he says, and my brothers tense.

“That’s me,” I say.

He pauses. “You?”

I nod. “In the flesh, how can I help?”

He holds out some paper, and Cain takes it. “Was told you were the best for tattoos.”

Was... he’s speaking like he suspects I’m not good.

“Father’s ringing,” Axel mutters.

“Get home because if you’re late, then we know who gets the blame,” I say.

Vane looks from me to the guy.

“Hey, I can handle myself, I’m fine,” I argue.

They nod and walk to the guy, circling him. “Touch her, and we will hunt you down,” Cain warns before they leave. The guy doesn’t even react, he stays calm, relaxed, like nothing happened.

“So,” I say as I grab the paper he brought that Cain had taken. It’s a big piece. “This will take a few sittings, guessing it’s a back piece?” I ask.

“No, it’s for my chest,” he says.

Well, okay. “Do you have any tattoos there already?” I ask. I move closer, trying to get a sense of who he is. He’s not human, but I can’t tell if he’s a wolf. He has the aura of one, but it’s mixed with more.

He moves and pulls his top over his head. My eyes follow the planes of his chest, going lower, until I see the V, goddammit. My eyes look away.

“Just this, but it needs covering,” he says.

I look at his chest, it’s... interesting. “That’s an intriguing design,” I mutter. It’s a wolf with blood dripping from its teeth and the name Opal in red, as if it’s created by the blood. It’s not big though.

“Don’t ask,” he mutters.

Oh, I’m asking, or assuming. “Let me guess, an ex who used you for blood, and this was a tattoo to remind you of why you hate her?” I chuckle.

“More like her name was there, and things ended badly so I made her into a beast,” he says.

My eyes roll, but I nod. “Okay, I can do it. It’s going to take a few sessions, cost will be $3000.”

“Do you have references?”

He wouldn’t ask that if I was a guy. “All the images are work I’ve done, I work alone, that book there is pictures with reviews, feel free to read.”

He grabs the book and flips through it, his eyes widening as he does. Some of those pictures are hard designs, and for top people.

“When can you get started?” He places down the cash.

“Now, it helps that you have your design on transfer paper, do you want it as is?” I ask.

“If you see something that would look better changed, I trust you.” He sits on the chair, and I get set up.

He’s quiet as I place the design on him. “Need you back a bit,” I say, and he nods, letting me adjust the chair. Then I’m leaning into him and getting started.

“So,” I say, unsure of how to ask if he’s a wolf. I can sense he is, but it’s weird.

Suddenly, he’s gone, there’s a snap, and I’m falling forward, landing onto him.

He groans, and I stare around.

“CAIN!” I roar. He promised he would fix the chair this morning! “I’m so fucking sorry,” I say, still on top of him.

He groans slightly and raises his hand to rub his head. “What the hell happened?”

“My chair was broken, is broken. Cain promised to fix it this morning. I just assumed. I’m sorry.” I can’t believe I didn’t think to check first. Now it’s no good, the chair is fucking useless.

“Don’t worry, I’m a quick healer,” he says with a wink.

I nod and scramble off him. He stands and looks at the broken chair. Yeah, now I need a whole new chair. I gesture to the bench, and he lays on it. “Is this one broke as well?” he asks.

“No, it’s fine,” I reply. He’s too big, his feet aren’t even on it. Sighing, I gather my things again and stand beside him. It’s no good. I can’t do it.

“I’m sorry, this isn’t working.”

His head tilts. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t like doing my work from the side, I prefer to do it above and in front.” It feels wrong, I need to see it from the front to be sure it looks okay.

“Then hop up,” he says, patting his thigh.

“Excuse me?”

“We’re both adults, I’m fine for you to sit up here so you can get the right angle.”

Damn, I want to jump up there, but part of me is hesitant. Slowly I climb up, my thighs bracketing his hips. He doesn’t say anything, and I start again. Leaning over him, I concentrate, but I can feel his eyes on me the entire time. Yeah, this just got... interesting!