Page 15 of Aries

He nodded. “Your shop is close, right?”

“Around the block.”

“Good, because I’m going to tear right through this. It’s not going to look pretty at all.”

“Don’t worry yourself with that, I don’t think you could do anything to look less pretty.”

He turned his head, all flustered. “You lead the way.”

I could sense he was a little nervous with all his questions as we got to the shop, and those nerves dropped when he noticed the shutters were down and the door locked. I was the first to arrive, so it wasn’t like he was going to be paraded through clients and employees. Although I knew my employees would enjoy seeing Ash, they rarely met anyone I’d fucked, at least not knowingly.

“It looks different in the day,” he said.

“Yeah, we have a great spot, lots of natural light,” I said. “You wanna go to my office and start working on your bagel? I’ve got to do a quick check of the place.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“You remember the way,” I said, winking.

My pre-opening checks were pretty standard. I plugged in all the outlets that had been unplugged and made sure the HVAC unit was working properly. The worst thing to have in a tattoo studio was the air getting too hot while you work. I made sure the neon sign worked, but not turned on because we weren’t open yet. And lastly, I checked the schedule. Kelly, Brandon, and Jenny were all working today, and they seemed to be booked solid. I had two clients coming in, as I liked to keep a lot of open space.

In my office, Ash was in my large leather chair, swishing his hips left and right. “This is good,” he said, trying to swallow the food in his mouth.

“I told you,” I said, lugging the bag on my shoulder. “Wanna try some of mine?” I pulled my wrapped bagel from the bag.

He wiped at some of the cream cheese from his mouth. “I can’t,” he said. “I already ate half of this so fast, I’m gonna feel sick.”

“I’ll save you some.” I sat across my desk from him. “So, my day doesn’t really begin for a little bit, but I want to show you some of the process behind it.”

His eyes lit up. “Go on then.”

“Grab my iPad out of my drawer.”

He opened up my desk drawer and stared inside for a moment. “You just keep everything in here?” he asked. “Like, you’re not scared someone’s gonna break in and steal it?”

“Security cameras, not in here, don’t worry.”

“I was gonna say, could I copy of that tape we made.” He put my iPad on the desk. “Is there where you do all you work?”

“Not all of it,” I said. “What else is in there?”He reached inside and pulled out a sketchbook. “I like to draw in pencil too. But I’ve found I prefer to sketch digitally, and it helps clients see what it’ll look like, especially sleeves or wrap-around pieces.”

Ash rolled the sleeve of his jacket. The arms were one part of his body that I didn’t leave hickeys. “I’d never know what I wanted, or even if it would suit me.”

“Temporary tattoos,” I said, grabbing my Apple Pencil from the magnetic attachment on the side of the iPad. “And no, I’m not talk about those ones they used to sell on the inside of suckers. I mean—”

“How old are you?” he asked. “I don’t remember them ever coming like that.”

“Wow. They still do them, I’m like ninety percent sure.”

“Maybe they do, back in the 80s,” he giggle-snorted.

“You’re so lucky you’re over the other side of the table,” I said. “Otherwise, I might have you over my knee for a good spanking.”

He chewed his bottom lip. “I don’t think you’d risk it, since you’re opening soon, right?”

“The door closes, you know,” I told him.

Ash squirmed around on the chair as he chuckled. “Tell me more about those temporary tattoos.”

---