Page 16 of Beck

Beck gaped. “Seriously? When did that happen?” He rounded the counter.

“We’d been thinking about it for a while but decided to go for it. We hadn’t told anyone because we didn’t want the hell of having to explain if or when it happened. But now little Maria is in our arms, we’re telling the world.”

Beck shook his hand, wishing he could get the courage to hug him, but he reserved that for close friends only. His body didn’t like it when he touched strangers for too long—it was maybe the reason his one-night stands didn’t stay for a second night.

“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks,” Leyton said. “So, are we still on for today’s session?”

Beck returned to the other side of the counter and checked the diary. “Yes, definitely. Joey should be here in a few minutes, but if he isn’t, I’ll yell for him.” He winked, and Leyton laughed. “While we’re waiting, though, I want to introduce you to our newest team member. Kole?”

Kole blinked, seemingly coming out of a trance-like state. “Sorry, what?”

Beck chuckled. “This is Kole’s first official day, but he joined us at the Bonser event a couple of months ago, and he was very popular. We’re expecting great things from him.”

Kole licked his lips again, distracting Beck, but then stood and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too. You won’t go wrong with this crowd. What styles do you do?”

“Um, I don’t really know if there’s a specific word for it, but I like tribal design and mandalas, so I try to combine the two to make something unique.”

Leyton whistled and nodded. “I like the sound of that. Do you have any you’ve already created?”

Kole seemed like he held his breath as he handed over the pad he’d been working on. Leyton flicked through the pages, making Beck wish he’d stepped closer to see them, but he didn’t interrupt.

“I love these,” Leyton said. “Do you think they’d still work in a small design?” he asked Kole.

Kole’s mouth worked but nothing came out straight away. “I’m not a tattoo artist, so I don’t really know…” He looked at Beck, who rounded the counter again and looked at the design, marvelling once more at Kole’s talent.

“Which one?” he asked Leyton. When he pointed it out, Beck scrutinised it a bit more and nodded. “Yes, that could easily bereduced in size. It might work better if there was one less row inside the circle, but it wouldn’t be impossible to do. You know us. We’re always up for a challenge.”

“We wouldn’t be who we were if we weren’t,” Joey added as he entered the room from the stairs. “Leyton, my man.” He hugged him. “How’s Eamon?”

“Great, thanks. Do you think we could have a change of design for today? I love this.”

He held up Kole’s design, and Beck watched Kole’s cheeks darken, but his eyes sparkled as Joey and Leyton discussed his design. That was what it was all about. The rush they felt when their designs or work were appreciated. The pleasure when theirs were chosen to be forever inked onto someone’s body. The satisfaction when everything went right.

As Joey asked Kole if he could take the page from the pad and Kole nodded, Beck couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across his face. And when Joey and Leyton climbed the stairs, he stared at Kole.

“I’m not usually someone who would say I told you so, but…”

He grinned at Kole when he threw a pencil in Beck’s direction, but then dropped into the seat again and retrieved a new one—and a new page. Beck had paperwork to get on with until his client turned up in an hour, but he stealthily watched Kole as he drew line after line and wished he would draw on Beck’s body instead of paper. The feel of a pen dragging across his bare skin while Kole leaned over him. The images had Beck restraining a groan and adjusting himself in his jeans.

He had to remind himself that Kole was off limits. If only because Beck wasn’t a relationship type of guy. If he had been, he would drag Kole to him and keep him, but he wasn’t. And it wasn’t fair to Kole to give him hope for that.

It didn’t stop him from wanting him, though.

But then the memories came back, followed by nausea, trembling and a headache.

When would Drake leave him alone?

****

Chapter 6

Kole

When Beck finally disappeared from the front desk, Kole took a breath. He’d felt the man staring at him as he drew, and electricity sizzled in his veins as he tried to ignore him. It hadn’t worked. He’d been aware of every rustle, every move he made. Kole’s hand had trembled as he concentrated half his brain on drawing something remotely usable.

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