Page 71 of Beck

“Holy fuck,” Kole said. “I can’t remember the last time I came that hard. Are you still with me, Beck?” he asked as he pulled out.

“Uh-huh,” was all Beck could manage. Kole manoeuvred him to the side, away from the wet patch. Beck lay there on his side, eyes closed, panting, body occasionally twitching with the aftereffects. “Holy crap,” he breathed as Kole came back with a flannel. He flexed his injured hand but ignored the ache.

Under normal circumstances, Beck would have complained about Kole cleaning him, but for several reasons, he didn’t. The main one was that he trusted Kole with everything inside of him, and he knew he would never harm him. So he let him do whatever he wanted to him without a second thought.

“That’s it. All done,” Kole murmured, sinking beside him to kiss his cheek. “You’re perfect for me, Beck. You know that, don’t you?” Kole whispered as he manhandled Beck while changing the sheets.

Beck wasn’t quite there yet. He still wasn’t certain he deserved Kole, but he refused to push him away when Kole didn’t seem to want to leave.

“Well, that was certainly a wake-up call.” Kole laughed as he lay beside Beck, pulling him into his arms and throwing the cover back over them. “I was just planning on bacon and eggs for breakfast, but we ended up with a lot more.”

Beck chuckled. “We definitely did.”

They dropped into silence, but as usual, it was never strained. There was always a point to it, and finally, Beck said, “I think I want to go to work today. I’ve cancelled far too many appointments lately, even several of the ones that I usually travel for. I want to get back to it. I miss it.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s have a shower, have some breakfast, and see if Joey or Dallas have destroyed the place.”

“Nah, Ani wouldn’t let them,” Beck said.

“Ah, but when the cats are away, the mice will play.”

“Why? Where’s Ani gone?”

“Nowhere, I don’t think. Just saying whenever Ani isn’t there, they always do something to prank her or prank one of you.

Beck glanced at him. “That’ll include you now, so keep your eyes open.”

“Wonderful,” Kole deadpanned.

They took their time getting ready—and having bacon and eggs—and Beck drove them to Life in Ink. The warm feeling spreading out from his stomach was welcome, and he grinned as he parked the bike in the car park behind the shop. After stowing everything, he grabbed Kole’s hand and dragged him towards the door, Kole’s laughter following.

The bell over the door sounded as they entered, and Ani glanced up from the desk, her smile, ready and eager to help a new customer, growing wider when she saw him.

“Beck!” She rounded the counter and threw her arms around his neck.

He let go of Kole and held her, dropping his face to her shoulder and allowing her to hold on to him as long as she wanted. The events hadn’t just been tiresome for him; they must’ve worn on his friends—no, family—as much as they had him, and wasn’t he an asshole for only just thinking about it?

“How are you doing?” Ani asked, cupping his cheek and staring into his eyes as if seeing into his soul.

For the first time in a long time, he didn’t put on a mask. “I’ve been better, but I’m getting there.” Ani’s eyes widened, and he chuckled. “I’m learning.”

She hugged him again and then stepped away. “You always did have a lot to learn,” she teased with a wink, though he could see the wetness in her eyes.

Beck laughed and linked hands with Kole again, stepping closer to the counter when Ani moved behind it again. “Do I have anything on the agenda?”

“Not officially because I redistributed those clients who didn’t want to wait for you.” She gave an apologetic wince. “Sorry about that. But if you are planning to ink, you’re welcome to have at least two that had originally booked with you.”

“Who?”

“Maxim and Hilary.” She tried to withhold her grin.

Beck rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what it is about those two that you find so funny.”

Ani leaned her elbow on the desk and rested her chin in her hand. “It could be that they always come in at the same time, usually see the same person, end up with similar tattoos and have yet barely spoken to each other. They’re obviously into each other. I think they’re just too shy to make the first move.”

“They might have tattoos all over their bodies if someone doesn’t first,” Kole said. “Not that I’ve seen them.”

“You’re not playing matchmaker, Ani,” Beck warned.

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