Page 22 of Forbidden Harmony

“Then it’s yours,” he said. “Do you want itbigger or smaller than this?”

“I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Where are you getting it?”

“I thought maybe the back of my rightshoulder.”

“Maybe a little bigger than this. Have aseat on the couch while I detail it out.” He pointed to a bar fridge that wasclose to the table. “There’s bottled water, if you’re thirsty.”

She took a bottle of water before wanderingto the couch and sitting. Her throat was bone dry from nerves and she gulpedhalf the water before capping the bottle and setting it on the floor. She stuckher hands between her knees to try and quell the shaking. He was printingsomething off the laptop, and she took the clipboard and pen from him when hehanded it to her. It was a consent form and she read it carefully before answeringthe health questions and signing at the bottom of the page.

He was back at the table working silently andshe placed the clipboard on the table before studying the other books. One ofthem was full of pictures of body piercings and she looked over a few of them,staring in fascination at the nipple piercings, before clearing her throat.

“Do you do body piercings as well?”

He nodded and she cleared her throatagain. “When did you learn to do all of this?”

“I was always good at art,” he said. “I apprenticedat a tattoo and body modification shop in New Cassel.”

“Right, that’s where you met Gideon,” shesaid. “Why did you decide to move here?”

He shrugged. “I was tired of big city living,and Gideon is my best friend.”

“Kind of strange that you two are bestfriends,” she said.

“Is it?” He glanced at her and she flushedat the look on his face.

“No, I guess not.”

He didn’t reply and feeling stupid, she changedthe subject. “You must be pretty good if you’re booked three months in advance.”

He just shrugged again, and she lapsed intosilence. After a few minutes, without looking at her, he said, “Your fiancéknow you’re doing this?”

Shit. For a moment, she considered lyingto him again but lying wasn’t exactly her strong suit. Besides, it was a friggin’miracle he still didn’t know, but that wouldn’t last forever.

“We’re not together anymore.”

The tip of his pencil snapped. He cursedand tossed it aside before grabbing another one. Still not looking at her, hesaid, “Why’d you break up?”

Now’s your chance, Addie. Tell him you’renot very good at sex and ask if he’d like to help you change that.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” she said.

He didn’t say anything else and she satback against the couch and studied the art on the walls as she listened to thefaint pencil scratching. It took him nearly forty minutes and by the time he tookthe clipboard and glanced through her consent form, she was vibrating fromnerves.

He had transferred the drawing to a stencil,and she studied it nervously. It was bigger than she was picturing in her head,but she didn’t say anything as he led her to a full-length mirror bolted to thewall.

“Turn around,” he said.

She turned and he waited a beat before saying,“You’ll have to take off your shirt.”

“Oh right, of course,” she said.

She cursed herself in her head. Why hadn’tshe worn a tank or camisole under her shirt? And why the hell was she wearingher oldest, ugliest bra? Feeling incredibly self-conscious, she stripped offher shirt before crossing her arms over her chest. It was a pointlessgesture. Preacher had already moved behind her and was studying her back.

“Can I touch you?” he said.

“Yes.”

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