Page 45 of Ace of Spades

He grins.

“Seriously. It’d be an honor.”

Something warm blooms in my chest.

He gestures to the chair he just finished cleaning.

“C’mon, Red. Let’s pop your tattoo cherry.”

I laugh at the new nickname and slip onto the padded chair while Theo grabs a sketchbook, already flipping to a blank page.

“Give me a sec,” he says, pencil flying.

While he sketches, I blurt out, “By the way… if I survive the lighthouse dare, I’m totally getting another tattoo to celebrate.”

Theo freezes mid-sketch, lifting his eyes to mine.

“You’re still actually planning to do that?”

I nod, grinning.

“You’re insane,” he says, shaking his head. HIs hair falls into his face a little, and he shakes it back. “That place is a death trap. No sane person would spend the night there.”

“Guess that makes me the perfect candidate.”

He chuckles under his breath.

“When?”

“Next weekend,” I say casually.

He groans.

“You’re gonna drag me into this, aren’t you?”

“You already volunteered,” I remind him sweetly.

He mutters something about needing hazard pay but goes back to his sketch, a little smile pulling at his lips.

In less than five minutes, he shows me the design. A delicate outline of a single peony bloom morphing into the curves of a vintage motorcycle wheel. Soft, feminine… but strong too.

It’sperfect.

I nod, throat too tight to speak.

“Where do you want it?” he asks, already prepping his station.

I tap my hipbone, right where it dips below my waistline. I want it somewhere only I can see.

His ears flush pink when I tug my skirt down slightly, baring the skin.

Professional or not, he’s still a guy.

He clears his throat, carefully smoothing the stencil onto my skin.

The cool pressure of his fingers sends goosebumps chasing up my spine.

“This’ll only hurt a little,” he teases.

---