Page 13 of Broken

“No,” I shake my head. “Not happening. No offense,” I glance at Lucky.

“None taken sweets, they’re not for everyone.”

“I do like looking at them, but I couldn’t get one.”

“Scared?” Sin asks, giving me a narrow-eyed stare over the top of her glass. “You should get one, for a new beginning.”

“New beginnings and new tattoos aren’t the same thing, Sinclair.”

Lucky’s eyes pop open wide. “That’s your real name? That is so beautiful, you should go by that.”

Sin pulls a face. “Only my grandma calls me Sinclair. She’s a cranky old witch who hates me.”

Lucky laughs. I think I’ve got away with it until they bring up tattoos again. I shake my head even harder, that is not my thing.

“What about a piercing?” Katja asks me.

Touching the small diamond studs that I’ve worn forever, I frown at her.

“Not your ears,” she laughs.

“Where then?”

Katja shrugs. “There are all kinds of different places you can get pierced.”

“Like your nipples,” Sin shrieks.

People at the surrounding tables turn and I cringe, my face turning red. I’m not a prude but I don’t need people talking about my boobs, thanks all the same.

“I had mine done,” Lucky says with an encouraging smile. “Best thing ever. And shit does it drive men wild.”

“I have no desire to drive anyone wild, or stick needles through my nipples.”

“You have to choose,” Sin says. “Tattoo or piercing.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re gonna book in and have a party at Blackhawk Ink.”

Lucky cheers and clinks glasses with her. I glance at Katja.

“It hurts for a few seconds but honestly, of all my piercings, that was the best. And not just for guys, if you know what I mean,” she winks.

“Where else are you pierced?” Ruby asks, wide-eyed as she takes in the hardware in Katja’s face.

None of it takes away from how pretty she is. People probably judge her for it, the same way some of the people here have been eyeing Lucky’s tattoos. Although I only met these two women tonight, it’s like I’ve known them longer. I’ve been lucky enough to find a good group.

When I first made the decision to move to Baltimore and be closer to my best friend, I’d been terrified I’d end up alone. I should have known Sin wasn’t about to let that happen.

“Well, all of this,” Katja indicates her face and ears. “My belly button, nipples,” she pokes out her tongue showing a silver ball. “And clitoral hood.”

We all wince, even Lucky, and Sin bursts out in shocked laughter. That queues up all manner of questions.

Including Ruby asking, “What about if you have sex with a guy who has his dick pierced, could you end up locked together?”

“No,” Katja laughs.

“Your clit,” Ruby leans back, looking somewhere between intrigued and ill.

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