Page 13 of Ink Wars

“She told me that Leah got a visit from Lucas Johnson too. He also asked her to come up with a design idea and needs to present it by the end of the week,” he says, raising an eyebrow.

I sigh and lean back, running my hands through my hair. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Dead serious,” he says.

“Fuck me. Did you tell her he gave me the same opportunity?” I ask, squeezing the back of my neck.

I’m suddenly tense as hell. It’s me against her and that shit always points in her favor. Not because it should but because she flirts her way in. Fuck.

“She told me she heard Lucas visited you too, that’s how it came up. I guess word is getting around.”

I close my eyes and blow out a breath. “She’s not going to fuck me over this time.”

“This is art vs art, my man, there’s no way she’s winning. You’re going to kick her ass,” Harry says.

He’s right. Lucas Johnson isn’t going to allow some tits and ass to sway his decision. This is as big a deal for him as it is for me. No fucking way is she taking this from me. I won’t eat, I won’t sleep, I won’t tattoo if that’s what it takes to get this design perfect.

Leah Collymore is not going to win this time.

“Corbin, we’re leaving, you want to lock up or want us to?” Waylen asks, banging on my door.

I toss my pencil down and open the door. He’s grinning and I want to punch him in the mouth. They’re going out to the club, but I decided to stay and finish up my design. Tomorrow is the day I present it to Lucas and I’m not totally happy with anything just yet. I need perfection.

“I’ll lock up. Go and I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” I say.

They leave and I look over the schedule to see what tomorrow brings. I grin when I see I have a tattoo scheduled after my meeting with Lucas. It will be a good distraction.

I step outside, leaning against the brick building, and light a cigarette. As I watch the smoke drift up toward the sky, I notice Leah and Lucas across the street. They are laughing as they exit the high-end restaurant. The dress she has on screams focus on my body. Her tattoos are all exposed in the thin strapped dress that cuts so low I’m sure he caught a glimpse of her fucking nipples. She looks fucking good, too fucking good. He probably couldn’t keep his eyes off of her and that pisses me off.

This is my opportunity and there’s no fucking way she’s taking that away.

I keep watching as they talk and once his car pulls up, they shake hands, and he gets in. As he pulls away, she spins in a circle and does some sort of little excited dance.

I shake my head and before I realize it, my legs are carrying me across the street. When I step next to her, she gasps and takes a step back.

“Damn, Corbin, ever heard of personal space?” she says, resting her hand on her chest.

“Oh, is that something you believe in, princess? It’s hard to tell when you’ve always got your tits in everyone’s face,” I reply, keeping my angry eyes on her.

She laughs. She fucking laughs and I feel myself beginning to shake with anger. She always acts as if I don’t get the best of her, but I know deep down I do, just like she can get the best of me. Neither of us will ever show the other.

“You’re always so worried about my tits, Corbin,” she says, smiling.

I grin, stepping toward her until her back is against the brick wall of the restaurant. “I’m only worried about who gets teased by them, princess.”

She straightens herself, trying to act as if I don’t affect her, and clears her throat. “You worried about being teased, Corbin?”

I chuckle and press closer to her. So close I’m surrounded by her coconut scent and body heat. It’s a bad combo because my dick doesn’t care that I hate her.

“I love being teased, princess. Just like I love teasing. Putting the tip of my dick near her wet pussy, making her beg me to push inside, watching her try to get relief by rubbing against me.” Her eyes darken as she listens to my words, and I get pure satisfaction in that. “But I’d never use it to land the deal of a lifetime. Someone who does that knows their talent isn’t enough.”

She pushes on my hard chest, and I grin when she can’t budge me. “I don’t dress to tease; I dress to impress. I obviously caught your attention, so I’d say it works. I could wear a fucking turtleneck and it wouldn’t matter because my talent outshines everything else.” She pushes up on her toes, trying to get level with my eyes. “Are you that worried I’m gonna beat you, Corbin? You have to trap me against the wall and take out your frustrations?”

I lean my arms above her head and it’s a stupid ass move. I’m closer to her. I can feel her hard nipples rubbing on my chest and my dick is painfully hard at the feel. But I don’t back away. I don’t allow it to show, and I keep my fucking cock away from her.

I have the upper hand here because she knows I can feel she’s turned on, but she doesn’t know I am and she never will.

“I take out my frustrations in other ways, princess. Ways that would make even you cry out my name. I’m just saying that using your body to get this deal is desperate and pathic,” I say, searching her heated eyes.

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