Page 65 of Nightmare For Hire
“I trust you, Nox. You’re not going to hurt me.”
“Okay okay okay….” He presses the tattoo gun to my skin at the perfect pressure. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I’m doing it!!!”
He follows the outline for about an inch before he stops and hands the gun to Maddox. A spark of light flashes from the top of the line and flutters all the way to the end.
“And that’s the magic binding you together,” Maddox says.
“I did it! I did it!” He jumps around before spinning and running back to me. “Did I hurt you?”
“Barely felt it.” He stands between my legs, and I circle his waist. “I’m yours forever, Nox.”
“And as much as I’d love to watch my friends make out, let’s get this show on the road.” Maddox glares at us, but his words are said with humor.
I pull Nox even closer to whisper in his ear, “Sit in the chair and be good, and I’ll do that thing you like tonight.”
“You always do the thing I like. I don’t even have to be good and you—”
“Okay, sit in the chair and be good, and I’ll show you a new trick.” I wink and blow a kiss as he moves so fast to the chair across from me.
“You two are going to be insufferable,” Maddox chuckles and shakes his head.
“Nah. I’ll just keep becoming the true Cyrus. And I think the real me likes being playful.”
Maddox grips my bicep. “I’m glad you finally get to be the real you. I can’t imagine what you went through and all the masks you wore. But I’m glad to be among those you call friend.”
“I’m so glad you said hi to me that first day at the gym. Sorry it took me so damn long to open up.”
Nox kicks his feet as he eats some of his purse chocolate. “I’m so glad all my besties found each other.” He beams.
The hum of the tattoo gun starts up again. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this.” I sink into the bed and shut my eyes, letting the hum lull me into a meditative state.
Over the hours, I move with Maddox’s prompting, but for the most part I contemplate life. Contemplate how the shadows bleed into my skin and wrap around my DNA, changing me from the inside out. I wonder how life will be in a hundred, three hundred, thousands of years from now. Will humans finally learn how to be nice to each other, or will things escalate? I can’t imagine.
“Cy?” Nox’s soft voice breaks through my thoughts. His gentle caress on my cheek helps bring me back to the room.
Maddox chuckles as he cleans up. “You go deep.”
“Yeah, sorry.” I push to sit and thread my fingers through my hair. “I forget how deep I go.”
“No worries.”
I turn to look at the ink, but Nox stops me. “Wait.” He tugs me from the bed and walks me to the full-length mirror against the wall.
“You do beautiful work, Maddox.” It looks like shadows literally float around my arm. They start at my shoulder and snake down to my wrist. Swirls of tendrils add dimension to the piece. It already looks healed compared to when I’ve gotten other tattoos and I turn to Maddox, who shrugs.
“Perks of Nox. No dealing with the healing process.”
“Now everyoneknowsyou’re mine.”
“No one else’s.” I drop a kiss to his nose. My Nightmare adores nose kisses, and he hums every single time.
All three of us head out to the front desk so I can pay. “Thanks, Maddox. For everything.” I hand him an envelope for his tip before Nox and I head out. We’re almost out the door when Maddox shouts.
“You can’t give me a one hundred percent tip. That’s insane.”
I shrug and continue to walk. “Totally worth it, plus it took all day.” I wave and flash him a smile when Nox and I go through the door.
