Page 606 of One More Kiss

I say I’m fine and he gets back to it. Just under an hour later, he’s cleaning it once more before applying some salve and a clear plastic steri-pad over it. I gaze down at it in wonder.

So beautiful.

Asher leans over to look with me before pressing a kiss to my shoulder, “Like it?” I nod, tears filling my eyes. He smiles again. “I’m glad. My turn. Switch.”

We swap places and a little more than an hour later, we have matching tattoos. Chase shakes Asher’s hand after he stands, stretching his back. “Those are some beautiful tats if I do say so.”

Chase hands him several hundreds, “Thanks for staying, man. I appreciate it.”

Chase nods. “My pleasure. You know I always fit you in. Happy to be the one to do this for y’all.” He winks at me. “It was nice to meet you, Kristee. Asher is a good man. But be careful… these things are addicting. Before you’re done, you might look like us.”

Laughing, I look between the two of them. “That might not be so bad.”

Asher shakes his head, “You don’t need all of this. You’re perfect just the way you are. But if you want one, I’ll aways get one with you.”

My heart swells as love fills my chest. “I think I’m good for now, but you never know. There’s always tomorrow.”

I see his eyes get glassy as I realize what I just said.

There’s always tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

Because of Asher.

Pulling me into him, he kisses me, uncaring of the fact that Chase is right there.

Chase groans. “Well, on that note. Y’all need to get the hell out of here. I don’t care where you go, but I’m locking this bitch up and heading home. I’m beat. It’s literally three thirty in the morning.”

My eyes widen.

It’s three thirty in the morning?

Asher thanks Chase again and pulls me out of the door.

Asher

The past few hours have been incredible. Meeting Kristee last night on the banks of the levee truly changed my life.

After leaving the tattoo shop, we just drove around with the windows down and the radio up. We laughed and talked some more. My stomach let me know that it was in need of sustenance, and I asked Kristee if she was also hungry. We found a twenty-four-hour diner near LSU and ate breakfast. Sharing Banana Nut Pancakes, crispy bacon, and loaded hash browns while drinking thick, rich Dark Roast Community Coffee and water.

Glancing at the dashboard, I see that it’s a little after five. The sun will be rising soon.

Looking at Kristee, I find her smiling at me. I smile back. “Sunrise is in about an hour. Want to head back to my apartment and watch with me. There’s one more thing I want to show you.”

Her head angles as she says, “The windows face west. The sun rises in the east.”

Kissing the back of her hand, I mutter, “Trust me.”

She nods.

Forty-five minutes later, we’re on the roof of my penthouse. There’s a small deck and patio up there. Holding Kristee against my side, we look east as the first rays of daybreak appear on the horizon behind the buildings. The shadows duck and weave as the black of night is chased away by the neon pinks, oranges, and yellows of a brand-new day. Kristee gasps as the vibrant colors expand, overtaking the darkness and filling the sky.

I’m staring down at her, aglow in the sunlight, with the colors dancing over her face like a canvas. She turns, looking up at me. Her voice is filled with emotion as she says, “Thank you, Asher. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for showing me that my story isn’t over… there’s a whole lifetime left.”

I mutter, “Damn right. To be continued…” as my lips claim hers and the promise of a future surrounds us both.

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