Chapter 2

Queen of Tats

Piper, still high from the endorphins of her infinity tattoo, sat quietly in the chapel thinking about everything that had happened today. She started out the day getting one tattoo from someone she thought she could trust, and by the end of the day she had that person sent to Max. "Trust No Bitch" was now permanently tatted on her arm and on her brain. How could she have trusted someone she barely knew so easily? Her thoughts started to drift to the first time she ever allowed herself to really trust someone. That someone had also talked her into getting her very first tattoo. That someone was Alex Vause.

It was a perfect summer day in Bali. Alex had asked Piper just a few days ago if she would come with her to Bali for her business trip. Piper was definitely hesitant at first because she was a good girl and she didn't want to get into any trouble with Alex. Alex had promised her that she wouldn't have to do anything and that she was just there to keep her company. Piper couldn't refuse. Alex was exciting and new, and she was a sophisticated, wealthy world traveler. All of these things appealed to Piper, but mostly she really just wanted to be with Alex. Since they met, she wanted nothing more than to be with Alex always. Alex was intoxicating and Piper was hooked.

Alex really wanted to take Piper scuba diving, so she had everything arranged so that they could spend the whole morning diving at a beautiful coral reef in Amed. Piper was certified already, but this was her first trip to a coral reef and she was excited to see everything. They boarded a small charter boat early that morning and set off for the dive site. When they arrived, Piper was amazed at how clear the water was. She could actually see the reef below. Alex teased her about her diving suit fitting so well. Piper laughed and playfully told her that she could help her out of it later.

The boat captain helped them prepare the oxygen tanks and made sure everything was working correctly. Then he told them both to sit on the edge of the boat rail and lean backwards when they were ready to dive in. The instant they were in the water, it was magical. Fish and corals of every color, shape, and size were right before their eyes. Piper had never seen such a beautiful display of natural sea life. She was amazed. She pointed out things to Alex, and Alex was enjoying watching Piper more than she was enjoying watching the fish. She had never seen Piper look so excited, and she was so pleased that she got to experience this with her.

After a while, they both started to run low on oxygen, so they swam back up towards the boat. When they surfaced, they were surprised to discover that they had been diving for about an hour already. They decided to grab another tank and grab the underwater camera they had brought. This time they dived on the opposite side of the reef and spent a lot of time taking pictures of the fish and corals, and of each other making funny faces and gestures.

They surfaced again after another hour and decided to stay on the boat. They went below deck, and Alex really did help Piper out of her diving suit. They both put on the bikinis they had brought along. The captain took them to a private island near the dive site. He stayed aboard ship, and Alex told him they would stay on the island a few hours. Alex had brought a picnic lunch and some wine for them. During lunch, Piper kept talking about all the different colors of the fish and how she had especially liked this one very beautiful blue and yellow fish. She hoped she got a good picture of it because she wanted to find out what kind of fish it actually was. She thanked Alex over and over for arranging this trip.

After lunch, they took their beach towels and headed over to the other side of the island. It was gorgeous here. The water was crystal clear and the beach was clean with white sand and tall palm trees for shade. The best part was they were completely alone here. Piper felt really relaxed from the wine as she sat down on her towel. Alex sat down behind her and put her legs on either side of her. Piper leaned back into her and Alex kissed her softly on the neck. Piper smelled like coconut and honey. Alex was always instantly turned on by the way Piper smelled. As she kissed her neck she slowly untied Piper's bikini top. Piper moaned a little, then turned around to face Alex. Her long legs were now straddling Alex as she sat in her lap. She looked at Alex with lust in her eyes, and pushed back her raven hair and kissed her passionately, breathing through her. Alex lifted her some and swiftly removed her bottoms and then completely removed her top. Piper sat completely naked on top of Alex as she started to grind while they kissed. Alex moved her mouth down Piper's neck and chest and then onto her perfectly erect nipple. She sucked it hard and Piper thought she may come right then and there, but Alex backed off and left Piper begging for more. Frustrated, Piper tried to undo Alex's bikini top but was having no luck, so she settled for pushing the bikini down to release Alex's beautiful, full breasts. Once they were freed, she wasted no time grabbing them and sucking them. Alex was so turned on by Piper's aggressiveness, she pulled her head up from her chest and kissed Piper hard. As they kissed, she slammed two fingers into Piper and started to pump hard, her thumb touching that extra sensitive nub just right. Piper moaned at the sensation and threw her head back. It felt so good when Alex was inside her, and she wanted to return the favor. She reached down, turned her palm upwards and plunged into Alex's bottoms. Alex was so wet and she started to moan and grind into Piper's hand. They both continued driving each other crazy until they were both panting and screaming their release.

They laid there, breathless on their beach towels with huge smiles. Alex lay on her stomach looking at Piper who was facing her but lying on her side. Piper started running her finger over Alex's salt shaker tattoo and was curious. "Alex, what is the meaning of this salt shaker tattoo?"

Alex laughed a little, "That was actually my first tattoo ever, and there is a very interesting story about it. I had just started working with Fahri and we were in Prague at some hotel restaurant just sitting around bullshitting while I was recruiting some girls. We had way too much to drink and Fahri started talking about trust—how he needed to know if we could really trust one another in our business relationship. All of a sudden I knocked over this salt shaker on the table and Fahri freaked out. He said a spilled salt shaker represented treachery and lies and was supposedly bad luck. He said to get rid of the bad luck, I had to throw the salt shaker over my left shoulder. I told him he was full of shit and started to get up to leave. We went back up to our rooms and Fahri said that I still needed to prove to him that I could be trusted. I didn't know what he had in mind, but I played along. He said if I really trusted him, I would let him tattoo me. I thought this was easy enough, as long as he didn't put the tattoo on my face or anything. One of the guys with us had a tattoo gun, so he got it all inked up and ready for Fahri. He told me to take my shirt off and lie face down on the sofa. I did as I was told and he sat down beside me and started tattooing. It hurt like hell and I had no idea what the fuck I was going to end up with. I must have passed out afterwards, and when I awoke the next morning I looked in the mirror and there was a fucking salt shaker over my left shoulder."

"Holy shit, Alex! I can't believe you let him do that to you.

"I felt like I had to because I needed Fahri to know that I trusted him so that he would also trust me. Plus I had way too much to drink so that made the decision easier. And it worked. Fahri and I have a great working relationship and we trust each other. That's very important in my line of work, kid. You gotta be able to trust someone."

They finally got redressed again and went for a swim in the crystal clear water. It was lovely here and neither wanted to leave, but Alex had a meeting that afternoon back in town so reluctantly they packed up to leave. On the boat ride back, Piper kept thinking about what Alex said about having someone to trust. Piper never really had anyone like that. Her parents were awful, her father was an adulterer and her mother wanted to live in denial. But Piper felt that if she could trust anyone, it was Alex. Alex was different. She could have lied to her about what she did for a living, but she was honest about it from the beginning. For the first time ever, Piper felt like she had found someone that she could really trust and she wanted to prove it. "Alex, when we get back into town and after your meeting, I want you to pick out a tattoo for me. I don't want to know what it is because I want you to know that I trust you. I've never really had anyone that I trust one hundred percent, but I trust you."

Alex was shocked, but so happy at the same time. "Are you sure, Piper? This is a big deal, and it's something you would have on your body for the rest of your life. Are you sure you're ready to commit to something so permanent?"

"As long as it isn't anything too crazy or too big, and let's put it someplace that I could conceal it, but also someplace that I could show it off if I wanted."

Alex had the perfect idea. "Agreed."

Later that evening they entered a local tattoo parlor and Alex went over to talk to one of the artists. She described what she wanted and made sure he knew not to let Piper know what the design was until they were all finished. He asked Piper to lie face down on his table and to tie her hair into a bun. He began by rubbing alcohol all over the back of neck and then he shaved the area clean. Next, he placed what felt like a stencil onto her neck and pulled it back off. He asked her if she was ready, and she looked over to Alex for reassurance. Alex came over and grabbed onto her hand and Piper told him she was ready.

It felt like bees stinging relentlessly over and over, but it also kind of felt good. Alex held her hand the whole time and laughed at her when she made funny high pitched squeals from the pain. Piper wondered what it would look like when he was done, and Alex kept telling her that it was a pepper shaker. Piper hoped she was joking, but didn't really care if it was because then they would have similar weird tattoos. After an hour or so, the tattoo artist said he was done. He handed Piper a mirror and turned her back to the wall length mirror behind her. She kept her eyes on Alex as she stood up, and when she looked into the mirror, she smiled. On the back of her neck was a small, but beautiful, yellow and blue fish. Just like the fish she had seen earlier that morning that she thought was so beautiful.

"You like?" Alex asked with a smirk.

"Like it… I fucking love it! It's perfect, Alex."

"It's a Queen Triggerfish. I showed the boat captain the picture of it and that's what he said it was. You're my little queen now." Alex said as she gently kissed her.

"Thank you, Alex. Thank you so much, and thank you for not making it a pepper shaker."

Alex laughed, "We'll get the pepper shaker next time, let's get out of here."

Piper smiled at the happy memory of them in their younger days. They were so happy then and so in love. All she could think about now was how much she wanted to run and show Alex her new infinity tattoo, but she knew she had fucked things up. Alex had dumped her because she was being a manipulative asshole. She was beginning to believe that she was a manipulative asshole. She basically ruined Alex's chance at moving on and starting a new life. She got her back in here, asked her to be her girlfriend, then got carried away with Stella when Alex wasn't available. Yes, Piper knew she was the asshole, but all she wanted right now was Alex. She had to make things right, and she hoped it wasn't too late for them. She got to her feet and headed towards the chapel door and outside. When she stepped outside it was eerie—no one was around. The guards were gone, the other inmates were gone and there was a huge section of fencing that was missing.

Piper stared out in disbelief, "What the fuck?"