Bedside Manner & Tattoo Parlors

Ripley grumbled, shifting in her bed as she tried to get comfortable. Sphinx was absolutely the worst caregiver in the whole fucking world. When she was asleep he apparently rocked . . . but when she was awake he was like a 6'3" Hitler minus the mustache and the gay suit. If she moved too much or even looked like she was hurting, he made her lay right back on her right side-her restless aching and itching right side- before he would try to shove more pain killers down her throat.

And she had another two days of this? The past three were enough to make her consider killing him . . . Especially since he'd decided that he needed to sleep on her damned sofa and not in bed with her. The only true upside to any of this shit . . . and she wasn't even getting that. Because he was intent that they were going to do this whole . . . whatever right. His words still echoed around in her head and she had to fight screaming. The one time in her entire life that she wanted to move faster than normal she got the guy that was intent on making her keep his pace . . .

"I've thought about this long and hard, girl. The only way it'll work is if we do it properly. And I want us to do this right . . . slow and easy . . . No big plans. No pretenses and no huge commitments . . . okay? If we want more, we deal with it when and if it happens . . . . but we aren't rushing into anything. And if we decide we don't . . . then we try to stay civil . . . until then, we go on like we have been. Can you live with that?"

She'd agreed out of sheer shock that it was the most he'd ever spoken to her . . . and the rare emotion that had leaked into his eyes. But now she knew he was serious about it . . . and apparently doing it right meant moving at pace to make snails cuss and pass you. She growled, shaking her head. She needed to get out of here before one of them ended up dead . . .

She sighed, tossing the covers back as she heard him messing around in the kitchen. She'd had enough . . . she was busting out. And her brooding and obsessive boy could just get over it. Keeping an ear on the movement in the front of her apartment she moved to her bathroom and started digging through her closet. She drug out a pair of torn and loose jeans, pulling them on before she found her softest bra- a cute little light blue demi that was nothing but lace and had no damned underwire or hard plastic to it- and carefully maneuvered into it. She grimaced as it brushed over her back but she needed it. Even with little padding it was still a lot better than going without . . . because she was far too endowed to try that.

She grabbed her raw silk tank top that she slept in and pulled it over her head before she started digging for the charcoal gray cashmere and silk hoodie Paul had sent her a few weeks before. It was soft and plush and would feel good against her skin . . . and it wouldn't pull her stitches or mess with her bandages.

She shrugged into it slowly, reaching up to pull her hair into a low knot at the base of her skull before turning. And nearly dying when she saw Sphinx standing in the doorway. He was watching her as he propped against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest with this humorless expression on his face. She tried not to blush as she realized she'd been caught. Because she could still get out of this damned apartment . . . she just had to keep her cool.

She turned back to the mirror, still fussing with her hair before she was satisfied and nodded. She glanced at him, watching as he watched her skeptically before he finally pushed away to stand beside her. And as she leaned forward to grab her chapstick she was keenly aware that he kept his eyes on the left side of her back. She rolled her eyes, smoothing the peachy pink over her lips before sliding the tube into her pocket and running a finger over her bottom lip. God please let this work . . . she just wanted about an hour away . . . Nothing too bad . . .

She turned to him, smiling as she stretched up to wrap her arms around his neck. And had to fight grimacing as he dipped more than he normally did right as her stitches tugged a bit. Did he not understand that she needed to move some or her back was going to get stiff? She wasn't going to let this keep her down . . . but he seemed intent to keep her in the bed until she was cleared to return to work. Something that should've thrilled her to death . . . but without him there-and still in the same damned house-it was driving her crazy.

He looked over her face, cupping her cheek as he brought his forehead to hers. And she suddenly felt bad for planning to escape . . . but not bad enough to stop the attempt.

"What are you doing then? You're supposed to be in bed."

She shrugged, looking up at him as she brushed her lips over his. And he leaned in, holding her to him before he let her go suddenly; his hands moving further down her back to her hips. She rolled her eyes, huffing.

"I'm not made of glass you know. I survived . . . and I'm fine. My back doesn't really hurt . . . Its just achy. But laying around isn't going to help it."

His face soured and he opened his mouth but she cut him off, reaching up and drawing his bottom lip between her own. He shuddered as she giggled, letting the plump appendage go with an exaggerated and wet pop. And she knew that she had his undivided attention . . . for a few minutes anyway.

"Besides . . . I got lonely. You won't come stay with me . . . I stayed with you . . ."

He groaned, shaking his head as he stepped away. And she felt herself go cold. God why was he being so damned difficult? He'd kissed and nipped and touched her before and now he seemed to think he was going to break her! And it was driving her bonkers! She turned, going to move by him as he reached out and caught her wrist; carefully tugging her into him as she tried to move beyond him. She huffed, refusing to look at him as she practically seethed.

"Part of just being us Sphinx is letting each other be themselves. I'm not some fragile little thing that's got to be hidden away to heal. Hell, if I could I would be in the damned surf right now! I've brushed up against sharks and broken bones. I've boosted and gotten away with it. And got away from Johnny B's crew both times. I am not going to fall apart because of a few new scars."

His face darkened before he turned her, pulling her hoodie off of her shoulders and tossing it to the counter. Her shirt was next, landing beside it and if she hadn't been so mad at him she would've loved the hungry way he looked her lace clad chest over before he turned her head just enough that she could see her back in the mirror. The whole left side was covered and there were a few small red cuts and scratches that radiated out and over the right side. His hands came back to the tape as he stepped closer. And she had to fight the gasp that tried to escape as he peeled it away.

She closed her eyes before opening them and felt her resolve wane ever-so-slightly. Her back looked like a patchwork quilt, long jagged red lines held together tightly but tiny black stitches. With smooth but red and bruised skin between them. She counted at least six larger scars . . . and knew that she really shouldn't be walking or talking. But then again neither should the man looking down at her intently. He'd been shot and just barely missed getting hit in the heart . . .

She looked back to him, forcing her face to be clear and expressionless as she shrugged. But he wasn't buying it . . .

"So? I got cut to pieces. The window and the windshield both busted, Sphinx. It was going to happen. Hell as hard as we were hit I'm lucky to have escaped with just this. I got sliced and diced but I'm not broken."

He sighed, shaking his head before pressing his forehead to hers. And as she went to open her mouth to yell at him again his sealed over hers. She sighed, melting into him as he scooped her up; dropping her onto the counter as he stepped between her legs and held her as close as possible. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting his mouth work over hers hurriedly as his hands traced the marks on her flesh. And his mouth moved, kissing the tiny cuts and scrapes on her neck she had to gasp.

He chuckled, kissing back up the other side of her neck back to her jaw.

"I know you didn't break, girlie. I just want you to heal . . . I want you safe and with me . . ."

She nodded, meeting his mouth as his hands settled on her hips and pulled her flush against him.

"Then be with me . . . stay with me. Please baby . . ."

He nodded before kissing her again. And as he scooped her up all of her plans for escaping were put on the back burner. For the time being anyway . . .

Sphinx sighed as Ripley lay stretched across his chest. But try as he might he couldn't keep his fingers from running over the puckered and healing marks on her flesh. He knew he'd been pulling away while he'd been here with her but he couldn't help it. He wanted to touch her- to hold her and continue what they'd started before this- but every time he'd gone to he found the marks on her back. Seeing her hurt wasn't something he'd ever wanted to do . . . and seeing her still trying to act like nothing was wrong was infuriating and endearing all at once. And had all but cemented he had no idea how to take care of her . . .

She kept telling him that she needed to be up and moving but he knew that the wounds needed to heal and that she wasn't even trying to process the trauma. She was too damned stubborn . . . and he was finding it harder and harder to tell her no. Especially when she kept asking him to curl up with her. Which is exactly what he wanted to damned do . . .

Yes she had done it for him but he was so drugged and lethargic that honestly sitting there had been about all he could really do . . . if he wasn't leaned against something watching her. But the meds-while keeping her out of pain- made her restless and hyper. And she wanted to do anything but just cuddle up and watch TV. She'd already tried to clean her damned apartment-something he'd already done after she pouted at him for not laying down- and fold clothes. And he knew when she'd gotten too quiet that she was finally trying to run out . . .

She sighed snuggling into his chest as her fingers traced the bullet wound. Her fingers always found that spot . . . and now that she was finally asleep they were moving over it softly; smoothing the flesh before curling to repeat it. Proving she was still in motion in her damned sleep . . .

Now he just had to figure out how to keep her in the damned bed after she woke up. He sighed, running a hand over his face and grimaced at the stubble. Her desires about his shaving habits were contagious . . . and he hated to feel any hint of hair on his face now. And he had-in his haste to pack a damned bag-forgotten to grab his razor and shaving cream. And since she damned waxed- oh do not go down that road, boy o or you won't be able to come back up it- he had yet to see anything that hinted to a kit.

Meaning he was either going to just let it grow or going to have go get one . . . She shifted against him, kissing his chest as she grumbled groggily.

"Stop thinking so hard . . . . your chest bunches when you do. What's wrong?"

He rolled his eyes, playing in her hair again as he decided to just tell her.

"I forgot my shaving kit. Just trying to decide whether to get it or not."

She sat up, propping her chin on his chest with a raised brow. And he could see she was waking up. Christ how could she function of so little sleep and still be so damned . . . cheerful?

"Get it. We could go to your apartment . . . Hell, we could stay there tonight if you wanted to. Your bed is definitely bigger than mine . . ."

He propped up on his elbow, looking her over as he thought about it. It would give her a change of scenery . . . and he knew they were both comfortable enough in his home that maybe they could both sleep. And it would give him the chance to look for the number for his shop and call to cancel his fill-in for the tat on his back slotted for later today. He hated to do it but he wasn't taking her out to a tattoo parlor to get it done with her back fucked up. Especially not the one he usually went to . . .

He nodded, moving to get up as she pushed him back down. He raised a brow as she moved to straddle him before she stretched; arching and popping her back with a loud sigh . . . something he was far too interested in hearing again. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, bending to rub her nose with his as he slid his hands up her back. And grimaced as he felt the stitches pull with even her slightest movement. Well there went that idea . . .

He shook his head, sitting up and letting her settle in his lap; almost sighing in relief as the black sutures on her back relaxed and the muscle and skin smoothed back out. God she was going to pop these bloody things before ten damned days was up . . . She seemed to catch his train of thought and sighed, shaking her head before bringing her lips down to his.

"I'm rough on things honey . . . And despite them pulling they really don't hurt. Apparently I have some nerve damage . . . nothing severe just . . . limited sensory perception in the area."

He stilled looking up at her as all of her attitude started to make more sense. Why hadn't she told him that? She shrugged, answering him before he even asked.

"No one knows . . . and no one will. Not anyone else but us . . . I don't want Junie or Otto to freak . . . or Sway to feel guilty."

"Why would Wayland feel bad?"

She looked down before looking back up and rolled her eyes, pressing her forehead to his.

"Because her pulling me out is what the docs think caused it. And while I know-and appreciate and love her to fucking death for it- that she saved me she would die if she thought she hurt me. So we're keeping this secret . . . right?"

He nodded, running his hands up and down her spine a bit harder than before and she shivered. Her hips jerked as his mouth moved over her cheek to her ear.

"I take it you felt that?"

She nodded, leaning into him as he repeated the process, mindful of her stitches.

"What's it like then?"

Her breath hitched as his mouth moved to her neck but she swallowed and answered him. And he loved hearing her like this. Which just set it stone that as soon as the damned things were out they were going to spend a few days alone together. He just had to figure out where and when. He would probably be best doing it the day of Memphis and Johnny B's meet . . . so he wasn't tempted to gut the blighter on the spot. He pushed the thought away, intent to just enjoy the moment. Because regardless of what Raines and Jackson said . . . he would revisit this against Johnny B. Eventually. But right now he had far better things to attend to . . .

"Like you're barely touching me . . . but just enough to feel really good. Like an itch being scratched . . . ."

He chuckled, kissing down to shoulder before letting her bring his face back to hers. He met her mouth full on, loving how receptive she was. She wasn't shy or bashful . . . but she wasn't overly confident or cocky. She was his ideal partner . . . She let him know-by either words or moans or little jerks of her hips- when she loved something and she didn't try to hide from him. Or try to flaunt herself . . . She pulled away, rubbing her nose against his as she smiled to him. And he loved that she still blushed when he smiled back to her. He hoped she wouldn't ever stop that . . .

"Can we go get something to eat? We can take it back to your place . . . I just want to get out for a while . . . Please?"

He shrugged, already knowing what he needed to order her. She loved Italian or Thai . . . and considering she'd been eating Junie's cooking for almost three days she was probably jonesing for something other than homestyle cooking. She grinned, dipping to kiss him again and his mind went to cut off. Because she couldn't possibly be serious . . .

"Good . . . but can I take a shower first? Its been long enough and I feel gross . . . you could come with me . . ."

Ripley sighed, snuggling into Sphinx's couch as they lounged together and flipped through chanels. He'd declined her shower invitation-which was probably a good thing because she had no idea what made her even think to offer it- but had been waiting on her with the clothes he'd peeled off of her before. And a plush soft towel to wrap her in. She'd smiled and blushed fuscia before taking the towel and letting him use another to try and dry her hair.

She hated that they'd had to cut it around her temple but she could work around it to cover it . . . and the doc had sworn she would still be able to cover it at the end of the month so she could live with it. Besides a bald spot beat an aneurism or being brain dead any day of the week, right?

Sphinx had gotten her duffle out and packed her back up shampoo, conditioner and body wash before sitting it close to her dresser for her to finish. But she was so flustered by time she'd noticed that all she could do was kiss him repeatedly after he fidgeted. He'd gotten out the softest and richest lotion she had and smoothed it over her back-mindful of the stitches before he rewrapped it- and rubbed her aching shoulders and neck. And she honestly had no idea why he seemed to think he was going to destroy her . . . because so far the only danger she'd seen was the danger of melting.

For someone so sinister and reserved he could spring up and be surprisingly sweet or just damn right heartbreakingly thoughtful that she had to remember to breathe. And she had to wonder if some of the things he did were things he'd seen long ago or what he'd wanted done for him . . . She shook herself, looking up to him as his hand slid down and over her back lightly. She was stretched across his chest and stomach. Their legs intertwined while she rested her cheek over his heart. And she knew if any of the others ever saw them like this they would die . . .

She moved, turning to see what he'd settled on when a piece of white on the table caught her attention. She stretched, reaching to get it before he sighed and went to pick it up. His eyes moved over it before his face shut down and went to ball it up. She moved, straddling him as she reached to get it from him . . . and grumbled at how unfair it was that tall people had longer arms.

He rolled his eyes, going to toss it towards the kitchen when she dove on him, slamming her mouth against his heatedly. She pushed her tongue past his lips, swirling it with his own before he moaned and crushed her to him. And as soon as his hand was close enough to hers that she could strike, she grabbed the piece of paper from him and turned. Quickly unballing it and looking it over while he glared at her incredulously. She saw what it was and rolled her eyes, tossing it back to the table.

"Oh don't even give me that look . . . You've been planning how to use it too. I just got to it first . . . And why didn't you want me to see that you were supposed to go get that monster on you back filled in today?"

He shrugged, turning to sulk before she caught his face and giggled; turning him back to face her.

"We could go if you wanted to . . . I mean, I don't mind sitting there and reading or something while you get it filled . . ."

He shook his head, sitting up straighter as he pulled her down and into his hips harder. And she couldn't fight the blush spreading down her neck as she felt how much her little stunt had affected him. She shifted, trying not to groan as he moaned before speaking.

"Christ little girl. Do not do that . . . Not with your back . . . And I'm not going because its not exactly injury friendly . . . hell, I'm going to be uncomfortable as hell getting it."

She stilled, thinking it over before she shrugged; dipping to kiss him again as she tried to change his mind. A few hours out is exactly what the doctor ordered. And she wasn't going to stop him from getting that last piece of whatever buried. He had been looking forward to this . . . and she wasn't standing in his way.

"I could call Charm . . . His shop is clean and the chairs are comfy . . . and he's pretty good about doing stuff on the fly. I mean hell; he does all of Sway's ink. He's got to be good, right? He did mine . . ."

Sphinx stopped considering it before he went to shake his head. And she caught him, kissing him intensely as she shifted in his lap again before pulling back just enough to whisper to him. God she was in so much trouble when he finally decided to turn the weight of their ever-changing relationship against her . . .

"Please baby? If we go I promise to be good . . . I'll even let you see what I'm thinking of for my next one . . . and I'll let you pick where it goes . . . Please Sphinx?"

He gulped, groaning as he cursed but nodded. And she knew she was in trouble when he didn't feel like he had to give into her . . .

"Oh bloody hell. Fine . . . Just stop doing that . . ."

She pulled her lip between her teeth, looking at him innocently before she moved again. And when his grip on her hips tightened, pulling her down even harder against him as his own jerked up she knew she was in trouble. But the look in his eyes told her she would definitely enjoy it . . .

"God you are an evil, sinful little thing . . ."

She giggled, kissing him sweetly before moving to go and grab her hoodie as he groaned and flopped into his couch; slinging his arm over his eyes as he groused at her. God if this was how he was going to be then he was doomed to being as whipped as Memphis . . . he just didn't know it yet . . .

Sway tried not to laugh at the look on Sphinx's face as he spotted her. Charm had called and told her that her friend had brought some guy to get a huge piece finished . . . and she'd known almost immediately that it had to be Ripley. Who was perched in one of the other chairs with a sketchpad and a pen, drawing away as she hummed and nodded to the music playing. She looked up, catching sight of her and was up and moving; throwing her arms around her neck as Sway tried to be careful of her back.

She wasn't acting like it hurt . . . but still . . .

She smiled down at Ripley, tugging her wild curly hair before turning back to Sphinx as he rolled his eyes and laid his head down. And she had to see what he was getting done . . . She stepped closer, nodding at the huge black tattoo that was taking shape . . . It was massive . . . but it was gorgeous. The lines were thick and even as they curled to create an almost tribal version of his namesake . . . but there was too much definition to be tribal or stamped; making it seem more like flash . . .

She bent, whispering to him as Ripley started talking to Charm.

"Charm called and gave me a heads up . . . so don't be mad at her. She doing okay?"

He lifted his head and nodded before turning at the other large man's laughter.

"Kid I'm going to start buying some of these things from you I swear . . . Hell between you and Wayland I could make a mint a month. I've already had three other people ask me about the other one I did for you this week . . ."

Sphinx raised a brow as Sway smiled, going over to the long wall at the back of the shop and plucking the two Polaroids off the wall. She knelt back beside him and showed him, watching him relax just enough for her to think his concern was sweet. And that Memphis could take a cue from the obvious approval as he nodded and looked back up to their friend just as she lifted the shirt to let Charm see it. The way his eyes flashed made Sway jealous. Memphis loved the way she looked but he honestly could take or leave her tattoos . . . but Sphinx seemed to be thrilled that Ripley wasn't shy around the ink and needles. She knew he probably wouldn't want her to get as many as either of them had but he wasn't going to stop her from getting a few more . . .

She shook her head, going to put the pictures back. To think she was jealous of Ripley over the Sphinx . . . even if it was for a second. God she needed her head examined. She crossed back to Ripley, looking over her shoulder at the page before shaking her head. There-in two very different fonts- were the words Virtue and Sin . . . and Sway had to admit she loved the raw almost eroded look of the first word. And the curving, elegant calligraphy of the second . . .

She reached out, tracing it with her fingertips before smiling. That would look amazing somewhere no one would think to put it . . . but where? She watched Ripley grin, shrugging as she winked at Sway.

"So I take it you like that one?"

Sway nodded before turning back to look at Sphinx, who was sitting up and looking over his shoulder at the almost finished piece in the mirror while Charm wiped away the excess ink and blood seeping. She had to blink. She knew that the man was cut . . . but damnation . . . she guessed that Ripley's statement all those months ago was right . . . Because no one would expect him to look like that with out a shirt on. She turned back, watching Ripley roll her eyes before giggling. Which brought Sphinx's attention to them, brow raised as they shared a look and both girls started to laugh.

Charm shook his head before turning to him.

"I gave up on that one years ago, brother. She's crazy as a bedbug . . . and yours is almost as bad . . . Just don't let Sarah corrupt that sweet side or there'll be two of them. And the world can't take that . . ."

Sphinx nodded as Sway glared, rolling her eyes and snubbing both men as Ripley laughed even harder.

"I guess you need the Virtue tattoo more than I do, huh?"

Sway rolled her eyes, dropping into the seat. God if they only knew . . .

"Yeah . . . You flirt with cops and charm shit away from people with Frank and I'm the evil sneaky one. Frank's got it right, Ripley. You are a damned Sin."

She laughed and Sway watched Sphinx roll his eyes before laying back down to finish. But something about the way the two of them looked at each other made her wonder just how cozy they really were now. She'd seen the new changes in Sphinx before their ambush and wreck . . . and though they were subdued here she had to wonder if they were more pronounced in private . . . She waited until Charm started again before she dipped and nudged Ripley, jerking her head to Sphinx once as the other girl looked at her perplexed.

She sighed, giving her a meaningful look before Ripley got it and blushed . . . before giving her one small nod right as Sphinx raised his head to check on them. He raised a brow before he shrugged them as Ripley smiled at him prettily and made a shooing motion with her hand.

"Hey! This is a private nonverbal conversation. Quit trying to snoop."

Sway watched him roll his eyes before settling back in as Charm laughed, shaking his head as he wiped away ink.

"Private nonverbal conversation . . . I have to remember that one . . ."

Sway grinned, shaking her head before looking back to the paper as Ripley started to sketch again. She nudged the girl, grinning as she waggled her eyebrows while the girl blushed even more. She leaned in, unable to keep herself quiet.

"So . . . together then?"

She nodded, still grinning like a kid at Christmas.

"Yeah . . . together . . ."

Sway nodded and waited until Charm had to turn the gun back on before she leaned back in, watching Sphinx raise his head to watch them again. And she knew he could hear her as he dropped his head back into the rest a bit harder than he probably should have. But the look and information she got from Ripley was way too good to pass up. And the promise.

"He any good? I mean . . . I have to admit I've always wondered . . ."

"So far . . . the stitches kind of put a damper on a lot . . . But as soon as I find out, trust me. I'll let you know . . ."

Sway grinned, speaking up just enough to make both of the men in the shop groan. Served them both right for eavesdropping.

"Good. Because if he's anything like I hope he is then we might just have to share . . . I mean Memphis is great and all . . . but I can't let you have all of the fun. At least not alone . . ."

Ripley laughed, leaning in to lay her head on Sway' shoulder as Sphinx grumbled and groused into the leather, barely loud enough to even make a sound. Ripley winked at Sway, whispering.

"You know Atley's gonna hear about that right?"

Sway grinned, winking back.

"Oh I plan on it . . . serves him right . . ."