I'm a week later than I wanted to be, but here is chapter 3! :)
Chapter Three
After wheeling my suitcase in from the back door and down the hallway, I find Jess and Lauren staring out the front window.
I don't think we've stared out that window more since the day we saw Edward and Jasper moving into Eclipse Ink all those months ago.
"What do you think she's doing?" Lauren asks.
I set my suitcase upright and unlock the drawer behind the counter to grab my purse and toss in a couple of complimentary mints. You never know, you know?
"Beats me," Jess says. "Maybe she heard Edward had a new girl, and…"
I nearly rip my pretty skirt in two in my rush to the window, skidding to a stop between Jess and Lauren. "Ugh, Victoria. What does she want?"
She's striding down the sidewalk, all long legs and fiery red hair, like she owns the place.
"I hope she trips," Jess says.
"She could hit her head," Lauren says. "She could die."
"Eh," Jess says, shrugging, and I'm with Jess.
Okay, well, I really wouldn't want her to die. Maybe just cut her face and get a nasty scar. Who am I kidding - she'd still be a knockout. Stupid girl and stupid face.
"She's wearing a skirt like yours," Lauren says.
Jess laughs, and I scoff in outrage. "It's nothing like mine. It's red and so short I can almost see her landing strip. Mine is classy," I say, lovingly stroking a hand down the soft leather. "She couldn't pull this off."
She so could but whatever.
Jess snorts.
"Are you just going to wait until she leaves?" Lauren asks.
"Fuck that," Jess says. "Grab your shit and go play girlfriend. Run that slut off. No one fucks with your man."
"He's not technically her man," Lauren says, ever the voice of reason, sanity and an all around debbie downer.
"We do have matching tattoos," I say, clearly insane and not wanting Victoria to lay a hand on that beautiful, colorful body across the street.
I remember the day clearly - it was the day after Edward and Jasper opened shop. Victoria strutted across the asphalt looking like a runway model and straight into Edward's arms. They kissed like nobody was watching, and I was disturbed, entranced and envious all at once. I had already passed judgment - you know, for the tattoos - but in the back of my mind, I wanted a piece of all that. Secretly. In the deep recesses of my mind, I was dying to see just how far all that color ran. Then suddenly Victoria was gone. A memory, and Edward quickly became one of my friends - sweet on the inside and delicious on the outside.
Lauren thinks if I try to hit that - Jess' words not mine - that we couldn't remain friends.
It's called fuck buddies, Jess had told her all those months ago.
"Yeah, bitch, go claim him," Jess says, grabbing my bag and shoving me toward the door.
"He's not an animal," Lauren scolds.
"Let's just hope he fucks like one, though," Jess says, pushing the door open, and my mind immediately conjures up a picture of him gripping the headboard as he savagely pins me to the bed and uses that apadravya to get me off.
I shiver and follow Jess out the door, ignoring Lauren mumbling behind us.
"Sometimes it's good to be just a little bad," I say, making Jess laugh.
"Sometimes? Try all of the fucking time."
"Just be careful," Lauren says.
"I'm sure he has condoms," Jess says. "Fucking look at him. That man could look at you on the street and five seconds later have you pushed into a dark alley, fucking the life out of you. He's got condoms."
"You're disgusting," Lauren snaps.
Jess blows her a kiss and then shoves the suitcase handle in my hand. "Babe, I'm living vicariously through you this weekend. I think I want him to fuck you more than you want him to fuck you."
Not likely.
"Well, be good while I'm gone."
"Don't worry your pretty little head. I'll make sure Lauren tows the line."
"Oh, please," Lauren says, rolling her eyes.
I laugh and wheel my suitcase across the street, praying to all that is holy that Edward does not have Victoria bent over his tattoo chair when I get in there.
He's not my boyfriend, but I'd definitely have to break up with him and buy a couple of cats.
Jasper lifts his chin when I step through the door, dragging my suitcase behind me. "Is Edward back there?"
"He is," Jasper says, smirking.
What does that smirk even mean?
I stroll down the hallway and jerk to a stop when Victoria angrily stomps my way, Edward sauntering after her. "Hey, Victoria," I say, sweetly. I'm just sweet, not even sarcastic. That's just me - sweet Bella.
"Go to hell," she sneers and pushes past me.
I turn to watch her go, thinking I'd like Jess to give her the beating she deserves when I catch Jasper's eye. He winks which makes me smile and then Edward's scent invades my nostrils along with every other pore in my body, and I forget about cheap leather skirts and red hair and turn to my fake boyfriend.
"Hey, Bells. You ready?"
"Yep. I think I need to apologize now - for my family then. A pre-apology - an apology before they even open their mouths…"
He shakes his head and grins. "Don't worry about me."
His hand brushes mine as he takes my suitcase handle and tilts his head for me to follow him. "It's not even a two hour drive. If they really get out of hand, we can just drive back."
"I thought you wanted to stick it to her."
"Oh, I do."
"So, come on, Bells. Show me off."
Oh, dear Lord, the things I want to show off.
He pushes the back door open, and I follow him to the sleek matte grey car that I know is his. It's a wet dream if I ever saw one.
He stores my suitcase in the trunk, and I practically skip to the passenger side, pulling the door open and slipping inside. I've never actually been in his car - just watched it drive by the studio every day - most days, anyway - and drooled a bit, imagining him behind the wheel with no clothes on, all those colorful tattoos and that messy hair in his eyes. Talk about a daydream.
"I like this," I say when he slips inside, running my hands over the dash before pulling my seatbelt on.
"I bought it before I moved out here. Sold all of my shit to get it."
"All of it?"
He nods and pulls out of the alley. When he slips a pair of sunglasses on and pulls his hat down low, I start to feel the heat creep up the back of my neck. I lean forward and adjust the AC vent, shivering when the cool air hits my face.
"Even your bed?" I ask, sitting back, hugging my purse in my lap. That's all that matters, right? Everyone needs a bed.
He smiles over at me. "I've got a bed."
"A big one or a small one?"
He shrugs. "Big enough."
I bet.
He watches me squirm, and I watch the way his inked fingers flex on the gear shift. "Where am I going?"
"Just outside Port Angeles," I say. "What did Victoria want?"
Yeah, I couldn't help but ask. It's only natural for me to be curious. Any girlfriend would want to know what an old girlfriend was doing at her boyfriend's tattoo shop in the middle of the day before his new girlfriend was set to take him to meet her parents. Totally normal.
"A tattoo."
"I'll bet," I say, and he chuckles.
"I brought my tattoo gun," he says, not looking at me which is good because if he was he'd catch me staring at him hardcore.
"Are you going to try to talk my mom into a tattoo?" I joke, holding my wrist up to admire the one he gave me.
"No, her daughter."
Cringing at the thought of a needle jabbing me over and over, I grab his arm and turn his hand over, rubbing a finger over his matching heart. "This is temporary, too?"
He scoffs like I offended him and glances over me with that damn pout. "No."
No?
I yank his arm closer, tempted to lick it to see if he's lying which didn't work on mine so I'd be doing nothing but licking him. Is that really so bad?
"Really?"
So, he wants to tattoo the exact same heart onto my skin?
"Yeah, I did it last night."
"Why?" I ask, putting our wrists together. He has so many tattoos that the little heart could eventually end up lost, and good Lord, the contrast between my pale, blank skin and his colorful one is so sexy I can barely stand the sight.
"I liked it so I inked it," he says, letting me kidnap his arm and trace the lines of each tattoo with my fingers.
"I like it. It's cute."
Cute, yeah.
Sexy as sin, hell yes.
He turns his hand over and rubs a finger over my fake one. "You thought any on our deal?"
He lets me go, and I nearly cry out at the loss.
Get a grip, Bella, he's hinting that he wants to show you his baby-maker not professing his love in a single touch.
"I've thought about it," I say.
Imagined it, sure.
Searched his name in Google to see if he has any leaked nudes from bitter girlfriends, absolutely, but the only other Edward Masen that came up was a middle aged man with a questionable rash on his tip.
Lauren nearly threw up when I showed her, and I laughed so hard I had to redo my mascara.
"And, Bells?" he asks.
"I don't think it's a fair deal. My tattoo is permanent. A glimpse of your piercing is just that - a glimpse. Seems like you're getting the better end of the deal."
I'm lying. Totally lying. I'd kill for a glimpse. I'd let the image of his dick pierced - hopefully with nickel free silver - live in my brain rent free for the rest of my life.
He chuckles. "If you want more than a glimpse, we can adjust the terms."
"Well in that case…"
We both laugh and leave it at that.
Jess texts me asking if we've fucked yet - the psycho - and then sends me a gif of a couple going at it in the backseat of a car.
Quit watching porn and get back to work, I reply, and then I replay the gif a couple more times just for educational purposes.
Did you see it, she asks. It's not an apadravya but definitely makes the clit throb.
You guys are disgusting, Lauren types.
Blow me, Lo, Jess responds, making me chuckle.
You have nothing to blow, and I wouldn't even if you did, Lauren snarks back.
Send pictures, Jess says, ignoring Lauren. Videos if you can.
Don't send pictures or videos, Lauren texts.
Quit being a downer, Lo. I'll wiggle that stick up your ass while you watch.
I laugh out loud and shove my phone in my purse, telling Edward that Jess wants me to take pictures of his dick.
"A picture does last longer," he says, arching an eyebrow, adjusting the terms, I guess.
"We'll see if I'm up for some torture."
"It's just a little prick."
I snort an unattractive laugh, sounding too much like Jess, and Edward laughs, too, the sound definitely attractive.
Too soon I'm giving Edward directions to my parents house, and I'm actually kind of excited to see the look of shock on all their faces. Lonely cat lady - ha!
"I'm probably going to touch you in a lot of ways," I say, turning and setting my purse on the backseat. "Not inappropriately, I mean. Unless you ask." I smile at him, and he smiles back as I straighten in my seat.
"Don't worry, Bells."
"She's going to separate us at bed time," I warn.
"I don't have a problem sleeping alone," he says, chuckling.
Well, I do. How am I supposed to sleep knowing he's just down the hallway with that piercing in his peter. Impossible!
I look him over, taking my time to enjoy it, too, because really, how could I not? He chose a short sleeve, v-neck tee that shows the neck tattoo and all of his arm tattoos. My mom is going to have a coronary at the sight of him. It makes me smile.
"Do I pass inspection?"
"Absolutely."
"Should we get out of the car?"
"I guess we should." I pat his arm and lean up and kiss his cheek. "Thanks for coming with me, fake boyfriend." I smile at his pouty lips and slip out of the car before I do something stupid - like bite them and suck on them until they're all red and plump.
So enticing.
He joins me at the front of his car and slips his hand into mine. His hand engulfs mine. If his hands are this big, I wonder how big other parts of him are.
My mom opens the front door and steps out, her eyes widening when she sees who I've brought home.
"Uh oh," Edward whispers, and I giggle like a dorky school girl.
"I think I'll take the deal," I say, waving at my mom, trying not to actually think about the deal and what it's doing to my thin panties at the moment.
Edward doesn't say anything, but his hand squeezes mine.
My mom looks at Edward then at me, her eyes dropping down to my skirt before she frowns.
"I told you she'd hate it."
"I can take it off you if you want," he jokes, making me teeter on my heels.
I wish!