Chapter Six

~Ace of Hearts~

The next few days go better at work. Seth is a master scheduler and starts doing mini consultations to match up clients with the best tattoo artist for them. Anyone who insists on an appointment with me once we reach our quota for the day is given an appointment a few weeks out. That usually deters difficult clients from digging in their heels.

I have found I despise doing token tats. Designing large, complex artwork that needs to be inked across multiple appointments is my jam. So I tell Seth I'm no longer taking cookie-cutter tat requests. Maybe it makes me sound like a dick, but I just don't give a shit.

When I first opened Inkspiration, Aro Volturi tried to recruit me for The Vault. He sent an emissary, some linebacker looking fuck named Felix, to suggest that my business would never be able to compete with The Vault. He told me Aro was impressed by my mad skills and was willing to hire me straight to Vault level and even offered me a cut of the profits my work brought in.

But I've always known I was going to be my own boss. Nobody is going to tell me how to lay down my art—certainly not that condescending bastard—so I told Felix in very colorful terms what Aro could do with his offer.

Felix came back a few times, especially when I was struggling to meet expenses, but I told him I'd peddle myself on the street before I joined Aro's stable. As far as I'm concerned, joining him would be akin to prostituting myself.

I was introduced to Rose at Denali's Tavern. I met some friends for drinks, and Tanya, who is a part-owner and bartender, was flirting with me. She was gorgeous with a flawless complexion, strawberry blond curls, and guileless blue eyes. Tanya had a great body and often wore these tight, little V-necks that showcased her ample cleavage. I was several drinks in and about to succumb to Tanya's charms when a commotion broke out.

A chant started: "Ace! Ace! Ace!"

A leggy blond in a red tube top, black leather pants, and red and black stilettos was lifted up until she was standing on one end of the bar. "Who is brave enough to step up and take what I dish out? The last man or woman standing will win a free piercing!"

A frenzy of people were yelling and raising their hands. A few bouncers stood at the end of the bar, blocking six stools and holding the crowd at bay.

I looked over at Tanya, who glared at the woman on the bar.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked.

"My sister is friends with her." Tanya spit out "her" like it was a bad word. "Irina thought it was a great idea to allow her to do this little show every few weeks. It does bring in extra business." She shrugged, and I had the feeling she wanted to find something wrong with it other than her own jealousy but couldn't.

People continued to chant and wave their arms.

"Listen up! There are only six stools available. I choose the contestants. If you cause a scene, you will be banned from ever playing again. If you start a fight, you will be banned for life. I want to thank Denali's for hosting me."

The crowd was loud but fairly well behaved.

"For those who don't know, I'm Ace, the hardware queen from The Vault." She waited for the cheering to die down before continuing. "I will choose six lucky people to sit on these stools, and then we will play some games. If you miss a challenge, you drink. If you complete the challenge, you score. Whoever is still in the game and has the most points at the end wins some private one-on-one time with me to receive the piercing of your choice. I need six brave volunteers!"

Ace strolled back and forth, panning the crowd. "You . . . you . . . the girl with the purple braids . . . the guy with the leather vest, so hot." She continued to prowl the surface of the bar. "Let the Jason Mamoa look-alike through. Come on up, baby. And I need one more to round out this top-notch group. You."

She gestured down the bar in our direction.

Jasper pointed to himself. "Me?"

"Maybe next time, cutie. Tonight, I want the green-eyed hottie in the black beanie with the scrumptious five o'clock shadow. Come on up."

Jasper nudged me. "She wants you!"

Everyone around me started cheering and catcalling. Tanya looked pissed. My friends started shoving me, so I went with it. Honestly, I wanted to get a closer look. Rosalie "Ace" Hale was in demand. It didn't hurt that she was beautiful.

The game was a mix of trivia questions and challenges. One guy had to take a shot glass from between Ace's tits and drink it without spilling a drop—using only his mouth. She chose the Jason Mamoa look-alike for that one, and he was able to pull it off. She challenged the girl with purple braids to come up on the bar and do a bump and grind with her. The two of them dancing together was hot.

When it was my turn, she squatted in front of me, looking down at me with piercing blue eyes. She caressed my jaw, her siren red lips widening into a sultry smile. "Oh, you're a pretty one, aren't you? Your challenge consists of salt, tequila, and lemon." Ace requested a shot glass of tequila. She held her hand up to my lips. "Lick."

I obeyed, looking her in the eye while I swiped my tongue over her thumb and index finger. She grabbed a saltshaker and sprinkled the crystals on her hand.

"Lemon or lime, baby?"

"Lemon."

"My kind of guy." Ace grabbed a wedge of lemon and the shot glass. "Salt lick." She smiled saucily while I licked the salt from her skin.

She tipped her head back and poured the shot into her mouth, then put her free hand behind my neck, pulling me forward and placing her mouth on mine. I parted my lips, and she transferred the tequila into my mouth, licking my bottom lip as she pulled back. "Drink."

I swallowed.

"Suck." Ace placed the wedge between her tits. I leaned forward and snagged the lemon with my teeth. She cradled my head against her bosom and held me there while I sucked on the fruit and popped a boner.

One by one, the other contestants fell behind. I was neck and neck with the Jason Mamoa look-alike until I missed an obscure trivia question. Was this guy a top Jeopardy contestant or something? I caught up but managed to blow it on the tie-breaker question.

"Jason Mamoa" won the piercing by a hair.

I left there with something better: the desire to coax Rosalie "Ace" Hale over to Inkspiration.

A few months later, Jimmy became a partner, and I had funds at my disposal. I returned to Denali's Tavern with an agenda.

Ace prowled the bar top, looking for her six. She spotted me and did a double take. I think the intensity of my gaze piqued her interest.

"I remember you. Should I give you another shot?"

I nodded and crooked a finger, beckoning her over.

She crouched in front of me. "Yes, handsome?"

"I have a proposition for you. If I win the challenge tonight, you come and work for me over at Inkspiration."

"You're on." She leaned forward and whispered against my lips, "If you can afford me."

And that's how I wooed Rose away from The Vault.

oOo

A/N: What do you guys think of Ace? This was a bonus chapter since the last one was so short. Sometimes I will post an extra for you guys, but for the most part I will stick to the Saturday posting schedule. This Saturday, you will be introduced to Bella! It's going to be a slow burn, so please be patient.

I post teasers and links to updates on my blog and on Facebook in the No Rules Twilight Fan Fiction and It All Started With Twilight groups.

Thanks and gratefulness as always to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy wmr1601. These ladies make my stuff much more presentable!

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