Page 16 of Stone
“Yes?” she said.
“Do you need to think about how high you want it?” he urged softly.
She stared over her shoulder. She wasn’t sure if she wanted it higher up or ending on her thighs.
“Umm, I don’t know,” she admitted.
He nodded. “Okay, let me run upstairs and grab something. You can let your skirt down and have a seat.”
Before Naomi really comprehended his words, Stone was out of the room. She let her skirt drop down, taking a seat on the tattoo chair. If she was having this hard of a time and he hadn’t even put his hands on her yet, how was she going to handle it for the tattoo? She was guessing it might take a while to tattoo the space she wanted done.
Stone walked back in, carrying a book. “I thought that Harry and Emerson had a couple clients that had their tattoo extend up onto their…” Stone said, pausing.
Naomi grinned at the light blush on his cheeks. “Their butt, their ass, their booty, butt cheeks, derriere, caboose. What exactly did you not want to say?”
Stone shook his head, chuckling. “Their butt cheeks, Ms. Smart Ass.”
Naomi looked at the pictures where the tattoos extended up onto their butt cheeks. She liked the look of the ones that were just on the back of the thighs.
“I want it to end before my butt cheeks,” she said, blushing over saying the words. His hands were going to be all over her thighs, and if she chose to have it wrap around her legs, then he’d have his hands between her legs too. She guessed that by the time they were done, she wouldn’t be blushing anymore.
“Perfect. Okay, let me show you what I was thinking roughly. It won’t have all the elements but would give you an idea of size,” Stone offered.
At her nod, he pulled out a piece of paper and quickly sketched a drawing with vines, flowers, and butterflies.
“This is what I was thinking as far as size and high concept. Then you can tell me yes, you like where it’s going, or no, that isn’t what you meant. If you like it, then I’ll measure and come up with a design for you to look at. What do you think?” Stone asked.
“I love it. I want to see more,” she beamed.
“Let’s get some measurements, and then I can get started on completely drawing it out for your approval. This size on both sides won’t be quick. Depending on how detailed you want it, we could be talking about anywhere from 20 to 35 hours per thigh,” he explained.
“If you don’t have time…”
“No, I’m not saying that at all. We’ll work at your pace. If you handle the pain well, I could always schedule you at the end of the day and go longer,” Stone promised.
Naomi nodded, turning her back to Stone and pulling up her skirt so he could measure. She fought a shiver as his gloved hands stretched the measuring tape, his fingers lightly touching her skin.
“Okay, all done,” Stone announced.
Naomi turned around. “Thank you, Stone,” she said. She wanted to kiss his cheek in thanks, but it was his workplace. She wasn’t sure how her action would be received.
“You’ve got that look on your face like you’re unsure of something. Ask me anything,” Stone encouraged, his gruff face not giving her scary vibes anymore. Instead, his face gave her peace, knowing he’d take care of anything coming through the door. He was gruff, protective, and the first man she’d been attracted to. She stood there staring at him, not saying anything. She couldn’t just blurt it out, could she?
“Naomi, you can tell me anything,” Stone repeated softly.
She took a deep breath. This was Bluff Creek. She wasn’t going to be switched for talking out of turn.
“You’ve been so sweet. I wanted to kiss your cheek as a thank you but then worried that I shouldn’t do that in your place of business,” Naomi whispered, looking down out of habit.
Stone stood and stepped closer, his finger touching her chin and tilting it up.
“Don’t care where we are. If you want to kiss my cheek as a thank you, you never have to ask,” he grunted, leaning down closer, turning his head.
His cheek was centimeters from her lips.
C’mon, Naomi. Time to be brave.
She leaned up, her lips ghosting across his cheek in a fleeting kiss.
