Page 137 of A Thousand Cuts

Liam nodded, a blush sitting high on his cheeks.

“A tattoo is gonna make people go wild,” Morgan said with glee. “I can’t wait to edit your first video for IE.”

“Did Alex treat you nicely?” Fix asked, trying not to think about Liam’s new job at Morgan’s studio, him naked, now with a budget to make Fix go completely insane with want.

Liam nudged him with his shoulder and Fix dragged his mind away from lacy panties.

“He was great,” Liam said. “Did exactly what we talked about, and the spell made it so it didn’t hurt that much at all.”

“So can we see it?” Morgan asked.

“Um…not right now. It’s somewhere I won’t be able to hide it for long, but I want Daddy to see it first.”

Fix’s heart expanded about five times at his words. After debating for a while on what method of dampening his magic would work best, Fix had tentatively suggested a tattoo. He had loads of them—caster designed and done—for cursebreaking, some for protection, and some just because he liked them. So to him, a tattoo just felt like a logical choice. But Liam had none, and while he went crazy for Fix’s tattoos, he’d never expressed interest in having one himself.

But he’d liked the idea, so Fix had set up an appointment with his guy and explained in detail what they needed, and Alex had come up with a solution for them in a couple of days.

Gwen had stopped by after her and Liam’s now weekly lunch date to go over the casting involved and found no flaw in Alex’s design. Dampener tattoos weren’t a new thing, just rarely used.

And so Liam had gone to get his tattoo so he could continue with his life uninterrupted. Fix had wanted to come with, but Liam said no, the tattoo was a surprise. Fix found he wasn’t a huge fan of surprises he had to wait to see this long. Especially when they concerned his boy.

“The doll got a tattoo?” Cane asked as he walked back outside with a cigarette in his mouth, clearly finished with his tantrum.

Fix did not want to know what Hart did to calm him down. Or what required a cigarette after.

“Stop calling me that,” Liam said sharply all of a sudden.

Everyone went dead quiet, except for Ash whispering, “Candy Cane got TOLD,” and Morgan slapping the back of his head.

“What was that, doll?” Cane asked deliberately.

“That,” Liam said. “Stop calling me doll. Got it?”

No one told Cane what to do. Unless your name started with H and ended with art.

Fix readied himself to jump in as Hart tensed in the doorway, ready to defuse another bomb…but Cane was still. Placid as he continued to smoke. Looking closer, there was something like a sparkle of respect in his eyes.

“I’ll think about it,” he eventually said.

The way he left off ‘doll’ made Liam bite back a smile and stand just a bit taller, and Fix wrapped an arm around his waist. Fuck, he was so proud of him.

“In Cane speak that means yes,” Hart leaned forward to whisper.

“You fluent in my language now, sweetheart?” Cane asked. “Thought it was too vulgar for your sensitive ears.”

“I’m so pleased with you that you’re not even aggravating me,” Hart crowed. “The meditation tapes must be working.”

Cane scowled. “What meditation tapes?”

Hart blinked innocently and quickly scarpered away. “I have no idea what you’re referring to.”

Cane followed him, pausing for a second and turning to Fix. “This is a lot of favors I did you, cursebreaker. I’m gonna collect on that very soon.”

Fix wanted to glare, but Cane fucking worshipped the ground Hart walked on so he held back.

“I pay my dues,” Fix said, and Cane pointed a finger at him before stalking away.

“Is it just me or does he not look as scary anymore?” Black mused.