Page 18 of Ink Caps

“Let’s get up the road to Owen’s,” she said, a sparkle in her eye. “Can’t wait to show everyone.”

“Hell yes,” I said, pushing up off the seat and tossing my garbage into the nearest trash can. I made quick work of grabbing my purse and slipping on my cardigan, careful with my upper arm so as not to brush against the skin too much.

Nyx waited for me by the door, her hair pulled back, a winsome smirk on her lips. My heart thumped hard. Most days, I still couldn’t believe she was mine.

She led the way as we wove through Alchemy Ink, which was already shut down for the day. Only a few lights were left on, and when we reached the front, Nyx shut those off too. Everyone had already left, since we were just finishing up the tattoo after hours, when it didn’t take away from Nyx’s regular book of clients. With her level of talent, she was always booked out months in advance.

I plunked into the passenger’s seat of Nyx’s sedan and settled back comfortably. The drop after the tattoo and food was real, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Nyx turned on the ignition and set off down the road. My lashes fluttered as my eyes grew heavier and heavier, even though Owen’s house was only a few minutes away.

“Sweetheart, do you want to just go home?” Nyx asked, her voice breaking through the haze.

The car wasn’t moving anymore.

“Did we stop somewhere?” I asked, my voice all bleary.

“We’re at Owen’s,” Nyx said. “But we can also go home if the tattoo session took too much out of you.”

I blinked, my vision coming back into focus. As much as I was exhausted, I wanted to show off my new ink to the crew. And I didn’t have to be high energy for a movie night. They’d accept me as I was, and I could just curl up with Nyx and snuggle. “Nah, I want to see the movie. What’s the movie again?”

Nyx laughed and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Sleepy Hollow.”

“Oh, fuck yeah,” I said. “I love that movie. We’re going in.” I forced myself out of the car, that sluggishness not as bad after the couple of minutes of sleep I’d stolen. Owen’s house was a powder-blue two-story and cozy as anything. The big bearded man looked gruff and forbidding especially covered in ink, but he was such a softie. His place showcased that side of him with the carefully arranged flower beds and the cozy blankets and pillows strewn around his couches.

We walked inside the house, and the smell of cedar and murmur of voices washed over me at once. Just like every time I stepped into Alchemy Ink, a comfort existed, one brought to life by the people who worked there.

Nyx stepped into the living room first, and when I followed behind, a roar of applause and whistles sounded from the couches—primarily generated by Rory.

“Take it off,” he called out. “We want to see the ink.”

Owen’s leather couches were filled with the staff. Rory, Harper, and August had piled on one, and Owen sat on the other, an empty space still available, while Caspian claimed a recliner to himself. All of these faces had become so familiar over the last few months, and I loved how easily they’d accepted me into the fold.

I tugged off my cardigan with care and then turned to the side to show off the Bride of Frankenstein linework.

Owen let out a low whistle. “Come here. I want to see it up close.”

I headed over to the couch and stood in front of Owen while Nyx claimed the empty spot beside him. He popped up and examined the piece, shaking his head.

“Damn, Nyx,” he said. “This is stellar work.”

“I wanted it to look perfect,” Nyx said, a softness in her voice that was clear in her eyes. My throat tightened, that warmth bubbling out of me. Fuck, I just loved her so much.

“This is so nauseatingly sweet I’m going to choke,” Caspian said in his normal droll tone.

Nyx lifted a middle finger in his direction and then looked up at me and patted her lap. I settled right between her spread thighs, and she wrapped her arms around me, careful not to brush against my new tattoo. Connected like this, I could feel the steady thump, thump, thump of her heart, and the rhythm sent a wash of contentment through me.

“Are we ready to start the movie, then?” Owen asked, grabbing the remote. He pressed play, and the opening strains toSleepy Hollowboomed out from the speakers.

“Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp is a win-win for me,” August called out, and Caspian whooped in agreement.

“Glad you guys made it,” Owen said. “You did good with the first tattoo, kid.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re like, what, five? Seven years older than me? Pretty sure that’s out of kid territory.”

Owen broke into a big smile, one even his bushy beard couldn’t hide. “Fair. You two can join me in the retirement home then.”

Nyx snorted, and a laugh escaped me. I settled back against Nyx, getting comfortable, and she rested her chin on my shoulder.

“Proud of you,” she murmured again. I’d never been in a relationship this good before, after years of dating partners who treated me like trash.The praise washed over me, a constant with her, as she was always lifting me up, encouraging me. I’d gotten so lucky the day I walked into Alchemy Ink and walked out with the number of this woman who lit me up inside. Who treated me like a treasure—both inside the bedroom and out.

Nyx was my final girl, and I’d pick her every time.