Page 8

Ronnie

P acing back and forth like a little kid—the laces at the top of his boots are hanging open—Bradley glares at the paraphernalia resting on the rolling carts near the chairs. “Why don’t you let me tattoo you? Luka, please tell him I’m worth it?”

I don’t need Luka to tell me I already know your worth.

Luka laughs softly, already accustomed to Bradley’s demeanor. He pulls out a chair and drops onto the seat, hands spread wide on the table opposite me. A wicked smirk tugs at his lips and he gives me that loud “I know you’re crazy about him” look.

“Shut up,” I mouth back but sneak a glance at Bradley with my own entertained smirk.

Luka shakes his head out of the corner of my eye.

Huffing in anger, Bradley looks away when he grabs our food boxes and storms out toward the hallway in the back of the shop. He throws them into the bin before he closes the bathroom door—I feel like he wanted to slam it but didn’t.

Luka’s murky eyes land on me. His expression is a mix of “Are you happy?” and “he fucking adores you.”

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Your face did.” I arch my brows and place my elbows against the wooden board, cupping my neck.

“He’s pissed. I’ve never seen him like this.” He props his booted foot on his knee and crosses his arms. “Ever since he moved to your place that light in your eyes returned. He is good for you. When you talk about Amber you have the same spark. I don’t want you to deny yourself something you deserve even if it’s different.”

“What if things don’t work and it’ll ruin what we have?”

“Since when are you afraid, Ronnie, taking risks was always who we were.” He leans forward and draws all of my attention. “It’s more fun when it’s unpredictable, that’s how every journey begins.”

I know what he’s doing. He wants me to be happy. To move on. Find someone new that will treat me right. He doesn’t want me to push people away. To stay alone. Because I love being in a relationship, there’s nothing wrong about wanting to spend your time with someone you love and share beautiful moments with.

“Only now I have something to lose,” I confess.

“And everything to gain,” Luka adds.

I gnaw on my bottom lip, contemplating. I’ve overcome many hurdles in the last year and my entire life, so much so that I forgot I needed a moment to breathe. To mourn. To heal. I thought if I keep going and say I’m fine it’ll make me fine. But I’m still trying to accept certain things that happened to me.

He lifts himself off the chair and rounds the table. “Let the man give you a tattoo,” he claps on my shoulder, “He’s begging you to let him in.”

Simmering with these thoughts, I hear his footsteps echo down the hallway. “Where are you going?”

“Dylan texted that she thinks she forgot to put something in her bag so she needs me to look into something upstairs.”

That is code for sex. The video call kind, I assume.

As the elevator dings, the door of the bathroom clicks, and footsteps follow. Slowly but surely Bradley appears, his stoic expression offers nothing.

“Where will you tattoo me,” I bait him to reply, “I don’t have that many options?”

He turns his head in surprise and meets my eyes as I push to stand up. With big strides, he eats the gap between us. “The side of your neck.”

“Okay. An hour and a half is enough for the word cancer, vertically, with a red line crossing it in the center.”

Staring at me, his eyes asses mine. “You sure? Luka is the only tattoo artist you let near your body.”

I slide my hands in his, “I guess, you are the only exception.”

With a huge smile, he rearranges his equipment and puts his gloves on. I move to the chair and he gently cleans the spot on my neck with a soap bottle and sanitizer before he applies a thin layer of primer and presses the stencil he made to my skin. After he peels it we wait for it to dry.

His hand slowly covers the back of my hand, fingers sliding between mine until we’re intertwined. A soft laughter makes my shoulders tremble when he maps my facial features carefully.

Eyes adoring.

Always are.

My thumb traces the sharp line of his clean-shaven jaw while my eyes fixate on the light freckles dotting his cheeks.

Half an hour turns into an hour while his enjoyable playlist changes from metal to K-pop and I love that about him—I couldn’t stand it at first when he moved in with me but now it makes my heart swell every time I catch him doing chores around the house with his headphones on.

The machine buzzes as the needle hits my skin again and soothes me in seconds—it’s these moments I feel the most alive and peaceful.

“You’re doing great.” With each stroke he pauses, ensuring I’m okay, collecting ink from the tiny cup by his side. “We’re almost done.”

Almost… somehow I find the word amusing now.

“Little Bear,” I murmur, staring at our reflection through the black-tinted mirrored wall opposite the chair. Bradley is so focused, his ball cap flicked backward but he’s still sneaking glances at me.

A smile is slowly taking my face hostage and I bite the edge of my lip, he always captures my attention no matter what he does.

When I stare at him it’s like I’m staring darkness in the eyes but my eyes seek him in every imaginable way. He’s imprinting his ink on me daily not even knowing the damage he has done.

He not so subtly took hold of my heart.

So damn easily.

I keep resisting him to give us more time to get to know each other. I owe it to myself, him, and now Amber. I don’t know where we’re going but it’s worth taking it step by step.

I wince when he hits a sensitive spot and ball my hand into a fist.

“Does it hurt?”

“Yeah,” I press my lips into a thin line.

He blows cool air on the side of my face, not on my tattoo. “How’s that?”

“Better.” My muscles relax instantly. “Can you do it one more time?”

“You’re so obsessed.” His playful voice is so annoying when he knows he is right.

I clench my eyes shut. “Forget I even asked.”

Cool air hits my face again. Gently.

“I expect to see a pregnancy test soon, Princess. I want to know if I’m going to be a father.” Bradley chuckles adorably. I swear that no one makes me laugh the way he does.

I shake my head from side to side, hiding the ghost of a smile forcing itself out. “Shut up.” I press my palm over his eyes.

His hand flies to grasp my chin. “Hey, you can’t cover the artist’s eyes, if you misbehave again, I will tie your hands behind your back.”

“You’re dying to.”

Without blinking he says, “You bet your ass I am. Do you think Amber will let me tie hers?”

“I don’t think she’ll be opposed to it.” A gigantic grin covers both of our faces. “Finish my tattoo.”

A few minutes later he stops the machine.

“If I couldn’t stay away from you before, now I definitely can’t.” His pupils dilate the more he stares at me and light pink tints his cheeks. “You sure you can work with this?”

“Yeah, I don’t have a choice but I’ll be safe, I promise.”

“Okay. I’ll get you ready to go.”

“Thank you.” My hand shoots forward, grabbing his wrists before he goes. I swallow thickly, and he up his gaze to meet my emotional eyes. “I didn’t realize how much I needed this closure because I never got over it and I’m glad it was you. I know I have a thousand tattoos but this one is the most meaningful.”

I cloak him so fast and can’t stop myself because I want him to know how much I appreciate everything he has done for me and continues to do day by day. He stays, and that’s the hardest part, even when I give him crumbs, he refuses to let go. He wants my happiness so much that he would do anything to see the light in my eyes grow stronger. I need him to feel loved. Cherished. Worthy.

He is worth all those things.

“I want you to be free and scream when everything falls apart or when you do,” Bradley says as he tugs me closer, heart pounding against mine, and I sense there is more beyond his words.

The breeze sweeps through the folded hem of my white sweatshirt with the text Biker Squad along my sleeves and back.

My keys jingle as I pull them out of the ignition and clasp them to the belt loop of my jeans. Music still plays in my helmet before I exit the app on my phone and go to my apartment.

The house is silent given it’s late at night, only Teddy’s footsteps are loud when he comes to greet me. “Hey boy, I missed you too.” I pet his head and run my fingers along his back. “It’s been a long day.”

I chuck my gloves on the counter and put my helmet beside them.

The door behind me opens and I turn my head around to see Bradley entering the house, all sweaty after a strenuous workout, smelling earthy, familiar, and smoky—it drives my senses wild.

Moving to the kitchen I fill two glasses of water and hold out my hand for him until he takes it.

“Thanks.” He chugs it down in seconds. His fingers dig under the hem of his shirt and he tugs it free over his head, flashing his pack and bulging muscles. His wet hair sticks to his forehead and the urge to twirl it between my fingers is maddening but I resist it.

“You smell like cigarettes.” A loud exhale pushes through my nose before I down my glass of water.

His fingers glide along the keys still attached to my jeans and my body hardens. Latching onto the motorcycle keychain he gave me a month ago, he smirks. “I’ll take a shower, want to join?” his lips are an inch from mine and I can feel the heat of his body colliding with my own.

“Nice try.” I retort.

“I’ll leave the door open just in case.” His eyes trail down my face to where he tattooed me earlier today.

Him.

A piece of him and a piece of me.

“I heard your tiny moans last night. Were you thinking of me when you masturbated? Or maybe you were thinking about me fucking you while you’re fucking her.”

I may have.

“So now you eavesdrop on me?” I raise my brows.

“You didn’t deny it.”

“You never give up, do you?” maybe that’s why I’m not giving in so fast. I like that he fights for me—fights for the chance to be with me.

“Not when I want something so bad,” he pulls away slowly, “Are you frustrated because you didn’t come last night, is that it?” There’s that evil smile. He strides to the hall, giving me a once-over before the walls block my view of him.

I came , and jets of hot come flew all over my stomach when I thought about sucking him while I fuck Amber.

My body is on fire and my dick is so hard it’s impossible to be in this apartment without having thoughts about sex all day. But instead of going to my laptop, I go to my room and throw myself onto my mattress.

I’m exhausted and as horny as I may be I have no desire to do anything tonight. The club was swarming with people today and I have to find someone new soon because I don’t want to bother them when they have their own jobs to take care of.

Tugging off my green Converse, I slip under the sheets, turn the night lamp on, and close my eyes.

I haven’t taken a vacation or a week off in five years. I worked hard to make our club a successful place and gave it everything I’ve got because it’s our baby. But I desperately need some time off.

Maybe I want them to come with me wherever I’m going, I have no idea where, but we’ll figure it out once I find an employee.

“Ronnie…”

I snap my eyes open as soon as I hear Amber’s soft voice drifting from the crack I left open. Pushing to a sitting position, I clear my throat, “Hey, is everything okay?”

Sniffling softly, her voice breaks, “Not really.”

“Come here,” I lift the blanket, feeling her body sliding next to me. I tuck it around her and pull her closer for an embrace. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not now, I just want to forget this day and fall asleep.” Her tiny body is shaking—her hands and feet are freezing. I tuck her feet between my legs and wrap my hand around hers.

“Okay.” I bury my nose in her fluffy hair and watch her until her eyes clench shut. “Sweat dreams, Bear.”

Our soft breathing blends and my lids slowly close, the next time I open them soft lights filter in from my window.

Amber’s eyes are on me, softly gazing, appreciating, and tracing my face. “Thank you for including me in your fantasy.” The golden marks akin to the ones of the ocean circling her irises, shine brighter.

“What are you talking about?” My voice is thick with sleep, good sleep , as I rub the light stubble on my jaw.

“Even if it’s a silly fantasy, I felt seen and I haven’t felt that most of my adult life.”

Moving my hand to her face, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and brush the pad of my thumb over her defined jaw, cheek, and lips. “It’s not silly and you don’t need to thank me. It’s a way to express ourselves when the world suffocates us. It was time to call the chapters by numbers because we were already writing in each other’s chapters, at least Bradley and I. That nosy fucker was in my business from day one.” A huge smile spreads on my face.

She laughs and giggles. “He is…”

“But I also felt it could help all of us if we did it that way. We don’t just write about sex, we write about our feelings and the things we’re going through. That deserves to be acknowledged. We deserve to be seen.”

Her eyes fall to my chest where her palm rests, feeling my heart pounding.

“We read what you wrote the first day you stayed here and I want you to know that under this roof, we care for each other. It doesn’t matter what type of relationship we have.”

She slowly nods. “Can we steal another hour and stay in bed?”

My grin widens, “I’m counting on it. Can you tell me why you cried?” I already know the answer is no and I wonder why.

“Not today.”