As my eyes glide up and down her body, I try to think of my favorite spot. Or at least a place she would be able to show people anyway. I pick the left side of her ribcage, slightly under her breast. Carly asks her to lie on the table and Jessa starts lifting up her shirt, while my eyes shift around the room, making sure no one’s looking. Don’t they have a screen partition or some shit to put up while they tattoo her?
Jessa watches me as I search the room for prying eyes and giggles, grabbing my hand and trying to relax me. Automatically, my focus switches to her. She’s the one getting the tattoo, and although she already has a couple, this is her first one where I’m with her.
Carly finishes placing the outline on Jessa, just where I want it. She takes the gun and needles out of the protective wrap. Hearing the buzzing makes me nervous for Jessa, but she sits there calmly with her eyes shut as Carly inserts the needle into her skin. It continues to hum as Carly’s steady hand follows the traced lines, making sure it’s perfect. After the outline is finished, Carly tells me it’s time for coloring. We hadn’t discussed that. I ask her to do it in a blue hue since it’s my favorite color and she nods, standing up and walking away. “You okay, baby?” I ask and Jessa smirks with humor.
“I’m fine, Grant. I just like to daydream while I’m getting them done. It helps me remain calm.” She puts her head back down on the table. When Carly returns, Jessa starts asking her how long she’s worked here and telling her that her dad’s been coming here a long time. He knows the owner, Craig, and Carly exclaims how much she adores his daughter.
As the two girls talk while Carly gets everything ready, I observe everyone else in the parlor. It’s jam-packed and I’m surprised we were able to get an appointment today. I guess Jessa’s dad really does have strings to pull around here.
An hour later, Jessa’s done, and although the tattoo isn’t as beautiful as her, it’s pretty damn close to it. She admires it in the mirror and her eyes fall on me, standing behind her. Smiling, she turns around and places her hands on either side of my face. “I love you, Grant Bishop,” she tells me and places her lips on mine. Trying to be mindful of her tattoo, I pull her in a little closer, so I can feel her thin frame against me. We continue to explore each other’s mouths until hoots start echoing throughout the shop. Once I pull away, Jessa’s face has a nice shade of pink to it, as does mine, I’m sure.
She sits back down so Carly can cover the tattoo with ointment and a bandage. After I pay and Jessa compliments Carly to death, we finally leave the tattoo shop.
“Do you like it?” I ask, praying to God she does. Her reaction when she saw it finished appeared genuine, so I’m crossing my fingers.
“Are you kidding? I love it! It means even more to me since you picked it out.” She starts walking backward in front of me, while continuing to talk. “Are you really going to get one when we get home?” she questions, cocking her eyebrow as though she doesn’t believe me.
“I told you I would and I’m a man of my word,” I remind her and she giggles.
“That you are,” she says. “Now that this one’s done, we’ll have to think of a new bet.” She looks mischievous as she taps her finger against her lips.
“Do I even want to know what’s going through that gorgeous mind?” I ask her.
“Probably not,” she laughs. “Gotta keep you on your toes, Bishop,” she says with a playful tone. I walk faster to catch her. Grabbing her hips, I draw her into me and capture her moist lips again. When that cold metal runs along my tongue, it’s like home to me.
Chapter 2 2
Jessa
Saying good-bye to my parents will be so difficult. I have always hated leaving them, but now that I live so far away and can bear being back here, it’s harder than it’s ever been. My mom planned this whole goodbye dinner for us, but all it accomplishes is making me sadder.
Of course, my family plans a night of eating, games, and fun. Laughing most of the night helps keep the dread of tomorrow’s goodbye at bay. After my parents go to bed, we all decide to get in the hot tub. Most of them, including Grant, have never been in a hot tub when it’s twenty degrees outside. I’m bummed I can’t go in because of my tattoo. Grant tries to stay out on account of me, but I tell him I’ll dip my feet in while wearing a parka.
Once everyone’s in, I can’t help but feel bad for my man, who has to sit all by himself while the other couples cozy up with one another. I position myself behind him with my legs on either side of his broad shoulders and knead his back. The other three couples all intertwine themselves in each corner. Brady and Sadie to our left, Dex and Sam on our right, and Trey and Kailey in the opposite corner.
I’m amazed at how fast Dex and Sam have bonded, but I seriously doubt it’ll become anything more after we leave. They both like their carefree single lives. However, I think Kailey and Trey might have something. She might be the first girl that could possibly tame the infamous Trey Michaels. I even hear Trey on the phone earlier, changing her flight so she could ride home with us. The fact that he’s trying to continue their time together tells me this isn’t just some fast lay for him. Since being here, I haven’t been able to talk to him much, so I only know what Grant has told me.
When my eyes land on Brady and Sadie, a couple I used to be envious of, it makes me happy to have this man sitting between my legs now. It’s hard to imagine that someone could be envious of our love. But as selfish as it sounds, they should be. Grant and I came together this week and we’re closer than ever. Our secrets are out and we’ve faced most of our insecurities, trying to put them behind us.
He brings his hands up, slowly sliding them up and down my calves. I bend down and kiss his soft blonde hair. I suddenly feel his head move away from my lips and the water jostles under my feet, bringing me out of my thoughts.
Grant stands in front of me. “Take me to bed,” he jokes, and laughter erupts from the hot tub. Before he can say anything else, I hop up and grab him a towel.
“Take the pussy to bed, Jessa,” Trey hollers, but we ignore his comment, walking inside.
Once we’re in my room, he decides to jump into the shower while I change and crawl into bed. When Grant comes out, he wraps his arms around my body and I sigh deeply, feeling safe and secure.
“Sleep, beautiful, we have an early flight in the morning. Since we’ve had to hold ourselves back so much this week, I plan on having you naked most of the night tomorrow,” he whispers, and I curl into him a little more. How is it possible he can make me wet just by his words? Then he seals the deal when he says, “I love you, Jessa Harrison.”
The next morning, Grant nudges me awake. Why we picked an early flight, I have no idea. I remain silent as I walk to the bathroom and turn the water on. Taking a shower, it really starts to hit me that I have to say goodbye to my parents and sister…again.
As though he knows, Grant is waiting for me when I get out. The sorrowful look on his face lets me know he’s sympathetic for what I’m going through, but it’s hard to feel sorry for myself when I’m looking at a man who has no parents. He would most likely do anything to see his mom one more time, and here I am, wallowing in my own self-pity about a few months of separation.
“Sorry, baby, I know you hate saying goodbye to your parents,” he says and wraps me in a tight hug. “Do you want to take the pictures with you?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“No, I want them to stay here,” I tell him. He gives me a sly grin and walks out of the room.