Indelibly Intimate Read Online Free PDF Page B

and the body, fading to brilliant oranges and yellows for the tips. A burst of fire surrounded the bird, still bright but paling in comparison to the exquisite creature.
    Sweat beaded on Hammer’s forehead as he concentrated but he ignored it. He was successful in blocking out the entire world, even the woman he was currently tattooing. She held perfectly still beneath his touch, allowing him to focus on his work.
    The tattoo was finished nearly two hours later. If he was honest with himself, it was the best cover-up he’d ever done.
    “All right, Sparky.” Even though he used the nickname, he kept his voice cool as he cleansed the tender skin. “See what you think.”
    Quinn scootched off the leather chair and tried to hop to the ground. Her knees buckled. Hammer rocketed to his feet and steadied her, his palms on her upper arms and her back to his chest.
    “Are you okay?” He did his dead-level best to ignore her soft ass pressing gently against his groin. He failed. His cock twitched eagerly despite his best efforts to suppress his reaction.
    “Yeah, guess I’d been sitting in one spot for too long.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m fine. Sorry.”
    He stepped back reluctantly, severing their contact. “It’s okay. You probably stood up too fast. Take it easy.”
    She nodded and stepped toward the mirror.
    His gut tied in knots. What the hell was wrong with him? This wasn’t only unsatisfied lust. He was desperate to make sure she liked what he’d done. And why shouldn’t he be? Every client was important to him. When they came to him for his work, his art, it was critical that they be satisfied with the job he’d done. But with Quinn it was something more. The leaden worry in his chest glued his gaze to her, searching for a clue as to what she was thinking.
    The seconds ticked by so slowly, he couldn’t stand it anymore. “What do you think?”
    She stood in front of the mirror, that little white skirt still rolled high. Hammer watched her, his heart thumping steadily as she rotated her thigh right to left, her expression unreadable in the mirror. When he thought he’d die if she didn’t say something, anything, she faced him.
    “Hammer.” Her face was blank. “This is the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen.” The eyes he’d thought he wouldn’t recognize without their mischievous twinkle were suspiciously bright. She wasn’t going to cry, was she?
    “Are you sure you like it?” Why would she cry if she liked it?
    She bit her lip and nodded emphatically. “I mean it.” She glanced back to the mirror. “I can’t imagine anything more perfect. You captured exactly what I’m going through. I can’t tell you what that means to me.”
    Before Hammer could protest, she threw her arms around his waist. He returned her embrace instinctively, even though his brain shouted at him it was a bad idea. Her breasts pressed against him. The fight between his brain and his cock was changing into a war, and he was desperately afraid he knew who’d win.
    “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest.
    “You’re welcome.” He gently rubbed her arms. God, her skin is like silk. He didn’t want to pull away. He wanted to bend down and kiss that clever mouth of hers. But he couldn’t. With a gentle squeeze, he stepped back.
    “So,” she said, sniffing slightly as she wiped the dampness from her cheeks, “what do I owe you?”
    Hammer looked at the phoenix. It was a larger piece, fairly detailed, and he’d put a lot of himself into it. Normally for a custom cover-up like this, he’d charge at least four hundred. But he’d promised her he’d cut her a deal and, as he admired both the work and the body it was on, a great idea came to mind.
    “Here. Sit down and let me cover it first.” He rolled his stool close once more as she sat. He rubbed a generous amount of antibiotic ointment over the fresh ink, covering it lightly with a gauze bandage.
    When it was safely covered, he spoke.