Chapter 4: Second Tattoo Session

Two weeks crawled by like molasses. Mira checked her schedule for the fifth time that day, her eyes landing on the final appointment: Hayden Cole, 7:00 PM.

They'd exchanged a few texts since that first flirtatious message. Nothing too personal, mostly about aftercare for his tattoo. But every message ended with something just suggestive enough to keep her thinking about him. The last one had come this morning: Looking forward to seeing your hands at work again tonight.

Mira had read too much into those words. Way too much.

"You're going to wear a hole in that floor," Riley commented, watching Mira pace her studio space.

"Just making sure everything's ready." Mira adjusted the ink caps she'd already arranged perfectly. Twice.

"For a routine second session?" Riley raised an eyebrow. "Or for Mr. Corporate?"

"His name is Hayden, and I'm just being professional."

"Professional doesn't usually involve changing your outfit three times." Riley nodded to the leather jacket and tank top Mira now wore instead of her usual work shirt. "Not that I'm complaining. You look hot."

"It's warm in here."

"Sure it is." Riley smirked. "Just like it was a coincidence that you asked Derek to leave early today."

"He had plans anyway." Mira adjusted the height of her chair, avoiding Riley's knowing gaze.

"Right." Riley checked her watch. "I'm heading out. Try not to break too many of your rules tonight."

"I don't break rules," Mira called after her.

"Maybe you should!" Riley's voice echoed from the front of the studio.

Mira heard the front door close, leaving her alone in the suddenly too-quiet space. She checked the clock. 6:48. Twelve minutes never felt so long.

The front door opened at exactly 7:00. Hayden's punctuality was something she could set her watch to. Mira listened to his footsteps approaching her studio, steady and unhurried. She busied herself with final preparations, refusing to look up when he filled the doorway.

"Right on time," she said.

"As always." His voice sounded warmer than she remembered.

Mira finally looked up, and her mouth went dry. Hayden wore a navy button-down with the sleeves rolled up. The color made his eyes more blue than gray tonight.

"How's it healing?" she asked, gesturing for him to come in.

"See for yourself." Hayden unbuttoned his shirt, slipping it off to reveal the partially healed outline on his shoulder and back.

Mira stepped closer, professional mode kicking in as she examined her work. The outline had healed well, the skin no longer raised or irritated. She reached out, fingers hovering above the design.

"May I?"

Hayden nodded, and she touched the outline lightly, tracing the phoenix's wings. His skin was warm beneath her fingertips.

"Looks good," she said, stepping back before her touch could linger. "Ready for color today?"

Hayden nodded. "I brought coffee," he said, reaching for a bag he'd set down by the door. "I remember you mentioned you can't function without it."

"I did?" Mira couldn't recall telling him that.

"During our dinner. You said you practically mainline it during long sessions." He pulled out two cups from a local coffee shop, handing her one. "Black with an extra shot, right?"

"How did you know that?"

Hayden smiled, a dimple appearing in his left cheek. "I pay attention."

The simple statement shouldn't have felt so intimate. Something fluttered in Mira's stomach as she accepted the coffee, their fingers brushing.

"Thanks," she said, taking a sip to hide her reaction. It was perfect.

"So," Hayden said, glancing at the tattoo chair. "Where do you want me?"

The question sent her mind straight to the fantasy she'd indulged in two weeks ago. Mira cleared her throat and pointed to the chair. "Same as last time"

Hayden nodded, moving to the chair while Mira gathered her composure. This was going to be a long session.

"I refined the color scheme," she said, showing him her tablet as he got settled. "More amber in the center feathers, transitioning to these deep reds at the tips."

"It's perfect," he said, studying the design. "You have an amazing eye."

"It helps to have good source material." The words came out more flirtatious than she'd intended.

Hayden's eyes met hers, a slow smile forming. "Glad I could inspire you."

Heat crept up Mira's neck. She busied herself preparing her machines and inks, cursing her fair skin that showed every blush. When she turned back, Hayden was settled comfortably in the chair, waiting.

"Ready?" she asked, pulling her stool closer.

"More than."

The buzz of the tattoo machine filled the room, and Mira began applying the first layer of color to the phoenix's body. Hayden remained relaxed under her hands, his breathing steady even when she worked over more sensitive areas.

"So," she said, trying to focus on anything but the feel of his skin under her fingers, "how's the sustainable tech business going?"

"Growing faster than expected." His voice vibrated slightly under her hands. "We just secured a major contract for a solar installation in Arizona."

"Impressive."

"What about you? Working on any interesting designs lately?"

The question surprised her. "You're asking about my work?"

"Of course," Hayden said. "You seemed passionate about it when we talked before. That stands out."

Mira smiled, oddly touched. "I've been experimenting with some new botanical designs. Integrating them into larger pieces."

"I'd love to see them sometime," he said, and from his tone, he actually meant it.

"Maybe I will show you," Mira said, surprised by her own response. She usually kept her experimental work private until it was perfected.

Their conversation flowed easily as Mira worked, moving from work projects to favorite books to travel destinations they'd both visited.

An hour into the session, Mira switched inks for the deeper red tones. The movement brought her closer to Hayden, her arm brushing against his back. He tensed slightly at the contact, but didn't say anything.

Mira continued working, focusing on the intricate feathering at the wing tips. Her hands remained steady even as her pulse quickened. She could feel Hayden's eyes on her whenever she moved to his side to check her progress.

"How's the pain level?" she asked, noticing a slight tightening of his shoulders.

"Manageable." He rolled his neck slightly. "Just getting stiff sitting still so long."

"We can take a break if you need to stretch."

"I'm fine for now." His voice had a slight strain she hadn't heard before. "Tell me more about your botanical designs."

Mira continued talking, describing the evolution of her style and some of her influences, but she could feel the change in Hayden's body. The muscles in his back and shoulders had grown increasingly tight.

"You're tensing up," she said, lifting the needle. "It'll hurt more if you're not relaxed."

"Hard to relax when you're this close," Hayden admitted, the words hanging in the air between them.

Mira set her machine down. "Turn around."

He raised an eyebrow but did as instructed, swiveling in the chair to face her. Their knees touched as she leaned forward.

"I'm going to try something," she said, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Tell me if it helps."

Mira began massaging the muscles surrounding the tattoo area, careful to avoid the freshly inked skin. Her fingers worked methodically, finding knots and tension points.

"This is technically part of the service," she explained, trying to sound professional despite the intimacy. "Tense muscles make the tattooing more painful. And the result won't be as clean."

"Mmm," was all Hayden managed, his eyes half-closed as she worked a particularly tight knot near his collar bone.

"This one really got under your skin," she commented, feeling a hardness beneath the lettering of his Latin tattoo. "Deeper than it should be."

"Different artist," Hayden murmured. "Less skilled hands."

"You're in better hands now." The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Hayden's eyes opened fully, fixing on hers. "I know."

Mira's hands stilled on his shoulders. His face was inches from hers, close enough that she could feel his breath, smell the lingering coffee on it.

Time seemed to stop. Mira knew she should move back, maintain professional distance. But her body refused to cooperate.

"I shouldn't tell you this," Hayden said quietly, "but I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since dinner."

Mira's heart hammered against her ribs. "Hayden - "

"I know about your rule. And I respect it." His eyes never left hers. "But I wanted you to know anyway."

The confession hung between them. Mira's hands still rested on his shoulders, her thumbs moving in small circles of their own accord.

"We should get back to the tattoo," she managed, though she made no move to pull away.

"We should," Hayden agreed, but didn't move either.

Mira wasn't sure who moved first. One moment they were frozen, the next her lips were pressed against his, soft and tentative.

Hayden responded immediately, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair. The kiss deepened, her mouth opening to his with a soft gasp. Heat flooded through her body, pooling low in her stomach as his tongue slid against hers. Her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath her palms, matching her own frantic rhythm.

This was wrong. This broke every professional boundary she'd established. But god, it felt so right.

Hayden tasted like coffee, his lips warm and sure against hers. The kiss was both gentle and demanding, his fingers massaging her scalp in a way that made her want to purr. When he lightly bit her lower lip, she couldn't hold back a small moan that seemed to encourage him further. His free hand found her waist, pulling her closer between his legs.

Mira pulled back abruptly, reality crashing over her like cold water. "I can't do this," she said, standing up so quickly she nearly knocked over her stool. "You're a client."

Hayden remained seated, his expression soft. "Mira..."

"This is exactly what I promised myself wouldn't happen again." She turned away, needing distance from the pull of him.

"Again?" Hayden asked curiously. "So there was someone before."

Mira froze. She hadn't meant to reveal that.

"Who was he?" Hayden asked carefully. "What happened?"

Mira sighed, pressing her fingers to her lips that still tingled from his kiss. "His name was Max. He was a client who became more. Until he stole my designs and took credit for them in a major tattoo magazine feature."

"That's why you have your rule."

"Yes." She turned back to face him. "I worked too hard to build my reputation to risk it again."

Hayden stood, keeping his distance. "I would never do something like that."

"You say that now." Mira shook her head. "But mixing business and pleasure always gets complicated."

"So uncomplicate it," Hayden suggested. "Finish my tattoo, and then there's no business between us. Just pleasure."

The way he said "pleasure" sent heat straight to her core, images from her late-night fantasy flooding back vividly.

"It's not that simple."

"It could be." He stepped closer, not touching her but close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. "I just need to know one thing."

"What?" Mira asked, barely above a whisper.

"Do you want me to walk away? Say the word, and I'll find another artist to finish the phoenix. We can pretend this never happened."

The thought of someone else completing her design made her stomach clench. But more than that, the idea of never seeing Hayden again felt unexpectedly painful.

Before she could answer, the front door chimed. They jumped apart as if shocked.

"Hello?" A woman's voice called from the reception area. "Is anyone still here?"

Mira recognized Megan, one of their regular clients who occasionally stopped by after work.

"Just a minute," she called, trying to keep her voice steady. She turned to Hayden, speaking quickly. "We need to cover your tattoo. We'll have to finish another day."

Hayden nodded, reaching for his shirt. "Think about what I said," he murmured as she applied a temporary covering to the partial coloring. "The offer stands."

"I'll be back at the front desk," Mira said, avoiding his eyes as she rushed from the room.

Megan was waiting, flipping through a portfolio book. "Sorry to interrupt," she said with a friendly smile. "I was hoping to schedule a touch-up for next week."

"Of course," Mira said, opening the appointment book with hands that weren't quite steady. As she penciled Megan in, she heard Hayden emerge from the studio. She kept her eyes fixed on the book, not trusting herself to look at him.

"Thanks for the session," Hayden said casually, all business now. "When should I come back to finish?"

Mira finally looked up, meeting his gaze. Those blue-gray eyes held a question she wasn't ready to answer.

"I'll text you," she said.

He nodded, his expression revealing nothing as he headed for the door. Just before leaving, he turned back. "About that aftercare question I had," he said, his tone deceptively professional. "I still can't stop thinking about your hands."

The door closed behind him, leaving Mira staring after him, Megan forgotten beside her.