BigBadDare (2 page)

“I push deep, baby. Art and soul. Always,” he said. I gasped a little, shocked and appalled, but then he followed it up with a soothing wink. “Your tattoo artist needs to know these kinds of things. We're second only to doctors and shrinks.”

Weirdo,
I thought, stupidly amused. A little laughter floated out.

“Okay, Jessie. Do you want to go with the exact sketch in the book or do you need any

modifications?”

“Maybe a dark halo, rather than gold like in the picture? I want everything to be uniform. Strong, but not showy. This is a very private, personal tattoo.” If I was really getting this thing branded on my skin, til-death-do-us-part, I wanted it exact to my wishes, a reminder that I'd really done something remarkable.

“I can do that. Take off your shirt and lay on the table,” he ordered, turning his back to me to retrieve the tools on the counter behind him.

I blushed a little, making sure he wasn't going to spin around anytime soon. I peeled off my shirt and laid it gently next to me.

I tried to relax and position myself flat on the padded table. I cursed my pale skin, knowing the flush that started in my face was quickly flowing into my chest, then rolling over my shoulders, turning everything peachy-rose red.

His footsteps creaked on the old floorboards behind me. Next thing I knew, his big, calloused hand laid across my back, gingerly massaging my skin, softening up the bare place where he'd leave his mark on me forever.

I winced. Inwardly, muscles clenched hard and then relaxed, a full body lick in places I didn't want to acknowledge.

God! If one touch can set me on fire like this, how am I gonna survive a whole session with him
poking and engraving my flesh?

His touch had an intimate, seductive flourish to it. He spread his fingers, padding the tips into my flesh, testing my skin. I sensed an artist imagining what he'd create on his new blank slate.

The fire burned hotter. Every little twist of his gentle fingers on my skin blew like a wind on my deepest flames, making them writhe and dance and burn.

Higher. Hotter. Brighter.

I was so painfully turned on I'd almost forgotten my fear. Almost.

But when his fingers withdrew and returned with something cold and tingly pressed to my flesh, my heart began to pound. I rolled my neck and whimpered, praying I wouldn't embarrass myself like a stupid, scared fool.

“Just a dab of numbing cream, Jessie. This will make both our jobs easier when I start up the needle in another minute.”

A minute?
I pushed a hard lump down my throat.
It's okay. Just remember to breathe, heavy and
deep. You decided to take his bet, his dare.

An hour or so of pain is nothing compared to what he might to do if you lose it...

Besides, I wanted – no, needed – to show him I wasn't just a prudish, inexperienced wussy. I was just as tough as Ava, damn it! And no pointy bits of steel were going to send me running.

I lifted up a little. It wasn't easy to tell if he'd completely stopped rubbing my skin or if the numbing agent had done its thing.

The cold, tingly stuff crept beyond my flesh, numbing nerves all along my back. Maybe it did its job a little
too
well.

I couldn't feel anything an inch past my spine on all sides. I sucked in a long, shrill breath and started to panic.

“Nobody can have an allergic reaction to this stuff, can they, Garrett?”

“Never seen it in my time. This stuff's...” he reached next to him, picking up the small tube. “One hundred percent allergy free. Medical grade. You ever been numbed before?”

“Nothing outside a little Novocaine to fill my cavities,” I smiled to myself, letting a little laughter stir the unease in my system.

“Well, Princess, you're going to a whole new level now. You ready?”

Gulp again. I craned my neck, tightening my nails on the metal bar underneath my face, further below the table.

Ready as I'll ever be. No, really. Let's get this show on the road so I can get it over with. Show you
and Ava that I'm a lot tougher than you thought...

“Ready,” I whispered, so low I wondered if he'd heard me. I nodded too.

Something whirred to life behind me, about a foot from my ear. The instrument was much louder than I expected, humming like a little swarm of bumblebees, their stingers poised and ready for my precious skin.

I kicked my legs. Wide eyed, the world turned upside down as I rolled, thrashing and jumping so hard I totally went off the table.

The old wooden floor impacted me hard. Another bang resounded in my ears as my shoe hit the table, sending deep pain rippling up my knee.

“Jessie! Are you okay?”

Garrett's big arms were on me, pulling me upright again, drawing me to his heavenly chest. If I weren't a red faced, blubbering mess, I would've enjoyed the closeness.

Instead, I just wanted to hide from him, the pain fading as total shame and disappointment took over.

Fear had done me in. I shoved my face into his thin shirt, dulling my failure in his spicy masculine scent, marveling how hard his muscles felt against my cheeks.

“I'm so, so sorry,” I whimpered, pulling back to face him when I could finally speak again. “When I...when I heard that thing buzzing so close to my skin, I don't know what came over me. Everything went into a panic. I couldn't breathe. Voices in my brain just screamed 'STOP!'”

“Wow, you're hearing voices? You really must've fallen a hell of a lot harder than I thought.” He lifted one arm and pressed his big palm to my forehead.

Even through the stupidity, the shame, and the lame joke, I laughed. He really had a way with smoothing things over.

“Don't be ashamed. You pressed yourself too hard. Even a Princess needs to ease herself into the unknown. Right? We should've started with something smaller, something on your wrist or half the size of the design you picked out.”

“No!” I shook my head furiously. The faintest idea of having that horrific tattoo gun up against my skin made my stomach knot. “Maybe someday I'll be ready. But for now...I think I just need to go.”

“Got it,” he said simply.

Garrett held my hand and slowly lifted me up. My heart was still racing.

It took me a minute to stand without shaking. The adrenaline flooding my veins kept exploding, rippling my nerves in tense waves.

I started toward the door. I wanted to say 'goodbye,' to thank him for the great bedside matter despite my panic, but I knew the words would only leave me more embarrassed.

I don't need anymore. I've had a few months' worth of devastation in a day.

Garrett slid around me like a panther, and soon he was blocking the door. I stopped, just a foot away from him, blinking through the drying tears in confusion.

“What's up?” I bit my lip, fearing I already knew.

“We had a deal, and I'm a man of my word. Listen, Jessie, you've got all the sympathy in the world from me. Not so much that I'm going back on my promise, though. And neither are you.”

He stepped closer. My heart kicked into butterfly mode again, beating against my chest in sheer amazement and a little fear.

“What do you want?”

“One night with you, Jessie. One evening out. Tomorrow.”

All at once, the thunder in my chest settled. I hadn't noticed how heavily I was breathing until he was only an inch away, my breasts rising dangerously close to his slab of muscles whenever I inhaled.

I couldn't believe he still wanted me. He really wanted to spend time with an unadventurous coward?

Stop being so hard on yourself. For all you know, he knew how you'd react from the beginning, and
this whole thing was contrived to end up here.

Maybe he's taking advantage of you.

I refused to listen to my doubts. So what if they were right? This man, this giant god towering over me, wanted to stake a claim like no man ever had before him.

“A deal is a deal,” I said quietly, slipping my limp hand into his strong grip.

We shook. His warm flesh sizzled through the cold in mine, breaking up the ice flows in my blood formed by the terror.

A deeper, sultrier curiosity returned. Suddenly, finding out where he intended to lead was all that was on my mind.

I wasn't afraid. Not totally, at least. If this big, bad wolf wanted to drag my virgin body through the wringer, maybe I'd come out feeling purified. Cleansed.

“I'll pick you up at seven this Friday?” He asked, though it had too much confidence to be a simple question. More like a statement.

I shook my head. For the life of me, I was smiling the entire time, letting that damned irrepressible grin curl along my face and beam at my heart's new captor.

“Forget what happened here, Jessie,” he said, inching his way clear of the door. “I don't want you to feel bad about this. Don't take any shit from Ava. Just think about where we're going this Friday. One night with me, and you won't remember freaking out over a few needle strokes.”

“I'll bet,” I squeaked, seeing my chance to slip past him.

Garrett chuckled a little as I popped the door and left. Ava was near the door, impatiently twitching.

Her leg bobbed up and down on the floor in regular strokes.

Her face tightened and her eyes turned into big moons when she saw me. Damn, I hadn't wiped away all the telltale signs of sadness after all.

I didn't even hear what she asked me as she approached, her lips moving silently.

The excitement stirring in my blood silenced everything. I couldn't believe how a dull autumn day had suddenly burst alive with pure fire. And whether I liked it or not, that fire was bound to grow more intense, devouring all the soft mediocrity I'd taken for granted.

II: Strict Offerings

“Jessie, you don't have to do this. Ah, I know that look...I know damned well how stubborn you are.

Just don't let him bully you into anything you're not ready for. He's already done it once with that stupid tattoo.”

I settled into my heels, looking every so often into Ava's eyes. Was she speaking with real concern, or just jealousy?

Both mingled in her eyes. She knew me better than anybody else. I couldn't deny that.

But she also had her greedy eyes on claiming Garrett for herself. The sooner my boring, pesky ass got out of her way, the better.

“I'm a big girl. I appreciate your concern. Really.” I stood, testing out my walk.

It had been forever since I'd worn the tall, sleek, pointed heels. Probably not since that last big party bash before graduating Uni.

They certainly weren't suitable for the little insurance office where I worked, and they'd sat in the back of the closet gathering dust. Until tonight.

We're destined to make amazing things happen. Just you and me, heels.

I pushed them together, feeling more confident in my stride. I stopped in front of Ava and reached for her shoulder with one hand.

“I'll be okay. I've said no to a dozen guys before, haven't I? Nobody ever got past second base. It's not like I've stopped waiting for Mr. Right.”

“Of course!” Ava flashed me a fierce, somewhat sour smile. “I know you'll do the right thing. You've resisted some real hotties over the years. It's just that...well, Garrett's the kind of guy who's good for play, and not much else. By all means, have your fun with him tonight. Just don't let him have too much fun with you. Fun you'll regret.”

“You're just full of sisterly advice this evening, aren't you?” I did my trademark eye roll.

“It's what I do.”

My phone pinged behind me. I clambered across the floor to my nightstand, where I'd left it. A text from an unknown number announced,
I'M HERE – G.

I squealed with excitement. Even Ava set her jealousy aside for a moment and laughed right along with me.

“Go out and have a good time, girl. I know you'll come back the same sweet Jessie. And if you don't, I'll beat him up myself.”

Laughing, I thanked her one last time before grabbing my coat and purse and heading outside.

Things were gonna be alright between Ava and I. And with him? Well, that was just getting started.

Garrett pulled up in a flashy black Mercedes. It took me more than a full minute to realize it was him, even though he signaled me twice.

Jeez, just how much business does he bring in?

The choice of car also surprised me. If he were staking up the big bucks, I figured he'd be the kind to opt for something sportier; a pimped out Charger, or maybe a Viper.

I popped the door, slid in, and clicked my seat belt closed. When I looked up, Garrett's eyes were already on me, the flames inside them roiling at a steady crackle.

“Mmm. Nice.” He growled with pleasure like he'd just taken a long sip of something sweet. “You didn't have to actually dress like a Princess to impress me, Jessie. Since you outdid yourself, though, you'll have to accept my compliments and my eyes on those legs all night.”

I flushed. One second with him, and he'd torn my speech away yet again.

Sheesh, what's wrong with me? How many times is this going to keep happening?

I had to admit, I did look pretty knockout. Garrett wore a more unassuming outfit: a neat gray button down shirt with dark trousers and a shiny leather belt. Simple or not, he looked pretty damn good with the tight buttons pressing around his hard hills and valleys.

“Don't you want to know where we're going?” He asked.

We'd been on the highway for several minutes, roaring toward the city center. I'd mumbled a bashful greeting and nothing else.

“I do. Or is it going to be a surprise? Doesn't sound like I have much choice in wherever it is we're off to.”

“You don't. Good thing you're going to like it.” His abrupt, hard tone reminded me that I was his dolled up slave for the night, however much he complimented me like a lady. “You'll see it when we're down a few more blocks. Now that you mention it, I do like surprises.”

Damn! He knew exactly how to peak my interest. Not to mention many other things.

I snuck continuous glances at him as we rolled on, winding past the city limits and through wide streets lined with tall skyscrapers. The main entertainment strip with the best theaters, bars, and lounges lay just ahead.