Lark smiled and crawled up to straddle me. She caressed my cheeks then kissed each one.
“I don’t think Cooper is a better man. He’s rich, but he can’t create like you do. When I see you drawing or even doodling something on a napkin, it amazes me. How you can make something beautiful out of nothing. It’s like what you did with me. Like I was just going through life feeling like nothing and now I feel beautiful. You made that happen. I don’t wish you were anyone else.”
Gently flicking her little nipples with my thumbs, I watched her expression shift. All of her emotions were open to me. The love, desire, acceptance, and hope I saw on her face were for me. Everything she was now rested in my hands.
Chapter Twenty Nine - Lark
The next few days were busy, yet exciting. Moving into Aaron’s house was an easy step. I just called Mom and told her we were coming by for my stuff. If Larry was there, Aaron would pound in his face, so the fucker should be gone. My mother said okay and hung up. Larry wasn’t around when we picked up my clothes and few belongings.
Aaron’s house wasn’t big, but I didn’t need a lot of space. He gave me the second closet in his room and dumped his extra stuff in the spare bedroom. The whole moving adventure took two hours.
Dylan came by to check on me and say he had found an apartment. Aaron glared at Dylan even after thanking him for helping me. Dylan glared back even after saying he was happy I found someone with a nice front yard. It was friendly, yet tense. Through it all, Deputy Dickhead Darling watched us from his porch down the street.
Living with Aaron was amazing. I didn’t have to worry about doing something wrong and getting yelled at by the jerk paying the bills. I didn’t have to deal with awkward chitchat with my mother. No more avoiding Dylan’s broody staring either.
Instead, I woke up with the man I loved and fell asleep relaxed next to him. On the mornings I didn’t work, I sat in his makeshift gym while he worked out. As Aaron pumped weights, I struggled to keep my hands to myself. It wasn’t easy with him sweaty and those muscles flexing. I stared like an animal in heat until he finished then I’d help him wash off in the shower. Aaron really loved those mornings.
Since he only used his Honda for shopping and errands where a trunk was necessary, Aaron didn’t really need the car. He gave it to me and I finally had a way to get around town. When I warned him that I was a lead foot, he just laughed and pointed at all the speeding tickets on the kitchen counter.
The first week together was perfection, but I knew Aaron needed his revenge on Larry. Vaughn was planning to help him steal the car. When Aaron muttered during dinner at Cooper’s that he didn’t need help, Outlaw pointed out how the artsy fartsy country club boy hadn’t stolen a car before. Aaron flipped him off, but agreed. I didn’t plan to come along, but I looked forward to the pictures.
Every day after school, I joined Aaron at the sub shop where we ate sandwiches and talked about our day. Back in the business, he finished up a little paperwork before we hurried home. I loved racing him back to the house, even though I never won.
Returning to the tattoo shop on a Friday afternoon, I noticed Jade’s boyfriend’s car parked out front. Another car was next to it. Neither Aaron nor Jade had a client that evening. Before I could ask, I noticed Aaron’s expression change.
“I love you,” he said “I never loved her. I swear.”
Aaron hurried inside and I frowned at his need to see Kristen. Soon, I realized he was more worried about Jade seeing Kristen.
“Bitch, we’re not doing your fucking tat,” Jade sneered.
Kristen was pretty. Not beautiful, but she had a nice round face and long red hair. She was above average in the looks department even while giving Jade her duckface. Bailey’s was better.
“Melissa said you guys would do it.”
Jade glared at the receptionist who shrugged. “She’s going to pay, so what’s the big deal.”
Kristen ignored the women and smiled at Aaron. “You’ll do it, won’t you? I want my tat to be from the best.”
Aaron sighed. “No, I won’t.”
“Why?” Kristen asked, losing her smile. “Is it because of your bitch employee or because of the bitch you’re fucking?”
“Oh, no, she didn’t just call me a bitch,” Jade said, moving towards Kristen.
“It’s okay, Jade. We’re not taking the job and Kristen is leaving,” Aaron muttered, as Tony kept his girlfriend from reaching Kristen.
Jade rolled her eyes. “You let the whore get away with too much shit.”
“He doesn’t let me do anything,” Kristen announced, giving her best pissed off head roll. “He never did. I’m my own woman.”
Smirking at Tony, Jade said, “From what I heard, she was everyone’s woman.”
“Fuck you,” Kristen hissed, flipping off Jade.