I’m nervous as I plop down on a chair in one of the spare bedrooms.
“Think about what you want to put in there?” Allie asks. Her spiky blue hair bobs up and down as she unpacks her big black bag.
“I was thinking just a little gold stud. You know, like those barbell things?”
“Sure, I love those. Brought a few with me in case you didn’t have your own.”
I laugh awkwardly. “I honestly didn’t have time to find anything.”
“No worries at all.” Allie beams at me brightly. “I got you.” She unrolls a soft case and starts showing me the different options.
I like her enthusiasm. She’s got this punky vibe going on with lots of tats on her pale skin. I don’t know where Maud found her, but she’s perfect for this. Easy to get along with and clearly a professional.
“Do you make a lot of house calls?” I ask as she gets her tools prepped.
“All the time. Tattoos, piercings, all that good stuff.”
“How’d you end up doing this?”
She grins and holds out her arms. “I guess it’s a calling.” She’s covered in ink. Lots of brightly colored pictures fill in every inch of her skin. “The home stuff sort of came naturally. I was working at this shop and I had clients asking all the time if I made house calls, and I just… started doing it. Guess I got a reputation now.”
“That’s really cool. You like it?”
“Love it, really. The piercing’s fun. I get to help people put together a new look. And maybe I’m a sicko and like hurting people a little bit too.”
“Been a while since I got anything done.” I tap at my little nose piercing. “I was thirteen when I got this.”
“Seriously? That’s young.”
“Call it my rebellious stage.”
“Good for you, girl. It’s really cute. You have such a good face for this.” She gently wipes my eyebrow with antiseptic and uses a special marker to make dots. “How’s this look?” She holds up a mirror for my confirmation.
I touch my face gently, careful not to get close to where she’ll do the actual piercing. “That’s perfect.”
“You sure? I can move it now, but once it’s in—” She makes a helpless gesture.
“No, this is exactly where I wanted it.”
“Great. Okay.” She lifts up a clamp and a needle. “Both sterile. You ready?”
“Not really.”
“Take a few deep breaths. Want me to play some music? I got death metal, lo-fi beats—”
“Do people really want you to play metal while you’re piercing them?”
“Oh, yeah, it’s awesome. Really distracts you from what’s going down.”
“Play it then.”
“Very good choice.” She happily turns on a Bluetooth speaker and connects her phone. The opening chords of a distorted guitar song blare out followed by what sounds like a man screaming as he murders someone.
The music is bad. But in a good way? Allie turns it up loud and bangs her head, grinning like a maniac, and her energy is infectious. Death metal isn’t really my taste but the fast guitars and the loud drums are a really good distraction.
“Ready?” she asks over the music.
“Let’s do it.”
She clamps a section of my eyebrow right where she marked it and uses the needle to make the piercings. Her touch is fast and skilled, and it still hurts like hell. My eyes water and I grimace, but it’s done in seconds. She slips the barbell into place and holds up a mirror.
“That’s that,” she says, turning down the music. “Easy, right?”
“Sure, easy, totally.” I wipe the tears from my eyes and stare at myself.
It’s weird, seeing a new piercing in my face. I turn from side to side, getting a good view, and I’m surprised at how much I like it. “I was thinking. Do you do other piercings too?”
“Sure. Got the bug now?”
“I really do.” I look down at myself then lift my shirt slightly. I poke at my belly button. “What about this?”
“Classic.” She shows me her own piercing. It’s glittery and pink which I did not expect. “I happen to have a few pieces you might like.”
We go over options. I end up choosing something similar in shape to hers, except mine is simple and diamond. She cranks up the death metal, gets everything sterilized, and I’m pierced a second time.
“Look at that,” I say, staring down at myself.
“It’s amazing. Seriously, you look great. Ever think about tattoos?”
I laugh and wave her off. “Easy there. I don’t know if I’m the tattoo type, no offense.”
“Not everyone is, but you’d be so fucking cute with a few. If you ever want to test them out, hit me up.”
We exchange phone numbers. I know she’s only being professional and looking for more work, but I really like her. I don’t have a ton of friends around here and maybe she might be a good person to hang around with. We make some small talk and I tell her about urban exploring. She seems really into it even though she’s never done it before.
“It’s a thrill. Seriously, really fun. I learned how to pick locks recently.”
“Really?” She leans forward, eyes sparkling with fascination. “That’s extremely cool.”
“Ah, it’s no big deal, really.”
She asks me more questions about locks and exploration. I tell her what I can, and eventually she goes over care instructions.
There’s a knock at the door. I call out and Arsen appears on the threshold. His eyes narrow when he gets a look at me and his mouth falls open. His tongue licks across his lower lip and my stomach does flips.
“You’re done,” he says softly.
“What do you think?”
He comes over to me. Allie’s basically forgotten. His fingers stroke across my cheek, getting near the fresh eyebrow piercing. He kisses my temple.
“Beautiful,” he whispers.
I grin and lightly push him back. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What’s that?”
I lift up my shirt. “What do you think?”
He stares at the belly button piercing. It’s hard to read his expression at first. But then he turns to Allie. “Get out.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Uh, okay, sure.”
“Arsen,” I hiss, slapping his arm. “You’re being rude.”
“I want to be alone with you,” he says, his eyes burning with need.
I laugh and punch him in the ribs. “He’s a prick but he’s a good prick,” I tell Allie as she heads to the door.
“Hey, no judgment here. Glad you two are happy.”
“And hey, maybe we could hang out sometime? If you live around here?”
“That’d be cool. You’ve got my number. Maybe we can go exploring together sometime. I’ve got a good place that might be fun. Hit me up.”
“Great. Awesome. Uh, see ya.”
She leaves and the door clicks shut behind her.
Arsen’s on me then. He spins me around and shoves me against the door. His mouth buries mine, kissing me hungrily, and I have to push him back with a laugh.
“Easy, boy. Calm down.”
“I can’t. I want to lick your belly button and make your toes curl.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, there will not be any putting your filthy mouth on my freshly pierced body. That’s just gross.”
He lets out a frustrated growl. “When?”
“A few weeks. God, you’re a freak.”
He kisses me again and pulls my shirt off. I laugh as he throws it on the floor and shoves me back so he can stare at my body. He kisses the tops of my breasts and down toward my belly button, but stops before he gets too close.
“You’re a work of art,” he whispers.
“Thank you. And thank Allie.”
“Seems like the two of you hit it off. New friend?”
“I hope so,” I say softly.
His thumb brushes over my lips. “You are clever and interesting, Lena. Anyone would kill to be close to you.”
“Really? I don’t feel that way.”
“There are so many bland people wandering around like their lives are even remotely interesting. But you are one of the rare diamonds.”
“Yep, that’s me, all sparkly and perfect.”
“To me, you most definitely are.” He kisses me slower this time. My breath’s coming fast as his hands move down my body. I can tell he wants to play with the piercings, but he’s a good boy and he keeps his hands to himself.
Well, not to himself. Very much on me.
He drops to his knees. I like the way he peels off my jeans and kisses my stomach. It’s like he’s worshipping, like he’s praying to a higher power, and I’m the answer he needs. He tugs my panties aside and teases me with his tongue, and I run my hands through his thick hair.
“You know what’s sexiest about all this?” he whispers as pleasure shivers down my spine.
“Uh, you licking my pussy?”
“I like when you say that. But no, the sexiest part is you did this for me.”
“Not entirely for you.”
He laughs gently and slides two fingers deep inside. “For me.”
I moan and he’s right. I did it because he wanted me to. I got my belly button done because I knew he’d react this way. I like that he wants me—and I want to reward him for it.
I grind against his mouth. He eats me with a messy and incredible excitement. His tongue laps me before he latches on to my clit and drives me crazy. Right when I’m close to coming, he drags me from the door and throws me on the bed.
“Fuck,” I moan, arching my back. He peels my panties off the rest of the way, my ass in the air. His mouth licks me from behind. “You’re a filthy man, you know that?”
“No, baby. I’m just a man that knows what he likes. And I like you.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all I need.” His fingers slide inside me from behind as he grabs my hair. “Now, I want you to ask nicely.”
“For what?”
“My cock.”
“Arsen,” I whine, a little line of drool leaking from my lips. “Please fuck me.”
“My favorite words in the world.” He takes off his jeans and I watch hungrily as he fists his thick dick. “Beg again, baby.”
“I’m getting impatient.” I wiggle my hips for him, my legs spread. “Please, Arsen—”
He grabs my hips and sinks himself into me roughly. I gasp as bliss hits me right in the skull. He sheathes himself in me, filling me to the brim. I’m stretched and filled beyond belief.
“This is how I like you,” he whispers, sliding himself in and out. “Nice and fucked.”
Oh, god.
He takes me from behind. His palm smacks my ass and he slams himself deeper. I’m riding on that edge and my eyes roll back into my head, and he throws me into heaven when he strokes my clit with his thumb.
“Arsen,” I moan, finishing all over his dick. He groans and goes harder, fucking me into submission, until I’m nothing but a puddle of bliss. He finishes inside of me, warm and gooey and perfect.
“That’s my girl,” he says, breathing hard.
“You like fucking me, don’t you?”
“That’s an understatement. You’re so fucking good, baby.”
“You are too.” I lean on his chest, grinning like a maniac. I waggle my eyebrows a little, and it feels strange with the piercing. “I’m going to have to get used to this.”
“You look beautiful. When you’re healed, I’m going to lick you, head to fucking toe.”
“I need to get pierced more often.”
“Wherever you want. Whenever you want.”
“What about tattoos?”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll find the best artist around.”
“Allie says I’d look good with them.”
“Cover every inch of yourself with ink if that’s what you want.” He strokes my hair and holds me tight. “I’ll love you regardless.”
I go very still. I’m not even sure he noticed what he just said. His breath is slow and even, and he’s got a little smile on his face.
I’ll love you regardless.
I knew that’s where this was headed. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been feeling it deep in my stomach whenever he’s around.
But that’s the first time either of us has said it out loud. At least in English.
It’s a surprise. I shouldn’t be so shocked, but I can’t seem to respond. Shouldn’t I tell him how I feel too? But he doesn’t seem like he cares if I say it back.
I want to say it back. I want to grab his cheeks, bite his tongue, and scream I love you too right in his dumb face.
But I feel paralyzed by how big that is.
And all the implications of our love.
Is it even safe to care about him this much? I know he’d never hurt me, even though he’s kind of a psycho. But his line of work is dangerous. There’s always the chance he might not come home one day.
That would break me.
But it feels silly to try to protect myself still.
Like it’s way too late for that.
“I can feel you thinking,” he says, absently stroking my hair.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“The wheels are spinning. I hear the hamsters chirping.”
“I don’t have hamsters in my head,” I say, slapping his chest. “They’re cats, and they power me with their general disdain.”
“It’s really okay, you know, if you aren’t ready yet.”
I close my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I have no interest in rushing you, baby. We have a lifetime together.”
I let out a stupid laugh. He’s right, isn’t he? Maybe when we got into this marriage, I thought it might not last more than a few years at best. We’d live separate lives and amicably part one day.
Except now that’s clearly not how this is going down.
I’m his. Totally and completely. It happened gradually, and not all at once. Like the start of a landslide.
Just a few rocks then the whole mountain’s coming down.
“I’ll be ready soon,” I whisper, holding him tighter. “I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” He kisses the top of my head. “My beautiful little wife. Now, get that piercing girl back in here. I want to poke more holes in you.”
“Jesus, you’re insane.”
“It makes me fucking hard. Are you complaining?”
“You have a really weird fetish.”
“I ask again, are you complaining?”
“No,” I say, blushing pink. “Sicko.”
“You like it.” He brushes his lips against my ear. “You might even love it.”
Yeah, I might even.
