Chapter 97 My tattoos
Lila POV
I wiped my damp palms against my thighs for what felt like the hundredth time and forced myself to inhale slowly, deeply. Earlier, I had looked Nico straight in the eye and told him I trusted him and I had meant it but now was the moment to prove that my words were not empty.
“Where is the tattoo going to be?” I asked as I lowered myself into the chair, my pulse drumming wildly beneath my skin. “The same place as mine,” Nico replied smoothly.
My gaze dropped to my right arm and the thought of mirroring him sent a strange warmth through my chest. “Can I see the design first?”
“No.”
Before I could argue further, darkness swallowed my vision and a strip of fabric tightened around my eyes, shutting out the room, the lights, everything.
“Nico, what are you doing?” I protested, my fingers twitching against the armrests. “I want to see it before it’s inked.”
“You told me you trusted me, little pet.”
His voice was calm, almost amused. “Yes, but this is different.”
“How is it any different?” His hand settled on my shoulder, heavy and possessive. “It just is,” I whispered, unable to properly explain the storm inside me.
Then his breath brushed the sensitive skin of my neck, warm and deliberate. “Do not remove the blindfold unti. “Do not remove the blindfold until Micky is finished, Is that clear?”
My throat tightened because know arguing would not change anything and It never did but a part of me didn’t truly want to fight him.
Soft fingers traced along my jaw, slipping beneath my chin, tilting my face up. “You belong to me,” he murmured, his voice low and certain. “And so does your body, little pet.”
I didn’t respond and for the first time in hours, even Micky had fallen silent, the room thick with tension.
Nico stepped away, and moments later I felt the cool glide of a razor against my skin. A shudder rippled down my spine and my muscles locked instinctively, but as the blade continued its careful path, something shifted inside me. The sharp sensation no longer felt threatenin, It felt awakening.
In the darkness behind the blindfold, my imagination ran wild. I pictured Nico watching intently as Micky prepared my skin. I wondered what expression he wore and was his jaw tight? Were his eyes dark with that dangerous fascination he never tried to hide? He had never concealed his attraction to the sight of blood, to the rawness beneath the surface.
“Ready?” Micky asked gently, breaking through my spiraling thoughts, I stiffened, then pressed my teeth into my lower lip.
“Trust me, little pet,” Nico whispered again, his tone almost soothing. “Yes,” I breathed.
The buzzing began low at first, then sharp and invasive, a burn flared across my arm as the needle pierced skin. I flinched, and the sting deepened as Micky worked methodically. Only when I tasted iron did I realize I had bitten my lip hard enough to draw blood.
A hand cupped my chin, lifting my face. Even without sight, I knew it was Nico because my body recognized him instantly and the heat of his touch, the electric awareness that spread wherever his skin met mine.
His thumb brushed over my wounded lip, slow and deliberate, and then he stepped back. My mind betrayed me with an image of him bringing that thumb to his mouth. A rush of heat shot down my spine, pooling low in my belly, inappropriate and uncontrollable.
Without my sight, every other sense intensified. I could feel the subtle tremor of the needle, the warmth of blood rising to the surface, the faint pressure as ink settled beneath my skin. I could hear Micky wiping my arm again and again, steady and focused.
The pain lingered but instead of shrinking from it, I leaned into it the sharp sting made me feel startlingly alive, like every nerve ending had been set on fir and knowing Nico was watching, knowing he was witnessing every drop and every mark sent a thrill through me I could not deny.
My body was no longer tense with uncertainty. It was tight with anticipation, with hunger and with the intoxicating realization that I was being claimed, permanently marked.
The needle continued its relentless work, and gradually the pain dulled into something deeper, heavier. I almost wished it would sharpen again because the ache grounded me and It reminded me I was here with him.
I pressed my thighs together, embarrassed by the way my body responded to the entire experience but I couldn’t control it. The mixture of adrenaline and submission sent my senses spiraling. “Almost done,” Micky said softly.
A large palm settled at the back of my head. Nico’s presence wrapped around me like a shadow. “You’re doing great, little pet.”
Excitement fluttered violently in my stomach and I wanted to see it. I wanted to know what symbol Nico had chosen what permanent reminder of him now lived on my skin.
I rested my free hand against my belly instinctively, protective and I knew people debated whether pregnant women should get tattoos but Micky was meticulous, careful, and Nico would never entrust me to anyone less than perfect.
The buzzing finally stopped after hours of constant vibration, the silence felt unnatural, almost deafening my arm throbbed, skin burning as though it had been held too close to flame yet the discomfort didn’t frighten me. It didn’t make me anxious but It steadied me.
Strong hands grasped my elbow and helped me off the chair even through layers of sensation, I could distinguish Nico’s touch immediately because no one else could ignite my skin and soothe it at the same time.
He moved behind me, his hands sliding to my hips, firm and possessive. “I’m going to remove the blindfold,” he said near my ear. “But keep your eyes closed.”
His breath ghosted along my skin, and my body reacted instantly, craving more. I was aware Micky was still in the room, but it didn’t matter. If Nico decided to pull me against him right now, I would not resist because I had long since accepted that I was addicted to him in ways that defied logic.
The blindfold loosened and fell away, yet I obeyed, keeping my eyes shut. I stood there, waiting, heart pounding so loudly I was certain both men could hear it, I felt Nico’s fingers wrap around my elbow again, steadying me.
Every second stretched, thick and heavy with anticipation and as he slowly began to guide me forward, preparing to reveal what now marked my skin forever, my pulse thundered harder than ever before.