Hidden Depths Read online

"What are you talking about?"

  "Just now. I said it was better than being a dumbass. You grinned, then hid it behind that stupid stoic expression you favor so much of the time. I'm not entirely sure which reaction I find more confusing... laughing when I insult you or hiding it. So, explain both."

  "I don't wear a stoic expression."

  "Yes, you do. Constantly. At least around me. You always look a little constipated."

  "I do not look constipated."

  His voice was getting a little louder, and even more stuffy sounding. Good. She was making him angry. She had no idea why she liked making him mad so much, but she truly enjoyed it. "Well, maybe it's not constipated so much as looking like you have a giant stick up your ass."

  "You know what Gia, if I do look like that, it's probably because I'm trying not to yell at you. My mother always said if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. And, I have a very difficult time thinking of anything nice around you. The 'constipated' expression you're referring to is me biting my tongue."

  Now he was yelling. Not loudly, but he was clearly angry and no longer stoic. She stopped sketching and turned to him wearing a huge grin. "Hi, Josh. It's nice to see the real you finally make an appearance. Much better than the bland version. So, here is what I was thinking of for your design. What do you think so far? I still need to add some details, and a background, but this is the basic shape. Do you like it?"

  Josh's glare turned to a quick look of confusion followed by laughter. A deep, honest belly laugh.

  "How do you do that? You infuriate me, insult me, then make me laugh all in thirty seconds."

  She shrugged, "It's a gift. Now, look at the sketch. Is this what you were looking for?"

  Once she got his initial approval she went back to sketching. Since she was working on the details, she focused on those, leaving Josh to wander around the shop for awhile. When she got the sketch done, she made her copy and proceeded to trace it all out in purple ink.

  When she was done, she got everything ready, prepped her station, new needles, gloves, baggies, wipes, etc. All set up she turned back to Josh.

  "You really want to go through with this?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Okay... strip."

  Chapter 2

  At the command to strip, Josh froze in mid stride. "I'm sorry, did you say strip?"

  He had no idea what his expression was, but it was clearly amusing her because she laughed again. That deep rich laugh that always drove him to distraction.

  "Yes Josh, take off your shirt. It would be a little hard to ink you through cotton. I could shove the sleeve up, but it's easier if it's just off and out of the way. Granted it's been a while, but I'm sure you have nothing to be ashamed of and it's just us in here. Let's see it, lawyer boy. Unless sitting in an office has made you soft."

  She was obviously taunting him. He knew she was trying to get a reaction out of him, just like she always did. And, like always, his ego made him rise to the bait. He stripped off the old T-shirt and even kicked off his sandals. The only pair of Birkenstocks he owned. Wearing just his old jeans made this feel almost intimate despite the fact that they were in her place of business.

  He wasn't entirely sure what little imp made him ask, "So, do you have to strip too?"

  He eyed her from head to toe. She was also in worn jeans, faded and ripped from wear not design, black combat boots covered her feet. Her shirt was a fitted black tank top that seemed to lace up the front. He wondered if it would actually come apart if he tugged that string. Trying to redirect his wandering thoughts before they started to manifest in more physical ways, he finally looked up into her face.

  Her normally cheerful, if somewhat sarcastic, expression had been replaced with some unreadable look. Was that desire he saw in her eyes? Whatever it was caused an almost physical sensation in his gut before she shook it off. The snarky little grin he was used to returned.

  "Yes, in a manner of speaking." She turned to the table beside her workstation and pulled off all her rings and bracelets. Then, with a quick glance at him she pulled the laces on her boots, kicking them off to the side and stuffing her socks down inside them. "Barefoot looked too tempting to pass up."

  She patted the table then looked at him expectantly. "So, let's get you on the bed."

  Josh gulped, trying to remember to breathe. As he climbed up on the table he told himself that she wasn't really flirting with him, it was just her natural personality. She was treating him like a client. Trying to take his mind off what she was about to do, to put him at ease. He started to mentally run down the list of why she would never actually flirt with him; she didn't like him, they had nothing in common, they hardly ever even got along, attraction was based on mutual likes and dislikes, and above all else, he was engaged to her friend.

  Thinking about Deb brought back that tight feeling. The one he'd been running from all day. It wasn't her really. He loved Deb, he honestly did. It was just everything she represented. Marriage, kids, settling down. Living the life his parents expected. The life they had carved out for him. He'd known the plan since before he could talk. With a few small exceptions he had toed the line his entire life, ignoring all his personal wants and desires. For some reason, lately, the line felt more and more like a noose. He sighed, mentally shrugging it off. He was just having normal pre-wedding jitters.

  He sat patiently while Gia shaved his arm, cleaned his skin and laid on the outline. He approved the positioning in the mirror and waited while she loaded the first color.

  After the prolonged silence, he was startled when she asked, "Are you ready?"

  He nodded, settling in for the expected pain. Now that the work was beginning, she decided to start getting chatty again.

  "So, what were you thinking about? While I got you ready. You seemed pretty deep in thought."

  She was always too observant. He sighed, "Nothing, really. Nothing I can explain anyway." At least nothing I can tell you.

  "Well, give it a shot. Pretend I'm your local bartender. Aren't they supposed to be like free therapists or some shit like that?"

  "Yeah, but the local bartender is not someone who is directly involved in my life."

  "Aaaahh, so it's about Deb. Or, your impending nuptials."

  "Nuptials... who even says that anymore?"

  Gia laughed, deep and throaty, and Josh felt his body responding to the sound. Oh yeah. There was absolutely no way he could tell her about that. Deciding to once again take the chicken shit route, he opted to tell her about everything else. He would just leave Deb out of it.

  "It's not Deb, not really. It's just been one of those days. Ya know? The kind that just makes it feel like everything is closing in around you. You have to do something to break loose, to shake off the pressure."

  "So you thought it would be a good idea to get a tattoo? There are a lot less permanent ways to express your freedom. You could've gotten your nipple pierced or something. Then, when you're done playing the rebel you could simply take it out. Besides, I thought that's what the Mustang was for... breaking loose."

  Josh couldn't help the little chuckle that escaped. "I forgot you knew about that."

  "Seriously Josh? I know you and I don't get along all that well now, but I was the one that helped you find the damn thing."

  She actually sounded hurt by his careless comment. "That's not what I meant, Gia. I remembered that you helped me track it down. It's just that I've gotten so used to keeping that part of me a secret that I forgot anyone knew. Except Blake."

  "Except Deb. She knows about it right?"

  "I don't think so. At least we've never talked about it. I keep it at the storage unit. Maybe she does... I've never deliberately kept it from her. I'm sure she does."

  "You should take her for a ride in that car. It is seriously sexy. I can't imagine it wouldn't be fun all the way around."

  Josh looked up just in time to see Gia wiggle her eyebrows at him with a sexy little twist of her lips, making
sure he knew precisely what 'fun' she was talking about. He laughed at her, relaxing despite the pain in his arm. He had forgotten just how well they could get along, when they weren't sniping at each other.

  "We have fun sometimes, don't we?"

  Gia shrugged, tossing her head from side to side. "Yeah, when you relax and quit being so uptight."

  "You think that's why we argue so much? Because I'm uptight?" He knew that wasn't why, but he couldn't tell her that either.

  "Hell yeah... although I am starting to reconsider what might be lurking underneath the uptight exterior."

  He groaned under his breath. She had no idea what lurked beneath the exterior. Hell, he wasn't even sure he knew the full extent of it. Odds were pretty good he'd never find out. But there was a piece of him that would love nothing more than to just let it all out. Maybe that was why he was so drawn to Gia. Maybe it had nothing to do with physical attraction, maybe he just admired her free spirit. That's what he'd been trying to tell himself for the last eight years anyway. It was a hell of a lot better than facing up to the one-sided attraction.

  "Trust me when I say you have no idea."

  "Well, I gotta say this was one hell of a way to blow your image, lawyer boy. I think your car is about to become the least of your worries."

  He chuckled again. "Yeah, maybe it is at that."

  "You're a natural at this by the way. We've been sitting here an hour already and you're handling it like a vet."

  "Ummm thanks... I think. Let me guess, you were expecting me to puss out and walk away as soon as you hit me with the gun."

  Now it was her turn to laugh. Damn! That warm, deep, rumbling sound sent the blood straight to his groin every time. Josh was never so glad to be lying on his stomach.

  "Yeah, I guess I was. It wouldn't be the first time."

  * * * *

  They chatted amicably enough while she finished the tattoo. Nothing of any real importance, just lighthearted chat and easy banter.

  She kept her tone casual, belying the tension she felt seeping through every muscle in her body. She'd love to blame it on her hunched position, leaning over his arm like she was, but she knew better. She'd spent days in even stranger positions doing some tattoos on less accessible body parts. It never fazed her before. Sure, her neck got tight, but that was nothing like this.

  She knew this feeling. This was arousal, plain and simple. Josh with his rock hard body and six-pack abs was lying on the table in front of her. That amazingly tight ass with those faded jeans hugging every curve was within easy reach. Not to mention, she was watching a piece of her art slowly develop across that broad bicep. It was hotter than hell. And she couldn't do anything about it.

  So, she ignored it. She shoved it down as far as she could, sliding into 'work mode' where she made lots of idle chit chat with people she didn't know. She listened with one ear and focused on her gun and the picture that was emerging.

  She hadn't been lying when she'd said he was sitting like a vet. She knew his skin had to be tender. They were almost done with what would be a good five hour tattoo. She had easily expected him to call it around the three hour mark. She was doing her best to move around and give him a break when she could, but that was a hellishly long sitting, especially for a first timer.

  As she wiped his arm again, she went back through, putting in finishing touches, checking for detail. She wanted this to be the cleanest work she'd ever done. If she only got one shot at this man's body, she wanted to leave her mark and make it perfect.

  When she was finally satisfied she sat back, one last swipe and she set the gun down, standing to stretch her shoulders.

  "Take a look. Tell me what you think. We're done for tonight, regardless, but I can always touch it up later if there's something that doesn't feel right."

  Josh walked to the mirror, turning his arm left and right looking at the detail, squinting his eyes as he took in the finished product. She couldn't read anything in his expression, so she waited, every nerve in her body running on high alert.

  He turned to her, his lips finally curving up into a wicked, heart stopping grin. Her breath caught, despite her best efforts, she found herself trying to blow it out calmly and instead it hitched out in a deep sigh.

  He watched her, seemed to be trying to read her expression. She forced a small smile, hoping it looked calm, pleased he was happy with her work. Instead he seemed to decide something. He started toward her with slow, sure steps. Almost stalking her like prey. She felt like she should run, leave as fast as she could possibly escape. That desire alone forced her to be still, to stand her ground.

  Two more steps and he was standing right in front of her, his body almost touching hers, sending a little sizzle along those sensitive nerves.

  "It's exactly what I wanted, what I needed, today. Thank you."

  He leaned in, slowly, giving her ample time to pull away from the kiss she knew was coming. She figured it would be a soft kiss on the cheek. A thank you, nothing more. He took her right hand in his, squeezing the fingers softly as he brought his other hand up to her face. He ran his thumb gently along her jaw line, tracing the edge of her bottom lip. She actually felt her body melt, her muscles turning into warm butter. There was some niggling thought in the back of her mind that she needed to stop this, to move before his lips touched hers, but she couldn't come up with why if her life had depended on it.

  At last his lips brushed against hers, a feather-light touch, so soft she thought she imagined it. Until he did it again. And again. Finally settling his mouth more firmly against her lips, Gia heard the moan, felt it come from her own throat. She gave in, pressing her body more firmly against his, exactly where she wanted to be.

  The kiss turned heated, lighting off like fireworks on the .Fourth of July. The soft tender kiss was gone, replaced by passion. He pressed back, seeming to try to push their bodies closer together. She barely kept from lifting a leg and wrapping it around his waist. His hands closed around her, cruising down her back to settle lower, right on the round globes of her ass, before pulling her even more tightly against him.

  She could feel his erection pressing against her belly. That surprised her, as did this whole situation. Josh had never thought of her that way. She wasn't his type. Deb was.

  That thought sent ice rushing through her with guilt trailing hot on its heels. She pushed him away, managing only to mutter, "No" as no other words could get past the restriction of her throat.

  Josh stumbled back, falling against the bed he'd recently been lying on, sucking in deep gulps of air. After a couple minutes, he started to mumble.

  "I'm sorry. God, I didn't mean... I never meant to... I'm so sorry Gia. Shit. Fuck. I don't know how that even..."

  "Never mind. You've been riled up all day, and the tattoo caused an adrenaline rush. I'm sure this was a product of that mood. After all, in eight years you've never once kissed me. I promise not to take it personally."

  She forced a smile she didn't feel, and stood on still shaking knees. She grabbed her wipes and cleaned his arm one more time. She rubbed ointment on it, refusing to look him in the eyes. After she had it covered, she handed him her standard sheet of paper with aftercare instructions.

  "Call me or come by if you have any questions or wonder if it's healing right."

  Josh grabbed his shirt, yanking it over his head inside out. He slipped his Birks back on and walked toward the door where she waited, trying to keep that pleasant smile in place.

  At the door, he stopped, facing her and waiting until she finally looked up into his eyes. God, was that a mistake.

  "Gia, I really didn't mean for that to happen. Not ever."

  "I know Josh. I meant what I said. I won't take it to mean anything. I know it didn't. You love Deb. So, we'll just chalk this up to a shitty day and forget it ever happened."

  She gritted her teeth, forcing one more smile, hoping it was enough to fool him. It must have worked because he nodded silently, pinched his lips together and le
ft. Gia locked the door behind him, turned off the lights and made it all the way to her car before her legs collapsed into so much jelly.

  Chapter 3

  Friday night Josh was out walking. He'd had a late meeting, working until almost nine-thirty and he was exhausted. It had been a long, strenuous day. Productive, but he was still exhausted. Once again he found himself thinking about Gia. More specifically about that kiss. He'd wondered, on many occasions, what it would feel like to kiss her. To feel her curvy body pressed against his. He'd always suspected that the fire she displayed so proudly in all other areas of her life would carry over into the bedroom.

  He stopped outside the little tavern in the Village, debating for all of ten seconds before deciding he didn't want to go in. He didn't want to go home either. He kept walking, trying to deny the truth. He wanted to see Gia.

  By the time he made it to her shop, it was after ten and they were closing up. He watched while the girl who worked at the front desk cleaned up, flipping the sign to Closed and the neon lights off. He looked in the door, seeing Gia wave to the other artist that worked in the shop and the desk girl as they headed out the back.

  She looked amazing, as always. Her hair was purple today. She must have redone it. The braid was still hanging down her back, but long pieces swept the sides of her cheeks, escaping their confines. She wore a black T-shirt with some sort of skull pattern across the front in white. A short black skirt with silver buckles and those knee high socks she was so fond of with black and white stripes going around them. Her skirt was short enough to offer a tantalizing glimpse of bare thigh above the socks. Before he could think better of it, he opened the door, just as Gia turned heading over to lock it up for the night.

  She froze mid-stride when she saw him, surprise clear in her wide hazel eyes. After a moment she gave him that snarky little grin.

  "Twice in four days. To what do I owe the pleasure? Is something wrong with your arm?"

  "Nope, arm's fine."

  She waited a beat for him to continue. When he kept silent she finally asked, "Then why are you here?"