Beneath the Ink (COMPLETE)

Bright Red

Rhodes Beverley

With every sharp exhale I threw a punch at the bag.

Gripping the tape I wore to protect cutting my knuckles, I felt release with every hit, my hips forcing the perfect punch.

I felt my own sweat beading, wiping whatever I felt roll off me, goosebumps coating my skin as I let out my anger on the thing.

Everything from Liza, from the "family friend" Mira.

Everything I felt for my father, my fucked up voice, my inability to care for her because I let fear get the best of me.

The only woman I ever looked at with not an ounce of fear.

I came into the pub, eight months ago, my stomach didn't even knot.

Of course women didn't physically intimidate me regardless of my experiences.

But emotionally, I was absolutely terrified.

So many of them were selfish, they were ruthless with staring, but blamed men for doing exactly what they do.

Cecelia was it, only ever nervous telling her how I felt, touching her, but that was it.

She was openly kind. Patient.

That's what I wanted. She's what I want.

I heard the basement door open.

"It's me." She said.

She came down with a bottle of water and a towel.

She paused, looking at me.

I looked down, shirtless.

I held out my hand, she handed me the towel.

I wiped all of it off, every bead threatening to fall.

"D-did I wa-wake you?" I asked, taking the water from her, sipping on it, hoping it would temporarily soothe my sore throat.

She could barely look at me. Then I analyzed her work shirt, only wearing panties situation.

I loved her thighs.

"Uhm n-no, I uhm, wow, sorry- I got a call from Penny that's uh, we're getting a few new workers." She avoided looking at me but I caught her a few times.

"Y-you sound-ed a b-bit like m-me there." I joked.

She smiled.

"Was that humor?" She asked.

I shrugged.

"Now I just have to work on making you smile. That's my goal." She turned, I grabbed her wrist and she gasped when she landed closer to me then I think she planned to.

Suddenly she was the nervous one and I was perfectly fine.

"What?" I whispered.

"I-I don't want to objectify you." She couldn't look me in the eyes.

"Say it." I tilted my head, trying to catch her gaze.

I grabbed her jaw.

"Say it." I repeated.

She made a sound, so innocent, but my cock began throbbing.

"Uhm... you're really attractive." She squirmed.

"Say it." I wanted to hear her thoughts.

"You're fucking hot." She let out a humorless chuckle, covering for her nerves.

I smirked.

I took a deep breath, kissing her forehead, her skin cool under my warmth.

I exhaled when I pulled away and her face was bright red.

"T-that was very good." She almost squeaked.

"B-breathe." I blew on her face and she hummed.

She was burning red, I could tell she wanted to run.

"Stay." I pointed to the chair I had down here usually for me.

"But-"

I scolded her.

"Okay." She walked to the chair, sitting.

"Good girl." I turned from her.

"Fuck me." She whispered and I turned, her elbows on her knees, her face in her hands.

I'd been dreaming of making her flustered.

It didn't take much. I underestimated myself.

Now that she was awake I got on the treadmill, turning it on and up, playing my music that's connected to the speaker.

I had my own gym, I had everything I needed, along with mirrors on my wall, so I could see her.

She was still rubbing her face.

She had red blotches running down her neck.

I increased the incline, going to a jog.

She looked up, making eye contact with me in the mirror and covered her face again, pulling her knees to her chest, her feet up on the chair too.

I downed the incline, speeding up.

She watched me, so I decided not to make her hide again and I looked down at the panel that controlled my speed.

I stopped it, out of breath and too fucking hot.

I wiped myself off with the towel once again, sipping on the water.

"I-I have work." I told her.

She looked at me, her arms wrapped around her legs.

"When?"

"S-she had a-an ap-appointment at uhm, n-noon." I nodded.

"Okay."

"D-do you?"

"I don't work, I have today off. And tomorrow." She stood from the chair.

"Come." I said.

"To work? Your work?" She asked.

I stared at her, duh.

"You want me to?"

"Fine, okay. That's soon though. I need to get new clothes and shower. All the scabs on the tattoo you gave me finally healed." She lifted her shirt and showed me.

It was a beautiful tree, a piece of me on her body and she didn't realize it.

"I can go home now so you can also get ready and-"

I shook my head, refusing.

"Then what?"

I chewed the inside of my cheek.

"Alright so how about I wait for you, then you join me to my house, and wait for me till I'm ready?" She asked.

"That's a yes, alright-"

"Eat." I grabbed my stuff.

"I have food-" I stood in front of her, she immediately stopped.

"Okay." She nodded.

I motioned her to the stairs with my head, she began walking up.

Being a respectful man, I tried very hard to not look at her ass but it looked so good.

So fucking good.