Running With Devils

Twenty-Four

Now I stood in nothing but my lace bralette and panties.

His dark eyes drank in my nearly naked body. "There's something so refreshing about a pure canvas," he said as if in thought. Then he stepped closer and for some reason my heart stopped its beating. "You are in control. You say stop and I stop."

I swallowed hard, nodding at his words.

"Go ahead," he breathed. "Take a seat in my chair."

I let myself obey him, sitting down and pulling my legs onto the extended recliner. He pulled a scary looking tattoo gun and a vile of the blackest ink I've ever laid eyes on. He dipped the needle into the vile slowly.

Oh fuck. What was I doing?! I should not let this psycho start doodling on me!

"I need you to tell me that you're ready," he said softly. "Would you be so kind?"

"Yes," I practically gasped, shutting my eyes tightly and turning my head away. "Yes I'm ready."

He stayed quiet for a moment.

"Coralynn," he said quietly. "Look at me, darling."

I slowly did as he requested.

"Look at this," he said, holding the tattoo gun out. "It's just a tool. It will hurt, but you have to lean into it. Acknowledge it. It will all be worth it if you just trust in the pain, hm?"

"I know," I rasped.

"I'll ask you again," he said carefully. "Are you ready?"

This time I made sure to be confident in my response.

"Yes," I spoke.

He smiled. It was neither cruel nor mischievous. It was a genuine curve of his lips that made my stomach lighter than air.

"Good," he laughed softly, wiping down my shoulder with a sterile wipe. Then he turned on his machine and I became rigid.

"It's so loud," I breathed.

Levi chuckled. "It's all bark, small bite. Lay back and relax. I'll take care of you."
He brought the needle to my skin.

Immediately the pain sank into me. I locked up, biting my lip furiously. It felt like a cat scratching its molten claws across my skin.

"I can't believe you do this on yourself," I said, taking deep breaths.

He chuckled. "It's not so bad. I learned to embrace it."

"How many do you have," I asked curiously.

"Too many to count," he grinned proudly. "I usually do it when I get inspired by something or someone. I want to have it forever etched in my skin."

I tried looking at what he was doing, but he lifted the gun away.

"Why'd you stop," I asked frowning.

"You have to trust me, darling. My best work comes when the one in my chair believes I'll give them exactly what they want," he said simply.

I rolled my eyes. "I think you're just being a primadonna," I snorted.

Levi shook his head and smirked. "A primadonna?"

"Yea," I doubled down. "A primadonna."

He just laughed and brought the needle to my skin again. "You always are such an interesting creature."

As he went on, my body began to tingle. It didn't hurt anymore and I relaxed against the chair. He would do a few more details, then dab at the place he had finished.