Epilogue

Leo

I gripped May’s hips and slammed into her again. She was on all fours in front of me, clutching the mattress pad. We had long since knocked off all the sheets, blankets, duvet, and pillows. We were down to just the mattress, and the bed kept making this odd groaning sound.

Then she pressed back into me and squeezed her inner muscles to the point I crossed my eyes.

I couldn’t think much about the bed after that.

“Leo. Please.”

“Getting there. Almost there. Come on, baby. Come for me.” I reached down and slid my fingers over her clit. She shook, her body undulating as she came, and I moved faster, squeezing her generous curves as I kept moving. My balls tightened, my lower back tingled, and then I was coming, filling the condom as both of us shook, shouting each other’s names.

We slid onto the bed, and a creaking sound hit my ears. I held May close as we tilted sideways and rolled off the bed, the frame coming apart.

Dust plumed as I shielded May from the falling headboard.

I looked down at her, widened my eyes at the fact that my cock was still buried balls-deep inside her, and we both burst out laughing.

“Did we just break my bed?” she asked, her eyes wide.

I winced and looked around. “Pretty sure we just broke your bed. Fuck. I’m sorry, baby.”

“It’s fine. It was an older one from when I first got out of college. I needed to update it. But, well…I didn’t realize we’d break it by having sex.”

“Oh, that wasn’t just sex. That was glorious, hard fucking. Gymnastics and sex. Everything you could possibly think of. We did things in this bed and christened it more than you’d ever think possible.”

We laughed before we slowly rose and cleaned each other up. I looked back at the bedroom and groaned.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“Don’t be. Wow, we broke the bed,” she said with another laugh.

I turned and pulled May against my side, kissing the top of her head. She laughed up at me.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“I’ve had the best two months with you, May. I want more. And us breaking beds and making messes? Pretty fucking amazing.”

“So, what do you say about our forty-second date?” I asked and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Are we really up to forty-two?” She smiled wide at me, and I fell more in love.

“It may be more. Have we been writing this down? I feel like we should have been writing this down.” I reached around and smacked her on the ass. When she yelped, I grinned.

“Okay, woman. Let’s go get this all fixed up, and then we’ll head into the tattoo shop.”

May bit her lip. “Why am I nervous?”

I frowned and looked over at her. “If this is too much, we don’t have to do it. The tattoo is only for you. You know that.”

“I know. And I know we’ve talked about the sunset I want on my wrist for my dad and me. But I’m still nervous.”

“I could be all protective and say I’m the only one who gets to touch your skin. But fuck that. It’s your skin. Do you want Leif to do it? Or someone else? Nick would do it in a heartbeat. He’s great with wrist tattoos.”

She frowned. “That’s a thing?”

“It can be. Some people have issues with their wrists, either from typing too much or autoimmune diseases. It could be any number of things. Your wrists take a beating, and they can get painful at times. And while the tattoo itself didn’t hurt there for me like it does for other people, the angle you sometimes have to hold your arm at can be a little annoying. Nick somehow finds the perfect way. I think I do a pretty damn good job, but Nick is the master.”

May shook her head. “No. If anyone is going to stick a needle in my body over and over and put ink in it, it’s going to be you.”

I grinned. “You say the sweetest things, baby.”

“Okay, let’s head out so you can stab me a few times, and then you can get back to work. I’m meeting with Sebastian today to go over a few things.”

I frowned. “Everything okay?”

May nodded. “I think so. I don’t know. I love his daughter. But he’s going through so much, and I don’t think he’s sleeping. I probably shouldn’t be telling you everything.”

“Tell me what you feel comfortable with. But Sebastian is my friend, too. If there’s anything I can do to help, you’ll let me know?”

“Of course.” She rose onto her toes. “Of course.”

We stood there, naked, in her broken bedroom, and I swallowed hard. “I love you, May. I just thought you should know. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you from the moment I met you, you laughed at my cheesy jokes, and your eyes warmed. I’ve loved you since then. But I’ve fallen in love with you every day since.”

I probably should have said it in a different location, somewhere a little more romantic without a broken bedframe in front of us, but I couldn’t hold back any longer. Not with her in front of me. I’d been with a lot of women, and I’d had the life I thought I wanted.

But now I had May. And I sure as hell was going to keep her.

Her eyes filled, and I was afraid I had said the wrong thing.

“May?”

“I love you, too. I was so afraid to say it at first, even though I should have been strong enough to do so. I’ve been holding back. I’m sorry. I won’t hold back any longer. I love you, Leo. And you are way more romantic than I am. I can’t even think of anything romantic to say.” She sniffed. “Oh, that was just so sweet. And I’m standing here naked.”

I laughed. “I’ve been practicing in my head for a while now. And you’re naked in front of me. Nothing’s more romantic than that.” She reached around and pinched my ass, and I laughed before taking her mouth with mine.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you, too.”

We made it into Montgomery Ink Legacy, only a little late for her tattoo. Considering the appointment was with me, that was fine .

We sat down at my station as Leif and Nick shook their heads at me.

“I can’t believe you’re touching virgin skin over there,” Leif said with a frown.

“You know, I always found it a little too sexual the way you guys talk about that, but whatever. My boyfriend’s going to stab me with a needle. I’m excited,” May said with a sing-song voice, and Nick barked out a laugh.

“We should use that as an ad. We could get some business.”

“I don’t know if that would work,” a familiar voice said as Brandi, my favorite client, walked in.

I frowned, wondering if we had an appointment, but she wasn’t looking at me. Instead, she was looking at May, and it all clicked.

The familiar eyes, the same color hair. That smile that held a little bit of wickedness.

“Wait, Brandi. As in your Aunt Brandi ?” I asked, looking over at May.

May blinked. “Yes, this is my aunt. How do you know her?” she asked before her eyes widened. “This is where you’re getting your tattoos? Why didn’t you tell me?” May asked.

Brandi just grinned as everyone started laughing, and I shook my head.

“This was the niece you were trying to set me up with? Why didn’t you tell me it was May? I would’ve said yes long ago.”

“You tried to set me up with Leo?” May asked, looking flabbergasted.

“It’s not my fault you guys took so long. You should have listened to me. I know all. Now, I came here to watch you give my favorite person in the world a tattoo. I trust him, May. But I want to be here. Plus, I can take photos for your mother.”

May blushed, and I grinned.

“Really. I thought I wouldn’t meet your family until tomorrow for dinner.” And that was going to be nerve-racking enough.

She swallowed hard. “Well, my aunt mentioned that she wanted to stop by, and now that I think about it, I didn’t actually tell you where I was getting my tattoo.” May narrowed her gaze. “That’s a little worrying.”

“I see all. I know all.” Brandi took her phone out and sat in front of me. “Okay, get to work. I want to see this ink. Welcome to the family, Leo.” She winked as May blushed, and I laughed .

“You’re nothing but trouble.”

“It’s true.”

I set out all of my tools and then worked on the stencil. It was a simple setting sun tattoo, just an outline, something small that would go on her inner wrist. But it had taken May a full month to figure out what she wanted. That was May. She either went into something headfirst, or she took ages to come up with a plan. There was no in-between when it came to her.

But that was why I loved her.

I settled the stencil on her skin, and we looked it over, making sure we had it in the right position.

“Take your time. If you’re not ready, you can walk away. This is permanent, you know.”

“I’m ready. I trust you.”

“Aww,” Brandi said from my side before sighing.

I scowled at her. “Quiet in the peanut gallery.”

“I’m zipping my lips. And I may have both phones in my hands because her mother’s on the call, too.”

I winced but waved at the phone, knowing she could see me, but I couldn’t see her. May simply rolled her eyes and held out her wrist.

“Okay. Let’s get this done.”

I leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I’m ready.”

“Do you kiss all your clients?”

“He hasn’t kissed me yet. I feel like I’ve been left out.”

“Brandi, shut up. Let me see my daughter,” May’s mom said from the phone, and Brandi turned the phone so May could say hi.

We both waved, and then I focused on May and her ink, making sure I got it right.

It was a quick tattoo, and May didn’t even wince. She just smiled at me, her eyes wide as she watched me work.

I loved my job. I loved inking flesh and making art that would last forever. This was a moment in time that danced on someone’s skin. One that would never go away. They were taking part of me with them, even if it was only the experience.

And this was my May. I wanted to make sure she had everything she wanted.

“Okay. We already went over the aftercare but let’s make sure we have it down,” I said as I went through everything again, covering her tattoo with the clear bandage.

“It didn’t even hurt. I liked it. ”

“Oh, great, now my daughter is like my sister—an addict,” May’s mom said with a laugh. “You did a great job, Leo. We’ll see you tomorrow for dinner. Goodbye, baby,” her mom said and hung up. I winced.

“You know, that was my first time ever tattooing my girlfriend while her family watched. It was a little nerve-racking.”

“Tell me about it. I’m stressed out,” Nick said from his station, and I barely resisted the urge to flip him off.

“I love it. Thank you, baby.” May leaned forward and kissed me, and I grinned.

“You’re welcome.”

My phone rang, and I picked it up to check out the screen. “Hey, it’s my sister.” My eyes widened. “Fuck, her due date’s tomorrow. It’s my sister!”

May scrambled off the chair. “Answer it. Answer it!”

Everyone stared at me, even the clients in their own chairs, and I picked up my phone.

“Caroline?”

“Come to the hospital. I’m ready to go. The twins are ready for their birthday. They’re going to need their uncle.”

“I’m on my way,” I said as I hung up and looked at May.

“Okay. Apparently, we’re going to have new babies today.”

Everybody cheered, and May picked up her bag. “Come on. We’d better go.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow. And I’d better see photos of those babies,” Brandi said as everyone else agreed about the photos.

I nodded as May practically ran out of the building, dragging me with her.

“I thought I was excited. You’re running now, May.”

“It’s the next addition to your family. I’m excited for these babies. And I love that Caroline and I have gotten so close these last weeks. But come on. Babies! ”

“I love you. Thank you for being part of this with me. My sister’s having another baby… two . And you’re going to be by my side. It seems like it was meant to be.”

She looked up at me and smiled as we got in the car. “All I had were nevers before you. Now, you’re my happily ever after. Of course, I’m going to be by your side.”

My heart did that twisting thing, and I swallowed hard. “You know, as long as I don’t have to ride a horse into the sunset, I’ll be your anything. Happily ever afters? I can do that.”

She laughed like I wanted her to. “Well, what do you say for our one-hundredth date, we try that out? Just in case.” She winked, and I snorted.

“May? I’ll be your every date.” And then I pressed my lips to hers, and we headed into the new phase of our lives and our family.

* * * *

Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Carrie Ann Ryan, discover Happily Ever Maybe , Nothing but Ink , Captured in Ink , Taken With You , Ashes to Ink , Inked Nights , Hidden Ink , Adoring Ink , and, Wicked Wolf .