Page 57 of Shatter

"That's okay, right?"

I cover her hand with my own. "Of course. It's your money."

"My money..." she repeats almost wistfully.

It only takes us ten more minutes for the banker to give her her account information, a receipt for the deposit and a debit card.

Melody stares at it like it's made of gold. Watching her experience things like this for the first time breathes life into me.

She puts her hat and sunglasses back on before we leave.

We get lunch at a drivethrough spot on the far side of town and eat it in the SUV while we wait for Ruthless Ink to open.

Chapter thirty

Melody

The bell over the doorway tinkles pleasantly as Harrison opens the door and holds it open for me to walk through.

A beautiful woman with black hair and a deep blue A-line dress smiles warmly at us.

"Welcome in!" she shouts, waving to the counter in front of her. "What can we do for you?"

I walk slowly up to the counter, more than a little intimidated by the confident and badass looking woman in front of me. Machines buzz in the background, almost drowned out by the classic rock playing. I'm so far out of my element here, but I've gotten this far - I can be brave.

A mountain of a man appears from behind the pony wall, leading his customer out and whispering something to the woman, resting a hand intimately on her hip. I wonder if they're together.

I look around the room quickly to see if they have any information on piercings but I don't see any.

"I'd like to get my nipples pierced?" I say quickly before I have the chance to chicken out.

"Perfect," she says, long pale legs stretching out from behind the counter as she stands. "I'm Nikki, by the way," she says, offering me her hand.

"Hi. I'm..." I think about using a fake name, but I'm too slow to come up with one. Nikki's dark brow rises. "Melody."

I take off my sunglasses and she gives me a once over, smiling. "Yeah, you are." It sounds almost flirtatious and the idea makes me laugh.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone I was here? I'm kind of in hiding."

She waves a hand dismissively, walking into the back of the studio. "Of course. Patient-piercer privilege."

I'm certain that's not a thing, but I appreciate her anyway. I look around the main area where two more men are at work and for a second I balk. Will one of them be doing it? I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with another man touching me. Now that I've had a taste of what consent actually means, I'm not sure I want any man touching me. Except Harrison. Especially not with Harrison here...

I look back in the waiting area where Harrison's stayed, giving me the privacy to do this.

"Right this way...." Nikki says, holding open a dark curtain I hadn't noticed before.

"Are you..." I ask as I enter.

"Doing the piercing? Yep. I'm a little possessive over my guys so I learned how to peirce so they don't have to."

"Your guys?"

She nods her head as she slides the curtain closed and slides on some gloves.

"The guys out there. They're mine."

"All three of them?" I blanch.