Rubbing alcohol.
A&D.
Aftercare lotion.
Plastic gloves.
Plastic wrap.
Autoclave sterilizer.
His breath is even. Steady.
Mine is… not.
The air conditioner whirs.
My heart thuds.
There. That must be it. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
I drop the cotton ball in the paper cup.
Slowly, I peel the adhesive from his tanned, toned skin.
My breath leaves my body.
It's perfect.
It's amazing.
It's everything.
That's my work, my drawing, on his skin.
My work is on someone's body.
It's temporary, but still.
It's my work on someone's body.
On Dean's tall, sculpted body.
The back of his hand brushes the inside of my wrist. "You okay, sunshine?"
"Yeah." My fingers go to his skin reflexively.
"You gonna ask permission for that?"
"Sorry."
"I get it. I'm irresistible."
My cheeks flare. "No, I—"
"You can touch me all you want, sunshine. But you need to break that habit."