Playing (Inked Hearts 2)

"It's the same question."

She shakes her head your loss.

I flip through my sketchbook, find my next mockup, bring it to the scanner, and get to work on making a temporary tattoo.

The printer hums.

I grab the paper and scissors. Bring them back to the counter.

Dean is on the opposite side of the counter. He plants his hands on the plastic and leans closer. "Kinky Kay. You working on something good?"

"Maybe." She presses her lips together.

"You are." He laughs. "You ever gonna show off this dirty book of yours?"

"When's the last time you read a book?" I ask.

He turns to me. "It happened once."

Kaylee laughs. "Back in high school?"

"Were they out of SparkNotes?" I tease.

"And CliffsNotes. That was bullshit." He shakes his head with mock offense. Turns to Kay. "I'll make an exception for your masterpiece."

"Uh-huh." She presses her laptop shut.

He mimes being stabbed in the gut. Stumbles backward. Falls onto the floor and stretches out like a star fish.

"He's demo-ing his favorite sex position," I say.

"Huh?" Kaylee raises a brow.

"You've never heard of starfish?" I ask.

She folds her arms. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's when the person on the bottom just lays there. No moaning, no panting, no thrusting, no touching. The pinnacle of a bad lay," I say.

"Yeah. There's a reason why Walker is so familiar." Dean jumps—actually jumps—to his feet. "It's his signature. Only he does it on top. Why do you think he never does repeats?"

"I've never seen you with the same woman twice," she says.

"Have you ever seen me with a woman?" he asks.

"Well, no… but I haven't seen Walker with one either. You never invite me out," she says.

"You're not twenty-one," I say.

"Uh-huh." She shakes her head, not buying it.

"Tell me, Kay." Dean leans in close enough to stage whisper. "Brendon ever starfish?"

Her cheeks flush. But she doesn't look embarrassed. More turned on. "No."

"He into you doing it?" Dean asks.

She shakes her head.