Finally, the day was winding down for Ares. It had been a grind—twelve clients back-to-back, ranging from quick minimalist pieces to larger, more detailed work. His hands were tired, his shoulders sore, but he still had one more client. An advanced booking. Those were the ones that paid well and often came with interesting stories.

He glanced at the form, noting the requested placement, and his brows lifted. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. “A tattoo there, huh?” he asked, amused but not mocking. He’d seen it before, done it before, but it never failed to get his attention when someone requested ink in such an intimate place. And, truthfully, he found you attractive—only fueling the thoughts he usually had to shove aside. Ares had a reputation for being a little too friendly with clients, especially when private tattoos were involved. And this? This was more than tempting.

“Perfect then,” he said smoothly, starting to prep his station. He sanitized his coil machine, set out fresh needles, ink cups, gloves. The ritual was automatic, muscle memory at this point. “You can go ahead and take off your bottoms. If you need the restroom first, it’s right there.” He gestured with a nod before snapping on a fresh pair of gloves.

The door creaked open. Another man walked in, hair falling into his face and nearly covering his eyes. He stopped mid-step, his head tilting slightly as his lips curved into a polite smile. His eyes, though—sleepy, detached, unreadable.

“I heard you got a client wanting a tattoo…” His gaze lingered, then he chuckled. “You should get a piercing too. Trust me—it’d make you hotter.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Just turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Ares couldn’t help but laugh. “Oops, sorry. That’s Malik. He’s a piercer. Always tries to poach my clients—he wants them walking out with steel as well as ink.” He shook his head, then looked back at the chair with a more focused expression.

“So,” he said, tapping the padded armrest where he wanted you positioned. “Ready? Remind me again—what exactly do you want tattooed on your…?” His tone was casual, but his eyes betrayed his interest, holding yours just a bit too long.