Inked Desires

Chapter 3

I passed a tattoo parlor on my way to the strip club. I didn't have any tattoos on my body, but I'd wanted to get one for a long time to symbolize my love for my grandmother, but I wasn't sure what.

When I arrived at the club's parking lot, I parked my car, got out, and walked into the building with a heavy heart. I despised this place as much as I despised my job. I went to my dressing room to get ready for the show. When I was getting ready to put on my club clothes, I noticed the necklace my grandmother had given me, and that's when I realized I knew exactly what tattoo I wanted.

As usual, I entered the stage to begin my number, drawing lewd stares and snarls. As I danced, my gaze shifted to my left, where the same man who had raped me the day before sat on a couch. My heart began to pound and I began to sweat immediately, my legs went limp, and I nearly passed out when I noticed the corners of his mouth turn up slightly into a devilish grin. I barely finish my number before heading to my changing room. Alberto stopped me before I could go inside:

"Diamond, you're expected in the private room! This time, touching is permitted!" He grinned and turned to leave.

"Please don't send me there again!" Softly, I murmured, tears welling up in my eyes. "Please stop making me dance for that bastard! I implore you!"

He came to a halt and turned his head slightly to give me an angry look. He approached slowly, then came to a halt in front of me, looking down. Even in heels, I had to look up at him to meet his gaze. He moved his hand on my cheek and wiped away a tear with his thumb, then slid it down to my throat, which he grabbed, squeezing me hard and jerking me towards him with such force that my body smacked hard against his strong chest.

"Milla or Diamond? It doesn't make a difference! Let me ask you a question. Do you enjoy the money you earn here?" I nodded frantically, struggling for breath, as he said through gritted teeth. " Yes? Then, baby, If you don't want to fly out of here, you better move that nice ass into the private room and make the man there happy, because thanks to him, I still have this club! So go in there and be sexy while doing whatever you're told!" He said it again, then let go of my throat and pushed me hard, causing my back and head to hit the wall behind me.

I slid down and began to cry. I despised this place, this job, and especially this wanker, but I couldn't give up now. I rose from the ground, entered the changing room, touched up my makeup, and proceeded to the private room. Before entering it, I paused in front of the door and took a deep breath before putting on a fake smile and entering.

"Hello, my sexy beauty!" he said with the same evil grin he gave me when I was dancing in the club.

"Hi, King!" I smiled back as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't just raped me the night before.

I was irritated that I had to come here, but I had no choice if I wanted to keep my job. All I hoped for was that he would never ask me to sleep with him again. And it appears that God listened to me because all he desired was a simple dance, but I was relieved that he didn't ask me to fuck him; he simply masturbated while looking at me and touching my body.

The night flew by quickly. I did a few more pole dance numbers and a couple more private dance numbers before changing and going home to shower and sleep.

When I awoke, I drove to my grandmother's house, as usual, stopping first at the supermarket to do some shopping for her.

I was lost in my thoughts and didn't see where I was going when I ran into a warm, muscular wall.

"Fuck!" roared the "wall" at the same time I muttered an urgent and agitated "Damn, I'm sorry!".

When I got to the face of the "wall," my mouth and eyes instantly opened wide. He was breathtakingly handsome. I couldn't see his eyes because he kept them closed and his head held straight as if he was holding back his rage, but I could see his dark brown hair, cut short and styled, his long, thick, dark lashes, the jaw that could cut through steel and which was clenched, the perfect nose, arched eyebrows, and full lips. I started looking down again, admiring the tattoo on his neck, then down to his strong chest and well-toned abs displayed to me through the thin t-shirt he was wearing, and finally down his arms, which could have crushed my body in an instant. His dark aura engulfed me and hypnotized me, making it impossible for me to take my gaze away from him. I froze again when I looked up at his perfect face and saw that two blue, almost silver eyes pierced me to the core of my being. I'd never seen two eyes that were so beautiful and at the same time so cold in my life before. When he began grinding his teeth, I became aware of my surroundings and realized I was staring.

"Please forgive me; I didn't see you!" I took a step back, almost whispering, only to realize how close I was to his chest and how heady his intoxicating masculine scent was making me.

When I noticed he didn't say anything, I moved my gaze down and noticed his groceries on the floor.

"Oh my goodness! I'm truly sorry!" I gasped and was about to bend down to take his groceries from the floor and hand them to him when a strong hand grabbed my arm, immobilizing me, the touch sending hot shivers up my head and all the way between my legs.

"Don't!" he snarled as he yanked me back to straighten up.

I immediately turned my head and focused my attention on the hand that was still clasped around my arm. "Your Throat Here!". These three words were tattooed in the hollow between his thumb and forefinger. Those three words made me take a step back, thinking about how easy it would have been for him to break my slender neck by only using those two fingers.

"I'm...I'm really sorry!" I whispered again after he let go of my hand and made my way to the cash register, glancing back to see the Greek god picking up the groceries from the floor as well.

After I paid for my purchases, I drove to my grandmother's house.

"And here you are again, my dear, laden with shopping! I told you not to come to see me every day! I'm fine!" She chastised me, but her eyes were as warm as ever.

"I'm going to come see you until you're sick of me!" I laughed and hugged her. "You look great today, Grandma!" I said lovingly and she really did. She could stand on her own with the help of her cane and had a little color in her cheeks.

"And you, too, look stunning, my darling! You have a bright face and your cheeks are flushed! Who is responsible for this work of art?" She smiled as if it were written all over my face that I had just seen the most stunningly handsome man on the planet.

"Nobody, Grandma, don't be silly!" I felt the blood rush to my cheeks even more as I said this.

"Well, if you say so!" she exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. "Please come, my dear, and allow me to make you some tea!"

I followed her like a child following its mother, then placed the shopping on the kitchen furniture and began unpacking, placing each item in its proper place.

"Grandma, I just came to see you and bring you the groceries. I won't be able to stay long because I have some work to do!" I said this as I took the tea from my grandmother's hand and sipped it gently while blowing into it to cool it down.

"Don't worry, my dear!" She also stated as she was mimicking my actions.

I stopped by the tattoo parlor on my way home to make an appointment, but it was closed, so I took the phone number on the door and called the next morning. I stood in front of the salon for a while, admiring the tattoo examples displayed in its windows. And my thoughts immediately returned to the man I met in the supermarket.

" Get yourself together!" I shook my head and got into my car to drive home.

I'd had a rough evening, the man who had raped me wanted me to fuck him and I couldn't fight back because I'd be kicked out of that club, but at least I'd made enough money to take two weeks off and escape from that monster, so the next step was to go to Alberto's office and ask for permission to stay at home for a while.

"Do you hear yourself, Milla? Two weeks is far too long, and Nick is only interested in having you in his private room. I'm going to lose a shit load of money!" He was visibly enraged.

"Please, Alberto, only two weeks, I have some family issues and I have to leave the city!" I lied to him because I knew if I told him the truth, he wouldn't let me back in, and if I was going to get a tattoo, I needed time to heal properly, and I didn't want that motherfucker's hands on my body.
He sighed deeply, running his hand through his hair, then frowned at me before nodding his approval.

"OK, only two weeks, but when you return, Milla, I'll have demands!" he said, and I gave him a genuine smile.

"Thank you kindly! I swear I'll do my best to be perfect!" I said this as I exited his office and made my way to the dressing room.