When rising tattoo artist Londen Richards lands an unexpected booking with Jaden Hossler, the notorious musician with a love for ink, she never imagines it will be anything more than just another session. But as Jaden sits in her chair, studying her...
It felt surreal. A year had passed since that first tattoo session with Jaden, and now here we were—on our first official date. It was strange to think how much had changed in such a short time. From nervous energy and awkward glances to comfort, laughter, and—finally—being honest with each other.
We had gone out for dinner at a small, cozy restaurant in the city. The kind of place with dim lighting, soft music, and an ambiance that made you feel like you were the only two people in the room. We’d been talking nonstop, catching up on everything we hadn’t shared over the past few months—how we’d been feeling, what had been going on in our lives, and how everything seemed to fall into place when we started really seeing each other.
Jaden kept stealing glances at me, and I could feel the warmth of his gaze even when he wasn’t looking directly at me. I caught myself doing the same. It was like we were both trying to figure out just how we had ended up here, and yet, in this quiet moment, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
“So,” Jaden said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “How does it feel to have your first client-turned-boyfriend?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, rolling my eyes playfully. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”
“I mean,” he continued, leaning back in his chair with a teasing smirk, “I think I’m a pretty good catch.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, smirking. “Oh, really?”
He shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a playful glint in his eyes. “Well, I did get a tattoo from the best.”
My heart skipped at the compliment, but I kept my cool. “That’s true. I do give the best tattoos.”
He chuckled, leaning forward, his voice softening. “It’s not just your tattoos that I think are the best.”
I felt my cheeks flush at his words, and for a moment, the world outside of us seemed to disappear. It was strange, feeling so much more at ease with him than I had with anyone else. There was a sincerity in his voice, something I had come to trust and admire over the past few months.
Just then, our server brought over dessert—chocolate cake, our shared favorite—and we both reached for the fork at the same time. Our hands brushed, and it was like a spark ignited between us.
I looked up at him, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “You know, I’m starting to think this whole ‘date’ thing might work out after all.”
He grinned, his expression turning mischievous. “Only after a year of convincing. Maybe I should have asked sooner.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, but it didn’t matter. There was something in the air now, an unspoken understanding between us. A sense of trust. The way he looked at me—it was as though everything we’d gone through had been leading to this moment. And I wasn’t scared anymore.
I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. “I’m glad you didn’t give up on us,” I said quietly, my heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.
He squeezed my hand gently, his thumb brushing against my skin. “I wasn’t about to give up. I just needed to figure myself out, you know?”
I nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. We had both been afraid of the unknown—of letting ourselves feel something for someone else, of getting too close, of the potential for heartbreak. But the more I spent time with Jaden, the more I realized that fear wasn’t a reason to hold back—it was just a part of the journey.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, finishing our dessert, the sound of soft music playing in the background as I allowed myself to savor the moment.
Later that evening, as we left the restaurant, the cool night air hit us, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself. Jaden, ever the gentleman, took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
“Better?” he asked with a smile.
“Much,” I said, feeling the warmth of his jacket and his presence both.
We walked side by side toward his car, our steps matching in sync as we talked about everything and nothing. And in that moment, I realized how easy it had become to just be with him, to let go of all the worries that had once kept me at arm’s length.
I climbed into the passenger seat of his car, still wrapped in his jacket, and as he started the engine, I couldn’t help but feel a quiet contentment settle over me. The night felt perfect, like a promise of more to come.
We’d both spent a year getting to this point, figuring out who we were, what we wanted, and how to open up to each other. But now that we were finally here, I couldn’t wait to see where the next chapter of our story would take us.
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Jaden's POV
I kept sneaking glances at her as we sat across from each other, the soft glow of the candlelight casting a warm, golden hue on her face. She looked more beautiful than I could ever put into words. The nervousness that had once gripped me—the fear of messing things up—seemed to have faded into the background, replaced by something stronger. Something real.
It was crazy to think how much I had changed since that first day I walked into her studio, clueless and unsure of what I wanted, not even realizing that what I was looking for had nothing to do with a tattoo. It was her.
I had spent so long holding back, afraid of putting myself out there, afraid of what could happen if I let my guard down. But now, here I was, asking her on a date, something I’d never thought I’d be ready for.
But I was ready. For her. For us.
When she reached for my hand, I couldn’t help but feel like everything was falling into place. This was the beginning of something new. Something worth fighting for. I had been afraid for so long, unsure of how to take the leap, but tonight felt like the start of a whole new chapter.
When she said she was glad I didn’t give up on us, something inside of me clicked. I wasn’t going to mess this up. Not this time. I wasn’t going to walk away again.
As we walked out of the restaurant and into the night, the weight of everything that had happened over the last year felt lighter. All the doubts, all the uncertainty—everything was fading. All I could think about was how much I wanted to spend more time with her, to build something lasting.
I’d gotten my first tattoo from her, and now I was getting something even more important—her. I was finally ready to let her into my heart.
This was just the beginning, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would go.
_________________________________________ Jxdn
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