Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

saw Chase stand up and gesture towards whatever had been placed on Ty's belly. "Take your time. I'll be in the shop."
    And then he left. And then Ty felt like the biggest moron in the whole universe. He looked down on himself and it wasn't exactly relief he was feeling when he saw a stack of tissues crumbled against the hem of his t-shirt. And it was the wastebasket that had made the sound he'd heard before, because it was now tucked against the foot of the table.
    Ty sat up, slowly, avoiding any sudden moves because his head was spinning. He was just as slow with his movements when he stood up and cleaned himself, the inside of his jeans that is, with the tissues provided by Chase. Ty tossed the tissues in the wastebasket and wavered for a second before he walked up to the small sink placed in one of the corners, washed his hands, dried them with excess focus before he felt even remotely sane enough to actually walk out and face his…tattoo artist. That's it. Nothing more.
    He glanced down at himself, making sure the button and the zipper were closed, before he stepped out of the back room. Chase leaned against the counter with a magazine spread in front of him, and for a moment it seemed as if he hadn't even realized he had company. But then his eyes shot up at Ty, making a quick search and rescue over the guy who was barely composed enough to stand on his own feet. Ty wasn't sure if he was supposed to say thank you or apologize. Actually…he wasn't sure if he should say anything because whatever came to mind wasn't really worth spitting out. But Chase didn't even seem bothered, as if this was something the guy went through every day. And perhaps it was.
    And the thought alone was too much to comprehend. Not to mention a slap across Ty's face.
    "So…I…." Yep. That was it. Ty looked around himself, as it his next statement was going to bounce off a wall or come walking in from the door. Chase however didn't seem to have any problems on the matter. "We'll call this one even. You can pay by assisting me at the exhibition."
    Ty turned towards the guy standing behind the counter. Assisting? Was he serious?
    "Are you serious?"
    "Sure. You've been coming here for a while now and I don't need to prep you to do your goddamn job. So it would work out just wonderfully," Chase said and the smile he managed to plant on his face looked so absurd Ty wasn't even sure it could be described as a smile. It was more like a devilish grin. Only the horns were missing and Chase could've posed for the cover of 'Hell Today'.
    Ty frowned. "You want me to assist you after…what just…um…"
    "Well, that isn't required." Either Chase was stupid or he just didn't care. Ty on the other hand didn't have a habit of losing his fucking mind with someone he didn't even know.
    "Look…" Chase said and reached below the counter. He searched for something for a moment, his hands working in cover before he pulled out a small brochure, grabbed a pen and scraped something in the corner of the front page. Then he passed the brochure over the counter towards Ty, dropping the pen into a small cup placed next to the cash register. "You think about it and gimme a call. If you don't want to do it, it's cool. Just let me know as soon as possible so that I can find someone else instead."
    Ty stepped towards the counter, took the brochure and stared at the cover. A phone-number. No name, just numbers. Then he looked up at Chase, not sure if he should even consider the offer. "And what about payment if I decide to pass the offer?"
    Chase leaned his forearms against the counter and glanced at Ty under his brows. "I'm sure we can come up with something."
    Ty was still sore and the skin over his hips was screaming every time he moved and still he somehow managed to get horny. It was the teasing that made him want to whimper. The teasing and the fact that this man knew something about him no one else knew. Feeling insecure was suddenly the biggest turn on ever. And for some reason he knew Chase knew. And he also knew Chase wasn't at all as calm as he seemed to be. That just did absolutely nothing to ease the aching inside Ty. Instead it made his steps seem too heavy to be taken when he stepped towards the door. And those eyes never left his, not even to blink. Just as dark, just as dreadful.
    ****
    It had been a week. A full seven days and some hours on top and Ty hadn't even glanced at the brochure after he'd tossed it into his drawer. He had managed to go