Sacred Skin Read online

  “All done,” I said, when I finally pulled away from the camera. It had only been a minute but it had felt like the longest minute in history.

  “That was fast,” Brooks said, moving his body.

  “I don’t like to take a lot of shots. It’s more natural this way. The beauty of film and all,” I said. “Plus, it helps to have a good subject.” I tried hard not to flush at my last statement. What the hell was wrong with me? Was I really trying to flirt with a tatted-up straight dude? He could destroy my tiny frame with a single punch if I crossed him. Not that I thought Brooks would ever be the kind of guy to fight off an unwanted advance with violence. I bit my lip. You never did know. My mother had taught me that, at least.

  Brooks didn’t say anything, he just stood up and walked to where his T-shirt and jacket were. The silence did all sorts of things to my brain. Why had I said that? I inwardly cringed at my own stupidity. I tried to save myself from the embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to-.”

  Brooks turned to me before I could finish my sentence. “Shh, you have nothing to be sorry about, Leo,” he said, his voice soft and comforting like a warm blanket. “This was fun.”

  Our bodies were close. Close enough that I could smell his cologne and the leather from his jacket that was now in his hand. I wanted to close my eyes and inhale deeply. To press myself against him and bask in his rich scent. “It was,” I agreed, stepping away before I did another stupid thing like throw myself at him. I couldn’t describe the pull Brooks had on me. It was just there. This need to be close to him.

  Once Brooks had his T-shirt and jacket on, I opened the door and led him back to the front of the gallery, walking him out to where his motorcycle was parked. “Nice bike,” I said, eyeing up the shiny black and chrome vehicle.

  Brooks put on his helmet and revved the engine. “Thanks Leo. I’ll see you around,” he said, before taking off down the road so fast it was as though he’d never been here at all. The whole incident had happened in a flash that it really could have been no more than a figment of my imagination.

  I walked back inside the gallery to find Evania and Aria had been watching us from the window. “So, that’s Brooks, huh?” Aria asked, although she already knew. I’d told her he was coming by.

  “He’s… large,” Evania said, winking at me.

  “Jesus, do you two even know how to be subtle?” I shook my head, wishing they would go back to their office instead of engaging with me in what was about to become a game of twenty questions.

  4 Brooks

  I focused my attention on shading the rest of the skull on Max’s back. Even if Leo kept popping into my mind, I wasn’t going to outright let myself think about him. Get it together, man. Max winced each time the needle entered his skin. For a big, tough biker, he was a huge wuss. Then again, that was usually the case. The bigger and scarier looking, the more they squirmed. Unlike, Leo. There I went again. No, Leo sat like he’d been getting ink for years. He didn’t flinch or wince, even during the parts I thought he might. He was tough despite looking so fragile and feeling so delicate under my hands.

  “You must get a lot of tail,” Max said just as Marlena came to the back of the shop. She went to the storage cupboard, rummaging through it for something. I watched Max’s eyes give her the once over as she bent down, her jeans hugging her curves. Undeniably, Marlena was a beautiful woman. She also happened to not only be my co-worker but my brother Jay’s on and off girlfriend. For that reason alone I’d never looked at her in any other way. “Bet you tattoo lots of hot chicks, too. Got any good stories?” he winked at me and Marlena caught my eye with a look that said it all as she went back to the counter. She was used to customers hitting on her but I did feel kind of bad about it still.

  “Hey, I don’t kiss and tell,” I told him, trying to end the conversation. I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. Guys like Max were all about talking tail. I wondered how he’d react if I told him the only tail I wanted to chase right now belonged to a beautiful man named Leo. The familiar twist in my gut started. It was hard confronting your sexuality at twenty-eight. Wasn’t I supposed to have all that stuff figured out by now? To know if I was attracted to dudes or not? Why was it that with Leo, it was like there wasn’t any other person on this planet I found as attractive as him - man or woman?

  “Bullshit. I’ve seen the gorgeous women who come in here. Don’t hold out on me, kid,” Max grinned, a gold cap on his upper incisor gleaming at me. I was used to men like Max. In a way, he reminded me a lot of my dad. I understood his culture. Fast bikes, booze, tattoos and woman. But just because I understood it, didn’t mean I ever felt a part of it. That was more my brother Jay’s thing. Which is exactly how he got mixed up in all the trouble he was in. I, on the other hand, liked to stay out of trouble. I’d seen what that kind of life could do to a family first-hand. My mother had had her heart broken twice - first by my father, then from Jay. I wasn’t going to break it a third time.

  I decided to give Max a taste of what he wanted, even if it was a slightly exaggerated and made-up version of the truth. “Alright,” I started. “You a blond or brunette man?” I stopped tattooing for a moment to get his response.

  “Anything with a pulse will do,” Max quipped back with a hearty chuckle. That sounded about right. The guy could have probably been a looker in his youth but his hard life was starting to show now he was in his forties.

  I laughed. “Myself, I’m into blonds,” I thought about Leo. “Had this sweet little thing come in for some ink a couple of weeks ago.”

  “You’re killing me dude,” Max said. “She put out?”

  If Max seriously thought I was gonna give him details on my sex life, he was sorely mistaken. Not that I had a sex life, anyway. It was at least a few months since I’d taken anyone home and that was just some drunken nonsense. I couldn’t even remember her name, and I didn’t take her number. I knew that would have been a shock to some people given the way I looked or the way I had plenty of interest coming my way. I had an inbox full of DMs from women looking for some casual fun and if I really needed it, I could have one in my bed within the hour. I guess I just wasn’t that kind of dude though. In the past, I’d tried to be. I did what I could to fit in. To make myself seem somewhat normal. Wanting to screw your way through every tattooed babe in the city was supposed to be what guys like me did apparently.

  “I’m still trying to work my charm,” I told him. “She’s different.” As in she’s not a she at all. But I wasn’t going to tell Max about my bi-curious fantasies.

  “Dude,” Max scoffed. “Sounds like you’ve found trouble. Best way to deal with that is to hit it and quit it. You’re too young to settle down, anyway.”

  I brushed off his comment. Hit it and quit it. Definitely not something that was going to ever happen with Leo. If I was so lucky to get past the initial stage of friendship, which wasn’t likely since I’d probably never see him again, I definitely wasn’t going to give up on him straight after. I wondered what went through the mind of guys like Max. How they could view people as objects and sex as just a physical act. Was I too damn soft?

  ‘Yeah, you’re probably right,” I shrugged. “Looks like we’re finished here.” I wiped the excess ink away from the skull, making the clean lines and shading visible.

  “Fucking sick, man,” Max said as he eyed up his work in the mirror. “You really are the best.”

  “Thanks,” I told him. “It’s always a pleasure tattooing you.” It might not have been the total truth but I still appreciated the business.

  Marlena walked back out to meet us, a postcard of some kind in her hand and a devilish smile on her face. “I didn’t know I was working with a top model,” she teased, flashing the pamphlet in front of me.

  I grabbed it from her and my eyes scanned the black and white photograph of myself. It was the one Leo had taken in his studio. My heart skipped a beat, a nervousness enveloping my body. He had captured me. Really, captured me. Text scrolled over the
bottom of the photograph with details about his photo exhibition at Inspire. It was an event invitation to the opening night. I turned the paper over to find a handwritten message.

  Hey Brooks,

  Hope you can make it.

  - Leo

  I could feel heat burning in my cheeks and I hoped to god neither Max or Marlena would notice. Holy shit.

  “Yeah…” I started. “I was just… helping out a friend.”

  “Bloody hell,” Max said, peering over my shoulder. “That friend doesn’t happen to be the hot little blond you were talking about earlier?” I could feel my body going rigid.

  “What blond? Leo’s a dude,” Marlena said, looking confused. “A client who’s a photographer. Nice guy.” Her eyes caught mine and I prayed she didn’t put two and two together. I was only just starting to come to terms with the idea of being attracted to another dude, the last thing I needed was Marlena asking questions about my sexuality. “Holy shit. I almost didn’t notice the new ink. Totally sick!”

  Max’s chest swelled with pride as Marlena moved closer to him and inspected the work. “You know I wouldn’t go to anyone else. Brooks is the best in the business.”

  “He sure is,” Marlena winked at me. “Mind if I take a photo for our Instagram?” Marlena was great with clients. Even the ones like Max who treated her like a piece of eye-candy. She had this certain quality about her where she could just get along with everyone, or at least pretend to. Max looked like he really thought he had a chance with her as he asked her about her sleeve.

  I turned my attention back to the pamphlet. I thought I’d never see Leo again but fate had intervened. I was sure the personal invitation was just because my photo was going to be displayed but it didn’t matter. I was genuinely excited to have another encounter with the man that had spent so much time occupying my thoughts lately.

  5 Leo

  “Holy fabulous!” Creed said, sauntering over to me with a glass of white wine in his hand. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on us! Who is the hot as sin tatted-up guy?” He pointed to the three portraits of Brooks on the gallery wall. They were the focal point of the room, Aria and Evania had insisted on it. I hadn’t argued. Brooks’ portraits had turned out beautiful. And I was proud to have them as the center of my exhibition.

  “I know right,” Aria chimed in. “Trust Leo to keep the hot ones all to himself.”

  I scowled at her. I knew exactly what she was up to. Ever since Brooks came by the gallery for the photoshoot, she’d been casually bringing him up in conversation in attempt to find out my feelings. She didn’t believe me that nothing happened between Brooks and I, which was ridiculous. Brooks was straight as an arrow and I didn’t have a chance in hell with him.

  It was the opening night of my photo exhibition at Inspire and people were starting to pool into the main gallery. I trusted most of my friends were there for the free wine and finger food but I was grateful anyway for the support. Creed was still looking at me expectantly. Of all my friends, he was the most outrageous. And that was saying something. He was a contrast of olive skin and wild hair - this week it was pink, his outfit an ensemble of thrift shop pieces he’d reworked into something that could grace the catwalk at Milan fashion week.

  “He’s just a friend. More of an acquaintance, really. He’s the one that did my tattoos,” I flashed the floral ink on my forearms at him. He’d already admired it the last time I’d seen him. “I just thought… he’d make a good subject.”

  Creed grinned. “Oh, you thought right honey! The man is a bonafide babe. A fucking god amongst mere mortals. We are not worthy.” He proceeded to bow in praise before Brooks’ portraits as though he worshipped him.

  I laughed at Creed’s usual over the top description. The truth was, I wasn’t just nervous about showing my work for the first time tonight. So far, the reception had been great and I was genuinely feeling confident with my photography and how far I’d come. I might have even sold some pieces by the end of the night since Evan had invited some of her high-rolling art dealer friends. The woman had connections. What had me on edge, and reaching for my second glass of wine despite not being a huge drinker, was the idea that Brooks might actually show up tonight. Or that he wouldn’t show up at all. Both were scenarios that had me overthinking everything.

  “Where is he, anyway? Aria asked. “You invited him tonight, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” I told her. “He probably won’t come, though. I mean, he was nice enough to pose for me but I dunno if this is really his thing. Besides, he’s a busy guy.” I focused my attention to taking another long sip of my pinot noir, avoiding the look Aria was giving me. Creed had sauntered off to chat with an older man in an expensive looking suit - I could smell the money all the way over here.

  “I think you might have spoken too soon,” Aria said, gesturing to gallery entrance. Standing there and looking deliciously dark and brooding was Brooks. He was actually here. Talking and laughing with Evania who looked like she was about to have the pants charmed off of her.

  “Oh my god.” I swallowed hard. Creed had been right when he said Brooks was a god amongst mere mortals. There were plenty of good-looking people in the room but Brooks radiated a certain kind of energy. It was almost as though he had a halo around him, a bright red aura that screamed hot as fuck.

  “Jesus, he looks good,” Aria said. “He certainly scrubs up nicely.”

  Brooks had opted for a black button-up shirt, black jeans and the same motorcycle boots he’d worn the day of the photoshoot. It was sort of dressy, sort of grunge and completely sexy. For a moment, time stood still and all I could see was him. All I wanted to see was him. I swallowed hard as I tried to come up with my next move.

  “Shit. He actually came,” I said, turning to Aria. “What do I do?” I stared at her face, letting all my walls come crumbling down around me. There was no use in pretending I didn’t have an enormous crush on Brooks. Aria could already see right through me.

  “Go and talk to him!” she insisted. “Before Evania scares him off.”

  I glanced back at Brooks and Evania. She was definitely giving him a 101 and he was in need of rescuing. Fast. I downed the rest of my wine and shoved the empty glass into Aria’s hand before taking a deep breath and walking to the other side of the room. I looked good at least. I was wearing a vintage suit I’d thrifted and had tailored to my fit my frame. My blond hair was slicked back and Aria had even done a small “no make-up” make-up look on me that had my face looking flawless. Brooks’ eyes caught mine as I approached him and his features soften, a smile appearing on his gorgeous face.

  “You made it,” I announced, giving Evania a knowing look that told her not to embarrass me any further. The last thing I needed was all my friends butting into my relationship with Brooks. They were truly insane if they really thought something was going to happen between us.

  “Of course, I couldn’t miss my big modelling debut,” Brooks said, a cheeky smile on his face. He really did have a beautiful face. Well-proportioned features and a beautiful jaw line. Oh, and those damn eyes. I bet he made people’s hearts melt on a daily basis. “I didn’t realize the photos would be so… big.”

  I glanced at the three photos of him on the gallery wall. They were blown up to almost match the size Brooks was in real life. Which was at least six foot. “Everybody is going crazy over your portraits,” I told him. “Evania insisted they be center stage.”

  “You have to admit, it works,” Evania butted in. “We’ve already had some interested buyers.”

  I gawked at her. “Really?” I didn’t want to talk about it right now. Not in front of Brooks. But I was also excited. Part of me didn’t want to sell the portraits of Brooks. I could have easily hoarded them forever. Maybe even had one above my bed. Or on my ceiling. I could always reprint them though. “Can we talk about it later?”

  “Of course. I’m going to leave you now. There’s a guy over there I have to talk to about a thing. Lovely to see y
ou again Brooks,” she winked at me. Smooth.

  “You too,” Brooks smiled at her as she swished across the room in her long sparkly gown. She was definitely overdressed but then again, she always was. She looked amazing, her gold gown contrasting with her long silver hair she wore loose. “She’s amazing.”

  I laughed. “I don’t even want to know what she said to you. She has some strange ideas.” Brooks laughed when I said that. God. She must have really upped the coo coo to him. “I’m so happy you could make it tonight, though. Really. Thanks for showing up.”

  “I must admit, I was surprised when I got the invitation. I’d expected my portraits to just be part of the overall exhibition, not the featured pieces. Some of these other ones are amazing. I love the breast-cancer survivor. Incredibly raw,” Brooks gestured to the portraits I’d taken of a topless Mary, her scars on full display. The portraits of her were the hardest to shoot for me given that my mother had not been as lucky. Breast-cancer had taken away the only person I loved when I was just seventeen and it was still a hard pill to swallow.

  “Thanks,” I told him. “She’s an incredible woman. If you catch her around, definitely talk to her. She mentioned some interest in getting tattooed over her scars as well.”

  “Cool. I should walk around and look at the portraits, I guess. I’m sure you’re a busy man tonight,” Brooks said, looking around the room.

  It was true. There were a lot of people I needed to mingle with tonight as much as I wanted to spend the evening with Brooks and personally show him each piece. I left him and continued my rounds of talking to people. It was just over two hours later that the space had cleared out and I was finally able to take a seat and rest my tired legs. I was not used to being on my feet that long and they were starting to ache. As I walked to one of the back rooms that acted as a lounge space, I was surprised to find Brooks still here. Even more surprised to find him laughing and chatting with my group of straggling friends who were still making their way through the free wine.