Read Online Razor's Edge (Afflictions) by Racquel Reck - Free Book Online Page B

there. Please, don’t make me go back to bed."
    She sighs. "Ben, you have a night-light."
    "But that didn’t keep the bad dreams away," he whines. "Dad was getting pulled down by dark shadow things. There’s dark shadows in my room, Mom. Please..."
    Wiley and Bebe glance over from their chair across the room, and Lina, Tryst, and Bryan from the chair next to hers. I want to tell them to fuck off and go about what they were doing. Instead, "I don’t mind if Ben watches. If it’s okay with you, Mom."
    Everyone needs to stop staring at them like they just bought tickets for some freak sideshow. The way the kid described the dream about his dad, I can relate. Nightmares plagued me for years after I found my Dad, and the shadows still haunt me to this day.
    There’s that shocked face again, the one that I like to see because I put it there. I smile and her look fades into a frown, but she can’t hide her relief. There is a happiness in her eyes that wraps me in satisfaction.
    She cocks her head and stares as though she’s trying to figure me out. "All right, Ben. Go get your chair." Watching her son cross the room, it isn't until he's out of ear shot that she looks back to me. "Are you sure you don’t mind?"
    "He had a nightmare." I shrug. "As long as he doesn’t bump your arm and mess up my tatt, I think it’ll be fine."
    She puts on a new pair of gloves and switches out the needle. "Normally, he doesn’t wake up when I put him to bed. But..."
    "But what?"
    She shakes her head.
    Ben pulls up a small chair and sits on my left side, away from his mom and the needle. "You picked the right lady to do your tatt." He glances up at me. "Mom’s the best."
    Shay wipes my skin. "Ben, don’t bother Morgan."
    Ben hangs his head.
    I feel bad for the kid. He just needs some attention to distract him from the nightmare he had. "It’s okay. Why is she the best?"
    Ben’s eyes are as bright as stars, like he can’t wait to tell me how wonderful his mom is. "You see this here?" He points to some of the raised skin on my music-note tattoo. “They’re scars. Mom doesn’t leave bumps because she doesn’t tear the skin."
    "Great to know. Thanks." I glance at Shay and grin. "I’ll be sure to have her do my tatts from now on."
    Shay half smiles at me, then goes back to concentrating on her work. Her brows are pulled together and every once in a while she’ll stick the tip of her tongue out the side of her lips. I’d do anything to take that tongue into my mouth and see what she tastes like.
    "Good, because this person didn’t know what they were doing." Ben rolls his eyes. He’s drawing something, but I can’t see it from my angle. If I move, I’ll mess up Shay’s art.
    "You like to draw?"
    Excitement lights his face. "I love it. Ms. Domingo says I’m the best in the class. I have to be the best, because I’m going to do tatts like my Mom when I grow up."
    "You want to be a tattoo artist?"
    "Yeah, I do! I’ve even used a tattoo gun before. Mom has three done by me."
    "I helped him hold the gun," Shay whispers so low Ben can’t hear it.
    "Well, apparently, he’s learning from the best."
    She shakes her head and wipes my skin and gives me a coy smile. Her cheeks are rosy as she looks down and continues.
    Guess I don’t need the ganja to deliver smooth lines.
    "Can I tattoo you, Morgan?"
    Now I see what Tryst was talking about, why he felt the need to have an excuse to leave. Because with Ben’s excitement, it’s hard to say no to that one without a good reason.
    "Ben." Shay wipes my skin and scowls at him. "What have I said about ganking my clients?"
    "Sorry, Mom."
    Gotta give the woman points for that save.
    She sprays me with some solution and wipes me down. Smooth but firm, and holds the mirror up against my chest so I can see her outline. Well, what do you know? The kid’s not blinded by love. Shay did a great job.
    "The next part is up to you." She takes the needle she outlined with out of her gun. "We can finish