Friendly Temptation by Elaine Radley Read Free Book Online Page B

propelled them toward Nathan. “Okay, honey, I’ll go first.”
    “Thank you.”
    “No problem.” Dominic whipped his shirt off and tossed it to Kat, a smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth when he plopped his large frame into the leather recliner.
    “Whatever happened to ladies first?” Nathan teasingly reprimanded on approach, stencil in hand.
    “Too scared.”
    A smile lit the artist’s face.
    “Hey! I’m right here, you know!” Kat’s protest was a little strangled, her hands twisting the thin material of his t-shirt. Cologne rose from the soft cotton and wafted into her senses. When she glanced at Dominic, her mouth dried out, attention drawn to his lean, powerful chest and the narrow trail of silky hair running down the center. In response to the warm evening, a thin layer of perspiration accentuated every muscle chiseled into his flesh. She could also see the cut of his hip just above the low-riding waistband of his jeans, making her want to jump him right then and there. Dom was forty-one, but could easily pass for ten years younger. The dryness shifted into salivation and she swallowed.
    “See anything you like?” His voice was very low, very sensual and always teasing.
    She narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth in a growl. Okay, okay, so you caught me staring . So what? He may be her best friend, but it wasn’t like she was dead or anything.
    Shaking her head, she sighed and his eyes grew wide with innocence. Typical Dom.
    Nathan prepared his equipment and poured the ink. He swiveled on his stool to face them. “Not allergic to latex is he?” The young man bit back a smile, his eyes shifting from Kat to Dom and back again.
    Dominic’s eyes darkened and burned into Katherine’s as he answered for her. “Nope.”
    Tendrils of heat rose from beneath her collar and the far wall suddenly became interesting. There was funky art everywhere …thank God.
    This was their usual game. Flirt and fly back. They’d been friends a long time, but something intangible had started to shift since her divorce last year, yet both still managed to dance around it.
    “You’ve been through this before so you know the drill.” Nathan pulled on a pair of gloves, stretching out his fingers for a good fit.
    Her attention diverted back to the young artist when he began the outline over Dominic’s heart, working carefully, pausing only to refill the gun.
    Dom’s face remained relaxed and although she was aware of his high tolerance for pain, his reaction fostered courage. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad. His eyes dipped shut but peeked open to give her a wink.
    The piece took little time and Nathan was soon affixing a patch of gauze over the new tattoo, securing it in place with medical tape. “Just to get you home. Wouldn’t want it to leak all over your shirt.” He regarded Kat. “Let me get cleaned up real quick and we can get yours going.”
    Kat swallowed nervously. Leak ?
    Nathan opted to take Kat into a smaller room for privacy. Dominic was dying to follow her. He really was but, at the same time, he couldn’t make that assumption. It was best to keep his fantasies in the waiting room.
    A few moments later, the tattoo artist appeared before him. “Your friend would prefer you come on back. She’s pretty nervous.”
    Dominic blinked, replaced the magazine he’d been thumbing through and followed the kid behind the counter and down a short hallway. They entered a room on the left. The sterile scent of alcohol invaded his sinuses but the décor pushed away thoughts of medical facilities. Framed art and posters adorned the walls, while statues consisting mostly of Dia de los Muertos skeletons and voodoo-inspired sculptures stared down from high shelving.
    “Hi, sweetheart. How’re you…doing?” He coughed into his fist to keep from choking at the sight of perfect flesh now exposed to him, all thoughts of freaky little art pieces wafting away like smoke. Nathan had already placed the ankh