Mark Me by Shawn Bailey Read Free Book Online

set the alarm.” Dimitri stepped out of the door and Eli set the alarm and followed him out.
    “You haven’t answered me.”
    Eli locked the door and put the keys into his pocket. Dimitri had asked him about Holly. What had he done that night to make him suspect that he had feelings for the young woman? “Yes,” he finally answered.
    Dimitri opened the car door and Eli got in. He closed the door and walked around and got into the driver’s seat. A few minutes later they drove through the Garden District and headed toward the French Quarter. Dimitri parked his car in the garage of his apartment and they got out. “We can walk from here,” Dimitri said. “We’re meeting Greer and some friends there.”
    “Greer?” Eli asked.
    “The cute, dark-haired tattoo artist.”
    “Oh,” Eli said like he cared, which he really didn’t. So they wouldn’t be alone. Good . The more people around, the less chance Dimitri had to kiss him. No one would probably care he discovered as they walked through the crowded streets. He spotted a lot of men walking and holding hands.

    * * * *

    They met up with Greer and some of the other guys at the festival.
    A live band played zydeco music and people from every walk of life danced and ate seafood while the hot summer sun beamed down on them.
    Dimitri introduced him to the others. Besides Greer and the other tattoo artist Jose, there were two others, Nathan and Sal. Nathan was about thirty, with sandy-blond hair, a mustache, and beard. A dark-blue dagger tattoo peeped out from the short sleeve of his black T-shirt. Sal, short for Salvador, had the best body Eli had ever seen. He had a gorgeous face and a short, neat haircut. In one ear he wore a gold earring that matched a chain around his neck. A see-through tank top revealed his body art. Wild, intricate designs covered his trunk, back, and arms.
    Greer had a cobra tattoo on both his forearms, while Jose’s arms bore a vintage Camaro and a Trans-Am.
    Jose pulled Sal away for them to dance. He suspected they were a couple but knew it would be rude to ask. Greer and Nathan joined them shortly, leaving him alone with Dimitri.
    “I saw you checking out Sal’s tattoos,” Dimitri said as he sat on the ground, sipping from a can of beer.
    “I can’t help but see them,” Eli said. “They’re covering the entire top of his body.” He sat down next to him.
    “And the entire bottom half,” Dimitri said. “Jose made him a living mural.”
    “Why?” Eli asked. “Why would someone want to do that to his body?”
    “It’s art,” Dimitri explained. “Instead of using canvas, we use skin. And Sal’s body is made for body art with all those muscles and great ass.”
    Eli glared at him. “Were the two of you lovers?”
    “No,” Dimitri answered. “He’s not my type. I’m into musicians.” Eli rolled his eyes at him.
    “Do I have a nice ass?”
    “I haven’t noticed,” Eli lied.
    Dimitri chuckled. “Your nose is going to grow.” He finished off his beer and tossed the can into a nearby trash bin. He rose. “Come on. Let’s go have a look around.”
    Eli rose from the ground and dusted off the back of his jeans.
    “Won’t they miss us?”
    “Who cares,” Dimitri said. “They probably won’t even notice.
    Those four like to dance and party.”
    “And you don’t?” Eli asked as they walked.
    “No. I prefer to do my partying between the sheets.” Eli pretended not to hear Dimitri’s last remark. He still couldn’t get the word thrusting out of his head, or the image.
    They walked over to the food stands. Dimitri treated him to servings of seafood jambalaya and alligator on a stick. Alligator, Eli discovered, tasted a lot like chicken. After wolfing down two bowls of shrimp creole and seafood gumbo, Eli couldn’t eat another bite.
    A different band took the stage and Eli didn’t realize that he was dancing until he looked over and saw Dimitri watching him with interest.
    “You have some smooth moves,