I smiled at Harold before I looked around the place. Beside Harold, I noticed another guy seated on the corner of the shop. He was eating a sushi roll while watching something on his phone.
"That's my assistant, Roi," Harold said as he handed me a thick folder.
"You can choose the design you like. Or if you want a specific design, just tell me."
He motioned us to the black couch. "You sit first, I'll just get prepared."
"His designs were impressive" I told Adam as I flipped through the pages of his portfolio.
"He's really good," Adam agreed. "But don't tell him I said that."
I slightly chuckled.
"Where do you want to get inked?" Adam asked.
Damn. I was nervous and excited. I remembered when Marcus got his first tattoo. I was with him at that time. We were already in college at that time.
Marcus was urging me to also get one but I didn't do it. I was afraid of what my parents would say. I knew they would get disappointed with me if I did that. That's why I didn't do it.
But now, ten years later, I'm finally doing it.
I chewed on my lower lip. "In my clavicle."
"Are you sure?" I saw him glance at my neck. I was wearing my button up shirt, making my collarbone hidden. "That would hurt a lot."
I swallowed. "I can handle the pain."
He smiled. "Did you choose a design you wanted?"
I pursed my lips. "I want a butterfly."
Butterfly, because I wanted my tattoo to symbolise my freedom.
"Alright." He glanced at Harold's direction, then his eyes went back to me. "Ready?"
I glanced at Harold. I saw him holding some tattoo equipment. "Wait." I swallowed. "I'm nervous." I closed my eyes.
"If you changed your mind on doing this, it's okay." I heard Adam say. "Maybe it's just the alcohol talking earlier."
I shook my head. "No. I'm not drunk. I want to do this," I said in a firm voice. "I'm just feeling nervous. But I want this."
Adam looked at me. Our eyes met. I felt something stirred inside me. "Take a couple of deep breaths," he said in a gentle voice.
I nodded and followed what he said. But the nervousness in my chest didn't waver.
"You feeling okay now?"
I shook my head. "I think… I think I needed a drink."
"Wait here." He stood up from his seat.
"Where are you going?" I asked him.
"I'll change clothes. I have a spare in the compartment of my bike."
When Adam got out of my sight, I tried to calm myself.
I can do this. I can do this.
"Here."
I didn't notice he was back. He was handing me a can of beer.
And he was now wearing a white v-neck shirt, black pants and canvas shoes. I couldn't help but stare at him. His arms were veiny and very manly. My eyes went to the tattoo on his left forearm. It was a crossbones design.
Damn, his body was as gorgeous as his face.
My eyes stared at his neck. God. It was sexy. His Adam's apple was prominent and looked so sexy. Even with my lack of romantic relationships with men, I've seen enough handsome men in my life, but this was the first time I found myself getting attracted to a man's Adam's apple.
"Claire."
I blinked as I accepted the beer from him. "T-thanks."
I opened the can and brought it to my mouth.
I watched him as he drank his own beer. I stared at his neck and watched his Adam's apple move up and down. I gulped and brought back the can on my lips. Damn… I suddenly felt extra thirsty.
"You don't have to be nervous, I'll be with you." He put down the can of beer and turned to me.
"Come on, choose a design for me." He pointed at the portfolio sitting on my lap.
My lips slightly parted. "You're gonna get a tattoo?"
"I'll get one so you're not alone in there." He smiled at me.
My lips parted. "You don't have to." I stared at him. He's just being nice to me.
I didn't know why he's doing this. Was it because I was dying and he felt pity for me?
But whatever his reason was, I felt grateful for him. He made me realise things. I was glad I met him tonight.
"It's fine. I was already thinking of getting a new one," he said. "Come on, pick something for me."
"You sure?" I asked him. "You let me choose a design for you?"
He nodded at me.
"What if I choose something big?" I looked at the portfolio and my eyes landed on the big dragon tattoo.
He chucked at me. "I can handle it."
I scanned the folder. In the end, I chose a dragonfly design.
"It's cute," Adam said. "Alright. I'll put that here on my clavicle. Just like you."
"Do you want to take off your clothes?" Harold asked me when I told him what part of my body I wanted to get inked.
"If you're not comfortable, you can just unbutton your blouse."
I took off my blazer. I inhaled a deep breath and started unbuttoning my top.
My cheeks flushed a little when my skin got exposed. But Harold smiled at me with professionalism.
Of course, I can do this.

"You can do it, Claire."
I turned around and saw Adam beside me, I noticed how his eyes landed on my chest. His stares were burning me.
My face suddenly heated up. His eyes were boring holes into my body.
Then he cleared his throat then expertly took off his shirt. This time, it was me who gaped at him.
Damn. I was right earlier. He's got a perfect body. My eyes traveled to his stomach. He's got well-defined six pack abs.
From the side of his stomach, I saw a peaking tattoo. Did he have a tattoo on his back?
"What's your tattoo?" I couldn't help but ask him.
Adam turned his back on me. I was amazed when I saw his back. He has a tattoo of wings on his back. It was so big it occupied his whole back.
"Wow, it's beautiful," I whispered, almost breathless. I wanted to touch his inked skin but I stopped myself.
"This was Harold's work," Adam said as he turned around to face me. He winked at me. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"How was it?"
From the whole mirror in front of me, I saw Adam's reflection. He was standing behind me.
The session only lasted thirty minutes. "It hurts." I smiled at Adam from the mirror. "But worth it."
From Adam, I looked at myself, then to the butterfly on my collarbone. I brought my hand and touched it with my fingers.
I could still feel the pain from the needle but it was overpowered by the swelling feeling in my heart.
I felt powerful. I felt free. It was an incredible feeling.
"It's beautiful. It looks good on you."
I heard Adam say. I turned around to face him.
He was still topless. Just like me, his session was already finished. It was Harold's assistant who did his tattoo.
My eyes stared at the new dragonfly tattoo on his collarbone. It looked beautiful on him. He looked ten times sexier before he had that tattoo.
"Thank you." I smiled at him.
"You're welcome." His handsome face stretched into a smile. Then from my face, his eyes moved down to my collarbone… to my tattoo.
"Can I touch it?"
I didn't know if it's just me, but his voice sounded sexier in my ears.
"Okay…" my answer only came out a whisper.
He went closer to me, until we were inches away from each other. I looked at him and realized he was so tall.
I was five seven… but he was still taller than me by a few inches. He must be six feet or more.
I almost gasped when I felt his fingers on my skin. His touch felt warm against my skin. I felt something hot travel through my spine. With every move of his fingers, I felt I was out of breath.
I looked at his face. Our eyes met. His eyes were hooded and dark. I swallowed. The next thing I knew, I was dragging his shirt to meet his lips.
Damn. His lips were warm and sweet. He tasted fresh mint and beer. God. Everything in him was amazing.
I felt like going crazy when I felt his lips on me. My hands made their way to his soft hair as I continued to suck his lips. Fuck. I felt like an animal deprived of water.
"Fuck…" I heard him say between our kisses. "You said you never had a boyfriend before."
"Hmm." I only managed to groan. I no longer care if Harold and his assistant saw us if they came back.
"But you're already good, baby." His lips went down to my ears. I let out a delicious groan when he gently bit my earlobe.
"I guess, instinct."
I heard his delicious laugh. Damn. Even his voice sent shivers down my spine.
"Help me," I managed to murmur between groans when I felt his teeth graze my neck.
"With what?" He breathed on the hollow of my neck.
"Help me…tick off another thing from my bucket... list."
He stopped whatever he's doing and looked at me. His eyes were dark as hell, his lips red and sexy.
"What is it?"
I met his eyes. "Remember, I don't want to die a virgin. Help me… get rid of my virginity."
"Are you sure?"
I didn't give him an answer, instead I hooked my arms on his shoulders and kissed him.