Ink, Sex, Magic Pt. 03

Everyone, including me, turned to look at Kiernan. I could tell that at least Haku and Devasha knew what was going on, but were waiting for him to explain. Clearly, he wasn't going to, though, as he merely nodded, popping a stuffed olive into his mouth. Not wanting to make things unpleasant, I let it go, but I was more than a little intrigued by the prospect of meeting this mysterious crew member in the near future.

***

When we got home, Kiernan nearly ripped my dress in his rush to get me naked, but I managed to keep it from getting ruined. Then I did what I'd wanted to do all night, which was loosen his belt, untuck his shirt, and reveal his torso one button at a time, muscles rippling beneath ink. As I worshiped him, he unhooked my bra and let down my braid down so he could play with my breasts and hair. The wire curls on his chest scraped against my beaded nipples as we came together to kiss, our hands seeking out the places we knew the other craved to be touched. Soon my panties were on the floor and I was being finger-fucked in his arms.

"Oh my god, Kiernan, slow down," I gasped when he pushed my trigger. His mouth closed over the tip of my breast, tugging it with suction. I clawed desperately at his shoulders as the rest of my body bowed in response.

"Don't cum yet, Li, I want to feel you cumming around my cock this time..."

"Then you'd better fuck me."

I didn't have to tell him twice. My father threw me over his shoulder and carried me upstairs shrieking. When he tossed me lightly on the bed, I looked up at him fisting his thick prick.

"You're so beautiful, Alice."

"That's just what I was thinking about you."

***

Later, when we were cuddling Kiernan spoke up softly. "Not that I'm complaining- believe me- but what made you want to suck me off in the car earlier? You know you don't have to do anything for my love, right?"

"That's why I want to," I said, taking his hand. "Other men have made me feel like a collection of holes to cum in. You make me feel like your love, your woman, and it's a real turn on. And what made you want to ring my bell at the Bell tonight?"

"I thought you might be a bit of an exhibitionist. Why- should I not do that anymore?"

"Only if you're taking me somewhere to fuck my brains out afterwards," I murmured, letting him roll me on top of his waiting cock.

***

On opening night, I arrived at UnderGround in sweats and a t-shirt, having just worked out and showered at the gym, and went back to my father's studio to get dressed. Jen had helped me pick out a nude pink dress with cloudy layers of gray tulle underneath and a leather harness over the top, and a pair of Victorian lace-up boots and sheer lace-patterned stockings to complete the ensemble. I teased out my hair and put on tons of eye shadow, mascara and lip gloss before giving myself a final inspection. The dress showed off my back-piece and I thought I looked like a Lolita/Alice Liddell hybrid with a punk flare.

Kiernan was waiting in the hallway when I stepped out, looking beyond sexy in dark jeans, studded leather belt, black pin-striped shirt, gray tie, and a black leather vest. I did a little twirl for him, like a dirty ballerina, but he didn't look pleased. Grabbing me by the elbow, he dragged me right back into his studio.

"Ouch!" I said, startled.

"And what the fuck do you think you're wearing? Did you borrow this from your slut girlfriend?" He lifted my skirts to see that my thigh-highs were tied up with pretty pink ribbons and I had cheeky boy-short undies on. Not to be distracted from scolding me, he smoothed my skirt back down. "Goddamn, Alice, I hope you have this on for me to rip off because this is way too sexy for you to wear out of the house period."

"It's the grand opening of UnderGround. What was I supposed to wear- a habit?"

"No, but you didn't have to wear bondage gear for fuckssake."

"So it's the harness? 'Cause I could take that off..."

"You have to take all of it off. Find something else to wear."

"For one, I don't have anything else to wear, and for two, I like what I have on already."

Kiernan's voice was silken fury. "All I'm going to be able to think about now is fucking you while you wear that harness and those little boots- and I want to be the only one with that image in their head tonight."

"Well, I'm sure I won't be the only one thinking about undressing you with their teeth tonight, but you don't hear me throwing a tantrum."

A smile broke through his scowl. "Your teeth? Now that I'd like to see."

"Be nice and maybe you will."

Kiernan still looked pissed, but I could tell he'd been defeated.

"So I have your permission to keep my clothes on?" I asked coyly.

"For now..."

***

Everyone was talking and bustling around when we stepped back into the main space. In addition to a DJ, there were caterers and bartenders, as well as an area for tattoo demonstrations set off to one side. Throughout the night, Kiernan and Haku took turns doing bangers and flash in the main room while Teague and Morrigan did ear piercings in their studios. In the back room, Devasha and her friend Shinji were letting clients try erotic suspension and bondage. I asked Kiernan if I could see what Shibiri felt like, but he said that if I wanted to be tied up, he could oblige me later that night.

The door had been opened and soon people were milling about, browsing through portfolios and chatting with artists. Many of the potential clients were looking for ornamental pieces, but others were definitely magic users checking out what we had to offer. These guests were more interested in particulars like the contents of our apothecary store, what languages we could translate, whether we made our own needles and what forms of payment we accepted besides money.

I mainly took bookings and answered general questions, but I spoke to other magic users without feeling totally out of my depth. Several of them I'd met when I was a little girl at Sectio Divina and were glad to see me getting into the family business. Some of them even inquired about my mother, though I never thought she spent enough time around the shop for people to remember her.

When Teague took over the front desk, I stopped to lean against the wall with a glass of champagne and watch my father tattooing a miniature pentacle for a mostly female audience. I could see that he was talking while he worked and they were hanging on to every word, laughing at all the appropriate moments.

"Delaney did always did have a flare for attracting a crowd," a voice next to me confided.

I startled, not used to people sidling next to me so stealthily, then turned to see a tall blade of a man in a pale blue suit, throat and hands covered in tattoos, a shock of red hair on his head and a fiery beard to match. He was meticulously groomed, but at the same time lacked any affectation, making him seem as debonair as he was down to earth.

"Enjoying the party?" he drawled lazily.

"Thoroughly entertained. You?"

"My evening just improved immensely."

"Are you friends?" I inclined my head towards my father, who actually glanced over at us, wearing an inscrutable expression.

My new companion chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Not quite. Business partners would be more accurate at this point. Sylas Nox, at your service." Sylas held out his hand, a devastating smile playing his lips.

I accepted, catching his contagious grin. "So you're the mysterious fifth Master at UnderGround Ink. I'm Alice Delaney, at yours."

Sylas' bright green eyes sparkled with a different light and his lips curled even more mischievously. "A pleasure to officially meet you." Still holding my hand, he kissed the top of it gallantly before letting it go. "I hope I didn't offend you with what I said about your father."

"Oh, not at all." I leaned over to share a confidence. "It's nice to finally meet someone who doesn't think the sun shines out of his ass."

This time, Sylas let out a bark-like laugh. "And I thought you were another one of Kiernan's hopeless admirers."

"Hopeless?"

"In my experience, women tend to stay interested in your father long after he's moved on. But you being his daughter changes that, obviously."

"Obviously." I looked askance at Sylas, wondering if my father had hurt a woman he'd loved; though that certainly couldn't be the only reason there was bad blood between them. "You must be excited to work with him, then."

"Let's just say that I don't back out of deals. I'm a man of my word."

"Is that how you like to think of yourself, Nox?"

To our mutual surprise, Kiernan had finished with his tattoo, leaving Haku to clean up, and was standing in front of us looking none too pleased with our camaraderie.

"They need you up front, Alice." Though he addressed me, he was glaring at Sylas.

"Da, I was just meeting the other UnderGround crew member." I hooked my arm around Sylas' elbow, beaming as if oblivious to their conflict.

"So I see. Now you've met him. Nox- can we have a word?"

"You're being rude," I hissed. "This is a party, Kier."

"I don't have time for your fresh mouth, Alice," my father snapped, his voice a warning.

"Speaking of, where's ol' Jackie boy these days? I kept looking for him in your shadow, Delaney, but I guess your brother finally moved on."

Kiernan's attention switched back to Sylas with the quickness.

"That's none of your god damn-"

Devasha had come up behind my father and set a hand on his shoulder, halting him mid-sentence. "Kiernan, we need you up front."

I couldn't help but feel vindicated when he stalked away, Devasha Rae close behind, chastising him.

"Thank goodness Devasha can keep him in line," Sylas muttered, though I didn't sense he was afraid of my father hurting him- he didn't care for the impropriety of fighting in public. There was something anachronistic about him, seemingly misplaced in the present, like he was both older and younger than he appeared. But as enigmatic as he seemed, Sylas didn't give the impression of being a closed-off person.

"You know her too?"

"I know all of the original Sectio Divina crew. Tessa included."

"My mother wasn't part of the crew- she's not an artist."

"Not anymore. But at one time she was the best tattoo artist I knew. In fact, Tessa gave me these." Sylas held out his hands, showing me an elaborate network of lines, symbols and words that extended up his fingers. They were indelibly crisp, despite the area being notoriously problematic for both application and longevity.

"Those are beautiful... But are you sure my mother did them- Tessa Ceridwyn Cavanaugh- Delaney-Arrowood?"

"The one and only. Sorry, I'm probably not the one who should have informed you of that."

"You're probably the only one who would have. It's like a perpetual game of keep-away, trying to find out about their pasts. Why did she quit?"

Sylas frowned. "I'm definitely not the one who should tell you about that. I don't see why she wouldn't tell you now, though."

I dropped his arm and looked at him face on, and saw what should have been apparent when he first mentioned my mother- he'd fallen in love with her before I was even born, and he loved her still. No wonder he was so unreasonably optimistic about her willingness to share.

"Yeah, and then she'll tell me about the first time she really had sex."

"Sometimes parents have to keep secrets from their children."

"You mean lie?"

"Parents have to teach their children how to lie, too. It's a necessary life lesson."

"So is telling the truth."

"I've offended you. I'm sorry," he said with a little bow.

"It's alright. I appreciate your honesty."

"And yours."

Sylas' face lit up with a smile and I couldn't help but reflect it. A cloud passed over when I noticed my father trying to pretend like he didn't care but fuming nonetheless.

"I'd better check in with Kiernan before the smoke detector goes off. Will you excuse me please?"

"Certainly. Enjoy the rest of your evening, dear Alice."

I waved good-bye to Sylas as he faded into the background like the Cheshire Cat.

***

Later, when I asked, my father was surprisingly forthcoming, though noticeably irked that I'd found out. "Yes, Tess was part of the Sectio Divina Crew and, for once, I agree with Nox- she was one of the best tattoo artists I knew. But that wasn't for me to tell you and that sure as hell wasn't for him to tell you either."

"Were Sylas and Mom ever in love?"

"Did he tell you that?"

"No- he didn't have to."

"Listen- there's one thing you need to get straight. Nox is a talented magician and tattoo artist- which is the only reason he's here. Not to be your friend, not to flirt with or to fill your head with lies. I am your Master, and you'll learn things when I think you're ready- and trust me, there are a lot of things you aren't ready to know."

"If we're going to work together, you can't tell me not to be friends with him, and I wouldn't be friends with him if I thought he was a liar. Oh- and if we really had been flirting, there's no way you would have left us alone."

"Fine. You can be friends when you're at the shop. But even then, be careful. His charming facade is just a deception."

"Are you afraid that he'll try to fuck me or that I might like it?"

Kiernan smirked. "You must really want a spanking when we get home."

"You can't distract me with sex."

"Can't I?" He ran his hand up the back of my leg, under my skirt and up the gap between my thighs till he'd captured my hot cunt in his hands.

"Can't you what?" I murmured. There was something kinky about him touching me in the privacy of the front desk while our top halves were public.

"There's only one more hour and then I get to take you home, so be good."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, you'll yes sir me later," he growled in my ear before walking hurriedly to the restroom.

I had to keep myself from following him.

***

All of the artist got bookings, but my father had undoubtedly been the most popular. I was mad that he'd put out a portfolio I didn't know about with copies of my sketches inside and a drawing he'd done of me on the outside. I was flattered by his vision of me as Alice In His Dark Wonderland, but it was embarrassing to have to explain that I wasn't even ready to take clients yet when asked if I was taking appointments.

Since I'd met him in person, I looked through Sylas Nox's portfolio with a sharper eye for clues about the man himself. If I wasn't mistaken, he'd studied Japanese traditional with my father- in fact, he could have very well taught him. Their styles were vastly different, though. Sylas worked with vibrant color palettes, excelled in portraiture and animals, and his compositions had an organic fluidity that made them breathe on the skin. I got the vague impression that his magic had something to do with shape-shifting.

Unfortunately, I found that he'd left before I had the chance to ask him.

On the way home, I couldn't help but inquire about his relationship with the elusive Mr. Nox. "I take it you and Sylas never got along?"

"Actually, we were best mates ages ago."

"He painted you to be quite the womanizer back there. Is that why you're not friends anymore?"

"That's none of your concern. Suffice it to say, I'm a different man than I was all those years ago."

"Maybe he is too."

Kiernan gave me his cutting side-eye. "Just drop it. And if you're trying to make me forget that you're in trouble, you're out of luck."

"What if I'm trying to get in more trouble?"

"I'm not above pulling over to the side of the road, you know."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wanna test me? I can fade the car so no one will even see your ass get striped red."

I shuddered at the thought in a not entirely unpleasant way, but held my tongue the rest of the way home. And I almost succeeded in not stirring the pot further. But when Kiernan brought out the proverbial whip, I pulled out my spoon.

"Now, before we do anything else, I want you to take off that dress before I rip it off."

"You'd ruin my pretty dress, Daddy? Then I could never wear it again."

"I don't want you wearing it again. The only place I want to see dresses like that is on the floor, around your ankles."

I knew that 'punishing' me was just a game, but his wrath was genuine. "Why are you so pissed? You never got mad when Mom went out in sexy clothes," I retorted before I could stop myself.

My father's eyes dilated to a dangerous size. "Tess isn't my daughter- and she has nothing to do with us," he said, the softness of his voice belying his fury. "And I said. Take. Off. That. Fucking. Dress."

When I stood there apoplectic and intimidated, though I knew he'd never abuse me, I spooked when Kiernan started unbuckling the leather straps wrapped around my torso, being tender though he was still livid. By the time I shrugged out of my risque accessory, which he held onto, and he'd unzipped my dress with one smooth pull, I could feel his hard-on against my hip. I quaked; every time with him felt like my first.

"Don't make me ask a third time."

A shade pinker than my dress now, I turned away and snaked my arms out of my sleeves, and, after a demure glance over my shoulder, peeled the bodice over my breasts and shimmied the rest of the way out until the voluminous fabric puddled around my feet. Purposefully bending over in a sexy pose, I picked the dress up off of the floor and laid it over the back of the sofa before spinning back around.

Kiernan released a drawn-out breath. "Good girl. Now, take off your lingerie- but not your stockings. Or those sexy little boots of yours..."

His desire to see me strip made me want to put on a good show. I unhooked my bra and let the straps slip off my shoulders, then let the fabric cups fall away, revealing my stiff nipples and pert breasts little by little. Then I turned around and started peeling my underwear over my hips, down my ass, keeping my legs straight as I bent over to pick them up off the floor and drape them next to my bra.

When I'd straightened up, he was holding out the harness, and I obediently raised my arms so Kiernan could put it over me. Once it was in place, he secured all of the straps until the were nice and snug.

'Turn around," he whispered in my ear, then backed up slightly to admire the complete affect of me in nothing but strips of leather, stockings and boots. "You make such a pretty little whore, Alice."

I shuddered, my nipples hardening into tight points. I cast my eyes down, bashful in my wantonness.

"You're a sweet, lovely woman, but you're also Daddy's sexy little whore- and neither aspect diminishes the other. Never feel guilty about pleasure- it's so pure, so beautiful to see you enjoying your body's miraculous potential. Now- bend over the couch so Daddy can spank you for being such a dirty girl."

Holding me by the harness, Kiernan administered the first resounding smack over my exposed sex. I cried out, back arching, it felt so good and bad at the same time. The next was on one cheek, followed by the other, just hard enough to hurt and heat my skin. Another slap over my pussy and I squirmed against him. The next few increased in intensity, though in between he would slide two fingers along my slit to give me some relief. But then he stopped, admired his handwork, and unbuckled his belt.

This time, I squirmed in fear, hearing the leather slither through each belt loop.

"Don't worry, Lili," my father assured me, the cold metal studs a contrast to my inflamed flesh as they dragged across. "I wouldn't leave a mark on your perfect skin that doesn't have ink in it." The belt clattered to the floor. Kiernan hooked his finger into the ring on my back then stood me up again and lead me upstairs.