...After Chris applies the transfer, which sets the tattoo’s image onto Lee’s skin, he asks, “Do you want to take a look before we get started?”

“Nah, man. I’m cool.” Lee grins and gives Chris a wink. “I trust you.”

“Ready, then?” Chris wheels his stool up close and runs a hand along the sensitive underside of Lee’s arm. Despite the latex gloves he wears, Lee’s skin warms at the touch.

Lee nods as Chris settles in. “Go to it.”

As the needle buzzes, Lee’s mind goes blank. He stares at the mirror, at his own eyes staring back, until he can’t stand to look at himself any more and shifts his gaze to watch Chris. His back grows hot where the tattoo takes shape—it always feels like rug burn to him, not painful but not really all that great, either. Still, seeing Chris hovering above him, concentrating so readily on his body, creating something personal and new where before there was nothing but blank skin…a familiar ache settles into Lee’s balls. When Chris sits back to shift into a better position, Lee takes a moment to bend one knee, just slightly. Just enough to let up on the pressure at his crotch, where he’s already sporting wood. Chris doesn’t miss the gesture. “You getting hard?” he teases.

Lee shifts a little on the table to take his weight off his throbbing cock. He can’t meet Chris’s dancing gaze in the mirror. “You know how I am.”

“Man,” Chris drawls, turning back to the tattoo. “I wish getting inked turned me on.”

Hoping to change the subject, Lee asks, “Who does you?”

Too late, he realizes his question might be misinterpreted—he means which artist tattoos Chris, not who gets his friend hard. He doesn’t want to hear about this new guy of Chris’s, Barry whatever the hell his name is. Each week Chris seems to find someone new, and the way he goes on and on about his latest piece of ass always makes Lee sad. How long has he been waiting here for his chance? When will Chris finally tire of everyone else and notice him?

Fortunately, Chris knows what he’s asking. They’ve been friends so damn long. “April did my last one,” he says, pulling Lee’s skin taut so he can continue his design. “Don’t move. This is tricky.”

“There’s your problem,” Lee jokes. “A chick isn’t going to get your blood pumping, even if she does have an ink gun in one hand and piercings up the wazoo.”

Chris snickers; Lee feels his friend’s breath cool his heated flesh. “I don’t know if she has any piercings there.”

“God, I don’t want to know.” Lee smiles when Chris laughs, careful not to laugh himself and ruin the tattoo. “All I’m saying is get a hot guy to ink you, then let me know if you get hard.”

“Don’t let Barry hear you say that,” Chris warns. He’s only teasing, but his words sting and the smile fades from Lee’s face. “He probably wouldn’t like knowing my best friend thinks I’m hot.”