Reapers Kiss

Fear

I had to swallow my fear. I really didn’t want Jess to find out about the blackouts, and she most definitely must not learn about the visions. I mean, hello--? straight jacket?

My hands were shaking so badly, I didn’t know what to do, so I tried to stand, but ended right back on my derriere. The shaking from my hands seemed to travel to my knees, because it took me 3 more tries to stand. My phone is there on the counter,at the moment that phone looks miles away I have to get there, but another wave of dizziness racks my body. I don’t think I can make it through work.

I knew the owner was gonna be pissed it was a delivery night. I had Bon Bon sweet treats and pastry on speed dial it wrong 5 times before Lulu the owner picked up “hey Lu,” Rorie said. “i’m not gonna be able to make it into night.” “WHAT!”Lulu snapped,” “sorry Lulu I feel like death rolled over spit me out and decided to let me live.” “Fine fine just get your ass better!” “I need you here,” she hung up. I plopped back down on the couch it’s funny how things work out Jess worked for Lulus sister Shelly she owns a tattoo place, then you have Lulu who owns Bon Bons they were so different in so many ways inless you pissed them off then all hell broke loose and if there fighting with each other find the nearest exit. Thinking of my boss and her sister made resolve concrete, this is home I thought to myself this is our home I can’t mess it up.

*********************JESS********************

We saw them start up the walkway, “Gabe are you seeing what I’m seeing!”

“Sure am!” he says, and basically swoons. I give him another look I can tell we are both thinking the same thing (great minds and all) two people who just stepped out of a GQ magazine “Gabe stop drooling and shut your mouth!”

“Oh come on Jess look at them!” They were both very tall 6,5 6,6 maybe taller we sat in our chairs Gabe put his foot behind mine so I would not slide a crossed the floor “so do you think they saw us ogling them,” he said. Just as they walked in

“well if they didn’t see us,” they probably no now big mouth!” I hissed at him. When I looked up my breath caught in my throat gabe swiveled his chair close to mine and whispered thank you god this is the best workday of my life they sauntered up toward the desk the closer they got the more I noticed and Ooooh, my damn! Do they smell yummy! Raw man, camp fire, exotic spices-- they should be bottled and sold at Abercrombie.

there muscles rippled under their T-shirts there abbs were so rippled you could put a marble on them and it would go ding, ding, ding, it was hard to focus their jeans fit oh so nicely I mentally slapped myself my inner thoughts were something out of a cheesy romance novel.

I looked at the floor I needed to get control of myself. I schooled my face into a pleasant smile I started to look up, my eyes got stuck on his broad chest. I took a deep breath to calm my frazzled nerves when I got to his face every bit of confidence I built up went down like massive ball of flames, my mouth just bobbled opened. I completely checked out.

Storm gray eyes sucked me in. a warm touch brought me back from checkouts, Gabe had his hand resting on my arm looking all sorts of worried I nodded he knew I was fine for the moment anyway , “Excuse me, miss,” the taller statue said.

“Sorry about that,” I said, as my head snapped toward them. My face turning two shades of magenta, not a good look for me, and causing me to burn yet another shade darker. “Mmmm…”

I zoned, again! I could feel my face getting hotter with embarrassment, if it were at all physically possible.

“How may we help you gentleman?”, Gabe gallantly tried to divert their gazes from my deepening hole of shame.

Tall-Manly-Statue said, “We are seeking two artists, Mister Gabe Patricks and Miss Jessica Jorden.” Jess was back to oogling the men, To say they were gorgeous would be an insult to the word, with their strong chins, cheekbones that seemed to be carved from Roman marble, they both had long black hair. Both sides of their heads were shaven, and down the middle it was tightly braided I knew it was long, I just could not tell how long it was, from my vantage point.

“I’m Gabe,” he said “and this” gesturing fleetingly with one hand “Miss Jessica--” he said louder than normal. I jumped a little bit and for some reason that little jolt snapped me back into me. I took 2 steps to the side so I was leaning against the counter

I nodded at them both “please just call me Jess. Tall-Manly-Statue with a voice as rich as chocolate responds, “This is my brother, Shasta, and I am Rohan.”

“What brings you guys here today?” I ask as nonchalantly as I can muster, eyebrow raised with what I hope is a sultry expression. I have regained enough composure to not stutter, or slide off the counter that I am leaning on.

The GQs come closer to the counter and put some sketches of spider webs on the black lacquer counter in front of us. As soon as my fingertips touched the corner of the cream colored paper, my blood turned to ice.and I could have sworn I seen that picture shine I knew in my gut that web would not brake but cut whoever come into contact with it. Gabe glanced at me and I could see that he sensed something was wrong, and there was a flash of concern on his face. I set the picture down and told them I would be right back, I went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face I was clutching the side of the sink what was wrong with me I’m eye stalking the clients I shook myself a little,not going there splashed more water on to my face you need to get a grip Jess I scolded myself I pushed off the sink tossed my braided hair into a clip and went back out. Gabe had them seated and ready, he nodded at me “let’s do this,” I said. We got to work I was careful not to touch the picture again. I got tired of the silence, “if you don’t mind me asking are you twins,”Jess asked.

“Actually,” the shorter one, Shasta I think, begins explaining solemnly, “we are triplets. Our sister wanted to see how you fared with the needle and ink before she ventured here.”

“So she sent you two to be the guinea pigs instead?”Jess asked.

They looked horrified. “We do not look a thing like vermin!” the brothers replied sharply.

“I’m sorry, I meant no disrespect,” I am shocked but manage to get the phrase out calmly, if not a little incredulously.

Gabe admonishes them, “It’s just an expression. You are not from around here are you?” Jess knew from the sound of his voice that he was trying really hard not to laugh

“Yes, that would be an accurate phrase,” they replied in unison, which was just so creepy. An hour and a half later, we put the final touches on the tattoos. Gabe yelped as the gun he’s using starts to spark and shorts out when the last line is connected.

“What the hell was that!” I asked him. He just acted like I didn’t say anything.

“Are you okay, sir?”

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened,” Gabe sputters.

“Call me Shasta, and it is fine. It is more than fine! Actually, if you are willing, I would like for you to ink the rest of my tattoos. Did I say that correctly?”

Gabe’s mouth flopped open, leaving him resembling a fish being pulled out of the water by a very large hook. “Uh, Gabe honey, close your mouth.” He snapped it shut. “Yes he is willing,” Jess answered for him.

Jess connected the last two loops there was a silver light streaming through the web looked like something was trying to push through the tattoo her gun clattered to the floor as she watched silver spiders pour out of the freshly completed tattoo.

Gabe grabbed her arm “Jess are you ok?” It took all her nerve to look back down, she was a little shaken. What the hell is going on? she sucked in a breath and looked at her handy work she let it out in a whoosh all it was, was a vivid blaze of a new tattoo nothing more was she going insane. She screwed a smile on her face which was hard the way she was feeling at the moment “Sorry about that Jess said, I can be all thumbs sometimes. Rohan looked at her with an emotion that she could not read. “You are hired to do the rest of my tattoos as well,” if you are willing?” He said. “Ya sure she said in a calm voice as she could muster, part of her wanted to know what the hell was going on the other part; was saying this is a bad idea stupid, stupid, stupid. Gabe elbowed Jess “sorry what did you say” Jess turned beat red and asked them, “We will be bringing our sister by in the near future.was there partying as They both walked out the door.

when Gabe and I got home we were surprised to see Rorie laying on the couch she was whiter than albino dipped in flour, “Are you alright!” Jess asked Rorie, yes I think i’m just coming down with a cold. Rorie quickly change the subject, “How was work?” I saw some freaky looking spiders spill out of a guy's wrist and Gabe almost got electrocuted. But what Jess really said, “it was work same old same old “tisk tisk and he actually made that popping sound with his tongue don’t lie Jess work was HOT!” Gabe said. “ I don’t mean in heat standers we had a couple of GQ models drop by to get inked Gabe looked all dreamy eyed my sisters mouth fell open, “they weren’t really GQ models” I said. “No but they sure the hell could have been they were HOT!” he said. Freaking weird maybe, i’m going bat s**t bonkers Jess thought to herself. Gabe snapping his fingers in front of my face “hello earth to Jess,” “see I told you they were hotttt shes already zoned out thinking about them. “Ya whatever you say,”I was not thinking about them not like that but she did not say that out loud “ummhmmm,” he said. “Gabe hun you better wipe of the drool on the side of your mouth,” Jess smirked at him “bite me!” he said. “You won't like the way I bite, “ smiled at him wickedly, “i’m a lover not a biter,” “plus honey you just are not my type he said and winked at me. Rorie coughed to try and cover a laugh but the laughing won out, and she already looked a little better Jess knew Rorie was okay Gabes little conversation had my sister totally submerged They were still talking about the guys when Jess went to bed.