Title: Body, Ink, and Soul (Ink, #1)
Author: Jude Ouvrard
Publication Date: July 23, 2014
Genre: New Adult Romance
Phoenix Silverstone
more commonly known as Nix, is a twenty-one year old that has finally
discovered her freedom. After living under the strict rules and protection of
her mother, Nix moved out with her two best friends in a quaint little Seattle
apartment. For the first time Nix is finally able to spread her wings and
breathe. Together, they get a job working at a bar and for the first time
everything is perfect.
Freedom, friendships,
a great job and fantastic man on the verge of becoming hers. Tristan is the
suave, intelligent, not to mention gorgeous law student that Nix has her eyes
and heart set on. For the first time, she has her life together; that is, until
her path crosses with Levi. The charming, tattooed and downright sexy bad boy
that Nix knows she needs to avoid.
But when one of her
friends moves out she is shocked to find that her new roommate is none other
than Levi. Flirting. Desire. Undeniable temptations. Nix can’t deny the
chemistry surging between them but she can’t forget her mother’s extreme hate
towards bad boys.
Will Nix have the strength to listen to
her heart? Or will her mother’s rules cost her everything?
After a few seconds, a strange sensation started
spreading through my body. I lifted my eyes from the photos and my heart
stopped. The blood drained from my face and I was pretty certain I was going to
pass out. Ink boy was standing not three feet away from me. He had that
perfect, sexy grin on his face and he was obviously happy to find me here.
''Are you stalking me now, princess?''
''Princess?'' I repeated, with a quirk of my
eyebrow.
''I know, I know. Geez, I’m sorry. What are you
doing here...? Phoenix?'' he asked in an alluring voice. The sound of his voice
was so different here, without the club music pulsing in the background.
''What do you think I'm here for, Levi?''
''Are you always so feisty?'' His voice sent
shivers all over my body.
I nodded. ''My turn to say sorry - I never know
how to act around you. You’re so... different.''
''Different? Is that all?'' he asked cockily,
his lips turning up in that damn smirk.
''You have the worst pickup lines I've ever
heard.'' I tried very hard not to, but I smiled for a split-second. It didn't
matter that I tried to suppress it - he saw me.
''Was that a smile I saw on your lips?'' he
grinned, stepping closer.
''What do you want from me?'' I asked. Why did we pick this shop? Of all the
tattoo shops we could have gone to, we had to pick the one place where he hung
out? What were the odds?
''You're the one who's here, in my shop, so I
should be asking you what you want. Are you here for a tattoo?''
''They're all here for a tattoo. Stop harassing
my client, jackass.'' The tattoo artist who was prepping Bekka turned to
grumble at Levi.
Irritated, Levi looked at the tattoo artist.
''No,” he began, shaking his head. “This one is mine, Kyle. I’ll be the only
one marking her.'' Levi turned back to me. ''What are you getting tonight? I’ll
be taking care of you.''
I thought my heart was going to pound out of my
chest. ''A star. A pink star. He has the design,” I said, my voice trembling
slightly, as I nodded toward Kyle.
He marched over to Kyle, got the design, and
looked at me again. He seemed disappointed. ''Well, I was hoping for something
a bit bigger. It’ll only take fifteen to twenty minutes. Are you a virgin?''
What? Was he seriously
asking me such a private question in the middle of a shop? ''Hummm...''
''Tattoo virgin, I meant. Have you ever had a
tattoo before, Phoenix?'' he asked, obviously amused by my flushed face. I
shook my head and he glanced down at the design again. ''Are you sure you don’t
want your star to be filled in with red? It kind of suits your skin.''
I shook my head, not certain I wanted him doing
my tattoo. I didn’t want to know the artist. It would be a lot easier, a lot
less intimate, a lot less personal.
Not that I knew Levi well, but I was nervous around him, and factoring in the
location of where I wanted the tattoo – my nerves reached an all-time high.
''Are you sure you don’t want something a little
bigger? It’s a pretty small tattoo.''
''It's the only tattoo I’m ever going to get and
I don't want it any bigger. This is perfect.''
''We’ll see about that. Where do you want it?''
he asked, his eyes roaming across my body.
I pointed to the exact spot where I wanted the
tattoo, my eyes never leaving his. Being so close to him was challenging, my
stomach was filled with butterflies and the need to touch him and get a closer
look at his ink was driving me crazy.
His gaze lowered to where I was pointing, a
position just about my pubic bone. ''Okay, I see,” his voice husky. “You’ll
have to lower your pants or I’ll get ink all over them.''
''Don't worry about it. It's alright.'' I wanted
to shake my head at my own stupidity. I’d already admitted he made me nervous,
I didn’t need to sound like such an idiot!
He smiled and it’s beauty surprised me - it was
like seeing him for the first time. This was a glimpse of the real Levi – not
the tatted up bad boy with cheap pickup lines. My cheeks grew hot as I blushed
at this latest discovery.
''Are you ready?'' He offered me his hand and I
took it, not knowing why, but I did. It was almost an involuntary reaction. Val
was sitting next to Bekka and they both stared at us in disbelief, their gaze
taking in our joined hands. This wasn’t normal behaviour for me and both of my
friends knew it.
He led me to his work area. ''I’m Levi, by the
way.''
''I know, you told me your name last night. I'm
Nix.''
''I know. You can sit down here and lower your
pants for me. Don't worry, I’ll be gentle.'' He was trying to hide a smile, but
I wasn't stupid. I knew there was a double meaning behind his words and his
smirk was due in part to my obvious discomfort.
Incubus - Nice to know
you
Adele - Someone like
you
Nicki Minaj - Moment 4
life
Korn - Falling away
from me
50 cent - Best Friend
Jeff Buckley - Lover,
you should've come over
Red - Pieces
Lana Del Rey &
Cedric Gervais - Summertime
Deadmau5 & Kaskade
- I remember
Christina Aguilera -
Genie in a bottle
Civil Twilight - Human
Jude Ouvrard
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