Wood (A True Lover's Story #2) - A.E. Via Page 0,116

liked selling them. I guess that’s why I started tattooing my art. So they’d be permanent.”

“Permanent,” Trent echoed quietly.

“Yeah,” Wood said, kissing him behind his ear.

“Come on, you two! I’m not doing this alone. Stop being assholes and help me instead of just standing there hugging each other.”

Trent gripped Wood’s arms before he could release him and tilted his head back until his lips were resting on Wood’s jaw. “I wanna test out the durability of our new couch after Bishop leaves.”

Wood growled miserably since evening was still hours away.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Trent

Trent turned into his driveway and was surprised to see new buds blooming on his azalea bushes in the front yard. Spring was coming. He sat in the truck thinking about the meeting he’d just had with Summer and her boss. For months she’d been talking him up to corporate about hiring him full-time. It’d mean a promotion, a considerable raise, and a nice benefits package. But god he’d miss working summers with Bishop, Mike, and the rest of his crew.

But life wasn’t always about having a good time. He needed to grow up and show his boyfriend he was his equal, not just some young guy he was seeing. He wanted to be everything he needed. Wood had been working his ass off the last three weeks in a tattoo shop called El’s ever since he got his portfolios back. He said he was happy to be in that environment again, but when he dragged his ass home after ten o’clock, all he wanted to do was eat dinner, shower, then work on his new designs until he fell asleep. Trent was trying to be patient, but he was missing the regular loving he’d been getting the last month.

Trent got out of the truck and went inside the house, dropping his belongings in the closet before he started his evening routine, without Wood. After he’d finished showering, Trent ate his plate of chicken in front of the television, then went online to see if Summer was up for a game. While he waited for his system to update, he messaged Wood.

Trent: Think I can convince you to come home early tonight???

Wood’s response was quick, and Trent’s hope peaked as he hurried to tap on the notification.

Wood: Not tonight. I’m helping El with a customer he’s having trouble with

Trent: Yeah okay

Wood: Don’t be upset brat… I told you the late hours are temporary

Trent tossed his phone and pressed his palm against his neglected dick, frustrated that he was allowing the tiniest things to drive him lust crazy. Why was Wood doing this to him? Just because he was tired when he came in from work didn’t mean they couldn’t get off, have a goddamn quickie. He was getting some when Wood got home whether he liked it or not. Unless he had a chastity belt to lock around his ass, Trent was riding that dick tonight.

Trent fussed and bit Summer’s head off for any little screwup she made, and they were only an hour into the game when she got fed up.

“Dude. What the hell is wrong with you? You never take the missions this seriously. Even at work you’ve been a bitchy asshat. What is up, man?” Summer was talking, but she kept shooting down hostile enemies. It seemed easier to tell her what was irritating him if they weren’t face-to-face and he was speaking around heavy artillery gunfire.

“Wood’s been working a lot at the tattoo shop I told you about on the oceanfront,” he started vaguely.

“Mmhmm,” Summer hummed. “That’s a good thing. Didn’t you say that he’d been a tattoo artist before he went to prison and he’d been bummed before about being a custodian?”

“Yeah, he was miserable at that temp agency. It’s not fair what they pay ex-cons, y’know. Did you know Wood has a master’s degree in art and he’s taught classes in Norfolk community centers who couldn’t afford art programs.”

“Yes, yes. You told me many times already.” Summer’s dry tone droned though his headset. “Wood’s paintings are so beautiful, they’re so real and lifelike, Wood has won awards for his art, yada yada yada. Yay. Your boyfriend’s a rock star. I get it.”

Trent chuckled. “Don’t be jealous.”

“Trust me. I’m not.”

“Maybe you are just a little. My lover’s got something pretty big that yours doesn’t.”

Summer scoffed. “Sucks you’re not getting any of it.”

Trent’s breath got caught in his throat, causing him to choke. “What?” he sputtered.

“You’re my best friend—you think I don’t know when you’re sexually