こんにちは！！！！

Fucking Christmas. Now that all my wounds and bruises were healed, it was back into work- and that meant more drunk people were getting tattoos to 'feel the christmas spirit.' Feel Christmas spirit my ass, all they're gonna do is wake up and try to sue Slater because they 'weren't in the right mind to get one.'

"So, you're Ripper's old lady now eh?" Slater called from his booth. I opened the curtain and yawned, nodding. "Yeah, I guess I am"

Slater scoffed, pausing with a needle in his hand. "No guessing about it babe, he's already sent word to all the MC's in Galway. By tomorrow night, everyone will know the infamous blood red Ripper has found himself a lady"

A little smile found its way on my face, and I didn't bother quashing the pleased arrogance. "This means we are gonna have quite a lot of visitors over the next few days" Slater continued, putting the needle back onto the client's skin. "Why's that?"

"You've tamed the Ripper Corin. Women through the years have tried to do what you did- and it didn't even seem like you wanted to" Slater shrugged, flicking his eyes to mine for a moment. "Pres' all over will want to meet you, see the woman who was strong an interesting enough to have him claim her"

"I'm not just his. He's mine too."

"Yeah, but the clubs won't see it that way. They'll see you as an old lady- someone who no one can touch, especially since you're Ripper's. You're protected, and have some say since your Hugh's daughter, but other than that, there isn't much."

I grinned slowly, raising a brow as I finished sketching the end of Seamus' tattoo. "Oh, I'm going to change that. They can try to fuck with me"

"I don't doubt it doll. Not only have you scored Ripper, but are the daughter of the most powerful MC president in Ireland. You'll have a lot of sway"

I shook my head, leaning back and looking at the tattoos spiraling my arms. "No. I'm going to have a lot of sway because I am me." I sat back and called Seamus in, smiling gently at his hard frown. "Authority and I never really agreed" Seamus scoffed, stripping off his shirt and lying face down on the seat in front of me.

I raised a brow at some scars, jagged and purple that ripped through his lower back. "Remember Cor, the whole space between my shoulders" I rolled my eyes and nodded, slipping on a pair of gloves. "Don't scream too loudly pretty boy"

His huff in reply made me grin, placing the stencil on his skin. "You could get into a lot of shit if you insult another pres or their own members"

I gave Slater a look, "I've been through more shit than these clubs could give. They're the ones that are going to be trampled on in the end, not me"

Seamus nodded where he lay, raising his arms and placing them under his head. "Ripper will fuck them up badly if they even looked at Cor the wrong way. Pres and I won't be too far behind. Plus, she has that crazy best friend of hers who looks like some sort of secret assassin"

I laughed at his description of Bianca, penning on his tattoo. "Now shut up, and let me do my job"

_______________

Ripper called me five minutes before I finished Seamus' tattoo. It was a serious piece of ink and reddened his skin like a new born's butt being slapped. A large bear towered on his back, roaring with paws and claws outstretched. Every line was finely done, bright, dark eyes snarling in ferocity. Apparently it was meant to represent me.

Was I meant to feel complimented over being a big, hairy, fearsome beast? Well, I was. My phone rang and I answered, leaning it on my shoulder. "It's Corin"

And the husky voice that filled my ear almost made me purr. "Hey sugar"

Thank the lord I was wearing panties today. "Oh, hi, how's work?"

"I just got back. Up for a ride?"

On him or his bike? "Sure. Gimme ten" I wouldn't mind either choice.

"I'll be there soon"

I hung up and tried to stop the smile from spreading, just feeling my mouth twitch from how much happiness that man gave me. Him and dad had been out on business for a while, both of them in and out of the house really quickly. If I was a lesser woman I would have been angry at being 'second choice.' But this was their livelihood and part of a working relationship was understanding their lifestyle and negotiating change.

And judging by the way everyone acted when Ripper was around me, apparently he had changed a lot. It was only fair I did too- plus, it was good to have time to myself. You really need to sort yourself out and dwell on what you're doing before you can try to change others'. And Ripper understood that, understood that I needed space at times but that didn't mean I didn't like him.

Seamus sat up, stretching with a groan. "Fuck that hurts" I rolled my eyes and bandaged his back, quickly sellotaping the edges. "If you take it off and don't look after it you're gonna get infected and die. And that might make me sad"

He scoffed and threw on a shirt, helping me packaway my stuff. "Ripper's back. Mind if I go?"

Slater nodded from where he was sitting, eyes still on the tattoo at hand. "Sure. Got no one else on today. Plus, I don't think he'd take no for an answer"

I looked outside just as his familiar Harley pulled up, the Apollo of my dreams stepping off encased in ripped leather. Mama was going to get some tonight. I looked in the window, nodding to myself when I saw how great I looked. A crop Nike hoodie with some high waisted mesh cut out leggings and a pair of fenty scuffs- I was ready.

Ripper's lips twitched when I walked out, eyes running over me as if he was a celibate man recently realizing the allure of women. He strode forward and pulled me to him, mouth immediately meeting mine with a hard kiss of lips and tongue. I nearly moaned out loud, eyes rolling back at his spicy taste. Pulling back, I surveyed him for any injuries and nodded happily when I found none.

"You're getting better at this whole 'not getting hurt' thing"

Ripper gave a raspy laugh, "I thought you would castrate me if I did"

Shrugging with neither denial or acceptance I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Where are we going big boy?"

His eyes darkened at the low tone of my voice, tongue darting out to lick his lips. "We're going back to my house. But now I want to go for a different reason in mind"

I grinned naughtily, stepping back and walking to his bike. "Hurry up. I'm hungry"

His answering laugh was all I needed to smile.

_______-

The man might be a member or an MC, but he had an extremely flash house. It looked understated from the outside, like a double storey cabin, but on the inside- whooey, a girl could get used to that. Earthy, dark colours with undertones of gold, it was a really pretty house. Extremely masculine but pretty nonetheless. Ripper lead me to his kitchen- an expanse of obsidian benches and black appliances, he sat me down on the middle bar.

"Take this" He handed me a key, stripping off his jacket as he did so. "When ever you want, just come here. Even if I'm not around"

I stared at the key then met my eyes with his. "I might lose it"

"Don't. I trust you"

I took the key and put it in my bra, looking back up. "I have a question"

"Shoot"

"What's your real name?"

Ripper froze, face hardening almost imperceptibly before he relaxed again. "Why do you want to know?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

He thought this over for a moment before nodding slowly, meeting my gaze. "My name doesn't bring back...good memories" There was enough loaded in those last two words to make me pause. I grabbed his hand, encasing it in my own and continued.

"Why not make some. With me"

His eyes softened, and he leaned forward, coming around the bench to stand between my legs. "Okay. For you"

He bent down to my ear, gently pushing my hair behind my ear and whispered. "Caerul. But you can only use it when you are incandescently happy"

I purred with his face so close to mine, then realized what he was mimicing. "You've watched Pride and Prejudice?"

Ripper turned away, avoiding my eyes for a moment before nodding quickly. "I thought you'd like that shit, so I wanted to know what it was about- being an English major and all"

That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. I stood and reached for him, rising to my tip toes and bringing his mouth to mine -ever waiting for a kiss. I drew him in softly, gently overlapping my mouth with his and showing him just how much that meant to me.

"Cearul" I breathed, meeting my eyes to his. He froze then relaxed, giving me a heart stopping smile that curled my toes.

"Corin"

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