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  Lucky

  Twirled World Ink 4

  J.M. Dabney

  Copyright © 2016 J.M. Dabney

  Cover Art © 2016 Winterheart Design

  All rights reserved.

  Welcome to Twirled World Ink where the crazies run the asylum.

  When someone is asked to describe crazy, if they knew Lee “Lucky” Trenton, they’d point to him. Accident prone and without a filter of any kind to tell him to shut up before he says something inappropriate, he’s no one’s idea of a perfect partner. Growing up with parents who subscribed to a philosophy of Radical Honesty, Lucky and his siblings were doomed from the womb. Lucky found a home away from home at Twirled World Ink, but he didn’t just found a place to belong. He found Priest.

  Matthew “Priest” Beall ran away from his judgmental family the second he’d earned the money. He’d come in search of Gib Phelps a legend in the tattoo industry. If you wanted to learn the craft, then he was the man to beg an apprenticeship with and he’d begged. Priest might have left the violence of his past behind but when he closed his eyes it came back to torture him. The only place he felt safe was when his best friend Lucky let him sleep in his arms. He wanted more, but he didn’t think he deserved it.

  Priest left his family behind without regret only to find a new one with the crew of Twirled World and the super weird Trenton family. Could he grab onto his new life or would the memories of the past ruin the happiness he’d gained?

  Dedication

  To the ones who loved my Hyper Hippie and his Ginger Bear.

  Author’s Note

  Although this is part of a series Lucky is a complete stand alone.

  Trigger Warning: This title deals with past abuse, attempted suicide, and rape.

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  1 ENTER THE HYPER HIPPIE

  2 PRIEST’S CRAZY BEST FRIEND

  3 IT’LL ATTACK IF YOU MAKE EYE CONTACT

  4 PRIEST’S CUDDLE THERAPY

  5 LET’S CUDDLE THE FUCK OUTTA EACH OTHER

  6 THAT’S NEW

  7 BABYSITTER LUCKY: THE COOL UNCLE

  8 THEIR FUR BABIES WERE AS WEIRD AS THEIR OTHER DADDY

  9 SOMETHING WAS WEIRD IN THE LAND OF TWIRLED

  10 DESTRUCTION OR REBIRTH?

  11 DOES HE KNOW HE’S KILLING ME?

  12 WHERE THE FUCK IS LUCKY?

  13 IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY

  14 LUCKY’S NOT WAKING UP

  15 HE’S NOT THAT MUCH OF A KLUTZ

  16 HE SHOULDN’T BE HERE

  17 THAT MOTHERFUCKER TRIED TO KILL HIM

  18 WHERE DO YOU WANT THE BODY BURIED?

  19 THE COTTAGE

  20 COULD HE BE LOVED?

  EPILOGUE: MARRY ME?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  1 ENTER THE HYPER HIPPIE

  Lee “Lucky” Trenton adjusted his ear buds and lifted his sketchpad from atop a stack of tattoo mags. He winced as his slowly healing sprained wrist reminded him of his latest accident. Since he'd first started walking, he fell at least once a week. It didn't help that his long gangly frame and oversized feet made him a moving hazard. He looked like a fucking scarecrow and about as attractive as one too.

  He had no misconceptions about the power of his looks. Odd in temperament, personality, and shape, it was what it was. He’d hit his peak at sixteen reaching a super leanly muscled six-three and there his growing ceased. It wasn’t so bad. At twenty-eight he worked with a world-renowned group of tattoo artists. He’d worked his ass off from apprentice to well-respected member of Twirled World Ink. So, he didn’t have many complaints about where his life was going, well except one—Matt “Priest” Beall.

  The sexy fucker was his co-worker of three years and had driven him to the point of sexual frustration induced insanity since Gib introduced the short, husky bear as the newest artist. When Priest entered the zone, no one rivaled his confidence and talent, but introduce flirting, and the man went terminally shy. Priest also had the cutest fucking stutter he’d ever heard.

  Not that Priest noticed him. Priest relegated him to best friend status along with the rest of the Twirled World Crazies. Priest was completely oblivious to his interest or clues. Lucky’s frustration levels hit the point of pulling a fucking caveman, bashing Priest over the head and dragging him to his lair. Sadly, that probably wouldn’t work either. Landon Phelps, the big boss's son, tried to offer him advice, but again the more he sought to make his intentions known the more clueless Priest became. So, in the end, he’d sworn Landon to secrecy and decided to be around Priest was enough.

  Although watching all those hot guys try to get at his man threatened to turn him homicidal. All types tried to make a play for Priest, big heavily tattooed Bears or cute and perfect barely legal boys and every type in between. The only saving grace Priest didn’t jump at the not so subtle invites. Although those blushes that stained Priest’s tanned cheeks above his beard were like waving a red flag at a rampaging bull—it was all challenge. Lucky wasn’t intimidating enough to scare them away or even make his claim on Priest appear serious.

  Scary the shop manager with one terrifying glance got the men to start running, but Scary wasn’t around all the time.

  Scary owned a bar named Brawlers. The name was self-explanatory. The cops hated the place, but the bodies and blood were normally nowhere in sight, and no one would talk by the time they showed up.

  He cursed as his mind wandered and brought his attention back to Priest who was handling the phones and desk, scheduling appointments and consultations. Aside from Trouble, who was exactly how he sounded, was the best one to deal with the public. He tended to talk to himself and what came out wasn’t always flattering, so Lucky was banned from all business except ink. Which suited him fine, he was ecstatic to spend his time drawing until they assigned him a client or one requested him.

  His phone started repeating The Wicked Witch is Calling in a terrified shriek and he grabbed his phone. He tugged his earbuds out as he stroked his thumb across the screen and answered. “Hello, Ma.”

  “How is my least fucked up child doing today?”

  A picture of the five-foot-nothing hellion known as his mother flashed in his head. For all the innocuous appearance Lily was the poster child for heavy medication. He loved the crazy bitch.

  “Your least fucked up child hasn’t broken a bone and the day is almost over.” His friends snickered from across the room and he flipped them off without even glancing at them.

  He’d grown up in a household that subscribed to a rule of radical honesty. No lies and the only rule was don’t have the cops come to the house. Which in hindsight he had to admit his parents were fucking geniuses—no rules equaled no rebellion.

  “What about stitches?”

  “I assure you I’m free of new scars.” He probably jinxed himself.

  “How’s the sex life?”

  From any other mother the question would sound weird and creepy, but in his house growing up conversations about sex were open and non-judgmental. He hadn’t even come out. The day his family found out he was gay was when he brought his first boyfriend home when he was thirteen.

  “I’m a fucking monk,” He muttered with deep disgust.

  “Pathetic, young one, truly pathetic. Even your personality-less brother is getting some.”

  “He only gets ass because he pays well for it.” The old joke made his mother cackle. Linus was socially awkward but always had a new woman on his arm every time he came home.

  “It’s still getting laid.”

  “I know, I’m an utter disappointment.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “Thanks, Ma, I love you too.”

  “I’ve allowed you to survive for twenty-eight years; I assure you that took a lot of moral f
ortitude.”

  His impending death was an old threat. Out of Linus and Lucky’s twin sister, Leigh-Lou, he was the most like his parents.

  “I am appreciative that you granted me my continued breathing. Now, what do you want?”

  “We’re having an intervention. Your father and I think it’s time you lose that pesky virginity.”

  “Ma, I haven’t been a virgin since I was fifteen. As well you know since you bought me the condoms because you said me breeding would lessen the IQ of the next generation of Trenton progeny. Although, being gay and breeding—”

  “You haven’t decided to spread the seed through IVF because I’m sorry to say my hopes are your sister will carry on the line.”

  The horror in her voice at the thought he’d want to bring a child into the world made him lose it. He ignored the eye rolls and strange looks he noticed when he spun his chair to catch sight of his best friends. They stared at him with something close to horror in their gazes. His family’s antics were well known. Although he was careful to make sure his friends, especially Priest were left alone with any of his family they were aware of the damaged genes he carried.

  “Yes, Leigh-Lou would be best to have the next gen, I mean her men are good for only one thing philosophy is bound to catch up with her.” His highly sexual twin didn’t believe in monogamy or relationships, as soon as a man mentioned the c-word she was gone before the third syllable was out of their mouths.

  “Leave your twin alone, at least she isn’t sniffing some dude’s ass and doesn’t have the balls to pounce it.”

  “And people wonder why I’m weird.”

  “You’re the normal one; that’s why we stopped asking you to attend functions for my side of the family. We can only take so much embarrassment.”

  “Just call me the dark family secret. So, we’ve discussed the ban on me discussing future children with my non-existent partner. How much I’m an embarrassment. The disappointment in my sex life that is no better than a eunuch’s, so what the hell did you want?”

  “My mother-in-law is coming for her annual inspection. As per her request all the fruits of her son’s loins must be in attendance so she may count piercings, tattoos and whether the fuck of the year matches the one from last year.

  “I swear that woman lives to ruin my fun. Your father has already hidden my scarf skirts and tasseled pasties, the man has been living in sin with me for nearly thirty-five long years. It’s like the fucker doesn’t know me yet.”

  “Hid the tasseled pasties, he must die! What about the sequined middle finger ones I made you for Mother’s Day when I was ten? I made them extra-large since you said we ruined your nipples. Those would fit the occasion.” The gagging behind him made him snort. That’s what they got for being nosy.

  “Those too. Like I said he’s putting a crimp in my fucking style. He knew I was weird the night we met. He fooled me. If I knew about his boring family I would’ve kept my panties on.”

  “Well, how could you resist his line about the dashboard lights bringing out the green in your eyes? Or how Grateful Dead just built the sexual tension to combustible levels?”

  Lily continued as if he’d never said word.

  “So, you be there at one and don’t be late. Wear a sleeveless shirt, holey jeans and make sure your dreads are extra high on your head. Do you have that six-gauge septum bone horn? Do you have a date? Maybe one you can bring on a leash? I can only take an hour before I gotta bring out the hookah.”

  “Should I pull a big brother and pick up a date from the street corner?”

  “Oh, you do love me,” She squealed. “Make sure they look like a case of antibiotics waiting to happen. I’ll make sure I get a year supply of antibacterial sanitizer and spray.”

  “I’m on it. Okay, I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “I’m rather fond of you at the moment.”

  “I’m fond of you too, Ma.” The call disconnected and the silence in the shop made him turn to catch the stares.

  “What the fuck is wrong with your family,” Scary demanded.

  “Nothing, why?”

  “I think I threw up in my mouth a bit,” Trouble gagged and reached for the trash can.

  “Dude, you’ve met my family. You love my mother.”

  “Not enough to know about her ruined nipples,” Trouble screeched.

  “A year of breastfeeding—” He ducked the arsenal of pens Trouble aimed at his head.

  “Did your mother do high quantities of drugs when she was pregnant,” Zerk shook his head.

  “I think she did a bunch of acid before the rabbit died.”

  “That would explain it.”

  “Fuck you, guys, my mother is a fucking saint.”

  “No, she’s heavily medicated, but I think that started long before the kids,” Zerk gathered up his stuff and backpack. “I’m going to the back. I’m destined to have nightmares tonight.”

  The big gruff man took off at a run. Scary wasn’t far behind, but he wasn’t running—just disgusted.

  People would think something was wrong with his family. They were as normal as the next just with a few extra quirks.

  “It wasn’t that fucking bad,” He yelled at Zerk’s retreating form. “You ain’t got something to say,” He asked Priest.

  “I like your mother.”

  “That’s because I’ve never left you alone with her. You’re coming to dinner this Sunday.”

  “Oh—no, no I can’t do that. Your sister grabbed my—” Priest lowered his voice. “—junk last time. She’s been texting me for months. I still don’t know how she got my number.”

  “She swiped it from my phone. Doesn’t matter you’re coming. I’ll give you Mace. It won’t put the she-devil down for long, but it’ll give you enough time to make a run for it and scream for help.”

  “Maybe a taser or better yet a cattle prod, that way he won’t have to get close to her. She gets within a few feet he can shock her.” Trouble set the trashcan back down and sent Priest a sympathetic look.

  “That’s my sister, man.”

  “Yea, I know, but it’s true. I screamed at her I was gay the first time I met her because the sex-starved expression made me feel dirty. I thought I was gonna need a shower.”

  “Yea, the shrieked panicked coming out when five-foot of nothing wasn’t even near you wasn’t unmanly at all. If I remember you shoved your innocent boyfriend in front of you like a shield.”

  “Brody is bi, he’s seen pussy before.”

  “Her pussy wasn’t out. Her skirt wasn’t that short.”

  “Dude, we could almost see if she waxed—” Trouble gagged.

  “I’m going to get coffee.”

  “Pick me up—”

  “No, you’re on your own. Get your pretty husband to get you coffee. Priest, you want something,” He asked the silent man.

  “Thanks, my usual. Do I have to go with you Sunday?”

  “Yes,” Lucky answered and left the shop. Then what he’d done hit him. Priest attended plenty of Lucky’s family dinners, but not when the Grand Monster made her yearly inspection. He was going to subject Priest to full-on family crazy dysfunction. The only thing he could hope his family kept his secret, but secrets and lies never remained hidden. He was fucked and not in the way he wanted to be, fucking great. Bribes, he needed lots and lots of bribes, or spiked drinks. If they were sleeping they couldn’t talk. The thought buoyed his spirits and he smiled to himself with a plan forming.

  2 PRIEST’S CRAZY BEST FRIEND

  Priest glared at the dark circles under his eyes and tried to ignore the emptiness he saw staring back at him. The night terrors were quickly tearing him apart. He clicked off the light over the sink and walked out of the bathroom. It was almost four a.m. and he’d slept only a few hours before he’d felt hands around his wrists and lips pushing so hard against his he tasted blood as teeth cut into the lower curve. He’d fought hard, tried to scream but it was always silent. Like four years ago, there wasn’t anyone there
to save him. He’d been alone in his fear for three years before that. He relived each painful push of hips, one set after another until he’d shut his mind down.

  He absently rubbed the long scars hidden under the ink on his forearms. Priest hadn’t cut deep enough and his mother found him only to scream her disappointment. She believed what happened to him was punishment for his deviant lifestyle. Afterward, even when she drove him to the emergency room he knew part of her wanted to leave him there alone in that bathtub.

  The first door he came to he stopped and pushed it open, Lucky always slept with it cracked. Priest knew he did it on purpose for nights like this. He stepped into the room illuminated by a purple lava lamp and padded softly to the bed. Lifting the covers, he slipped in beside Lucky and quickly but as gently as possible he lined his body up beside Lucky. His friend’s arm instantly wrapped around him and rolled Priest closer.

  “Shh, just go back to sleep,” Lucky whispered the words against his forehead as a soft kiss brushed his skin.

  He let out a shuddered breath and hugged Lucky’s middle.

  “Come on, baby, relax.”

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—”

  “Stop, I leave the door open for you. I’d wish like fuck you’d talk to me, but I won’t force you. It’s your business if you want to share.”

  “Not tonight.”

  “No problem, man, tomorrow night or a year from now. My bed is yours whenever you need it.”

  “Thanks.”

  Long, slender fingers with slight callouses soothingly stroked along his ribs. Years went by without him letting anyone touch him even in a casual way until Twirled and Lucky. For all the mean, rough biker appearances they were an affectionate crew. He’d almost had a panic attack the first time Zerk threw his arm over his shoulder and Priest thought he’d held it together well, but Zerk had slowly pulled away.

  Something about Lucky, though. There was always safety in his presence. Lucky even went out of his way to touch him all the time, but the other man never made him feel frightened or hunted. All other people took his natural shyness as a challenge. It barely had him holding onto whatever strength he’d gathered in the last few years.