Chris and Lee have been best friends since the fourth grade. Now in their thirties, Chris rents a booth at Tattoo 804 where he makes a living as a tattooist. His own art is hidden in a portfolio behind his desk-his clients always want him to copy a design or character someone else has drawn, and none ever ask for any custom ink. To satisfy his artistic cravings, Chris coerces his friend Lee to stop by after hours for free tattoos in exchange for letting Chris design whatever he wants.<br><br>Lee's body is a shrine to Chris's artwork. Every tattoo he has is a custom creation from his friend, whom Lee has loved for years. Though both are gay, Lee has never had the courage to let Chris know how he feels, and it pains him to watch Chris flit from boyfriend to boyfriend in search of Mr. Right when Lee would gladly claim that title.<br><br>Chris's latest boyfriend, Barry, is in a local band and sounds absolutely wonderful ... Lee hates him already. But when all Chris can talk about is Lee's latest tattoo, Barry feels like a third wheel and their budding relationship sours. What will it take for Chris to realize the lover he's looking for has been sitting in his tattoo chair all along?

The Tattooed Heart

Barry,yes,of course.That explains the glint in Chris’s eye and the excitement in his voice.Lee’s smile feels tight across his face as he puts the car into neutral.“Toad’s.Cool.We going?”


“You have to meet him,”Chris is saying.He glances back at the parlor but the doors are shut,the lights inside out.Leaning across Lee,he hits the horn on the steering wheel with a short blast.“C’mon,April.Hurry the hell up.”


As if the horn triggered a reaction,the door to the tattoo parlor opens and two,three,fourgiggling women tumble out.“Christ,”Lee mutters under hisbreath.


Chapter 5