Page 68 of A Blackened Bond

“It seems you like my ink?” He wriggles his brows as I grin before a more serious expression overtakes my features.

“Ezra.” I take his hand in mine before sliding it down my waist and toward my hips, his grin growing wider as he watches me.

My hand stills with his over the marks on my hips.

“These…these aren’t tattoos.” I let go of his hand, allowing him to brush his fingers across the marks. “If I’m honest, I’m not sure what they are.” His grin slowly fades as his brows draw down together.

“They appeared a couple of months ago. First these …” I gesture toward my hips. “And then the marks on my ankles. I’m not sure what they mean or why they have appeared on my body, but—”

He pulls himself up, sitting straighter in the bed and cutting my words off as worry flits through his gaze.

“What do you mean theyappeared? You didn’t…get them done?” His brows furrow deeper on his face, his fingers reaching back toward my hips and brushing back and forth the marks there.

“They’re not anything bad, Ezra. They don’t cause me any pain or are anything ominous—”

“But you don’t know that for sure. What if someone cursed you or—”

His eyes flicker back and forth imagining things as his expression quickly darkens. I climb up toward him, straddling him as I wrap my legs to each side of him, pulling his attention back toward me and away from whatever horrible thoughts he was having.

“I feel stronger since they’ve appeared, Ezra.” I reach out, cupping his cheeks as fear bleeds into his gaze. I lean in further, making sure he can see the truth in my words.

“I was frail and weak before, constantly feeling sick and unable to even run properly, let alone defend myself.”

His brows pinch together, a dark gleam growing in his eyes as I continue.

“But since they have appeared on my body, I’ve had strength and stamina like never before. I’ve felt more alive in the past two months than I have in years.” I shake my head. “I don’t knowhow to explain it, but I feel a connection and familiarity with them. They’re not something dangerous, and they won’t hurt me.” I brush my fingers along his cheeks. He instantly leans into my touch. “I feel like they’re a part of me, almost like a piece of me was missing before they appeared. They won’t harm me, Ezra. Please trust me.”

He pauses for a moment, looking deep into my eyes before sighing and nodding. “If you’re sure.”

“I am. I don’t know much about them and am trying to find out what they mean…” I sigh. “It just hasn’t been the easiest to do with everything going on these days.”

Ezra places both hands on my hips as a soft smile pulls at my cheeks. He brushes his fingers back and forth on my marks, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

“If you’ll let me, I can help. I mentioned before that I have a few connections and people who could help get some answers. That is, if you want it?”

A relief settles over me, the thought of Ezra helping eases some of the worry I had been carrying with his words.

I nod. “But I don’t want others to know about them.”

His grin reappears. “Micai, I will never do anything you don’t want. You’re my first priority. No one will ever know something you don’t want them to with me around.”

A small smile stretches my cheeks as he leans in, taking my lips in a tender kiss that quickly becomes heated. I tilt my head, deepening the kiss before Ezra pulls back slightly. His lips red and breath choppy before he opens them.

“Micai, are you sure you’re okay to…?” His eyes trail down my body, a slightly heated look taking over his gaze before he shakes his head.

Was he worried about my body? That because it had been my first time—in this life—that I wouldn’t be able to go again?

How wrong he was.

I wanted this and him more than he realised—more than evenIhad realised. I had enjoyed every second of it and every inch of him.

My body in this life was also much stronger than before. And a little bit of pain like that was nothing to me. I had experienced broken bones more times than I can count andyearsof torture. A little sting and discomfort wouldn’t stop me.

I slide my hand down his abs slowly, his breath slightly hitching as I slip further down his torso and toward his already hard dick.

“Micai—” A grunt cuts off his words, my name turning into a soft groan as I stroke him slowly. It twitches under my touch, a smile forming on my lips as I enjoy his reactions.

“How could I not want this?” I call, stroking him as I lean down and place a kiss on his tip as a stuttering breath falls from his lips.

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