Page 44 of Fool's Bargain

“Not distracting. Inspiring.” I grinned, then twirled my hand for him to roll over again.

He settled facedown on the vinyl and I punched another treadle with my toe to lift the chair up to a comfortable height for me to work. While he was lifted, I eyed the uniform pattern of scars on his back, wincing at the memory he’d shared of receiving them. My own scars were nothing in comparison, my desire for oblivion somehow petty compared to his resolve to live through all that pain.

My wish was for this tattoo to cast a veil of something more pleasant over that ancient, painful memory. The tattoo itself wouldn’t be without pain, but the process was one of love, more than for any other tattoo I’d created before.

As I set to work, I kept that desire at the forefront of my mind. My love for him coupled with my need to protect him from pain, even going so far as to cleanse his memory of the hurt he’d endured in the past. I was well into the zone, the elaborate design taking shape across the expanse of his back, when I became aware of our link. Blinking, I paused and came back to myself, inhaling at the scope of the design that had already transformed his back into a scene beyond my expectations.

“You can see this through my eyes, can’t you?” I asked, glancing at the side of his face. His eyes were closed, his lashes damp, and I realized with a jolt that he’d been crying.

“Theo?” I asked in alarm. “What’s wrong?” I unstrapped the battery pack from my arm and peeled off my gloves, rolling toward his head and resting a hand against his cheek.

“Nothing.” His pale blue eyes were bright with emotion that sank deep into my soul. “Everything is right.” He pushed up onto one elbow and grasped the back of my head, pulling me into a kiss.

I surrendered to his hungry mouth for several seconds before pulling back to catch my breath. “I’m not finished yet,” I rasped.

“I know, but it’s already more perfect than I could have imagined. Do you see what you’ve done? How it’s already changed my skin? I thought I’d have those scars for eternity.”

He settled back onto the chair, head twisted as far as he could to peek at his shoulder, then closed his eyes. At that moment I felt him inside my mind again, his consciousness linked to mine, his eyes seeing what I saw through our blood meld. The link gave me a completely different perspective of the design so far. It was an enormous stylized starfish, rendered in what would be elaborate detail but now was merely an outline of what was to come. But between the lines of ink, his scars had already begun to recede as if the shallow wounds my needles had cut had absorbed the damage caused when his old enemy had tortured him.

I got back to work, more eager than ever to see the design complete. The entire time, I kept my mind open to him, holding his consciousness within the cradle of my own as the marks I etched into his back continued their healing magic.

Hours later, with a heavy sigh he echoed, I completed the last mark and sat back, flexing my hand as I stared at the ink-smeared skin before me. His skin had healed even more swiftly than I’d expected, and when I wiped away the remnants of dark ink, not even a trace of redness marred the designs. The starfish looked like a living thing even though it wasn’t close to resembling the sea creature itself, but the lines shimmered with magic, the designs undulating subtly across his skin. Behind it I’d added an oceanscape of waves and bubbles that flowed out from the arms of the main design, extending partway down each of his firm, tan buttocks and the backs of both of his arms. The very peak of the design ended at the nape of his neck, right at the start of his hairline. And in the very center was a starburst of brilliant color that signified the bond our souls shared, one I hoped all five of us would share very soon.

I’d barely swiped away the last bit of stray ink when he rolled over and sat up. Before I could protest, he hauled me onto his lap and planted his mouth on mine, one hand cupping the back of my head. His fingertips dug into my skull and I was plunged into a meld so deep I felt his gratitude down to my marrow.

“I need you. Now,”he blasted into my mind.

I curled my arms around his neck and shifted to straddle him, releasing him only to allow him to yank my shirt off over my head. He rid me of my bra and I gasped as he took one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard. I rocked my hips against his erection, my core already soaked with desire.

“Are they going to be pissed?” I breathed as I arched toward his mouth, not wanting to stop but too close to having everything I wanted to test the limits of the others.

“They’ll understand,” he growled, tugging at the closure of my jeans, then shoving his hand down the front when he got them open. His deft fingers teased my clit until I saw stars, then pushed lower, teasing at my opening. “Besides, you’ll give each of them their own chance to take revenge if they have a problem with it.”

Two thick fingers penetrated me and I gasped, growing hotter at the thought of each of the others making me pay for daring to fuck Theo without them here.

He withdrew his fingers and urged me up, kissing his way down my belly as he pushed my jeans over my hips. I shimmied out of them, using his shoulders for leverage while I kicked off my shoes and shoved my jeans off my legs. Then I straddled him, fingers tangling in his thick hair as his hands curled around my ass cheeks and spread me open. I let my head fall back with a sigh as he positioned his tip at my entrance, then dropped down at the same second he thrust up, spearing me hard and deep with his thick shaft.

“Dion save me, I do love you, Zarya,” he said, his voice rough and desperate. “You’re perfect for all of us. Fate will see it. It has to.”

I didn’t understand the desperate, almost pleading note to his voice, but I didn’t care when he twisted around and flipped us so I lay beneath him. He fucked me hard and fast and I clutched at his shoulders, my legs wrapped tight around his ass as he drove us both to an explosive climax, our loud cries barely concealed by the holiday music streaming in from the restaurant next door.

* * *

When we drifted backto my apartment, we found the other three busy in the kitchen, each of them clad in nothing but aprons. The place smelled amazing—like Christmas, I realized with a pang of faint regret that was quickly obliterated by utter and complete happiness. I’d missed my chance at this with Bodhi, but what I had now more than made up for that old mistake.

Kyril eyed us, then winked. “Glad you two could join us again. Hope you’re hungry.”

Ione pulled me into a tight hug and proceeded to peel my clothes off me, then handed me another apron before moving to Theo and stripping him in turn. I didn’t own a single apron, so I stared at the thing in my hands with amusement.Kiss the Cook, it read and I chuckled. But I supposed it was better than cooking naked.

Ione’s wondrous exclamation drew everyone’s attention to Theo, whose cheeks reddened, but his eyes were filled with pride and love when he turned to share the results of our session.

Kyril and Dorian’s mouths fell open and all kitchen activity ceased while they admired the tattoo. Then the five of us got back to work finishing the preparations of the most elaborate meal my kitchen had ever seen.

When our Christmas Eve feast was complete and my table strained under the weight of all the deliciousness, I paused to take it all in. The others were seated and already serving each other, chatting about the meal and their excitement over Theo’s tattoo. Even the scents that filled my apartment were things that I associated with the holidays but had never had in my own home before. They’d always existed beyond my reach, and even when I’d had Bodhi, who’d made every effort to draw me into his family’s bubble of love, I’d resisted. Now I thought I understood that if I had allowed myself to be part of his family, our inevitable end would have irrevocably broken us.

Because I was more certain now, as I went to sit at my own dining table with the four people who had unexpectedly become the most important people in my life, that Bodhi and I were never meant to be.Thiswas where I belonged.

Tears sprang to my eyes at the sight of the three men who had changed into matching red plaid pajamas and Santa hats. Theo was busy carving an enormous roast that was surrounded by a dozen side dishes. Kyril made the rounds filling all our glasses, and Ione darted to my stereo and turned on the music. She beamed at me when a carol began to play and danced her way back to me, spinning and swaying with the grace of a ballerina.

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