Page 41 of Hear Me Roar

“Yep, right where itbelongs.”

“But you wouldn't get mine? That’s kinda fucked up. We were together much longer than you andher.”

“It's a damn good thing I didn't. I would've felt like a massive asswipe, especially after what you did,” I countered, and she rolled hereyes.

“Good grief, you're never going to forgive me for that, areyou?”

“Why wouldI?”

“Because forgiveness bringsclosure.”

A sarcastic, hushed chuckle erupted deep within my chest, my shoulders bobbing up and down as a result. “I had plenty of closure, trustme.”

“So why not forgive methen?”

“Because I don't want to, Brie, plain and simple. Now drop it and put the damn thing on my skinalready.”

“Okay, Oscar the Grouch.” Her voice was suddenly annoyed. “And for the record, it was a mistake I regret, in case I hadn't made myself clear on that partyet.”

“Somehow, I find that hard to believe,” I sneered. “Either way, it'sirrelevant.”

“Why?”

“Becauseyou'reirrelevant, as you can see from the script you're holding in yourhands.”

Bright blue eyes bulged from their sockets as she reared her head. “Ouch. Not nice,Carr.”

“Yeah, well, cheating on me wasn't nice either, but here weare.”

Silence.

And it remained silent while she cleansed the spot and double checked it was free of any stray hairs. Not that I had any, seeing as most of my torso was tatted in its entirety, but it was standard procedure, with or without previous tats. Given her sudden tight-lipped demeanor, I assumed the rest of the process would be quick and painless, but fuck was I wrong. Rather than just placing the outline where it was obviously meant to go, Brie straddled my thigh and pushed at mychest.

“Get off me,” I gritted out almostimmediately.

“Relax, will you?” she huffed. “You act like I'm gonna strap you to the chair, whip your dick out, and ride you into next week. I just wanna get it on right so it doesn't interfere withmywork. Layback.”

Glaring a hole through her head – to which she exaggeratedly glared right back – I threw myself into the seat as instructed and shut my eyes. I never wanted her to be this close to me again and yet she was, all because Pun’s session had run over. That cocksucker wasstillscreaming like a little bitch in his chair and he was lucky I had manners, otherwise he would've found himself outside the shop on his ass right about now, with a half-finishedtattoo.

Brie, of course, took advantage of the moment and climbed into my lap in a completely unprofessional manner. I presumed our spat and the fact I was getting my girlfriend’s name tattooed on my body was egging her on. Maybe if I just laid real still and paid her no mind, it would deviate her from trying anythingfurther.

After another cool swipe of alcohol to hold the outline in place, Brie finally smoothed Hazel’s name on my skin and peeled back the paper. My eyes snapped open to find her leaning back as she observed the script that would soon be a permanent part of me. I could see the tiniest hint of envy swimming in her stare, and knew it was taking everything in her not to flip out and beg for forgiveness. I didn’t miss the deep breath she took either, as if reining herself in from making herself look like a fool. Rather than putting an end to the situation and sparing us both another minute of disquietude, her gaze traced over the lines and colors seared into myskin.

“I remember inking this on you,” she said with a laugh, as if various moments were playing out for her in a mental reel. “Every session we’d inch lower and lower untilthat thingwas in my face. It was so hard to keep myself in check. Remember how good it felt when I finally pulled it out anddeep-”

“Get off,” I gritted out, cutting heroff.

But she went on because it wouldn’t be Brie if she didn’t, at the very least, try to evoke the reaction shedesired.

“Or when I let you rail me from behind on this very chair after hours? God, we went at it like animals and made such a mess that night.” She giggled, rolling her hips into me; her long, manicured nails clawing down mychest.

“I said, getoff.”

“Or how about when you pierced my clit after burying your face in my pussy for what felt like hours.Thatwas amazing, and the sex we had after I healed was mind-blowing. Remember that? Remember how I used to beg you to fuck me harder…Yes, Daddy, harder. Pleeease,” she moaned, the sound eerily and uncomfortably accurate to what her moans actually soundedlike.

“Get off me, now, or I'll get you off,” I growled, almostmenacingly.

“Fuck yes, talk dirty to me,” she cooed, completelyunfazed.

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