Page 39 of Devilish Ink

“Does she know how to tattoo anywhere other than your back?” she asked teasingly.

I blushed and prayed Kayleigh didn’t notice.

“I kind of let her tattoo what she wants…” I answered in a slightly sheepish voice,”where she wants it.”

Darren slammed the hood of the car and planted his hands flat against it. He dropped his head between his shoulder blades and shook it.”You’re doomed.”

Kayleigh frowned at her husband. “What do you mean ‘doomed’?”

Darren eyed Kayleigh.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Kayleigh said to me.

“I think it’s trouble,” Darren countered.

“There are worse ways to bond with someone,” Kayleigh said to Darren. “Certainly less painful ways.”

“It’s all painful,” Darren said. “Love ain’t nothing but it.”

Kayleigh dismissed Darren with a wave of her hand.

“Don’t listen to him,” she said to me.

“She’s going to permanently mark you,” Darren said. “Are you ready for something like that?”

The look Darren gave me meant that he was talking about much more than just tattoo ink.

She was going to mark my body. To mark my soul.

And I would let her.

“That’s the plan,” I said as I lay back down on the creeper.

Now that I knew she didn’t belong to Rian, she was mine to pursue.

Now that I knew it was my name on her lips when she came, she was mine.

I wasn’t going to let her get away.

I just hoped that Rian could forgive me when he found out.

RY

The ring of the bell above the door was like the call for our boxing match to resume, Lee stepping in through the door into the empty parlour like an opponent into the ring.

I was better prepared this time. I wouldn’t be knocked out quite so easily.

“You should have called ahead,” I said, my voice purposely as cold as a first punch.

I’d planned my attack, my first move decided in advance.

Last time I’d let my heart speak first:“you came back.”

Stupid, pitiful eejit. Not this time.

Lee stepped back like I had, in fact, struck him. The hurt on his face stung worse than I’d expected.

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