Page 50 of Forbidden Knots

She moaned against me, her hips moving in circular motions as she began to shake on top of me for the second time. This time I was on the edge as well, so I pushed her down, her body hitting the sheets, her legs under her hips as I moved close to her until I exploded all over her chest. Her tongue was out, her eyes closed, so I brought myself to her mouth, thrusting inside until she gagged.

I moved away, lowering my body. The sun began to rise, casting a golden shine on her skin. Her olive skin was bruised, displaying hues of green and blue with a few red scratches on her wrists. I collapsed onto her chest, feeling a mix of guilt and a need for forgiveness.

"Who did this to you?" I whispered. "Was it Sophie?"

She quietly nodded, coming close to me, and wrapping her body against mine.

"It wasn't only her," she said, hiding her eyes from mine. "A few were from Grandma, and a few were from you," she admitted.

I lifted my body against hers, my elbow propping me up as I searched for her eyes.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I saw her, Tristan, and I followed her. By the time I reached her, she was already gone," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry, so sorry. If I had stayed with her..."

I clenched my fists, wanting to break the whole world apart, but I couldn't drag her into my rage.

"No, you are here, with me," I soothed. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you had stayed in those woods."

Her face met my chest, her tears wetting my skin.

"I lost Sophie. I don't want to lose you too," I whispered.

The sun shone through the small windows of the boat, and I woke up with more regrets than I had carried to bed. When I saw her face, her neck so bruised, I had to check if she was sleeping or dead. I traced my palm down her cheeks, placing a soft kiss on her skin. She was sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to wake her.

All the anger I had toward her was left on those sheets along with her. As I got out of the cabin and saw the sea so calm, it broke me.

I needed pain now, the same amount of burn I had inflicted on her last night. I jumped off the boat, leaving her alone inside, and I hated myself for not being the gentle, caring man she deserved. Her body was so bruised that I wanted to take her pain as my own. All chaos fell upon me as I walked back toward the town.

I rushed, my own shadow following each step I took, the sun burning my skin. As I approached the entrance of the city from the west side, I noticed an old man opening a tattoo studio.My body craved pain, dragging me toward the man, and I approached, staring at the window.

"Do you have an appointment?" he asked.

"No," I shook my head, "but I have an idea in mind."

His mustache spread along his lips, and he waved his hand, gesturing for me to come inside. "Come in."

I sat down in the chair, then laid back, the white light blinking above me.

"I want a knot," I said, "like the one you see on boats."

As he prepared the ink, looking at me, I placed both my palms on my neck.

"I want it to be on my neck. I want it to look like it's choking me."

"I'll do it," he said, "but you might need a shrink afterward." He chuckled.

"You have no idea," I chuckled back.

As he leaned close, preparing to apply a cream to numb my skin for the needle, I stopped his hand.

"I don't need it."

The man stared at me for a few seconds.

"If you pass out, I'll tattoo a dick on your forehead," he said in a deep voice.

"Deal," I said, looking straight at him.

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