Page 228 of The Invite
“You’re wrong,” I singsong.
“No man shows up just to check on a friend.”
“Whatever. I’m going upstairs until Augustus returns.”
I freshen up in the bathroom and change into my pajamas. Morbid curiosity leads me to my purse. I grab it and return to the privacy of the bathroom. I haven’t forgotten that Augustus has cameras set up. Yanking out the crumpled letter, I lean against the sink and read it objectively, hoping to catch a clue.
If we can’t narrow down who it could be, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. The arrogance in his message is staggering.
I’m like the wind… No one is untouchable.
I’m halfway into reading it a second time when faint footsteps enter my bedroom. Hastily, I throw the letter back in my purse and step outside just as a shadow appears in my doorway.
“Oh god!” My heart thuds as I stare at Augustus with a white bandage around his throat. I run toward him. “What happened to you? Did you get hurt?”
He catches me around the waist and silently carries me to the bed.
“I’m fine,” he grunts low after dumping me on it. “Clothes off.”
I gape at him. “Not until you explain yourself.”
Wordlessly, he peels the bandage off. It takes my brain several seconds to process what I’m seeing. Once I do, I’m bursting into tears and gasping, “You… did it.”
My name is tattooed in capital letters on his neck.
The skin is raw and pink yet there’s no taking away the beauty of the ink.
Its meaning.
He brushes the wetness away from my cheeks, murmuring, “I told you I would, honey. Any woman who sees me will know I’m yours.”
God! This man!
My heart pounds so loud, I’m afraid it’ll burst outside of my ribs.
I can’t imagine how much it must’ve hurt.
Never in a million years did I think he’ll pick this spot to tattoo me. I’m so tempted to reciprocate.
“I’m so tempted to touch it,” I whisper. But I have to wait until it heals.
He gives me the next best thing.
Curling his hands around my wrist, he lifts it to his throat and presses my fingers right below the swollen flesh. I ghost my fingertips over the letters one by one. Possessiveness and lust flaring to life.
Grasping his shoulders, I kneel on the bed and crush my mouth against his. I thank him with a kiss, the words feeling too small. The shirt and shorts are torn from my body until I’m naked both physically and emotionally.
“I want you tattooed on my skin too, August,” I tell him breathlessly as his mouth licks and bites its way down my neck. I arch my chest as his lips close around one nipple, nibbling on it with his teeth until it hardens painfully. “Anywhere you want.”
He climbs back up and hovers over my face, cupping it. “I will. You’ll wear my mark in every way that exists. A tattooclaiming you as my woman. A ring marking you as my wife, and a collar marking you as my little prey.”
“I want it all.”
Kissing me hard, he straightens and tugs me up. “Did you eat?”
“Maverick made me a sandwich.” I bite my lip, wondering if he’s downstairs.
“He left, Ness.”
