Page 37 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

I knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment her doe eyes flashed with anger.

“I tolerate a lot of things from you, but not telling me you want me to get a tattoo, that crosses a line.”

Tolerate?Did she think that was acceptable to say to me? Fucking hell. Sometimes she really pushed my fucking buttons.

I tugged her further away from Ben.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I said, keeping my voice low.

“It means you put me through a lot of crap, Aiden, and I accept it, but you can’t order me to permanently mark my skin for you.”

I hadn’t even told her what I wanted yet. It wasn’t what she thought. I took a breath. Getting into a fight wasn’t needed today and especially not in front of Ben. I really wished she’d stop testing me all the time. I supposed it was my own fault for falling in love with a girl with such a deadly temper on her. One which matched my own.

“If you let me explain…”

“Fine. Just don’t expect me to say yes.”

I’d upset her. Even though I knew she appreciated me introducing her to someone important to me, she was pissed as hell too. I didn’t blame her, even though it grated on me she immediately got annoyed before I’d even had a chance to tell her exactly what I wanted. I pushed her just as hard as she pushed me.

“I want us to wear each other’s initial, princess. Just a single A. You choose where I wear yours and I decide where you wear mine. This isn’t about me wanting to mark you. It’s about us. Together. As a couple.”

Her doe eyes searched mine for the longest time. She looked confused at first but then her features morphed into understanding.

She turned my hand upwards in hers. Her fingers traced a line over my right wrist which wasn’t yet inked.

“Here.”

My heart slammed against my ribcage. I didn’t care where she wanted it. I’d gladly wear her name on my skin. I belonged to her.

“You want it there?”

She nodded. Agreement. She just fucking said yes to me yet again. Every time I thought I asked too much, she always managed to surprise me with her acceptance of my needs. My desires. How much more would I take from this girl?

Everything because she is yours,a voice whispered.

“Where do you want to mark me?”

I’d known the moment I’d decided she needed to wear my initial. I reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear before caressing the skin there. She sucked in a breath.

“Behind my ear?”

“Yes, it might be hidden by your hair, but it tells everyone you’re mine even though most will assume it stands for Avery. You and I know the truth.”

Those doe eyes I adored so much burnt with love and acceptance.

“Okay.”

And with that, I led her back over to Ben. I sat in the chair and she sat on one of the other stools. I wanted to show her I was willing to have her etched on my skin before she did the same for me. Just like she was etched on my heart.

Ben made small talk as he prepared the necessary. He’d touch up my other arm in the process. He showed Avery the A he’d designed to go on our skin. The swirling calligraphy was a little feminine, but I didn’t care. This was for her.

She nodded her approval. I was fucking glad of it. I’d seen it before when I’d talked it over with him on New Year’s Day.

Ben stencilled my skin before he picked up the gun and started. Avery watched with rapt interest. She asked Ben questions about his design process and the two of them spoke in length. I hadn’t told Ben about Avery’s artistic skills. He seemed very interested in her drawings and asked her to make me send him photos.

When he finished, he wrapped it before shifting around so he could touch up the words on my other arm. Avery held my hand and looked over the freshly inked A on my wrist visible through the cling film. I was so used to being tattooed, I barely registered the pain of the needle.

“It’s lucky both our names start with A,” she said.

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