Page 46 of A Dark Duet

I nod. He unwraps me after I am dry, and I lie there as naked as the day I was born, not caring if he can see all of me because it doesn’t really matter. He turns my face as he hovers over me, and I can see the tattoo on his neck that goes up the side of his closely shaved scalp. The tattoos on his knuckles caress my face, and I don’t flinch or stiffen. His touch is soft and my skin tender. The sensation is welcoming.

A thumb rubs my lower lip as he lowers his mouth and kisses me softly. I don’t move while he continues to kiss my lips, sliding his tongue inside, opening my mouth, and seeking my tongue. My eyes find his and he slides his hands up my face as he breaks the kiss.

He places soft kisses down my neck and goose bumps follow in his wake. He kisses every bruise on my skin, trying to replace the hurt.

“I want you to remember me and only me on your skin,” he breathes.

He kisses me everywhere and when I look down, he is not only kissing me, but he is memorizing every mark on my body that was brutally inflicted. I watch the emotion on his face as he takes them all in, and I know he is picturing it, piecing it together. I lie there watching him, feeling his touch on my skin. I know he needs to get to the gym to train, his fight is only three weeks away.

The ballet lessons for the girls begin again tomorrow. I can at least dance in the studio since Lenora gave me a key. I can go with Brie if Jaden brings her along.

When he kisses me one last time, I look into his eyes, and I see the promise of tenderness and protection that I’m not sure of. He may not physically hurt me, but he can still inflict pain in other ways. I need to keep in mind that he is a different monster.

He helps me up and opens the closet, coming back with expensive dance outfit I don’t recognize. They all have tags on them in my size with matching dance socks. I look up at him and he says nothing.

He places a hoodie on the bed that has his name with the Grim Reaper on it. “I got you a hoodie that you can wear over the dance outfit so you can cover your neck, and no one will see the marks. I was supposed to give it to you before you left because I wanted you to have it.”

“I don’t care about the marks. I wore the jacket with the hoodie so the girls wouldn’t see or anyone at your gym. I couldn’t stomach them thinking you did it. I have heard horror stories of fighters…” I trail off.

“You didn’t have to, everyone knows I wouldn’t touch a woman, especially you. I appreciate you worrying about me like that. It shows you are selfless and that you care. Thank you.”

Staying silent, I get dressed, not caring where the clothes came from, and wear the hoodie.

We eat breakfast and arrive at the gym. He ushers me inside and Charles smiles welcomingly. “Your friend is in the office with Jaden,” he says.

I look over at the office door, and it opens to a running Brie. She runs toward me, stopping right before running into me, and slowly embraces me. “I missed you,” she whispers.

“I missed you, too.”

“Are you okay?” she asks. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Are you girls going to stay and watch me train today?” Nate asks.

“After I go practice with Giselle, we will stay and watch you train,” Brie says.

“Okay, but Charles has to go with you.”

I raise my eyebrows, looking over at Charles. “Ready, Charlie? It’s okay if I call you Charlie, right?” I ask.

He raises his eyes to Nate. “Nate’s girl can call me whatever she wants.”

“Charlie, we’ve been through this. I’m Nate’s friend,” I say.

Nick comes up behind Nate. “Nah, you belong to Nate, and your friend Brie knows who she belongs to. They never bring girls to the gym,” he says as he winks.

“Whatever.”

“Where did you sleep last night?” he asks.

I avert my eyes.

“Exactly,” he says knowingly, with a smile on his face.

“Leave them alone,” Jaden chimes in, giving him a death glare.

Nick shrugs. “I’m just trying to help,” he says.

Charlie follows us to the dance studio as I play Lana Del Rey and practice moves with Brie. I decide to show her the dance moves for the ballet lessons tomorrow. Charlie sits and watches, fascinated by the intricate dance moves.

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