Page 35 of When Sinners Dare

“This okay?” He shows me the design he’s worked up. There’s added detail and scrolls making it look feminine and beautiful. I love it.

I move my position in the chair and position my leg so he can reach my thigh. His thumb rubs over the skin he’s about to abuse. “You’re sure you want it here?” he asks. I watch the hand move on my thigh, watch the warm, rough fingers tightening before he removes them. “How’s your pain threshold?”

It’s been a long time since I thought about pain. I glance down at the silvery slivers on my opposite thigh and remember the heat and pain of the knife as they sunk it into my flesh and slowly pulled it upwards, slicing me open. “I’m good.”

Unfortunately, Kai’s observation skills pick up where I’m looking. I watch as he processes what he’s looking at and see the question in his eyes.

“Right. Well, just stay still. Say if it gets too much. It shouldn’t take long.” He pulls on another pair of gloves and then places the design onto my skin and transfers the pattern.

I take a breath and let it out slowly as the buzz of the needle starts. Short spurts first, then Kai leans down and positions my leg so he can start. As the needle pierces my skin, I keep my eyes on Kai and study his – they are beautiful in their own way – deep green, with flecks of hazel around the iris. A little mysterious, but that just makes him look all the hotter.

I’m sure he can feel me staring, but he keeps his focus on my skin, and I like that.

“They don’t look recent,” he starts, and I know what he’s talking about.

“They aren’t.” The urge to cover my scar crawls over my skin and is worse than the actual pain he’s inflicting.

“Scars can be covered with ink.” He’s not looking at my other leg but focusing on the new scar he’s creating.

My wound took years to heal and fade. I was young enough that it didn’t matter how red and jagged it looked at the start. Nobody was taking my clothes off when I was thirteen. It soon grew into a talking point when I started having sex, though. Sure, plenty weren’t looking past the obvious, and there were many where the clothes didn’t come off for them to see it. Most men are easily distracted when they’re about to get laid, so I’d direct their attention anywhere else but my scar. Ashamed at times but also proud to bare it. It’s a part of me and shows my strength – shows the Cortez strength, and I don’t want to cover that. Even if I wish nobody could see it.

“If I wanted to hide it, I’d have asked.” I sound defensive, and I am.

“We all have scars, Mariana. Most of us don’t like them,” he murmurs, sombre in his tone.

“Where are yours?” I ask, wanting to know. He pauses the gun and looks at me but just gives me a smile. “Secretive. I see. Just another thing I’m going to have to find out about you.”

He shakes his head and gets back to work, and I try to relax and focus on something other than Kai’s hands extremely high on my thigh. The noise is worse than the pain. Although, I can see having a large area worked on for any amount of time could be tough to endure. Dante must have spent hours under the needle.

“So, Kai. Want to tell me what all that shit was about out front?”

He stays focused on the ink and moves his hand back and forth, forcing more pigment into my skin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re a shit liar. You didn’t want to see me, and I want to know why.” I tilt my head up to the ceiling and strip lights above our heads.

“Does it really matter? You’re not one to be told no, are you? You’re letting me mark you as proof to that point.”

“Well, at least you got that right about me. I came back here looking for the guy I met in the bar. Know where he is?”

“And why do you want to see him again?” Kai stops with the needle and raises his eyes to mine. His look is predatory and full of intent. There’s chemistry between us, we’ve already established that, but I want to know why he’s being safe. And I’m pissed that it’s likely to do with my brother.

“If I tell you the truth, will you at least respect me enough to do the same?” The conversation between us seemed a lot easier before he knew who I was, and that’s pissing me off.

Kai nods, and I take it.

“I wanted to ask how you know my brother.” I wait to read his response, but he just closes his eyes for a second. “And things were going pretty well before he showed up. Maybe I could use a new drinking buddy.”

“That’s twice now. You don’t look like a girl who needs a drink for a good time," he says, avoiding questions I want answers to. If he wants to play that game, I’ll play.

“Oh, I certainly don’t. However, life has thrown a few challenges my way, and I’d like a distraction.”

“I’m a distraction?”

“You can be. If you want that?”

“I want to know why you need one.”

“That’s a story for a long night of drinking. I’m not sure you even want to take me out for one. Although, you might be happier talking to me with a drink in hand. What do you say?”

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