Did I enable my girlfriend simply to cleanse my hearing palette?
Yes.
Am I going to now regret that decision for the rest of my life, knowing she’s going to use my request against me for as long as I’ll let her?
Absolutely.
If I wasn’t fucked before, then I sure as hell am now. At least this proves that I’m batshit crazy not only during a mission, but also out of it while making everyday life choices.
It’s a good thing I like it rough, huh?
7.
Ipull the dress’s spaghetti straps over my shoulders, making sure my gun’s holster is secured tightly around my left thigh, then sigh at my reflection in the massive dressing-table mirror. The iridescent fabric glimmers against my frame when the evening light hits it, and loath as I am to admit, I will say that I look…good. Especially with my sultry, minimalistic makeup, and the elegant way in which my short hair frames my face. If Mave were here right now, he’d be standing right behind me – ready to compliment me just so he could put a smile on my face. He had a way with words; with doing things in a manner that made me feel seen and safe.
I blink when my eyes burn, then swallow when my throat tightens. A brief glint of fluorescent light on metal reflects against the mirror, bringing my attention to the earrings I’m wearing. They are shaped as knives, and dangle in an upside-down sort of way from platinum hoops. The earrings are custom-made, created by one of my subscribers who runs an established jewelry store in Los Angeles. Even though I’ve had them for weeks now, I’ve only just worn them today. I think they look absolutely stunning – both elegant and wicked at the same time. True statement-makers.
I flick back the front pieces of my hair, then recheck the earrings’ hoops. I’m about to grab my lipstick, but stop when I hear the water turning off in the shower. A moment passes,and as I glance up, I see Dorran walking out of the bathroom, dripping water all over our bedroom floor as he tousles his wet curls. My gaze, on its own accord, travels over his broad, muscled body, and stops at the thick patch of dark hair between the defined V of his hips.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were absolutely shameless for ogling me like this.”
I look at him through the mirror, then roll my eyes when he grins at me. “You flatter yourself too much, Ledger.”
“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.” He starts walking over to me, and my body instantly reacts to his increasing nearness. My skin breaks into goosebumps, and warmth fills my chest as I watch him stalk over to me.
“My God, Little Swan; you’re beautiful,” he says while giving me a thorough once over. As he gets closer, he brackets my waist between his hands and sets a long kiss on the crown of my head. “And those earrings – I fuckinglove‘em.” He runs the tip of his nose against the shell of my ear, then presses a teasing kiss just beneath it.
“I think it’s fitting, given our reason for attending the gala tonight,” I say.
“Mm-hmm.” He sets another kiss on the skin behind my ear, then tries to pull me to him, but I suck in a breath and turn around, pushing him away just a little.
“Don’t,” I warn, and when he gives me a confused look, I gesture at his hair. “You’re wet; you’ll ruin my makeup.”
He scowls. “Don’t care.” He starts leaning in, but I place a hand on his chest, stopping him.
“Dor, no.”
“Cigs, don’t fuck with me. You’ve been edging me on all day; I fuckingneedyou now.”
I click my tongue. “I spent twenty minutes on my eyelashes. Twenty-fucking-minutes. I can’t afford to mess them up, you asshole. Besides, you’ve been edging me on just as much, looking all sweaty and irresistible – while fixingcars, no less.”
“But I thought you said I lookedgrossat the time,” he challenges.
“Did I? Gosh, I can’t remember if I did.”
He studies me for a bit, then tilts his head sideways. “Your lashes…they don’t look any different to me,” he says.
My nostrils flare. “Take that back.”
He smirks. “Nope.”
I shove him further away from me. “Fuck you,” I spit out.
He laughs. “I just don’t see what the big deal is,” he states casually.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m going to shoot you in the head one of these days.”
“With the kinda aim you have? I don’t think so, babe.”
