The fury he felt at hearing the list of her injuries consumed him.He wanted to hold her.He leaned forward and kissed the base of her spine that was being left un-inked, conveying what words couldn’t.
Picking up his round curve magnum, he shifted to shading the rocks the sword was cleft into, something he could do in his sleep.
He watched the needles as he circled her skin, pausing to wipe the surplus ink away.He mentally recited the benefits of why a round curve magnum was better than a stacked magnum.Less impact to the skin, better at deflecting the skin, needles that moved more freely over skin.Anything to calm the anger still boiling inside him.
Harper rested her head on her forearms and shivered.He could see the goose bumps appear on her arms, her fine blond hairs standing up straight.
Fuck it.Switching his equipment off, he got up and crouched in front of the bed to look up at her.
When their eyes finally met, hers were wet with tears.He could see the effort it was taking to hold herself together.He admired the control she was starting to show.
“I really want to do normal with you, Trent.I want to look forward to wearing a bikini on the beach.I want to enjoy going dancing again.I want to anticipate the first night you sleep over at my place and the first time we, you know… assuming those aren’t the same.”She smiled at him, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Now that you have an idea of what happened, do you still want to benormalwith me?”
Words choked him.Until he could find his voice, he took her hand, turned it over, and kissed her palm.He wanted to protect her for the rest of her life.
“More than you know.We can absolutely try normal because I want you to look forward to all those things.Hell, I want to look forward to all those things too, especially the sex part.”He laughed softly.
She smiled at that and blushed.“After everything I said, the sex part is what you pick up on.”
“I’m a guy.We always pick up on the sex part, even if you don’t mention a sex part.And it made you smile.”
He grabbed a tissue and wiped her tears.“So from today, you and me and normal, right?I know enough about what happened, and you know it doesn’t affect what I think of you.And if something we do triggers memories, we’ll talk about it before you run.Deal?”
She shook his hand with the one he’d just kissed.
“Deal,” she said.And this time when she smiled, it reached her eyes.
Chapter Ten
Shit.Trent switched his coffee cup to the other hand and tried to shake himself free of the drips of scalding liquid that were currently burning his arm and falling onto the bench seat of his car.
Harper walked toward him in tiny little denim shorts that showcased her toned, runner’s legs and a white tank top with a little black bikini top underneath.He’d never seen her in so little clothing, and she looked positively delicious.Yes, it was probably bad for business to close the studio on a Friday in May, but it was great for morale and came with the added bonus of spending the day with Harper.The guys had been talking about the beach music festival for weeks and it was a great excuse to take a day off.
He got out of the car, placed his coffee on the roof, reached over and took the bags from her, landing a quick kiss on her lips.
“Morning, darlin’.You look amazing.How’d you sleep?”
“Like a baby.My back feels so much better today.It’s unreal the difference a few days make.”
Trent dropped the bags in the trunk before slamming it down.“Let me see,” he said turning her to lift her tank.
“Mmm.”
“What do you mean ‘mmm’?”Harper asked impatiently.
“Nothing… just… Mmm.”
“Is something wrong?Did I not put the cream on right or something?”She tried to look over her shoulder.
Trent ran his finger down the edge of the sword before curling up the outlines for the flames, enjoying the way she shivered in response.
“Nope.It’s freakin’ hot is all,” he said appreciatively, continuing to stroke her back.“Told you… hot chick with bad-ass tattoo… actually, a bad-ass tattoo, done by me onmyhot chick… works for me.”
He laughed when she turned around and smacked him in the ribs.
“You’re a jackass, Trent Andrews.”
