“I don’t want to ruin your dress.” He runs his hand up my arm, following the trail of goosebumps that raise in his path.
“How would you ruin the dress?” I ask him in confusion.
“I would hate to stain it with ink.”
“Ink?” I ask, a slight tremble to my voice.
“Ink,” he confirms, pulling his notepad out of a drawer in his station. “It’s time to grant my birthday wish, pretty girl.” He grins, waving it in front of me.
Shit.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Atlas
Now that I know why Cora seemed so secretive the last few days, I can finally breathe. The party she pulled off was amazing. I don’t deserve her, I know that, but when I was getting ready to blow out the candles on a cake that I would never have dreamed of, I saw her. The way she smiled at me and fits so perfectly into my life makes me wonder why I tried so hard to fight against it. To fight against us.
I still feel unworthy, but Cora sees something special when she looks at me, so I’m beginning to have more faith. Maybe, just maybe, I can have something good.
I talked the guys into leaving with everyone else. They think I just want to fuck her in here with no one around, which I do, don’t get me wrong, but I want this even more. I’ve spent the last few weeks working on this, and I’m dying to put my mark on her.
I didn’t think I wanted to see her perfect, smooth skin marred like mine, but I realized Cora wears more scars than I thought, and my girl deserves her own armor.
“I don’t think I understand.” She stares at me, panic in her eyes.
“I thought I told you if you lied to me again, I’d turn that prettylittle ass a bright shade of red,” I remind her. She knows exactly what I want.
“I know, but, Atlas. It’s a tattoo. They’re forever.”
“Aren’t we?” I ask, stepping closer to her. “You said you trusted me, and just this one year, I wish for this.”
“You wished that I’d let you tattoo me?”
“No. I don’t want to just tattoo you. I want to leave a mark on your skin, so every time you see it, you think of me and all the things I do to you. I want you to trust me enough to know that I would never put something on you that didn’t fully represent who you are.” I kiss her forehead, reveling in the way she melts into my touch.
“Will it hurt?” she asks in a small voice.
“I can numb the area first if you want.” Though I silently hope she doesn’t. There’s nothing more therapeutic than the buzz of a tattoo gun and the way the hum brings to life art on your body. It’s the best type of canvas.
She’s quiet for a moment, then I hear her voice lightly speak, “No.”
Trying not to let the disappointment show, I nod. “Okay, baby. We can head out whenever you want. Do you have to get Noah—” I’m interrupted before I finish.
“No, don’t numb it.” Grabbing my notebook, she sets it down by my station. Holding my hand, she stares into my eyes. Her blue eyes are locked on mine as she shocks me again. “I trust you.”
My heart almost bursts out of its chest cavity. It belongs to her anyway. She takes it everywhere she goes without even knowing it. Now she’ll get an extra piece of me to take with her.
“Alright, baby.” I lean down and take her lips with mine, kissing her briefly. If I don’t start soon, I’m going to skip to the portion of the night that ends with her naked on top of me. “No peeking,” I order.
Smiling at me, she hops into my chair. Fortunately, I’m at the back of the shop, but to be on the safe side, I pull the curtain closed and turn off the lights at the front of the room. The doors are already locked, and no one will be here to bother us.
“You need to lie on your stomach, baby.” I pull her in for a quick kiss.
Moving to her stomach, she rests her head on her arms.
“Okay. You ready?”
She nods, so I grab the last piece I need. Taking a blindfold, I put it over her head. “Atlas?” she asks, concern lacing her tone.
