Kelly takes more ink into her needle. “So what are your intentions?”
I gather my words carefully. “This will never be a ‘see what happens’ thing for me. I’m not built that way—not when it comes to you.”
“We’ve known each other for a long time, don’t you think we should start casually?”
I bark out a laugh. “We’ve known each other too long for us to ever be casual. Us and casual will never coexist.”
“You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?” she asks.
Years.It wasn’t until she expressed that Jason could be something long-term that I realized she had reached that point in her maturity when she was ready for more. When I learned she desired something more than dating and was planning for something that didn’t have an end date.
“Yes.”
“You sound like an intense boyfriend.” She chuckles.
A smile spreads across my face.Wait till you see how I am as your husband.
“I’m not a boy, Chaos—and I’m not your friend.”Not after feeling her lips on mine.
She stops tattooing and sits up straight, looking me in the eye.
“I’m a man who knows what he wants. For years I’ve stood in the background, biding my time while you chased flings. It wasn’t patience, it was discipline. The way I wanted you never grew stronger—it grew darker. There’s no one else for me. You’re it.”
It’s not a coincidence I haven’t dated anyone all this time.
Her lips part. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Because you weren’t ready to want me back—not in the way I did. Your dad knew that, and made me promise to give you time to live your life freely without being tied down to someone like me.” I rest my palm on her warm thigh. “But now you’re a big girl who can make her own decisions. So, what is it going to be . . . are you ready for me, or do you need a couple more years to figure out what you don’t want?”
Her cheeks darken into a beautiful rosy hue.
For years, this woman has silently crawled up my sides, growing like wild untamed vines, wrapping around my neck and rib cage. There’s no use in trying to cut away my desire for her. I’ve tried, and every time, it grew back stronger. It’s too late to slow down or scale back. Our lives are too tangled together—our relationship is inevitable.
“Logan . . .”
“I’m just asking you to continue to trust me.” This time with her heart.
“Okay.”
I smile. “You’re ready?”
She attempts to stifle a grin. “I’ve already kissed you. I think we both know there’s no going back after that.”
Cradling her face, I draw her lips to mine and kiss her again. She sighs softly. I no longer have to wonder what she tastes likeor how her mouth feels on mine. I can finally kiss her whenever the thought crosses my mind.
With flushed cheeks, she presses her elbow into my chest and nudges me to sit back into her client chair, narrowing her eyes at my smug grin.
She draws more ink into the needle and returns her focus to my arm. “Stop distracting me. I’m trying to work.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I grin.
“Yeah, right . . . How’s everything feeling, by the way?” she asks.
“Great. You have a light touch.”
“Just wait until I start blacking out your elbow,” she mutters under her breath. “Think you’ll be able to keep up your intensity when you start crying in my chair?”
I wink at her. “I like when it hurts.” I’m convinced any pain inflicted by her hand will feel like pleasure. She’s claiming me with ink, it should hurt. This is forever.
