“Okay.”I blink.
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“What?”
“I want to show you something.”He crushes the cigarette under his heel.“You game?”
I nod, too fast.
“Let’s go.”He offers his elbow.
“Where are Carl and Jasper?”I loop my arm through his and let him lead me away from the harbor.
“Didn’t realize you were on a first-name basis with the security team.”He tilts his head, regarding me.“Do you trust them more than me?”
“No.”An easy, honest answer.But I have questions.“What do you want, Wolf?”
“Kisses on speed dial.”
“You didn’t text me today.”
He glances at me sideways, that crooked smirk reappearing.“Figured I’d give your phone a break before it filed a restraining order.”Then, softer, like he means it… “Didn’t think you’d miss me.”
“I did.”A swallow strangles my whisper.“I missed you.I thought… Did something happen?Did Jag show up?”
“Yeah.I gave him a tattoo.”
I slam to a stop, releasing his arm.“You didn’t.”
“I did.It was fucked up.”
“The tattoo?”
“All of it.But I made a deal with him.”
“No.No, you don’t deal with Jag.You don’t negotiate.”I grip my hair, knocking the messy bun loose and waving my arms around.“He doesn’t play fair.He manipulates and twists your mind until he gets what he wants.”
“Hey.”He catches my hands and brushes the fallen strands from my face, the metal from his rings cold against my cheek.“You don’t think I know that?I told you I would lure him in and play with him.That’s all this is.Do you trust me?”
“Yes, but I don’t trusthim.”
“Let’s keep moving.”He scans our surroundings, his head on a swivel.“I’ll tell you about my day.”
And he does.As we stroll along the wet streets, he walks through the confrontation with his family at the shop, the negotiation he struck with Jag, and the thigh piece he spent all day inking.The beginning of a long and dangerous leg sleeve.
“What’s the design?
“A jaguar.”
Disgust and worry send my heart rate into overdrive.“He’ll try to seduce you.”
“He already tried.”
“And?”
“He’s not my type.”
“He’s everyone’s type.”
