Leo confirmed. “Tattoos make me regret all this muscle. Shit hurts.”
Without looking up from her work, C.J. shrugged. “You love the pain, don’t you, Dr. Callahan?”
My eyes traveled down her muscular figure, her pecks puffed out as she perched on the arm of the large sofa at the edge of the room. After what we’d done in the woods, I was starting to see the truth in the accusation.
Leo carried a darkness deep inside her, something she’d tried very hard to bury. But I wasn’t going to let her, I’d let her exercise her demons on me as long as she allowed me to.
The time flew by, the piece not taking more than an hour under C.J.’s deft hands. I’d asked her which tattoo was the hardest to do, whose mark was the most interesting. She complained about Leo and Dom’s each of theirs taking multiple sessions and dozens of hours.
Apparently a few favors had been owed for the service. And knowing what my saviors got up to, I was certain that the cost was bloody.
C.J. pulled away from her work, taking a soap-soaked wipe and cleaning the surface. “I think we’re all set, Ms. Kiera.”
Spinning my chair, she spun me to look in the full length mirror across the room.
I stood from my seat as Spencer and Leo moved closer to get a look at my new mark. Looking at it through the glass felt odd, like it wasn’t really on my skin. Like someone had photoshopped a fake tattoo onto my arms.
Even when I lifted my arm to my chest, peering down at the black ink with my own eyes, it felt like a dream. Despite my roguish lifestyle before meeting my mysterious masked bikers, I’d never taken the plunge on a tattoo.
I was indecisive, unsure what style I’d want, or where would be a good spot.
But the sword and wings now burned into my skin had been made easy.
Holding her spot across the room, I caught Dom’s gaze in the mirror. There was her usual scowl, but something deeper in those blue eyes. Something softer, cloudy in them.
My tattoo had stirred something in her, a thought she’d never share.
I thanked C.J. as she gave me care instructions, told me to actually follow them — a pointed look to Spencer telling me exactly who to ignore.
Leo and Spencer led the way out of the back room, but Dom, sulky as ever, lingered by the door. As I walked past her, I leaned closer to her ear, whispering so only she could hear.
“You’re stuck with me for good now. But you already knew that.”
54
KIERA
I never liked Christmas.Staring out on the lawn of Dom’s mansion —Isaac’s mansion— now covered in snow, I couldn’t stop the flood of disappointment that washed over me.
When my dad was around, the house was full of joy and laughter. He’d dress up in a big Santa suit and do a cornyho-ho-ho. It made me laugh, somewhere deep in my belly I could still feel the way that felt.
But after he was gone, there was just Maura. Some years she’d be off to party, others her newest boyfriend would be crowding the living room.
I’d ignored her Merry Christmas text. She claimed that she had a gift for me, but I didn’t trust it. I knew she just wanted to find me. She’d even offered to ship it to me.
Sitting in my bed, I looked down at the nearly healed tattoo on my arm. Dom kept the house at a balmy 70 degrees, making it easy to wear a tshirt even on Christmas day.
I wondered what the mark really meant. Sure, I’d killed Grant. Took his life in the name of every woman he’d ever hurt. But who would punish the men that hurtme?
Some sick part of me wondered if I could do it myself.
Could I look them in the eye?
Swallowing hard, I tried to shake the image from my mind. Despite my full induction into Valemont Violence, Dom hadn’t been any less sulky. Even today, she’d managed to make herself scarce.
And the house was disturbingly quiet. Even when she was home, Leo, Spencer, and I were pretty good at the cold shoulder treatment.
Leo had cooked a nice breakfast spread — given her limited culinary skills. She’d prepared a ham and cheese croissant bake. The hints of rosemary and thyme in the honey glaze were enough to get me close to orgasm.
