Page 14 of Possessive Ink

Once she’s mine, I’ll need to make sure she’s safe and not being taken advantage of if she’s this reckless with anyone else other than me, but maybe she instinctively understands what I do—and that she’s mine now.

Opening my cell, I turn down the blasting music, then place my hand on her back as I guide her into the warehouse and toward where Felix is still sketching, dozens of discarded papers strewn all over the floor.

“Felix, come and meet Lemon.”

Ignoring me completely, Felix rips the paper he’s drawing on off the easel and drops it to the floor. Moving closer to the now blank sheet, he quickly slashes a series of lines that within moments resemble a woman, her huge wings flowing from her back as she bends at the waist, her heavy tits hanging from her torso.

“Oh, wow,” Lemon gasps.

At the sound of her voice, Felix spins around, his expression angry as he glares at her. At the ferocity of his glare, Lemon backs into me, seeking my protection, and it takes all of my self-control not to come in my fucking pants.

“Felix, this is Lemon. Lemon, this is my brother Felix. Excuse his behavior. He gets very focused on his work and forgets his manners.”

Felix turns his fiery eyes on me, and as he silently reads my mind, his shoulders slump, and his angry scowl morphs into a soft smile. “Hello, Lemon,” he says gently.

“Hi,” she says meekly, still leaning into me.

“I’ve frightened you,” he declares, turning to me with worry in his eyes. “I frightened her.”

“You didn’t. I’m fine,” she says, straightening and holding her hand out to him to shake.

Instead of reaching for her hand, Felix gently wraps his arms around her, pulling her carefully into his too-slender body.

I’m not sure who is more shocked, me or Lemon, but after a second, she relaxes into his hug. The sight of my brother and the woman who captured my attention the moment I laid eyes on her hugging makes something snap into place inside of me.

I know absolutely nothing about this woman. She could be married, have kids, be a lesbian, but no matter what obstacle is in my path, I’ll figure it out, because she is mine. The necklace that only this morning I was questioning why I brought here will look fucking perfect around her neck, and so will my tattooed fingers against her flawless skin.

She might not understand what she’s set in motion this morning, but soon she’ll get it, and she’ll realize I’m her man, her Sir, and her happy fucking ever after.

FOUR

LEMON

Idon’t know why Atticus’s brother is hugging me like we’ve known each other our whole lives, but tears well in my eyes, and I never want him to let go. Unlike Atticus, Felix is significantly slimmer than his sexy, terrifyingly intense brother, but his hug is one of the best ones I’ve had in my whole life.

My mom was the best hugger in the world, and when she died, I didn’t think I’d ever find anyone whose hugs made me feel like hers did. But pressed against Felix’s firm chest, I get that same sense of acceptance and kinship as I did in my mom’s embrace.

His arms aren’t holding me tightly. In fact, his grip is gentle and almost cautious. We’ve been hugging for much longer than strangers ever should, but neither of us tries to pull away, and I just can’t seem to find the will to step back.

In the end, it’s a third voice that breaks the moment, and I clear my throat, pulling out of Felix’s embrace as I try to surreptitiously wipe the tears that have slipped free from my eyes without anyone noticing.

“Atticus, do you need any help getting the groceries from the car?” the third man asks. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a guest,” he says the moment he spots me.

“Marcus, this is Lemon,” Atticus says, placing his scalding hot palm back onto the bottom of my spine a couple of inches above my ass. “Lemon, Marcus.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lemon,” Marcus says.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I tell him, trying to smile despite the fresh tears that have slipped from my eyes.

“I got you guys coffee and pastries from Tori’s place.”

“Are there raspberry macarons?” Felix asks, making a beeline for the box of cakes Atticus has placed on a workbench.

“Of course,” Atticus says, smiling as he watches his brother push one pink-colored treat into his mouth as he grabs two more.

“Marcus, would you mind putting the groceries away before you head into Bozeman? Lemon has some time-sensitive errands she needs to run.”

“Of course,” Marcus says, selecting a pastry before he turns and leaves.