Page 95 of Where Sinners Repent

My mouth waters, my eyes just about rolling into the back of my head. After. First, I need to finish this tattoo.

My first of many on him, I hope.

Seeing all the other drawings on his skin makes me jealous, which is ridiculous. Some primal thing inside me does backflips at the thought of marking him permanently with a slice of me.

It’s only a small tattoo and before long, it’s done. I’m almost disappointed because it feels so good getting lost in creating something for him.

“Finished,” I whisper.

I know I’m good at what I do, but as I set the machine down, nerves tingle in my fingertips. What if he hates it? What if he’s mad about what I chose to draw?

Using his other hand, he slides the tea towel off his head, dark eyes and long lashes boring into me.

My cheeks heat and I can barely hold his gaze. Holding my next breath, he lifts his arm, turning his inner wrist towards him.

Every second he studies it, my stomach twists itself into knots. His thumb drifts over the fresh ink, tracing the shape.

He gives me nothing. No reaction. Not one.

“Kai...” I start, my confidence wavering. “I’m sorry if it’s not good...”

His eyes cut to me.

“A sun...” he whispers.

I nod, my eyes dropping to the tattoo. A little sun, like his nickname Sunshine. But it’s delicate, sitting on the inside of his wrist, its fine black lines and soft shading blending into the darker tattoos that climb his arm. Delicate rays stretch from the face at its centre, a bit of light amongst all the shadows.

Looking at in now, I realise I made a mistake.

Of course he wouldn’t like this.

He’s a Devil.

“I’m sorry,” I choke out, embarrassment burning me from the inside out.

His lip parts, his thumb continuing to trace it.

“It’s perfect,” he whispers.

My eyes shoot to his, widening. His eyes don’t leave the tattoo, even for a second. He turns his wrist, catching the light from the huge windows, studying the fine lines.

“I’ve never...” His voice trails off.

“What?” I press, leaning closer to him, desperate for anything he wants to tell me.

Desperate to know him.

“No one has ever thought of me as anything other than broken,” he whispers, finally looking up at me. My chest feels heavy, and I don’t dare speak. Don’t dare break the spell. “Even Kaleb.”

The backs of my eyes burn, and I crawl on top of him, nuzzling his nose with mine.

“You are not broken, Kai,” I whisper against his lips. “You are my sunshine.”

The words spill out of me, more true than anything I’ve ever said. His eyes search mine with the intensity they always hold. Dissecting everything he sees, searching for the lie.

He won’t find one.

My lips find his in a kiss so gentle it almost hurts. I whimper, deepening it. Needing him more than I need my next breath.