Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"Good."

She rises to her feet. Presses her gloved hands together. "Are you really—"

"Yeah?"

Her knees bump mine as she moves closer. It's not a sexual thing. She's examining me the way Ryan does. Picking apart my intentions. Looking for meaning.

"I hate to disappoint, but there's no secret to my psyche." I tap my head. "This is empty."

She shakes her head.

"It's not."

"Beer and boobs."

Fuck, she really does warm my heart. "If only I had the wit for that kind of poetry."

"Uh-huh." She takes a step backward. Turns on her heels. Moves to the office with shaky steps.

She's terrified, but she's putting up a good front.

I do the odds in my head—two to three. She's working up all the confidence she can, but she isn't there yet.

She isn't going through with it.

Which means…

Tomorrow is gonna be a hell of a lot more fun.

A few minutes later, she returns with the stencil. "Should I tape it to your leg?"

"Should you?"

"No. I should clean you up first."

"You wore your gloves to do a bunch of shit."

"Okay, I'll change my gloves."

"Tape the stencil first. Let's see it."

"Okay."

"Gloves off."

"Fine." She peels the gloves off and tosses them on the tray. Picks up the medical tape.

Slowly, she drops to her knees. Bends.

Her fingers brush my leg as she presses the stencil to my skin.

She pulls tape over the top.

Then the bottom.

Her fingers curl into my skin. "Is that how you want it?"

Fuck yeah. "You have to shave it first."