The Tattoo Artist's Mate

“I’m Isla Campbell. I, er, well look, this is a bit embarrassing,” she said in a rush. “I’ve been an idiot and agreed to get my asshole of an ex’s name tattooed on my ankle. And now I need it gone.” She stopped for a moment and thought over what she’d said. “Scrub part of that, I don’t think I did really agree. Asshole Julian told me as his sub I had to, and I … rrghh…” She took a stumbling step back as Gaspar’s eyes became more amber than ever and flashed with rage. She could swear his hands curled into claws, and his features began to change. He reminded her of an unfriendly grizzly about to pounce. What next?

She grabbed hold of the wall as the floor shook.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “But you’re scaring me and…” Holy hell, was that a growl? I really do have bears on the brain. “Gaspar, Mr. MacDonald, whoever, whatever, please, stop i

t.”

“He was no dom.” Gaspar shook his head and took a deep breath. “Sorry I scared you. Give me a minute. I was angry.”

How weird she could tell he didn’t invest the word Dom with a capital D.

“I guessed that,” Isla said dryly. “Later. When I realized he wasn’t I got out pretty damned quick. But damage was done. Oh, not physically,” she added in a hurry as Gaspar’s eyes flashed again. “But it took me a while before I cottoned on to the fact he was a fraud. A charlatan.” Her voice shook as once again she thought how stupid she’d been. “A wannabe with nothing going for him. God, I was so clueless.” She thumped the chair arm, wishing it was bloody Julian. “I’m happy now to be me, and me I’ll stay. A happier me if you can get his bloody name off my ankle. I’ll go with a honeypot.”

Gaspar nodded. “And a bear. You won’t regret it.”

Isla sighed. He was like a dog with a bone. Or a bear with a whatever it preferred. “And a bear. A happy, smiley one. To make me a happy me.”

“You’ll always be you, a happy you when you’re with me, I promise that. Whatever we do and however we do it. Will you give me a chance to show you?”

Isla didn’t have to think twice. “Yes.”

Am I out of my bloody mind? He could be anything. Worse than Julian or… Somehow, weirdly she knew he wasn’t.

“Just like that?”

She grinned as once more the hot as hades bloke she’d first met stood in front of her. “Yes, with bells on?”

He laughed. “Yes, with bells on if you insist. I’d prefer you naked, but that can wait. Let’s have fresh coffee, ring for a takeaway, and discuss how I’ll turn your ankle into a work of art for a start. Okay?”

It sounded good to Isla. “Very. What sort of takeaway?”

“You choose.”

“Debby’s Diner Dinner special. They’ll need three hours, but it’s worth it.” Would he get the fact she was happy to spend all that time with him? She mentally crossed her fingers. This was all so un-Isla like, it would have—should have—been scary, but it wasn’t. For the first time in ages she was happy and certain she was doing the correct thing.

He handed her his phone. “Would you mind? For whenever you prefer. Me? I’d say after we talk, I tell you and show you a bit about myself and if you’re happy we make love, but that might be a wee bit late at night.”

She let her breath out in a whoosh. He’d really said making love. Strange that it didn’t seem too fast too forward or at all wrong.

“I’ll say eight?” That gave them nine hours. Surely that would be enough?

Gaspar hunkered down in front of her, his impressive thighs straining the seams of his jeans. His eyes glowed, and once again she got a scent of wet animal.

“Aroused animal. All for you.”

There she was getting those strange thoughts again.

“Not strange, pet. Just your mind beginning to open up and see what’s going to be.”

Shit, now her thoughts were coming in Gaspar’s voice. “Er, Gaspar?”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m wool gathering.” How could she say nonchalantly, “Do you believe in shifters and stuff? Can you smell wet animal? Am I crazy?” She couldn’t. Not without him calling for the men in the white coats.

“Hey, stop worrying.” Gaspar moved her teeth from her lips and pressed a swift kiss to the bruised flesh. “You’re not crazy, my pet. Just coming to terms with our future. Just like I did.”

Okay now I am going screwy. I did not say that out loud.