Page 58 of The Devil's Playground

“For stealing my fruit cups senior year. You don’t even like peaches, Rolls.”

I glance over at Nic, who is currently watching this exchange between me and my old friend with rapt attention. I wink at her. “True, but you can definitely say I love me some cream.”

Cross rolls his eyes as he opens the ointment and plops a dollop of that shit on his glove. “Stay classy, sunshine,” he mutters.

To his credit, he quickly and efficiently swipes the cream over the tattoo. Only a small amount goes on her actual tit, and Cross gets it done, then scoots his rolling chair back toward his station. After wiping his gloved finger off, he picks up an iPad and an Apple pencil.

“Rolls told me you want a seahorse. I’m going to draw you up a mock-up here, see if that’s what you’re thinking. We can make adjustments as we go, talk about coloring and shading… but give me an hour, hour and a half, and that dragonfly will be history.”

“Thank you,” she breathes out, her chest rising and falling with the motion. “I appreciate it.”

I nod at Cross. “Can she put her shirt back on while you do that?”

“Only if you want to wipe the cream off. Kinda defeats the purpose of putting it on, and then she’ll feel more pain than necessary.”

I mutter a curse under my breath.

Cross peers up at me. “You want to wait outside while we do this?”

And leave him alone with her? “No.”

Nic shifts in the seat. She gives me a small smile of her own before saying, “I’ve got an idea. The cover up is on my right side. If you don’t want my tits hanging out while he’s working, why don’t you come on over here and cover my left one for me.”

Hang on?—

“You mean hold it in my palm so Cross can’t see it?”

“Hold it. Fondle it. Play with my nip… whatever you feel comfortable with.”

Cross snorts as he sketches away on his iPad. “No sucking,” he says, not even bothering to look up. “Probably no fondling, either. Last thing you want is her wiggling when I got my gun going.”

He’s got a point. Dropping my mouth next to Nicolette’s ear, I murmur, “When we get back to my place, I’m making up for lost time,” before I move to the other side. The weight of her tit is perfect against my palm as I take it, firmly grasping the swell as I cover her nipples from view.

This time, Cross does look up from his drawing. “You don’t have to do that yet. I haven’t even finished the outline.”

I shrug, and don’t let go of Nic. “That’s okay. I’m perfectly happy to wait.”

By the time Cross is done with Nicolette’s tat, it’s closing in on three in the morning. That’s nothing to the syndicate’s artist. I’ve never known a guy who runs on less sleep than Cross does. Poor guy’s the poster child for insomnia and energy drinks, and it’s a fucking miracle how he can keep a steady hand with how little he gets of one and how much he downs of the other.

I bring Nic back to my place when he’s done. Thanks to the cream, she’s not hurting now, but Cross told me it would wear off soon, and she was yawning as he finished giving us the instructions on aftercare. From experience, I know that the ribs are a tender spot to get inked, too. Add in the fact that he really made sure to cover up that dragonfly and she’s gonna feel it later. It’s probably better for her to go home and rest.

Of course, to me ‘home’ means my apartment.

She doesn’t argue. On the way to the Playground, she repeated that that was the last of the secrets she held close. Afraid that I’d believe that she was a willing Dragonfly all along—and ashamed that she let Alfieri brand her like that—she didn’t want me to see it when we first got together. After that, it just never seemed like the right time, and I got that.

I was the one who waited weeks to mention Heather, wasn’t I?

But now it’s all out there. She knows my demons, and I’m prepared to help her fight hers. Covering up Alfieri’s mark on her was a step in the right direction. Keeping her secure in my place so that he can’t get to her again is a no-brainer.

She has a problem. I’ll fix it.

That’s what I do.

I tuck her into my bed, laying on top of the comforter next to her until she’s snuffling gently.

Somno might be another one of Link’s kinks, but it’s not mine. So while I can’t help but look at this woman and want to bury my dick so deep inside of her that she’ll never get rid of me, I won’t do that while she’s sleeping.

Besides, I need my dick kinda clean for what I’m about to do.

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