Page 61 of Twisted Mates

I pull the needle away from her skin and glance up at her, making the conscious decision to be vulnerable. “A mate. I didn’t picture myself as king, but I always wanted someone to share my life with. The kind of love I saw between my mom and dad was something to envy. I think it’s why I pushed so hard for you and Kai at the beginning. I don’t understand how he can walk away from what I want so badly.”

She bites her lip and looks down at her lap, purposely not looking at the spot I’m tattooing. I can’t help but smile at her desire for it to be a surprise. “I never really cared that muchabout having a mate.” She cocks her head to the side and shakes it once. “No. That’s not true. I did when I was young, but as I got older and older and the years passed and it never happened, I decided tomake myselfnot want it. And then when it happened with Kai, I—” She swallows, and a tear slides down her cheek. “For a second, I thought maybe it was going to happen for me. That someone would love me. But then, I realized I didn’t want it. Not with someone who didn’t want me back.”

The tattoo machine in my hand goes silent and hits the metal tray beside me with aclank. I remove my gloves and slide my thumb over her cheek, catching her tear. The pain that plunges through me is like a knife. I would rip apart this world to save her from a single tear. I might even kill my own brother to spare her this pain.

“No more talk of Kai. This is my night with you, my stolen moment that could have been his. Do you understand me?” Her gaze meets mine and she nods. “Good. Now go walk around for a second while I grab you a cup of water. We’re halfway done.”

“Okay,” she says, getting up and walking toward the window with no regard for the fact that she has no shirt on. Granted, she is wearing a bra, but I don’t want anyone on the busy sidewalk to see her like this.

She’s mine.

Stop it, Xander. She’s not yours. Not even for the night. You’re just pretending. You’re doing exactly what you just told her—stealing time while you can before the other shoe drops.

Either way, though, I don’t want anyone seeing her. I get her a glass of water and come up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist and turning her around, making sure not to bump her outstretched arm. “Here, Alexia, drink this and we’ll get started again.”

She smiles and takes the glass from me, gulping it down in one go. “Any particular reason you’ve swept me up in your armsand whisked me away from the window?” she asks, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“You know why. Don’t be a brat or the sting of my needle won’t be the only pain you feel tonight.” I swat her on the ass before directing her toward the chair.

We spend the next two hours lost in comfortable conversation. It feels like we leave no stone unturned. We absorb every detail we can about each other, and by the time I clean her tattoo, I feel like I’ve dug deep into who she is. I’m starting to get a clear picture of the woman Alexia Rush has become.

We walk to the floor length mirror, and I stand behind her as she takes in the details of her colorful tattoo. The depiction of the Goddess Luna with a silhouette of a wolf howling at the moon, flecked by several of her favorite butterflies, taking up the entire length of her inner forearm might be my best piece ever. Still, I hold my breath and wait for Alexia’s reaction.

Her jaw drops and she looks up at me in the mirror, her brown eyes swimming with tears. “Oh, Xander, it’s gorgeous. This is so perfect, how—how did you do this with no stencil, you just...you freehanded this.” She’s stammering, her eyes bouncing between the tattoo and my face. “You’re so talented. I—everyone needs to know how talented you are!” She spins around and places her palms on my face. “I can’t believe I have your art etched into my skin for the rest of my life. I feel so lucky.”

My lips brush her forehead. “I’m honored that you allowed me to leave my mark on your body. Thank you, Alexia.”

If only she could comprehend how sincere I am. Seeing my art on her skin is a higher honor than having it hung in a world-renowned gallery. To know people will see it and have no clue that it’s my mark on her does something to me. The ink is our secret, yet it is a clear sign. I own a little real estate on her body, and she will forever have me with her.

Fuck, it is an extraordinary feeling.

NINETEEN

Alexia

Who knew that getting a tattoo would be such a turn-on? Maybe it wouldn’t be if it weren’t Xander doing the tattooing, but there was just something about the way he wielded that machine that just had me all kinds of hot and bothered. Which is fine when we’re holed up here in this tattoo parlor. But we’re about to be on the street again. And even though Xander says it’s fine and we’re safe... I still worry.

“There we go, all bandaged up. With your speedy healing, you should only have to keep this on for a day,” Xander says, breaking me from my inappropriate thoughts.

“Okay, sounds good. Are we going back to your place now?”

He grins at me as he gets to his feet and holds his hand out to me. “Someone’s ready to get back on the bike.”

I grip his fingers and stand. “Well, I don’t know about that, but?—”

“Oh, come on, little wolf. I know how much riding behind me turned you on.”

Heat courses through my body, pooling at my center. I fire right back saying, “Then you won’t be surprised to know that you tattooing me has soaked these leggings.”

I internally cringe.Goddamnit. My impulse controlreallysucks. I’m going to need to work on that if somehow, I actually do become queen.

He smiles as he cleans his station, and if I'm not mistaken, that is a blush reddening his cheeks. If someone would have asked me a week ago if I thought Xander was capable of being embarrassed, I would have answered with a resounding no. Despite the fact that I shouldnotbe flirting with him, I can’t help but be proud that I have that effect on him.

“I don’t think you understand just how difficult it is to drive a motorcycle with a hard-on,” he says, tossing the last of his used supplies in the trash.

I smirk as I follow him toward the door. “You’re adorable when you’re all flustered and embarrassed. I had no idea I hadthateffect on you, Xander Slade.”

He switches off the light and locks the door as we exit the parlor. “You have many effects on me as I clearly have on you, Miss Rush. Hence, your ruined leggings.”

---