Page 180 of Tattooed Love

“Weren’t you tired?” I arched my eyebrows at her.

“I’ve passed exhaustion. It’s a recurring pattern lately. Tae’s been having me work at night, and if I don’t get to sleep within a small window, I won’t sleep for the day.”

“How long have you been awake?”

“Don’t know.” She shrugged and her looked sharpened. “I still have that question.”

“Fine sweetheart, hit me with it.” I would answer any question she had.

Her face soured and she blew out hotly. “Cole told me something.”

I grunted. Well, this was off to a great start. “What shit has Cole been filling you with?”

“He said…” She chewed on her bottom lip. “You and Mai had a special relationship; that I needed to respect that your way of life comes with women who you have special relationships with.”

I frowned. Mine and Mai’s relationship was not special! I just trusted her.

“How many other women are there that you have a special relationship with Jax?” she asked, sounding slightly anxious to know the answer.

“I didn’t have a special relationship with Mai.” I wanted to make that fact clear.

She looked me in the eye and that pain that was in her eyes at the airport, well, it was back. “You trusted her more than you did me.” Her eyes dropped to my chest like she couldn’t look me in the eye for a second longer.

“I fucked up, Amber. I should have trusted you. Not her.”

She wouldn’t look up.

“It won’t happen again.” I had learned my lesson. You don’t trust women. Well, that wasn’t completely true. I could trust one woman and I think she needed to hear that. “From now on Amber, you are the only woman I trust. All women do is give me a fucking headache.” And if I had her, I didn’t need, nor would I ever would need, another woman.

Realizing that made me see her one rule wouldn’t kill me.

I sat up, holding her to me. She still wouldn’t look me in the eye. I lifted her head up, her eyes still on my chest.

“That one rule you want,” I said, and her eyes sprung up to look at me. “I agree to it.”

“Really?”

“Yep.” I kissed her cheek. “As far as I’m concerned, if I’m doing that shit, you should be pointing the gun at me.”

She grinned and then her grin fell.

“What’s wrong?” I said watching her grin of delight going to unsure within a second.

“You didn’t answer my question.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “How many girls are an exception to that rule?”

“I told you the only woman I trust is you.”

“I didn’t ask that,” she snapped. “I asked how many women you have a connection with; like you did with Mai. You dropped everything for her.” She sighed. “Even me.” She went and pushed herself off me, and I gripped her, forcing her to stay put.

“I trusted Mai. That was it; and she has paid the price of breaking my trust.” I stopped her from getting off me again. The subject of Mai brought back bad memories for me, so I was sure it was bringing up bad memories for her as well. “So, the answer to your question is zero. I don’t have a connection, or whatever Cole called it, with any other woman.”

Amber looked me back in the eye, “So, there is no exception to the rule?”

“The only woman I want is you.” My eyes dropped to her side, seeing my name tattooed right there.

“Can I tell you something?” she sounded sheepish, so I looked back at her. I read her expression; she had done something.

“What did you do?” I sighed.

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