Page 43 of Tragic Ink
“Sure of what?” I asked, but he was eyeing my arms, his glance skittering over my torso and up to the ink that peeked out from underneath the collar of my shirt. “What are you doing?” I asked when he reached for the hem of my shirt and yanked it up, scanning the tattoos covering my abdomen andhips.
“After the chastity belt incident, I’m not taking any more chances,” he said, frowning as he inspected my skin. “I need to know if you have any more magic ink up your sleeve.” He grinned up at me, still holding my shirt up. “No punintended.”
“Hilarious,” I said, yanking my shirt down again. “And no, you’resafe.”
The wariness turned to a calculating gleam full of mischief. This was a side of Rhys I hadn’t seen in ages. “Am Inow?”
I leaned away, cocking my head as he crawled closer, forcing me back until I was lying flat and he hovered over me. The romantic moment had vanished, but in its place was a playfulness I’dmissed.
“Well, I don’t know about safe. But nothing is going to attack you if you kiss me,” Isaid.
He grinned, his teeth flashing at me just before his lips feathered across my own. “That’s too bad,” he said, lowering his body to mine. He paused long enough to wink as he added, “I’ve always secretly hoped it would be you doing the attacking in theend.”
I wasn’t one todisappoint.
