Page 43 of The Devil's Tattoo
“Really?” His eyebrows rose insurprise.
“Yeah.” I smiled, the tension falling away. “When I decide I want to do something, I work at it until I’vegotit.”
“I canbelievethat.”
“Oh, no you didn’t,” I cried, understanding the tone in his voice. “You helped yourself with that one. I had nothing to dowithit.”
“I deserved that,” he agreed, and the smile that spread across his face made my insidestingle.
Will had me talking and laughing more than I had ever done in the last three years. He was making me forget about everything but right here and right now, and I was glad to share it with him. Dee’s words echoed in my head.Give him a chance. Get to know him.We’d gotten off on the wrong foot from the beginning, and maybe it was a good idea we were sitting hererightnow.
Before I could move away, Will slid his hand over mine, and the smile fell from my face. My heart thumped in my chest, and I felt myself start to soften toward him despite my deep-rooted fear. I moved closer to him unconsciously, my body drawn to his like amagnet.
“Your tattoos are beautiful,” he said, trailing a finger up my arm, leaving a blaze of heat inhiswake.
It was too close for comfort, so I shrank back, but not before he’d felt the scar that ran through the center of thedragon’sback.
“What’s that?” he asked, not noticing myreaction.
“It’s a Japanese water dragon,” I said like he was mad, hoping he’d letitgo.
“You haveascar.”
I shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s justascar.”
He seemed to notice I didn’t want to talk about it and let his questioning go. “Do you want to go back down for a drink? We’ve got a couple of hours tokillyet.”
“I’d like to stay in if it’s all the same to you,” I said. “But don’t let mestopyou.”
He watched me for a moment and seemed reluctant. “I’d like to hang with you ifthat’sokay.”
“I’m not exactly the life of theparty.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I don’t want aparty.”
I wanted to ask what he really wanted, but that was a dangerous question. I decided I was better off inthedark.
He shifted back up the bed until his back was against the headboard and gestured for me tofollow.
“I’m not gonna bite,” he said with a chuckle when Ihesitated.
Feeling bold, I sat next to him, our legs stretched out in front of us on the floral bedspread. He had on his usual scuffed combat boots with the laces undone. I really liked hisboots.
Suddenly, his arm was around me, pulling me gently against him, and I was overly aware of his body against mine. I could feel the muscles down his side through the thin T-shirt he wore, his warmth spreading throughmybody.
I didn’t dare look up. I was too afraid of what Iwouldfind.
After he had shown me the video, I knew he was into me. I could feel it in the way he’d held my hand, the way his fingertips trailed up my arm, and even in the way he was sitting next tomenow.
The thought of Will Strickland loving and leaving me had me wanting to run hell for leather in the oppositedirection.
He didn’t say anything, but I could hear his breathing, and as I shifted to a more comfortable position, I could’ve sworn itwavered.
“We don’t have to talk about anything if you don’t want,” he said quietly as if he knew what I was thinking. “I don’t know about you, but my idea bank is emptyrightnow.”
The double meaning didn’t escape me, and I snorted. I wasn’t sure how to take it, but I was overwhelmingly glad he wasn’t pushing it. He probably thought I’d run away like a frightened rabbit again. I was teetering ontheedge.
Without thinking, I let my head rest against his shoulder, and this time, his breathing definitelyhitched.
