Page 22 of Inked Desires
“So, tell me: where are you from?”
I look up at Kiran. Seriously? He thinks now’s the best time for an interrogation?
“South Dakota.”
The music playing softly in the background swells slightly, but not enough to drown our conversation.
“I have family there,” he resumes.“Where exactly are you from?”
“Does it matter?”
“Are you hiding something?”
My stomach knots. Of course I’m hiding things. A whole life of shadows and secrets I refuse to let resurface. But in a small town like Maple Creek, people inevitably poke their noses into others’business. Better to play along.
“Thunder Hawk,” I answer, my tone flat.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone there,” he admits.
Good. Fine by me.
I drain my glass, my desire to stay fading slowly. I have no intention of continuing this conversation, so I start to stand.
Long fingers close around my wrist. A shiver runs through my skin. I sigh, lifting my eyes.
Arès stares at me, his piercing gaze probing my soul as if trying to strip bare every imperfection, every invisible scar. I freeze.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving,” I say, almost breathless.
Heat rushes to my cheeks when I hear the slight tremor in my voice. A corner of his mouth lifts into a faint smile. He noticed. Of course he noticed. My heart pounds against my ribcage. That smile, subtle as it is, makes him all the more irresistible.
“Sit down,” he orders.
“Pardon?”
“Sit down, little rabbit. No one’s waiting for you at the boarding house.”
My body obeys before my mind can protest. I find myself seated, as if his will commands my movements.
“Since when do you make decisions for me?” I ask, irritated.
“Since you plopped your ass down in this bar, ready to get picked up by any asshole around here,” he retorts, his voice rumbling with barely concealed irritation.
His fingers remain firmly wrapped around my wrist, anchoring me to him.
“And why exactly do you care?”
“Because you’re my employee,” he growls.“And it’s my job to make sure you’re in one piece behind the counter tomorrow morning, rather than me having to pick your corpse out of a ditch.”
I roll my eyes. He’s overdramatizing. But before I can reply, I catch Kiran’s scrutinizing gaze. He’s watching us, analyzing every interaction.
“It’s fascinating how interested you guys are in my love life,” I throw out sarcastically.
Kiran gestures toward my ring finger with a slight nod.
“I’m mostly curious where that mark comes from.”
