Page 90 of Torch
“I was working on something, yeah, but then I heard he was asking Has to do yours.”
“He thinks he’s the boss of me, but he’s not. I make my own decisions on who puts permanent designs on my skin, even though I’m really nervous about having one at all.”
He dug his phone from his pocket, and flicked through something on the screen.
“This is what I was mocking up, but I stopped when I thought I wasn’t doing it.” It was beautiful. The overall design was similar to the other ones I’d seen, presumably because it was a club tattoo, but there were tiny flames licking their way up the letters of Torch’s name, discreet enough that they didn’t obscure the letters, but visible enough that they enhanced it.
“It’s gorgeous. I never thought I’d beg a person to tattoo me, but please, will you do this for me? I’d really appreciate it.”
“You’re sure Torch didn’t send you?”
I rolled my eyes at him, as I stood back up again.
“I’m not into ego stroking, Rocket, so either you want to put that piece of art on me, or you don’t. I don’t beg either.”
“Not strictly true,” Torch said, coming up behind me, his arms moving to drape over my shoulders. “She begs a lot in bed, but that’s for my ears only. Babe, I turned my back for one fucking minute.”
Rocket stood up, shoving his phone back in his pocket.
“I’ll get this finished now. Torch, whether you were behind this or not, I don’t care, I’m doing this.” He nodded at me and strode out of the room, presumably to get on with my future tattoo design.
“Thanks, babe,” Torch whispered in my ear, as he led me to the bar, and placed our order for dinner.
“My skin, my decision, Torch.”
“I’ll be all over that skin in an hour, babe, and that’ll bemyfucking decision.”
Forty-Six
Icouldn’tbelieveIwas part of a fucking old lady ceremony, because that meant that someone was dumb enough to choose me as her fucking lifelong partner. More than that, did I ever imagine that the fucking hot doc, who blew me off not so long ago, would end up being the woman who accepted being stuck with me?
“Torch? Will you please unclench your fists? This is supposed to be a happy occasion,” Grace said, stopping me at the door to my room. Fuck. I grabbed her, pushing her against the door, and trapping her with my body.
“Are you really fucking sure about this, babe? There’s no going back after this. This isn’t like an engagement ring or a wedding ring. It’s more permanent than that. You’re committing to me,andthe club. We’re a package deal.” Why was I offering her an out?Lock it down, for fuck’s sake.
“Seriously? And miss out on this?” She thrust her hips against mine, and gave me a fucking semi in an instant. Yeah, I had to lock this down, because I couldn’t live without this woman.
“I’m giving you this one last chance, babe, because once this is done, you’re mine forever, and the only way you escape me is if I die. Even then, I’ll fucking follow you around as a ghost, and kill every man who even looks at you. Or I’ll possess them, so I can fuck you, you get my point.”
“Wow, caveman mode activated again. Torch, this is what I want, so please relax, but bear this in mind… you’re tying yourself to me too. That means putting up with the hours I work, how tired I’ll be sometimes, how I need things tidy, and organised, andnotmessy. You’re signing up to all of that. Are you sure about me?”
I tightened my grip on her upper arms, and rested my forehead against hers, sharing our air, because that way I know she’s inside me too.
“I’m more worried about locking you down, before you realise how much better you can do, babe. I’m just a fucking meathead biker, and let’s be honest, you’re classy. You live a posh life in a posh house, with-”
“Say posh one more time, and I’ll insert my knee right here,” Grace said, as her hand eased over my junk. Well, that shut me up fast as hell, right?
“I just can’t believe you want this, babe. How can you want this?”
Grace sighed, relaxing against the door once more, her fingers sliding over my cheek, and settling on my shoulder.
“Because I’ve never been happier, never felt safer, or more like I’m in the right place, and because I’ve never trusted a man more than I trust you. I’ve been burned in the past. I’ve made mistakes, and trusted the wrong people, but I finally know I’m trusting the right person. So can we get on with this, before I lose my nerve about this tattoo? That’s still the only bit that’s making me nervous, do you hear me? The ONLY bit.”
“What about the celebratory ass-fucking that comes after?”
She squeezed her eyes closed, her breath stuttering briefly.
“We don’t have to do that part, Torch.”
