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She stomps her foot, which makes me want to laugh. Since I’m not a total moron, I don’t actually laugh.

“Got it. You’ll get no Harry Potter judgment from me. I was just asking.”

She eyes me skeptically as I open the door for her and attempt to coax her inside.

“Promise.” I hold up one hand like a Boy Scout, which might or might not be the actual sign.

She relents, and I follow her into the shop.

A heavily tattooed man is behind the counter, and when he sees us, he tosses his magazine aside and stands. “Afternoon, guys. Which one of you is my victim?”

“I am,” Noah speaks up.

“And what can I do for you?” He leans forward, flexing, and the naked woman inked on his arm looks as if she does a little dance.

Noah tells him what she wants, and they go over font styles and size. Before long, she is in his tattoo chair. I sit to her left side and hold her hand while the guy sets up his ink. Even though I’ve never read what must be her favorite books, the quote does seem perfect for her. The way she grew up couldn’t have been easy, but Noah is so optimistic and strong that I never would have known she’d been through a single tribulation in her life.

But that’s Noah.

“Are you nervous?” I whisper to Noah.

“A little,” she admits.

“Don’t be. I’ll hold your hand through the whole thing, and before you know it, it’ll be over.” I would hold Noah’s hand through so much more than this.

“No need for her to be nervous. I’m the best on this side of Florida!” the tattoo artist boasts.

I just nod at him. I don’t doubt his abilities; I’m just concerned for Noah’s pain. She knows what I am saying, so she ignores him, too.

“Thank you, Brazen. I’m happy you’re here for this.”

I lean over to taste her lips.

“Enough of that! No one is getting off in my shop unless it’s me.” He shakes his head and laughs as he lifts Noah’s shirt up to right below her bra line.

This is the first time I’ve seen her in something other than a dress. She looks a bit older in her jeans and worn out T-shirt. I miss the sight of her legs though. I shift in my seat as I think about those legs wrapped around me. Noah isn’t a girl I can jump into bed with. I want it—badly—but it’ll be better once I’ve waited for it, earned it. Noah and this thing between us mean more to me than sex. How could it have only been a few days ago that I was so headstrong about staying away from her? That was a fool’s mission.

The tattoo gun buzzes in the man’s hold, and Noah squeezes my hand a little tighter. She looks away from what he’s doing as he begins, and she stares up at me. I see so much in her eyes. Strength. Passion. Openness. In this moment, Noah looks as if she wants to give me the world. Things are happening quickly between us even if we haven’t voiced it or cemented it physically or discovered all of each other’s innermost workings yet. There is a perfect storm brewing between us. She knows it, and I damn sure know it, too.

Noah barely makes a squeak while the tattoo guy works on her. She gives her focus to me, crossing off another item on her list. When it’s over, she gets bandaged up, and despite her protests, I pay the guy for her tattoo.

“Come over,” I say as Noah gets buckled into my car.

“What?” She is more than edgy with nerves.

“Come over to my house before I take you back.”

“Okay.” Her voice is low as she breaks the connection we’ve had all day and drops her eyes to her hands.

“Noah, there isn’t some hidden meaning in my request. I just want to spend more time with you. Alone. I’ve shared you enough for the day.”

“Oh.” She closes me out further.

Damn it. This isn’t coming out like I wanted.

“I want you, Noah, in every way imaginable. I’ve wanted to rip off those cute little dresses you wear since you first looked at me that day on the porch. I want to touch you and mark your skin with my hands and kiss every inch of your body. I want that so fucking bad that I go to bed each night, aching for it. More than that is that I want you. That other stuff will come later. Once you’re comfortable. Once you trust me. Today, I want to spend some time with you when it’s just you and me. I’ll behave, but it isn’t because I don’t want you.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a way with words? J.K. Rowling, watch out because Brazen is coming for you.”

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