Maddy
MADDY
I haven’t slept since I got back from the garden with Connor, and my mind is spinning. My phone lights up on the nightstand, and my heart skips a beat when I see Mihai’s name pop up.
Mihai:
Hey. You okay?
I stare at the screen for a second before typing back. It feels surreal that he’s checking in, but I try to play it cool.
Me:
Yeah. Just trying to sleep.
Mihai:
Trouble sleeping?
Me:
You could say that.
There’s a pause, and I wonder if maybe I said something wrong. But then his next text comes through.
Mihai:
Can’t blame you. You’ve had a lot going on lately.
Me:
Understatement of the year.
He sends a laughing emoji, and I can’t help but smile a little. The silence stretches out again, and I’m not sure where this conversation is going. But then, another message lights up my screen.
Mihai:
So… I saw you have some pretty intense ink. Didn’t know you were hiding all that.
I laugh softly, my fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.
Me:
You sound surprised. Didn’t peg me for a tattoo girl?
Mihai:
Didn’t peg you for anything other than what you showed. Guess there’s a lot to you I don’t know.
Mihai:
Also, surprised? Hell yeah. You didn’t seem like the type.
I smirk, feeling bolder than I have in a while.
Me:
And what type did I seem like?
A moment passes, and then he replies.
Mihai:
I don’t know. Quiet, maybe? Reserved. Didn’t expect you to be covered in art, that’s for sure.
Me:
Well, I’m full of surprises.
Mihai:
I can see that.
His response makes my heart skip a beat. Like he’s interested in seeing me. I don’t know where the confidence comes from, but I type back quickly.
Me:
Want to see them?
Mihai:
Fuck yes.
My cheeks flush, and I sit up in bed, glancing down at my arm. The tattoos there are intricate, patterns and symbols that all mean something to me. I snap a quick picture of my left forearm, showing off the detailed ink of a phoenix, and send it to him.
It takes only seconds before his response comes in.
Mihai:
Damn. That’s impressive. What does it mean?
Me:
It’s kind of a reminder. Of who I am and why I always have to rise.
There’s a pause, and I bite my lip, wondering if I’ve said too much. But then he sends something back that makes my heart thump harder.
Mihai:
Guess I owe you one now. Here’s mine.
A minute later, a picture of his forearm appears on my screen. I study it, noticing the lines of the tattoo that winds around his skin—a wolf, fierce and powerful, surrounded by geometric patterns, stars and cyrillic words. It’s stunning, and more detailed than I’d realized.
Me:
That’s incredible. Suits you.
Mihai:
Got more where that came from. Wanna trade?
My heart pounds a little at the offer, but I go for it. I snap a half picture of the antlers of my deer tattoo sprawling over my skin, and send it his way. There’s a longer pause this time, and when he responds, his words make my cheeks burn.
Mihai:
Now you’re just showing off. That’s… damn, . You’ve got some amazing ink.
I take a deep breath, typing quickly before I lose my nerve.
Me:
Let’s see more of yours then.
A picture pops up, and I open it, my breath catching in my throat. Mihai’s lying in bed, his arm raised behind his head, showing off the ink that covers his chest.
Black and gray patterns swirl across his skin, symbols and lines that are both fierce and beautiful. There’s a burning rose tattoo over his heart that I want to ask him about, but decide not to. It’s raw, intense, just like him, and I can’t help but stare, my face heating up at the sight.
Bloody hell, he’s fit.
Mihai:
Like what you see?
I laugh, feeling my cheeks burn even hotter. I can’t believe he just said that. But there’s something freeing in the way he’s being so open, so… bold.
Me:
Maybe. Not bad.
I can almost feel his grin through the screen.
Mihai:
Not bad? This took hours of pain. That’s all you’ve got to say?
Me:
Pain builds character, doesn’t it? Thought you were tough, Mafia Prince.
Mihai:
Alright, alright. Now it’s your turn again.
I bite my lip, hesitating for a moment, and then snap a full picture of my chest tattoo, and send it to him before I can second-guess myself. There’s a longer pause, and when his reply finally comes through, it’s short but it says enough.
Mihai:
Fucking stunning.
His words make my stomach flip, and I can’t help but smile, feeling a warmth that’s as unfamiliar as it is intoxicating.
Me:
Thank you.
There’s a pause, and then another message comes in.
Mihai:
Didn’t think anyone could make a deer look that badass. But you pull it off.
I laugh softly, covering my mouth to muffle the sound. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but this back-and-forth feels like a game, one that’s both thrilling and terrifying.
Me:
Yours are pretty intense, too. What’s the story behind them?
Mihai:
Family, mostly. Some of it’s tradition. Some of it… let’s just say it’s a reminder of things I’ve survived.
The weight of his words sinks in, and I feel a strange connection, like he’s shared something deeper than what he’s saying outright. Like he’s letting me see a part of himself he doesn’t usually show.
Me:
I get that. I think that’s why I started getting inked, too.
Mihai:
Battle scars, right?
Me:
Something like that.
I glance down at my thigh, where the peacock tattoo stretches in intricate, vibrant detail, its feathers winding down my skin in a cascade of blues and greens. Without overthinking it, I snap a quick picture and send it to him, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as I hit send.
His response doesn’t come in text this time. Instead, a voice note appears on my screen. I hesitate for a second, my heart racing, before pressing play.
I press play, and Mihai’s deep, accented voice fills the silence, rich with a lazy kind of appreciation that makes my cheeks burn.
“Damn, … you’re killing me over here.” He lets out a low groan, and I can hear the smirk in his tone. “That’s one hell of a view. I think you’re making it really hard for me to keep this professional.”
My pulse spikes at his words, warmth spreading over my skin. I bite my lip as I try to stifle the smile spreading on my face. He’s definitely flirting, and it’s so different from anything I expected.
Mihai:
You should know, that tattoo just became my favorite.
A second message pops up before I can respond.
Mihai:
So… what do you think about hanging out tomorrow? No bodyguard stuff, nothing heavy. Just us.
My heart skips at the invitation, and I realize how much I want to say yes. How much I want to spend more time with him, to keep uncovering the parts of him he hides away.
Me:
Just us?
Mihai:
Just us. No one else. What do you say?
I smile, warmth spreading through my chest. I type back before I can overthink it.
Me:
I’d like that.