Chapter 14 #3
“It’s so beautiful,” I admired, unable to look away.
“It’s one of my favorites.”
He faced me, so I dropped my hand. More tattoos decorated his arms—a gothic cathedral, a grim reaper holding a light to guide shadows, intricate designs around them—but I couldn’t study them long. How could I when I was faced with the sight of his bare chest? My mouth dried.
“You’ve only gotten one more since this one?” he asked, reaching out to grab my arm. His thumb and gaze traced the ghost surrounded by shadows.
“Yeah,” I answered, cringing inwardly over how strained my voice came out. His finger sweeping over the skin of my forearm made my stomach summersault.
His dark eyes collided with mine. “What of?”
The question almost seemed like a challenge.
I’d taunted him with the fact that I had another tattoo in a place he couldn’t see while in my dress earlier.
He hadn’t asked where it was, but the inquiry of its placement was almost an unspoken follow-up to his actual question.
It was a dare, not to speak, but to show.
And I was no coward.
I grabbed my pajama top and lifted it up to my shoulders.
A bra covered my breasts, yet I felt breathlessly exposed.
Xander’s attention dropped first to the round tops of my boobs before finishing their descent to the image of the upside down bat with its spread wings framing the underside of my breasts.
“Damn.” He whistled and traced the design with his fingertips like I’d done to his back. “This is sick. I heard getting tatted on the ribs hurts like a bitch. Did it hurt for you?”
My entire body warmed beneath his touch, making my voice come out shaky. “Yeah. It hurt.”
Though, not for that reason. I could deal with the actual tattooing process. I couldn’t stomach the agony of being touched and pressed on by the artist. I’d nearly gone mad with panic while getting the piece done, which was why I hadn’t gotten more since then.
“Any plans to get more?” he asked, dropping his hand while meeting my eyes.
I let my shirt fall back into place. His dark brow twitched with what almost looked like disappointment, but I was sure that was just my imagination. “I’d love to, but … I doubt it will work out.”
He studied me with that penetrating gaze of his. He didn’t press me to explain, but he didn’t need to. I wasn’t sure what conclusion he came to, but he eventually asked, “Want me to give you one?”
My lips parted slightly in surprise. “You? You know how to tattoo?”
“Sure.” He held out his arm to show me the intricate and detailed gothic cathedral on his forearm. “I did this one.”
I could hardly believe it. The black ink was flawless. His talent seemed to know no bounds, though I’d never tell him I thought so.
Instead, I grinned. “When?”
He leaned down until our noses almost touched. “When you admit I’m your favorite member of Sinners Do It Better.”
Having Xander’s face so close to mine had my heart doing a medically dangerous dance.
I turned my back on him with a scoff, pretending I was indifferent to his proximity while really trying to get my emotions under control.
I crawled onto the queen size bed and turned on the TV.
He flopped down beside me as I flipped through the different channels, and even without looking his way, I could feel his amused stare heating the side of my face.
“Oh, stop here,” Xander chirped, folding his hands across his bare stomach as he leaned against the headboard. “Creature from the Black Lagoon is a great movie.”
I listened to his request and left the station on the black-and-white film.
I settled against the headboard with him, but because he was such a large man in a tight space, our arms brushed.
I didn’t pull away, and neither did he. We lounged back, content with the male narrator opening up the 1954 movie.
For a moment, it was like time had rewound itself, and we were back in his apartment for one of our movie nights.
“So you’re in LA tonight,” Xander stated, eyes still on the TV. “How long are you here?”
“I fly out tomorrow. We’re going to The Gilded Hotel in New York to film for Haunted Days and Nightmares, so I’ll be heading there in the morning.”
Xander’s head lolled in my direction. “Should I come along?”
I raised a brow. “Your schedule is open enough to film an episode of a show on such short notice?”
He shrugged. “I’m a demon. I can make it happen if you want me there.”
If you want me there.
A warm flip broke free in my stomach.
I’d invited him to my room while high on the thrill of seeing him again after all those years apart. The minute he offered to join me for the show’s shoot, that buzz of excitement cooled. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell him to come along.
Which was precisely why I answered, “No need to come so soon. We’ll let you know when you’re wanted.”
Remember the distance you created, Kendyll. Remember why you can’t get close to him again.
He smirked, appearing unperturbed by my suddenly indifferent attitude. “I look forward to it.”