Page 91 of Ballad of Nightmares

“Leaving, boss,” Rolfe said as he stood to excuse himself. He gave Ana a quick wink before exiting the room, and Ana was left sitting in the chair and watching Sam as he leaned against the counter, hands pressed into the edge, hair falling over his face.

“Come here.”

It was as if his throaty rasp held a power in it that spoke directly to her existence. A command that made her feet move despite her body not knowing it. When she was directly before him, she sank herself against his chest, and he reached for her arm to look at the tattoo. His fingers brushed against its outskirts, careful not to touch the quiet pain still in her numb skin.

“You like my art on you, baby?” he asked, lips lifting at the left corner, showing off that tiny dimple.

“I love it,” she said before pulling back.

His hands wrapped beneath her jaw, and he kissed her deeply.

She didn’t know how he did it. She didn’t know how his kiss continued to make her heart drop, just as it had the first time he’d kissed her. How his touch made her heart flutter, and how every time his name popped up on her phone, she couldn’t stifle a smile.

“Do you know what I think?” she said when she finally pulled away.

Sam’s brow lifted, watching her take a step back. “What’s that?”

“I think you’ve marked me… and now I should get to mark you.”

He considered her. She could see the working in his eyes, of whether he could trust her enough for that.

“Don’t worry,” she added. “I won’t draw a cock on your arm.” She twisted the rolling chair around in his direction as a smile lifted his lips, and he finally surrendered into the chair. Ana went to turn on the equipment again, but as she did, Sam pulled her into his lap.

She let out a small yelp, hearing him laugh at her being startled, but his antics didn’t stop her from her mission. She knew it was a ploy to distract her, especially as his teeth skated over her skin and he squeezed her ass.

“Sam—“ A laugh left her as she reached for the pen.

“Really not funny, Ana,” he said, though he continued to smile. “You could hurt yourself.”

“It’s fine,” she teased. “What—are you scared I’ll ruin this beautiful artwork of a body you have?”

“Yes—“

“Wait, wait,” she laughed, hair falling over her shoulder. “Don’t you trust me?” she asked upon meeting his gaze.

For a moment, he didn’t blink. Like the words had triggered something in him. His mouth closed, throat bobbing, and his eyes softened dramatically. She felt him shift, and the next thing she knew, he was kissing her jaw and placing the pen in her hand.

“Gentle, temptress,” he breathed.

She felt his lashes shift down, and he sighed into her hair, surrendering his head to her shoulder as he held out his left arm for her to mark.

Ana held the pen steady, making only three marks. When she was finished, she reached over to turn off the machine.

“All done,” she told him.

His brows narrowed when he looked at his arm. “Did you just put a smile on my wrist?”

“I did,” she said proudly.

His eyes softened from his confusion. “Why a smile?” he asked, arms hugging her tighter on his lap.

She reached for his face, thumb brushing his lip. “Because every time you smile, a piece of me falls into place, and it’s like coming home,” she admitted.

He looked like he was considering laughing, and she wished he would. She wanted to hear that beautiful lullaby leave his lips. But instead, his hand moved to her jaw, and he pulled her lips to his.

He pushed away the table and his hands wrapped around her back, fingers spread wide on her shoulder blades. She held his head to her chest as he kissed her skin. Her tank slipped down, nearly exposing her full breasts, and his moan vibrated her bones.

“Ana…”