Page 127 of Vital Signs

"You shouldn't be sorry." My hands found his face. "Maybe it's time to reconnect with them."

"I miss them," he admitted. "I miss talking to my mom in Mandarin, miss my dad's terrible jokes in Korean."

"Languages come back when you need them to," I said. "Especially when they're tied to love."

The silence that followed felt lighter somehow. Hunter's fingers curled into my shirt, gripping my waist. "I want to try," he said finally.

"But right now," I pressed a kiss to his forehead, "I want to get out of these clothes. They smell like smoke and death."

The shower was cramped but scalding, steam filling the space. Hunter's hands worked through my hair while I traced the dragon tattoo coiling around his neck.

"Tell me what you're thinking," I said, watching his face.

"I'm thinking about the way you moved when you killed Wright," he said, voice rough with something darker than want. "Cold. Efficient. Like you'd done it a hundred times before."

Heat spiked through my veins at the admission. "And that turns you on."

"Yes." No hesitation, no shame. "It turns me on knowing you'd do it again. Knowing you enjoyed it."

I pressed him against the tile wall, water streaming between us. "I've been thinking about painting my nails again," I said,capturing his wrist and bringing his hand to my lips. "I stopped after the trial, thought it made me look like a victim."

"And now?"

"Now I think it made me look dangerous." I bit down on the pulse point of his wrist, hard enough to leave marks. "I liked the way Wright's blood looked under my nails tonight. The color suited me."

Hunter's breathing hitched, pupils dilating even in the steam. "What color are you thinking?"

"Something dark. Something that won't show blood." I moved to his neck, teeth scraping against wet skin. "You like knowing I killed for you."

"I love it," he gasped, hands fisting in my hair. "I love knowing you're mine. That you'd destroy anyone who tried to take me away."

"Including yourself," I said against his throat. "If you ever chose the needle over me again, I'd hunt you down and drag you back. Kicking and screaming if necessary."

"Promise?" The word came out broken, desperate.

"Promise." My hand found his cock, already hard and aching. "You're mine, Hunter. Mine to protect. Mine to heal. Mine to fuck until you remember why staying conscious is worth it."

The water began to run cold, but heat radiated from our bodies as we pressed together. Hunter's lips moved to my neck, teeth scraping sensitive skin. My body was already responding, heat building between my legs as I ground against his thigh.

"Bed," I managed. "Now."

We stumbled out, grabbing towels but not bothering to dry off properly. Water dripped from our hair as we moved back into the main room, Hunter's hand finding mine. The cool air hit our overheated skin, raising goosebumps along my arms.

I turned to face him, taking in the sight of him, skin flushed bronze from the heat, droplets rolling down the defined musclesof his chest. My hands came up to his shoulders, fingers tracing the dragon tattoo that coiled around his neck.

Hunter's eyes darkened as he pulled me closer, his mouth finding mine in a kiss that tasted of steam and want. I pushed him backward slowly, our lips never breaking apart, until his knees hit the edge of the bed.

He fell onto the mattress, pulling me down with him, and I settled over his hips, looking down at the man who'd chosen me over drugs.

Hunter's hands came up to my chest, fingers exploring the cherry blossoms on my left side, then the anatomical clockwork on my right. His touch lingered on each design as if he were memorizing a map only he would ever read.

"You have no idea what you do to me," I said, voice going low. "How watching you choose me over Wright's drugs made me feel. How much it made me want you, knowing you picked me over the needle."

"Show me." His hands found my thighs, fingers digging into muscle.

I leaned down, capturing his mouth before trailing my lips down his neck. I bit down on his pulse point, hard enough to leave evidence. Hunter's cry was pure music, spine bowing as pleasure-pain shot through him.

I worked my way down his body, leaving marks across his collarbone. Each bite drew gasps from his lips, his hands tangling in my damp hair. When I reached the dragon tattoo, I traced it with my tongue, following every curve and scale.