Merciless Love: A Dark Romance
Page 22
He pointed out the window, where the thick flakes were still falling. My lips twitched. Evan didn't play around. What was he getting at?
“I know, I'm not supposed to be working anything 'til the leg is healed. But you know what? I had to warm these guns up for an old biker dude I know. The skin needs to be tight, strong, ideal for this...”
He rolled, turned, and threw one hand over his shoulder, pointing to the skin near the base of his neck. The snakes and crosses down his back weren't anything new. The symbol between his shoulder blades was.
It was a sign like an eight with a sword going through the center. The very tip was red, and not just from having his skin inked. It was the only splash of color on his whole black set of tattoos, red as blood.
“That's your mark, babe. There'll be more down the line. Figure this is a damned good start. Go ahead. Take a good look.”
He hissed softly when I ran my finger across it with the lightest touch, careful not to leech any ink, marveling at the delicate work. It looked slightly higher quality than the big designs elsewhere on his body, more intricate. Almost seemed like the miniature sword would come off his skin in my hands.
“What's it mean?” I whispered, trying to stop my stupid heart from beating out my chest.
I just couldn't believe it. He'd really done this...for me?
“Means I killed for you, and I still will. Don't give a shit if it's flesh and blood or red tape holding back your dreams. I'll tear it to pieces. You're a part of me, babe, same as Jenny on the front. I told you before I loved that woman, but I'm man enough to face it: she's the past. You, baby girl, are my whole fucking future. That's what the other symbol's for. Infinity.”
Smiling, I threw my hands around his big chest and squeezed him from behind. He shifted, ignoring the pain that surely flared in his hip. He scooped me up properly and buried me in another one of those all-consuming kisses.
Took forever to break out, to tell him what I had to say. “I love you, Evan. I never thought it would ever match the hate I had at first...but I was wrong. Love is stronger. You changed everything.”
“And I'm not gonna stop, babe. You and me, we're twisted people, all wrapped up by a bunch of bullshit behind us.” He ran his hand over my face and I wrinkled my nose.
I waited. That didn't sound so nice.
“You know what?” He seemed to realize my concern, thinking through his next words. “Long as I'm twisted up with you, deeper and deeper, the future's gonna be damned near perfect. Long as we're tangled as these inks, I'm gonna forget the fucking past. Having you right here in the present's all I want. A little freedom and a lot of love...that's all that really counts.”
Hot tears burned at my eyes. I blinked them away and moved in for another kiss, amazed that I'd ever despised and feared this man.
This time, he was absolutely right. As long as we had love, we owned the future. We were free to bask in its miraculous warmth no matter how brutal these winters were going to be.