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“For being a Ruthless King,” I voice. “You’re supposed to despise me. Like how you despise Domino.”
“I despise Domino because he fucking deserves it,” she emphasizes every word like she’s spitting out poison.
“He bullied you that bad, huh?” I don’t know much about Dom’s past, but I do know he was a pain in everyone’s ass when he was younger. Ares brings it up all the time, especially when Dom has his possessive tantrums over stupid shit.
I watch as she lowers her sandwich to the wrapper beside our feet. She then proceeds to rise from the grass and turn her back to me. When she begins to slide the thin straps of her dress, I try not to hold my breath. I suck a deep inhale out of pure admiration. Gemini’s body is no different from a carved goddess—curves, soft flawless skin that almost illuminates under the moonlight. I’ve been trying to undress her, despite the tensions in the car and during our eventful dining experience, but it’s taking everything to remain still.
To just enjoy the sight of pure perfection.
“I don’t think feeding you deserves a strip tease, Dolcezza,” I state far too quietly.Breathlessly.“Not like I’m complaining.”
She glances over her shoulder to give me a look that screams, ‘Don’t push me,’ but she proceeds to move her long silver strands out of the way, revealing the ink masterpiece on her back.
Shit.
I’m not sure why I only now noticed the detailed work of art on her flesh, but it’s so moving, I can’t help but rise from my crouched position and walk in close to admire the fine details of black ink mixed with shades of crimson.
The centerpiece is the large black viper snake that is slithered around a detailed sketch of the human spine. It wraps aroundit intricately, having just a smidge of space around the fragile bones that look like they’re a touch away from crumbling to pieces.
If someone had a spine like that, they most certainly wouldn’t be able to walk in real life. The agony alone would be too much to bear if it didn’t paralyze them. Despite the spine on the verge of destruction and the slithering viper with its tongue outstretched right beneath the bottom part of her neck, the art piece is decorated with colored roses.
Red and blue roses.
It’s the only color in the centerpiece, but as I lean in closer, I see tiny red spots that look like they’re riptides, giving the effect as though this tatted artwork is above a pound of water.
“Burns,” I whisper, and my heart sinks. “Cigarette ends.”
“Every single one from Domino and his tough friends who encouraged him to be a douche.”
These instances remind me that I may not have liked Domino if I had known him on a deeper level in his early youth years. He seemed… toxic in a way far worse than what I would envision for myself.
Now that I’m older and wiser, I can comprehend the reason for his erratic behavior. It doesn’t dismiss that his actions hurt another.
Permanently marked her.
I don’t realize I’m lightly touching the circled wounds until she shivers at my touch. It makes me lean into her personal space more until I’m pressed lightly against her back while I can’t stop myself from nestling between her neck and shoulder.
Inhaling her wonderful aroma.
“That’s why your initial reaction was to hurt him.”
“Hurt him when?”
“During the trial,” I mutter into her flesh. Interestingly enough, she isn’t rigid by my closeness. “Why is the spine in the tattoo on the verge of shattering like glass shards?”
The tattoo has to have significance. Every tattoo and piercing has a purpose. All my piercings mean something. Even my hidden tattoos have a story to tell.
She doesn’t answer me. It’s the first time she’s closed up.
“That deep, huh?” I whisper.
“You’ll use it against me,” she sighs.
“I’m your masked lover. I can’t,” I reason.
“And how would I keep you accountable?” she inquires. “The moment I sign the contract, my rights will be gone. I’ll be your tool. A weapon sharpened and ready to be worn down until my purpose has fizzled to worthlessness.”
She’s right, but my curiosity will kill me if I can’t decipher the meaning of this hidden contradiction.
