Page 67 of Inflict

“Maybe, but maybe not. It wasn’t my plan, remember, it was for—”

“Me. Yeah, I heard you, smartass.”

Connor grinned. “I think you’ll be fine to be like you are. It gives you something to think about.”

And him, too.

Connor decided to get back to work, before he focused on just how wet she probably still was between her thighs, and got distracted again. He could show her exactly what he meant about sex being for him on another day, when his mood was not balancing a thin line between control and crazy. He was terribly good at hiding it, but if he fed into that bit of curiosity he heard from her, he’d be a hell of a lot more crazed than controlled.

It was not the time.

It’s not about you.

He met her gaze head on, picking up his machine as her features relaxed with the knowledge of what was coming.

“You good?” he asked.

Evelyn nodded. “Better.”

“Next time, we’ll know.”

“Next time?”

Connor chuckled, his lips curving wickedly. “You know what they say, it’s addicting.”

He didn’t mean only tattoos, either.

Instead of being restless now, he knew she would be relaxed and satisfied. The pain she so enjoyed would act as an additive to the relief she had already drowned in just minutes before. Her craving had been gratified enough to allow her calm.

Just like an addict getting their fix.

Connor’s machine buzzed with life again, and he went to work. Evelyn stayed still and silent for the next four hours, but never once did she stop watching him as he worked. He probably liked that the most.

• • •

“Connor?”

He had just put his damn feet up after spending seven long hours at The Ink Shoppe, and the very last thing Connor wanted to do was move from his spot on the couch. “What?”

“Are you busy?” Evelyn called from the upstairs.

“Not in the sense that I have something important to do.”

“Come help me, then.”

Connor groaned. “But—”

“Please.”

Feck it.

Connor pushed off the couch, ignoring the ache in his back. He had learned over the near month-long time Evelyn had been in his home, that she could be … a wee bit eccentric at times. Maybe it was because of her new-found freedom with him, something he didn’t think she had been given before very much, or perhaps it was boredom.

Whatever it was, she could find just about anything to amuse herself with, and most of the time, she wanted to bring Connor along for the ride. Mostly, he didn’t mind. Sometimes, he wanted to tell the lass that she needed to learn to enjoy her own company at some point.

Then, he just felt like an arsehole. She had probably enjoyed more than enough of her own company over the years. That was exactly why he dragged his dumb arse up the stairs to find her and join in on whatever she was doing.

The second he found her sitting in the window seat of his studio, he couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t notice him come in, so he took the moment to enjoy the sight of her with her sketchbook on her lap as sunlight washed in through the window.