Page 135 of Bleed

Bex huffs a laugh as she takes it, swiping at the screen. “She’s such a helicopter mom,” she quips, then blinks as her phone lights up, frowning down at it. “That wasn’t her. It was Ronnie.”

“Who the fuck is Ronnie?” I growl.

“My boss at the shop,” she murmurs absently as she hits the button to call him back.

He answers on the first ring, and naturally, I listen in. He greets her warmly, then tells her that a customer has been calling the shop non-stop, specifically requesting her for a tattoo.

“Who?” she asks, brows drawing in.

“Guy named Mike,” Ronnie replies gruffly. “Said he’d gotten work from you before, wants to book as soon as possible. Tonight, if you’re available.”

Beatrix’s eyes flick to mine, a little spark of excitement igniting in them. “Yeah, I can come in. How about ten?”

Ronnie gives her the details, then the call ends. She sets her phone aside, still sprawled naked against my chest, her legs tangled up with mine.

“I miss tattooing,” she muses.

My finger traces the lines of ink on her thigh. “I haven’t objected.”

She tips her head back to look at me, seemingly surprised.

“I’d never presume to hold you back from your passions, Beatrix.”

She snorts. “Good, because I’d never let you.”

She untangles herself from me and pushes off the bed, only to immediately collapse back onto the mattress when her legs give out beneath her.

“Whoa,” she breathes.

I’m upright and at her side in an instant, one hand closing around her arm to steady her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She waves me off. “Just a little dizzy. It’ll pass.”

I search her face, unconvinced. Her color is good, her pulse steady, but she’s still recovering, and I don’t particularly care for the reminder.

“You know, you’d heal faster if we–”

“Don’t say it.” She shakes her head, pointing a finger at me in warning. “I know you want bonded superpowers, but I’m gonna need some time to get used to the idea before I agree to it.”

“I don’t need superpowers.” I brush a strand of hair away from her face. “Just you.”

Her expression softens, her hand lifting to cup my cheek. “Aw, you’re sweet when you want to be.”

I frown. “You have a tendency to mistake statements of fact for compliments.”

“Shh.” She leans in to smack a kiss on my lips. “Don’t ruin it.”

She smirks as she rises from the bed and pivots toward the door, her magnificent ass swaying with every step.

I watch her go, fighting the urge to follow.

At the threshold, she pauses to glance back at me over her shoulder. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to eat me. Haven’t you had enough?”

“Of you? Never.”