Page 209 of End Game

Just one line.

“Beautiful.”

I look at him.

“The tattoo?”

“You.”

That should not hit that hard.

It does.

I reach for his shirt.

He catches my wrist.

Not roughly.

Enough to stop me.

I freeze.

Ronan moves my hand himself and puts it against the buttons instead.

Permission.

Something about that gets under my skin.

I unbutton his shirt slowly, watching him the entire time.

When it's open, I slide my palms over his chest.

He exhales. “Green?”

I almost laugh. “Yes.”

“You're laughing.”

“Because I'm very fucking green.”

“Good.”

There it is again.

That one word.

I hadn't realized praise from him would do this much damage.

He kisses me again, then walks me backward until my knees hit the bed.

“Sit.”

I do.

Ronan opens the drawer beside the bed.

For one second, I expect rope.