Untamed (Untamed #1) by Victoria Green, Jinsey Reese Page B

mine, interlocking our fingers. “And I’m a really good teacher,” he whispered in my ear as he guided my fingers around the handle of the wooden spoon. “Hold on and move it in circles.”
    There was a tattoo of a paintbrush on the inside of his forearm, the bristles pointing toward his palm, and it pressed against my skin as he began to move.
    “Nice and slow.” His voice caressed my ear and sent shivers through me. “Just like that.”
    Oh, god . I bit down on my lip. Was cooking always this hot? Or was it just my teacher who made it so erotic?
    “So you’ve really never cooked a single thing in your life?” He nipped my ear as he spoke and I couldn’t keep from moaning.
    I shook my head. “It’s embarrassing, I know. You don’t have to say anything.”
    His body vibrated against my back.
    “Are you laughing at me?”
    “I’m laughing at the situation. I’m not only taking your mac and cheese virginity, but also your culinary one.” His voice dropped to a husky low as he said, “I better make this a meal to remember.”
    I pressed my back into him. “I have no doubt it will be.”
    “If you keep talking and not stirring, that sauce is going to boil over prematurely.” He smacked my butt playfully, then shifted to the side and turned his attention to the pasta.
    The heat from the stove dampened my skin, beading sweat across my chest and plastering my cotton top to my back. Dare reached up to turn on the vent above my head, his shirt riding up in the process, exposing his hard abs.
    Still keeping one hand on the spoon, I pointed at him. “Hang on. I want to see it.”
    One eyebrow lifted and his face broke out into a wicked grin. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
    “Not that ,” I said, laughing. “Your phoenix tattoo. I’ve been fascinated with the design since I first saw it. I want to know the story behind it.” Then I glanced down at his pants. “Though we can play that game, too. Later.” I reached over and pulled his shirt up. “Let me see.”
    His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You really need my shirt off for this?”
    “I’d really like to admire the artwork.” And his entire freaking body.
    “I forgot. You live for art.” He smirked and pulled the shirt over his head, turning his back to me. “Like what you see?”
    Hell yes . I ran my eyes up the taut muscles to his shoulder, and stared. The bird took my breath away. “It’s remarkable. How does it look so...alive?”
    “That was the point,” Dare said. “I got it as a symbol of reincarnation. Starting over. Creating new life from the ashes of the old.”
    I reached out to touch it, my fingers grazing a scar. I hadn’t even noticed it before.
    “What’s this from?”
    He shrugged. “Dad fights dirty.”
    My eyes widened and I stared at him, not sure what to say. “Oh, Dare…”
    “It’s over,” he said. “I don’t dwell on the past.”
    He shuddered slightly as I traced the outline of the bird with my fingers. “It’s beautiful.”
    “Rex did it.”
    “Rex?”
    “Vogel. He drew it for me,” he said like it was no big deal. I gaped at him. “ Rex Vogel? You know Rex Vogel? Well enough for him to draw you a tattoo?”
    He nodded. “I worked for him—well, under him for a while. He taught me everything I know.”
    “Vogel doesn’t take apprentices.” That was a well-known fact in the industry.
    “He made an exception for me,” Dare said. “His studio was next door to our old place in Queens. I hung out there every day when I was a kid. We drifted apart when I became mixed up with my father’s work. Once I got out of juvie, I begged him to take me back. He saved my life.”
    “Amazing.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize the paintings were yours.” I guess I simply couldn’t fathom that someone so young and—let’s face it—dangerously good-looking could also be so incredibly talented. It wasn’t fair.
    Dare laughed. “I’m just a piece of meat to you,