can show you what it’s like to get a tattoo. Nothing permanent, but maybe if you got to experience it, you’d understand better why people get ink, and why I love what I do.”
Lia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What would that entail, exactly?”
“Well, feeding you involves pizza, and hopefully beer. I did mention there’s beer in the fridge, didn’t I? Sketching involves you, naked and stretched out on this comfy day bed while I indulge in two of my favorite things. Drawing, and you.”
“Smart ass. I meant the tattoo part, though I like the idea of being one of your favorite things.”
“You rank even higher on the list than whiskers on kittens.” Nick had meant it as a joke, but his words rang true. Despite the fact they were still getting to know each other, she was already important to him. He hadn’t been totally honest with her about the way she’d looked in the sketch she’d seen earlier. He had drawn her sad, because it was there in her eyes every time they’d met. More than anything else, he wanted to banish those haunting shadows from her eyes and bring a smile to her lips.
Lia laid her hand on his cheek and gifted him with one of her rare smiles. “I’m honored.”
He winked at her. “You should be. Kittens are damned cute. As for the tattoo idea, I was thinking of using henna. Janie does henna tattooing. It’s temporary, all natural, and it just dyes the skin. No needles. I could draw up a design, transfer it to your skin and then give you a simple henna design that would last a few weeks.”
“What would you draw?” she asked, and he knew she was interested.
“We’d figure that out together, just as if you were a client coming in. It’ll be fun.”
“And no one would be able to see it?”
“I promise, we’ll put it somewhere no one else will see it but you and me.” Damn straight no one else was going to see it. Nick planned on putting the design above Lia’s breast, over her heart. The only one who was allowed to get that personal with Lia was him. Period. End of discussion.
“Okay. If you swear it’ll come off, then I’m game.”
“That’s my girl. Okay, you start thinking about what you might like, and I’ll throw on some jeans and go downstairs to wait for dinner. It should be here any moment.”
“How come you get to be dressed and I don’t?”
“Because if I meet the delivery guy naked, I’m going to need to give him a really big tip to cover the therapy he’ll need.” Her smile was almost enough to tempt him to forgo dinner and make love to her again. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that they were both going to need to eat to keep up their strength for what he had planned. It was going to be a long, glorious night.
“Okay, you can get dressed. Did you bring my clothes up with you?” she asked, sitting up.
“I did. They’re over there, with your purse. I know better than to part a woman from her purse for long. I’ll be back soon, with sustenance. You’re in charge of finding something to drink in the fridge. Oh, and if anything moves in there, assume it’s dangerous and move out of striking range.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Mostly. So far none of the life forms growing in there have become self-aware. I just thought I’d give you fair warning.”
“If anything moves, I’m going to shoot it.”
“Fair enough. Your gun’s with your purse. God, there’s a line I never expected to come out of my mouth.”
She smirked at him. “If you’re planning on spending time with me, then you better get used to it.”
“Believe me, I plan on spending a lot of time with you, Cin. You’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”
She looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Good to know.”
He still had a long way to go, but for now, Nick would call that progress.
Chapter Eight
Lia couldn’t help but wonder at the strangeness of eating and laughing with Nick while they were both naked. She’d never spent
Lia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What would that entail, exactly?”
“Well, feeding you involves pizza, and hopefully beer. I did mention there’s beer in the fridge, didn’t I? Sketching involves you, naked and stretched out on this comfy day bed while I indulge in two of my favorite things. Drawing, and you.”
“Smart ass. I meant the tattoo part, though I like the idea of being one of your favorite things.”
“You rank even higher on the list than whiskers on kittens.” Nick had meant it as a joke, but his words rang true. Despite the fact they were still getting to know each other, she was already important to him. He hadn’t been totally honest with her about the way she’d looked in the sketch she’d seen earlier. He had drawn her sad, because it was there in her eyes every time they’d met. More than anything else, he wanted to banish those haunting shadows from her eyes and bring a smile to her lips.
Lia laid her hand on his cheek and gifted him with one of her rare smiles. “I’m honored.”
He winked at her. “You should be. Kittens are damned cute. As for the tattoo idea, I was thinking of using henna. Janie does henna tattooing. It’s temporary, all natural, and it just dyes the skin. No needles. I could draw up a design, transfer it to your skin and then give you a simple henna design that would last a few weeks.”
“What would you draw?” she asked, and he knew she was interested.
“We’d figure that out together, just as if you were a client coming in. It’ll be fun.”
“And no one would be able to see it?”
“I promise, we’ll put it somewhere no one else will see it but you and me.” Damn straight no one else was going to see it. Nick planned on putting the design above Lia’s breast, over her heart. The only one who was allowed to get that personal with Lia was him. Period. End of discussion.
“Okay. If you swear it’ll come off, then I’m game.”
“That’s my girl. Okay, you start thinking about what you might like, and I’ll throw on some jeans and go downstairs to wait for dinner. It should be here any moment.”
“How come you get to be dressed and I don’t?”
“Because if I meet the delivery guy naked, I’m going to need to give him a really big tip to cover the therapy he’ll need.” Her smile was almost enough to tempt him to forgo dinner and make love to her again. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that they were both going to need to eat to keep up their strength for what he had planned. It was going to be a long, glorious night.
“Okay, you can get dressed. Did you bring my clothes up with you?” she asked, sitting up.
“I did. They’re over there, with your purse. I know better than to part a woman from her purse for long. I’ll be back soon, with sustenance. You’re in charge of finding something to drink in the fridge. Oh, and if anything moves in there, assume it’s dangerous and move out of striking range.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Mostly. So far none of the life forms growing in there have become self-aware. I just thought I’d give you fair warning.”
“If anything moves, I’m going to shoot it.”
“Fair enough. Your gun’s with your purse. God, there’s a line I never expected to come out of my mouth.”
She smirked at him. “If you’re planning on spending time with me, then you better get used to it.”
“Believe me, I plan on spending a lot of time with you, Cin. You’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”
She looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Good to know.”
He still had a long way to go, but for now, Nick would call that progress.
Chapter Eight
Lia couldn’t help but wonder at the strangeness of eating and laughing with Nick while they were both naked. She’d never spent
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