I grabbed a washcloth and squirted body wash onto it. I stepped in the shower behind her and started scrubbing the small of her back.

“Talon, not so rough, please.”

Rough? Hell, I didn’t care. I’d burn that shit off if I had to.

Once her skin was free of the outline and the last traces of black were swirling down the drain, I finally started to relax a bit. I slunk against the wet shower wall, closed my eyes.

I opened them when the water patterns changed. She had turned to face me.

Was that shower water running down her cheeks? Or were the tiny rivers tears?

The whites of her eyes had reddened.

Tears.

My heart fell to my stomach. I could bear anything but her tears.

She sniffed. “I don’t understand, Talon.”

No, she didn’t understand. And she never would.

I dried myself off and walked out of the bathroom. I hastily put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and my socks and boots.

Walked down the hallway, out the door to my car, and drove off.

Chapter Twelve

Jade

My wet hair was plastered to my face and shoulders.

Still weeping, I scrubbed at my face. I looked down. My nipples were red and swollen from Talon’s attentions and the nipple clamps. What had I done now? Did he really hate tattoos, or was this something else entirely? Oddly, none of the Steels had any tattoos—at least none that I knew of. Maybe they were actually against them for some weird reason, though Marj had often spoken of getting one.

I had wanted one for so long, and that phoenix image perfectly fit how I was feeling and what I wanted to convey through art on my body. I had every intention of rescheduling the appointment with Haley.

But Talon… What was I going to do about Talon?

He needed to get some help. Maybe I could talk him into going back to his therapist. I would talk to Marj about it, Jonah and Ryan if I had to.

I grabbed the washcloth and did a quick once-over my body. I squeezed some of Talon’s American Crew shampoo into my palm and quickly washed my hair, tearing up again at the masculine fragrance I recognized from his gorgeous hair. Then I turned off the shower, dried off, and squeezed the excess water out of my hair. I expected to walk out and find Talon waiting for me.

But I was alone in his empty bedroom.

Roger ambled up to me and licked the drops of water off my ankles. If Talon were anywhere in the house, Roger would be with him. Hell, if Talon were anywhere on the ranch, Roger would’ve gone along. The fact that Roger was here, with me, alone in Talon’s room, gave me pause.

Talon was gone.

I dressed, walked down the hallway to the other wing of the ranch house, and knocked on Marj’s bedroom door. At her command, I entered.

She was lying on her bed reading. “Hey,” she said. “What did you do? Take a swim?”

“It’s a long story,” I said. I couldn’t go into it. I was sure my eyes were red and swollen, but if Marj noticed, she didn’t say anything.

“How did things go with Talon? I hope you got that little slut off his mind.”

“I don’t think the slut was ever on his mind. I’m not sure why you kept her here waiting for me.”

“Maybe not my best move, but I needed to get you here.”

“You could’ve just asked me to come over.”

“You wouldn’t have come. Stop—”

She held up her hand to keep me from talking.

“You know I’m right.”

I nodded in defeat. She was right. I wouldn’t have come.

“Seriously, what’s going on?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. He’s gone.”

“Tal? Where did he go?”

“Again, your guess is as good as mine.”

“Oh my God. What happened?”

“I have no idea. He freaked out that I was going to get a tattoo.”

She shook her head. “That doesn’t sound like Talon.”

“Well, it dawned on me none of your brothers have any tats. You guys have something against them?”

Marj shook her head. “Of course not. I’ve known you wanted one forever. We were supposed to get one together, remember?”

I let out a sigh. “Yeah. You’re right.” It sure made more sense than what I had just been through.

“I thought you stopped before you got the tattoo.”

“I did, but Haley had already put the transfer on my back. You know, the temporary outline of the tattoo, for her to follow while she’s doing it.”

“Is that how it works?”

“Sure. Didn’t you ever watch Miami Ink?”

“I’m not the tattoo-head that you are, Jade.”

“Well, anyway, he freaked out. Threw me in the shower, made me wash it off, and then he left.”

Marj closed the book she’d been reading, her eyes troubled. “Makes about as much sense as anything Talon does.”

That was for sure.

“I think I’m going to go ahead home, Marj. I’m exhausted. Thanks for dinner.”

“I wish you’d stay.”

“No. I don’t want to. Besides, I have to unpack. But you have to drive me home.”

“Ha! I’m exhausted too. Please just stay tonight. You can sleep in your old room, and I’ll drive you to work in the morning.”

I sighed. “Marj, I can’t wear the same clothes to work tomorrow that I wore today.”

“That’s no problem. I’ll lend you something.”

I looked at my nearly six-feet-tall and slender best friend. “Right, because we’re so similar in size.”

“Look, those black leggings you’re wearing are classic. No one will know you wore them yesterday. I’ll give you a long, stretchy top. You’ll be fine.”

I relented. I couldn’t ask Marj to drive me home at this hour, and I didn’t really feel like going through all my luggage tonight. I’d do it tomorrow.

“Agreed,” I said. “And good night.”

 

After Marj dropped me off at the office in the morning, I started some coffee in the drip coffee maker I’d purchased for my office. I had picked up some great Arabica beans from Costa Rica while I was in Grand Junction for those few days. Decent coffee for a change, and I sure needed it this morning.