He looked at me, his eyes glaring. “That’s correct. I forbid it.”

I let out a laugh and shook my head. “I really can’t believe you just said that. You can’t forbid me from getting a tattoo.”

“I just did, didn’t I?”

I stood and gathered my clothes. “I do love you, Talon.” Oh, I did. In spite of everything. “But if this is how a relationship with you is going to be, I’m not sure I can participate.”

He grabbed me and tossed me down on the bed. He turned me over so I was facedown, and he slapped one cheek of my ass hard.

He covered my body with his and bit into my neck. I jolted, the pleasure-pain so intense, it rolled through me like a whirlwind.

He whispered into my ear, “I won’t have your beautiful body marred by that horrible image.”

Horrible image? A phoenix rising from ashes? It was a beautiful image with meaningful symbolism. Why did he hate it so much? He had reacted so violently to the outline the other night. Something about the phoenix bothered him. What could it be?

I would find out, but right now, with his warm body covering mine, my pussy was starting to get wet again.

His rock-hard cock jabbed against the crease of my ass. God, what his body did to mine. My skin tautened, and my core throbbed. I knew he was ready to take me again, and I also knew I wouldn’t resist.

He slid his cock slowly into me.

“You will not get that tattoo, do I make myself clear?”

I didn’t answer, my body so full of heat and desire.

“Your body is mine, Jade. Mine. You will not ink it up.”

He thrust again, filling me, completing me.

In that moment, I might’ve agreed to anything. But I kept my lips shut. The throes of passion would not overwhelm me.

Before I knew it, I was releasing into an explosive orgasm. I bit my lip, moaning, grasping fistfuls of the comforter.

“Mine,” he chanted. “Mine, mine, mine.”

He kept fucking me, harder and harder, and my pussy began to burn. I wanted more and more and more and more…until another climax overtook me.

Again I fisted the comforter, molded to the sheets.

“Take it, Jade. Take me. Take all of me. You’re mine, Jade. Mine.”

He pushed hard once more, and then, my pussy so sensitive from two explosive climaxes, I felt every spasm of his cock as he released into me.

His perspiration dripped on my neck, my shoulders, and I relished it as the droplets rivered down my skin.

When he finally pulled out, he rolled off me and lay on his back with his arm over his forehead, his standard post-coital position. I turned onto my back as well but slid the other way so that our bodies were not touching.

As much as I wanted to roll into his arms, I had to figure out a way to deal with this tattoo business. I had every intention of still getting a tattoo. Was it just the image that he objected to? Or was it a tattoo in general?

Surely he had come across tattoos before. He had been in the military, for God’s sake. Frankly, I was surprised he didn’t have one himself.

I kept quiet for now, breathing in, still relaxing in the afterglow from my two orgasms.

My feet were dangling at the end of the bed, and soon I felt a warm tongue on them. I let out a giggle, sat up, and found Roger licking at my toes. I pulled him up onto the bed and gave him a hug. “Such a good boy. So cute.” I stroked his furry little face.

Talon still lay faceup, his arm across his eyes. I released Roger, and the dog bounded straight to his master, licking at his chest and face. No doubt he was nice and salty from all the perspiration.

With his free hand, Talon reached out and petted Roger, still not opening his eyes or moving his other arm.

I loved how much Talon adored this little guy. A man who loved dogs—was there anything better? I had never trusted people who didn’t like dogs. I personally loved them, and I’d missed having one in my life the last seven years during college and law school. I doubted that Sarah would let me have one in that tiny little apartment I rented above beauty shop. If I still lived here, I’d have Roger to greet me every day when I came home.

If I still lived here, I’d have a lot of things that I missed.

Talon didn’t appear to have any intention of moving. Now probably wouldn’t be a good time to bring up the tattoo again. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I should go now, Talon,” I said. “It’s Saturday, and I have tons of errands to run.”

He grunted.

I put my clothes on, gave Roger another quick pet, and—

Crap. I had no way to get home.

I sat down on the bed again and nudged Talon. “Talon, can you drive me home?”

He didn’t move his arms. “Just take the Mustang. The keys are in the little ceramic pot in the kitchen where they always are. I don’t mind you using it, and I know Marj doesn’t.”

“Really, I don’t want to impose.”

Eyes still covered. “Look, I wish you were still staying here, okay? I asked you to come back. At least take the car. You need transportation.”

I swallowed. He was right. I did need transportation. I was spending way too much on cab fare, although George was probably deliriously happy.

“All right. Thank you. That’s very generous.”

He grunted again.

I went to the kitchen, grabbed the keys, and left.

 

Before heading back to my apartment, I decided to stop at Toby’s. Maybe I could find a different image, one that wouldn’t upset Talon so much. Haley was at the front desk.

“Haley,” I said, “I’m really sorry I had to dart out of here the other night.”

She looked at me oddly, biting her lip, playing with the dangling hoop. “Let me go get Toby.”

“What for?”

She didn’t answer, just walked to the back and returned with a young blond guy.

“This is Toby. Toby, Jade, the woman who was in the other night wanting the phoenix tattoo.”

“Hi, Toby,” I said. “I wanted to look through the books and see if I could find a different image for my tat. I had some…issues with the first one.”

Toby shook his head. “I’m sure Haley explained things to you.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Haley didn’t say anything to me. What do you mean?”

Toby cleared his throat, his features uneasy. “I’m sorry, Ms. Roberts. We can’t.”