Now his body moved freely instead of the with the rigidity of earlier. Something had changed, and I wasn’t sure what. The lightness in the surrounding air buoyed my spirits higher than what they should be, and that was worrisome.
Since he claimed me, what would he do to me now?
He was my rescuer, my protector, but now he was also my captor. If I left, what would he do?
“Protecting you,” his voice rasped. “You’re a witness.” Grim rubbed his throat.
“But I didn’t see anything.” I tried to compel him to listen. “I only saw that strange man and barely talked to the other women. Surely they wouldn’t care. Just let me go, and I’ll—”
Grim growled, stepping towards me. “I’m protecting you. You’re mine,” he whispered under his breath.
I knew the last part wasn’t meant for me to hear, but I couldn’t help but shudder.
I was his? As in meaning his to protect only, right?
Grim’s leather boots clicked across the wooden floor of his apartment. The leather on his feet stretched, in the quieted room. It was an erotic noise that should have frightened me with his dominating presence, but instead it gave me an adrenaline rush of excitement I wasn’t sure of. It was erotic the way his pants pulled around his thick legs, the material of his clothes tight on his body. It was clothing meant for riding, but the allure of it made me grip my thighs. I pulled my legs up onto the couch and hugged them tightly.
I was finding him dangerously attractive.
Grim pulled out his phone. He scrolled through the screen, tapping and scrolling until he grunted in satisfaction.
“I could just stay hidden, go to that apartment where all the girls down the street live.” My voice became hopeful, but the tinge of regret at the thought of leaving still beat in my heart. Grim had done enough for me already, and I didn’t deserve any more of his kindness.
He may be utterly rugged and handsome in his own way, but he wouldn’t want some broken women in his apartment mooching off the things he didn’t have, eating food I couldn’t pay for or using borrowed clothes.
I needed a job, a life, and to move on. I could get started easily with the help of Locke. Earn my keep, and once I had enough, move far, far away.
Grim stomped up to me, holding out his hand for me to take. I gulped, putting my hand in his as that funny electric shock jolted me back to the present. He led me back to the door and down the stairs.
Despite the upstairs apartments looking more on the worn side, the downstairs was a stark contrast to the building. It was immaculately clean and crisp, with lines perfectly straight and walls decorated in beautiful skull and tribal patterns. A large skull was placed in front of the window, the same skull that adorned the outside of the old, tattered church.
The four stations were filled with chairs, equipment, and mirrors. Ink lined the shelves. Each one was separated by a partition for privacy.
“Tattoo parlor,” Grim stated the obvious, as if I might not know what this place was.
He flipped on the lights. The walls were painted in a deep red as opposed to the black I thought they were, and they were covered with rustic décor. Grim led me to a large desk with scattered papers and an old computer.
Grim typed on the keyboard, putting in his log in information. He pulled out a stool that sat out of sight, and his eyes guided me to sit.
“I’ll stand,” I murmured. Not seeing a chair for Grim, but he sighed, sitting on the stool and pulling me onto his lap. I squeaked,; his arm wrapping around my waist as I glanced at the computer screen.
Grim didn’t hide the information that was displayed. It was a large schedule filled with names of clients and appointments. Each one had a “send notification of cancellation” in each box. Grim clicked three clients he had for the day, as well as Sizzle’s, and canceled them.
“Wait,” I said too loudly.
Grim stopped scrolling, his face next to my cheek. The heat of his breath made me lose myself, the aromatic scent of pine and forest calming me instead of frightening me.
“D-don’t cancel because of me. I can sit here in the back while you work.” Grim grunted and continued with his tasks. I shook my head, not understanding why he would send a client away.
“Don’t work without Sizzle,” he muttered and continued with his tasks.
The scattered designs of papers on the desk displayed wolves howling at the moon, dragons, lions, panthers, and even fairy-type creatures. They were all so beautiful in their own unique way—many wasting away to skeletons, some emerging through soil or fire.
“Did you draw these?” My fingers trailed over the red wolf staring back at me. It had black eyes, its maw in a snarl. Grim nodded as he watched me finger each drawing “They are all so beautiful. You’re so talented.”
Grim hummed, still typing on the computer with one hand.
“I drew them, yes,” he said.
