They’re scattered across the globe like little pockets of lights.
Starting to feel hot, I shrug out of my jacket and hang it over the arm of the couch.
“The tears on your left arm. They’re for every kill,” Hayley says, her eyes on the tattoos. “You should get stars on your right arm for all the ones you’ve helped.”
I let out an empty burst of laughter. “I don’t think so.”
Hailey leans into the cushion again, her eyes soft on me. “What do the other tattoos mean?”
“The eight-pointed stars on my collarbones means I’m a high-level criminal, and the double-headed eagle stands for power and justice.”
“Punishing the bad for their crimes and hope for those who can’t help themselves,” she murmurs. Her eyes lift to mine. “That’s how I see the double-headed eagle… and you.”
I really don’t want to fuck this up, but I have to say, “As long as you understand, I’m not going to stop. Whenever I walk out of the door, I’m going to kill someone.”
Hailey just stares at me, but there’s no more horror in her gaze. “I choose to think of it as you walking out the door to save someone.” Then she lets out a chuckle. “But I’m not helping you pack your guns. I’m not touching those things.” She shudders. “I have a gun phobia.”
“I prefer you don’t go near them. I don’t want you getting accidentally hurt,” I agree.
Turning my body toward hers, I rest my arm on the back of the couch.
Her gaze drifts over my body, then she asks, “How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s fine.”
“Can I see?” she asks, lifting a hand to the collar of my shirt. When I nod, she moves much closer, and pulling the fabric slightly back, she inspects the scar. “At least it healed.”
I turn my face to hers as she begins to pull back, and our eyes lock, her soft scent drifting around me. Anticipation explodes through my chest as Hailey moves her hand from my shoulder to the side of my neck.
“Will you forgive me?” she whispers. “For judging you so harshly?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” The atmosphere grows intimate, and unable to stop myself, I close the small distance between us and press my mouth to hers.
When Hailey doesn’t pull away but instead moves closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck, I lose the little control I had.
My lips claim hers with all the hope I’ve clung to over the past three months. My tongue brushes against hers, showing her just how much I love her. Then my teeth begin to nip at her lips from all the pent-up frustration of not being able to touch her for so long.
If it were up to me, I’d strip her naked and fuck her, making sure every inch of her body never forgets who it belongs to.
But she’s asked me to take it slow, and what Hailey wants, she gets.
Reluctantly, I break the kiss and pressing my forehead against hers, I mutter, “Slow is going to suck.”
“Huge hairy donkey balls,” she groans as she scoots away from me. “But we need to take it slow. I really want a relationship between us to work and don’t want to ruin anything.”
The corner of my mouth lifts, and I place my hand on her cheek. “As long as I get to see you smile every day, we can take it slow.”
Hailey’s face lights up with happiness, and I just stare at her as her light chases the darkness.
The moon only shines at night because of the sun.
Hailey’s my sun.
Chapter 27
HAILEY
We talked all night, and having found the answers to the questions that have haunted me, makes me feel better.
Dead tired, but better.
And nervous as I watch Carson shrug on his jacket.
When I first met him, I fell in love with the intense vibe coming from him. But, like I told him, now that I know what the vibe really means, it makes my stomach flutter like a kaleidoscope of butterflies has taken up residence in it.
It’s intimidating… and scorching hot.
Carson adjusts the lapels of his jacket as he glances up at me.
Yep, definitely hot.
“I’ll see you after work?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply, a spontaneous grin stretching around my lips.
Lifting his hand, he brushes a finger over my bottom lip, and it sends tingles rushing crazy fast over my skin.
“That smile,” he groans as he takes a step closer to me. Slowly, he begins to lean down, his eyes locked on mine. My heart rate picks up dangerously fast, and when his mouth brushes against mine, my insides start to quiver.
Then he pulls back, and giving me a way-too-hot smirk, he opens the front door.
I startle when I see MJ standing in front of the door. “Hey, are you ready for work?” She asks me while her eyes dart between Carson and me.