Tattoo (Take It Off #7)(18)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“Mmm-hmm,” she confirmed, sounding like a purring cat.

Unable to help myself, I trailed my fingers upward, across the inside of her arm and up her bicep. When I got to the wounded area, I began poking at the red and swollen flesh. I used harder jabs than before, but I really wanted to be sure she was numb.

“I can’t feel that,” she said, relieved.

“That’s good. I’m going to clean it up and then stitch the worst of it closed.”

Her head snapped up. “You’re going to stitch it?”

“Best way to keep the blood inside you where it belongs.” I felt the side of my lip curling up.

“Fine.” She sighed.

The lighting in here sucked so I scooted as close as I could and got to work. Because she was numb, I was able to work faster and do a better job of cleaning her up this time around.

After putting several stitches in the front and back of her arm, I decided to cover the wound, just for added protection because we were in such a dirty pit. I layered the large square pads I swiped from the office and used medical tape to secure them in place.

When I was just about finished, she turned her head. We were so close to each other I could make out the lighter flecks of green in her eyes.

“Are we going to get out of here?” she whispered, her eyes seeking the truth in mine.

“I swear it.” I vowed, something knotting in the center of my chest.

I knew she wanted to ask me how I knew, how exactly I could be so certain. But I couldn’t risk telling her about my phone call, about the raid that was being planned right this moment.

“Trust me,” I whispered.

“I do.” Taylor moved to turn her head away, but I grasped her chin and brought her back.

“Why?” I demanded. I had to know the reason she went from trying to run away from me to believing I wouldn’t let her down.

“Because you came back,” she whispered.

I released her chin and stroked the side of her cheek, noting the way her faint freckles stood out over her alabaster skin. I couldn’t imagine anyone leaving her behind.

“Drink some more of that,” I said, gruff. “You’re pale and cold.”

I turned back to the bandages, trying to understand why my heart was beating so erratically as I finished up and pulled the flannel shirt away from her. She gasped and tried to pull it back.

“I got you something warmer,” I said, reaching beneath me and pulling out the large NC State hoodie. I held it up for her to see.

“It looks like yours,” she said.

“Lean forward,” I instructed, and she did so I could gently pull the thick fabric over her head. I held the coffee so she could push her good arm through the sleeve and then watched as she slowly and gingerly pushed her newly bandaged arm into the shirt as well.

The grimace on her face made me angry at the asswipes in the other room all over again. When she was done, she sagged against the wall like she just completed a marathon.

After I got up from the cot and moved aside all the trash and supplies, I grabbed up a red Gatorade and took a long drink. I wondered what time it was, if it was fully dark yet, and how much longer we had until the cops showed up.

The situation didn’t feel as urgent now that I was able to get her some medicine and really stop the bleeding. Still, she was in danger from her low body temperature and most likely dehydrated.

“There room on that thing for me?” I asked, nudging her good side.

She scooted over and I sat down, crowding her space and spreading my legs.

“Rude,” Taylor said, scrunching up her nose and gesturing to the way I was making myself comfortable.

I grinned and reached for her. She made a little squeaking sound when I scooped her up and deposited her between my spread thighs and wrapped my arms loosely around her waist.

“Oh,” she whispered.

“Oh?”

“You’re incredibly warm.”

“Soak it up, babe.”

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when she immediately sank farther into me, snuggling herself into the oversized sweatshirt and curling her body against mine.

But I was.

I was used to girls who liked to play games, who pretended to be hard to get.

Taylor turned so her injured arm was facing out and her opposite side leaned against me. Her head fit right in the space beneath my chin, and the scent of her shampoo wafted up my nose. I inhaled deep because it smelled so damn good.

So yeah, maybe my arm wound a little bit closer around her middle, and yeah, maybe I liked the way she fit against me. Like I was a puzzle with a missing piece, only I hadn’t realized until it was fitted into place.

Once she was settled, I took the flannel and draped it over her. It wasn’t much of a blanket, but it was all I had.

I was only doing this because of hypothermia. She was in danger.

I wasn’t doing it because it made me want to throw her down on this cot and cover her body with mine. While we were both naked.

I wanted to ask her about herself, but I was afraid the guys would overhear. I didn’t want them knowing anything extra about either one of us. So I didn’t say anything. Really, it was better this way. It wasn’t as if we were going to be friends after this. Getting to know her would just be a waste of time.

She tilted back her head, tipping up her chin, angling those emerald eyes at me. I couldn’t help but look down. “I never realized being a criminal was so boring.”

The chuckle rumbled deep in my chest, vibrating us both. “You mean getting shot wasn’t enough excitement for you today?”

She smiled, flashing a row of white teeth. I liked when she smiled. I really liked when that smile was directed at me. “So is that what they do all day?” she whispered. “Hide?”

“Pretty much. They’re like cockroaches… They only come out in the dark.”

“Except today,” she said, her voice turning a little dark. Taylor pulled her chin back down and pressed just a little closer. I rested my chin on top of her head, enjoying the feel of her silky strands against my unshaven face.

“Today kinda sucked.” I agreed. I remembered the first time I was involved in something like this. The guys I was with wanted me to rob a gas station to prove I would do it.

So I did.

I pulled a black mask over my face, walked in, waved a gun around, and scared the shit out of an entire store of people. And then I stole some money, some booze, and a bag of chips.

(I was hungry and wanted chips.)

Unfortunately, the guy behind the counter wanted to be a hero. I gave him props silently, because defending what you considered yours was a natural instinct. It also showed the guy had some guts.