I giggle like a schoolgirl when he winks and drags me in the direction of a door, a naughty glint in his eye that I know I’m never going to tire of.
Epilogue
Kas
One month later…
The buzzing that fills my ears now feels as familiar as my own heartbeat. My eyes stare at Spike’s hand as he adds the finishing touch to my new tattoo that covers one of the many scars of my past.
My chest heaves as he works on my hip, so close to where I’m desperate for him.
After we spent an incredibly relaxing five days at that fancy hotel, we returned back to his flat and set about moving me into his room. For someone who was adamant that he didn’t want a woman or even consider a future, he was very keen to start our new life together.
We’d not spoken about anything to do with the future aside from that brief conversation we had in Zach’s car, but I know he’s thinking about it. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me. And I can’t deny that the idea of him asking the question I know is eating at him, even this early into our relationship, doesn’t fill me with excitement.
I might not have all that much experience with love and all the things that come with a serious relationship, but I know what I want, and I’ve never really been one to back down from a challenge.
I know I’m young and have all the time in the world to think about settling down, but I know Spike still thinks about our age difference, and although it doesn’t bother him, I don’t think he really wants a girlfriend. He wants more, he wants what Zach and Titch have, and I can’t help but feel the same when I see them together.
I lose myself in thoughts of my future as he works, his fingers flexing, the ink on his hand and forearm pulling as he moves and making me even hotter for him.
“Okay, I’m done,” he announces, sitting back and looking proud of himself.
“Yeah?”
I push myself from the chair so I can see and stare down at his artwork. He’s done an incredible version of my own design, but I can clearly see the little additions and tweaks he’s made.
“What’s this?” I ask, pointing out the pocket watch he’s added into my design. It’s the exact same as the one that adorns his side.
“Something sentimental.”
“Why, what’s it…?” I stare down at it, looking at the time he’s put on it. “Is that the time you pulled me off the stage?”
A smirk pulls at his lips, and I know I’m right.
“You’re an idiot,” I laugh.
“I was so fucking pissed at you that night. If I’d have known how you were going to change my life, I might have been a bit nicer.”
“Nah, it was hot.”
“It was? You never told me that.”
“Why would I? Your ego doesn’t need stroking.”
He shrugs, looking back down at my hip.
“What else is there?” I ask, straining to see the ink that disappears around to the bottom of my arse and thigh.
“I’m not telling you, you’ll have to find it.”
“You’re a pain in the arse.” I narrow my eyes at him and all he does is laugh.
“Let me wrap you before I start on my next job?”
“I thought you were done for the day.”
“I am. But you’re half naked on my chair. I’m not letting you off until—”
“DAD!” a high-pitched voice screeches on the other side of the door.
Our eyes collide as my brows pull together.
“Excuse me, you can’t just…” Biff shouts, sounding as shocked as I feel as footsteps stomp down the hall.
Spike is up and off his stool in seconds. He has the door open before I have a chance to get off the chair.
I grab a towel that he’s thrown over the arm of the sofa and wrap it around my waist so I can follow him out without flashing everyone. I might want to show off my new ink, but not quite like that.
“Emmie, what the hell are you doing?” D barks, standing in his doorway, his large frame looking even more terrifying as he stares down at the young girl.
“I’m moving in with you,” she sasses, dropping a giant bag at his feet. “She’s a fucking bitch, and I can’t live with her anymore. I fucking hate her,” she seethes.
“Emmie,” he sighs, his hand lifting to run through his hair as he tries to switch lanes from bad boy tattoo artist to father.
“I didn’t know D had a kid,” I whisper to Spike, who’s standing beside me, watching the show.
“He tries to keep his lives separate.”
“Why?”
“Because what Emmie is saying isn’t entirely false.”
“Oh.”
“Please don’t talk about your mother like that,” D says, although his face is pulled tight, telling me that while he might want his daughter to be more respectful, he clearly agrees with her.
“Why? You can’t stand her either. Please, Dad. You either let me stay with you or I’m taking off.”
“Em—”
“No, don’t Emmie me. I’m sixteen. I can do what the fuck I like, and you know it.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” D mutters, looking up for the first time to see us all staring back at him. “I guess you’d better come in, then.”
He stands aside and allows her to slip past him, bending down to collect her bag before glaring back at us all.
“Get back to fucking work. The show’s over.”
Are you ready for D?
PLAY YOU is releasing on 17th December.
Need more of my Rebel Ink boys?
Make sure you PRE-ORDER INKED my K Bromberg Driven World/ Rebel Ink crossover novel about Corey, who you first met in Hate You.
Keep reading for a sneak peek!
Acknowledgments
I can’t believe that book number three in this series is done. I loved Kas from the moment she appeared in Hate You. I knew she was hiding a little firecracker under her nervous façade when she
