His nostrils flared. “Yes.”
“Are you this possessive about all your work?”
“No, just yours.”
The admission pleased me. “What happens when you finish the tattoo?”
Hayden’s lips curled up into a treacherous smile. “The rule doesn’t apply anymore.”
“And what’s the time line on that look like?”
“Best-case scenario? Two months at the very least.”
Two months would feel like an eternity. I wondered if Hayden would be able to follow his own rule for two months. I wondered if I would. Especially with him standing over me, close enough to touch, looking at me the way he was.
While the tattoo would give me some of what I craved in the form of his company, it wouldn’t be enough. Not now that I had the memory of his mouth. I didn’t want to be without it for that long. It was about more than the physical connection, even though I was reluctant to acknowledge it.
That unfamiliar longing he incited welled up again, taking over, drowning out reason and logic. Hayden wanted me in the same way I wanted him. His previous actions and our current discussion proved that. In my previous life I might have backed down. But I’d spent enough time playing by rules I didn’t like. Hayden tapped into the part of me that wanted to push the boundaries as far as I could, repercussions be damned. “Just so you’re aware, I think your rule is stupid.”
“You wouldn’t if you knew why we made it in the first place. And don’t ask, because I’m not telling you.”
I had a feeling I might not want to know anyway. Hayden finished his beer and twisted the top off another. “You ready?”
“I’m good.” I held up my half-finished one.
He grabbed the rest of the six-pack and crossed over to the fridge. Opening the door, he froze. “You have no food.”
“I need to get groceries,” I said, stating the obvious.
“Tenley, if you don’t eat properly, your tattoo will take longer to heal and we’ll have to space the sessions further apart.”
“I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Or we could go now.”
“As you noticed, I’m not dressed for grocery shopping. Besides, it’s after ten. Nothing’s open.”
Hayden gave me an incredulous look. “We’re in Chicago—there are twenty-four-hour stores all over the place.”
“Oh.” In Arden Hills stores closed at normal times. I still had no intention of leaving my apartment tonight. Not now that Hayden was here, and especially not after our conversation.
“You could change, unless you want to look like you’re auditioning for Flashdance.”
“Aren’t you hilarious.” I gathered up some of the toys he bought. “I’d rather stay here and play with my kitty.”
I left him standing there and headed for my bedroom. “She’s in here,” I said and disappeared through the doorway.
The kitten was right where I left her, curled up on my pillow. I shoved the bra and shirt I forgot to put in the hamper under a pillow as Hayden leaned against the doorjamb and surveyed my room. He looked wary, like he didn’t trust my motives. He was smart. I didn’t trust them, either. The heightened awareness his presence created was difficult to ignore. The only other person who had been in my room was Sarah, and as beautiful as she was, I wasn’t interested in cozying up to her. I dropped the toys on the bed and the kitten lifted her head, blinking sleepily.
“Hi, cutie pie, Hayden brought you some presents.” I scratched between her ears and she rolled over, showing me her belly.
In her excitement, she fell off the pillow and tumbled into the pile of toys. For the next several minutes she pounced around on my comforter, chasing after little balls with bells in them and swatting at catnip mice. I tossed one at Hayden, who was still holding up the doorframe. It hit him in the chest and dropped to the floor. The kitten’s little head bobbed as she gauged the distance and jumped down, skidding across the hardwood. Hayden snatched her up when she got close enough and whispered something I couldn’t hear. He set her down gently and flicked the mouse at his feet into the hallway. She skittered away, mewing loudly.
“Why don’t you come back out here?” Hayden nodded in the direction of the living room.
Before I considered my actions, I slid off the bed and hooked my thumb in the waistband of my sweat shorts. “Did you want to see how my cupcake is healing, first?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead he looked over at the chair in the corner of my room, covered with scarves and other accessories, and then back at the bed.