Her lips are still tingling against mine when she pulls back, breathless. I’m gripping her hips like I’m afraid she’ll vanish if I let go.

I search her face. “Why did you do that?”

“You didn’t like it?”

I let out a quiet laugh. “I’ll be damned if I didn’t. I just thought you were pissed at me.”

“I was.” She glances down for a moment, her voice going softer. “You really shouldn’t have done that out there. I’ve been living a quiet life since I got this place… and then the hot new tattoo artist is throwing punches for me? That’s not the kind of attention I want.”

Hot...