Page 89 of Riding the Curve

“Oh no you don’t!” She yelps, wiggling herself right off the bed with a thud.

Pinching my lips together to hold in my laugh, I peer over the edge.

“Ow,” she whimpers.

“Come on, Trouble, I know exactly what you need to make you feel better.”

I roll off the bed and bend down, scooping her up into my arms. Her head falls against my shoulder as I carry her into the bathroom and set her on the counter.

Bending over the tub, I turn on the warm water and pour in some of the vanilla-scented bath soap. As the water fills the tub, I gently lift her leg and start massaging the bottom of her feet.

“Mmm . . . that feels amazing. If this racing thing doesn’t work out, you could make millions in other ways.” Hen waggles her brows up and down, making me chuckle.

“Hate to break it to you, but this body is not for sale.” I smirk, tickling the bottom of her feet. Laughter fills the small bathroom and my heart soars.

When I go back to massaging, she sighs dreamily. Her gaze wanders over my chest and my spine stiffens. Aware that she’s about to discover something intertwined in all my ink.

“When did you get all of these?” she asks. Wiggling her foot free, she uses it to nudge me forward so she can get a closer look at all my tattoos.

“Here and there over the years. Some have meaning, others I got randomly while traveling from place to place when I race.” I shrug nonchalantly.

Hen’s fingers trace over my skin, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Pausing on the area where there are wildflowers etched into my skin. “For Autumn?” she whispers.

I nod, and she rubs over it reverently once more. After a few moments, her movements focus on the swirl designs on my arm.

“And these?”

“Thought they were cool.” I grin.

She rolls her eyes, but a faint grin peeks through her lips.

Looking back, I notice the water is about to overflow. I lean over quickly and shut it off, testing the water to make sure it isn’t too hot. When I turn back to her, I track her eyes. Her hands tighten around her thighs when she spots it. Her gaze alone makes the small tattoo sear into my skin.

“And that one?” The question slips on her breath.

Swallowing deeply, I nudge her thighs apart, and step between them. Her trembling hand extends forward and pauses midway. I wrap my palm around her wrist and help her the rest of the way. When her palm makes contact with the tattoo, I swear my heart answers to her touch. It beats excitedly against her palm.

Henley traces each point of the Converse star and the rays of sunlight that circle around it. For a moment, I lose my ability to breathe. And I think she does, too.

“Why this one, Em?”

Glossy hazel eyes slowly roll up to meet mine.

Placing my palm over hers, I lower my forehead to hers and speak low. “Because I thought I had lost you forever. I couldn’t bear the thought of traversing the rest of life without you, so I etched a little piece of you over my heart. A reminder that no matter how dark my world got, I’d always have a little piece of your light to bring me back.”

“I love you,” she breathes. “. . . and I always will.”

All at once, the world is right.

“I love you, too,” I whisper against her lips before I seal them against mine.

Wrapping my arms around her, I lift her with ease and carry her over to the tub. When her toes hit the water, she hisses slightly, then slowly melts beneath it.

“Scoot forward, babe.”

“You’re going to join me?” she squeaks, eyes growing wide while she examines the tiny tub.

“There’s no way I’m missing a chance to wash that beautiful body of yours. Now scoot, before I make you.” I growl playfully.