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So I tell her the truth.
“There’s only one other person who affected me the way you do. And it’s not a good thing. She took the good from me when she died.”
“You… loved her.”
I flex my hand, looking at the tattoos. Usually after a job, I add a tattoo, but this one I think I’ll let slip by. I don’t need ink to remember Dakota. To remind myself what I did to her. To know that I don’t feel bad exposing her, owning her, treating her how I did. I should. No matter how much she liked it, I should feel bad.
But Dakota got to me lightning fast in that sexual way. Opened something I can’t shut. Even if she didn’t remind me of what happened to Fina, she still affects me like Fina did.
They’re worlds apart as people, but Dakota’s pull is as strong as hers was.
And just for an added punch to the gut, Dakota reminds me of why Fina died.
“Josefina died because I had to save people like you.”
“That’s not fair.”
I meet her gaze and take a pull on the bottle. “Who said anything in this life is, little girl?”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what? You liked it before.”
“Before we were playing. You’ve just made it clear you don’t want to play with me. Or touch me, ever again.”
I almost smile at the sting of her words.
I don’t.
“If I touch you, Dakota, I’ll want to own you and give in to the darkness. But first, I’d want to punish. There were others on that island and I had to leave them behind. I should have rescued them, too. Instead, I saved you. You were the job.”
“Why didn’t you save the others?” She snatches the bottle from me. “I wouldn’t have stopped you.”
“I’m not the fucking Pied Piper, baby girl.”
“Don’t—”
“I’m being paid to save your pretty ass.”
She takes a swallow of the rum and coughs, making a face. She thrusts the bottle back at me.
“That,” she says, “is disgusting.”
“That,” I say, “is cheap rum.”
“I’m not a snob because I don’t like the taste.”
Now I do smile. “Never said you were.”
“You didn’t have to.” She practically spits the words at me. “I didn’t ask you to come for me, either.”
“And yet here we are.”
The waves wash against the side of the boat and it’s calming in a weird way, even with her next to me. Fuck, I’m half-hard, like it’s my natural state when she’s near.
Too young. My friend’s kid. Too fucking innocent.
The excuses roll through my head.
