He walks over and kneels down to inspect them, wrapping one hand around my ankle and resting my foot against his leg. “They’re fine.” He plays with the triple-wrapped strap and buckle wound around my ankle.

“They’re decorative. They come off.” I lean down to unbuckle one. “If you’re worried about—”

“Yeah, looks sexy as fuck, but I don’t want it getting caught in anything.”

I take them off and end up wrapping one around my wrist and holding out my arm for him to buckle it. “Even sexier.” He motions for me to give him the second one. “I definitely like this.”

I blink at him and look down at the scars on my arms, shifting the leather to cover them up. He stops me with a hand over mine.

“That’s not what I meant at all.”

Before I even realize what he’s doing, he hooks his fingers in both straps and yanks my arms over my head. I gasp in surprise as he slides his other hand up my ribcage over my breast, flicking his thumb over my nipple. Trapped, I squirm and dance on my toes.

“This is where my mind went,” he rasps against my ear.

He releases me and slips his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Don’t ever be ashamed about anything, Lilly. Those scars are as beautiful as the rest of you.”

“They show everyone I’m weak.”

He wraps his other arm around me, holding tight like a python. His eyes capture mine as well. “They show everyone you’re strong. A survivor. And they better not fuck with you.”

“Is that what you think?”

“It’s what I know.”

I loop my arms around his neck, pulling him down. “Thank you,” I whisper against his lips before kissing him.

His hands slide down, cupping my ass, and he gently squeezes. “Maybe we’ll go for a ride later.”

“We can’t ask Heidi to watch Chance just to come over here and fuck.”

“Why not?”

Exasperated, but laughing, I push him back. I glance down at my wrists. The happiness drains out of me. “I thought about covering them with tattoos or something. Full forearm sleeves. I’m not sure I’m brave enough.”

He picks up my arm and runs his rough fingers over the inside, tickling me. “What about Wonder Woman style wrist cuffs?”

“I was thinking flowers, but wrist armor might be interesting.”

“I know a good artist if you want to talk to him and have him draw up some sketches.”

Before it had only been an idea, something I played around with in the back of my mind. But now I’m warming up to it for real. A way of saying goodbye to my past and embracing my new life on many different levels.

“I’ll have to think of something.”

He holds out his hand. “Let’s take that ride.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lilly