Page 65 of Embraced in Ink

“You flatter me.” He tapped her butt and then moved her into her studio.

“What are we doing in here?”

“Well, it’s your gift.” He had left his guitar over here the day before when he practiced with her. She had wanted someone to play with, even though he was nowhere near her skill, but she had needed someone else in the room so she could focus and let out tension. And he’d needed to do the same in terms of stress because of his work, and frankly, his feelings for her.

“Here is your gift.”

Her eyes widened.

“Are you going to play for me? I love it when you play for me.”

“I wrote you something. But, if you hate it, lie to me.”

Tears filled her eyes, and he held back a wince.

“What?”

“You wrote me a song?” she asked, wiping her cheeks.

“Don’t cry. I haven’t even started playing yet. When you realize how bad I truly am,thenyou can cry.”

“No, you do not get to do that, Marcus. You wrote me a song.”

“You still haven’t heard it yet. Give it time.”

“Okay. I promise I will. I’m just so excited.” She sat down on the chair in front of him as he picked up the guitar and found his way.

She was still crying as he slowly began the song, his voice deep, a little rough as he sang.

He didn’t look at her. He couldn’t. But he hoped the words told her what he felt. Because he wasn’t sure how to do so in any other way. Music was how Bristol spoke, how she connected with the world, so maybe this would be a connection for them both. Or maybe he saw far too much into it. He honestly didn’t know.

He kept singing, words about who she was, and how he felt. He had written this song before he let himself love her. Before he let himself think about who they could be together.

When he finished, he looked up to see Bristol on her knees in front of him, tears running down her cheeks as she leaned against him.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat, “I guess you liked it?”

“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, hiccup-sobbing.

He frowned.

“No, it wasn’t. But thank you for thinking so.”

“Stop it,” she whispered.

“Stop what?”

“Stop downplaying your talent. I know that this isn’t the thing that you’ve always wanted to do. I know it’s not your life like it is mine, but you are amazing. You put so much soul into that. Your soul. And I’m in awe.”

“Really?” he said, not quite believing that. But the fact that she was crying might lend some credence to her statement.

“So, I guess I’m going to have to one-up myself for your birthday next year,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.

She smiled then, her eyes bright, and then rose up on her knees so she could kiss him. He lowered his head, moving the guitar out of the way, and kissed her softly.

“I think you’re going to have to work hard because that was pretty amazing.”

Marcus grinned. “Well, I guess that was kind of stupid of me, wasn’t it?”