Chapter 20 'Just do it,' I mumble, peering at Theo with one eye closed. His lips twitch into a smirk, hand paused like he's waiting for me to change my mind. I won't though. I'm determined to prove him wrong. 'Last chance,' he warns. 'Are you sure you can handle it?' 'Give me some credit.' Theo shakes his head, clearly amused as he lowers the needle to the sensitive skin. We're doing the other side of my ribcage today, but sadly, there's no Grey to distract me from the incoming pain. I remind myself that this is our therapy and that I'm doing this because it's romantic. Sure, it's probably not as romantic as severed fingers in flowers or homemade shivs, but at least I'm being original and not stealing their ideas. After we nearly lost Damon, it dawned on me that I'm alive because of him. Even when I hated him-or thought I did-I was always safe because of his protective scheming. The night I spent with him at the hospital, I barely slept. I became fixated on watching him sleep, counting his breaths. It was terrifying wondering if his heart would just suddenly stop or his poor excuse for a father would stroll in and stab us both in our sleep. The monitor next to the bed had been my safe haven, showing me visual proof that he was alive. As long as his heart kept beating, that was all that was important in that moment. Alyssa had periodically snuck into the room to check vitals and when I asked her for a favor, part of me expected her to laugh. But she didn't even flinch at the idea. Let's just hope Theo has a steady hand. 'How much are we doing?' he asks, glancing down at the piece of paper in his lap. 'Two or three inches,' I answer, letting out a deep, controlled exhale. 'So, just the tip?' I start laughing, making him pause with an annoyed scowl. The needle is dangerously close to my skin but it's not my fault that the great quiet Theo is ripping out dick jokes while tattooing me. 'Oh, stop giving me that look,' I scold playfully. 'You started it.' He places his hand firmly on my torso, pinning me down. We're in the library again, using the table as a makeshift bed. Damon and Grey are off doing Cirque duties, and I figured there was no time like the present to organize a... present. 'This will resemble a flatline or a heart attack if you don't stay still,' he grumbles, strumming his fingers along my skin. 'Well don't threaten me with just the tip.' Theo's lips twitch, fighting against a smile. He doesn't respond, waiting until I'm completely still before pressing the ink covered needle into my skin. Okay. It fucking hurts. I already knew this of course. But nothing quite prepares you for tattooing bony spots. I'm doing this for Damon though. If he can take a bullet for me, I can get a tiny tattoo for him. My head flops to the side to catch sight of the paper in Theo's lap-a tiny print out of Damon's ECG results. The rhythm of his heart in black and white, proving that it was still beating. Now, it's being memorialized on my skin since my heart beats for him too. A short while later, Theo announces that he's done, handing the paper back to me. I shove it down my bra, sneaking a quick look at the ink before fixing up my shirt. 'Can I do you now?' I ask, sitting up and stretching my arms with a small crack. Theo nods. Except when he reaches for the other needle, I stop him. My fingers circle round his wrist, and in a somewhat awkward maneuver, I crawl along the table and sit back on my heels. 'I didn't mean tattooing,' I say. Grabbing his face in my hands, my mouth crashes into his without warning. He's ready for me though, instantly kissing me back as he loops an arm around my back. I let out a small squeak of surprise as he pulls me off the table and into his lap, but we don't break apart. My legs dangle on either side of him, lips heatedly tracing his jawline down to his neck. My freshly painted black nails-courtesy of Grey-match his hair, and when I dig them into his skin, there's a crash as the chair flies backwards and my back is slammed onto the table. Strong hands remove my shorts before my brain can catch up and process the moment, and while I'm still in a static state of malfunction, Theo slaps his length against my clit. 'Fuck,' I breathe out, grabbing his forearms. 'Hurry up and get inside me.' I should have seen it coming. If the previous conversation wasn't an omen, the smug smirk is. Theo fists his cock, holding it steady as he slowly enters my body-then pauses. Just the fucking tip. 'Theo,' I groan, trying to seemingly scold him but it comes out desperate and breathy. 'Please.' 'Please, what?' 'Fuck me.' He chuckles, reaching down to draw lazy circles around my clit with his thumb. 'You can beg better than that.' Part of me agrees, almost chomping at the bit to beg, cry, plead, scream... while another part, the winning bratty part, falls silent. Two can play that game. 'No,' I say sharply, rocking my hips in an attempt to sink him in deeper. 'Make me.' Theo raises an eyebrow, pausing his administrations. 'You want me to make you beg?' Shrugging nonchalantly, I hold his gaze. 'If you think you can.' A silence falls between us at my challenging words. Despite the calming ink depicting Damon's steady heartbeat on my torso, my own is pounding inside my chest cavity. A groan of disappointment escapes my lips when Theo steps back, leaving me empty. That's nearly enough to make me start using my nice words, but hands grab my thighs, flipping me onto my stomach. Theo snatches a handful of my hair, yanking my head back. My back arches with the movement, his dick pressing into my ass from behind. 'Tell me you want my cock in you, Aves. That you need it and crave it like I crave you.' My body clenches at his words, a moan slipping from my lips against my will. My resolve is crumbling, brutally being replaced by an unwavering, dying need to have him in me. 'I need you,' I breathe out. I don't even have the strength to be mad at myself for caving so easily-not when this man obviously wants me as much as I do him. Together, we're a force. Without him, I don't make sense. The three of them fit my broken, jagged parts in a way that only make sense to the broken. Inch by inch Theo pushes into me, a slow, agonizing speed that has me sounding more animal than human. His grip doesn't loosen on my hair, and when he bottoms out, I roll my hips against him, every nerve ending in my body firing to life at the sound of approving ecstasy that comes out of his mouth. 'You belong to us,' he murmurs, starting to move inside me. 'Only us.' I nod my head, not trusting my voice. He silences me in a way that I can only describe as heavenly-ironic since we're in hell. But sometimes it feels like I forget, because he's shielded me from the beginning. 'You,' I manage to choke out, hoping he understands the broader words that fail to accompany my statement. My head is ripped back further, a delicious wave of sharp pain traveling down my neck. It causes my cunt to spasm around him, eyes rolling back. Now I know why they say there's a thin line between pleasure and pain... and I want all of it. The sound of our skin slapping together echoes around the library. My hands grip the table for dear life, not able to find easy leverage. I start to leave scratches along the wood from my nails but I'm too far gone to care. Every thrust brings me closer to the edge and it feels like I'm having an out of body experience. I'm floating while falling at the same time, willingly descending into the obsidian abyss where we belong together. I let out a little mewl of disappointment when Theo releases the hold on my hair, but his hand immediately takes place on my throat, gripping the sensitive skin in a chokehold. With each new thrust into my body, the pressure tightens, slowly taking away air. I don't need it though-who would? All I need to survive in this moment is him. Eventually, I realize that I'm holding my own breath, not that it would do much good. Theo's hold is so tight that I'd be lucky to breathe in small fragments of air. Black spots start to appear in my vision and as if sensing my breaking point, Theo's free hand snakes around to the front of my body, easily finding my clit. His fingers move effortlessly against me, circling at first until he presses against it. A slap follows, making me jolt, and I find myself at the precipice. 'Beg for me, Aves,' I hear him say with a tight, low tone. My throat bobs against his hand as I try to speak words, but nothing comes out. It's enough for him though, the vibrations a silent plea for release. He lifts his hand again, sending another slap onto my clit, and I explode. The pressure from my neck vanishes, a rush of oxygen entering my lungs, heightening my climax. Still, nothing comes out except pants and whimpers as I shudder, falling against the table. Theo continues to fuck me, his hands finding home on my hips as he leaves finger marks. His movements become erratic, off-beat, until he stills with a small growl, shooting his release into me. Leaning down, he gently brushes my hair aside, kissing the nape of my neck without pulling out. My skin tingles at the contact, and slowly, I turn my head as much as possible so my lips can meet his in a slow, thorough kiss. We stay like this for a few minutes, his cock softening in me as our tongues massage each other's and my heartbeat slows. Despite everything happening in Lilydale, it's moments like this that keep me grounded. I find little fragments of peace, strength to fight and hold on to. Theo helps me get cleaned up, checking the fresh tattoo once more before we finally leave the library just before the end of free time. I can't fight the grin as we locate Damon and Grey, the two of them walking and chattering quietly along the hallway in our direction. When they realize we're waiting for them, the two of them pause their conversation, eyes lighting up when they look at me. 'Are you going to show him now?' Theo leans down to whisper in my ear. I shake my head, gaze still locked on the approaching men. 'I have an idea, but not here.' He nods in acknowledgment just as Damon and Grey stop in front of us. 'You have that sneaky, suspicious look about you, little killer,' Grey grins. 'Do I?' I ask innocently, lifting an eyebrow. Damon narrows his eyes on me. 'What are you hiding?' he asks coyly. I shrug. 'You're not the only one who knows how to keep a secret,' I reply with clear amusement. 'You'll just have to wait and see.' Damon scowls, clearly annoyed that there's information to know but that he's not allowed to be privy to. Ah, well-payback's a bitch. Stepping forward, I kiss him, his icy demeanor melting instantly as he roughly kisses me back. Dominating little shit. Regardless, I let him take charge, giving him this moment of control as I groan into his mouth. His soft lips ravage mine mercilessly, and by the time he pulls back, I'm breathless and nearly ready to throw him against the wall and put on a show for the other two. 'I'll drag it out of you later,' he threatens quietly, an almost edge of danger to his promise. Grey laughs beside us, reaching over to grab my arm and pulls me against his chest. 'I think you've finally met your match, Deadman,' he murmurs in amusement before brushing his mouth against mine. 'But you're certainly rubbing off on our pretty girl.'