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“OhYou wantthere?”

“Yes,” Luca says

“I’ve never thought about it Does itfeel better?”

“Fro feel better You’re already really responsive, but I’d love to see how et”

His words send a thrill down my spine At the sa he’s still thinking aboutlike rabbits

“What about a tattoo?” I ask

“You want to get another tattoo?”

“Maybe I don’t know It’s just so about”

“What kind of tattoo?” Luca asks, suddenly all business

“Why do you ask? Are you going to give e for a blow job?”

Luca laughs “So like that”

I hesitate I don’t know if he’s going to think I’ of a word Tattooed in black Cursive handwriting” I pause “Or whatever your handwriting looks like”

“My handwriting?” Luca asks with a frown He eyes me suspiciously “What’s the word?”

“Doll,” I say quietly

“No,” Luca says quickly He shakes his head “No”

“Okay,” I say, taken aback by his strong reaction “I know tattoos of lovers’ names are a bad idea because people break up

“This is different, though I just feel likeYou’re the first person to have hLike I don’t have to keep running around looking foreous features

“It’s not what you think,” I say quickly, panic filling my chest “It’s not like I want more from you It’s about my personal realization”

I hope he buys my bullshit

“I don’t care what your reason is,” Luca says brusquely “You will not make that part of you the center of your identity Not on my watch Bad shit happens when you do that”

I hate being told what to do—this is exactly why I don’t let uy But the way Luca said itThe care and concern he shows in that commentI don’t knohat it is, but apparently, I don’ttold what to do by Luca

“Is that what that girl did, the one who died? She made her sex addiction the center of her identity?” I ask as jealousy grips et emotionally involved with anyone

Luca goes silent Pensive “You can say that”