DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
LINCOLN
I’m expecting to wake up to Ivy wrapped around me again, only this time I won’t need to hold myself back from kissing my way down her body until I can feast on her.
There’s no better way to wake up, in my opinion.
But she’s not touching me at all when I finally blink my eyes open. She’s lying on her side out of my reach, which is a crime I immediately seek to rectify.
The sheet is pulled up over her head, and when I slip it off only to get blinded by the light of her phone screen, I realize why.
Ivy rolls over, looking sheepish. “I didn’t want to startle you.”
“Yes, this is far more reassuring.” When I pluck the phone from her fingers, leaving it out of her reach, Ivy playfully kicks out, but only ends up tangling our legs together.
“Come here, beautiful.” I take advantage of the position and wrap my arms around her until there’s no space left between us.
She tastes as divine now as she did last night, maybe more so, because she doesn’t hold back as I kiss her. No more pulling away. God, I’m so fucking done with that, and, it seems, so is Ivy. She’s clinging to me like she wants to crawl under my skin and live there.
Fuck knows I’d rather attend one of Manny’s poetry jams than deal with government tape. I don’t need a piece of paper to confirm how committed I am. To myself or anyone else. As long as I can spend the rest of my life with her.
That said, I do like the idea of wearing a ring, of a little piece of her I could have with me. Could just get the damn thing tattooed on, since she’s already imprinted on every corner of my heart.
Speaking of permanent markings, I finally get to indulge myself, nipping and licking my way down her torso. “Tell me about the tattoos.”
“You first,” she breathes, arching into me, then whining when I rise up on my elbows and wait her out. “Fine.”
“Good girl,” I whisper into her skin.
Ivy starts with the turtle doves. “This was a gift to myself for my twenty-first birthday, because it’s nice, believing love is close by. No matter how many times it feels like I’ve given a piece of my heart away and not gotten it back, this part will always stay with me.”
It’s heartbreaking that she could ever be treated like that. Whatever she’s missing, I’ll patch with my own.
“Now this one,” I say, licking over the cursiveWait for methat lies at the base of her ribs.
“It’s a quote fromHadestown,” she says, gasping when I suck her nipple into my mouth. It’s indescribable to have someone as strong-willed as Ivy following my command. “I’m thinking of getting roses added to it.”
I crawl back up to taste the smile from her lips.
“I’ve always wanted a paw or a cat somewhere, in honor of my old calico, Mimi. This one here,” she points to the tattoo of a set of lips, in bright pink, purple, and blue on her left thigh, “is an homage toRocky Horror, but bi, because why not?”
I follow her with my mouth. “Indeed.”
Ivy squirms under my tongue. “Don’t make fun of me. I saw thatHe-Mansword on your calf.”
I fit myself between her legs, licking up the seam of her pussy. “I wouldn’t dream of it, darling.”
Breakfast can wait.
* * *
I slip out of our bedroom on strict instructions to only return with food and an exorbitant amount of coffee. It’s a command easily followed, since I have no better plans today than to count every way I can please her.
However, my good mood sours when Kyle corners me in the hallway.
He’s been on my ass since we arrived, like a fungal infection I can’t shake. Every time I want to get Reed alone, something I expect Kyle should want, there he is, slithering his way in, needing to make sure I hold up my side of the deal. He’s not wrong to do so. I’d rather attend a gun rally than do him a favor, but what choice do I have?
“I really thought you’d try harder than this,” he says. “But I guess you really are as useless as everyone’s always said.”
