“Fuck.” The word is barely a whisper.
She makes a sound that might be agreement. Her legs loosen around my waist but don't release me entirely.
I lift my head, needing to see her face. She's wrecked—hair wild, lips swollen, eyes glassy with unshed tears. Beautiful and broken and still holding something back.
“Ivy—”
“Don't.” She touches my lips, her hand shaking. “Please don't say anything.”
But I need to. I need to tell her everything churning in my chest, all the words I've never said to anyone. “This changes things.”
“I know.” The admission sounds like defeat. “That's what terrifies me.”
I pull out slowly, both of us wincing at the loss. She immediately curls onto her side, pulling the sheet around herself like armor.
I collapse beside her, reaching out to pull her against my chest. She resists for half a second before melting into me, face pressed to my heartbeat.
We lie there in silence, her breathing gradually evening out. My hand strokes her hair, untangling knots I helped create.
“What happens now?” Her voice is small, muffled against my skin.
I kiss her forehead, the conversation Atlas and I had an hour ago repeating in my head.
“I don't know, baby, but we'll figure it out.”
Chapter 21
Ivy
Iroll out of Asher’s bed the next morning, the sun bleeding through the windows of his room. I’d never come in here much until I needed to furnish it. Now I wish I did so more often.
Asher remains still, spread over the bed and tangled in sheets. Last night flickers through my head. The words we said, the secrets that almost spilled, and the way he feels inside of me.
Jesus.
I’d had sex many times before, but never like that. It’s like being touched, but not felt. Eating, but not fed. If this is what it feels like to fall… then I need to find my feet.
Slipping on the clothes from last night, I find my phone in my pocket and open a text from Luce.
Parker isn’t here. Have you heard from him?
I exit her text and scroll to the one I got from him.
I’ve got to fly out for a few days but I will be back before the ceremony.
Flicking back up to Luce, I open her newest ones.
Ok I talked to Daniel and he said he needed to fly back to the US for a few days. You’re good to be a ho.
And then another.
But also where’s Camille? She might still come home.
I breathe out a sigh, collecting the rest of my things and quickly tip toeing through the bedroom. As soon as I hit outside, my eyes land on Jord and Luce, sipping coffee from the fire pit both with grins as wide as my damn legs last night.
Rolling my eyes, I head toward them.
Luce hands me a mug and I take it, tossing my clothes to the side. “Don’t even start. I mean it.”
