'That's what Applegate said.'
He doesn’t look at me but he does squeeze my hand in response.
‘It's just a cold comfort, you know?’
I nod. 'What happened?'
'Novelle,' he mutters. 'Andrew is taking the reins and making changes. He’s taking to the power like a fish to water,' Mav snarls viciously. 'If only Shade had been born two minutes earlier.'
I climb into Mav’s lap.
‘I’m sorry that I made it all about me,’ I say quietly. ‘I didn’t mean to.’
Mav’s arms envelope me. ‘No, Tulip. You didn’t.You haven’t.I’msorry. I’ve been in my own head. I was obsessing. I think I was afraid something else was gonna happenand stop me from working on it. I just wanted to see it through, you know? Get it done before we graduate.’
I nod against his chest.
We sit together for a little while and I wonder what else I can do. I think I’d want to be brainstorming and finding fixes to the problem in this situation, but maybe he doesn’t want what I would.
I clutch his hand, trying to think of how I can make him feel better, but my mind has gone blank.
'Is there anything I can do?' I ask, deciding to go for the communication route because that’s the theme for today.
He gives me a small smile that doesn't make his eyes crease up.
'No thanks, Tulip,' he says. 'I'm not sure what you could do. Applegate just advised me to take it on the chin. Said it happens.'
He shakes his head.
'Can you not work on it here in the lab downstairs?'
'It needs to be above board, in a lab that’s legit,' he says. ‘When it was the campus lab, with the oversight by Applegate, the grant money… it all means prestige for the project. It goes a long way for perceptions. It meant that everything was reputable. I'd already had interest from some pharmaceutical enterprises.'
I let out a sigh, wondering what I can do to make him feel better right now, and then, like a light bulb in my brain, I think I know. I haven't done this before. I haven't taken the initiative, and a part of me is afraid that he's going to say no or not want to, or say he's not in the mood.
I sink down off the couch to the floor in front of him, getting between his legs.
He looks down at me, brows raised, and I look up at himimploringly as I unzip his pants. My movements are slow, in case he wants to tell me to stop, but he doesn't.
He leans back, giving me more space as I delve into his boxers and draw out his impressive cock that's already rapidly hardening.
'Is this okay?' I ask quietly.
He doesn't speak, just nods.
I lick the tip. It's salty, but not unpleasant. The smell of him is musky. It’s not horrible, but it's still not my favorite.
But this isn't for me, it's for him. So, I take a breath through my mouth and begin to work him with my lips, very gently.
I hear his quick intake of breath, and I look up into his eyes. He's staring down at me, his hands resting on his thighs, almost clutching.
'You don't have to do this,' he murmurs.
'I know,' I say, 'but will it make you feel a little better?'
He gives me a small smile. 'Yes, Tulip. I think it'll make me feel a little better.'
'I know it's not a real solution,' I begin, but he puts his finger to my lips and shakes his head a little.
