“Mine,” was all he said when I parted my lips and swallowed the bite of cake before his mouth collided with mine in a rushed burst of electricity that I felt down to my toes.
To say the bedsheets weren’t fit to sleep in was an understatement, but then again, no sleeping occurred that night, and a nap out on the large porch swing was definitely in the foreseeable future.
Chapter Seventeen
Lily
“Ilove it.” Lakelyn squealed with excitement as she looked over her shoulder in the mirror.
We’d barely checked into the hotel in Las Vegas and seen the guys off for their day on the golf links when she mentioned wanting to surprise Boden by getting a tattoo for him. Jenna, Lakelyn’s friend, took charge and made all the arrangements, and within half an hour of us returning to the penthouse suite from the spa, Lakelyn was getting inked.
I was thankful Jaxon had arranged for us to meet up with Boden and Lakelyn at McQuade’s for drinks the other evening so he could introduce us girls before our trip to the desert. Meeting her made me feel more at ease, and I understood right away why Boden was so enamored with her. She was absolutely perfect for him.
“He’s going to absolutely freak out.” Lakelyn beamed with her hands clasped in a prayer pose beneath her nose, as the artist began cleaning the area and applying a layer of ointment.
“That’s not all he’s going to do, girl. Be prepared to be bentover the nearest piece of furniture and railed within an inch of your life.”
“You always have such an eloquent way with words, Ari,” I said, laughing.
“I simply speak the truth, ladies.” Ari shrugged.
“And there’s no shame in that. I know if I had ‘yours’ tattooed on my ass-cheek, Cameron would go absolutely feral.” Jenna beamed as though she were picturing her husband’s reaction.
“Exactly, so would Jameson. I might need to get something similar when I’m not pregnant since my man loves tracing words on my inner thigh.”
“I’m pretty sure Jameson needs no further incentivizing in that department,” I deadpanned.
“No, but the memory of his reaction would be worth it alone.” She nodded with a knowing grin.
“So why ‘mine’ versus ‘yours’?” I asked.
Lakelyn adjusted her shorts, covering the bandage. “I wrestled with that a lot. In the end, I felt ‘mine’ was more of a claim, whereas ‘yours’ symbolizes giving of myself freely to him. My heart, body, and soul, to protect, touch, and love. At least, that’s my interpretation of it.”
“That’s beautiful.” Hearing her say that helped solidify the tattoo idea I’d been considering since I’d first seen Jaxon’s.
“It’s about being wanted rather than owned. Although whenever Boden saysmine,” she fanned herself playfully as her cheeks turned beet red “it does things to me.” She paused, looking from me to Jenna. “So, which one of you lovely ladies is next?”
“Damn, gurrrl!” Arizona vigorously fanned herself while we all eyed Lakelyn from head to toe as she stood in the entryway of the main bedroom. “Has Boden seen this dress, because I don’t think you’ll be leaving the suite once he does.”
Her shimmery attire didn’t leave much to the imagination.
“When in Vegas.” She smirked and spun around in her silver dress, which had a low cowl neckline and an open back, just barely covering the bandage over her new tattoo.
“When in Vegas,” Arizona repeated, giving me a pointed look.
“What?” I narrowed my eyes at her, not following what she was getting at.
“Twenty-four-hour chapels—just saying,” she raised her brows.
“For me?” I put my hand on my chest. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“Come on, Lily, live a little. Everyone knows you and Jaxon are each other’s endgame. Why not just admit it already?”
“That might be true, but we’re just enjoying our time together for now.”
“Ladies, let’s toast before the guys get here.” Jenna grabbed a magnum of Dom Pérignon champagne and a smaller non-alcoholic bottle for Arizona off the bar.
Her eyes met mine with a soft smile, and I couldn’t help but bethankful for the redirect of attention in the room. Earlier at the spa, Arizona pulled me aside and filled me in on the backstory between Lakelyn and Jenna. I hadn’t known that Lakelyn was a twin, and that her sister, Annabelle, had been Jenna’s college roommate in Texas. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond their control, they lost touch, and sadly, Annabelle had since passed away. It wasn’t until a story so wild and disturbing made national headlines that Lakelyn recognized Jenna, and they were able to reconnect.
