Page 87 of Possessive Ink

“Thank you, Mrs. Acosta,” Lemon says, passing over her keys to the older woman, who locks the apartment door and leaves.

“What do you think is happening with Avery at the sheriff’s department?” Lemon asks quietly.

“I’m not sure. Hopefully, they see she needs help.”

“Hopefully.”

After we get home, the rest of the afternoon is quiet. Lemon isn’t in the mood to start unpacking, so we pile her things in our room and curl up on the couch to watch mindless TV until it’s time to get ready to go to my parents’.

“I really don’t need to come to your parents’,” she protests.

“Yes, you do. We’re engaged and getting married in six weeks. They need to meet you, plus hopefully Jude and August will be there too.”

“Atticus,” she whines.

“They’re going to love you, Princess. Now let’s get ready before I decide you need a hot, spanked ass to get you moving.”

Her eyes light up, and I laugh, scooping her off the couch and into my arms. Carrying her into our room, I drop her onto the bed and follow her down, claiming her lips with mine. After I’ve kissed her until we’re both breathless, it takes all of my willpower to lift myself off her. “Princess, we need to get ready,” I growl when she tries to drag me back down to her.

“We could just stay here instead,” she suggests, biting her full bottom lip coquettishly.

“Don’t tease me, Lemon. I don’t think you’ll enjoy the consequences.”

“What kind of consequences?” she asks coyly.

“The kind that leaves you wet and wanting.”

Her parted lips snap shut. “I thought giving pleasure was your thing? You wouldn’t leave me wanting. You’d be punishing yourself.”

“I’d cope,” I tell her, dropping my voice in warning.

Huffing adorably, Lemon scowls, then bobs her tongue out at me.

I can’t help it. I chuckle. “Meeting my family isn’t a bad thing, Princess.”

“I’ve…I’ve never met a man I’m dating’s family before.”

“We’re not dating. We’re engaged.”

“Exactly. Can you imagine how the conversation is going to go? ‘Congratulations. Wow, Atticus didn’t mention you. How long have you known each other? Oh, about three days.’ I’m going to look like a bunny boiler or a gold digger.”

“My parents know I’m decisive. They’ll understand that when I realized you were mine, I claimed you.”

“Your sister still isn’t engaged because she insisted that her brothers give their blessing, and we got engaged before I even met most of the people in your life,” she whines.

“They’ll see Felix with you, and they’ll understand. It’s going to be fine, Princess. You’re worrying over nothing.”

Lifting her off the bed, I walk her into the bathroom and turn on the shower before I strip us both out of our clothes. Leading her under the stream of water, I look at her tense expression and tight muscles and sigh. “Lemon, I promise, it’s all going to be okay. My brothers will adore you and flirt outrageously with you, and my parents will be telling me I’m lucky to have met someone so perfect five minutes after they meet you. They’ll all be happy for us and excited for the wedding. Would your mom have been happy for us if she was still here?”

Scoffing, Lemon smiles even as she shakes her head. “My mom would have lost her mind if I brought home a boy I’d known for less than a week and told her we were getting married. But then…you’d have probably won her over,” she concedes.

“Do you need me to help you settle?” I ask, cupping her face in my palms.

Inhaling sharply, she starts to say no, then stops herself. “Settle me how?”

“I think a little worshipping would make you feel a lot better,” I drawl softly against her mouth.

“Oh,” she says, her lips forming a perfect O shape.