Page 22 of Fritillaria (Fortune Records Omegaverse #5)
Chapter 22
A spis
Ivy sits with her quilt in her lap, folded neatly and returned to her tote bag. She was pretty protective of it when we got back to the car. I let my hopes soar in a way that I shouldn’t.
Matilda sits next to her again, chatting about anything and everything. But I hang back, sitting on my own. I’m unsure of how to behave around Ivy. I don’t want to mess things up by saying or doing something stupid again. Instead, I’m probably just lurking like an idiot.
“Do you both want to come up to my apartment for the evening?” Ivy asks.
She… what?
Matilda catches my eye, her gaze widening as she nods her consent to me.
“Y-yes.” I stammer, still in shock at her invitation. It’s already pretty late, and I wonder if Ivy means for us to stay the night.
“Is that OK with you, baby?” Ivy asks, tucking a strand of hair behind Matilda’s ear.
“Yes, please.” Matilda shivers with pleasure, leaning into Ivy’s touch.
Holy shit, she really is flirting with us.
Something changed at dinner. I thought so when she gave me that look over dessert. I owe Rosie an outrageous gift for having the idea and convincing Ivy to go.
The rest of the drive to Ivy’s is filled with a charged tension. She can’t keep her hands off of Matilda. When we get to her place, Ivy leads the way up to the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor when we get inside.
The building is classy and modern, the elevator a sparkling marble box. I hadn’t really thought about it, but Ivy has been incredibly successful in her career, which means that she probably has a really nice place.
My assumption is correct. Her apartment is enormous, with its own private elevator entrance. She leads us into her kitchen, all crisp grey quartz counters and sleek black cabinets.
“Your place is so nice!” Matilda says, looking around in awe. “Do you mind if I use the bathroom real quick?”
“Of course not. Let me show you.”
Ivy leads Matilda out of the room and I’m left to my own devices for a moment. I’m more unsure of myself than I have ever felt. Ivy has changed her tone so fast that I’m almost having whiplash.
This is what I wanted from the dinner. But it feels almost too good to be true…
“Hey,” Ivy comes back into the kitchen. She gives me a small smile, but she looks unsure.
“Are you—” Fuck, I’m a stuttering mess every time I am around her. “Is this you giving us a chance?”
I crowd her so that she backs up against the counter, my hands clasping it on either side so that she is trapped for my questioning.
“I’m trying to.” Her dark brown eyes call me in, my face getting much closer to hers.
“I just don’t want Matilda to get hurt again… she was so upset when you rejected her the first time.”
“I said I’m trying .” Ivy’s hands fist in my shirt. “What else do you want from me?”
She has no fucking idea.
My hands are on her hips, lifting her to sit on the counter as I meet her in a kiss. It’s not a soft and loving moment like my first time with Matilda was.
This is a battle.
Our tongues clash, bodies pushed up against each other, her warmth seeping into me. I’m surrounded by her rich amber and rosewood scent, my body crying out for more .
Her hands grip the back of my neck, her long fingernails digging in as we fight for dominance. She puts up a good fight, but I grip the back of her head, my hand tangling in her hair and tightening. That relaxes her, and I understand more about my mate already. She wants a fight, needs a firm hand, so that she can relax and enjoy herself.
Now she is soft beneath me, grinding against my tail, her skirt pushed up around her hips.
I’m insatiable, but I can’t get enough of my mate. Eventually, she pulls back, gasping for air. Her nipples are pressed hard against her t-shirt, the piercings there clearly visible now.
A noise catches my attention, and I glance to my left to see Matilda there. Her golden eyes are wide, her mouth hanging open slightly.
“Come and join us.” Ivy’s voice is lower, huskier than usual.