Page 128 of Seeds of Malice

I press my mouth to hers and explore it with my tongue, loving every second of how she eagerly shows me she wants me.

She breaks our kisses. "Dax?"

"What, baby girl?" I reply, returning to her lips.

She continues kissing me, mumbling, "I'm scared."

I retreat, pinning my gaze on hers. My heart races. I'd normally be stoked about her admission. For some reason, I'm not. I ask, "Of me?"

She shakes her head. "No. Just..." She bites on her lip, wrinkling her forehead.

"Tell me," I demand.

She blurts out, "I don't want to lose you."

My heart soars. I stroke her cheek and state, "I couldn't let you go if you wanted me to."

Her lips curve. "Really?"

"Yeah," I answer, kissing her again.

Play the game.

I reprimand myself for losing myself in her kisses. I murmur, "It's time for us to truly be all in, baby girl. Roll over."

20

Ivy

Jitters fill me. My mouth turns dry.

Tell him no.

I'm not losing him.

"Trust me," he repeats.

Stop being a baby.

Dax will never hurt me.

"I do," I claim, and turn onto my stomach, grimacing when my breasts slide against the duvet. I grip the top of the mattress.

Dax puts his hand over mine and moves it next to the other. "Relax, gorgeous. Your knuckles are white. And why did you wince?"

"I didn't," I lie.

He turns my head so I can't avoid him, pinning his blues to mine. "You did."

My belly flips.

"Tell me why."

I blurt out, "My nipples are sensitive."

His eyes light up. "Ah, yes. Once we get going, they'll feel better."

"They will?"