Page 94 of Seeds of Malice

I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

Is Avery right?

No.

I retort, "I'm not. Now, make sure you're there." I hang up.

I get out of the Porsche and go into the salon. Ivy's toes are done, and Nancy's finishing her manicure. She puts her hand under the UV light for the final time.

I lean down and kiss Ivy.

She jumps and looks up. Her face lights up. "Dax, I didn't know you were back."

"Did you think I wasn't coming back to get you?" I tease.

She replies, "That would be tragic."

I couldn't agree more. I pick up her free hand and say, "Whore red's your color."

The light in her eyes turns brighter. I can't believe how easy it is to butter her up.

I take a seat for a few minutes until she's done. Then we get back into the car. I hand her the lipstick. "Put this on."

She opens it up and stares at it. "This is really red."

"You don't like it?" I question.

She glances back at it. "I've never worn anything so bold."

"Yeah, well, you should. You have beautiful, slutty lips, and I want to see those red marks on my dick before the night's over. Understand?"

Shock fills her expression, and I get giddy again. I love it. I just took her virginity in a dressing room, and she's still acting shy.

I add, "Baby girl, you got to lighten up."

She softly laughs. "I know. I'm just... I'm not used to people talking like you do."

"You don't like how I speak?" I challenge.

She pauses and shakes her head. "No, I like everything about you."

"Good, I like everything about you," I say, leaning over and kissing her. Then I order, "Put it on. I've been dying to see you in it."

She puts the visor down and looks in the mirror. She applies it perfectly and then turns toward me. "Um, do you think I can pull this color off?"

"Fuck, yes, you little whore," I tell her, then wink.

She nervously laughs again, then looks back at her reflection.

"You look amazing. Stop worrying about it. Step into your power," I tell her, then rev the engine and take off.

It doesn't take long to get back to the estate. I go directly to my house and pull bags out of the trunk. She grabs a few from the back seat. We go inside.

"Let's put them in my closet," I tell her.

"Oh?" She sounds surprised.

"Yeah, you're staying here all week."

---