Page 130 of Thorns of Malice

Several moments pass. I decide some transparency is needed.

Me: Lilly's also a sex addict and jonesing as badly as you.

Silence follows.

Lilly asks, "What did he say?"

"He hasn't responded," I answer.

"I'm going to take my bags to the front desk," she states, and wheels her suitcases away.

Jaxon: Bring her to my room with you.

Me: Come down to the bar. I'm not going to your room. And that's the final decision.

Jaxon: You sound like you're on a game show now.

I smile. That's the Jaxon I know and love—but only as a friend.

Me: Glad your humor's back. Get your tight ass down to the bar.

Jaxon: Okay. I'll be there in a few.

Lilly returns. She links her arm through mine. "Bar’s over here." She leads me into a dimly lit restaurant, and we grab two plush velvet seats at the bar.

I suggest, "Maybe I should talk to Jaxon first on my own."

"What's that going to do?" she questions.

"I don't know. Just... I mean, we've been through a lot."

She leans closer, giving me a knowing look. "He's jonesing. Do you really think he wants to talk right now?"

I contemplate her statement, deciding she's right.

She adds, "I'm jonesing too. So if you two really need to chatter, make it quick." She winks.

I laugh again.

"Ivy," Jaxon's voice calls out behind me.

I turn in my chair. "Hey."

He hugs me, and I hug him back. But this time, he only lingers a little bit. He pulls back and holds his hand out. "And you must be Lilly."

She ignores his hand and rises. She throws her arms around him. "I get a hug too."

He chuckles, returns her affection longer than he hugged me, and I hold in my laugh.

Is this really happening right now?

"Take a seat," I say, pointing to the one Lilly was in.

She takes the one next to it and pats the cushion. "Yeah, Jaxon, sit down."

He obeys.

She leans into him, dragging her finger over his forearm, cooing, "Tell me, Mr. Sexy. Has Ivy told you anything about me?"

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