Page 40 of Why Not Now?

“You are such a nerd.”

He grins and winks at me. “There’s also a bowl of petunias on my calf fromHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s falling and saying,Oh no, not again.”

“And the dragon?” I trail my fingers along his left biceps, the muscles jumping under my touch.

“Just a cool dragon. Not anyone in particular.”

“The cat?” I touch the inside of his left wrist where an annoyed black cat sits in judgment of everyone.

“Obviously, that’s Abyss.”

“Of course. What was I thinking? Is that it?”

He nods. “For now. I’m considering a couple others, but haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“Are they all black and grey?”

“Mostly. My first two were Narsil and Anaklusmos. After that, it made sense to stick with black and grey. Though the petunias are purple, Mom’s favourite colour.”

“I want to see.”

I climb off him, forcing myself to ignore the rock-hard dick that’s begging for my attention. He slides his left foot up, bending his knee so I can see the flowers falling from nowhere.

“You didn’t get the whale?” I ask, referencing the specific scene in the book.

“The whale is funny, but the flowers know the question to the answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Read the scene again. You’ll see what I mean.”

I get up and go over to my bookshelf.

“Ava.”

I look over my shoulder.

“I meant tomorrow. Get the fuck back here.”

I laugh as I slide into bed next to him, laying pressed against his side. His arm comes around me, stroking my side.

“I don’t see any on you,” he says.

“I don’t have any.” I trail my fingers along the pen tattoo.

“Why not?”

“Money, mostly. There’s always something more important to spend it on. New roof, new dishwasher, gymnastics fees.” I shrug.

He captures my wandering fingers with his, lifting my hand to kiss it. Then, without warning, he rolls over onto me, trapping me beneath him. I squeak, but wrap my arms around his solid shoulders.

“Curiosity sated, sweetheart?” he asks, pressing a kiss to the corner of my lips.

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Ready for me to make you come? I’d ask if you were ready to scream my name, but we don’t want to wake your sister.”

The heat that had calmed while I’d explored the changes to his body flares to life again. My core tightens and pulses, eagerly wanting him to make good on his promise. But I shake my head.

“I want to taste you,” I say.

He groans, dropping his head next to mine. “Ava. You’re going to kill me.”

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