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Manny was close. She could feel him expand within her walls. Then he lifted one of her legs. Holding it in the crease of his arm. This was why Ivy never missed a Pilates or yoga class. Her husband didn’t seem to understand her extra padding, as he twisted and moved her at will. So Ivy took extra care to maintain her body so she could enjoy moments just like this.

In an effort to keep things nice and even, she squeezed her Kegel muscles, clenching around him in a death grip. He halted all movement momentarily.

“Cock Killer,” Manny growled.

Ivy smiled the dirtier his mouth the closer he was to coming. The first time he had called her Cock Killer, she was certain she had heard him wrong. Before that, her boyfriend had whispered nothing but the sweetest, sexiest words to her. She’d been shocked at first. Eventually, Ivy came to wear it as a badge of honour. Despite her lack of experience, she was able to bring a man with prowess to his knees. The fact that she still could—well, it added to their passion.

Excited. If he was close, hell, so was she. So very close. The telltale tingling began in her lower back.

“Fuck Doc, can’t last long.” He released the grip on her hip and played with her slickened pearl. They both were driven over the edge as they called out each other’s names. He pulled out quicker than she would have liked him to.

“I love you, Doc.” He delivered gentle, tender kisses to her shoulder. Ivy turned slowly in his arms. This feeling of belonging was something of which she would never tire.

“I love you too, Manny.”

Manny’s smile was big and bright. Everything else was forgotten at that moment. He cradled her face in his large hands and raised it to meet his lips. Maybe she was feeling dramatic, but she could live on his kisses. Her eyes fluttered close as he made his descent. After all this time, stars still exploded behind her eyelids as his mouth capture hers. It was so achingly tender. She sighed in contentment.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t linger. Ivy had a busy morning ahead of her. Manny finished up his shower. She would be annoyed by how quickly it took him to get ready, except he used that extra time to make sure her morning was better. By the time she made it downstairs. Her coffee was in her travel mug. Her English muffin was toasted, packaged, and ready to go. They had staff that certainly could handle this, but Manny liked the personal touch. He’d prepared it himself.

“Thank you, Sweetie.” She pecked his cheek in thanks.

“Anything for you, Doc. Wanna give Roy the morning off? I can drop you to the office. It’s close by.”

Ivy shrugged and nodded. It didn’t make much of a difference to her. Either way, she wasn’t driving. She hated driving. Her husband didn’t like her unhappy. Their first wedding anniversary gift was a personal driver.

Manny, on the other hand loved driving. He actually disliked not being behind the wheel.“I like being the master of my own ship. Being in control of where I am going.”

The ride to work was quiet. Neither were big talkers in the morning. Well, unless they were engaging in certain activities. As he pulled into the parking garage of the hospital, the look that crossed Manny’s features pulled at her heartstrings. Her tough husband really, really hated needles. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned toward him. “It won’t be too bad. It is a quick sample. You will be in and out before you know it. Then all of this will be behind us. Okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Doc.” He winked at her before kissing her goodbye.

Chapter Five

FUCK, SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Emmanuel had no idea what had gotten up Coach’s ass, but the practice was gruelling. He’d returned home and had his shower. Normally he would get some studying in, but he felt drained. He needed to grab some Z’s. Hell Emmanuel was even debating skipping his first class. Shit. Everything hurt. It looked like the sky was on the side of him staying home. All of a sudden, a heavy downpour started.

Screw it, I’ll grab the notes from the TA.

Just as he went to turn away from the window, he made out a figure walking in the direction of the bus stop. That sucks, no one should get stuck out there in the down pour.

It took him a moment to recognise the colourful boots. Sure enough, it was his neighbour, Ivy. She often wore rainbow-coloured rubber cowboy boots. Where the hell had she found those atrocities? The better question was why didn’t she leave them where she found them? They were ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as her.

She had taken an instant dislike to him. It had caught him off guard. He wasn’t used to people disliking him. If he sensed someone glaring at him, he didn’t have to turn around to know it was her. Emmanuel probably could have taken the high road and tried to smooth things out with her, but she got under his skin. So, he returned the favour.

A bus came out of nowhere and whizzed by Ivy just as she was a few steps from the bus stop. The bus driver didn’t even slow down. Frantically… she stood waving her hands, but the vehicle was long gone. That was some bullshit! It was raining hard, and the driver was going way over the speed limit. She slipped into the bus shelter.

It shouldn’t be too long before another one came along, he thought.

Emmanuel lay down on his couch, but his mind was outside. He checked after fifteen minutes, and she was still there. The agenda given to him by the school had important numbers in it. He found the bus company’s number and listened as it announced the arrival of the buses. Shit! The bus that blew past her must have been early, and the next wasn’t for another fifty minutes. Ivy wasn’t standing in the rain. She would be fine. He cursed as he grabbed his keys and bag.

“Ivy, jump in. I’ll give you a ride to campus,” Emmanuel called from the driver’s side as he pulled up to the bus stop. She began to shake her head.

“It’s all right,” she called back, waving him off.

Stubborn, why was she so stubborn? He left the comfort of his apartment so she wouldn’t be stuck at the bus shelter. Was she seriously willing to wait outside instead of getting into a nice warm vehicle?

“For fucks sake. It’s raining. Can we not do this? Get in.”

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