Page 56 of Left

“Christ! What else did he say?”

“He went into pulmonary distress and is now on a respirator, and they aren’t allowing anyone in to see him.”

Disappointment crushed him in a wave. Emmanuel supposed his parents could give them answers, but he wasn’t feeling very trustful towards them now. The answers would have to come from an outside source. They had lied by omission to him his whole life. His father’s action didn’t surprise him, but his mother’s… did. Grace Scott didn’t have a deceptive bone in her body — No, he had thought she wasn’t capable of deceit. They were going to have to get answers without them.

“Hey, Doc. Well, if you assemble all the information you have, we can give it to Darsh. If anyone can find this mystery twin, Darsh can.”

“I was hoping you would say that. Anything else you want to ask?”

“Not right now. Actually, give me a few. I’m going to take a shower.” Yes, he had taken one before her arrival, but he needed a fucking moment. Did he have a doubt that Ivy would hold his hand through this shit storm? None. But he was so shaken. He needed to gather himself together before he could turn to her. The revelation called forth something in Emmanuel he didn’t recognise in himself.

The stream of cold water poured over his head, down the expanse of his back. Emmanuel had hoped the physical discomfort would keep his mind from raging. Pissed was an absolute understatement. Sure, he lived a privileged life, but all of it was based on a lie. If he wasn’t a fucking Scott, then who the hell was he? Emmanuel was just about to voice his outrage when he felt a hand on his lower back.

“Manny, I’m here,” she called softly.

“I know. Thanks, Doc.” Emmanuel didn’t have it in him to turn her away. Instead, he immediately changed the water’s temperature. They remained with her at his back.

“If you want to talk—” Ivy began, but he cut her off.

“I don’t. Not now.”

“Whatever you need.” Then she grabbed the body wash, and he sighed as she washed his back. Her touch was firm, and she massaged away some of the tension that he was holding there. Her touch didn’t remain at his lower back, but migrated. He smiled as fingers kneaded his taunt cheeks.

It was funny how people spent so much time discussing what body parts were a man’s favourite. Oh, he is a leg man, or he is a breast man. The same attention wasn’t spent on discussing what body parts women preferred. Which seemed odd to him. Women certainly had preferences. For example, Ivy was definitely an ass woman. Her nails were sinking into his muscled ass.

Ivy drew out her thought; achingly slow. “I know you said you don’t want to talk.”

“Cause I don’t,” he answered quickly.

“Are you opposed to not talking?”

Yeah, he was absolutely up for that.

“Yeah,” Emmanuel answered as he turned, presenting her with the evidence that he was in fact prepared to ‘not talk’.

“Definitely,” he moaned as she wrapped her hands around his length.

God, her grip was firm as she worked his cock. Emmanuel closed his eyes and let his head lean back. All thoughts left him as her silky grip worked its magic. He was so close. Then she exchanged her skilled hands for her hot, talented mouth. The way she bobbed on his hardened length was driving him to the brink way quicker than he would like. It was the sound of her enthusiastically slurping on his cock while not allowing a drop of his leaking essence to be wasted. That was his undoing. He came with a roar as jets of cream flooded her mouth. Ivy was there to swallow it all up, not missing a drop. His only thought was returning the favour to his wife, who he was certain expected nothing in return.

Tomorrow, he would unpack his feelings. Tonight, he would spend the night pleasing his woman until they both passed out.

Chapter Sixteen

GOD WAS SHOWING OFF

Ivy wasn’t sure how Manny was going to react to the news, that his life wasn’t what he thought it was. She’d agonised over how and when she would tell him. Yes, she seized on the opportunity to gather information, but a small part of her resented Grace for putting her in the situation to alter Manny’s life. It had been difficult to watch the range of emotions that Manny went through as he struggled to understand the news. She was certain that he hadn’t yet accepted it. When he did, the fallout might be something they were completely unprepared for.

Last night, she watched as he mentally retreated. Hell, Ivy had facilitated his attempt to block out the unpleasant truths. Not that she was complaining. The ache in her core was well worth it. Last night, he had been a man on a mission to forget everything but her. Ivy was sure that her body would bear the marks of his passion.

Manny was still asleep, earning the rest he so richly deserved. He was in insanely amazing shape, but she knew he was going to feel the effects of literally fucking her all over the condo. Ivy needed the reward of sleep as well, but his request before he had fallen asleep was playing on repeat in her mind.

If she was being honest, Ivy was certain that when she told Manny that he had been exonerated for fathering Jasmine Journee’s child, he would immediately move back home. Instead, he had declined to move and asked,“until we have all the proof in place. I’d prefer that we not disclose what we know.”

“Sorry, which part?” Ivy joked.

“All of it. Don’t tell my parents I know I am adopted. Don’t tell anyone how we know that I’m not the father of that Journee woman’s baby.”

“So, we don’t explain why you are moving back in?”

---