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Emmanuel’s hand shook slightly as he parted her thighs. The scent of her arousal greeted him, and his mouth watered for the taste of her. He was not the only one whose arousal was raging. Ivy was so vocal, and it didn’t take much to push her over the edge. With a few swipes of his tongue and a slight bit of pressure on her hardened pearl, she was singing his name.

His name hadn’t even died on her tongue before he was surging into her hot, wet, tight tunnel.

“God, I’ve missed you, Doc,” he ground out.

She was his home. The place he belonged. With every stroke, he reclaimed what was his. The woman who would always be his. It wasn't the gentlest of couplings, but what mattered most was that they were together again. It was passionate, rough, and didn’t last as long as he would have liked, but he would need a bit of time before he could make it up to her. However, Ivy seemed to be properly satisfied.

“That was so good, Manny,” she purred.

They took a moment to catch their breath and get cleaned up. Emmanuel smiled as they sat naked in bed eating pizza right out of the box. It reminded him of the nights they had when they were at university. They talked and laughed. Emmanuel even got a movie started. Of course, between the nourishment and recovery time, they didn’t make it very long until their bodies were joined again. This date was exactly what the couple needed.

Chapter Thirteen

YOU KNOW, DON’T YOU?

The weekend had been just what Ivy needed. When she’d agreed to the date, she hadn’t thought it would end in a sleepover. God, she had missed Manny’s touch. A full night of orgasms wasn’t all there was. The rounds of intimacy continued throughout the night and into the morning as they talked and laughed with each other. The way he had also switched from tender to demanding on a dime had her head spinning and her stomach fluttering. It never grew old. Nor being held by him. There was no better feeling in the world. They slept in until their stomachs decided that hunger was more important than sleep.

“I would make you breakfast, but one, I’m exhausted, and two, I hardly have any breakfast food here. Let me take you to brunch. We can finally go out. I promised you a date. Afterwards, we can spend the day together.”

Ivy had been quick to agree. It sounded perfect to her.

It was late by the time they made it there. Luck was on their side when they arrived. It wasn’t busy at all. They were seated right away. It seemed Ivy’s luck continued to hold. She ran into an old friend. It was her greatest hope which the encounter she had would turn out to be the game changer that her family so desperately needed.

Ivy had been on the way to the bathroom when Clara fell in step with her.

“Ivy, I thought that was you.”

“Hey, Clara.”

The two hugged briefly. The last time the schoolmates saw each other was at the Gala. Which seemed like a lifetime ago.

“How have you been?” Clara inquired, as they reached the washroom and selected the stall.

“Good. And you? How’s life at Helix?”

“I’m good. Work keeps me busy, but the compensation is unparalleled. Who knows, maybe I’ll retire early. You should reconsider joining us.”

“No, I think that the hospital is the right fit for me.”

The ladies used the facilities and had some small talk, but there was something about how Clara looked at Ivy when they were washing their hands that alerted her… she knew. Clara ran Helix, the lab that had done Emmanuels’s test. So, the odds were, Clara knew. She should have left well enough alone but look where the inactivity had gotten her. Ivy had no idea what talking to Clara could do to help the situation, but she supposed it couldn’t hurt.

“You know, don’t you?”

It’s what she had always liked about Clara. She never played games. The woman was straight like an arrow, which Cara attributed to her quarter-Norwegian heritage.

“Yes, the test was high profile. When a one percenter has a paternity test come through the lab, it has to be by the books.The new owner of Helix asked me to run the second test personally. Although I had supervised the first one.”

Ivy sighed, “I see.” There wasn’t much more she could add.

The other woman turned to look at her. Then she patted her hand, which sat on the counter. It was a huge sign of affection coming from someone like Clara.

“The results are just data. The facts are up to interpretation. You know how it is. Two things can be true at the same time.”

Clara’s phone rang, and she pulled it out from her bag. Ivy was shocked at the feral growl. “It’s the new owner of Helix. Can a black woman be left in peace to enjoy her Sunday?” Her phone stopped ringing and then started back again. “Of course not. Call me. We should do lunch soon.”

As Clara walked out of the washroom, Ivy overheard her say, “What Oskar? What could you possibly want…” Her voice trailed off as she exited the washroom. Ivy stared after Clara, not because of the way she was speaking to her boss, but because her words triggered something in her.

Ivy felt that they were looking at the whole paternity situation the wrong way. It was why she was disembarking their private jet in Edmonton, Alberta. Ivy flew into the same province but not the same city Jasmine Journee lived in. Roy was renting a vehicle, and he’d drive them the almost two hours.

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