Page 184 of Bittersweet

“Do you like it?”

“What is it, Lola?”

“It’s a . . . piercing.” She stares at me, slightly confused, for long seconds. “I thought you’d like it.”

Oh, I like it.

I fuckingloveit.

Knowing I can’t touch it for months?

Not a fan.

Knowing I wasn’t the person to put it there?

Definitely not a fucking fan.

“What did I say about people putting needles to you?” She rolls her eyes.

“Only you can do it. But this—”

“OnlyIget to put a needle to your skin, Lola.”

“What if Vic needs to give me a shot?” she asks. I stare at her. She stares back. Her face cracks, a smile bleeding through her annoyance.

My annoyance is still there.

“Hattie knows my rule.”

“But Hattie also loves to annoy you almost as much as I do.” I start walking, taking her to our bedroom.

“You know what I do when you do something to annoy me?” I ask, kicking the bedroom door shut, taking two steps forward, and tossing her to the bed. She bounces with a giggle and fuck, even though I’m annoyed, I love it when she’s like this. Giggly and just a little high and ready to play.

My fucking woman.

Her next words prove that.

“I get punished,” she says, a little happy smile on her lips like she can’t wait.

Neither can I, baby.

Once she’s naked and has moved to the head of the bed, sprawled just the way I like her, I step back and take her in.

Fucking beautiful.

Walking to the side of the bed, I lean in to inspect Hattie’s work. Impeccable, as always.

“How does it feel?” I ask, caressing the skin around her nipple, making her shiver.

“Hurts a little. Hat gave me a gummy, which helped.” She gives me a sloppy, crooked smile that I love.

“The next one, I do. I do it, and then I fuck you on the table.” Her eyes go wide and it takes everything in me not to laugh, to keep my angry facade.

“Hell no. This one hurt like a bitch. Never again.”

“Too fucking bad. That’s your other punishment.”

“What’s my first punishment?” she asks with a small smile. I hop onto the bed, situating myself between her legs that open just a bit wider as I do.

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