Page 53 of Start With A Slap

“Morality is a terrible human weakness,” Aidan said, pouring her more absinthe. “Here, this’ll make you stronger.”

“No thanks,” she said snidely. But then she watched Sever get all forceful and pelvic-thrusty again while the whole room clapped along in a syncopated time signature that felt like frantic rutting, and she suddenly changed her mind.

“Gracias, querida,”Sever said, taking back his tie. He slung it over his shoulder, downed another shot of absinthe, and smacked it on the bar. “You all right?”

The question didn’t register for a few seconds. “Who? Me?”

“Yes, you.” He nodded at a congratulating patron. “Seem a little dazed. Not drinking too much, I hope.”

“No,” Ivy said, and grasped at whatever excuse she could find. “Just... listening to the singer.”

She turned to an old man warbling a flamenco song as if it were his dying words.

“You understand Spanish?”

She shook her head no. “Pretty sure someone killed his puppy, though.”

“I’m feeling so confused,” he said. “Oh, love of my life.”

She tensed, and frowned at him. He nodded at the singer.Oh. Right. Translation.

He stepped up behind her. “And I go over the walls... which lead to your doors...”

Her heart began to pound. A staccato rhythm, much like the music, only faster.

“The poppy in the field said to the wheat, ‘I’m not marrying anybody. I don’t know about you.’” There was a long pause between the next few lines, but she waited, and so did he. “When I look at her, she cries. I don’t know what I should do.”

Ivy’s eyes fell shut. First the sexy peacock dance, now he was reciting angsty poetry in the vicinity of her ear? He wasnotplaying fair.

“When I look at this lady,” he stepped closer, his voice low and raspy, “When she walks around... cinnamon and roses fall to the ground.”

She felt lightheaded. “That’s pretty.”

He stood in silence behind her for too long. She could smell his cologne, his sweat, his desire...

“I have to...” She moved away from him, pointed at the restroom. “Be right back.”

In the bathroom, Ivy stood against the door, chanting to herself, “I’m going home alone. I’m going home alone. I’m going homealone.”

When she emerged, Pilar was playfully opening Sever’s shirt and feeling him up.

“Definitelygoing home alone,” she resolved, and marched toward the group with new determination and purpose.

Sever noticed her and gently scolded Pilar, “Not in front of the children, now.”

Thechildren? Sure, they all laughed it off like it was a big joke, but still. If this was his idea of seduction, he needed to take some classes.

“Ready to move on?” Sever asked Ivy offhandedly. “Aidan mentioned an artsy-fartsy pub next door. Should be your cup of tea.”

He turned her way, hair mussed, naked torso exposed, and Ivy broke.

Body of a twenty-two year old? She’d nevermeta twenty-two year old with a body that defined. Sever had ripply, corded, compact muscles that ran all the way down to hisgroin, and— Oh, god, she was staring.

Pilar arched a brow at her.

Um...

With a mischievous grin, Aidan patted Sever on the back and said, “Change of plans.”

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