Page 98 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

“When I come home in a few days we’ll talk about this. Maybe we’ll go check on him. Casual. No pressure. If Ivy isn’t treating him well, we’ll kick her butt.”

“You want him back, too. I know you do.”

“I do, but he chose her.” Reece dabbed at her eyes. “We have to move on, if he’s happy. Now stop trying to ruin my make-up. I have to go to work.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’ve been moping around here, too. I just didn’t want you to be upset that I was upset he was gone. It’s not that you’re not enough for me. I just miss him.”

Relief flooded through Scarlet and she smiled weakly at Reece. “I’m glad you think what’s in my head.”

Reece chuckled. “Yes, I understand you, even if you’re drunk and babbling. Now show me your feet, silly Domme, and then go sleep it off.”

She did as she was told and Reece agreed that she didn’t need to go to the hospital. They did their goodnight ritual then logged off.

Bone tiredness sucked at her. She wrapped blankets around herself, burrowing into Reece’s side of the bed and wishing the smell of her lotion wasn’t fading from their sheets. She’d never tell her that she sometimes took out the bottle and opened it, just so things were better in her world.

She pulled the blankets tighter, but they were a poor substitute for bigtattooed arms. One hand slipped up over her shoulder and she ran her fingertips over the artwork he’d left on her. At least she had something of him to keep.

***

He wasn’t answering his phone. Deciding it would look better if they were nonchalant, they got to Ink Haven at eleven thirty instead of right at eleven, when it opened. Screwing up his relationship with Ivy wasn’t part of the plan, of course. They’d be good. They were just checking on him. But if he was unhappy...

Winter was sitting on the bench out front when they pulled up, the door to Cross’s store propped open, Scarlet assumed, to catch the breeze.

“No air-conditioning in there?” Scarlet smiled.

Winter gave no indication that she recognized them. “Waiting for the repair guy. It’s not bad in there, with the breeze though.” She got to her feet, coffee in hand.

“We’re not customers. We’re friends of Malachi’s. We’re just going to Ink Haven to see if he’s there.”

She frowned at them thoughtfully. “I think we met a while back, didn’t we? Sorry. I’m bad with normal people. You all look kind of the same me.” She winced. “Yeah, that came out wrong.”

Reece laughed out loud. “That’s okay. No offense taken.”

“Mal’s not here,” she informed them. “He took off with Cross, Gemma, and Izzy early this morning.”

Not Ivy? Scarlet was pleased for a moment then felt like a bitch. It was mean to hope that their relationship had fallen apart already. He really loved her. Besides, maybe she was working or something, and just couldn’t go – or maybe they were picking her up.

“Do you know where they went?” Reece asked. How did she manage to ask that without it seeming creepy and stalkerish? She was good.

“They were going to Terror Canyon on the other side of Felix. You know it?” Now she was eyeing them speculatively.

“Yes, the amusement park. Thanks.” Reece smiled brightly.

The white-haired girl’s gaze slid over the two of them, in turn. “You’re Reece and Scarlet, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Why?” Had she suddenly remembered their names, or was there something else?

“Just a guess. I’ve heard the guys talking about you. The only other person that would be looking for Malachi if they weren’t interested in a tattoo, is Ivy. But Ivy, I already know.” When she saw their surprised expressions, she smirked. “The kink world in Cobalt Harbor is small and rumors spread fast. There are bets.”

Bets? “Thanks for the heads-up.”

Winter nodded once and walked into the store.

“Friendly little thing, isn’t she?” Reece laughed as they shut the doors of the truck.

“She thinks you’re hot.”

---