Page 10 of Ivy

“Wanker,” she fires back, and I chuckle.

“How are you, Luke?” Cassie asks. I see the concern on her face. I shrug before taking a seat at the table with them.

“Pissed out of my head. You?” Addy shakes her head at me.

“The boys are fucking livid with you right now. I’m surprised they haven't kicked your door down. What gives?”

“I’m done working there. I thought that was pretty obvious from the other night and the fact that I haven’t turned up to work this week.” I take another drink of my coffee, loving the burn of the liquid running down my throat. I need to feel something other than the gut-wrenching pain of having disappointed my best friends.

“You can’t quit, dickhead. And they most certainly didn’t fire you. They would have to go through me first.”

“Addy, you are one tough chick, and I respect the fuck out of you, but there isn’t much you can say that will make me come back to Castle Ink. The way Jay looked at me told me all I need to know.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Luke Baker,” Cassie says from her chair.

“Not wrong, Cass. You saw what happened. Neither of them will ever forgive me for what went down, and I understand that. It’s best if I stay away.”

“So, if I told you that both Ivy and Carter are missing you, that wouldn’t change your mind?” Hearing their names makes my stomach knot up and my chest ache. I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table, my mug firmly in my grip.

I close my eyes and let the building pain wash over me—the pain of not seeing either of them again. They mean a lot to me, even if it has only been a few months, but the thought of her thinking that I would hurt her kills me like no other. I sound like a fucking woman, but hell, fuck it, I have never been afraid to say how I’m feeling. I’m a man, and I’m confident in my sexuality. I will cry in front ofanyone if the situation warrants it.

“I miss them too,” I say, as I expel the breath I was holding. “I can’t get the look of fear on her face out of my head. She hates me.” Cassie lays her tiny hand on my arm, and I look up at her, seeing the sympathy on her face.

“She doesn't hate you, Luke. She misses you. She said that she’s text you a few times, but you never replied.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want her to feel sorry for me. I fucked up—I hurt her.” I take a sip of my now lukewarm coffee, wetting my suddenly dry throat.

“No, you didn’t. Holy shit. You are a stubborn bastard, aren’t you?” I shrug at Addy. “Luke, go and get in the shower. You need to be at the studio in an hour. I’m not taking no for a fucking answer. Now, move that sexy arse of yours.” She winks at me and I can’t help but smile at her.

“Sexy arse, huh? I wonder what your man would say about you looking at my arse and declaring it sexier than his.” I wink at her, and she laughs.

“Oh, man, I said you had a sexy arse. I never once said it was sexier than my man’s. No one is sexier than Dexter Castle. I can tell you that now.”

“Hey! My Captain Awesome is pretty freaking sexy, if I do say so myself.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” I fake my hurt and lay a hand over my heart, laughing when I see their smiles. Addy and Cassie truly are beautiful women. Dex and Jay are lucky bastards for catching them.

“Sexy chopped liver, at its best,” Cassie says.

“Whatever. I’m going to shower. It seems Caste Ink is falling apart without me.” I stand up and walk towards the stairs.

“Hey, you are notthatspecial, Luke Baker.”

“Oh, but I am, Addison Cole. Sexy chopped liver or not, I am the prime beef that brings in the clients and the gravy that keeps the studio going. Plus, I’m the beast, and the beast always gets his five-a-day.” I wink at them and continue towards my bathroom to shower and change.

After my shower, I stare at myself in the bathroom’s steamed-up mirror and see that my beard has grown over the last few days. I normally keep it short, so I pick up my electric shaver and trim it down to a fashionable stubble.

Once I’m happy, I step into my bedroom and throw on a pair of dark blue jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt. I know Ivy loves seeing me in these; she's always staring at my arms when I wear them. The material is so tight I’m pretty sure that one day it will tear open.

Happy with my clothes, I pop back into the bathroom and put a little gel into my hair, adding volume and pushing it to the side slightly. I give myself a once over in the mirror and am happy with what I see. I wouldn't say I’m a vain person; I just like to make sure I look good—and I need to look good for what I’m about to do.

No more messing around. If what Addy and Cassie said is true, then maybe I have more hope with Peaches that I thought. So now I have to make my move and prove to her that I will never hurt her. I will always care for her. Both her and Carter. That little guy makes me want to push to have them in my life more than they are now. I just really need Ivy to see what I can do for her. With her.

It’s time that the beast got his five-a-day, and he’s hungry for peaches.

He needs a taste. He needs the juice dripping into his mouth, down his chin, covering his cock as he pounds into her. My shaft hardens in my jeans at the thought of finally taking Ivy. I reach for my dick, but instead of pulling the nine inches out, I push him down, willing the throbbing to stop. I chuckle and make my way to the girls, who are waiting for me in the living room. Addy is tapping her foot like an impatient child waiting to go to the park.

“Let’s do this. I need to see her and set the boys straight about what’s going to happen,” I say, picking up my wallet and phone.

---