Page 34 of Ivy

Stupid amazing tongue and dick.

“Fine,” I huff. “I was thinking how sexy you looked leaning against the wall and I could see why all the women fell at your feet. I know that was before we met so I’m not angry or anything, because I have no right, but the thought of you with all those other women made my stomach turn funny,” I admit.

“Baby, you are it for me. Everyone before you didn’t matter. As bad as that sounds, it’s true. Only you from now on.” He leans in and kisses me senseless. So senseless that I don’t hear the door open and Mr. Thomas walk in. He clears his throat and I go to step away from Luke, but he stops me. We both turn our heads to face the client, who is smirking at us.

“Nice to see such young love these days. You don’t see it enough. Life is too fucking short to be worrying about what other people think. You have to do what is best for you and yours.” My heart aches for this man, who clearly misses his deceased son.

“Mr. Thomas, how are you?” I ask, pulling myself from Luke’s embrace.

“I’m good, Ivy, and drop the Mr. Thomas part, honey. I feel old enough as it is. Bill is fine. I would ask how you are, but I can clearly see that you are just fine.” He smiles at me, and I nod.

“I have everything set up for you, Bill. Why don’t you follow me,” Luke tells him. The two men walk back to Luke’s room and I go about getting everything set for the week’s appointments, which doesn’t take too long.

Once everything is done, I go to Beast’s room and sit with the two men.

Luke is talking to Bill about his son when I come into the room. He looks up very briefly and offers me a smile. I smile back and take a seat on the spare chair in the room.

“He loved football. It was his favourite sport. Supported Liverpool. No clue where the hell I went wrong with that one.” Bill chuckles.

“Well, Liverpool need someone to support them, I guess.” I wink at him. I have no clue about football, but I play along. I’m into tennis. I love when Wimbledon comes around.

We sit in a comfortable silence, besides the buzzing of the tattoo gun. I watch as Luke finishes the black outline, before he changes the needle and starts to fill in the shading and small amount of colour that will be added. It takes about two hours for the whole thing to be finished.

During that time, I pop out to get Bill a cup of tea and Luke a bottle of water, and we all talk about our families. Bill tells Luke and me about his son, David. He was on his second tour when his convoy was hit with an IED. He died in transport back to base. I cry for this man and his family. His son went over there to help and defend his country and ended up losing his life. It sucks in a big way that the family will never get to see David get married and have kids.

My heart aches for this family, and every family that has lost someone to war. I can’t imagine the fear they must go through every time their loved ones get deployed. We say a teary goodbye to Bill once he has checked out his new tattoo and Luke’s shown him the aftercare he will need to do.

“Come here, baby,” Luke says gently. I walk over to him and he pulls me tight to his body, his heat soaking into myskin, calming me to the core. He’s like a soothing balm that settles me in the best way.

“My heart hurts for him, Luke. I was complaining about my life with Tim, but I’m alive and poor Bill and his family have lost their loved one. I’m a terrible person,” I tell his chest. His arms tighten around me, and his chest heaves as he speaks.

“You are not a terrible person, baby. You went through a trauma as well. Okay, yes, you are alive, but Tim could have easily killed you.” I shudder at his words, knowing how true they are.

“You did the best you could for you and Carter and you got out of there. My chest aches for what Bill and his family went through, but, baby, you are here, you are living and making the best of it. Remember what Bill said.” I nod.

“Life is too fucking short to be worrying about what other people think. You have to do what is best for you and yours.”

Bill’s words bounce around my head and settle the ache in my chest. He’s right. We have to live for the now and never take anything for granted. I pull back from Luke’s body and lift my face to his, letting him know I want him to kiss me. He doesn’t keep me waiting. I love kissing Luke. His plump lips capture mine in the most passionate kiss we have ever shared.

I get lost in the kiss, in the feel of being in his arms.

Luke Baker makes me feel safe.

He makes me realise what I’ve been missing all these years, what Carter has been missing in a father figure. Now he has Luke, Dex, and Jay. The rest of the men in his life are now an added bonus.

“Mate, can you stop sucking my sister’s face off.” We break apart at the sound of Dex’s voice. I bury my face in Beast’s chest, stopping my brother from seeing how red I’ve turned. I shouldn’t be this embarrassed about kissing my boyfriend in front of my brother, considering the conversations we’ve all had during times we’ve all been over at Dex and Addy’s place.

“Never,” Luke says proudly, and dips his head to kiss me again. I let him. Did I mention I bloody love kissing Luke Baker?

“Fucking hell. Leave some of that for when you get home, or hell, somewhere private,” Dex speaks up again.

“What? Like you and Addy, you mean?” Luke smarts back, but smiles at my brother.

“Hey, that’s different. We have a kid together; we need to sneak in moments when we can.” He winks at me. I shudder, remembering the time I walked in on them in Dex’s room. Beast laughs, knowing what images are running through my head.

“Dude, we have a kid. He may not be mine and we may not live together, but that boy is mine in every other way.” My heart jerks and my head snaps back to look up at Luke.

“W-what?” I stutter. I keep my gaze locked on Luke, waiting for him to answer me. My heart is hammering in my chest and I’m trying to keep my breathing calm, but I am failing terribly. Luke gets a little blurry when tears fill my eyes, but I see his dazzling smile light up his face.

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