Page 82 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“35 isn’tthatold,” I say, releasing her back to her husband. Just then, Miles joins us at the table, an amused grin spreading across his features.
“Old enough to start forgetting where you’ve left your tools,” Miles jokes.
“Mmmm, I haven’t noticed any problems with his memoryorhis tools,” Ivy says with a wink. Paige fakes a gagging noise while the rest of the table chuckles as Miles holds up his hand for a high five and Ivy meets him halfway.
“Ok, time for presents!” Paige declares, handing over a small box tied with a delicate blue ribbon. I pop open the lid, finding a card tucked inside the box.
Happy birthday to the only person who truly understands why we’re so fucked up. Things haven’t always been easy, but I’ve always looked up to you.
Love,
Paige
Underneath the card is a small keychain with a photo of Rylin atop my shoulders as I smile down at Ivy on our wedding day. The sun is setting along Main Street, and she’s looking at me like I hung the moon. It has a knot forming in my throat. “Thank you, Sis” is all I can choke out.
“Ok, my turn!” Miles says, handing over an envelope. Inside is a pair of tickets to a hockey game in Nashville.
“Hell yes! Thanks, man!” He holds up his beer in salute.
Next, Ivy reaches under the table to pull out a gift bag, sliding it across the table. “This is from me, and there’s something from Rylin in there, too.”
I remove the top layer of tissue, pulling out a large frame. Tucked beneath the glass is a hand drawn portrait in bright crayon of me, Ivy, and Ry standing under the big tree in the backyard with Sage at our feet. It might be the best gift I’ve ever received. “Rylin drew that at daycare and she insisted I had to give it to you tonight.”
“This is perfect. I love it so much,” I say, setting it to the side to dig further into the bag. The first thing I find is a bag of ketchup chips.
“NO WAY!” Paige squeals. “I’m so fucking jealous!”
Next is a bottle of 100% Canadian Maple Syrup, followed by salt and vinegar crispers, Tim Horton’s coffee pods, and last but not least, a bag of All-Dressed chips. Paige is staring at Ivy, mouth hanging wide open as she watches me pull out all of our favorite Canadian snacks. “Close your mouth, Sis. You’ll catch a fly.”
“I’m totally revoking your bestie card if I don’t get that kind of treatment for my birthday next year,” she teases.
I carefully pack everything back in the bag, then cup Ivy’s cheek and bring my lips to her forehead. “Thank you. This is perfect.”She’s fucking perfect.
After another round of drinks, Ivy tugs me onto the dance floor. Her hips brush against mine as we grind to the rhythm, an unmistakable heat building between us. From the sidelines, Miles shouts, “Come on, Luca! You can do better than that!”
With a playful smirk, I seize Ivy’s waist and dip her low, our noses brushing and breaths mingling for a beat too long. Ivy’s eyes lock on mine before momentarily dipping to my lips, and I don’t waste a moment, stealing her breath in a passionate kiss, tasting the liquor on her tongue mixed with something that’s all Ivy.
The crowd erupts into whoops and cheers, breaking us out of the heated moment as I pull her back to standing. Her footing is a little unsteady, so I grip her hips. The feel of her beneath my palms sends a jolt of electricity straight to my cock. Ivy snakes her arms around my shoulders as the song changes to something slower, her fingertips playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.
Maybe it’s the buzz of the alcohol in my veins, or the woman in my arms, but I can’t help but pull her a little closer, bringing her hips flush with mine as I whisper the lyrics into her ear. She rests her head on my chest, her flowery scent permeating the air around us as she whispers, “Tell me you’re real.”
“As real as it gets, sweetheart.”
My mouth goes dry, taking in the vision before me. Ivy leans in the doorway to the bathroom, bathed in the dim light from the vanity. She’s wrapped up like a goddamn present in a deep red strappy bodysuit with a bow tied between her tits. It has ribbonsthat criss-cross around her torso and over her nipples, and two more clipped to thigh high red stockings. I follow the path down to the sexy studded black heels and my jaw goes slack. I’m definitely going to fuck her in nothing but those heels. More than once.
“Fuuuuuck. Are you trying to kill me?” I shift in my spot at the foot of my king-size bed.
“Mmmm. No, I have other plans for you,” she says as she struts into the room, her hips swaying suggestively, making my mouth water. She stops between my spread thighs and I can’t resist the urge to slide my hands over her hips.
“You look like sin.”
“Maybe. But I’m going to show you heaven before I take us both to hell.”
She cups my face in her palms and kisses me, softly at first, but it quickly grows more frantic when she plants her knees on either side of my hips and straddles me, grinding her ass against my lap. Her tongue tangles with mine and she tastes so fucking sweet, I want to memorize her flavor, but it’s over too soon as she pulls back to standing. “Are you trying to torture me, Trouble?”
Instead of a response, she plants one foot on the bed between my legs, way too close to my rock hard cock straining beneath my jeans.
“Touch me,” she commands, and fuck this role reversal is hot as hell.
