This is her game. To be still and not react. To keep control of herself in the face of danger.
This is enough. I won’t keep going.
“Open your eyes, Megs.”
She gapes while I lick the knife clean.
SEVENTEEN
Meghan
My body acts instinctually at the sight of my Herc, this teddy bear turned diabolical creature, cleaning the knife of my sticky essence. My body arches the mattress, and I come apart.
The blade clatters to the floor, and Herc is over me, kissing me through my shuddering orgasm. I moan into his mouth.
“Herc” is the only thing that makes sense between the animalistic noises that rip from my throat.
He murmurs in my ear, grinding his cock against my sex. “My sweet Megs.”
“I’m not sweet.”
He pushes in. “Only for me, you’re sweet.”
Whatever verbal comeback I might have disappears on the tip of my tongue as Herc finds his rhythm, sinking into me. Over and over until I’m utterly spent and slack beneath him. And full to the brim.
* * *
The following day, Herc reluctantly agrees to let me style him for his twin sister’s baby shower.
I win him over with: “One day, your niece or nephew will look at photos from today and notice how their favorite uncle dressed up for them.”
He’s a sweet, sentimental boyfriend and a proud uncle. And he looks the part, with some of the clothes he’d left behind at the lake house before our break up.
When we arrive at Esmerelda’s, hand in hand, Herc makes us even tardier by pulling me aside at the fountain outside.
“What are you doing?”
He smiles at me. That genuine, boyish smile that first had me falling for him makes my heart skip a beat. He’s the only person who can get me to smile so wide.
“I want to memorize you at this moment,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Take a photo.”
Herc shakes his head. “Not the same thing.”
“Fine.”
Honestly, I’m okay to wait a minute to gather myself. Yesterday, I didn’t want to field questions about the breakup and my state of mind. Today, I don’t want to deal with questions about our rekindled relationship.
My mom is the first to greet us with her usual air kisses, which she follows up with a massive hug for my boyfriend.
“Welcome back, dear,” she says to Herc, squeezing him so hard she leaves mascara on his sweater. Herc looks at me, confused, and all I can do is shrug. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother hug someone so hard. “And listen. I’m friends with the wedding coordinator here, so just say the word, and she’ll have you booked,” she says after she pulls away from Herc’s arms.
I glance at Herc, who doesn’t look the least bit fazed. “You’ll be the first to know as soon as I propose, Mom,” he says.
She pats him on the cheek, and before she walks away, I’m pretty sure I spot a shine in her eyes. She’s already had too many mimosas, I think.
Everyone is waiting in the main dining room, including Dex and, oddly, that lady who I think owns Shambles. Interesting.