Page 31 of Collide

“Got it,” he states although the grin tugging at his lips tells me he isn’t taking me seriously. I shift to move, but he gently tugs me back to him. “And I’ll tell you what’s happening here. I’ll do anything to keep you safe. But I won’t be a one-and-run with you. No more running. Okay? You and I, whatever this is, it’s happening, though we can keep it a secret for now. We’ll take it slow. For once, you need slow, gorgeous. You feel me?”

I want to feel him with every part of my being. My heart especially wants to believe him. Foolish organ.

“Okay,” I whisper, filled by his words, and then he kisses me again, and I forget all about walking away from him.

14

GAGE

Dancing with the other girl did nothing to squelch the social media’s interest in Ivy. Confirmation of her identity filled Twitter, and images of us throughout the day snorkeling were added to Instagram. I want to punch every person present on that boat with us. Then came the club, and my grand plan to dance with someone else, hoping to draw attention away from Ivy. It only fueled the fire of speculation with images of Ivy dancing with Petty. Confusion filled social media. Which man was she with? Was she with both? No one considered we could all be friends, but most of all, Ivy had been jealous while I danced with another girl, and it made me gloat with foolish pride.

She had no reason to be jealous, but it was a heady feeling all the same. She wants me. She told me.

And I want her with every part of me. My head. My soul. My heart.

I’ve fallen fast and hard for Ivy Carrigan, just like the words she said two years ago. Faster. Harder. But just as I told her last night, this round, we are taking things slow.

What I don’t like about the images of me with another girl in the club is the angle. I look like I’m kissing her, and it doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t want Ivy misinterpreting the images, but as I near her by the pool, the vibe coming off her tells me she already has.

“Mornin’,” I say, falling into a seat next to her. Tommy’s on her other side, talking with two women standing on the other side of the rope. Security has his back to us, but he’s on alert if he needs to ask the women to step away. Based on their laughter, I don’t think Tommy will be shooing them off anytime soon.

Ivy mumbles, “Good morning,” but doesn’t look at me. Her head tips back on the small pillow. Thick round sunglasses cover her eyes.

“What’s this?” I snap, not appreciating the cold shoulder. Her lips twist, and then she leans forward. The strain pops her belly, covered in her thin gauzy dress. Seeing her covered up pisses me off as much as her attitude. She reaches into a large bag and pulls out her phone. Before I even see what she’s going to show me, I know the picture. She hands it to me anyway.

I glance down, but I don’t have to focus. I turn to her.

“Last night, you told me not to make decisions for you without talking to you first, and I’m going to ask the same thing of you. Don’t make judgments about me until you talk to me.” My anger grows with each word. “There’s one thing I’m not. A liar. There’s one thing I am. Loyal. I would never kiss another woman with you as my girl, and I would never kiss another woman and then kiss you.” I’m nearly shaking I’m so angry. How can she think I’d be like this?

“I’m sorry,” she mouths. “It’s just…my mother and Hank. They were always like this. Making statements and declarations, and then throwing each other into the flames of jealousy. But it’s no excuse, and I did misjudge you.”

I’m still humming, adrenaline rushing through me. I scoot off the lounger where I sit and snap at her to stand. She pulls up her glasses, propping them on her head, and blinks at me. Tommy stops talking to the women next to him and turns his attention toward Ivy.

“Baby girl?” he mutters.

I reach out my hand for Ivy. “Please, stand.” She flips her legs off the sun chair and approaches me. “Take off the dress.”

“Gage,” she warns me, looking left and right.

“I want to go swimming.” I just told her I wasn’t a liar, but that doesn’t mean a little fibbing here and there hasn’t happened. Once she’s removed the material, I fall to one knee. My name shrieks from her sweet mouth, and her hands cups my face. She’s trying to pull me up by my cheeks, but I reach for her wrists, countering her force and plant my face against her belly. Kissing her with an open mouth, I circle her stomach, sucking at her skin.

“Gage,” she growls, but I don’t pull back even though one wrist breaks free and she digs her fingers into my hair. She tugs, and it stings, but I don’t lean away until I’ve finished. When I do, I stand, facing her with a shit-eating grin on my lips. “What do you think you are doing?”

“Making my own declaration. Just to be clear, Ivy Carrigan. I want you, and the baby you carry.”

“But it’s not—”

I stop her with two fingers over her lips. “She’s mine, just as you’ll soon be.”

A presence comes behind me. “Social media’s going to love this one.” Petty smacks me on the back, and I stumble forward into Ivy. Her hands come to my shoulders, ready to push me away again, but I quickly wrap my arms around her, tugging her into an embrace. I kiss the side of her neck.

Petty’s taken my seat, and Jared stands next to me. Tommy gets up from his chair.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Let’s not make a scene,” I remark, keeping my eyes on Ivy.

“You already did,” Tommy seethes.