Poppy

It took every ounce of my strength to leave Devon behind.

“Poppy, we’ve gotta go, honey, or we’ll hit traffic,” Grace said.

I buried my face deeper into Devon’s chest, shaking my head. He lifted my chin and kissed me gently. “I’ll come up next weekend, baby.”

“But I don’t want to wait a week, Devon. I just got used to your dick. My vibrator’s going to pale in comparison.”

He dropped his head back and laughed and I faceplanted into his chest again, hugging him tight.

“Poppy!” Grace snapped. “I’m going to leave without you.”

Devon wrapped his arms around me, lifting me off the ground and walking me to the car. “You call me when you get home.”

“I will,” I promised, keeping my arms locked around him.

He pulled open the passenger side front door, but I wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

“Ohmigod, Poppy Kenna Wallace, if you don’t get your ass in the car, I’m calling your dad.”

“Okay, Grace,” I hissed. “Give me a second.”

“You’ve said that nine times over the past twenty minutes.”

“You gotta go, baby,” Devon whispered, lifting my head again and kissing me. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

I kissed him again, and again... and again, but then it really was time to get on the road and I had to let him go.

After one more kiss.

I slid into the car and buckled my seatbelt as Devon leaned in and said, “Drive safe, Grace. You run into any issues, you call me.” That last part was for me and I nodded, leaning forward to kiss him one more time.

He pushed out of the car and closed my door and I blew him a kiss. He didn’t blow one back which bummed me out a little, but I wasn’t surprised... he was a badass biker alpha male and they didn’t do such things (I would be noting that in my thesis).

Grace pulled out of the compound and I couldn’t help but crane my neck to watch Devon. He watched me back, giving me one last wave before we drove out of sight.

“Ohmigod,” Lemon breathed out. “That was the best night of my life.”

“You don’t get out much, do you?” Grace retorted.

“Then, Jasmine. Oh my god, that woman’s a miracle worker! My hair’s never looked so good. Thanks for missing your appointment, Poppy.”

I giggled. “Oh, it was worth it in so many ways.”

“Your V-card has officially been punched,” Grace said. “Congratulations.”

I squirmed a little in my seat, memories of the previous night replaying in my mind. I’d ended up staying at the compound while Grace and Lemon went home with Willow and Dash, giving me an entire night with the man of my dreams.

Devon wouldn’t touch me again until well into the morning, after we’d slept for a little while, but when I got up to pee (for the fourth time), I couldn’t wait, and made him so hot and bothered, he couldn’t either. It was amazing.

“So, so punched,” I agreed. “Now I just have to figure out how to get through the final semester without mooning over that man too often.”

“You’ve been mooning over that man for more than ten years.”

I sighed. “This is true.”

Grace’s iPod shuffled to her favorite P!nk song, and my lovesick musings were drowned out by Gracie singing at the top of her lungs. Beautifully. Damn, the girl could sing. Unlike Lemon. But she did it anyway and I dissolved into giggles at Grace’s expressions (that Lemon couldn’t see), as Grace tried to sing louder to drown out the horrific sound of Lemon’s caterwauling.

By the time we pulled up to our townhouse, we were punch drunk and exhausted, but we’d made it home safe and in record time. A miracle, considering I had to pee six times on this particular journey.

Grabbing a handful of stuff, we walked inside and I passed the photo taken of me and Rocket clearing a one-and-a-half-meter jump and it brought back some tough memories again. My gorgeous Arabian had been taken down with one of the worst cases of colic Maverick had seen. Granted, Maverick had only been a vet for a year, but even his uncle, Knight, concurred it was bad.

As I thought back on that time, I realized Devon had been close. Even then. I’d been so blinded by grief (and hatred towards him), that I hadn’t realized how he’d watched me closely, held me when I’d let him, and drove me to all manner of places. These places included (but were not limited to) picking up Rocket’s tack and a bracelet I’d had made out of his tail (which Devon ended up paying for, since I was such a sobby mess, I’d forgotten my wallet and never paid him back).

God, we’d wasted so much time!

Shaking off my maudlin thoughts, Grace and I finished unloading the car, helped Lemon transfer her stuff into hers, then she drove home and we dumped our stuff in the middle of the living room floor and flopped onto the sofa. Sparky jumped up beside me and settled his head on my lap.

“I’m starving,” Grace said.

“Me too.” I glanced toward the kitchen, but didn’t move.

Grace chuckled. “You want me to cook something?”

Grace did most of the cooking. Because, let’s face it, I ‘could burn a pot of water.’ But Grace? She was a wizard in the kitchen and loved it.

“We could always order a pizza,” I said.

She yawned. “Okay, let’s do that instead.”

I grinned, grabbing my phone, and realizing it was dead. “Oh, shit!”

“What?”

“My phone’s dead.” I rose to my feet and grabbed my charger from the pocket of my bag, plugging my phone in. “And I have six missed calls from Devon. Shit, shit, shit.”

“You call him back, I’ll order pizza,” Grace offered.

“Okay,” I said distractedly, and called Devon back.

“What the fuck, Poppy,” he said after the first ring.

“I’m sorry. My phone was dead and I didn’t realize.”

“You okay?”

“Yes, of course I’m okay.” I sat in one of the stools at the kitchen island. “Sorry, honey. Seriously. I never look at my phone when I’m in the car, I get car sick, so I threw it in my bag and forgot about it.”

He sighed. “I thought you were dead on the side of the road.”

I rolled my eyes. “You probably would have heard something if I was dead on the side of the road.”

“Babe,” he admonished. “Don’t minimize this, yeah? I was worried sick. I’m glad you’re okay, but I was just about to get on my bike and come lookin’ for you.”

“Well, now I’m kind of bummed I called you back.”

“Poppy,” he growled.

I giggled. “Sorry, too soon?”

“Little bit.”

I settled my chin in my hand and stared at the crooked magnet on the fridge. “I miss you already.”

“I know, baby. Right there with you.”

“What are you doing right now?”

He chuckled. “Givin’ my heart a minute to calm the fuck down.”

I grinned. “I like that you worry about me, but I really am sorry I didn’t check in.”

“’Preciate that, baby.”

“It’s going to take me a little while to get used to having you around... you know, because you were such an idiot for so long.”

“You’re gonna ride that for a bit, huh?”

“Oh, longer than a bit, honey. Definitely.”

He chuckled.

“I never thanked you.”

“For last night?” he retorted. “Yeah, you did, every time you screamed my name as you came.”

I smiled. “Well, this is true, but no, not that.”

“For what, then?”

“For being there for me when Rocket died.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that, baby.”

“And I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you.”

“You weren’t a bitch to me, Poppy,” he said quietly. “You just hadn’t figured out I loved you yet. I knew you’d come around.”

I gave a sad chuckle. “Well, I didn’t.”

“Sure you did. Just took you a minute to figure it out.”

“Maybe so.”

I heard someone yell for him in the background and my stomach dropped.

“Gotta go, baby.”

I sighed. “I heard.”

“You okay?”

“I’d be better if you were here... you know, shoving your face in my pussy.”

Devon let out a quiet hiss. “You wanna keep that talk to a minimum for me? Can’t walk back into the great room with a raging hard-on.”

“If it makes you feel any better, my nipples could cut glass, and I have a very hidden, but very serious lady boner, so you’re not alone.”

“Fuck me, Poppy, are you serious right now?”

I giggled. “Go, honey. I’m gonna take a minute with my inadequate vibrator. I think I’ll call it Sparky Two Point Oh... Oh... Oh.”

“Goddammit,” he snapped. “I’m coming over.”

“If only.” I sighed. “Call me later when you’re alone and we can have phone sex.”

“No. If we’re havin’ any kinda sex it’ll be in person.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m planning to ruin my vibrator this week. Maybe you should pick me up a new one on your way here.”

“I’m going now, Poppy. Hanging up.”

“Okay, honey. I’ll just finger—”

“Poppy, I swear to Christ, stop.”

“What?” I said, as innocently as I could. “I was just going to say I’ll just finger the exact one I want.”

“Hanging up now.”

“Okay, honey. I love you.”

His voice got soft as he said, “I love you, too, baby.”

Then he was gone.

The doorbell pealed and Grace rushed past me to the door, checking the peephole before opening it.

Pizza. My stomach suddenly rumbled and I checked my watch. I hadn’t realized I’d been talking that long, but apparently time flies when you’re making your man squirm.

After scarfing down our dinner, I dragged my bag to my room and sorted laundry, then took a shower before heading back into the family room to watch a movie with Grace. Sparky was bored by it all, so he stayed put on the sofa unless he needed to be let out.

By the time I called Devon to say goodnight, and then finally hauled my ass to bed, I could barely keep my eyes open. I had a feeling tomorrow was going to be an exercise in how much coffee I could consume.

* * *

I flew out of bed not entirely sure where I was, having been awakened by a blood-curling scream. Another scream woke me enough to realize it was Grace and she was obviously in the middle of one of her night terrors, so I made a run for her room.

Pushing her door open, the light from the hallway casting a yellow hue over her bed, Grace was sitting up in bed, her face filled with fright, but I could tell she was awake. “Hey, honey. You okay?” I asked.

She shook her head, so I made my way to her and sat on the bed, pulling her in for a hug. “Bad one, huh?”

She nodded into my shoulder. “What if I’m like her, Poppy?”

Grace’s mom, Alison, had been my mom’s best friend, and she’d suffered with some pretty severe mental illness issues. Grace and her brother Merrick were as close to me as my own brothers were, and I had loved Alison like a mother. She had shot herself in front of Grace (after threatening to shoot her first), and Grace had been dealing with the trauma for more than ten years now.

She was a total rock star, in my opinion, because talking to her, you’d never know she’d gone through anything. She was down to earth, friendly, and super funny. She never played the victim card, even though she would have been justified to do so. But she was subjected to nightmares. More than I probably knew about, and I hated that for her.

I cupped her face. “There is no evidence, medical or otherwise, that you’re bi-polar or schizophrenic, honey. Don’t go there. I promise, if me or Mum see anything we feel concerned about, we’ll let you know.”

“I really don’t want to be like her, Poppy,” she whispered. “I just want to crawl into a hole and hide sometimes.”

“I know you do, Gracie. But you can’t.” I smiled, squeezing her hand. “Because there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and if you hide, the world won’t get to see how amazing you are.”

“God, I hate her sometimes.”

“I know.” I hugged her again. “I’m sorry, honey.”

She took a deep breath and pulled out of my hug, smiling as she wiped her tears. “I’m good now.”

“You want me to sleep in here?”

“No. I’m good.”

I nodded. “Okay, sweet-cheeks, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Poppy. Thank you.”

I smiled and pulled her door closed before making my way back to my room. Hedging my bets that Devon wouldn’t get woken up by a text, I sent him one just because I needed him to know I loved him.

I was wrong.

He was awake and called me immediately. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m so sorry if I woke you,” I whispered.

“You didn’t. I just got in.”

I glanced at my clock. “It’s three a.m.”

“I’m aware. So, again, you okay?”

“Yes. Grace had a nightmare.”

“She’s still dealin’ with those?”

Devon had been in the bunkhouse at the club one night when Grace had had a nasty one. He’d said nothing about it, just took care of Sparky without being asked, so I could focus on Grace.

“Yes. Not as often or as bad... I don’t think, anyway.” I climbed back into bed. “But a few times a month for sure.”

“That’s gotta fuckin’ suck for her.”

“Seriously.” I flopped onto my pillows and sighed. “I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all go away for her.”

“I know you do.”

“Why are you up so late?” I asked.

“Just had shit to do... it went long.”

I frowned. “Does your ‘shit to do’ go long a lot?”

“Can’t talk about that, baby.”

“Yay,” I deadpanned. “I love that answer... said me never.”

Devon chuckled. “I’m aware.”

“Are you doing anything dangerous?”

“Refer to previous comment.”

I let out a frustrated growl. “You can’t tell me if you’re being safe?”

“That’s not what you asked,” he countered. “I’m always safe.”

“Semantics.”

“Sure, we’ll go with that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“What time do you want me there Friday?”

“Um...” I rolled onto my side and burrowed under the covers. “Class gets out at two, so any time after that is good. If you come around three, I’ll have time to shower and then you can get me dirty again.”

He chuckled. “Can’t wait, baby. You sure Grace is okay with that?”

“Grace adores you. I’ve tried for years to get her on my side, but she refused. She was convinced you were in love with me.”

“She was right.”

“Huh-uh, no,” I countered. “She is my best friend, you two do not get to gang up on me. Mutual Appreciation Society for Poppy Kenna Wallace should be your only goal.”

“Oh, I appreciate you, Poppy. And I’ll show you just how much on Friday.”

I bit my lip. “I can’t wait.”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“That breathy thing you do with your voice when you’re horny,” he said.

I channeled Marilyn Monroe and asked, “What breathy—?”

“No, Poppy.”

“Killjoy.” I sighed. “I want you to play with me.”

“And I will,” he said. “On Friday.”

“Fine, but you better give me twelve orgasms.”

“I can do that,” he promised. “I’m gonna hit the hay... you good?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I’m horny now and you won’t play with me.”

“Holy shit, baby, you’re like a dog with a bone.”

“A lady bone, yes I am,” I confirmed.

He groaned, but he couldn’t hide his laugh. “I’m gonna take care of that on Friday.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Love you.”

I smiled. “Love you too.”

He hung up and I went about trying to sleep.