still, but that he’s here means it was real. I’m not crazy, not wrong about that.
I leap into his arms, quickly wrapping my legs around his waist in what he calls my ‘koala maneuver’. Without even waiting, I pepper his cheeks with kisses, feeling his hands squeeze my ass tight.
“Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?” he asks uncertainly. My lips are pressed to the corner of his mouth when he asks, so I feel the slowly blooming smile on his lips.
Daysha interrupts, slyly inquiring, “Forgiven for what, exactly?”
I don’t answer. All my attention is on Connor. I want to hold on to him and never let go, or crawl under his skin and write my name on his heart, or both.
“Of course!” I reply into his neck, trying my best not to lick it like a lollipop yet. But I give in and swipe my tongue over his skin just a little, tasting the salty musk that’s uniquely him and thinking, ‘I licked him, he’s mine.’ “If you forgive me too.”
Aleria hums, apparently hearing that one. “Ooh, she fucked up too. Must be why she needs the sage. But her aura is already looking better.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Poppy,” Connor says, holding me tighter to whisper in my ear, “I love you.”
The words are quiet, meant for just me and him, but my girls hear him clearly in the otherwise quiet room, and they gasp. I do too, especially when he slowly rubs the tip of his nose against mine in a tender move that makes my inner romantic sigh in blissed out delight.
He lays a soft kiss to my jaw, my cheek, and then my earlobe before saying it again, his breath hot against my skin. “I love you.”
Then he nips my earlobe with his teeth, claiming me and making me yelp in happy surprise. That’s the Connor I know. “I love you too!”
That was definitely too loud, but even the librarian is looking at us in wide-eyed wonder since we’re basically making out in the historical fiction section.
“Oh, my gawd! Did you hear that?” Becca squeals as she claps her hands enthusiastically, grinning like a fool. “They’re in love! I’m swooning! It’s like a book to real-life adaptation right in front of us.” At the librarian’s glare at the noise, Becca clasps her hands under her chin, looking ridiculously happy and near tears. “Where is Netflix when you need them? I vote for Julia Roberts to play Poppy because of the red hair.”
Daysha holds a finger to her lips, telling Becca, “Shh, maybe they’ll forget we’re here and we’ll figure out what the fuck is going on with some decent context clues. And Julia Roberts is too old to play Poppy, but she could play her mom.”
“Emma Stone?” Aleria suggests.
Slowly, Connor puts me down, but he keeps me curled into his side, his arm around my shoulders like he can’t bear to not touch me. Or maybe like he’s afraid I’ll end up doing something crazy again.
But I only have one thing on my mind.
“Uh, thanks, ladies, but I gotta get going now.”
“But your book!” Jasmine reminds me before rolling her eyes. “Fuck it, you’ll get it done.”
“Yeah,” Connor growls. “I’ll make sure she finishes, but we’ve got some shit to straighten out first.”
Daysha snickers. “Just make sure she can form a coherent thought when you’re done, and maybe still type, or else you’re going to be the one taking dictation!”
“Dick-tation!” Becca repeats, putting a lewd emphasis on the first syllable. “I’m stealing that one!” She holds a finger out, implying an erect penis, and then makes a tapping motion as though someone could actually type with their dick.
“All yours,” Daysha tells her easily. “That’s not really my style in my books.”
While Becca and Jasmine encourage Daysha to introduce an occasional light moment into her super dark, twisted stories, Connor shoves my laptop into my bag and slips it over his own head to carry it. Holding his hand out to me, he entwines his fingers with mine and kisses my temple. It feels special and intimate, as though I’m precious to him.
“Let’s go home.”
Chapter 28
Connor
As soon as the door to Poppy’s place opens, all hell breaks loose. I’m swarmed by a duo of fluffy, white-furred hype machines who yap and jump and smile big, pink-tongued doggy grins when they realize I’m back. All the while, they completely ignore Poppy, who’s watching the whole scene with a pouty lip. I can almost see the thought bubble over her