Page 101 of Cactus Heart
“I told you!” Evie announced. “Told you! I fucking called it.”
“Y’all are bitches,” I mumbled, chuckling as Evie fixed up another cup of coffee for our best friend.
June gave me a side hug, resting her head on my shoulder before joining us in our little coffee circle. “Don’t get us wrong, we’re happy for you. You seem happy, too. I’m just a little worried.”
“I’m just going to soak up every moment I can,” I said. “That’s all I’m focusing on right now. That, and the fact that we have kinky times planned this week and I’m excited.”
“What kind of kinky times?” Evie asked. “I want to know everything.”
“No details left behind,” June said. “And while we chat, the two of you can come over to my shop and help me organize my shipment of ribbons by color and size.”
“Damn. I knew we were gonna end up doing this,” I laughed.
“Mum season prep is the most serious time of the year.” June drained half of her cup, which made me wonder how much caffeine she’d already had today. “Let’s go, girls.”
Evie and I groaned, but begrudgingly joined her. There was no getting out of mum season, no matter who you were. The closer we got to September, even a couple months out, the more I’d be cursing all of football culture in Texas.
The sunrise was starting to light up our little town. We walked down the sidewalk together until we got to June’s flower shop. The moment we stepped through the back door, we were met with stacks of a billion boxes.
“June,” Evie said with wide eyes. “This is too much.”
“This isn’t half of it.” She grimaced as she leaned against one of the boxes. “Avery, tell us about your mind-blowing sex life. I’ll grab the box cutters so we can open these bad boys up.”
I rolled my shoulders and cracked my knuckles. “You got me for an hour, then I have to go run my own business.”
“Same,” Evie said. “Avery, start talking.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Avery
“You have to keep this secret,” I said as I unlocked the backdoor to my studio.
Both Levi and Mateo sighed dramatically.
“Who are we going to tell?” Mateo asked, shouldering the leather bag he’d brought with him.
I’d told him to bring kink equipment, but now I couldn’t stop wondering what was in there. Floggers? A ball gag? A paddle?
The kink list had come in handy for a variety of reasons, one of them being that I’d mentioned how much I’d enjoy watching the two of them. Voyeuring the two of them would be a major turn on, and it was Mateo’s idea for me to draw them.
That man had all the good ideas. I shouldn’t have been surprised—it wasMateo. I knew just how thoughtful and creative he could be.
As the three of us unleashed ourselves more, the kinkier it got.
“I’m excited to see what you’re hiding in your studio,” Levi said.
My stomach did a little flip. “I don’t let anyone in here for reasons that’ll make a lot more sense momentarily.” Oh god. I was really going to show them my art. Myrealart.
“The antici . . .pation,” Mateo teased.
“I’m also excited to see what’s in Mateo’s bag,” Levi said.
“Me too,” I admitted.
My cheeks flamed as I let them both in. This little idea to have them model for me was probably terrible, because the painting I was working on would never be able to be seen by the public. But, I was okay with keeping it for myself.
Was that selfish? Painting my boyfriends and keeping it somewhere in my house only I could see? Where would that even be? My closet?
