Page 104 of Haven

“I’d say fuck you, but it’s true,” She snorted before she could stop herself. “I’m seventeen weeks, but I feel huge.”

“Is there only one in there?”

“There better only be one big baby in here, or I am killing all three of them.”

I laughed. “Only one got you pregnant.”

“Yeah, well, I still don’t know which one, so I’m blaming them all. Let's eat. Your future niece or nephew is starving.”

EVIE

Faye’s awake.

“I gotta go. Fang is awake. Make sure your polycule spoils you rotten and take good care of my future nibling.”

“I love you. If you need me, call me.”

Evie was sitting on the edge of Fang’s bed when I arrived at the hospital. All three of their kids were here, and the aura in the room wasn’t as depressing. Fang was laughing, or trying to laugh, since she had broken ribs.

“Hey, sugar.”

“I am trying hard not to leap in your arms right now,” I said, trying and failing to hide the wobble in my tone.

“C’mon, sugar. I’m not gonna shatter. I can get a hug.” I gently leaped into her arms, careful not to hurt her. “Now, last I heard, you were blamin’ yourself? Let’s not do that ‘cause it’s not your fault.”

I pulled back. “I’m sorry he tried blowing you up.” I wiped my eyes. “I don’t understand why he keeps hurtin’ everyone I care about.”

“Weak men take out obstacles. He wants you, and he knows we’ll protect you just like Cinder protected you.” She took my hand. “And we will be by your side when you kick his ass.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay. Get better so you can get out of here. I know Cher is crawlin’ your ass huh?” Fang laughed before wincing. I looked at Evie and their kids. “Keep her outta trouble. Lemme know if you need anything. I’ll be at my shop for a few hours, and then I’ll be home.”

I left the hospital and headed towards Misfit Ink. There were several tattoos to do today, but none of them were major. Tattooing was my passion, but right now it was hard to focus on it. I did enough to keep the bills paid, but I wasn’t letting myself work on big pieces. The only big tattoo I was doing would be Ariel’s in a few days.

With my music blasting and sketches being prepared, I was ready for a busy night. Vesper and Hades kept me company via FaceTime until my first client got to the shop. The first tattoo was a whimsical crescent moon tattoo with flowy clouds, bats, and a black cat. It was one of my favorite tattoos I’d done, simply because I loved tattooing moons. My final tattoos for the night involve a mushroom lady, a jellyfish, and my personal favorite lesbian tattoo—scissoring scissors. It always made me giggle since I had a version of the same tattoo on my thigh.

When my last client was done for the night, I locked up the shop and started cleaning. I glanced at my phone and Vesper sent me a cute text. She was truly a poet. Vesper was truly an amazing woman, and she let me tattoo her. She let me claim her as mine after years of denying her feelings. Vesper had shown me unwavering devotion and even groveled a few times since the night I tattooed her. I was in love with her, and I think it was time to finally give into what I knew I wanted.

I was ready to take that leap and finally give myself to the woman I loved. There was no point in denying my feelings for her. I was in love with her—had been in love with her for years— and now I wanted nothing more than to consummate years of desire.

I grabbed my phone and texted Vesper. It was time to have her.

ME

Tonight. I’ll shower at the shop.

VESPER

I’ll be ready for you, mariposa.

Eighty-Seven

Rory

Iknew having a shower at my shop would come in handy one day, but I expected it to be for a chemical spill or an ink bath explosion—not prepping for sex with Vesper. When I told Hades, she told me to get my girl and then to tell her all about it after. There was a deity up there somewhere, and I was her favorite because I had two women who worshiped the ground I walked on and who would possibly like each other, too? I felt the connection between them when I was in the hospital. If I was projecting, I would be fine with being the spoiled brat between them both.

When I got home, I put my leather jacket on the hook with my keys and skipped to the kitchen. Reba and some other Vipers were in there as I grabbed a couple of water bottles. I glanced at Reba and beamed. She mimicked my smile as I skipped out of the room again. It was time to have my world rocked by a certain Latina woman.

When I opened Vesper’s door, she pulled me in and used my body to close the door as she grasped my hands and lifted them over my head.