“Thank you for telling me. I’m glad,” he said. Tracing aimless shapes against her sides, he added, “I should have asked before I put my mouth on your neck. For that, I apologize.” When she gaped, he tucked a few of her curls behind her ear. “You can always say no, Ivy,” he said. “Even to the smallest of touches, or how close I stand to you. You hold the power. And I’ll always respect your decision.” He watched her throat bob and her lips quiver as she searched for a response. “Thank you,” she breathed. “That… means a lot.”
