Prologue
Poppy
California
“It’s ten o’clock, and you know what that means. Time for skinny-dipping!” A voice carries over the din as an array of squeals rise up from the festival campground. Within seconds, a band of people head toward the lake for some late-night cavorting.
I glance at D, holding out my hand to help him from his spot on the hemp blanket. “Come on, let’s go.”
He shakes his head, his dark brown hair tumbling around his shoulders. “I’ve got a better idea.” Hopping to his feet, he clasps my hand, leading me to the abandoned lounge area.
We found it on the first night of the festival, and it’s become our secret hideaway from all the hustle and bustle of the circuit. Don’t get me wrong, we adore our fellow festival goers, but sometimes, you need peace and privacy. D and I have been on this tour for the last year, traveling all around the western half of the United States. We didn’t start the journey together, but ever since we found each other at the first festival, we’ve been inseparable.
We follow the music, picking up odd jobs in every city to help afford our travels. This time, it’s working on a blueberry farm, and our fingers are stained purple from the hours of labor. But there is camaraderie amongst the workers, along with the added bonus of stealing a few of the sweet berries when the boss isn’t looking.
I doubt they’ve ever sent someone to jail for stealing a pocketful of blueberries.
D backs me against the wall, his hands cupping my head as his mouth finds mine. Our tongues tangle, his piercing adding an extra layer of sensation. Every kiss is as exciting as our first one, all those months earlier. I was in my vibe, swaying to the music, when this man grasped me around the waist, and insisted that he was laying his claim. When I asked what he was claiming, he kissed me, and I had my answer.
Talk about a bold move. But from the moment our bodies connected, D owned me—body, mind, and soul.
“What can I do for you, D?” I inquire, my fingers stroking along his erection.
“It’s my turn, Poppy,” D replies, sinking to his knees and shoving his head under my skirt.
I lean against the wall, my hands twisting in his long locks, holding him in place as he drives me out of my mind. This man’s tongue. Hell, this man’s hands. This man’s everything.
His talented mouth sends me over the edge, my hips bucking against him, my hands refusing to give him even an inch of space.
Before D, I never cared much for foreplay. Now, I can’t go more than a day without it.
Without him.
I give D’s hair a sharp yank, forcing him back to a standing position. “Wasn’t that a pleasant surprise. It’s not even my birthday.”
“I wouldn’t know, since you never told me your birthday,” D mutters, the corners of his mouth turning downward. “I don’t even know your last name, Poppy.”
“That’s the arrangement, remember?” It’s not unusual, living this nomadic lifestyle. People come and go, and you learn not to get too attached.
But D is a different story. He’s been my constant for almost a year. The memories we’ve created in the space of twelve months would fill several scrapbooks.
“The arrangement has to change. I need to leave.” He gazes out over the distant fields, not meeting my gaze.
His words pierce my heart like an arrow. “Why?”
“I checked my emails yesterday. My father is sick. I need to go home.”
I trace my fingers along the planes of his face, pressing my lips to his. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“You can come with me,” D replies, leaning against the wall. “But I know you won’t. That’s far too domestic for you.”
I run my hands through my blue hair, clipped into a short pixie. “I was really looking forward to New Mexico, but if you need me, I’ll come with you. No questions asked.”
His hand cups my nape, pulling me into a kiss. “It’s okay. But, I will insist that you give me your email address, so I can reach you. Let you know what’s going on.”
“I rarely check my email, but for you, I’ll make an exception.” I smile, leaning my head against his chest. The glitter of the circuit fades, knowing that D won’t be there to experience it with me. “You will come back, won’t you?”
“Do you want me to come back?”
“Absolutely. You’re my everything, D.” I mean it, too. I’ve spent my life not getting attached to people. It’s easier that way—another reason why the festival circuit is such an amazing fit. But all that changed when I met D.
He makes me want things. Things I never dared to hope for before.
“Can we stay here a bit longer?” I ask, my arms tightening around his waist. The man is skinny as a rail, and I’ll bet money his waist is smaller than mine. It doesn’t matter, though, because he is also my safe space.
The only place I feel safe.
“Sure, we can, my Sunshine Girl.”
He gave me the nickname that first day, when the light hit my eyes, turning them a myriad of green and gold. He claimed they held the sunshine, and I was now his Sunshine Girl.
Sunshine and Vitamin D.
We are quite the pair.
And with him by my side, I feel like I can conquer the world.
I settle onto the soft grass, pulling him down next to me. “Make love to me.”
D smiles, his lips grazing mine. “I ran out of condoms.”
“It’ll be okay,” I murmur, smiling against his mouth. The truth is, we don’t need the condoms. I found out a week ago that I’m pregnant. I just haven’t told D the news yet.
“Although there is nothing in the world I love as much as taking you raw, shouldn’t we be careful? What if you get pregnant?”
“Would that be the worst thing?” I ask, figuring this was as good a segue as any.
“Not the worst thing, no,” Dylan mumbles, and my heart drops at his tone. “Just the worst timing.”
I bite my lip, holding back the tears. I was so excited when I found out about the baby, but it’s apparent that D doesn’t share that sentiment. “We can wait until you get back.”
“I don’t want to wait that long, either. Are you crying, Poppy?”
I nod, wiping my eyes with my fingertips. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll come back for you. I promise.”
I hold out my hand, pinky extended. “Not good enough. Pinky swear.”
He wraps his pinky around mine, bringing them both to his mouth and letting his tongue glide along my skin. “We’re two halves of the same whole. We can’t survive without each other.”
“I know. Do you want me to come with you? New Mexico doesn’t matter. You do.”
“I won’t take that experience from you. Besides, I need you to see it for me. I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”
We walk back to our tent a while later, but my sleep is fitful. The sun is creeping over the hill when I finally doze off, a decision made. I’m leaving tomorrow with D. Even if he says he’s okay, I know that by his side is where I want to be.
But when I awaken, D is gone. Slipped away at some point during the night.