Chapter One
Ivy
"Austin," I moan, tipping my head back against the wall as he slips his hand between my legs. I'm so damn wet already. Jesus. With him, I always am. "We don't have time for this."
"Lies," he growls, nipping the side of my throat as his thumb presses against my clit. "We absolutely have time for you to come all over my fingers, princess."
I whimper his name, biting my tongue to keep from crying out as he slips two fingers inside me, fucking me with them.
We're already pushing our luck. My parents are expecting us to be at my Uncle Gideon and Aunt Kenna's house for the annual Carmichael Family Reunion soon. And if we're late, my dad, Ciaran, will not be thrilled. He's already not thrilled that I'm bringing someone. As far as he's concerned, I'm too young to date. Actually, as far as he's concerned, I'll permanently be too young to date. My grandpa Zion is just as bad.
But I don't care what they say. Austin isn't just some guy I'm hooking up with. Until him, I'd never hooked up with anyone, in fact. Austin Eller is my future, my soulmate. My one. I knew it the minute I set eyes on him. I don't care if I am only twenty. Sometimes, you just freaking know.
My parents taught me that. So did my aunts and uncles. Love is forever in this family, and it hits like lightning.
It hit me hard. I'm crazy about this man, and no one is going to change my mind, not even my overprotective dad and grandpa.
"There is always time for me to get you off," Austin whispers against my skin. "So be a good girl and come for me."
I whimper again, trying like hell to hold it off, but there's no use. He knows my body far too well. I bury my face in his shoulder, crying out quietly as the cord snaps and I shatter to pieces in his arms.
"That's it," he breathes. "Just like that, Ivy."
I moan, rocking my hips into his hands as he works out every last shake and shiver, leaving me trembling and blissed out. Just like always. I swear, he's far too talented with those hands. Then again, he should be. He makes a fortune playing professional football, partly because of those skilled hands.
"Christ, I love how sweet you are when you're coming for me, princess," he whispers, pressing his lips against my ear. "So goddamn beautiful."
I whimper again, pressing my lips to his throat. "I love you."
"I love you too." He tips my head back, his mouth coming down on mine in a soft kiss. I melt into it, my heart pounding against my ribcage as our tongues tangle. When I'm breathless, he pulls back, his onyx eyes locking with mine. "I'm not worried about meeting your family today, Ivy. You shouldn't be worried about it, either."
"You don't know my family," I groan, nerves intruding into my happy bubble. "They're all crazy people."
A smile dances on his lips. "They made you. They can't be that bad."
"You haven't met my dad or my grandpa." I pause. "Or my uncles or my great-uncles. Or my cousins."
"I'm not worried, baby. It'll be fine."
"They're going to spend all day trying to figure out how to break us up," I warn him.
"Let them." He shrugs, sliding his hand up to cup my cheek. "That shit isn't happening. You're mine. They can test me all they want. I'm not going anywhere. I knew the minute I met you that you were my future. If they need to push to make sure I'm a motherfucker worthy of one of their greatest treasures, let them do it. It won't change anything for me."
"You say that now," I mumble. "Just wait until you meet them."
"Baby." He laughs softly. "It'll be fine."
"Fine," I huff. "But don't say I didn't warn you, Austin Eller."
If he wants to be thrown in the deep end with my crazy family, well, okay then. But he's going to have to sink or swim on his own. Because I have no control whatsoever over them. They're all lunatics.
He'll find out for himself soon enough because the reunion starts in
"Crap!" I cry, squirming out of his arms as my gaze lands on the clock across the room. "We've gotta go!"