Chapter 26 Ivy
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ivy
Penny’s finally asleep, thank goodness.
I barely manage to get her tucked in before I feel that wave of exhaustion hit me.
The day was long, and I’m definitely ready to crash, but there’s this lingering buzz from everything that happened today. The convention was overwhelming in the best possible way, and I can’t stop grinning.
Mitchell took second place in the live tattoo competition. Timothy snagged that sponsorship deal like it was nothing. Freddie? He spent the day schmoozing with half the industry, somehow making friends with just about everyone.
I’m proud of them.
I don’t know why it surprised me, but it did. These guys are good at what they do, and they’ve worked hard to get here.
I head into the living room, feeling a little too much like the tagalong, except this time, I don’t mind it. The guys are sprawled out, beers in hand, looking more relaxed than they did earlier. The pressure’s off, and you can tell.
“Penny asleep?” Freddie asks, raising his eyebrows as he cracks open a new beer.
“Yeah, finally,” I say, sitting down next to him. “She was practically bouncing off the walls all day. She’s got more energy than I know what to do with.”
“Good for her,” Mitchell mutters from across the room, eyes still trained on the street outside. He seems to be lost in thought, like there’s something brewing under that cool exterior.
I look over at Timothy, who’s lounging on the couch, one arm draped lazily over the back. He meets my eyes, giving me a slight nod, his mouth curling up into a half smile.
“So,” I say, taking a sip of my water. “You guys did amazing today. I’m seriously impressed.”
“Yeah, well it’s easy when you love it as much as we do,” Timothy says with a shrug, but I notice the pride in his smile.
I glance at Mitchell, noticing how quiet he’s being. Normally, he’s the first one to jump in with a self deprecating joke or sarcastic comment, but tonight, there’s something different about him.
Freddie catches my look and sighs, setting his beer down with a small frown.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice suddenly all business.
My stomach drops a little. Oh no. “What about?”
They share a glance, and that’s when I feel it, the weight of their attention shifting toward me. The easy banter that had been here seconds ago evaporates, and something heavier fills the space between us.
“We’ve been talking,” Mitchell says slowly, turning to face me. “About... about us. All of us.”
I blink. What the hell does that mean? “I’m not sure I follow.”
Freddie leans forward, hands resting on his knees. “Look, Ivy. We’ve been in situations before… together. And we think maybe it’s time to put everything on the table.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Put what on the table?”
Timothy smiles at me, but there’s something too easy about it, like he’s waiting for my reaction. “We were thinking… maybe we should all, you know, share you. Together.”
I laugh, more out of instinct than anything else. “Wait, what?”
Mitchell’s serious. Like, way more serious than I ever expected. “We’ve done this before. The three of us, one woman. If that’s something you like the sound of?”
I’m stunned. What are they even talking about? My brain feels like it’s short circuiting, and I’m not sure if I’m hearing them right.
“Wait. Like some kind of harem?” I almost choke on the word, half laughing, half not.
Freddie offers me a one shouldered shrug. “Is it something you want to try?”
Try.
Like an experiment… a bit of fun. Not the outcome I thought it’d be, I can only imagine how shocked Olivia will be. But I also have to admit, I kinda like the idea.
It’s hot as hell.
I shift uneasily on the couch, not quite sure what to do with my thoughts. The idea lingers between us, thick and heady, and something deep inside me stirs in response. It’s ridiculous. It’s insane. And yet… it’s not as repellent as I’d expected.
In fact, it’s kind of intriguing.
I meet each of their gazes. Mitchell’s dark eyes are steady, almost calculating. There’s no teasing or joking around now. His posture is tight, controlled, but there’s a fire behind his calm exterior.
Freddie leans back on the couch, his fingers wrapped loosely around his beer. There’s something playful in his expression, though I can see the flicker of uncertainty there. He’s testing the waters. Seeing if I’ll dive in.
Timothy’s the one who seems to be waiting. His half-smile is almost too perfect, like he’s enjoying watching me process this whole thing. He’s always been the most relaxed of the three, but tonight there’s an edge to him… like he’s stepping up to the plate.
Without realizing it, I’m leaning forward. The space between us feels charged, as if every breath I take draws me closer to whatever is waiting for me on the other side of this conversation.
My heart beats faster, and my fingers tremble slightly as I set my water bottle down on the coffee table. There’s no turning back now. I look at them, really look at them, and something inside me settles. This is crazy, yes. Unexpected. But it’s also thrilling. I want this. I want them.
“I want to try,” I say quietly, but with more certainty than I feel. “I want this.”
The first move comes from Mitchell.
He’s right there, standing in front of me before I even realize it. He doesn’t say a word. He just leans down, his lips brushing against mine in a way that’s firm, possessive, as though he’s marking his territory.
I don’t pull away.
Instead, my hand reaches up instinctively, gripping the back of his neck. The kiss deepens, slow and deliberate, as if he’s testing my response. My breath hitches, and I can feel his warmth seeping through me, the pressure of his body against mine.
When he pulls away, I’m left breathless. His lips hover just above mine, his eyes locked onto mine with that same intensity that’s always been there.
“I really think this is something you will like,” he says quietly, voice low, “but if not, let us know immediately.”
I don’t know how to respond. I don’t need to. My body answers before my brain can catch up. I stand up, move towards him, and without a second thought, I pull him back into me, kissing him again, this time harder, more desperate.
The world outside us disappears, and all I can focus on is the taste of him, the heat between us, the connection.
Mitchell groans low in his throat, his hands finding their way into my hair, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss.
Just as I start to lose myself, I feel another presence beside me.
It’s Freddie.
His fingers brush my shoulder, and then his lips are on my neck, soft and teasing. He’s slower than Mitchell, more calculated, making sure every kiss is deliberate. His hands trace down my back, sending a shiver down my spine.
I can’t hold back the moan that escapes me. My hands find their way to his chest, and I tug him closer, craving the touch, the connection.
And then Timothy’s there, too. His lips press against my jaw, his hands roaming down my sides, exploring the curve of my waist. He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me in a way that feels almost protective.
Damn, I can’t get enough.
It’s overwhelming, in the best, dirtiest kind of way. I’m surrounded by them. Three bodies, three very different men, and all of them are touching me like I’m theirs.
Mitchell’s kiss is deep, consuming. His hands are everywhere, possessive, greedy, gripping my waist like he’s trying to remind me just how much he wants this. Wants me. His lips crush against mine again, firmer this time, as if I didn’t already get the message.
Behind me, Timothy presses closer, his chest warm and solid at my back. I feel the heat of him through my clothes, his hands sliding up beneath the hem of my shirt, fingertips grazing bare skin. He’s patient, methodical, dragging the tension out with slow, calculated movements that make me ache.
And then Freddie. Sweet, smiling Freddie, who kisses the side of my neck like a secret. He’s on his knees now, hands stroking up my thighs like he’s got all night. Like he’s worshiping. Like he means it.
I gasp when Timothy’s teeth scrape lightly over my shoulder.
“Still good?” he murmurs, voice low and rough.
I nod, breathless. “More than good.”
Mitchell’s lips ghost across my jaw, and he chuckles. “That’s what we like to hear.”
Freddie nips at the inside of my thigh, and my knees almost buckle. “Can I take this off?” he asks, fingers hooking into the waistband of my leggings.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Please.”
Timothy pulls my shirt off slowly, like unwrapping a gift, his eyes dark as they take me in.
“Damn,” he breathes. “You don’t even know what you do to us.”
Mitchell moves behind me now, hands sliding around to cup my breasts over my bra, thumbs flicking over my nipples until I’m arching into him, needing more.
“We’ve thought about this,” he murmurs against my ear. “All the ways we could take you. Ruin you. Share you.”
My breath catches at that word, share. The way he says it makes it sound sinful. Delicious.
Freddie kisses down my belly, his voice a low growl. “You want to be our good girl, don’t you? Let us take care of you.”
Yes.
I can’t speak, I can only nod. Every nerve ending is lit up, every inch of me strung tight with anticipation.
Timothy steps in front of me, hooking a finger under my chin and tipping my face up to meet his. “Say it, baby. We need to hear it.”
My voice comes out in a breathy whisper. “I want all of you. Together. However you want me.”
Something shifts in the room. The tension explodes like a match to gasoline.
Mitchell lets out a curse under his breath, rough and reverent, as he unclasps my bra. The straps slip from my shoulders and the fabric falls away, pooling at my feet.
A shiver runs through me, not from the air, but from the weight of their eyes, the way they look at me like I’m something sacred and wild all at once.