33. Ivy
thirty-three
Ivy
Later That Day
It’s been an incredibly fun day with my friends.
Pierlo, Matteo, Lucia and I spent all afternoon exploring the city. As disappointed as I was when Cillian didn’t join us, it gave the three of us time to catch up.
My friends realized the guy at the party was the same man in my paintings and it turned into a whole thing. They demanded I bring him down to meet them. We’re supposed to have a nightcap in the lobby bar an hour from now, but I convinced them to meet us in the lobby lounge. I want to respect Cillian’s boundaries with alcohol.
The way I see it, the faster we integrate our worlds, the better.
By the time we return from dinner to the Edgewater, the sun is setting over the Olympics. I know he’s waiting for me and I cannot wait to jump him. We have an hour before we need to be downstairs, plenty of time to take the edge off.
As I enter the suite, I see he’s lit the candles again, which flicker gently. There’s a bouquet of fresh roses on the table. Cillian stands by the window, looking out at the Olympic Mountains, his silhouette framed by the fading light.
He turns to face me as I close the door and his eyes light up with so much warmth it makes my heart race. “ Mo shíorghrá .”
“Hey.” I move toward him. He meets me halfway, pulling me into his arms. The feel of his body against mine, the woodsy scent of his skin—intoxicating.
Cillian leans in, his lips brushing softly against mine. Our kiss deepens, and I feel a rush through my body when his hands cradle my face. Our lips move with heated intensity, each kiss ignites sparks which spread through my entire body, leaving me breathless and yearning for more.
I reach for the buckle on his pants, causing Cillian to pull back slightly. His eyes search mine. “Ivy, can we talk first? ”
Dread fills my gut. I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “Oh-kay.”
“It’s not like that.” He leads me to the couch where we sit down, facing each other. Considering the furrow in his brow and the way his eyes flicker with uncertainty, it seems like maybe it is “like that.”
“Doesn’t make me feel any better.” I feel my breath catch.
“Hear me out. Look, I want nothing more than for us to start our life as a couple.” Cillian studies me intensely. “Last night, in the heat of passion, we made proclamations and promises. All day, I’ve struggled to figure out what it means logistically. As a builder, I know the importance of foundation. A strong frame. A leak-proof roof…”
All I hear is him breaking up with me again. I interrupt, angry. “Is this you backtracking? Trying to let me down easy?”
Cillian shakes his head. “No, baby, you’ve got it all wrong. I believe in us completely . What I mean by logistics is…I don’t want to spend any nights away from you. I think we have to tell your parents about us and face whatever consequences come our way. I’d like to do it tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to spend any nights away from you either.” I let out a deep breath because I’m relieved, then the rest of what he said catches up with me. “Wait, what? Tomorrow ? Why? ”
“Think about it. I’m obviously not going to stay at your house. Are you going to tell your folks you’re sleeping at mine??” He takes my hand between his.
I shake my head. He’s got a point. “Um…I don’t want to lie to my parents about where I am.”
“Okay.” Cillian’s grip on my hand tightens. “My part is done. I’d filled my dad in about you a while ago and today I told my parents we’re back together. We have their support.”
It takes me a minute to absorb. “Were they upset?”
“Honestly, my ma took a minute at first but she came around. Da told me anyone with eyes could see we have something going on. Apparently, we’re not as subtle as we think we are.” He shrugs. “Ivy, we’re not fooling anyone. We love each other. It’s not a crime. Let’s not begin our second chance with lies to your family. My only hope is your folks forgive us for keeping our past from them.”
“Hold on, do you think we tell them the whole truth?” I can’t imagine how my dad is going to react to the current “us” let alone past “us.”
“Don’t you think it’s best? Explain everything—how we met, our past, our plans for the future.” A hint of a smile plays on his lips. “We can’t assume your parents will react badly. Maybe they’ll support us. Maybe your dad has truly changed and will let you live the life you want to live. ”
I bite my bottom lip, feeling skeptical. “Uh…I’d like to believe you but so far he and I haven’t disagreed on anything. If he’s backed against a wall, my dad can be pretty intense. He speaks without thinking. Some of the things he’s said to me in the past…” Ivy bites her lip. “Sure, he’s apologized, but I’m always a bit on edge. I don’t want to stress him out.”
“Oh, baby. I’ll never allow him to hurt you. I’d put a stop to it immediately.” Cillian scoots closer.
“I know and I appreciate you wanting to protect me.” I sigh. “I guess I’ve forgiven, but I can’t ever forget.”
“Look, my da said something that resonated with me: you and I have to be on the same page if we’re serious about building a future.”
Now I’m confused. “How are we not on the same page?”
“I feel strongly about telling your parents about us, but I’m not going to put pressure on you.” He scrubs his hand through his hair.
I look into his eyes, feeling a surge of determination. “I’m not under any pressure. If you asked me to elope tonight, I’d do it. I want all the ickiness to be over. It’s time for us to start our life, no matter what it takes.”
“If it were up to me, we’d be on the next plane to Vegas. A big part of me regrets not taking you up on it three years ago.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “There’s an alternative if you’re not ready for the fallout. You could get your own place. Then we could see each other whenever we want. You could stay with me, I could stay with you. It would give us more time to ease them into the idea of us being a couple.”
Frustrated, I get up and go to the window. “I don’t like that option. There’s no reason for me to get my own place for optics. Last night we talked about me moving in with you. Getting married. Having babies.”
“Of course I want all those things. Why are you upset?” Cillian follows me and touches my arm. “Talk to me.”
I turn to him. “I’m not a kid. My dad trusts me to run the company. If he can’t trust me to pick my life partner, it’s his problem. If you don’t want to live together just say…”
“…of course I want to live with you. It’s all I want.” Cillian pinches his nose.
“Don’t overcomplicate it, then. Let me worry about my parents.” I grip his elbows and plead, “If I want to spend the night with you while still living at my parents’ house, it’s my decision. I don’t feel any shame about wanting to be with the man I love. If I move in with you, same thing. Telling my parents about our current relationship isn’t something I’m shying away from, but slow your roll. We literally reconnected yesterday.”
“Point taken. Which is why I wanted us to have options.” Cillian takes my hands in his. “Are you opposed to telling your dad about our past? ”
“No…” I hesitate.
“Are you sure?” He caresses the backs of my hands with his thumbs. “You said you aren’t shying away about telling them about our ‘current’ relationship. What did you mean?”
I thread my fingers with his and look into his soulful hazel eyes. “I’d like to tell them the whole truth, eventually. But let’s start with where we are now. We’ll show them how committed we are, how much we mean to each other. Once they see us for who we are, then we explain the rest.”
“I don’t know.” He doesn’t look convinced. “I’ve developed trust with your father over the past three years. I think he might react badly if he finds out later. I’d prefer to be upfront, even if it’s difficult.”
I can’t help but sigh. “But, we’ve already kept it from him, Cillian. I honestly don’t know why, at this point, it’s any of his business. I think it’s best if we gauge their reaction and if it goes well, we can suss it out from there. I don’t want to overwhelm them all at once, especially with everything my dad is going through.”
“I don’t agree.” Cillian squeezes my hands. “But, if you feel strongly, let’s roll with it.”
Stepping even closer, I wind my arms around his waist. “I understand why you’re skeptical.” I take his hand and place it on my heart. “But, I’ve talked with my therapist at length about this. Most children—let alone adult children—don’t feel a duty to disclose private details of their sex life to their parents. When we first met, I was under so much of my dad’s control, I wasn’t acting rationally. Having time away where I learned how to take care of myself in a country I wasn’t familiar with has done wonders for my self-confidence. We’re not going to hide our relationship. We also don’t need to be compelled to explain ourselves. I love you. And, I don’t need—or care if I have—my dad’s approval to be in love with you.”
Cillian leans down and kisses me so tenderly it cements what I know. We’re in this together, no matter what. “You’re a wise woman, Ivy Bright. I’m glad we talked this out. They’re your parents. I’ll follow your lead.”
Our kiss deepens, sending a thrill through my entire body. I pull him closer, my fingers tangling in his hair. “Good,” I murmur between kisses, “because we don’t have much time before we’re supposed to meet my friends, and my pussy is very empty.”
“Poor little pussy.” He cups my ass and lifts me, and I lock my legs around his waist. “How long do we have to fill her?”
I nip his chin. “Ten minutes, fifteen tops.”
He whirls me around and sets me on the back of the couch and flips my skirt up. “Let me see what I can do.”
“ Aaahhhh !“ I moan as he pulls my panties to the side and sucks my clit into his mouth. I buck beneath him, pulling on his hair as he worships me with his tongue.
“You taste like heaven.” He inserts two fingers inside me.
He kisses my inner thigh before resuming his feast and curling his fingers against the spot that always makes me shatter into a thousand pieces. Soon, I’m soaring. Floating away on a cloud of ecstasy.
“Mission accomplished,” Cillian purrs into my ear. “We even have a minute to spare.”
He helps me up and I straighten my clothes. I look in the mirror. It’s obvious I’m blissed out. “I’m flushed. My nipples are like bullets. They’re gonna know what we were doing.”
“Good.” He walks over to the burning candles and blows them out. “Let them.”
Hand in hand, we get into the elevator to meet my friends.
I feel like a million bucks. We tackled a tough topic, talked it through and worked it out. Cillian really listened, even though he disagreed with me.
And he made me come.
He shouldn’t worry though. Telling my parents will be fine.
Mom will, anyway.
As for Dad? Hopefully he’s changed. If I’m happy, he should support me.
And no one makes me happier than Cillian.