16. Ivy
IVY
The music thrums through me, and from my vantage point backstage, I sway to the beat as Stone’s gorgeous voice soars through the theater.
He’s nothing short of epic onstage, the sexy rocker giving the audience what they want: music, passion, tension, and love stories told in the four-minute span of a song.
Callum is by my side the entire time, on the clock, keeping guard.
And even though it feels like we’re on the cusp of something, I also like that he’s watching over me. Going into the next part of the night with the man who keeps me safe in public and in private feels thoroughly right.
When the performance ends, I’m giddy. My entire body is bathed in adrenaline. This is everything I wanted the show to be.
Enthralling.
Exciting.
A true comeback for The Extravagant. The chance to bring this hotel that my parents started on their own into a whole new generation.
We did it. It’s happening. And what’s coming next feels like a secret celebration.
The audience demands an encore, and Stone delivers, giving them a slow and sexy rendition of “After Dark” that has me shimmying my hips. And has Callum brushing a kiss to the back of my neck.
It’s the first time he’s kissed me since our night together, and it makes me shiver. I press my back against his chest, and he slinks an arm around me, this big man keeping me close. The entire moment feels like a prelude of what’s to come.
When the performance ends, we make our way out of the theater and through the casino. “Stone said he needs to shower. He’ll be upstairs in twenty minutes,” Callum says.
“Twenty minutes,” I muse as we step into the elevator. “I wonder what we can do in twenty minutes.”
Part of me wonders if we should talk. But a bigger part says talking can wait. I don’t want to spoil the mood. I want tonight on its own terms, whatever tonight is.
Do I want everything with Callum?
Yes.
But I’m also going to take what I can get.
As the doors close, he slides a hand over my ass, gripping hard, then answering, “In twenty minutes, I can give you your first orgasm of the night. Just an idea.”
I shudder at his touch, wiggling against his hand.
He responds with a harder squeeze. “I like the sound of that, but there’s something I want to do alone with you,” I say, turning to face him, and truly savoring the sight in front of me.
His broad shoulders, his expansive chest, his chiseled jaw, the five-o’clock stubble making him even sexier.
“What’s that?” His question is all sandpaper and gravel.
“I haven’t seen you with all your clothes off. You’ve seen me naked, Callum. I haven’t even gotten your shirt all the way off.”
“You want to undress me?” he asks, like he’s processing my request.
I nod, licking my lips. “I do. I want to take your clothes off and taste you. I want to have you in my mouth. Will you let me?”
His eyes squeeze shut for a second, and he breathes through his nostrils. “How is that even a question?”
When he opens his eyes, he closes the distance, pressing me to the wall and crushing his lips to mine.
I melt the second he touches me. I’m back where I want to be. With him. Connecting. Feeling. Wanting.
I run my hands up his chest, spreading my palms over his shirt, feeling his pecs, and letting myself float into the kiss.
Giving in to a kiss that feels like a promise.
It’s not hard. It’s not rough. It’s not dirty.
It’s simply a kiss.
Undeniably tender and chased with emotions. At least, I hope his emotions match what’s inside my heart.
In the living room in my suite, he tosses his suit jacket on a chair as I pour two glasses, handing him one. He clinks, and we both knock back the liquor.
Then he sets down his glass and tugs at his tie, loosening it. He lets go, hands at his sides.
My turn.
I reach for the tie and unknot it slowly, savoring every second, every motion.
When it’s undone, both sides hanging neatly, I tug it off. But I don’t drop it to the floor. Instead, I toss it around my neck, like a scarf. “How do I look?”
“Spectacular,” he answers. “I’d like you to wear that, and only that.”
I hum my approval, then knot the tie loosely, letting it dangle between my breasts, over my silver sequins.
I don’t care about my clothes right now. I want to see this beautiful man naked. My fingers dance across the waistband of his slacks, toy with the belt, then move up to the buttons on his shirt till I reach the neck.
His chest rises and falls as I undo the first button, then the next. And one more.
My playful mood fades away, replaced by heat and want.
“Callum,” I whisper when I’m halfway down his shirt, his skin revealed.
“ Ivy. ”
In a flurry I undo the rest of the buttons.
“You’re gorgeous,” I say reverently, pushing open the shirt, and my breath hitches at the sight of him.
So broad, so firm. So everything I’ve imagined.
His pecs are carved and incredible to touch—a solid plane of masculinity, with a fine dusting of hair I can run my nails through, and I do, oh God, I do, dragging them down to the hard grooves of his abs, each one cut and chiseled.
All that leads to the promised land.
My hands explore him as his breathing intensifies. I slide off the sleeves, letting the shirt fall to the floor, and my mouth falls open as I take in his upper body.
It is absolute perfection. I run my hands along his arms, imprinting the muscle and his strength in my mind, memorizing the way he feels.
He groans, and the sound is carnal, sending sparks across my shoulders and down my chest.
He tucks a finger under my chin and makes me look at him. “Is this what you want, beautiful?”
“To touch you?”
“Yes. Is this your fantasy?” he asks, like he needs to know, needs to be certain.
I nibble on the corner of my lips, nodding.
“Yes,” I say, and speaking the truth with my friend isn’t enough.
I need to give this man all my confession.
I cup his cheek, stroke his jaw. “Because you’re my fantasy.
All my fantasies are with you, for you, about you,” I say, and desire builds in me, gathering strength.
“You’re in all of them, Callum. Every one.
And I want to see you. I want to know your body. ”
“Have me.” He lets go of my chin, lowers his hands to his belt, and tugs it off. As he toes off his shoes, he runs a thumb over the button of his slacks. “Finish it, Ivy. Undress me all the way.”
I swallow, breathing hard, pleasure rushing through me. My panties grow damper by the second as I undo the button, unzip, then push his pants over his strong, muscular ass, stopping to run my hands along his sculpted cheeks.
Yum.
“Damn,” I say approvingly.
“What’s the ‘damn’ for?”
“Your ass is a work of art. It’s like a sculpture.”
He laughs, loops his hands around my body, and squeezes mine. “I could say the same about you.”
Then I swat his hands away. “Still my turn.”
He holds up his hands in playful surrender. “Don’t let me stop you.”
“I won’t.” I finish pushing his pants down, and he bends, steps out of them, and sheds his socks.
He’s clad only in black boxer briefs, and he’s glorious.
Thick thighs, powerful legs, muscles for days.
He’s so strong, and I want this gorgeous man to take me hard and ruthlessly. I cup his erection over his briefs, and his breath hitches. “I’m going to get on my knees for you. I want you to own my mouth, Callum. Don’t hold back. Don’t ever hold back.”
“Never. Never with you,” he says, as I kneel and he wraps a hand around my head, curling a big palm over my hair, clasping me tight.
The hold he has on me is a reminder that he knows what I want. That he knows how I like it.
And that we’ve shifted into this part of the night—from me in control to him taking charge.
Just the way I want it. To be put in my place by this man.
Or, really, by two men.
Because as soon as Callum pushes down his briefs, freeing his gorgeous shaft and rubbing it against my lips, making me moan, the door chimes.
“I’ll get it,” I say.
He shakes his head. “No, Ivy. That’s my job. You stay on your knees where you belong right now.”
I shudder and say yes.
He pulls up his briefs, then grabs his pants and puts them on quickly. He cuts across the carpet to the door, peering out the peephole.
Satisfied, he opens it.
“Let’s get this party started!” Stone calls out.
As he strides in, I catch a glimpse of Jackson turning away, heading down the hall.
He’ll be guarding all three of us tonight.
Then the door closes, and the rest of the show begins.