Chapter 9
NINE
AJAX
Thud. Thud. Thud.
There’s a hammering in my head.
I haven’t had anything to drink, but I did fall asleep on the couch.
This morning was tough. Milking the cows went well, but afterward I discovered some of my sheep had gone through a break in the fence and got themselves into Cookie’s vegetable garden.
He went nuts, and I had to get the sheep back into their own paddock and fix the fence.
All before morning tea time.
After having a coffee and stealing a couple of Cookie’s sausage rolls—I was the last person he wanted to feed—I came back to my cabin, laid down on the couch, and promptly fell asleep.
So this banging in my head makes no sense.
It takes a moment to click that there’s someone at the door.
Oh, shit.
That fence should have held. I swear, if the sheep are back in Cookie’s garden again, he might just kill me.
I groan and push myself off the couch, and head toward the door.
With a yawn and a scratch of my neck, I use my free hand to pull open the door.
“Ivy?”
She storms past me, her long, dark hair swaying. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her with it down before, but I like it.
She’s never been on the farm as far as I know—let alone in my cabin. And she’s glorious in her anger—whatever the cause.
She turns, clutching at her head with her hands.
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes meet mine. They’re swollen and red, and tears still linger. Whatever or whoever did this, they’re dead. I want to throttle them with my bare hands.
“Ivy,” I croak.
“I don’t know why I’m here,” she whispers. “I just knew I had to be.”
I cross the room and pull her into my arms. She weeps into my chest, and I guide her down onto the couch, settling her on my lap.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Everything.” She sniffs, leaning her head on my shoulder.
I’m not sure what brought her here, but I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of vanilla. She smells like home.
We barely know one another, but having her here with me feels right.
“What happened?”
“I fought with Dad.”
I grip her shoulder and hold her tight. “I’m sorry to hear that. For what it’s worth, you’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you.” She sniffs again. “It’s just … I hate this place. Not your place, obviously, but I hate living in the middle of nowhere and feeling trapped.”
My gut falls. The past few days have been a revelation. But if things hadn’t worked out the way they have, I would have continued to admire Ivy from afar, and I very much doubt I’d be on the couch with her on my lap.
“Is that how you feel? Do you want to be somewhere else?”
She places a palm on my chest and pushes herself up a little. “Yes? No? What I do know is that I don’t want to live with my father anymore, but I don’t have a choice right now.”
“Why not?”
“I’m only part-time at the pub, and by the time I pay rent, there’s not much left. That’s what Dad and I fought about. I pay rent while Tyler doesn’t, and I’m expected to do everything around the house. It’s so unfair.”
I frown. “That’s ridiculous. Tyler’s a grown man. So’s your father.”
She sighs. “It all turned to shit when Mum died. Dad lost the plot a bit. I was ready to go to uni, but he begged me to stay. Tyler just seems like he’s along for the ride.”
“And they’ve been taking the piss ever since.”
She tilts her head against my shoulder again. “I guess. It’s all come to a head because I’ve just had enough.”
I nod. “I bet you have.” My heart thuds so hard as if it’s about to leap out of my chest. “You know, if you need somewhere to stay, I have a spare room. Rent free. You can work on the farm.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You don’t need to.” I lower my voice. “I’d do anything for you, Ivy Buchanan.”
Her head shoots up. “You would?”
For a moment, we just gaze into each other’s eyes. If she’ll give me a chance, I’ll give her everything she could ever want.
Her lips twitch into a coy smile.
“It’s a first, but I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Ajax.”
“Clayton. My name’s Clayton.”
Her smile widens. “That’s your real name?”
I nod. “Ajax comes from Greek mythology. He was a big guy.”
She giggles. “Makes sense. What should I call you?”
Swallowing hard, I draw my face a little closer to hers. “I don’t mind. No one else calls me by my real name.”
“Not even your family?”
I snort. “They hated me joining the army. I haven’t spoken to them in years.”
Ivy frowns. “But you’re not in it now.”
I lean back a little. “No, but I found a new family. I don’t think I could be anywhere else but our farm.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. What’s that about?
“I used to think leaving was my dream, but I’m beginning to think I just needed the right reasons to stay.”
My heart beats out of my chest at her words. Is she talking about me?
“I’m guessing your Dad and brother aren’t the right reasons.” My throat tightens. I’m no good at this emotional stuff. I’ve spent so long hardening my heart after being injured, and then Emma’s betrayal.
Ivy studies me for a moment. “It’s my own fault, but I was hurt when you took that Emma woman home.”
Her dark eyes are full of emotion, and I wish more than anything I could turn back time and see through Emma’s lies.
“I didn’t know.”
“And then you were on a date?—”
“It wasn’t a date.”
Ivy’s brows knit.
I shake my head. “I told you—it was Digby and Cookie’s doing. They put me on some dating site. I showed up to tell her the truth. I had no other way to contact her, and I didn’t want to leave her hanging. I didn’t think that was fair.”
The tension rolls out of Ivy’s face. “Oh.”
“And then … well, you know what happened.”
“She was a bitch.”
I shrug. “She had no warning. Those two used old photos.”
Ivy frowns. “Still. The way she acted was awful. I like your face just fine.”
My head swims. “You like my face?”
She cups my scarred cheek. “I do. I always have.”
“You’re feeling very bold today.”
“I’m angry with the world, and you.” She shoves at my chest, but I capture her wrists.
“Me? What did I do?”
“You were there with her ,” she whispers.
“I told you why. I didn’t want to be.” I tug her closer. “I’d much rather be here with you.”
My hand rests on her hip, and she drops her hand to cover mine. She gives it a squeeze.
Our gazes are locked, and just as I lean in to kiss her, her lips land on mine and I’m pushed backward onto the couch.
Ivy straddles my lap, her palms resting on my chest as she kisses me hard. I might be taken by surprise by her move, but I open, and her tongue gently probes mine before she deepens the kiss.
I’m as hard as a rock, and when she wiggles her hips and moans, it’s clear she knows.
I pull her with me as I lie lengthways on the couch with her astride me. She doesn’t stop kissing me the whole time, and I get a better handle on her hips as she grinds against me.
“Ivy,” I whisper. “I want you. I want you riding me right here on this couch. I want you in my bed. You don’t ever have to go back to your Dad’s place. There’s a place right here for you with me.”
She pulls away, staring at me with wild eyes. “You really mean that?”
“With everything in me. I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as much as I want you.”
Tears well in her eyes. “Clayton?” she whispers.
Oh god, how I love my name on her lips.
I stroke her cheek. “What, sweetheart?”
“I want all of that too.”
She leans over and kisses me again, grinding so hard against me that I think I’m dying.
There’s no awkwardness or shyness as she unbuttons my shirt. For a moment, I freeze. There are scars on my chest I’m self-conscious about, but she leans over and kisses the scar tissue as she uncovers them, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“How did I ever get to be so lucky?” I say.
Ivy raises her head. “You’re lucky I’m so patient.”
I run my hand through her hair. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“You didn’t mean to. I mean, I should have said something a long time ago.” She kisses my lips softly. “I never thought I’d be here, doing this.”
“Me either, but I’m glad your car died the other night.”
Her mouth falls open, and she gives my chest a gentle slap. “That cost me.”
“Yeah, but I’d never have had the excuse to spend time with you otherwise.”
She lies down on top of me, resting her head against my chest.
I close my eyes and stroke her silky hair.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” she whispers.
“It’s beating for you, Ivy.”
“You say the sweetest things, Ajax Munroe.”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. “Maybe I was saving all my words for you.”
When she raises her head, there are tears in her eyes again, and I frown.
“Today isn’t really going how I thought.”
I chuckle. “What did you think would happen when you turned up to my house and threw yourself at me?”
She drops her head to my chest again. “You make a good pillow.”
“I’m here for that any time you need me.”
Five minutes ago, all I could think about was getting my rocks off with this woman. Now she’s in my arms, and if I’m not mistaken just fell asleep while resting on my bare chest.
I close my eyes and join her.