Chapter 17 #2
I’m doing everything in my power not to look at Ivy over Delilah’s head.
I know where my dad is going with this, and I don’t fucking like it.
Ivy needs someone who will worship her. Someone who will give her passion, and their undivided attention.
Someone who will appreciate her quirks and clever, quick-witted, beautiful mind.
Someone like you?
Shut up, Sarah.
“Well once you get settled, why don’t you take Ivy here out on the town,” my dad suggests, gesturing toward Ivy, then fucking winks at me.
Son of a bitch.
I chance a look at Ivy to gauge her reaction, and see her blushing bright red, giving Beau her awkward smile I’m incredibly familiar with.
Then I peek at Sophie, who’s suddenly looking very invested in the food on her plate.
Yeah, I’m sure she’d love for her best friend and her ex to go out.
Of course, if our father knew Beau and Sophie’s history, he would never make this suggestion. He’s just a shit-disturber.
“Oh. No.” Beau huffs a laugh. “No. Nope.” He’s shaking his head vehemently, and Ivy’s eyes widen, blushes even harder, and dips her head in embarrassment.
Sophie’s head snaps up and looks to Ivy, then to her side at Beau, frowning in concern. What the fuck is his problem? He should be so lucky to go out with Ivy.
I’ll fucking kill him.
Beau realizes how rude his comment came off and starts to back track. “Oh! That’s not what I meant, I’m sorry. I’m just not in a place for dating right now. Nothing against you, Ivy. You seem lovely.” He’s stumbling over his words, recognizing how impolite he was.
I look over at my dad, who’s looking very uncomfortable now. Maybe this will teach him to mind his own damn business.
“No worries,” Ivy replies with a forced laugh.
“Sorry, Ivy. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way,” Beau continues.
She waves him off, “It’s fine, really. That tracks, actually.” She starts to laugh, almost unhinged, before getting herself under control and looking pointedly at my dad. “Buck, please change the subject since this is all your doing.”
My mom snorts, and my dads cheeks turn pink. Serves him right.
“Right. Linc, how was work today?” my dad stammers.
The conversation at the table continues, but I’m still looking at Ivy, making sure she really is okay.
She’s looking down at her plate, pushing her food around with her fork.
Sophie gets her attention by tossing a piece of roll at her.
Ivy looks up, sees Sophie’s concerned expression, and flicks her hand in the air and mouths “I’m fine” with a dramatic roll of her eyes.
Sophie seems content with her answer, and tunes in to Lincoln's story about the lost hiker they found today. I’m not so easily convinced.
“Hey,” I whisper over Delilah’s head, who’s asking Lincoln a million questions about his story. Mainly ending in “But why?”
Ivy side-eyes me. “I’m fine, Wes,” she grumbles, obviously over everyone treating her like porcelain.
Wes.
I force myself to ignore the sharp pain in my ribs, and carry on.
“That’s great,” I say, deadpan.
She finally looks at me, her brows knitted together.
I point to the side of my mouth. “You’ve got something right here,” I tell her, smirking.
Her mouth drops open in a mock gasp.
“Jerk,” she murmurs back to me, smiling now.
A real smile.
Mission accomplished.
————
After dinner, everyone is out on the back deck watching the sun set.
My parents have a huge space back here, with plenty of patio furniture, umbrellas, and tables to entertain.
The solar, string lights kick on as the sunlight fades, bringing that homey feeling I always get when we gather out here.
It’s warm, and the summer breeze kicks up just a bit, blowing Ivy’s dark wavy locks around like a damn goddess.
We’re gathered around the patio table, and I sip my beer, leaning back in my chair as I watch Delilah and Ivy play in the grass.
“They’re really cute,” Sophie sing-songs from my side.
I nod, and take a long pull of my drink. “I am very aware,” I reply dryly, not taking my eyes off them.
“It’s almost like… you should do something about it,” Sophie snarks.
“It’s all I think about,” I mutter.
Sophie gasps, and punches my shoulder in excitement. Beer sloshes out of the bottle from her jostling my arm.
“Jesus, Soph. What the hell?” I ask, wiping beer from my lap.
“Oh, god. Sorry. I just got excited.” She giggles. “So when are you going to make your move?”
“When are you going to make yours?” I reply, turning to look at her.
Sophie straightens. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I continue to stare at her expectantly.
“Shut up, okay? He probably doesn’t remember. It was like a hundred years ago. Plus, he doesn’t date. You heard him,” she hisses.
“Sophie, every guy remembers every woman he’s had sex with. Regardless of how long ago,” I reply quietly.
“Wes!” she whisper shouts, “Please, stop. Nobody knows.”
“Then you stop.” I narrow my eyes on her.
She tilts her head toward Ivy and Lilah. “That’s different and you know it.”
I shrug. “You mind your business, I’ll mind mine.”
“Whatever. If you don’t make a move soon, she really will end up going out with someone else. Maybe even dry-hump them too,” she whispers.
I choke on my beer, and liquid flies all over the table.
Jesus Christ, she told Sophie?
My sister grins at me, then pushes out of her seat and walks into the house. I don’t miss the way Beau’s eyes track her the entire time.
I hear a playful scream, and I refocus my attention on Delilah and Ivy to see Ivy chasing my daughter around in circles.
Ivy’s arms are out and flapping like she’s flying.
Her mouth is open and she's letting out what could only be described as a guttural roar. The sounds she’s making are horrific.
She eventually catches Delilah, and gently throws her to the ground, pinning her down.
She opens her mouth and breathes a loud “Ahhhh.”
She’s being a dragon, and she’s breathing fire. I’m a fucking goner for this woman.
“Daddy! Help me! I’m being burned alive!” Delilah screams at the top of her lungs.
I set my beer on the table, and look at my mom in the seat across from me. She flashes me a knowing grin and says, “I like her.”
“I know,” I reply.
“Daddy!” Delilah screams again, really putting on the theatrics.
I stand, scoot my chair back and start down the steps of the deck to the girl who’s the center of my universe, and the woman who’s not far behind. Ivy is still roaring and pretending to eat and burn Lilah, while Lilah giggles and screams, pleading for mercy.
I reach them in a few strides and my stomach flips when Ivy looks up at me through her lashes, where she hovers over Lilah.
She’s got the biggest smile on her face, and is panting softly.
“Are you going to slay me, Sir Knight?” she asks, humor lacing her tone.
“Get her, Daddy! Sabe me!” Lilah squeals.
I look down at Ivy, and wink.
“Something like that.”
I grab her around the waist, lifting her off of Lilah, and throw her over my shoulder. “You’re free Delilah, run!” I yell, and start off in the other direction.
Delilah squeals, getting up, and running back toward the deck.
“Nana, Papa, Daddy got the Iby Dragon!” She's belly laughing now.
“I see that,” I hear my mom’s voice distantly.
I grip the back of Ivy’s thighs to hold her in place so she doesn’t flip over, and run out into the middle of the large grass field. Slowly, I halt my steps once I realize Delilah has lost interest.
“You can put me down now,” Ivy says.
I look at her ass right next to my face in the tightest jean shorts known to man, down to her bare legs, then to her bare feet.
“I think I’m good right here, actually,” I respond.
Ivy slaps my ass. “Wesley Eugene Cooper, put me down right now!”
“Not my middle name, honey,” I say, and scoot her down just a bit, so she can lift herself upright.
I slowly and deliberately slide her down my body. I can’t help it. It’s as if my body realized she’s near, and is dying to keep her close for as long as possible. The feeling of her against me again is overwhelming.
Every inch of her body is dragging along every inch of mine. I’m on fire. Touching her feels right. Like coming home. Her breathing turns heavy, and when her toes finally reach the grass, she looks up at me with fire in her eyes. She feels it too.
“What is it then?” she asks, her tone warm and dreamy.
“Hm?” My lustful daze is fogging my memory of what we were talking about.
“Your middle name? What is it?” She reminds me gently.
“Oh. I don’t know. I kind of like when you guess.”
“Oh, Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You owe me. I told you mine, you tell me yours.”
My arms are still wrapped around her, and I love how natural this feels. How perfectly she fits against me.
“Plus,” she adds, holding a finger up, “I won’t get mad at you when you tell me.”
She’s joking, but I can see the crack in her expression.
“I wasn’t mad at you, Ivy.” I push my hair back, trying to decide if I should just tell her.
She forces a laugh. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“Ford.”
“What?”
“My middle name is Ford.”
“Ford,” she tries it on for size, “That fits you.”
Our stare lingers, and I drink her in. I’ve missed her.
Her eyes drop to my lips, and my pulse picks up.
She licks hers, and memories of her sweet mouth and silky tongue flood my mind.
I replay her grinding back and forth in my lap, her needy pussy soaking my shorts.
Those light, mossy green eyes hooded, and her little desperate whines as she chased her orgasm.
My dick presses against my zipper uncomfortably, and when she shifts on her feet she feels it.
“Get a room!” Pops our bubble, and Ivy throws herself out of my grasp.
I look behind me and scowl. Maverick is leaning on the railing of the deck, watching me and Ivy. The rest of the deck is empty, meaning everyone left me and Ivy to our devices, and I didn’t even realize.
“We’re all leaving,” he says. “Hate to break up the love-fest, but I wanted to see if you guys were coming to the bar tomorrow night. Beau’s little welcome home celebration. Drinks. Dancing. Shenanigans. It’ll be fun.”
“Sure,” Ivy says brightly.
I nod in agreement, and Maverick claps his hands. “Great. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, and let you get back to your naughty nanny time.” He gives us finger guns, then opens the sliding glass door and disappears inside.
It’s gotten dark out, and I can only see Ivy by way of the string lights. The moment between us has been clearly broken, so she hikes a thumb over her shoulder and says, “I’m going to head in.”
“Yeah, alright,” I answer.
She pads up to the deck, slips on her sandals, then goes inside, taking a little piece of me with her.