Left (Family Secrets and Lies #1)

Chapter 1I cannot have that.

Chapter One

I CANNOT HAVE THAT.

The rapid blinking lights of the vehicle in the oncoming lane served as a warning to check his speedometer. The Aston Martin had been speeding down the highway. Sure enough, he was going fifty kilometers over the speed limit. Enough to get his car impounded. Two exits from home.

I cannot have that.

The brakes immediately responded as the seat belt tightened against his chest, pinning him to the seat. By the time he spotted the police cruiser, he was going the speed limit.

The moment the exit for home was taken, he floored the accelerator, causing him to race toward the gated community he called home. The accelerator was given a brief reprieve as he came to a stop to enter the code. Once he was securely within Oakland Gates, he executed a series of rolling stops and flirted with keeping the speed limit. The homeowners’ association wouldn’t be happy with his conduct, but they wouldn’t dare lodge a complaint against him. He tried to be a decent neighbour.

It was a pleasant community with sprawling properties. As he drew closer to his, the sizes increased. Finally, he reached the largest property and pulled into his long horseshoe drive. The gear was barely in park before his seatbelt was released and he was stepping out of the car. Miller, the house manager appeared right away.

“I’ll ensure the car is parked, Sir.”

“Thank you, Miller, and where is the doctor?” he uttered over his shoulder as he ascended the stamped staircase.

“I believe she is in the suite.”

“Thanks,” he called as he raced towards the staircase heading for the left wing. Taking the stairs two at a time, he rushed towards the suite. Not even bothering to check if the elevator was available. His speed increased as he reached the landing and headed for the suite. As he opened the door, he pulled his polo shirt over his head and toed off his shoe. A quick look around found the bedroom empty. So, he headed to the bathroom and unbuckled his belt. By the time he stepped into the restroom, he had shed his pants and underwear.

The silhouette in the shower captured his attention, and he came to a complete stop for the first time since his plane landed. After all these years, the sight of Ivy Scott caused his pulse to race.

“Hello?” Her soft husky voice was uncertain. Of course, it would be she wouldn’t have expected anyone to enter their sanctuary.

“Hey, Doc.” His reply came hastily, as he desired to put her at ease.

“Manny!” Her excitement was palpable as she came flying out of the shower. She didn’t stop until she was in his arms. He hefted her up and Ivy wrapped her legs around his waist. His arms were steel bars anchoring her to him underneath her luscious ass. God, he appreciated her round, full globes. Her filling his arms was the ultimate homecoming.

“You’re home. I thought you?—”

Manny swallowed her words as he captured her mouth in a searing kiss.

God, I’ve missed her. Their tongues did a passionate dance of companionship. There was no duelling. He controlled the tempo, and she was happy to oblige. Ivy made a strangled sound as he suckled her tongue. His response was a desperate groan. Manny slid her to his feet.

No. No. Ivy had stopped kissing back. What was worse was she was putting space between them. The very thing he didn’t want. They had been apart for forty-eight hours. Far too long to be without her.

Manny exhaled a frustrated growl. “Come here, Baby.”

“I would, but you know I’m under a time crunch.” Ivy squeezed his hand before releasing it. She grabbed her robe hanging near the shower.

“I thought you couldn’t make it until later tonight. That you’d meet me at the Gala.”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t be there to walk you in on one of the most important nights of your life? Be there to hold your hands?”

Manny’s brilliant wife was being honoured for the advancements she had made in the genetics field. For the last twenty-plus years she had led innovations in genetics research. Every year, the Hope Gala honoured medical professionals for their contributions. Tonight, it was Ivy’s turn. Manny had been in Zurich securing an important deal for the family company. Scott was a household name. Generations of North Americans equated the blue and white label with ‘Yummy, yummy nutritious soup’. Now they were forging into the European market. With Manny at the helm as CEO.

However, he wouldn’t miss one moment of his woman getting her flowers.

Especially when tonight would be taxing for her. Ivy didn’t like the spotlight. She enjoyed toiling away in the lab, not socialising in enormous crowds. So, he might have offended his newest client when he rushed off as soon as the contract was signed. But hell, he knew how much she needed him tonight.

Manny tracked her movements at the sink as she removed her shower cap. Her springy curls fell free to her dark toasted almond-coloured shoulders. His steps were swift as he wrapped her in his embrace. The faint fragrance of Egyptian iris and magnolia tickled his nostrils. He nuzzled the sensitive spot on her neck. Her sigh of contentment shot through him. Turning him rock hard. He nipped the spot, then followed it up with a gentle swipe of his tongue.

“Uh uh, Lover.” She shook her head. Then turned in his embrace to face him. “I just wish you had arrived a little earlier. Everyone will arrive shortly to help me get ready.”

“Ah huh.” Did his lovely woman realise she was now trapped between him and the vanity? “It’s been two whole days, Doc. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it through tonight without having a taste of you.”

“Sorry.” Ivy shrugged, but he knew his woman. Tension and worry flashed in her russet-coloured eyes. The smile she gave him was meant to hide her worries. He saw it. Saw her. She was his to read.

His hand landed on her shoulder and came in contact with the corded muscle. His poor baby was tense.

“Hey, you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.” His fingers worked to massage the knot under his touch. Hell. This might be effective, but he had a better method…

“I just wish I didn’t have to stand in front of all those people tonight… and give a speech. Ugh.” She buried her face in his chest.

Slowly, he moved to rub her back. The tug in his gut was present. Whenever she wasn’t happy, it nagged at him.

“You are going to be amazing, Doc. You can’t go into the night like this though, Baby. Let me take care of you. Help you ease some of the stress. I won’t hold you up too long.”

“Everyone is already en route. Soon, beauty professionals will descend on this place.”

“They can wait. I’ll make it worth their while. Just let me…” He straightened her so she no longer leaned on him. Then he took a step back. “…take care of you.” Manny placed a peck on her temple as he loosened the knot on her robe.

“You need to let all the tension go.” His hand dipped inside the folds of the robe, skimming her silky soft skin. After almost thirty years, one would think he wouldn’t still be in awe of the satin feel of her. Nope. If anything, he was more enamoured than the first time.

“Gimme a few minutes. Let me make you feel… Good.” His hand tightened at her waist as he hoisted her onto the vanity. Stepping in between her thighs, he used his body to pry them open.

Tear-shaped, full breasts greeted his view as he looked down. He almost sighed in disappointment. There was no time to feast on them as he’d like. More was the pity.

Ivy’s excitement caused her to push short, harsh breaths past her lips. Manny glanced at her eyes as they became hooded. The want and need taking over her features. It was a call Manny couldn’t ignore even if he tried.

Sinking to his knees, he ducked his head between her parted thighs. Manny delivered open kisses to her right knee, leaving a trail of moisture on her inner thigh. Just as he reached her apex, he switched to her other leg… her sigh of frustration at being teased made him smile. He shook his head. Ivy knew better. He would get her there. Always get her there. But at his pace. Even if it meant driving her crazy in the process.

“Manny,” she whined as his lips hovered at her left knee.

“Did you need something, Doc?”

“You know what I need!”

And he did.

Manny traced a path back to her core this time. He didn’t deter. Ivy’s musky fragrance greeted him. Damn, but it was good to be home. He ran his nose along the length of her nether lips. Found evidence of her excitement.

Now some men had cute or sweet names for their woman’s pussy. Manny offered no such niceties. Instead, he called a spade a spade. Cock Killer .

It was fitting. The effort exerted trying not to come once he slid into her velvety heat was hellacious. Fuck. It had become none easier over the last decades. Luckily, it wasn’t his present mission.

Manny’s body shuddered as he took the first swipe of her plump lips. He loved the feel of the low, springy coils. She kept it low and well-manicured. Before her, he hadn’t cared one way or another if a woman was bare. With Ivy, he had insisted. “I don’t want to feel you bare here, Baby.”

Not dwelling on his preferences. He placed kisses on her mons. Her glistening clit strained, peaking from its hood, ready for his attention, but he wasn’t ready to pay it the courtesy it deserved. Instead, he traced her folds with the tip of his tongue as he stroked her inner thigh. She shivered at his touch.

Soft, barely there licks followed, causing her to squirm with the sweet torture. His reward was the taste of her tangy ambrosia.

“Ahh, Manny.” She hissed. He smiled at the pleasure in her voice.

Ivy nuzzled his head. Lost in the sounds of her throaty moans, he allowed them to guide his administration. Soft licks turned to persistent swipes between her lips. Her taste teased him. It wasn’t enough. His tongue twirled inside her. Then extracted the pureness of her essence as his tongue moved in and out of her. Her flavour played on his tongue. Ivy thrust her hips upward as they created a passionate rhythm. Animalistic moans filled the air.

Ivy's taste changed slightly. It was a signal she was about to come. The buildup to her release was a heady feeling, bringing her so much pleasure. Leaving the warmth of heat, he pulled his tongue from her depth. Manny suckled her clit in his mouth. The rubbing of his head became more insistent. Her breathing hitched. He doubled his efforts. Her sharp inhale was paired with the flood of her release. “Manny,” she cried in a hoarse whisper.

His finger was there to collect it. His groan of appreciation was guttural as he slowed the licks to her clit. With a final nip, he pulled away, sucking the treasure his finger had collected into his mouth. Perfection. She tasted like decadence and overindulgence.

“That was…” Ivy began and trailed off.

“How do you feel now, Doc?” he asked as he stood.

“Like I could go down for a nap.”

“Then my work here is done.” He winked. He pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. The selfish part of him didn’t kiss her, not wanting to share her taste. It was his reward. “I’m going to jump in the shower.”

“What?” Her hazy daze wearing off. “We need to take care of you,” she stated, reaching for him.

“Not now. After the Gala. Trust me, I’ll collect. This was just for you. Go on, get ready.”

They worked out the logistics of the remaining time before they had to leave.

“Manny,” Ivy called as she rushed to leave the room.

“Mm,” he answered as he slipped into the shower.

“Thank you.” She blew him a kiss.

“You never have to thank me for taking care of you, Doc.”