Chapter 2Just the heels
Chapter Two
JUST THE HEELS
No thanks was necessary, but Ivy was grateful. Of course, Manny made it home in time to escort her to the gala. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. That was the kind of man she was married to. They had been married twenty-six years and in all that time, he never failed to be present for her or their three children. He did all of that while running the largest processed food company in Canada.
Emmanuel Campbell Scott was a superhero to his wife and children. He wasn’t without faults, but life with him was… Good. Ivy smiled. Endorphins from her release still coursed through her hours later. Since then, they had applied her makeup with flawless skill. While her hair looked elegant in a classic French wrap. The designer Etheline would arrive shortly with her dress. Ivy had a few moments to herself until she appeared. Manny was in his office. If he wasn’t with family and friends, he was working. She knew the kind of work ethic he had now, but when she first met him, that wasn’t the first impression she had.
Golden Boy.
Those words had popped into her head the first time she glimpsed Emmanuel. Not because he was blonde. He was actually the opposite, with glistening thick jet-black curls that hung to the shoulder. His aura was one of someone who had been blessed by Midas himself. 6’5 of solid muscle. He was huge. The energy he gave off! Whew. He certainly wasn’t a boy. All of that was the blueprint of a man. Why had she dubbed him the golden boy again?
He turned, and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of her. What the hell? Even from where she stood she made out that his eyes were two colours, the centre. No Iris, she knew the correct term. They were midnight blue, while the surrounding ring was a stormy grey. If that wasn’t the knock-out punch, he cocked his head and smiled, displaying a perfect set of sparkling teeth. She didn’t normally notice guys like this. Ivy had goals. At sixteen, she had a three-year plan to get through her degree in science. So, no, she didn’t have time to admire some nineteen-year-old jock.
Over the next two years, she would notice. Emmanuel was hard to miss. Look for a crowd, he was usually in the centre of it. From what she saw, he ate it up. He was the star player on the football team. Two championships with him as the captain. Everyone adored him. How many times had she been in the coffee shop, and they gave him complimentary drinks? Although, he looked like he came from money. The watch he sported. His clothes. His vehicle. No second-hand beater for him. He drove around in the latest model sport utility vehicle.
The apartment he lived in. Well, luxury came to mind.
Okay. Now she lived there too, but only because her Aunty Cynthia had insisted Ivy move into one of her condos off campus.
“It's your senior year, Ivs. You’re eighteen. You are mature enough to live off campus. Plus, now you won’t have to put up with all the noise of a dorm room.”
No noise from the dorm but having the star quarterback living across the hall made for a steady flow of traffic. Emmanuel always seemed to have someone stopping by. More than his share of female company. Not that she was paying attention. What bothered her was the late-night get-togethers. She had lodged a complaint with the condo association.
Her complaint was discreet, and she was sure that he hadn’t known. Until she found herself in the elevator with him.
“Ivy, is it?”
Ivy nodded, even though she was unsure how he knew her name. It turned out he knew much more. “I know it was you that complained. Now see …If you had asked nicely. This would have played out differently. They told me the reduced noise ordinance doesn’t go into effect until eleven p.m. I promise from now on to keep the volume up nice and loud until 10:59. Sweet dreams.” That had been the first time they had spoken.
Ivy was ready, as she was going to be for the Gala. Thank God she would walk in with Manny at her side. It did a lot to soothe her nerves. He opened the door and stopped short at the sight of her. That was fair. He was a sight to behold too. His navy-blue tux fit him perfectly. He looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. His long curls were long gone. He’d shaved them off when he had taken over the helm of the company. It helped him to transition his looks from boyish to more mature. Now he looked devastatingly distinguished, with the slight patch of grey on the left of his temple.
With his hands in his pockets, he strolled towards her as his eyes roamed her frame. Manny paused a foot in front of her.
“How is it you get more beautiful every year, month, day, hour, and minute?” His question was filled with wonder.
It wasn’t because Ivy was dressed to the nines for the Gala. It was their thing. He said that to her daily. Ivy often woke up to those words.
“It’s okay. Some mysteries just need to be enjoyed. They don’t have to be explained.” Manny walked behind her, his arms circling her waist.
He drew her close, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her neck.
Despite being 5’9”, Ivy was obsessed with stiletto heels. They put an extra pep in her step. Made her feel confident and sexy. Tonight, she needed the extra boost they provided. She never had to worry about the height of her shoes, even in six-inch heels, Manny was still taller than her.
“Doc, you are going to have to leave those heels on for me when we get back,” he requested as he nuzzled her neck. While his large palm spread across her midsection, cupping the doughy flesh. Ivy no longer gave his actions any thought. Manny had made it clear that he adored every inch of her body and would worship it all without limitations.
“Just the heels?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Yeah. Just the heels.” His voice was gruff with need.
“But I have on some really beautiful lingerie that matches the colour of my dress.”
With a quick look down the front of her navy gown, he confirmed everything matched. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were purposely trying to miss your big night.”
A soft laugh escaped her. No, she wasn’t trying to distract him so she could miss her big night. “No, I just wanted to make sure you had all the facts before making your decision.”
“I appreciate it. I stand by my request just the heels.” He moved to stand beside her and offered her his arm. Slipping her hand into the crease of his elbow, she smiled up at him.
“What’s the situation with the lipstick?”
Ivy knew what he was asking. He was checking to see if he would smudge the vibrant colour of her lips. “It’s on there, good. It’s everything proof.”
Without another word, he inclined his head and pressed a kiss to her full lips. She sighed as he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth and suckling her tongue. A lifetime of kisses, and they all conveyed different emotions. This one lit a heat that blossomed in her stomach. Just as Ivy reached for the lapels of his jacket, he broke the kiss.
“Let’s go,” Manny instructed as he led the way out of the room. He carefully guided them down the stairs, mindful of the full length of the skirt of her gown. The driver, Ron, stood beside the door of the limo as they exited their home. He opened the door and stepped back. Manny was a stickler about being the one to help her into the vehicle. It was a strange quirk of his. Her husband aided her into the back seat.
“We are all set, Ron,” Manny advised as he joined her. He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. Now that the vehicle was bound for the Gala. Her nerves kicked up. She squeezed her eyes shut, exhaling slowly.
Attuned to her, he commented, “you’ve got this Doc.”
Do I?
Ivy wasn’t sure. As the spouse of a man frequently in the public eye, she had become accustomed to accompanying him. His plus one. Not only was he the face of a company that required a lot of appearances. Manny was a former quarterback for the CFL. A two-time champion. So, appearances were regular occurrences. All she had to do was smile and look pretty beside her man. Ivy had that down.
Being the centre of attention wasn’t something she was looking forward to. Yes, it was a great honour to be recognized for her work in her field. Why did they have to bestow the award with practically the entire world watching? She had no objections to attending the Gala, as it was an event she attended annually. It was having to get up and give a speech. She tapped her clutch. Inside was her acceptance letter. Ivy smiled. She had written it and rewritten it until all medical terminology could be understood by a general audience.
“We are here, Doc. It’s showtime.” Manny pulled her from her thoughts. He walked around and helped her exit the vehicle. Ivy straightened her spine and plastered a smile on her face.
It turned out that walking the red carpet wasn’t too bad. Their interactions with the press were brief. The conversations mostly consisted of, “Who are you wearing?”
“Etheline Farrow,” Ivy would answered, and they would be on their way.
The couple would pause to pose for the cameras. They were perfectly in step, his arm around her waist. A display of the comfort Manny offered. He was her rock. Offering her affectionate kisses to her temple he whispered, “relax, you got this.” And “You know you are by far the most beautiful woman here.”
Ivy needed that steady support tonight and was grateful that he was here to walk her in. Otherwise, she might have been a bundle of tumultuous nerves. Instead, she smiled adoringly at the man that was at her side. That was always by her side.
By the time they reached the ballroom of the Gala, Ivy was far more at ease. It helped that a group of some of the people she loved were convened, awaiting her arrival. Her Aunty Cynthia stood out, of course. Technically, she was her mom’s cousin. Once a supermodel, always a supermodel. Despite her age, she looked like she could still command a catwalk. Along with her aunt were her daughter and son-in-law, Karissa and Nicco Carisi, and Frank, her cousin, Manny’s best friend.
Karissa was the first to notice her, letting go of her husband’s hand she power walked over to Ivy. Before she knew it, Ivy was wrapped in her warm embrace. “We are so proud of you, Ivs.”
“Thank you.” Ivy flushed. She took a step back and took in the woman. She might not have followed her mother’s career path, but damn if she couldn’t have made a living as a model.
The baby bump finally registered. “Girl, are you pregnant?” she asked Karissa.
It felt like she had just been to the christening of their second child.
“Yes. I would love to be able to attend one of these Galas without a human being growing inside of me.” She turned and glared at her husband, Nicco, who looked extraordinarily pleased with himself. Ivy was thankful those days were behind her. After she gave birth to their rainbow baby girl, she had been emphatic that Sage would be their last child.
Soon she was swooped up in the embrace of her Aunt Cynthia. “Your Momma would be so proud of you, Hon.”
Ivy bit back the tears of the memory of the woman that had always been her greatest cheerleader. It had been a year since she was gone, but it was still difficult. The loss of her mother had devastated her, and she had not wanted to get up for days.
Manny had allowed her to wallow, but finally, he had put his foot down. One morning he opened the blinds, allowing the sun to burn her retinas. Pulled her from the comfort of her bed, deposited her in the bathroom and placed her in the shower.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel sad,” Aunt Cynthia soothed.
“You didn’t,” Ivy assured her before she was plucked from her aunt’s embrace and wrapped in Frank’s arms.
“You are wearing the hell outta that dress, Cuz,” Frank praised.
Just as the big man released her. Darkness descended as something obstructed her view. Her heart rate escalated for a moment until she felt the comfort of Manny’s hand on the small of her back. He would never allow anyone to do her harm. Ivy smelt a familiar floral scent she wasn’t able to place.
“Guess who?” The person queried as their hand slipped from covering her eyes.
“Amber!” Ivy squealed, turning around to embrace her cousin. “I can’t believe you are here.”
“Of course. I couldn’t miss your big night.” Amber was deceptively strong. She gave an extra squeeze before releasing her hold. It was so good to see her cousin. The two had both grown up in Nova Scotia, but when Ivy had left for university, she never made it back home.
“Oh, my goodness, when was the last time the three of us were in the same place at once? Karissa, come take a photo with Ivs and me,” Amber requested as she handed her clutch to her husband.
The Burton genes were strong. Although their mothers and father were cousins, they could easily pass as siblings. All were statuesque, with bone structures that the camera absolutely adored. The three ladies posed as Amber’s husband, Azul Samson, snapped the photos.
“Look at the three of them. Absolutely stunning and not one of them would model for me,” Aunt Cynthia groused. Her Aunt opened a modelling agency, and this was a complaint they had all heard before.
“You can’t leave out the most handsome Burton,” Frank added as he joined the photo, making way for himself in the middle. The family spent time taking photos together. With every moment that slipped by Ivy became more at ease.
Her golden-headed in-laws were also in attendance. Neither would miss such an opulent event. Especially when a Scott was being recognised. Grace was the embodiment of elegance. The two women shared a warm relationship. Ivy was welcomed into the family the first time they met. The welcome by Larson had been more frigid. However, faced with Manny’s warnings, he buckled.
“Mom, Dad,” she greeted the pair. They both gushed over Ivy’s accomplishments. With her man and family surrounding her, Ivy was ready for what the night had in store.
Until Maksim Vashchenko burst her bubble of serenity. Right before they were seated for dinner, he approached Ivy. “Your advancements in research have meant so much to the network. I have decided that I should be the one to introduce your award.”
Despite his smile of encouragement, the man was intimidating. Her social interactions with him through Karissa and Nicco did little to lessen the feeling. Maksim was indirectly her boss as he sat on the board of the hospital she worked for. So, she should take it as a great honour that he wanted to present her with this award. Ivy would have been much more at ease with the medical director, bestowing the award as it had been discussed.
While dinner was served Manny, held her hand under the table. His thumb worked soothing magic as he drew circles on her hand. By the time Maksim got up on the podium to introduce her, she was as ready as she was going to be.
“Dr. Ivy Burton Scott is a pioneer in the medical field of genetics. Her breakthrough with the discovery of the gene predominant in children experiencing autism has been revolutionary…” Maksim extolled her life’s work so eloquently and with so much passion, Ivy walked to the Dias with the knowledge that her achievement could only bring about good things for her field.
By the time Ivy had given her speech, she was ready to kick back, have a few drinks, and dance. In her youth, she was known for her two left feet, so she avoided dancing. However, early in their relationship, Manny had taken it upon himself to teach her to dance. She couldn’t win any dancing competitions, but she enjoyed it and managed not to do herself or those around her any bodily harm. For the remainder of the evening, Manny expertly twirled her around the dance floor. In between songs, she hydrated with H2O and a few adult beverages.
The couple were children free for the night. Oliver was away at a game and wouldn’t be returning until the morning. Benjamin and Sage were underage, so they could not attend the Gala. Both made plans to spend the night with friends. The Scott family planned a celebratory brunch at Fusion in the morning. They celebrated family milestones there.
While Roy walked around to the driver’s seat, a tipsy Ivy expressed that although they had the house to themselves, forty-five minutes was entirely too long to wait to return the favour Emmanuel had given earlier.
Ivy leaned closer to her husband, lowered her voice and in a tone boarding on shy, she asked, “Baby, can you ask Roy to put the partition up?”
Manny had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as his voice was filled with laughter. “Why? You speak with Roy all the time. Ask him yourself.”
“I can. Or you can and I can take care of you.” Ivy placed her hand in his lap, letting the weight of it be felt. His length responded. His smile immediately disappeared. The moment the driver was behind the wheel, Manny made his request.
“Hey Roy, please take the scenic route home. Also, it would be appreciated if you put the partition up.” After a quick response, the barrier was erected.
The way he slowly turned his head and speared her with a positively sinful look had moisture pooling in her core. Ivy gripped his package before releasing it.
“Where are you going, Doc?” He sounded unaffected, but his pupil betrayed him. Whenever his emotions intensified, his eyes would darken. The blue shade would lose the battle as the onyx took over. No matter what his voice said, his eyes told the truth. He was excited, and she knew exactly how to heighten his excitement. Without breaking eye contact, she found the zipper on his trousers. With patience that she wasn’t feeling, she slowly unzipped him. Ivy’s movement was even slower as she unbuckled his belt. Their breathing synced as the anticipation mounted. God, she was eager for the taste of him.
Her delicate fingers worked to free him of his confines. Manny assisted by adjusting in his seat, allowing her unfettered access. Their eyes remained locked. With a firm grip, she stroked his veined length from the base to the tip. She loved the feel of his velvet rod in her hands. Once, twice, her tempo increased until his head wept in response. It was only then that she broke eye contact. She was mesmerized by the clear pearl bead dripping from his head. Like a siren’s call, it compelled her to taste him. She couldn’t resist. Didn’t want to.
Ivy had meant it to be just a quick swipe. But she couldn’t resist greedily engulfing his length. She moaned in contentment as her hands and mouth worked in rhythmic tandem. The taste of this man. A hint of saltiness with a hint of fruitiness. Her slurps filled the air. Manny groaned as he gently grasped her nape. He was already so close.
It gave her a feeling of power to drive him to the brink. Especially so quickly. She kept her pace steady. His body was an extension of her own. Since he worked to control himself, she did the same. When he began to gently pump his hips up to meet her suckling, she allowed her actions to become erratic. God, he was deep in her throat.
“Shit, Doc!” he called right before his release. The taste of him flooded her mouth. She savoured the taste before she swallowed. She hummed in contentment.
Ivy looked up to catch his satisfied smile. “Hey, Mrs. Scott.” He winked at her.