Chapter 35
Chapter thirty-five
Amy
Ivan arranged for the wooden daybed to be moved from the poolside down onto the beach for our second day in paradise.
After I persuaded him that staying in our secluded hideaway would be much more fun than moving into a luxury hotel.
He’d taken a bit of convincing, but after some tongue action on his privates, he was putty in my hands.
“Tell me we can stay here,” I purred from between his legs as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Or I’ll withhold your happy ending.” He’d raised an eyebrow, then wrapped my high ponytail around his wrist.
“Suck me some more and we can discuss it,” he shot back.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier view than what I’m seeing right now.
You on your knees with my cock in your mouth.
” Taking him in my hands, I released his length from between my lips and peeked up at him, batting my eyelashes.
“Are you trying to negotiate with me, Amy?” he teased.
“You’ve already lost,” I said with a smile. “We stay, or I’m leaving you sitting here with a hard-on and going for a swim on my own.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” he challenged, and I pushed myself to my feet.
“Wouldn’t I?” I lifted my t-shirt over my head then turned for the door in only my pink string bikini bottoms. As I glanced behind me, I caught a glimpse of the shock on his face. Ivan Harley isn’t used to being defied.
“Get back here,” he grumbled.
I giggled, gave my ass cheeks a wiggle, and blew him a kiss over my shoulder.
“Amy, come here and fuck me, or I’ll not be held responsible for my actions. Which will probably include rugby tackling you in the middle of the beach, bending you over, and riding you into submission.”
“That all sounds lovely, darling. But…” I paused for effect. “You’ll have to catch me first.” I took off at a run into the living room, darting to the opposite side of the sofa. He was facing me within seconds, only the bundle of cushions between us.
He stepped left, and so did I. He gave me a dark smile―his cock hard and heavy, ready to nail me.
“You look as if you need some relief,” I said, nodding in the direction of the beast between his legs.
“And you’re going to give it to me.” He took his cock in his hand and stroked himself deliberately. “Or maybe I’ll sort myself out and you can watch.”
I’d bitten my lip as the vision of the scenario popped into my head. Without a word, I’d walked to the arm of the sofa and bent over so I was exposed with my ass in the air.
“My sexy wench wants some action then,” he stated.
Ivan appeared behind me, leaning his erection against my butt cheeks, grinding softly. He ran a single finger inside the waistband of my briefs across my back.
“You’re stunning,” he whispered. My insides tightened in anticipation.
Nimble fingers untied the sides and let the feeble material fall to the floor. His hands snaked around my waist, one moving lower until it was between my legs, the other lifted to my stomach. His finger explored my skin until he found the sweet spot, massaging gently.
I spread my legs wider to give him better access. There I was, bent over the arm of a sofa between his hands and his cock, waiting patiently for him to fuck me. It was the happiest I’d been in months.
Now, we’re lying on soft pillows on the beach with the azure sea lapping against the white sand. He fell asleep a while ago, and I’m propped up on my elbow, looking down at him.
I find it hard to believe I used to despise him. He’s not the hard-nosed bastard I thought he was. As we’ve gotten to know each other better, his defenses have dropped. He let me in a little bit more.
Then he laid his heart on the line and asked me not to break it. I’d been surprised by his admission. His vulnerability had been clear. Both elation and fear had reared their heads within me.
I rest my lips against the skin of his shoulder. “Please don’t break my heart either,” I whisper. “I’m not sure I could survive another betrayal.” He doesn’t respond, still sleeping.
I take the opportunity to tell him what I’ve been wanting to but haven’t built up the courage to say yet.
“This is all so unexpected. You, me, and what we have. Every day I’m falling for you a little bit more, but I’m frightened to tell you.
” I sigh softly, ashamed of my inability to say this when he’s awake.
“Part of me wants to grab us with both hands and never let go. Another part insists that no one will ever tame Ivan Harley fully. Your reputation precedes you. I can’t be thrown to the side again.
I need to be sure. My heart and sanity won’t take another loss. ”
My phone rings, and he stirs. I look at the screen, and the name Lance flashes.
“Hello,” I answer. “How is Katie? Has she woken up yet?” My questions tumble from me, desperate for information.
“She’s not woken yet, but the doctors are happy with her progress,” he replies, sounding composed. “They’re hoping she will soon. I’ll let you know as soon as she does. Go and enjoy your holiday. I better go.” He disconnects the call.
When I turn back to Ivan, eyes sharp as the sea under sunlight are fixed on me. Butterflies dance in my stomach as electricity prickles my skin. This man has such a carnal effect on me.
“Was that Lance?” he asks, and I nod. “What did he say?”
“No real change, but the doctors are hoping she’ll wake up soon.”
“Good,” he says, sitting up, taking my phone and placing it beside us on the bed. He lifts his palm to my face and strokes his thumb across my cheek. “You really are the most beautiful woman. I want to do something special for you this evening. Spoil you.”
“More special than bringing me here?”
He nods, flashing me a sexy smile. “It’s a surprise. Be ready for dinner at eight.”
“Where are you going?” I ask as he stands. He turns to face me and taps the side of his nose with his finger.
“That’s for me to know, and for you to be incredibly impressed when you find out. Just be ready for dinner at eight.”
“What should I wear?”
“Anything you want or nothing at all. Trust me, I don’t care as long as you’re there.
I plan to have you naked later, anyway.” Ivan never returns that afternoon after leaving the house.
I wonder what he’s up to. The soft floral dress I’m wearing hugs my frame then fans out from my hips, finishing just above my knees.
The sweetheart neckline is cut low, fully exposing the tops of my breasts.
I slip my feet into my wedges and reapply another coat of candy-pink lipstick. My hair hangs in loose curls down my back.
The radio playing masks the sound of him entering the room. When I look over, he’s standing in the doorway watching me, one arm resting against the stone. A smile plays on his lips.
He’s wearing a pale blue shirt, open at the collar, teamed with casual shorts to his knees, giving him a relaxed look.
His hair is longer now than I’ve ever seen it.
It’s gently ruffled as if he’s just rolled out of bed.
His feet are completely bare. I give him a curious look and gesture at his toes.
“You don’t need shoes,” he says as a way of explanation.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t. Take those contraptions off your feet and come with me.”
He walks into the room as I sit at the dressing table, then crouches down, slowly releasing the buckles on each of my sandals and removing them. He trails his fingers along the soles of my feet, sending shivers through my body.
Upon standing, he holds out one hand, and I take it, rising with him. He leads me from the cave and out onto the beach.
We walk toward the water’s edge. Only meters from the ocean, a table is set for two. It's a small bistro-style table covered in white linen and silver tableware that glints under the moonlight. He pulls out one seat, and I sit, then he lowers himself into the chair opposite me.
Classical music drifts through the air, but I can’t work out its source. A waiter dressed in black trousers and a white shirt appears from nowhere. He smiles at us, then pours crisp wine into the waiting glasses.
“Are you ready for your first course, sir?”
“Yes, thank you. Please tell the chef to take his time with the meal. I want to savor every mouthful.” He glances at me, his eyes dark. “Perfection can’t be rushed.”
The waiter nods, then scurries off across the beach. We both watch him go.
“This is beautiful,” I tell him. “I already know this is a night I’ll never forget.”
“The first of many,” he says, lifting his glass. I do the same, and we gently clink them together. A soft ting fills the air as they connect.
“To the woman who has finally tamed Ivan Harley,” he whispers, his eyes fixed on me. “The woman who I never thought existed.”
“You heard me.” Heat creeps up my neck.
“I did. Your words were wonderful. I didn’t want to interrupt your speech.”
I flush, embarrassed at being caught. He places his glass on the table and stretches across to take my free hand in his. I sip my wine, watching him raptly. My heart hammers in my chest―this feels so intimate, as if we’re in our own world.
“And hearing those words made me the happiest I ever remember being. You’ve branded my heart indefinitely. I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me.”
I exhale, tension rushing past my lips. “I’m scared. What if we don’t work out? What if you miss your old life?” He squeezes my fingers. “What if I’m not enough for you?”
The waiter reappears with two small plates of fresh fruit, places one in front of each of us, then retreats without a word.
“Not enough?” he says, raising an eyebrow. “So far in our short relationship, you’ve been to my country club, stayed in my home, and had me begging you to come on this trip with me. I’ve introduced you to my family.”
He drops his eyes to the table, pausing for a moment before looking at me once more.
“I’ve never wanted to do those things with a woman before. In all honesty, I’ve never had the urge to have a partner or create a life with someone, always preferring to only have me to worry about. You’ve changed that. I want to care for you too.”
“Ivan, I…”
“I’m not expecting you to swear your undying love.
If it’s easier, wait until you think I’m sleeping.
” He smirks. “I know you’ve been hurt in the past by the person you thought never would.
Life dealt you plenty of shit and hard times.
I want to fill your days from now on with happy memories to offset the balance. ”
“I wish you’d met my sister,” I say. “She would have adored you.”
“So do I,” he replies. “It’s up to you to tell me all about her.
I want to hear all your embarrassing stories.
All your teenage antics. Every crazy thing the two of you did.
” He’s completely focused on me as he speaks.
“Any time you want to talk about her or your past, I’m here. No topic is off limits.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “You have no idea how much that means. Bex may have died four years ago, but she’s very much here with me in my heart. I don’t think I’ll ever accept she’s gone.”
“You shouldn’t be expected to. Grief is something we learn to carry, not conquer.”
“Who did you lose?” I ask automatically, then immediately clasp my hand to my mouth. “Sorry, don’t answer that if you don’t want to. I mean...”
He chuckles softly before he squints out at the sea.
“I love your directness, Amy. Never change. It’s refreshing.” He takes a deep breath, then returns his gaze to mine. “My brother died when we were teenagers. He was a year older than me, but we were close. I miss him every day, and it’s been over thirty years.”
That soft ache I’ve grown used to throbs. The familiar sting of sibling loss flares beneath my ribs. Hearing the tremor in his voice is like someone pressing an unhealed bruise. I lost Bex once, but I miss her every day.
Ivan and I share a wound.
“What happened?”
“He was swimming at a disused quarry. My parents warned him multiple times not to go. They’d forbidden it, but he’d fallen in with the wrong crowd, and at the age of seventeen, thought he knew everything.
Invincible.” His nose pinches a little as if smelling something foul.
“One too many bottles of beer and a slip on the rocks. He was unconscious when he hit the water. He never stood a chance.”
I stand, keeping my hand between his as I walk around the table and sit on his knee. My lips drop to his, tears filling my eyes. We’ve both lost our sibling.
“My parents never recovered, and neither did I. My father threw himself into the business, and a few months after my sixteenth birthday, I did the same. My mother disappeared into a haze of alcohol and prescription medication. She died before I was twenty.” He falls silent.
“I’m here,” I murmur. “I’m listening. You can let me in; I won’t fade away.” He rests his forehead against my breast while I hold him tight. “I’m here,” I repeat. “You’re not on your own anymore.”