Chapter Six

The defeat in James’s voice pinched Ivy’s heart.

How did this man turn my world upside-down in only a matter of days?

When he dropped his hands and started to turn away, Ivy reached for him, keeping him in place. He stared at her hand on his forearm before meeting her gaze, the anguish evident. She pulled away, suddenly feeling ridiculously awkward. But she needed answers.

“Why would you think yourself unworthy?”

“Because maybe you are too good for me.” She scoffed and tried to interject, but he continued on. “Because I’ve been a selfish, closed-off lover in the past, protecting myself from emotions that could weaken me or be used against me. As you can imagine after witnessing my mother, she and my father didn’t exactly present the model relationship one would aspire to emulate.”

“I’m sorry.”

James wrinkled his brow. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I should actually be thanking you.”

“For what?”

“For being an astonishing surprise in my life. For being a pleasant upset to my carefully constructed world. You make me want what I never thought to hope for. Not just a woman to warm my bed, but someone I could actually come to love.”

Ivy’s gasp didn’t deter James from continuing. “I want someone who’ll challenge me yet champion me, someone with whom I can reciprocate those feelings and so much more. But I can’t force your feelings for me. Oh, I’d certainly like to change them.” His eyes softened. “You make me want to carry through on the things up until now I’d barely begun to give thought to.”

“Like what?”

“Like moving away from Goldman Enterprises and pursuing my own business ventures. Like your father’s.” Ivy tensed, and James rushed on. “But not to dismantle or disrespect, but to truly see it flourish.”

“It’s a far cry from anything remotely associated with your business ventures in the past.” She knew her words held skepticism because a part of her was still leery about his true intentions.

“And that’s what makes it perfect. I want to move away from the impersonal. I want to start something new for myself beyond what my mother has demonstrated. I want this because I want you. In my life. Helping to show me the way.”

Ivy stood speechless, shocked at his words. The silence stretched between them while she tried to comprehend the significance of his statement. She watched as the light in his eyes began to dim the longer she kept quiet, and she hated to see that.

“But if you don’t—”

“But I do,” Ivy rushed to say, her heart speaking in place of her mind. “I mean, I have feelings for you, James, as baffled as I am about it. I don’t make a habit of jumping into bed with just any guy I find sexy. A guy who both stimulates me and infuriates me at the same time.” This earned a chuckle. “It’s crazy, this attraction, this desire to be with you.” James took a step toward her, and she retreated. “It doesn’t make any sense, and I’m usually a very sensible person, and abandoning all reason isn’t like me, and…”

He advanced again, that freaking sexy grin adorning his talented mouth.

She put up a hand, bracing it against his chest. “Could you please stop? You need to get dressed.” She dropped her hand and backed up another step, her legs hitting the edge of the bed. “I can’t think straight with all your nakedness staring at me.” Of course she just had to drop her gaze to his crotch and notice his growing erection. Ivy started to turn away, but James blocked her.

“I happen to like being naked with you, and thinking straight is highly overrated.” He took her face in his hands, making her look at him. “Ivy—”

“But I have to think about my family, my father’s brewery. It’s his passion. And mine,” she said in a whisper.

“Yours? I thought your passion was your career, your research and lecturing?”

“That, too, but Dad and I, we, we started from nothing. We, I took it from a plot of dirt to a rich, fertile environment that has produced crops that have led to award-winning products. I took my education, my knowledge and research, and created something really great with my family. So, yeah, I guess I’m selfish, too, in gloating about my achievements and not wanting to see them destroyed. In not wanting to see my dad give up what’s become a passion because I can’t be around more. Or more accurately, won’t take the time to be around more. I put my career first. Do you know what it takes for a woman in my field to accomplish what I have at my age?” She rambled on. “I want to selfishly bask in my abilities and feats because I’ve struggled and clawed and worked my ass off to get where I am. I love my work. And I love my family, but my mom’s eyesight is failing.” Her voice faltered with emotion, but she pressed on. “And my parents deserve to live the life they want, and Dad has every right to sell because the brewery won’t run itself, and God, I’ve been a horrible daughter —”

“Ivy.” James spoke softly, his eyes filled with such tenderness, as if empathizing with her confession. He gave her a quick kiss before holding her gaze. “You are not selfish. You have every right to be damn proud of your accomplishments. You are an amazing daughter, and you want the best of both worlds. There’s nothing that says that can’t happen. Your career doesn’t have to suffer, and your passion, your father’s passion, will not be destroyed, if I have anything to do or say about it.”

She relaxed in his hold, leaning into his hand as his thumb swept across her cheek. “I’m so sorry I painted you as the enemy. All I saw was some company ready to pillage all we’d worked for, and it made no sense, and I saw it all slipping away…”

“Ivy, nothing is slipping away.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“I think—”

“Don’t think, just feel. Tell me what you’re feeling, Ivy. Right now, at this very moment.”

She smiled. “I want us to share astonishing surprises and pleasant upsets together. I want us to challenge one another and champion the hell out of one another.” Her smile blossomed, mimicking his. “I want to blow off my lectures and blow you instead. I want to feel my lips wrapped around your cock while you’re rock hard, ready to explode. Then I want to feel you come apart while you’re deep inside me, making me shatter. How’s that for what I’m feeling right at this very moment?”

James’s smile turned feral. “Fucking bliss.”

James relieved Ivy of her clothes, and she quickly forgot about the incessant chimes from her phone. For another twenty minutes, they achieved bliss.

As their tangled bodies lay sprawled across the bed, their skin cooling, their breaths returning to normal, James’s playful kisses had Ivy purring.

“I love a woman who speaks her mind,” James teased.

“And I love a man who isn’t threatened by a woman who speaks her mind.” She relaxed in his arms, uncaring about anything except the inexplicable contentment she felt.

“Well, since we both love one another, I say—”

Ivy jerked back. “Whoa, hold on there, we didn’t say we love each other,” she said in a panicked voice. She tried shuffling to move off the bed but found herself trapped beneath James when he moved faster than she could blink. “James, get off.”

“I just accomplished that, but I’d be happy to do so again.”

She chuffed with laughter. “Suddenly you can’t take anything serious. But seriously, you need to get off me.” Squirming to move only proved to excite him more, as evidenced by the growing erection pressing into Ivy. Okay, wow! “I really need to go. I’m horribly late. Erik is probably sending out a search party for me,” she rambled, trying to ignore the mischievous grin he gave her.

He started peppering her with kisses, journeying toward her breasts while his hand found its way between her legs. With only one pass across her clit she sparked to life.

“James, please.” She tried to sound stern, but it turned into a pathetic plea as he slipped one finger then two inside her while continuing to give attention to her happy button. Her hips jerked in time to his passes across her swollen clit that was already close to detonation.

“Oh, I most certainly will please you, Ivy Baines.”

He latched onto a nipple, sucking greedily as his fingers plunged in and out of her. She closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure, giving in to this luxury. But before she could fly, James pulled away, wrenching a sob from her.

“Hold on, beautiful.” Ivy heard the unmistakable rustling of the drawer, the condom wrapper, and finally James’s assurance of an earth-shattering orgasm.

Before she could open her eyes and welcome him to her, she squealed with surprise when James flipped her onto her stomach and lifted her hips. She had no chance to catch her breath as he thrust inside her, burying himself deep. Ivy threw her head back and screamed at the wickedly wonderful invasion. Clawing the sheets, she had no choice but to hang on as he rammed his body against hers. With one hand on her lower back, his other reached around to give attention to her engorged clit, setting her off within seconds. Ivy buried her face against the bed in order to muffle her cries as the orgasm wracked her body. Gripping tightly to his cock, she brought him along on this decadent ride, smiling to herself as he grunted his release.

Moving in unison, their bodies lost control. The wildness of the act left Ivy delirious, yet happily so. She collapsed onto the bed, her body spent, welcoming the weight of James on top of her. But it didn’t last long as he rolled them onto their sides, wrapping an arm and leg across her, keeping her close.

“I love when you abandon all reason,” James whispered, nuzzling her neck. “The result is fucking sexy.”

Ivy laughed. “James Goldman, such language.”

“You’re one to talk,” he teased. “You bring out the beast in me.”

“Don’t you mean the best in you?” She cast a glance over her shoulder, giving him a sassy smile.

“That too.” He nipped her skin as his body curled more protectively around her.

She could easily forget all about her obligation to the University. That is until her phone starting pinging again and James commented.

“Whatever will Erik think about you being AWOL this morning?”

Ivy released a heavy sigh. “I really should contact him and apologize. I’ve never done this before. You’re a bad influence on my professionalism, James.”

“Happy to contribute when I’m the recipient of your debauchery.”

Ivy snorted with laughter as she rolled in her arms, facing him. “You’ve more than contributed, you are the corruptor, you sexual fiend.”

“A title I’ll gladly carry as long as you remain the corruptee.”

Ivy soaked in the sight of his handsome face, the brilliance of his eyes as they locked on hers. The feel of his arms around her body so wonderfully simple and comforting.

“How did we get here?” she whispered.

“Simple. One taste and I had to have you. And now that I do, I’m not letting go.” He held her tighter, kissing her tenderly. When their lips parted, Ivy sighed.

“And your pursuit of the brewery?”

James drew back and focused on her. “It’s a huge departure from my usual investments, but that’s what intrigues me. You intrigue me, Ivy. As I said, I’ve been contemplating a separation from Goldman Enterprises for some time. My mother and I are at odds with one another more than we are in agreement, and it’s been draining.”

“But a brewery and tap house? Really, James?”

He drew further back, propping himself on his elbow. “Why not? It’ll help your father by setting him and your mother up nicely for the future. It’ll ease your worries about losing a part of what your family loves.”

“But, James—”

Ivy received a finger across her lips to silence her. “But, nothing. I have billions, remember?” Ivy laughed as he continued. “All will be well, Ivy. We’ll figure it out. Together. If you’ll let me into your life.”

She didn’t even have to think twice as she pressed against his shoulders, pushing him to his back before lying across his hot body. Moving her lips to his, she gave a sensuous kiss, promising carnal delights, and Ivy wasn’t surprised to feel the rise of his erection pressing against her ass.

“You’re already in my life, James Goldman, so let’s figure it out,” she whispered seductively.

His smile was one of pure radiance, lighting her up.

And against her usual better judgment—because being responsible wasn’t high on her priority list these days it seemed—she ignored the annoying chatter of her phone and remained in bed with James.

****

Ivy managed to smooth over her lapse of responsibility with Erik by offering to present her missed lecture Friday evening. Attendees were more than happy to stay, humbling Ivy with their eagerness to listen to her presentation. She wasn’t proud of her fib—okay, she had outright lied—blaming her absence and avoidance on a migraine. She certainly wasn’t going to confess to a sex-a-thon with the very well-endowed James Goldman, who appeared to be a source of endless energy.

Not that Ivy had complained. Her time with the man had been divine.

Once the lectures had concluded on Saturday, the evening had been reserved for a gala that not only recognized several of the speakers and contributors, but also served as a fundraiser for the University.

Prior to leaving her room, where she and James had spent the better part of their late afternoon showering together, making love, then showering again, James had surprised Ivy by presenting her with the stilettos she’d ditched at the exhibit in New York. He had confessed to keeping them, vowing he’d see her again to return them in person. In true Cinderella fashion, he had bent down on one knee and slipped the shoes onto her feet.

While walking arm-in-arm with James into the ballroom, Ivy had never felt so confident. She took his words to heart, knowing she should and could feel proud of her journey, and the only one she had to prove anything to, was herself. While she knew she wasn’t ready to walk away from her research and lecturing, she already knew she’d be more discerning in the projects she’d tackle. It was time to reprioritize her life, and that began with family, which now included James.

“Have I told you how positively stunning you look tonight?” His appreciative gaze stoked her body, which still sizzled from earlier.

“Mmm, you did,” she hummed, meeting his stare, exchanging smiles. “But thank you, again. And you look absolutely mouthwatering. I can’t wait to devour you later.”

A growl escaped him as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly to his side. “I seem to recall a few times you couldn’t wait to flee my presence, Ivy Baines.”

“Now I can’t imagine ever running from you again, James Goldman.”

She welcomed his mouth to hers as he gave her a heady kiss, promising much more to come.

 

The End

 

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www.evernightpublishing.com/laura-m-baird