In a daze, Ivy stared at the notebook that held the kids’ lesson plans. How the hell was she supposed to concentrate on putting together homework packets when all she could think about was how it had felt to have Will’s hand clamped over her mouth again, while his cock hardened between them? She’d almost come on the spot.
Shifting in her seat, she thought she still might. She was slick and swollen and so insanely needy that it was possible she’d go over at any moment. She still felt the sensation of his mouth, hot and insistent, his body pressed against hers and his arms wrapped around her. And god help her, she wanted to feel it all again, without the barrier of clothes.
She sighed. She couldn’t believe she’d suggested he use a crop on her. What the fuck had she been thinking? She didn’t want her ass beaten. Except her pussy tingled at the thought of Will’s long fingers wrapped around the handle. It tingled even more at the memory of the heat in his eyes when she’d suggested giving him control. She sighed and tried to push away all thoughts of Will. She needed to focus on getting these packets done before it was time for Charlotte, Caleb, and the kids to head for the airport.
Maybe she should just pack and go with them. That would put an end to the should she or shouldn’t she sleep with Will question. If they weren’t on the same continent, they couldn’t very well hook up. And if they couldn’t hook up, it was far less likely to come out that they’d ever had sex previously. She knew that line of thought was ridiculous, but false comfort was better than no comfort.
The sound of knocking had her whirling in her chair. Charlotte poked her head around the door. “Is it all right if I come in?”
“Of course. How’s Caleb?”
Charlotte shrugged. “Oh, you know... He’s just focusing on getting everything packed and all of the travel arrangements adjusted instead of talking about how he’s feeling.”
“Some things never change.”
“I just hope we can get there before anything else happens.”
Ivy nodded. “What time is your flight?”
“Five o’clock, tomorrow evening.” Charlotte groaned. “So, I wanted to say, if you can’t finish everything, tonight, don’t worry about it. You can always email the files, and we can print them when the kids are ready for them.”
“I should be done in a few hours. There were a few books I wanted to pick up for them, but I can send you the links so you can order them.”
“That’ll work. We’ll be staying with his parents, so shipping shouldn’t be a big deal.”
“Or you can just put them on their tablets, so you’ve got less to lug around.”
Charlotte nodded. “Yeah. That would be better. Glad one of us is thinking.”
Ivy reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand. “How are you holding up?”
The other woman shrugged. “I’m worried about Caleb. Worried about his family. Stressed about traveling with the kids and about them keeping up on their assignments.”
“I can just head over as soon as I can get the flight switched and keep working with them.”
“No. I want you to actually enjoy some of your time here. All you’ve been doing since you got here is working. And getting hit in the face.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, that’s what I’m here for. Well, not the getting hit in the face part.”
Charlotte’s lips quirked. “What was that about going to London with Will?”
“Nothing.” Ivy felt her cheeks heat and hoped the heightened color wasn’t noticeable. “He was just being ridiculous. I think he’s still feeling guilty about the whole black eye thing.”
Ivy tried not to squirm under Charlotte’s scrutiny.
“Maybe it’s just me, but that sounded like more than guilt. Like maybe he was coming on to you?”
Ivy forced a laugh. “Will? Not likely,” she lied, trying to ignore the memory of his mouth on hers.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” Charlotte frowned.
“What?”
“Remember when I suggested that you needed a good shag?”
Ivy snorted. “That’s pretty much burned into my memory. Change your mind about that?”
“God, no! You need a tumble or two.” She paused for a moment before adding, “But not with Will.”
Ivy’s stomach soured as the few memories she could recall from the wedding played through her mind. “Your friend and your little brother together is too weird?” she tried to joke.
“No,” Charlotte rushed to say. “I mean... Well, it would be a little weird. And I know I suggested it earlier, but I’ve been thinking about it... I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
For the briefest of moments, the text from Will’s friend flashed through Ivy’s mind, and the heat returned to her face, but then, her brow furrowed. “You think Will would hurt me?”
“Not intentionally, I don’t think. But judging from some of his previous girlfriends, he’s easy to fall for. You’ve had so much heartbreak lately.” Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears. “I just wouldn’t want you to have more because of Will. I love you too much to lose you to something dumb like a bad breakup. And I wouldn’t want anything to ever be uncomfortable between us.”
Guilt clogged Ivy’s throat. This just confirmed what she’d always suspected. Charlotte wouldn’t ever forgive her if she found out that Ivy had fucked her little brother. She’d already lost most of the people she loved—her parents, Daniel, most of her and Daniel’s mutual friends—she couldn’t lose Charlotte, too.
“I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business who you or Will date.”
“It’s fine. Really. I don’t want anything to be weird, either. And let’s be honest, Will is way out of my league, anyway.” She’d never spoken truer words.
Charlotte protested, but Ivy shrugged. “It’s true. Besides, you don’t need to worry. That invitation was totally motivated by guilt. And if I took him up on it, it would be as friends only.”
“I still think you need to get laid,” Charlotte muttered.
“I know. Just not by Will.” Considering the state that he’d left Ivy in, that was a given. At the very least, she’d have to settle for jilling off once she finished the study guides. Maybe a few good orgasms would help her push beyond her lust for the one guy who was off limits. But she knew she was lying to herself. She doubted she’d ever stop wanting him. She also knew it was going to be his face she saw when she was coming.
“I should get back up to the house and finish packing,” Charlotte said, standing. “Just promise me you won’t head back to the States until you’ve done all the things on your UK bucket list. And if shagging someone isn’t at the top of your list, you need to write it there immediately.”
Ivy laughed, trying to ignore the slightly sick feeling in the pit of her stomach because all she could think about was the one guy who was out of bounds. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then, she gestured back to her notebook. “Whatever happens, I’m finishing this first.”
By the time she’d completed all of the outlines, it was well past two in the morning, but she walked up to the house and tucked the notebook and a flash drive with everything the kids would need into Charlotte’s purse. Ten minutes after that, Ivy had been in her bed, waiting for sleep to wash over her. But it hadn’t.
She flopped onto her back and glared at the glowing blue numbers on the bedside clock. It was almost four, and she was no closer to dozing off than she’d been when she’d gone to bed. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Will. When she tried to relax, she felt his body pressed against hers, his hand over her mouth. And despite brushing her teeth, she swore she could still taste him. Or maybe that sensory memory had just been indelibly burned into her brain.
The crotch of her pajama bottoms was soaked, and she was pretty sure her knit top had been replaced by a burlap sack when she wasn’t looking. Every time she shifted, the formerly soft fabric chafed her nipples. Her tight, aching nipples.
She kicked off the sheet, unable to stand the sensation of fabric on her legs. If she were honest with herself, the only thing she wanted covering her was Will. For what had to be the millionth time since he’d left, she replayed every moment of his kisses.
Needier than ever, she dragged her fingertips up and over her stomach, baring herself as she did so. Her nipples tightened almost painfully as the cool night air blew in from the open window. Wetting her fingers, she rolled and pinched the taut buds, imagining Will’s hands and mouth on her. Just the thought of Will’s firm lips closing over her nipple had her arching off the bed, and a moan escaped her.
In her mind’s eye, Will traveled lower and tugged down her pajama bottoms. Her hand followed his imaginary path, and she absently wondered if Will enjoyed eating women out. As her finger slipped between her slick, swollen pussy lips, she decided it didn’t matter. Fantasy Will totally got off on it.
She circled her clit with the pad of her finger, careful not to touch it directly—not yet, anyway. She’d been tossing and turning for so long, she didn’t want to rush the release. If she drew it out and came hard enough, maybe she’d finally be able to sleep.
Fantasy Will knelt between her legs and splaying them wide, dragging his fingertips over her inner thighs, and her hips jerked upward into her teasing hand. His mouth followed his fingers until his face was hovering above her wet cunt. She tried to imagine him spreading her lips and licking her. But before she could envision that, her mind seized on the image of Will’s hand wrapping around the handle of the crop.
Fantasy Will had taken on a life of his own, and he pushed her face-first on the bed and brought the leather down in her upturned bare ass. She gasped and her body stiffened as her release washed over her. No warning, just Fantasy Will and his kinky toy sending her headlong into shuddering bliss.
Collapsing, boneless, to the bed, she tried to slow her breathing and her racing heart. Why she’d thought an orgasm would help her sleep, she had no idea. She was now more wired and desperate for him than she had been earlier. Laying in the empty aftermath of her tangled sheets, she questioned the wisdom of her decision to leave.
Maybe she’d at least stay until he returned. They could have a little fun then she could go home without any “what ifs” plaguing her. She’d know exactly what sex with Will was like because she’d be completely sober this time. Their curiosity would be sated, and they’d both go back to their own lives.