Dermot’s eyes narrow. He pulls back from his sister like he’s been burned, his fingers sweeping her hair back as she tilts her head in a silent question. ‘Is that a love bite on your neck?’ His tone is thunderous.
Her hands reach for her throat, cupping it protectively. ‘What if it is?’ Her tone dares him to challenge her.
‘Jesus Christ, Ivy.’ He rakes his fingers through his hair and paces the decking, shaking his head violently.
‘I’m a grown woman, Dermot. Deal with it,’ she says cheerfully.
‘Oh my God. Caelon goes out of town for two days and you manage to get into trouble.’ He sounds irate.
‘I wouldn’t call it trouble, really.’ She sings in an overly cheery voice, making a show of inspecting her cuticles.
‘Who is he?’ Dermot demands.
‘None of your business. Enjoy your night at the gentlemen’s club next week.’ She wiggles her fingers in a sarcastic wave.
Dermot sighs and shoves his hands in his suit pockets. ‘Don’t let her out of your sight,’ he begs.
‘If you insist.’ I shoot Ivy a small smirk as Dermot marches round to the front of the house.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
IVY
While the kids had a second sleepover at their place, Caelon had one in my bed.
We’ve spent the past two days in a decadent limb-locked bubble, coming up only for air, to eat, to shower, and to crash on the couch, with me binge-watching Love Island, while he cites all the reasons why the couples won’t last.
My boss is a tad cynical when it comes to love.
He’s claimed it’s not going to be a love story between us, but as one day bleeds into another, I’m increasingly certain of how easy it would be to fall hard for a man like Caelon. For the past couple of days, he’s been a lot less tortured and a lot more tender. We’re supposed to be living for today, having sex until one of us gets bored, but the chances of getting bored with his kinky pleasure dom routine are slim to not-a-fucking-hope-in-hell.
I’m both curious and nervous to see how he behaves with the children at home. Will he sleep in my bed and creep out before they wake? Or was their presence in the house the reason he fought the urge to slink into my bed before his Monaco trip?
I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
Scarlett and James drop a tired-looking Orla and Owen back late on Friday evening. James’s driver, Tim, helps Scarlett out of the car while James helps the kids. Scarlett greets me with a kiss on each cheek, then proceeds to scrutinise me from head to toe with unconcealed glee.
‘You’re glowing,’ she nudges my ribs playfully. ‘Anything you want to tell me?’
I shake my head, fight the smirk pulling my lips, and turn my attention to the children.
‘Hi guys! We missed you! Did you have a nice sleepover?’ I hug both kids hard, then take Orla’s Minnie Mouse backpack as Samuel takes Owen’s Spiderman case.
Samuel shoots me a less-than-subtle wink.
All the staff know Caelon and I are sleeping together. If limited access to the interior cameras wasn’t enough to give it away, Liz walked in on us going at it like rabbits on viagra in the kitchen yesterday. She squealed, made a show of covering her eyes and yelled at us to stop contaminating her workspace, but her usual stern tone was more akin to something that sounded like excitement.
While I’m not shy, it’s hard being watched and whispered about twenty-four hours a day.
I’ve crossed a line. I’m not exactly staff anymore, but I’m not a Beckett either.
‘It was so good. Scarlett had a fairy wigwam set up for a tea party and we had cupcakes,’ Orla announces, rubbing her eyes as she traipses up the steps and into the hallway.
‘That sounds amazing,’ I usher Scarlett into the house before me. Caelon and James shake hands then follow us inside.
‘Where are Harper and Halle?’Caelon asks, as Owenwraps himself around his legs and clings onto to his father like a koala. I watch on while my ovaries vibrate with pure longing. I’ve spent the last two days physically attached to my boss, and it has done nothing to alleviate the perpetual horn I have for him.
James and Scarlett exchange a significant look, like they’re having an entire conversation with their eyes about Caelon and me. I glance guiltily at the spot on the wall where we first had sex, as if the outline of our slick, entwined bodies has stained the paintwork.
