‘You okay?’ I brush my thumb over the back of Ivy’s hand. She looks good enough to eat in a lemon-yellow strapless sundress that clings to her curves before kicking out at the waist, stopping a couple of inches above her knee. Is it any wonder I’m head over heels in love with her?
If Rian so much as looks at her, I’m going to drown him in James’s pool. I still haven’t forgiven him for moving in on my woman. Mind you, if he hadn’t, would I have been brave enough to give into this thing between us?
Probably not.
‘I’m fine, just bracing myself in case Rian asks me my favourite sexual position again.’ Her fingers interlace with mine.
‘I’ll tell him you like it any wayIgive it to you,’ I growl, slipping my arm around her waist. I can’t keep my hands off her.
‘Are we going public?’ Her topaz eyes snap to mine.
I shrug. ‘My mother-in-law has already guessed. My parents know. Dermot knows. And my brothers thought we were sleeping together long before we technically were.’
‘That just leaves Orla and Owen.’ Ivy twists her lips, pausing before we round the corner and face the music. The sound of my brothers greeting my kids carries on the gentle breeze.
‘I know we said we’d wait to tell the kids, but if you’re serious about this, about taking on me and my baggage, I think we should tell them. It’ll save setting alarms and sneaking out of each other’s rooms. They clearly adore you. I think they’ll be over the moon.’
‘Hmm.’ Ivy bites on her lower lip, unconvinced.
‘Are you getting cold feet?’ I push her against the brick wall, pinning her with my hips, my cock thickening in my shorts. ‘I know last night’s conversation freaked you out, and I don’t blame you, but I’m asking you to trust me.’
‘I trust you,’ she says shakily. Her teeth dig into her lower lip. ‘And by the way, there’s nothing cold about me when you are near.’ Her chest heaves and my mouth crashes against hers, our tongues colliding. I savour the taste of her with a moan.
‘Where’s your dad?’ Rian’s voice travels round the corner over the sound of low music coming from the house.
‘Probably smooching Ivy.’ Orla howls with laughter. ‘They smooched all holidays and they think we didn’t see. It’s gross, but it’s kind of cute, too.’
I tear my lips from Ivy’s and roll my eyes. ‘Well, I guess that decision has just been taken out of our hands.’
‘I don’t want them to think I’m trying to replace their mother,’ Ivy confesses.
‘They won’t. We’re lucky to have you. Lucky you didn’t turn on your heels and run right out the door when you realised your new boss is the guy you let in your panties in a packed bar.’
‘You need to do that again sometime. The sheer badness of it had me coming in seconds.’ She squirms against the bricks.
‘The badness? Not my fingers?’ I yank her dress up and brush a thumb over her silk panties. She gasps.
‘Okay, both.’ Her hips buck against my hand and I slide the silk to the side, slipping my fingers through her wetness.
I run my tongue over her lips, tracing the perfect dip of her cupid’s bow. Her head rolls backwards as she looks up at me.
I’d be a fool to risk this. To risk what we have. But we can’t sleep safe at night until I’ve dealt with the O’Connors once and for all.
Rian rounds the corner, wearing a pair of luminous yellow swim shorts and no top. He’s clutching a beer in one hand and a burger in the other. He stops abruptly when he sees me pinning Ivy against the wall, her dress around her waist and my hands between her legs. His eyes widen and his lips part in a crooked smile. ‘Well, well, what do we have here? Don’t stop on my behalf.’ He raises his hands in the air. ‘Maybe I can help.’
‘She wants it done properly, dickhead.’ I reluctantly remove my hands from my girlfriend’s panties, smooth her dress down over her thighs, and then suck my finger, ignoring Rian’s jaw as it hits the floor.
‘So, you guys are official?’ Rian chuckles, then takes a sip of his beer.
‘We are,’ I confirm, and man, it feels fucking good to say it out loud.
‘Did you tell your best friend you’re fucking his little sister yet?’ Rian’s eyes glitter.
I twist my head, giving him a full view of my bruised jaw.
Rian slaps his thighs and guffaws. ‘That looks sore.’
‘If you so much as think about asking my woman about her sexual preferences again, you’ll find out what sore is.’ I take Ivy’s hand again and guide her past Rian, towards James’s extravagant outdoor living area.
