“We could stay here tonight. There are a couple of suites available. We could order room service, maybe?” He raises his brows, waiting for my answer.
I’ve wanted to try out those outdoor bathtubs built for two since I first saw one. Working with Archer has turned into a kind of torturous foreplay, one I both delight and agonize in. All the wanting and the yearning throughout the day, the lingering glances and the quick touches.
Archer Bancroft makes me feel like a confident, smart, and desirable woman. And I’m going to wield my newfound power on the very man who gave it to me.
Archer
“ROOM SERVICE SOUNDS perfect,” Ivy says after a too long pause. Hell, for a minute there I thought she was going to say no.
It was slow at Hush, which worked out in my favor since I spent half of my time in Calistoga lately. Always with Ivy by my side, helping me, offering her suggestions, guiding me when I went off track, me pushing her when she was being too conservative.
First day in, I realized pretty quickly we make a good team. There are enough differences between us which balance our personalities and allow us to work well together. Hard to notice when in the past, all we ever did was argue every time we came together.
But the arguing was a result of all that troublesome sexual attraction getting in the way. Not that it’s disappeared. Hell no. But we’re taking care of that issue every single night. We’re both exhausted after a heavy and long workday, but we always make time for each other. In bed. Wrapped around each other, naked limbs entangled. My ultimate task of the day is making Ivy moan with pleasure.
I’m falling for her. Hard. Fast. I don’t want her to leave. She feels like a true partner in every sense of the word.
That scares the shit out of me.
Working side by side with Ivy since she came here has been exhilarating. Getting to know her, watching her in her element has left me impressed. She may be young and at an early point in her career, but she’s smart and instinctive, with excellent taste. Without a doubt, I know my resort is going to look unbelievable when we’re finished.
I just hope we can wrap it all up and have it ready in the next few days. That’s the only thing making me anxious.
Well, that and the fact that as soon as Crave opens, Ivy’s gone. Out of my life.
Fuck, that fills me with so much despair I can barely stand thinking about it. She doesn’t think I’ll stick. And sometimes I doubt myself too. I don’t want to subject her or myself to a relationship that’s doomed to fail.
But are we really doomed? I don’t know. I’m so used to thinking that way, it’s hard to believe anything else.
“So you want to get a room? Or eat here in the office then head on home?” I definitely don’t want the formality of my office this evening, eating at my desk, talking business like we’ve been doing constantly since I’ve brought her here.
I want to be in a suite tonight, alone with her and shut off from the rest of the world. We can eat, plan our schedule for tomorrow, and then indulge in each other. My favorite part of the day is the nights. Being alone with Ivy.
Being inside Ivy.
How will I feel, though, when it’s all over? Normally, with women, it’s never an issue. Hell, I don’t allow women to become this close to me ever. Their expectations grow to insurmountable proportions, and I’m left fending off their disappointment and sense of abandonment.
I have this feeling that with Ivy, it will become difficult to let her out of my sight, let alone out of my life. I’ll be the one with the sense of abandonment when she leaves me.
“How about I call the order in and you go get us a suite?” I suggest.
She smiles, her hazel eyes sparkling. When she looks at me like that, I feel ten feet tall and like I can do no wrong. It’s too easy, what we share.
I remember complaining to Gage that it made me nervous when things were too easy. I should be feeling that way at this very moment.
But all I can do is think about how pretty she is. How much I want to kiss her. How I enjoy spending every waking moment with her. Every sleeping moment with her too.
“Sounds perfect. I’ve been wanting to try one of those outdoor bathtubs, you know,” she admits coyly. “Do you want me to order for you? I love how the menu is always changing.”
That’s because I hired a world-class chef who’s a pain in my ass and worth every penny I pay him. “Yeah, order me something. You know what I like. I’ll come find you in about ten minutes, okay? I have a few things I need to wrap up first.”
“All right.” Shutting her laptop, she stands and I grab her, pulling her into my arms. She turns more fully into me, her gaze meeting mine, eyes large and unreadable as she grips my tie and pulls me in for a kiss. I bury my hands in her hair, messing it up completely, not giving a shit. I love it when she’s messy and looking dazed, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from our constant kissing.
Damn it, I have it bad for this woman. And I don’t really care if anyone knows it or not. Even Matt.
Even Gage.
Yeah, I need to tell Gage. They both need to know what’s going on. Not that I’m coughing up the money, not yet. They said she didn’t count, but damn it, she counts to me. But I won’t be paying off any sort of bet until I put a ring on her finger.
I can’t believe I’m contemplating putting a ring on Ivy’s finger.
“I’ll see you in a bit then?” she murmurs when I finally break the kiss. Her face is turned up to mine, her lips still slightly pursed, her lids heavy, giving her a sultry, sexy look. Her scent surrounds me, heady and sweet, and I’m tempted to jump her right here. Wouldn’t be the first time we f**ked around on top of my desk. Last time, I’d pushed her skirt up, tugged her panties aside, and made her come with just my tongue in record time. Had to, since there’d been a meeting I needed to attend and they were all waiting for me.