by Bianca Cole
He was orphaned at eight years old when his abusive step-father got rip-roaring drunk and burned their house down. He’d been sleeping over at his best friend’s house. I could sense the guilt in his voice as he told me. No doubt guilt he survived while his mom died in that house. It made my heart ache for him.
He went into foster care for two years, until a wealthy older couple who couldn’t have children and who owned a billion-dollar oil company, adopted him. He inherited their company when they passed away. As far as I could tell, Wes had no one else—no other family only his money. He explained that he still works as a lawyer because he loves it, even though he doesn’t need to.
All my preconceived conceptions about Wes were wrong. I’d assumed he was just a cocky player who enjoyed breaking hearts. Instead, it has become clear he’s been wounded in the past, closing himself off to feeling anything real.
It makes my feelings even harder to deal with. I’m falling in love with the man I can’t have. The man who doesn’t want me. Tonight, we both have to attend the dinner with my father. I can’t let this thing between us become anything more than sex. It means I have to stop. I have to resist him.
Carefully, I remove his arm from my waist and lift the duvet. I slip from the warm bed, pulling my clothes on that are scattered across his bedroom. I take one long glance at Wes. My heart aching as I step out of his bedroom, shutting the door and heading out of his apartment.
A sense of shame floods me as I ride the elevator down to the ground floor. The shame isn’t rooted in what we did last night, it’s because I’m sneaking out of his apartment. I can’t face up to the truth, yet. I’m freaked out by my feelings for Wes. Not to mention, the fact he makes me want more for myself. Life had been easy until he stormed into it.
17
Wes
“Wes, how are you?” Roger claps a hand against my back as I walk up to the bar.
I can barely listen to him. All I’m focusing on is finding Ivy. I know her father will have forced her to attend this party. I have to see her.
She left. When I woke to find her gone this morning, it felt like she had punched me in the stomach. Normally, when I sleep with women, I’m glad when they sneak out. Ivy however is different. She’s not a one-night stand.
For the first time in my life, I made love to a woman. I made love to Ivy. She’s everything to me. The way we sat up talking all night makes this more than sex. Doesn’t she know how I feel about her? I told Ivy things I’ve never told anyone. Not even my best friend, Logan. Am I the only one feeling this deep powerful connection between the two of us?
A flash of panic courses through me at the thought. The thought of being rejected by her. Maybe this is just sex to her.
“Wes, are you okay?” Roger presses.
“Sorry, Roger, yes, I’m good thank you.” I shake my head. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“How about we grab a drink and have a good time?” he suggests.
I nod, absentmindedly. My eyes scan the room, trying to find her amongst the sea of gray hair. Where the hell is she? I glance at my wrist watch and realize I’m twenty minutes early. I’d been so desperate to see her that I couldn’t sit around waiting any longer.
Roger orders us each a jack on the rocks and hands me one. I accept it, taking a long swig of the fiery hot liquid to still my nerves. I down the entire glass and then scan the room again.
A flash of red hair catches my attention and my heart skips a beat. She’s standing at the entrance wearing a beautiful black maxi dress with a slit right up her thigh. The dress gives a teasing view of her long creamy legs. The plunging neckline gives everyone too much of an eyeful of her full, perky breasts. My fists clench by my side at the thought of any other man looking at her in that way. Her hair is in a stylish bun that shows of her long slender neck.
I feel my balls tingle, as I watch her walk into the room. She’s an angel.
I turn back to Roger. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to go and speak to someone.”
Roger nods, turning to speak to Arthur who is leaning against the bar. I stride through the room, dodging people as I make my way over to her. Her eyes lock with mine and widen.
I smile at her and continue to walk toward her. My stomach dips as she glances around the room and then dashes away from me. My chest tightens.
A hand claps onto my shoulder, forcing me to turn around. Jack, Ivy’s dad, is standing behind me. “Wes, how are you getting on with the new job?”
I swallow hard. “It’s going great, sir. I’m loving working for the firm.”
He nods. “I’m glad to hear it. How are you getting on with my daughter?”
Shit.
He doesn’t need to know how well I’m getting on with his daughter. “We’re getting on fine. I’m sure we will be fast friends.” I can feel my heart hammering against my rib cage. He doesn’t need to know that I was balls deep inside of her only last night.
He nods. “Perfect, I need lawyers like you supporting my Ivy when she takes over the firm. She is after all my daughter and in line to take the managing partner role when I step down.”
I clear my throat, trying not to let my nerves show through. “Of course, sir. Do you intend that to be soon?”
He shrugs. “It’s not set in stone. I hope to retire a year or two from now.”
“Well, I won’t let you down. I will support Ivy in any way I can.”
“Thank you, Wes.” He smiles. “I think it is time to sit down for dinner. I put you next to Ivy because you two know each other already.” If he knew how well I knew his daughter this conversation wouldn’t be so civil.
I’m glad that he has put me next to her, though. It gives me a chance to find out why she snuck out of my apartment. I walk toward the main table and find my name tag, right next to Ivy’s. I get to stay close to her and make sure no man lays hands on what is mine.
The clack of heels on the restaurant floor draws my attention to her. She has that fiery look in her eyes as she stops by my side, leaning toward me to hiss into my ear, “Did you do this?”
My brow furrows. “Do what?”
She gestures at our name tags.
I shake my head. “No, your father told me he put us together because we know each other.” I drag her chair out and hold it for her. “Would you calm down?”
She glares at me, before sitting down. I sit down next to her and place my hand on her thigh, making her tense. She bats my hand away from her, leaning toward me. “This is a work function. Which means you have to be professional.”
I sigh. “Was it professional of you to sneak out of my apartment this morning before I woke up?” I whisper into her ear. “There were so many things I wanted to do to you.”
A visible tremor runs through her. She shakes her head. “I left because this is getting—”
The clink of metal against glass interrupts her, and she glances up to the head of the table where her father is speaking.
What was she about to say? My eyes remained fixed to her. I can’t look anywhere else. I’m desperate to know what is going on in that head of hers.
Jack prattles on, speaking about something or other. The only thing that has my attention right now is the stunning woman sat next to me. Ivy is the only junior lawyer at this dinner and she’s the only woman.
It infuriates me that so many of the partners eyes her up. I hate it. They are all dirty old men who want to grope young women. It makes my blood boil seeing them look at her like that.
Ivy Heisman is mine. I may not be able to show it, but she is.
As Jack wraps up his speech, everyone chats. Ivy chats to Roger who is sitting on the other side of her. I clench my jaw as she blocks me out of the conversation. Roger isn’t much older than me. I’m certain she is laughing and flirting with him on purpose, to make me jealous. It’s working. I grit my teeth together as I try to focus on the meal.
After a few minutes, Ivy stands and excuses herself to go to the bathroom. I give it a minute b
efore standing and chasing after her. I head down the corridor toward the bathroom and once I’m certain no one is around, I let myself into the ladies bathroom.
Ivy is standing over the sink, breathing heavily. She looks upset. Her eyes glistening with tears. The sound of the door shutting draws her attention right to me. She stands straight and glares at me in the mirror. “What the fuck are you doing in the ladies room?”
I walk toward her, closing the gap between us. “I needed to see you. I needed to speak to you.”
Ivy shakes her head. “This has got to stop. It was a bad idea from the start—”
My hands wrap around her hips and I pull her into me hard. She gasps as every inch of my hard cock presses against her backside. I kiss her exposed neck, holding her gaze in the mirror. “I hated waking up this morning to find you weren’t by my side.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Why?”
The vulnerability of the answer makes me pause and freeze up behind her. I can’t expose myself to hurt. If I put all my cards on the table, there’s no turning back. If she rejects me… I can’t even think about it. Instead of telling her the truth, I spin her around. “Because, I wanted to do this.”
I meld my lips to hers, groaning against them. Her arms wrap around my neck as she kisses me back, melting into my arms. Slowly, I trace her bare thigh with my rough fingers, trailing up the slit in her dress to find her drenched panties beneath. She moans into my mouth as I rub her clit through the fabric.
My arms tighten around her waist and I force her forward, walking her into one of the stalls. I turn to lock the door behind us. My fingers release my belt and the button of my pants before she’s even turned to face me.
“Wes, what are you—” Her eyes widen as she gazes down at my throbbing length, glistening with precum and ready. She licks her lips and moans.
“Do you want me to fuck you right here, Ivy?” I ask, watching her as pure lust melts over her face. “Do you want me to stretch that tight little pussy over this cock and make you come at this stupid, boring as fuck work dinner?”
She nods her head, biting her bottom lip.
“Turn around,” I order.
She does as I say and turns around, bending over and pulling down her panties to reveal her pretty glistening pussy, ready for a good fucking. I groan as I move toward her, sliding my fingers through her soaking wet lips. She bucks her hips backward, trying to get my finger inside her. The hungry, animalistic need to claim this woman is so strong. I need her to know she belongs to me.
I drag the swollen head through her lips, bumping it across her sensitive nub and making her cry with pleasure. With one quick hard thrust, I bury myself inside of her. My aching balls slap against her clit as she arches her back and makes a half-scream, half-moan.
If anyone were outside, they would have heard her, but I don’t care. All I care about is making her mine. All I care about is her. I thrust in and out of her hard, fast and deep, driving her right to the edge with no reserve. Jack fucking Heisman can walk in here and find my balls deep in his daughter, and I don’t give a shit.
Her tightness is pulling at me, clinging onto me as I thrust in and out. She bucks her hips back against me, forcing me harder and deeper inside. “Harder, Wes,” she moans.
I roar against her neck, bending over to press my lips against her soft skin. I dig my fingers tighter into her hips and stand straight, plunging harder and faster inside of her. She’s moaning loud. Anyone could hear what we’re doing in here, but she doesn’t care either.
I spread her ass cheeks wide and circle the tight pink back hole with my fingers, teasing her. She moans, bucking her hips for me. I’m going to claim her fully—every single one of her holes—but not here.
I lace my fingers through her red hair, pulling her toward me and forcing her to arch her back. My hand circles her throat and I kiss her neck, making her gasp. “You’re mine, Ivy, never forget it,” I growl.
She rolls her hips back to meet each of my thrusts.
“Now make that pussy come for me, baby girl. Come all over me as I mark you with my cum.”
She cries out, shuddering as I thrust in even harder, forcing her body over the edge as she clamps around me tightly. I growl as my balls clench and release, shooting rope after rope of thick, sticky cum deep inside of her. I keep thrusting until every last drop is drained from my balls.
I take a step back, pulling out of her. Her legs are trembling as she remains bent over. I memorize the image of her like this. My thick cum leaking from her messy pussy as I shove myself back into my pants, zipping them up.
As I stare at her, something inside of me snaps. A hot panic flushes through me, twisting my gut. I’ve fallen in love with this woman, something I vowed I’d never do. It means she can hurt me. She can crush my heart with one word. My heart knocks against my rib cage and I freeze up. I’m like a deer caught in headlights.
She stands on trembling legs and I do the most shameful thing—I bolt like a coward. Before she can turn around to face me, I’m gone.
I leave Ivy standing in the bathroom with my cum dripping from her slit. It’s the biggest asshole move ever but I can’t face it. The way I feel about Ivy scares me like nothing else has for a long time. I want her more than anything and that means I can get hurt. I can’t risk it. I’ve lost too many people in my life. I’ve felt too much pain. It would kill me if she hurt me too.
My heart beats erratically as I rush back toward the restaurant. What the hell am I doing? I need to get away.
18
Ivy
A flood of tears stream down my cheeks as I clean Wes’ cum from my pussy. I’ve never felt so used before. He fucked me and then left without so much as a word. Even though this was always supposed to be just sex, he treated me worse than a common prostitute–at least they get paid.
My chest aches as though he has stuck a dagger into my heart and twisted. It hurts like hell. I let myself out of the cubicle and stand in front of the mirror. My eyes are red and my cheeks are puffy and swollen from crying. I turn the tap and run the cold water, splashing some over my face and waiting for the swelling to calm down.
I can’t walk back in there and let him know I’ve been crying. He can’t realize how much power he has over me.
A sense of shame coils through me as I walk back toward the main dining room. My stomach churns at the thought of sitting next to Wes. He’s the biggest asshole ever. I shouldn’t have let myself feel anything other than hate for him. I clench my fists, angry at myself for letting this happen.
Wes is chatting to Arthur, one of the partners, as I sit down next to him. He doesn’t even look at me. I can barely look at him without sickness twisting at my gut. Wes broke my heart in that bathroom and he doesn’t give a shit. It hurts more than I’d like to admit. This is the reason why this twisted thing between us should have ended sooner, before I got hurt.
Roger’s hand settles on my arm, forcing me to look at him. “Ah, Ivy, You’re back.”
My brow furrows as I glance down at his hand. He’s been a little too touchy this evening, and it’s making me uncomfortable—especially, as he is married. “Yes.” I glance down at the steak on my plate that must have arrived while I was gone. “How is the food?”
“It’s lovely.” He glances down at my cleavage and my heart sinks a little. I thought Roger was safe. Normally, he’s nothing but sweet and talks about his children. Tonight, he’s acting like a creep.
I grab hold of my cutlery and cut a small piece of meat, forcing it into my mouth. I can barely stomach it. Food is the last thing on my mind. I want to go home and curl up in a ball.
Roger clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him. “So, Ivy, do you have a boyfriend?” He raises an eyebrow.
What the fuck has gotten into him tonight? He’s making me feel sick right now.
“I-I don’t have one at the moment… No.” From the corner of my eye, I feel Wes’ gaze on me. His body tense beside me.
“
Interesting,” he muses, continuing to eat.
I can’t eat. I’ve barely touched my steak but I feel sick and numb. All I want to do is go home. My father is circulating, chatting to the partners one by one. My heart pounds against my rib cage as I consider a quick exit. I’m sure I could sneak out without him noticing.
The moment I stand, my stomach dips. My father’s eyes meet mine and I know there’s no way I’m slipping away now.
Fuck.
I turn and walk toward the bathroom, again. It’s my only option and right now it beats sitting next to Wes for a moment more. I’d rather spend my entire night in there than out here with him. When we first met, I hated him. I knew what he was then. Why the hell did I ever risk my heart with an asshole like him?
The sounds of footsteps following me toward the bathroom makes my heart pound out of my chest. If Wes is following me, then I’m screwed. I glance over my shoulder and see that it’s Roger. I’m not sure whether to be relived or freaked out. “Hey, Ivy, wait up a second. I want to speak to you.”
I come to a halt and turn to face him. “What is it, Roger?”
He walks right up to me, getting far closer than I’m comfortable with. The strong scent of bourbon lingers on his breath. I glance into his eyes which are glazed over. He’s drunk. I take a step back but he grasps my wrist, pulling me close to him. “I know you want me, Ivy. The way you’ve been looking at me tonight.”
I yank my arm from his grasp. “That’s bullshit, Roger, you’re married. What the hell is wrong with you?” I shake my head, trying to turn away and head into the bathroom.
His hands grab me again, pulling me right back to him. Cold fear slices through me at the look in his eyes. “Come on. It’s clear you haven’t had any in a long time. I’m offering to give you a good night.” He winks.
