The elephant that had been sitting on his chest for the past three weeks stood up and shook his hand. He felt liberated and thrilled that he’d fulfilled his commitment to ask the question.
Lee stood, his face a blank. Then Ivan felt him look directly into his soul. “Jaden is my very first baby. She’s my world. She means more to me than one person could possibly comprehend, but I know she’s madly in love with you. I know my wife is madly in love with you,” he paused and looked at the ground.
Ivan felt he might burst with anticipation.
“If I have to forfeit the portion of my heart that belongs to her for anyone, I’m honored to have it be you. I look forward to welcoming you into our family, son.” He offered his hand and his poker face transformed into a look of respect—something Ivan could never have asked for but appreciated beyond belief.
With rain now beating down he accepted the outstretched hand and shook it firmly. “Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.” Inside his emotions ran wild.
As they released their grip, Lee added, “You’re lucky you won Diane over at the airport. That was a ballsy move asking her for her blessing first. You’ll learn quickly that Thorne women can’t keep a damn thing secret—especially not a mother. She told me last night before bed.” He laughed. “My mind was made up, but I wanted to make you squirm a bit.”
Ivan shook his head and just laughed, the nervousness flowing out of him. “Well played, sir. Well played. Yes, lesson learned there.”
“Now, I say let’s scrap this project and come back to it later…or not. I’m drenched, and we made a pretty good dent.”
Noticing he was soaked as well, Ivan conceded his ambition to chop Colorado wood. His true task had been completed, and perhaps Jaden was awake by now. “Agreed,” he said with a smile. As if he’d been injected with some wonderful drug, he happily snatched up the tools and headed to the car. A smile tattooed his face and love tattooed his soul. One more question, he thought. Just one more question to ask.
Chapter 22
“Color Blind”
“REALLY, DADDY? PUTTING IVAN TO WORK on his vacation in this weather?” Jaden waved as she ran out with an umbrella to greet the men returning from their backwoods man session. She tried to see the expressions on their faces. Had their time together gone well?
“I didn’t put a gun to his head,” her father joked as she snuggled into Ivan’s arms and pecked him on the cheek. She could feel his heart thumping, but they were both all smiles. Last night’s friendliness seemed to have continued. Whew.
“It was my idea. I wanted to get outside,” Ivan said returning a peck to her temple.
“I hope you didn’t get natured out, ’cause I made lunch, and I thought I’d take you and your camera into the mountains once the rain lets up.”
“Perfect. I could never get natured out. As long as you’re there with me, I’m happy,” he added softly. “Let me help your dad finish here, and I’ll be right in.”
“Okay, sweetie,” she called as she headed back to the house.
“Quite the charmer, aren’t ya?” She could hear her father teasing Ivan as she walked away. Amazing.
Traipsing in from the now-slowing rain, Jaden tossed her umbrella in the corner and joined her mother and sister in the kitchen, where they chatted secretively. They smiled and grew silent as she approached.
“He’s gonna change clothes, and I think I’ll take him to the trails at Rocky Mountain National Park.”
“Yes, that sounds good. I was watching the weather, and it looks like the rain is pretty much done,” her mom reported. “Scattered showers.”
“What were you two gabbing about?” Jaden asked.
“Nothing, darling. Did you pack lunch?”
“You know I did. You helped me pack it!”
“Yes, sorry. This old mind of mine must be slipping.” Her mother laughed.
“You guys are terrible at keeping secrets—especially you, Mom.”
“I haven’t said anything!” Magan protested.
“You need anything else for your picnic date?”
“Mom, I’m not ten.”
“Sorry. You guys are growing up so fast. I forget sometimes that you’re both beautiful young women.”
“Aww, Mom!” Jaden hugged her mother and grabbed her sister as well.
“I love you guys,” her mother said.
“We love you too,” the sisters replied in unison.
“Heads up, Ivan! The estrogen is thick in here right now.” Her father’s joke ended their moment as the men rumbled back inside.
“Thanks, Dad!” Magan hollered as she rolled her eyes.
“You about ready?” Jaden asked Ivan.
“Aren’t I always, baby girl?”
“Baby girl! Did you hear that? Lee, do you remember when you used to call me that in college? Your father used to be quite the charmer himself—a million years ago. I wonder where that man went?”
“He got married. See what happens when you get married, Ivan? You run out of one liners. Luckily my wife is an angel who doesn’t need to be serenaded every day.” He sidled over and gave her a kiss on the neck.
“You see what I have to deal with since you left, Jaden?”
“We’re out of here before it gets too weird,” she said, laughing as she grabbed her bag. “Ivan, quick! Go change.”
“I’m on it,” he said, disappearing into the living room for a moment, then passing back through to the bathroom.
“You got any wine in there?” her father asked, eyeing the bag she’d packed. “Let me grab you a bottle.”
“Thanks, Daddy. I’m going to grab the camera too.” She dashed up the stairs as her father headed for the basement, and she returned a few minutes later to find Ivan wearing fresh clothes and chatting once again with her mother in the kitchen.
“I owe you,” he told her mom as Jaden approached.
“For what?” Jaden asked.
“Oh, well…” Ivan began, but his attention was soon commanded by her dad.
“Okay, Ivan, I think you’ll appreciate this one,” he announced as he returned to the kitchen. “It’s one of my new favorites. It’s an Australian shiraz with a great finish.”
What he pulled from behind his back couldn’t have been more perfect. In his hand was a black velvet bag with silver embroidery. Serendipity had made her grand entrance.
“Now I’m more of a dry red kinda guy but—”
“Dad, it’s perfect,” Jaden said. Amazed yet again.
Her father smiled, but looked confused.
“That’s Ivan’s favorite—his favorite wine and his favorite winery. Mollydooker. And it’s come to be one of my favorites too,” she added, giving Ivan a squeeze.
“You’re full of surprises aren’t you, son?” he exclaimed.
“It’s a damn fine wine. I can attest to that,” Ivan said. “Thank you.”
“Well, I hope you two enjoy.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Jaden took the bottle and snuck in a hug. She added it to her bag, along with two wine glasses, and zipped it up. “Ready?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Here, you take the camera.”
After a quick round of goodbyes, they headed for the door, and Jaden practically ran to her father’s SUV, the anticipation of a long afternoon in the woods alone with Ivan getting the better of her. The acceptance of her family? The perfect bottle of wine? She and Ivan were clearly meant to move forward.
“So what did you and my dad do?” she asked as they sped down the driveway.
“Well, we chatted and cut some wood. Man stuff. A woman, such as yourself, wouldn’t understand.” He laughed.
“Oh, really? Well, this little lady has chopped her fair share of wood, and I’m fully adept with a chainsaw, mister.”
“Teasing, girl! When it started to rain we had to stop, but we got a fair amount done.”
“Good. I’m glad you got out there with him. He can be intimidating sometimes.”
“Naw, he
’s a teddy bear.”
“Liar.”
As the car cut though the beautiful little town, Ivan played sightseer, marveling aloud at the way wildlife marched through the streets as a part of the community. Elk laid in people’s front yards, and bighorn sheep trotted down the side streets. When they approached the entrance to the park, with its fields of goldenrod, he scrambled for the camera.
“This is nothing,” Jaden said as they passed Beaver Meadows Visitors Center. “Wait till we get into the real park.”
They turned on to Trail Ridge Road, and the SUV began to ascend. They picked their way through the picturesque scenery, stopping to run out and snap pictures of each other with backdrops of trees, rock formations, and wildlife. The road seemed to be their own private highway with not another vehicle in sight. Perfect. As they came to a marker indicating them to be halfway up the trail, Jaden pulled the car to the side of the road. “Let’s go for a hike and eat.”
Ivan followed her along a small trail cut between a field of sage brush and budding wildflowers. She heard him whistle appreciatively from behind and looked to see what natural wonder he’d sighted. But he had eyes only for her.
“Lookin’ good, baby,” was all he said to her questioning look. “You put the landscape to shame.”
They left the field and turned onto a smaller and tighter path through a thicket, which tore at their bags and clothing. “Almost there,” she said, offering her hand. She thrilled at the warmth and electricity that surged through her when he took it.
Finally the forest opened up, and they stood on a cliff overlooking the landscape they’d been traversing for the past forty-five minutes. Snowcapped mountains sheltered a spring-fed valley that harbored every beautiful form of life one could imagine. The trees scattered themselves around monstrous rock formations and between trickling natural turquoise lakes. Eagles flew above, enjoying the same view she was now thrilled to share with Ivan. She could tell he was in awe, as he said nothing and seemed to have forgotten about the camera. He just stood, taking it all in and breathing the crisp, fresh air.
She set the bag down and turned to him with a smile. “Well, doctor, what do you think?”
“Its beauty is surpassed only by yours, Ms. Thorne.”
“I thought you’d like it. I came here while growing up to think and relax.”
“It’s perfect, baby. Simply perfect.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. “Thank you again for coming. I can’t tell you how much I needed you to be here.”
“I needed to be here too. Thank you so much for inviting me. I love everything about you,” he added after a moment.
That sentiment brought tears to her eyes. If only she could love everything about herself. She pressed her lips and hips to his, hoping to lose herself in the moment and recover. “I think we both need something right now,” she whispered.
She knelt, made quick work of his fly, and took his cock out of his pants. Grasping it at the base she spit on its head and began to swallow him inch by inch. She worked her hand up and down his shaft as her tongue teased the tip of his dick, only to retract as she forced more of him down her wanting throat. Longing to overwhelm him with pleasure, she took his balls into her mouth and sucked them in the most sensual of ways. He looked down at her, eyes filled with lust, and took the liberty of removing his shirt. She followed suit and removed hers, making sure not to interrupt her rhythmic motions.
Suddenly he pulled her to her feet and turned her to face the valley in front of them. He bit her neck like a savage animal, and she quivered in ecstasy as he unbuttoned her pants and tore them from her body before also removing his.
“What do you want me to do to you?” he growled.
“I want you to use me for your own pleasure,” she responded, the love in her heart swelling to push the guilt aside.
With a rush of breath, Ivan began his assault. He bent her forward to rest her hands on an overturned stump, then lowered himself to taste her pussy. He licked and teased her as she felt herself go wild, shaking her hips and pressing back against his mouth. He licked every centimeter of her, then she felt him trail his way up to her ass. A momentary jolt went through her, and she tensed, but then he began working her clit with his free hand, and she willed herself to relax. This was for Ivan, yet she moaned in excitement and pleasure. “Fuck. Ahhhhhh, God…That feels…Fuck!”
Her moans turned to screams as she stood bent over in the wilderness with a finger in her pussy and his tongue in her ass. Her orgasm built to a climax with uncontrollable speed, and she burst forth, drenching Ivan’s hand as he continued to utilize both sexual centers. “Oh God, Ivan, that feels so fucking good. Don’t stop!”
“You like that?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
Slipping another and another finger into her wanting pussy, he continued to use his tongue and worked another orgasm from her depths. When she’d recovered enough to stop screaming, she tried to protest. “Ivan…I said…for your pleasure…”
“Trust me,” he told her as he lifted her leg and braced her foot against a rock. “This is for my pleasure.”
Grabbing her hips for leverage, his slammed his dick into her with mind-altering force. “Ahhh, yes!” They screamed together as his cock invaded her core, and his balls hit her clit. She had never been so wet. But halting him in his tracks, she turned and took him in her mouth once more, leaving a trail of saliva along his entire length. Then, with a wicked smile, she assumed a position of submission. “Take it,” she said, offering her ass. “It’s yours.”
Without a word, he repositioned himself. Jaden felt the pressure of the head of Ivan’s cock butting up against her last remaining virginity. But wait…
“Wait!” She moved before he went any further and reached for the knapsack on the ground. Rummaging through it, she pulled out a first aid kit. She unzipped the bag and handed a small container to Ivan.
“Vaseline?” He looked knowingly at Jaden.
“It’s better than nothing.”
“Are you always this prepared?” he inquired as he coated his dick with a thick layer of lubrication.
When he’d finished he turned her around and placed her arms and legs in the appropriate positions. Then he guided the head of his cock to her ass and pressed it against the taut ring of muscles. With a steady, firm motion he began to slide himself in, deeper and deeper into her darkest, untainted intimacy, pausing when she gasped out loud.
“Are you okay, babe?”
“Yeah,” she replied and let out a long, slow breath. “Go ahead.”
He began to rock back and forth, taking more and more liberty in his penetrating strokes.
When Jaden could no longer differentiate between pain and pleasure, she pushed back against him. “More,” she screamed.
He didn’t hesitate as he replaced his small, firm strokes with one powerful push that sent a lightning bolt through her body and out of her mouth.
“Yesssss!” echoed down the valley and probably back into town.
Back and forth he worked her ass, and the harder he thrust, the more she wanted. Stroke after stroke filled her as she fingered her clit to increase the mind-bending sensations. “I’m gonna come, baby! Keep going! Keep going! Fuck me, doctor!”
With a rush of breath and a guttural grunt she’d never heard before, Ivan came into her with an unprecedented force. The feeling of him filling her in a way she’d never experienced, her body taking all of him, toppled her over the edge as well. Without warning, her body rewarded her in a whole new way. Her legs shook as her pussy clenched around his finger and her ass around his dick, and she came harder than she’d ever known she could. Her mind went blank and the world went dark in a moment no words could define.
Ivan supported her and eased them to the ground. Naked, they lay speechless, just looking at each other until a chilly breeze caused a riot of shivering and goose bumps. “Let’s clean off real quick,” he suggested, looking over at a spring-f
ed pond.
It was clear as glass—and cold as ice, Jaden knew, but she allowed him to lead her, and hand in hand they jumped in. The second the water touched her skin, she knew they needed to get out.
“Holy shit,” she screamed as she ran back up the bank, followed by Ivan. Grabbing the picnic blanket, they huddled under its warmth to dry.
“Bad idea,” he observed after a moment.
“At least we’re awake and clean now.”
Once they began to warm, Ivan reached into the bag and retrieved the bottle of wine and glasses. “Let’s get a bit warmer.” He poured them each a glass. “To the most precious thing in my life. You make my soul smile.”
After touching his glass with hers, she sipped the velvety wine—the wine that had sparked their lust and solidified their love. She leaned against him, feeling much more comfortable in her skin, and stroked his dick back and forth. “God, that was great.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure one of these mountains moved for me.”
Lying naked on a slab of rock overlooking nature at its finest, they drank their wine, ate their lunch, and enjoyed this rare moment of being alone together.
“I wish we had more time here,” she finally said. “There’s so much to show you that I know you would love.”
“I’m sure we’ll be back here sometime soon. I love your family, by the way.”
“Yes, I noticed, and they love you, which is funny. I’ve never seen them won over so fast.”
“All I had to say was that I loved their daughter. It was easy enough.”
“Okay, you already got what you wanted out here in the wilderness, so you can stop the smooth talk, doctor.”
“I believe I was following your instructions,” he noted. “And don’t act like you didn’t like it. I’ve never seen you go off like that. It was hot.”
“It was definitely different—and hot, I must admit.” She was quiet for a moment, amazed all over again at what Ivan could do to her. She’d set out to please him and had ended up more satisfied than ever before. How could she have even considered testing their perfect bond?
The Winemaker's Dinner: Entrée Page 15
