by Mia Ford
Archer lazily lifted the hat off his face when he heard her voice, and blinked his eyes against the sun’s harsh glare.
“You!” Ivy repeated herself as she walked closer to him. She had lost her trail of thought when she saw him. How could she express her anger at a man who looked like that?
Archer was lying in the sun with his shirt off. His skin was glistening, tanned to the color of caramel, his washboard abs were hard and rigid as he bent his torso upwards to support himself on his elbows. She could see that he was assessing her again, with his usual dangerously blue eyes. His dark wavy hair fell over his forehead in a mess, one thick curl was over his right eye as he stared at her with an unwavering gaze.
He had noticed the way the blue cotton dress stretched fabulously over her big breasts. He was following the bounce of her hips with his eyes. She was curvaceous, small and had a big frame, and his eyes told her that was exactly what he liked looking at.
That devilish smile was still on his face as he watched her approaching him, the dimples dangerously close to appearing on his cheeks. He seemed to have forgotten their conversation in his room from the previous day. He didn’t seem to be concerned any more about what he had done.
“Are you offering fries with that shake?” He asked, just as Ivy came to a halt in front of him, folding her arms over her chest. She rolled her eyes at him, ogling his beautiful naked torso and at the same time, annoyed at his casual air.
“I’m glad to see that you don’t care anymore.” Ivy snapped at him and Archer smiled fully now.
“Care about what?” He asked, straightening himself to a full sitting position.
“That we have both betrayed Leon. He’s your brother, in case you’ve forgotten.” Ivy said, trying to narrow her large green eyes at him. But she kept getting distracted by his smoking body, and Archer knew that. He had caught her looking.
“Betrayed? Don’t be so dramatic, my dear Ivy.” He said with a short laugh.
“You were quite dramatic last evening too!” She snapped at him, still in disbelief that he could be this nonchalant.
“I was surprised that Leon was sleeping with you. In retrospect, it doesn’t surprise me. After all, we do have the same tastes as you can imagine. We’re twins.” Archer was still grinning, enjoying the way Ivy’s face lit up, from shame and anger.
He didn’t seem fazed. He seemed like he didn’t care, while Ivy was aware of what Leon’s reaction was going to be. She cared that she had betrayed him the same way Vivienne had.
“Well, I’m going to just leave then.” She said, whipping around. Archer had heaved himself up in one quick motion and pulled her towards him, so that Ivy landed with a thud on his glossy bare chest. Despite herself, how much she was mad at him, how angry she was with herself, she couldn’t help but admire the strength of his maneuvers, how absolutely smooth this man was.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” He asked, in a whisper, looking down at her face menacingly. Ivy jerked her arm away from him, her nostrils flaring. As sexy as this man was, he wasn’t going to be able to hold her back.
“I’m leaving this place. I don’t want to be a part of this. I can’t do this to Leon.” She said, finally managing to break free from Archer’s grip.
“Are you afraid of not being able to resist me?” He asked, flexing his muscles at her. He was standing with his feet apart, grinning at her, enjoying the fact that she couldn’t keep her eyes off his washboard abs.
Ivy rolled her eyes and whipped away from him. She was glad she had made this decision. She was glad that she was going away. Archer was right. He was a temptation. She knew how he could make her feel, how easily he could make her come. He wasn’t just a fine thing to look at. And she didn’t want to put herself in that position again, of betraying Leon.
“Just don’t tell him.” She said, suddenly remembering what she had come here to say to him. When she turned, she found that Archer was in the process of silently putting his shirt back on. He took in a deep breath as he slipped it over his shoulders. Ivy saw his muscles arch, his torso move, the dark trail of hair down his navel that disappeared into his jeans. She forced herself to look back up at his face.
“But I don’t keep any secrets from my brother, Ivy.” Archer said, with a teasing cruel look on his face. He seemed like he had nothing to lose. He knew his brother couldn’t fault him. He didn’t know Leon was sleeping with Ivy, she did. And she had chosen not to tell him.
“Please, don’t. Not till I leave.” Ivy said, gulping.
Archer shrugged his shoulders and gave out a short laugh. Ivy knew immediately what that meant. She had to leave the ranch, and soon. Before Archer told Leon, before the cat was out of the bag.
Ivy turned on her heels and started running towards the house. She still had a chance to make it. If she ran fast enough, she might still be able to get out of the house before Archer told Leon and he found her, and stopped her, and made her regret that she ever met him. Ivy was afraid, very afraid now.
Ivy threw her clothes into her bags, and was out of her bedroom door in a matter of minutes. She hadn’t even had a chance to look at herself in the mirror, or prepare herself otherwise for leaving the house. What she also hadn’t thought about, was how she was going to get to her own home. Her father’s house was several miles away, closer to the town center, which meant that she definitely wouldn’t be able to walk it there.
Her only option was to leave the ranch and start walking, after that she would have to try calling her father on her cell phone and hope that he would be able to drive over and pick her up. What else was there to do?
Ivy felt like a criminal, or someone who was trying to escape alive as she rushed towards the main door, carrying her bags in her hands, stumbling and rushing. She knew she had to stay strong. She had to make sure that she didn’t just burst into tears.
She had spent nearly seven weeks at this ranch. This place had soon become her home. And now she was going to leave this place forever.
Thankfully, she could sense that she was alone in the house. Neither Leon nor Archer were in yet, but she had a feeling that Archer had found Leon in the fields and now they were both on their way back to the house.
Ivy stumbled to the front door and let out a huge sigh. She only had a few moments to give one sweeping look to the whole house, drink in the space, the luxury of the mansion, the kitchen where she had spent so much time. The door to her study, which Leon had set up for her was open and she could see in, at the computer…she was going to miss it all. Most of all she was going to miss being surrounded by the scent of Leon, that masculine musky scent that permeated the whole house while she lived in it.
She didn’t have time for more, and picking up her bags again she burst through the front door.
Only to discover that she was too late. Leon and Archer were on their horses and were riding towards the estate from the far-off horizon. Leon especially was riding his horse in great speed, Archer was trailing behind. There was no way she was going to be able to make it to the front gates of the ranch without being intercepted by him first.
But still, she had to try.
Ivy bunched up the skirt of her dress in one hand and ran, silently cursing herself for having chosen to worn this long dress today, out of all days. But she had no other choice. With the bags dangling heavily on one arm, and hitching up her dress with the other, Ivy was running towards the main gate. In some strange hope that Leon wouldn’t be able to reach her, that he wouldn’t just ride after her, past the gate, till he had caught up with her.
She wasn’t thinking about anything else, other than getting away from the brothers. Not because she didn’t want to see them again, not because she didn’t want them, but because she couldn’t face up to the look on Leon’s face. She didn’t want to see the look in his eyes that would tell her exactly how she had betrayed him.
Ivy arrived at the gate which was closed shut and hurriedly, dropping the bags to the ground, she tried to unlock
it, scanning the land behind her, where still in the distance she could see Leon and Archer galloping towards her. They weren’t simply silhouettes in the horizon now, they had nearly caught with her, she could almost see Leon’s rigid face.
She swung the gate open with one hand and picked up her bags again and when she turned to give the brothers one last look, she realized that they were too close now. It would only be a matter of seconds…
Leon had grabbed her, and Ivy shrieked. He had barely slowed the speed of his horse down but scooped in to lift her up. His arms held on to her as he continued riding, and lifted her up further so that finally she was sitting on the saddle in front of him, with her legs both dangling from one side.
Ivy was still shrieking. She was still in shock. In those moments of panic, she didn’t know if he was going to hurt her, if she was going to fall…but he had caught on to her tightly, he had managed to lift her up swiftly and smoothly on to the saddle. But Ivy’s heart didn’t know that, it was still beating harshly out of her chest.
They were containing to ride. She in front, aware of Leon’s hard muscular chest pressing against her back as he held on to her, his arm encircling her waist. Ivy felt hot, too hot under her dress. Her golden ringlets were blowing in the breeze as they continued to ride. She had no idea where Archer was, she didn’t dare to try and look for him, but she knew he couldn’t be too far away.
“Where did you think you were going to go?” Leon’s voice was strong and loud in her ear. She could feel his lips moving against her earlobe. Ivy couldn’t reply, she was panting hard, she felt like her chest was going to burst any moment. She knew Leon was capable of many things. But scooping her up like this? Despite everything that was going on, she knew that this man was sexier than ever.
Ivy jumped off the horse without any help, even though Archer had extended a hand towards her. When Leon finally slowed his horse and eventually came to a halt, Ivy was quick to jump off. She was still trying to keep some of her pride intact, even though she was outnumbered now, by two strong cowboys who also happened to be twins.
She took a few steps back from the horse as Leon jumped off the saddle as well, and to her absolute horror, she saw Archer approach his brother. Now they were standing side by side. Nothing she had ever seen, had ever looked this good. They were both oozing masculinity, both muscular, handsome with sharp eyebrows and chiseled jaws. And she also knew exactly what they both looked like without their clothes on.
“Ivy, where did you think you were going? You have a duty to this ranch.” Leon was the one to break the silence. He wasn’t smiling, and neither was Archer. But to Ivy’s complete surprise, they both looked quite calm, and quite comfortable with each other, given that they had both slept with the same woman.
“I give up on those duties. I don’t want to work here anymore.” Ivy said. She was the only one among the three of them who was still breathless, who was still speaking too loudly. She didn’t know what to expect. What sort of punishment did Leon had planned for her?
“You can’t just quit your job like that. Without notice.” Leon continued and now he had crossed his arms over his wide chest. The muscles on his arms clenched and Ivy gulped. Those were the very arms that had swept her off the ground and placed her on the saddle of his horse.
“Ok, here is my notice now.” She said, jutting her chin up in the air.
“Why are you leaving, Ivy?” Archer said and she jerked her head to look at him. How dare he ask her that? She narrowed her eyes at him and had fixed a harsh glare on his face, and to her further surprise, a smile was breaking on Archer’s face.
“My brother tells me that he recently got a taste of what I have.” Leon said and Ivy almost felt her knees buckling. Here it was. So, Archer had told him. She could feel her nostrils flaring, her lips quivering. She didn’t want to hear what Leon had to say to that. She was suddenly very afraid of him, and afraid of Archer too.
“Does that have anything to do with why you were planning to leave?” Leon continued and Ivy hung her head down in shame.
“I am ashamed for betraying you, Leon.” She forced herself to say. Now that he knew, she had no other choice but to admit to what she had done. Now there was no escaping this.
She looked up when she heard Leon laugh, and soon enough, Archer had joined him too. The brothers were laughing.
“I tried to tell her. But you know how she is, a feisty one this one.” Archer was speaking to Leon, through his laughs, while Leon laughed silently, his shoulders shaking. Ivy’s mouth hung open. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Why wasn’t Leon angry? Why wasn’t he angry with her? With Archer? Why wasn’t he feeling betrayed?
“Why are you ashamed, Ivy? Didn’t I tell you that I share everything with my brother?” Leon said, his laughter finally dying down.
“Even me?” Ivy still couldn’t manage to keep her mouth open. She couldn’t quite understand what Leon was saying, none of this was making sense to her.
“Of course.” Leon said and now he took a few steps towards her.
Ivy gulped, following his movement with her eyes as he came closer towards her.
“My brother and I share everything, Ivy. And I planned on sharing you too. I’m glad you had a chance to experience him before I suggested it to you.” Leon said, coming up to her and holding her face in his hands. There was a sudden warmth in his eyes, that made Ivy’s heart flutter. She could hardly believe what he was saying. It seemed too good to be true. She could never have predicted it.
Archer was standing where he was, and smiling at them.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Leon said and Ivy licked her lips.
“There is no jealousy between us, Ivy. We have always been this way, ever since we were kids. What’s his is mine and what’s mine is his.” Archer was the one speaking now. Ivy looked at him, over Leon’s shoulder who was still holding her face in his hands.
She looked back at him, her eyelids flickering. If what he was saying, was to be believed, it meant that she could have both the brothers, in the same house, as often and as much as she liked, without either of them having a problem with it.
“You understand, Ivy?” Leon asked huskily, before lowering his face so he could fuse his lips with her. She nodded her head as he kissed her. She could feel her belly twitching, and she kissed him back. This would mean that she wouldn’t have to leave the ranch. That she wouldn’t have to give up this life, and she wouldn’t have to choose between one or the other brother.
When they parted, Ivy was gasping for air. Archer was still behind them, his arms crossed, smiling.
“Now, can we go back to our usual day, please?” He said, and Ivy couldn’t stop herself from breaking into uncontrollable laughter. This was actually happening. Her biggest, deepest, darkest fantasy was actually going to come true. She had completely misjudged Leon. He was happy to share her. She hadn’t betrayed him; in fact, she had done exactly what he wanted her to do. She leaned her head-on Leon’s arm and looked up at him with a soft smile on her face. He had no idea how happy he had just made her.
BOOK 2 : COWBOY TWIN’S ROMANCE (PART 3)
Blurb
Ivy Hart and Leon Cooper’s blissful sexually charged story continues…
Their little arrangement is working well. Ivy continues to be employed as the housekeeper of The Old Marigold Ranch, but now there is a twist. Leon Cooper has made it clear to her that he shares everything with his twin brother, Archer.
What more can Ivy want? Leon’s sexy dark eyes, chiseled jaw, broad shoulders…and Archer’s clear blue gaze, his shaggy dark hair, his looming frame. Both of their larger than life members! And if the brothers agree that they want to share her, then who is she to complain?
But there is soon cause for complaint, when their little world is not as peaceful any more. Something has changed. It’s a love triangle now and Ivy wants desperately to find a way to choose between the two hottest hunks she has ever met.
Ivy couldn’t slee
p, she kept waking up to a heavy beating heart in the silent house, sweating through the bedsheets and the covers. It had been three days since Leon Cooper, the owner of the ranch she was working as a housekeeper at, had revealed to her that he wanted to share her with his twin brother Archer. And not just as help around the house, but share her in bed.
Leon, in his usual silent brooding style, had revealed nothing more. She had slept with them both. Leon, consistently over the past seven weeks and Archer only once. After she slept with Archer, she was prepared to leave, ashamed at herself for betraying Leon’s trust, for sleeping with his brother, but Leon had stopped her. He insisted that he shared everything with his brother, that he wanted to share her with him in fact, and that was his plan all along.
Now, it had been three days and neither brothers had made a single move. She had been sleeping alone in her bed all the nights since, still wondering when Leon might come to her. When he might explain the terms and conditions of their little arrangement. For now, she was continuing with the housework, with her gardening and trying to work on the online accounting classes she was taking part time.
But at night, when she was surrounded by the privacy of her own room; Ivy couldn’t keep herself from dreaming, yearning for Leon. For Archer. For them both. Both the brothers were equally delicious, equally good lovers. And now finally, she didn’t have to choose.
Ivy swung her legs off the bed, her feet touching the warmth of the carpeted floor. She needed to get some fresh air. The window in her room was shut for now but Ivy walked over to it, opening it wide so that she could finally fill her lungs with some much-needed oxygen.
The breeze blew into the room, blowing her thick golden curls behind her. The slip she was sleeping in had turned damp from the feverish dreams she had been having, and now as it started cooling, it sent goosebumps down her flesh. What had she gotten herself into? What had she agreed to? Both brothers? How was she going to handle them both? What if there were complications?
