Taming Ivy (The Taming Series Book 1)

by April Moran

  And how close she’d come to losing him.

  Drifting in and out of consciousness, for God knows how long, Sebastian knew Ivy rarely left his side. Maybe he dreamed everything else, including her confession of love, but whenever his eyes opened, day or night, she was there.

  While he contemplated the possibilities of a miracle, Ivy’s fingers curled, drawing his attention. She stared up at him, smiling that radiantly beautiful smile that always stole his breath.

  "Hello,” she murmured, green-blue eyes sparkling.

  Sebastian’s heart swelled, nearly bursting with gratitude. Nothing could be as lovely as his wife at that moment. He was alive and she was smiling at him. He wanted to kiss every single golden freckle on her beautiful nose simply because he could. He wanted to shout his love from the rooftops of London. Twice now, he cheated death, given another chance to prove his worth. Never would he squander such a precious gift again.

  "Hello.” Realizing he held his breath, Sebastian released it slowly. There was so much to say, so many questions to ask. He did not know where to begin. One of the last awful memories of that night was of Rachel screaming, the antique butterfly brooch protruding from her forearm like a glittery, vengeful dagger. The other was Ivy kissing him, weeping while life leaked from his body to stain the floor black.

  A wave of weakness surged over him when he attempted to sit up. “Thank God, you are safe…"

  Ivy laid a finger to Sebastian’s lips, gently shushing him. With a tiny shake of her head, her hand curved along his jaw, the unshaven stubble rough against her palm. She gave him a quick kiss, then slid from the bed. With quick, efficient movements, she assisted in caring for his basic needs; a drink of cool water, tooth powder on his toothbrush. As he rinsed his mouth she held a basin for him, handing over a clean cloth moistened with soap to wipe the grime of the sickroom from his skin. She fluffed the pillows behind his head before climbing back up alongside him, cuddling close as if unable to bear parting from him.

  Sebastian grinned at his wife’s foresight. He felt much more like himself.

  "Before you ask what occurred, I must tell you something. Something I should have told you long ago.” Ivy’s fingers lightly traced Sebastian's chin before drifting to the angles of his cheekbones. She swept back the lock of raven hair that was forever tumbling into his eyes and biting her lower lip, gathered her words. "I love you, Sebastian. I love you with all of my heart and soul and being. I have loved you from the moment you kissed me on that piano bench and I have never stopped loving you. Even when I hated you,” she laughed ruefully, "even when I cursed you, which I have often, I loved you.”

  Sebastian placed his hand in the curve of her waist, masterfully hiding the grimace of pain the movement caused his injured shoulder. But he must touch her. She drew him like a moth to candlelight. If his arms fell off his body, he would still find a way to hold her. Ivy sighed, moving closer, her eyes never leaving his.

  "I should have told you I loved you the day you rescue me from Basford. You hurt me, and I did not trust you not to hurt me again. But, I still loved you. Perhaps things would have gone differently had I just admitted it.” Ivy pursed her lips, recalling the unpleasantness of their time in London. “I hate myself for not trusting you. I hate that I did not trust you to take care of me.” Her finger traced his cheek. “Had I not pushed you away, Rachel would have been unable to do what she did.”

  Ivy gave a quick accounting of his aunt’s actions and the reasons for it, the truth of Timothy’s death.

  Sebastian’s jaw tightened. His hands shook with anguish and anger. “I’m so sorry, my darling. I should have sent her away at once. It is my fault you were in danger, my blind arrogance that nearly cost your life.”

  “It is the past now. If we are to move on to our future, we must keep it in our past.” Ivy said. “You almost died. Twice. I thought I would lose you. That you would not know how much you mean to me. I thought I would never see you laugh again, have you kiss me, hold me. I thought I would never bear your children.” She blushed, eyes sparkling. “And I do wish to have your children, Sebastian. Not because of silly things like duty or responsibility. No, there are far more important reasons. Love and hope and happiness. Sebastian, my beloved. My darling, my very heart.” Ivy smiled through her tears. "I love you beyond all reason. I always will.”

  A mixture of relief and happiness rushed through Sebastian. He soared, around the world and back in an instant to this warm bed, his love by his side, her hand on his cheek. Burying his face in her fragrant hair, he knew the entire universe consisted of this tiny space between them and it was breathtakingly perfect.

  "Ivy, you vexing, magnificent creature.” An exasperated groan escaped him. "It appears we both won the game we started.” He captured her lips, fusing their mouths in a tender kiss. It was a pledge to put aside the bitterness of yesterdays, a promise to focus on the future and the happiness to be found there. They would meet it together.

  Ivy finally leaned back, eyes dancing with sultry promises. "I propose a new wager, dear husband. I shall leave the details to you, but should a divan appear as part of the bet, I won’t complain. Or perhaps the stream where I discovered stars shining in the bright light of day.” Her whisper turned mischievous, “Our wagers can be quite intriguing.”

  Sebastian burst out laughing, his mind sparking with a thousand possibilities. “My love, I should like nothing better. Be forewarned, though. I do intend to let you win.”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” Ivy murmured, pulling his head to hers for another kiss.

  Epilogue

  Ivy sliced through the water, legs flashing. Heeding Sebastian’s previous instructions, she swam with determined resolution toward the waterfall and the rocky outcropping. Upon reaching the ledge where the waterfall tumbled, she let loose an unladylike whoop of triumph and hoisted herself up. Standing beneath the onslaught of water, she cupped her hands to hold the liquid, laughing in delight as it streamed through her hair.

  The water sluiced over her. “If you could have something just like this installed in our chambers, I’d be so grateful.” Turning slightly, Ivy expected to see him near the shoreline. Today was the first time braving the swim from shore to waterfall and breathless with exhilaration, she wanted to share her accomplishment. "Sebastian? Where are you?"

  He was not along the sandy bank or anywhere near the large boulders where they laid earlier, soaking up the warmth of the summer sun. Stepping carefully to where the mist drifted up from the rocks below the ledge, she peered into the churning depths of the blue-green water. Concern wrinkled her brow.

  "Lose something?" Sebastian's amused chuckle tickled her ear. Pulling her against the hard security of his body, he held her tight.

  "Oh!” Ivy turned to wrap her arms around his neck. "Sebastian Cain, just what do you think you are doing?” With gentle fingers, she traced the red scar on his shoulder. “Swimming that distance? Your wound hasn’t fully healed...”

  "My shoulder is fine.” Sebastian silenced the admonishments with a kiss. "I would not have attempted it otherwise.” Tugging Ivy closer, his hands rested lightly on her waist. The thin silk of her chemise barred his fingers from touching bare skin. "How should I divest you of this? It’s in my way.”

  "Oh no, you don't,” she giggled, squirming closer so it was impossible to lift the chemise over her head. She wore the flimsy garment when they swam although Sebastian pointed out with a wicked grin he almost liked it better when she did.

  Seeing his eyes flare with ardent purpose, Ivy knew if she did not find a way to block him, she would find herself devoid of clothing. Sebastian’s singular objective was to divest her of garments every time they came to the stream, while he scarcely conceded to wearing anything at all. Only her insistence he must wear something resulted in an undergarment which by itself was almost indecent. Hanging low on his hips, the cream colored linens created a tantalizing image of sheer maleness hovering on the verge of wild abandonment, drawing attention to
the pale gold rows of muscles lining his abdomen above the drawstring closure.

  "I've no intention of allowing whatever you have planned.” Ivy’s hand rested against his chest, playfully blocking him.

  "Well, you’ve gone mad,” Sebastian murmured, kissing the tender curve of Ivy’s neck where it met the slope of her shoulder. “You, my love, will allow anything I wish. Won’t you?”

  Ivy trembled. Sebastian was right. She would give him anything. And she was mad. Insanely, utterly, madly in love with her husband. She ran a careful finger over the puckered scar marring his flesh. An inch over and he would have died, Dr. Callahan said. He very nearly did, weakened by the poisoning and blood loss.

  Shuddering at the thought, Ivy stood on tiptoe to gently kiss the mark. The specialist called to render an opinion expressed amazement that not only did the earl escape with relatively minor repercussions, he also failed to suffer the customary bone fragments common with such shoulder wounds. A miracle, everyone claimed.

  Once treated for her bruised jaw caused by Gabriel's blow, a broken nose courtesy of Ivy’s fist and a puncture wound from the brooch, Sebastian ensconced Rachel at one of his most secluded estates. A well-paid, dedicated staff of nurses attended her day and night. Although Sebastian wished to have his aunt incarcerated, Ivy did not. No, Rachel would live out her days in relative comfort. Comfortable and banished, knowing the genteel treatment she received was due to Ivy’s mercy and intervention on her behalf. Living in isolation with the knowledge of what she had done to her own son.

  Within their small circle, everyone believed it a foolish proposal, considering Lady Garrett’s peculiar state of insanity. But eventually, Ivy gained the stonily opposed Gabriel to her side, her father, and even Sara. Sebastian was the last to be convinced forgiveness was the first step in moving forward with the rest of their lives. Ivy thanked him with a thousand kisses when he finally agreed.

  "Hmm,” Sebastian sighed, drawing her back to the present. "I've something to show you, should you care to see it.”

  "You are wicked.” Ivy laughed softly. "I know precisely what it is. I feel it against me.”

  "You’ve a naughty mind, my love,” he replied indignantly, tweaking her nose. "Come along and careful now. It can be slippery here.”

  They moved along the rock ledge to a point where the waterfall and the wall met. Stepping through a curtain of rushing water, Sebastian disappeared then reached back to pull Ivy by the hand into a small cave.

  Hidden behind the waterfall, the secret space was illuminated by captured sunlight. Reflections of the arrested sunbeams shimmered and danced upon the rough walls, rainbows of color captured and held. Natural outcroppings of stone eased away from the walls of the cave, smoothed by eons of moisture, ledges carved out and smoothed until they were as comfortable as seats. Ancient, bizarre symbols marked the stone, some representing the sun, moon and stars. Ivy wondered who might have chiseled them so many years ago.

  "Why did you not tell me of this before?" Ivy breathed.

  There was no time to explore or ask further questions because with impatient hands, Sebastian stripped away the wet chemise, yanking it over her head to toss it to the side. Warm hands cupped the fullness of her breasts, his thumbs rubbing the hardened points of her nipples. Ivy quivered, desire roaring through her veins. She forgot about the drawings.

  "Discovering new things has its own rewards.” His whisper was dark. “Don’t you agree?"

  Ivy's hands rested briefly on the band of his drawers before she pushed the linen down. With a little shimmy of his hips, the garment fell to the floor and was kicked aside. Sebastian captured her mouth, drawing her in, tasting her. He walked backwards, dragging her to a ledge along the wall closest to the light filled entrance without breaking the kiss.

  A natural seat existed there, molded from stone and high enough to sit upon. Sebastian sank on it, pulling Ivy so she straddled his lap. With no pressure on his shoulder in this position, she would control the pace, at least until he decided the pleasure too much to bear. Without preamble, he surged up, his erection filling her, swallowing her startled cry until nothing but low moans escaped her.

  Ivy braced her hands against the wall of the cave behind his head, her fingers sketching the rough lines of the rock and carvings of what might be butterflies or maybe birds. The aching quickness of Sebastian’s possession was a reminder of his impatience that very morning. She had teased and taunted him with softly voiced concern for his injury until Sebastian finally rolled from the bed with a growl. Very easily, he had yanked her to the edge of the mattress and before Ivy could scramble away in a giggling escape, he slid into her. His hands held her hips, high and steady, until her legs wrapped about his waist and she surrendered all to him.

  The experience that morning was a decadently wicked experience; her arms stretched above her head, desperately gripping at the sheets while her husband drove her to a fierce climax before finding his own release. The remembrance sent a sharp thrill singing to Ivy’s core as Sebastian filled her now. Breaking off the kiss, she stared down into his eyes. Pools of silver in the reflected sunlight, they gleamed with love, adoration, and honor. For her.

  Overwhelmed, Ivy’s movements stilled, and Sebastian instantly responded. He understood her so completely she did not even need to speak the words aloud.

  "I know, little butterfly, my love,” he whispered, his large hands coasting down her back. "Sometimes, it truly is too much to contain- all the happiness, the joy. Despite my wickedness, God decided I deserved you and I’m so damned grateful. I will always love you, Ivy, but you already know that.”

  Ivy’s voice trembled. "I don't want to contain this joy, Sebastian. Ever. I don’t care if all of London, all the world, believes us to be crazy fools, I adore you. I’ll never hold back from showing it, saying it, shouting it. I thought once you had destroyed me, but you woke me from a dreamless sleep, a dull existence in a colorless world. You woke me to perfectly ruin me and I would not wish it any other way.” She kissed him fiercely, their mouths fusing as their bodies surged together.

  When she whispered "I love you” over and over in his ear, Sebastian echoed the words as the world spun away, shattered and knit itself back together until only the two of them existed.

  THE END

  Afterword

  You can find April Moran on the following media sites. Please stop by and say hey! She can’t wait to meet you and is so thankful you gave her book a try!

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/authoraprilmoran

  Goodreads:

  https://www.goodreads.com/Author-AprilMoran

  Instagram:

  https://www.instagram.com/aprilmoranbooks

  If you loved Taming Ivy, please don’t hesitate to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads!

  About the Author

  April has been writing since she was in elementary school. She still has those old notebooks, and for a giggle, might let you read them. Her style has sharpened since then, but the belief in the power of romance never changed. Readers will always find a happy ending at the end of her novels –but only after their favorite characters endure great angst!

  April lives on Florida’s Emerald Coast and has been married for 30 years to her high school sweetheart. They have one grown daughter, Alyssa, who they love dearly. April is adored by a goofy German Shepherd, tolerated by a sassy Quarter Horse and suffers a severe rock-n-roll addiction. When not writing romantic tales about dashing, alpha heroes and confident, loving heroines, she and her husband attend concerts and plan trips to Disneyworld and Nashville with their daughter and son-in-law.

 

 

 
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