Necessary Risk

by Sidney Bristol

  Orion replaced the lid and headed for the stairs.

  They went up to the second floor. He pushed the door open to a corner room. “You’ll share a bathroom with the others on the floor. As for everything else, you’ll have to give me a few hours. No one wakes up early on Ibiza.”

  “Thank you,” Ivy said and held out her hand. “I mean that.”

  Orion took her hand and lifted it to kiss her knuckles. “I’m holding you to that promise.”

  Killam gripped the strap over his shoulder with both hands.

  Ivy chuckled.

  Orion darted a glance his way, as if to ensure Killam was watching.

  “What’s your plan?” Orion asked. “How long do you expect to be here?”

  Ivy glanced at Killam. Up until now they’d been just trying to get somewhere to catch their breath.

  “Only as long as it takes us to get a passport. Then we’re out of your hair,” he said.

  “Good. Glad to hear it. I’ll leave you to whatever it is you need to do. I’ll let you know when you’re needed.” Orion let go of Ivy and stepped away.

  Killam nodded, which was about as nice as he was willing to play right now. And then Orion was gone.

  “Wow. Bunkbeds?” Ivy chuckled.

  Killam backed into the room and shut the door before turning his attention to the bed situation.

  The room was a bit narrow near the door, what with the bunkbeds and closet on either side. At least the beds were more twin sized, so they were roomier and both looked to have enough height to allow even him to sit up straight. Still. Bunkbeds. Not his choice of accommodations, but this was what they were going to get.

  Ivy set her bag down on the sofa that sat on the opposite wall from a flat screen TV. A pair of French doors opened up onto a tiny balcony.

  Killam set his bag down and joined Ivy peering out.

  He noted that it would be an easy drop to the ground below, what with the way the ground sloped up from the house. Even the lush grass would cushion a fall should they need to make a hasty exit.

  “Think we’re safe?” Ivy asked.

  “As safe as we’re going to get right now.” Killam closed the doors. He wasn’t keen on those security cameras watching them right now.

  “What do you think?” She perched on the arm of the sofa.

  Killam wanted to say that he thought they should still be careful. But, he had to hand it to this Orion guy. They seemed about as safe and secluded as they could get.

  “I think we can catch our breath here.” Hell, he wouldn’t mind hunkering down and playing the role of help while things blew over. But he didn’t think Ivy would go for that.

  “Okay. Good.” She blew out a breath. “I’d like a shower and some real sleep. The food smelled good, but I don’t have to eat. I think I just want to decompress, you know?”

  Killam nodded and leaned his back against the windows.

  Sharing a room with her hadn’t gone so well last time.

  Ivy narrowed her gaze and wagged a finger at him. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “I can’t decide if that look means you’re annoyed with me, or...”

  “Or?” He lifted a brow.

  His secret was that he was always annoyed with Ivy.

  He was annoyed she’d burrowed her way past his walls.

  He was annoyed that he wondered how she was doing.

  He was annoyed with the random urge to touch her.

  And the most annoying thing was that he still wanted her.

  Yes, Ivy was very annoying, but he also didn’t want to change a thing about her.

  “Forget it.” She straightened and stretched her arms up over her head. The hem of her shirt came up, exposing a line of flesh.

  He wanted to reach out, take her hand and pull her to him. He couldn’t be certain, but he didn’t think she’d resist him. Then again, he could always be wrong.

  Crossing that line once was bad enough. It had changed them. Doing so a second time...

  It felt as though he were trying to scale a sand dune. Every step forward just made the sand under him erode and he slid down rather than up.

  Ivy was sucking him in without even trying, and he didn’t have enough fight in him to resist her pull.

  She picked up her bag and carried it to the entry. She opened one side of the closet and placed the bag inside.

  “How are you holding up?” He hadn’t asked her since yesterday, sometime before they’d gotten on the boat. There hadn’t been the opportunity for conversation on the speedboat or in the back of the cargo plan. Then they’d crashed on the beach.

  She flashed him a smile. “Okay, I guess. No one is shooting at us, so that qualifies as good in my book.”

  He chuckled. “That’s your criteria for good?”

  “Yup.” Her smile vanished. “You’re giving me that look again.”

  Yeah, there was no escaping the fact that he wanted her. But the rules had changed again.

  Ivy braced a hand on the top bunkbed and leaned her shoulder against the closet door.

  The other night he’d acted on his desire for her coupled with the heat of the moment. He didn’t want to be that guy. When it came to her, he wasn’t in his right mind. He felt things and they weren’t always good. Like when he’d had to kiss her after finding her in Jabby’s room. That possessiveness and jealousy hadn’t been him.

  He was vaguely aware that time was passing them by while they just...stared at each other. The room was charged to the point he could swear he could hear the crackling of energy between them. Only, it was all in his head.

  Wasn’t it?

  Ivy pushed off the closet, straightening herself. He held his breath, wondering if she’d go for that shower, but instead she took a step toward him, then another.

  His lungs burned, needing oxygen, but he didn’t dare breathe.

  She lifted her hand and pressed her fingertips to his chest. His shirt was so thin he could feel the heat of her at all five points. Slowly her fingers curled into a fist with his shirt caught in her grip. She tugged him forward and he breathed in deep, catching the fading scent of her perfume. She tipped her chin up, her gaze on his mouth.

  He’d seen that look before, on the plane, and he’d been just as powerless to stop her. She lifted up a tiny bit and closed the distance between them.

  Ivy kissed him.

  That single point of contact broke his restraint. He gripped her hips, pulling her toward him until they were pressed together from knee to shoulder. Her other arm wound around his shoulders. He parted his lips and she did the same, their tongues teasing each other with a deeper kiss.

  Killam’s brain ceased to think through every action. He was done wondering if this was a product of what he wanted or if it was the situation or something else pushing them together. She’d kissed him. Nothing else mattered right now except experiencing this to the fullest.

  He palmed her ass, urging her closer still. She nipped his lower lip, then broke the kiss. For half a second he wanted to resist. He wanted to pull her up, kiss her, indulge. But he didn’t.

  Ivy took a step back. She still had a fistful of his shirt. He followed her to the sofa where she pivoted. He was damn happy he’d dropped his bag in front of the TV right this second.

  She let go of his shirt, planted both hands on his chest and pushed.

  He sat down on the surprisingly springy cushions. Before he’d oriented himself Ivy straddled his lap and kissed him once again. Her mouth crashed into his. And he’d thought he’d been the one barely in control.

  Her hips shifted, grinding against him. He groaned and palmed her ass again.

  Killam slid a hand under her shirt, splaying it against her side to feel her warmth. He thrust his tongue between her lips and she sucked. His body shuddered and he inhaled sharply.

  His level of need just doubled.

  He slid his hand up until he cupped her breast. Last time he hadn’t spent nearly enough time ex
ploring them. Now he traced the edge of one cup before dipping his finger down to her nipple. He found the tight bead easily. She moaned into the kiss and arched her back.

  Killam tugged her bra down, freeing one breast so he could tease the sensitive flesh. There wasn’t much extra room in her shirt, but he managed to get both hands on the job.

  Ivy broke the kiss, tossed her head back and groaned all while he toyed with her nipples.

  “You like that?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer.

  Killam pushed her shirt up, ducked his head and wrapped his lips around one nipple. She cradled his head, panting words too soft for him to hear over the rush of blood past his ears.

  She shifted, wiggling a bit, and then her shirt and bra were gone and out of his way. He wrapped an around her waist and pulled her closer still.

  God damn. He’d sworn this feeling, the need for her, would lose its urgency. Instead, he wanted her as much as he had the first time.

  “Oh, fuck me,” he heard her whisper.

  He lifted his head and looked at her. Those color-shifting eyes of her were once again a brilliant green-blue. “I can do that.”

  “Good.” One side of her mouth hitched up. “I was kind of hoping you were up to the job.”

  “Were you now?” He tugged on the tail of her braid.

  “Can we stop talking around the truth?” She drew her finger down across his lips. “I really want to have sex with you, and the way you look at me? I bet you want me, too.”

  Killam did. She had him pegged. But he couldn’t admit that, could he? It was as though saying that much would make room for the rest of these complicated feelings, and he wasn’t equipped to deal with complicated right now.

  Ivy leaned back, her smile dimming a bit.

  No.

  He sat up and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Okay, yes,” he said. “I want you and it’s annoying how much I think about you. Happy?”

  “You sure know how to sweet talk a girl out of her panties.”

  “You’d chew up and spit out sweet.”

  Ivy chuckled. “Maybe.”

  He wrapped her braid around his hand and tugged her head to one side, kissing her deeply.

  He was so fucked. So very fucked. He’d just leaped off the damn ledge.

  Ivy pulled away, sucking down air and wiggling her hand between their bodies. She grabbed at his belt, yanking it free. He pushed her hands out of the way.

  She slithered off his lap and shimmied out of her cargo pants and boots so fast he had to wonder if he were moving in slow motion. He dug out his wallet and she scooped it up. He didn’t even care that she dug around until she found the condom he kept there.

  Killam shoved managed to shove his underwear and pants down right before Ivy was back, straddling his thighs with the condom between her fingers. He took it from her and rolled the latex on.

  Ivy’s hands were in his hair, tugging his head back for another kiss as she shifted over him again. This time there was nothing between his cock and her pussy. He groaned into the kiss and gripped her hip, pulling her forward until their sexes aligned. She canted her hips and he felt it, the perfect moment.

  She lifted her face and stared into his eyes as she pressed down on him. He felt the head of his cock enter her.

  “Fuck,” he muttered.

  There was no resistance. She was wet. Unbelievably wet and ready.

  She planted a hand on his shoulder and arched her back, taking all of him in one, smooth thrust.

  “Oh, that feels so damn good,” she panted.

  Killam grit his teeth. He wanted so badly to flip them over, drive into her until they’d both come and then do it again. But this time it was her call. What she wanted.

  Ivy chose that moment to move. Her nails bit into his shoulder and he muttered curses as her pussy stroked his length.

  So damn good.

  He cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples again and watched her face. Her jaw dropped and her brow furrowed in a mix of pleasure. There was something utterly beautiful about Ivy in this moment, watching her so completely free right now. She didn’t seem to ever do anything in part. She did it with everything in her. From the job to this, Ivy wasn’t one to hold back.

  But he was. This knot of emotions inside of him was too scary to think about, but when he looked at her, he knew.

  He was falling in love with her.

  Him.

  The man who needed no one.

  He was in love with a woman so outside his world.

  Killam leaned back and thrust up to meet her.

  Ivy’s eyes flew open again, locking with his. Her cheeks were flushed and the way she looked at him was full of need.

  A need he could satisfy. He might not be able to love her like she deserved, but he could make sure she got what she asked for.

  She leaned over him, one hand on the back of the sofa now, and moved in time to his thrusts. The intensity in her gaze alone was nearly enough to shatter him.

  He gently squeezed her nipples as their bodies joined again, harder and deeper. He saw the first shudder of her orgasm. The slight shake of her shoulders. And he let go. He kissed her as he plunged deep again and again, surrendering to this emotion he’d never be able to express to her. Ivy whimpered and her body tensed over his. He thrust again and his world burst into color. All of them. And at the center of it was Ivy. A beautiful, bright thing he’d never get to keep. But for now, today, he could hold her.

  15.

  Wednesday. Luxe Ibiza Hostel, Ibiza.

  Ivy slathered sunscreen on one leg, then the other. She was grateful for something to do other than look at Piers. They were the only two at the staff pool this late in the afternoon. Everyone else was working now that the main house was fully awake.

  She could see him out of the corner of her eye. The muscles in his chest and arms bunched as he turned the crank, opening the umbrella.

  When would she learn her lesson about the man?

  She’d been foolish to kiss him earlier. Foolish to push him down on the sofa and let things go so far. But she’d wanted some modicum of control. She’d wanted to make a choice and he’d been there looking at her like that.

  Ivy knew what had happened. Her rational brain could look at it all spread out and see exactly how she’d wound up having sex with Piers again after telling herself it wasn’t a good idea. Then, to make matters worse, she’d curled up in a bunk with him and slept half the day away.

  It had begun at the pool party. She’d gritted her teeth and bore Jabir’s unwanted advances because that was part of playing her role. But that didn’t mean it hadn’t affected her. Follow that up with Piers’ dictator style of leadership when it came to getting them away from Jabir and here, she’d felt helpless. And Ivy was not good at helpless.

  She wasn’t proud of herself for jumping his bones, but she didn’t regret it either. If she’d met him under normal circumstances, she’d have probably dated and broken up with him half a dozen times. They had chemistry. When he kissed her, he drove the world out of her mind.

  If they met at a different point in their lives, maybe later, perhaps things would work out.

  But not now.

  She’d lived enough to know she wanted someone who was on her side. Who could be a team.

  Piers was a one-man army because he needed to be. It made him good at his job. And right now, that was what mattered to him. Not her. It was a reality she needed to accept.

  She was destined for heartache, but she could be in control of how much pain she caused herself.

  A cool bottle of water pressed against her shoulder. She gasped and glanced up at the object of her thoughts grinning at her.

  “Gee, thanks.” She took the bottle as he settled on the lounge chair next to her.

  “You’re welcome.” He crossed his ankles and tipped his head back. “This might not be so bad.”

  She twisted the cap off the bottle and gulped some of the liquid down.
<
br />   “How’d a girl like you end up in the Army?” Piers asked.

  She frowned at him. “What?”

  He turned his head, eyes hidden by sunglasses. “I barely know anything about you. We’ve been through a special brand of hell. I just figured it was time to get to know each other a little.”

  She considered that statement. He had a point. But was this a good idea? Could it hurt?

  “It’s kind of a family thing,” she said slowly. She couldn’t come up with a reason to not answer. “Mom and Dad met early on in their careers.”

  “They pressured you into it.”

  “No. Nothing like that.” Ivy stared out at the pool. “They signed custody of me over to my grandparents, then they both died about a year apart. Her in an accident. Him in the first wave of troops sent to Iraq.”

  Piers was quiet, for which she was grateful. Her feelings about her parents had always been complicated.

  “Grandparents. They hold the world together, don’t they?”

  “Yeah.” She smiled.

  “They...still alive?”

  “No.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  She could feel the bubbling emotions coming up inside of her. No part of her wanted to talk about them. “What about you? What do your parents think about this?”

  “Not much to tell.” He turned his head, staring up at the sky. “Grew up as the black sheep, middle kid of five. No one cares where I am these days.”

  “That can’t be true.”

  “They think I killed my oldest sister.”

  “What?” She sat up straight, gaping at him.

  “Yeah. I got so used to being the one blamed for everything that I stopped denying it. She... I’m pretty sure something happened between her and our neighbor, but I was a kid and didn’t know it then. She used a friend of mine to get pot and hid it in my room, so I always took the fall. I’d just gotten my license and she wanted to go see my dealer friend, so she told our parents she was taking me out for a lesson. Really she just drove us there. I didn’t know she was high at the time. Crashed the car. We both got thrown out. Mom and Dad blamed me. She was the perfect one. The one who never fucked up. It tore us apart.”