by West, Harper
“Will you help me with all this?” she asks, “My partner was really the more business savvy one. I know how to make things happen, but she was the one with more experience.”
“Oh,” I say, both startled and flattered that she’s asked me to come on board. She barely knows me, and she can’t possibly know about Lawrence Vines. “I don’t think I’m the right choice.”
“Why not?” she asks, “You’re clearly brilliant. Logan and Tyler think the world of you.”
“Daisy, the last company I ran…”
“I know about Lawrence Vines,” she says, cutting me off, “I did some research on you after we met that day at the reception desk. I don’t know all of the details, but I know that life’s too short to be stuck behind a desk when you’d clearly rather be doing something else.”
“Wonder where she got that from,” Logan says with a wink.
“Let me think about it,” I tell Daisy, “Get to work and I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”
“Good. I hope you say yes,” she says with a genuine smile, “Thank you, Ivy. Thank you too, guys. I’ve got my work cut out for me. Alright, I’m out.”
We say our goodbyes on this end, and Logan closes the laptop.
“Still want to bail on that speech?” he asks.
I stand up and smooth my dress.
“No,” I answer. I feel myself smiling. “I need to do this.”
The three of us head back downstairs to the conference room, just in time for my speech. Logan introduces me, saying that he’s honored to have been invited, but he feels that such an important message should be delivered by an actual woman in the business field and the crowd claps and cheers, loving him for making that choice.
“The woman I’ve chosen to deliver this message has seen all sides of the business world, the good, the bad, the ugly, and has fought her way to the surface time and time again. I can’t name a more resilient or capable person, male or female, and I’m honored to introduce to you Ms. Ivy Lawrence,” he says proudly.
Logan steps down from the podium and offers his hand to me to help me up. It’s very cordial and gentlemanly of him.
I’m nervous and short of breath, but I try to hide that as I face the crowd.
“Thank you, Mr. Rutledge," I say, "My name is Ivy Lawrence, and I want to talk to you all about the importance of trust."
Chapter 22
Logan
There’s no other word for it. Ivy is fucking breathtaking.
Whatever happened to her this morning shook her to her core, but she’s fighting through it and delivering a passionate speech about trusting one’s instinct, supporting one another despite being competitive, and never letting failure define you.
I know that she truly feels every word coming out of her mouth and I hope that she can inspire herself as much as she’s inspiring the crowd.
“And no matter what, you always have yourself. You have the ability to save yourself. Advocate for yourself. Trust yourself,” she says.
The crowd cheers.
“I want to thank Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Pearson for allowing and encouraging me to be here today. And, finally, I want to thank my son, Oliver,” she says.
That surprises me. I didn’t think that Ivy would want to talk about being a mother in front of all of these businesswomen.
“For making me realize that a woman's role in this world is whatever she wants it to be," she says, "She can do anything, everything, or nothing. The choice is hers."
With that, the crowd gets even louder.
Ivy smiles that radiant smile and comes down from the stage. She’s bombarded with congratulations and praise from the audience, but she rushes straight into my arms. Then into Tyler’s.
“Shall we?” I ask her, gesturing into the room. We should go mingle and do… whatever there is to do at this sort of thing.
“I want to go upstairs,” she says, “Please.”
She's got her hand slipped inside Tyler's jacket, and she's stroking his side over his shirt. To anyone looking at us, it would appear that she's giving Tyler a long hug, but the look on his face says otherwise.
“Yeah,” Tyler says, “Please.”
“Elevator's this way." I lead the two of them back into the hallways to the elevators, and after what feels like forever, the damn thing shows up. The doors open and we hop inside. We're the only ones in here.
The doors barely close before Ivy is on me, kissing me so hard she nearly knocks the wind out of me.
“What I do to deserve all this?” I ask her.
She doesn’t answer. She just keeps kissing me. Tyler gets behind her, stroking her back and kissing her neck and shoulders. Ivy breaks our kiss and turns to face him, taking his lips with hers as I run mine down her back as I undo the zipper of her dress.
Finally, the elevator spits us out on the top floor, right in front of our suite and I fumble with the key card about four times before I can let us all in. My hands are shaking with want, and I have this terrible feeling that I’m in a dream. That I’m going to wake up and this will all have been a fantasy.
“Want you,” Ivy murmurs, shucking off her dress.
Tyler takes off his jacket and undoes his tie, completely on board and ready to go.
I’m a little more hesitant. “What’s going on, Ivy?” I ask, “What changed your mind.”
She stops. “You’ve been letting your past hold you back, Logan,” she says, “Well, I have too. But I can’t do it anymore. We have to move forward, and I’ve decided that I want to do that with you two. All of us. Together.”
That’s all I need to hear. My lips are on hers. She struggles with excited fingers to undo the buttons on my shirt and push it off my shoulders.
I hear Tyler groan as he moves in behind her.
“Get on the bed,” I hiss at her, my voice becoming a low growl. I may be more in touch with my emotions and less the impervious, stoic billionaire in his ivory tower, but I can still command in the bedroom. “I want you to come on my face.”
Ivy gasps. “Please.”
Tyler helps her over to the bed and lays her down. Then he kneels by her head to kiss her and soothe her through the tongue lashing I’m about to deliver. I peel her panties down over her hips and thighs and toss them to the floor.
“Wanted this for so long,” I mumble.
“So take it,” she whispers.
I dive into her pussy, pushing her lips apart with my tongue, eating her out as eagerly and greedily as I ever have. She tastes sweet and salty. She’s complete perfection. She’s Ivy.
“Fuck, Logan,” she eeks out.
I circle her entrance a few times with my tongue before plunging it inside. That makes her gasp. Her hands find their way into my hair and she tugs.
“Someone’s eager,” I tease her.
“Need to come,” she hisses. Her voice is ragged, and she’s completely unraveled. Wow, that was fast.
“Hold on, baby,” I tell her, “I’ll get you there.”
She practically screams when I suck her clit into my mouth and scrape it with my teeth just slightly. I know Ivy likes a little pain with her pleasure and I’m happy to deliver.
“God,” she cries, “So close.”
I lap at her for a few minutes, teasing her and tracing the alphabet over her pussy with my tongue, letting the pressure build and build. I want her to have an explosive orgasm. I want her to feel in her bones. In her fucking soul. This right here. Ivy, Tyler and me… this was meant to be.
“Come for me, baby,” I groan into her skin, “Need to feel you. I love when you come.”
I feel her tense up. Her breath hitches. She lets out a deep moan and starts to pulse as she comes. And comes.
Tyler kisses her quiet, and I keep my mouth on her as she starts to come down. It takes a while. The aftershocks of her orgasm linger for several minutes, and it’s even longer before she catches her breath and regains her motor functions.
Tyler and I pull back, and I see Ivy lying there, fucked
senseless with a big grin on her face. I admire my handiwork.
Her eyes open. “More,” she says.
I raise an eyebrow and look at Tyler. “You heard the lady.”
Tyler shucks his pants and boxers. I take off the rest of my clothes and we both head over to the bed. I reach into the nightstand, but quickly realize that there's nothing there. This is the hotel, not my apartment and there are no condoms in the drawer.
“Fuck,” I say, “No supplies.”
“I have lube,” Tyler says.
I scoff. Of course, Tyler brought lube.
“But no condoms,” he laments.
“I’ve got an IUD,” Ivy tells us, “And I haven’t been with anyone else but you guys.”
“Me neither,” I confirm.
“I’m clean,” Tyler adds, “We can go bareback. But only if you’re okay with it.”
Ivy nods. “I want to do it,” she says, “And I want to really feel you.”
“Get the lube,” I order Tyler. He rushes out of the room, buck naked, tossing the tube to me when he returns. I toss it back.
“I want her pussy,” I tell him.
“Fine by me,” he replies.
I cover Ivy’s body with mine and kiss her deeply, sucking her tongue into my mouth and running my hands up and down her sides until she’s back to moaning and panting.
“I need you,” she husks out, “Inside me. Now.”
I slip a finger inside her. Then two. Then three. Fuck, she’s so wet she’ll take me easily.
“Ready, baby?” I ask.
She nods. “Been ready for a long time.”
“I love you,” I tell her.
“I love you too… oh God,” she screams, her sentimental moment getting cut off by my sudden thrust. “Yes, Logan. More.”
Who am I to say no to that? I bring her knees up closer to her shoulders so I can get inside even deeper. I let out a satisfied groan as she clenches around me, teasing me even though I’m pinning her down with my weight.
I finally notice a faint slapping sound coming from Tyler as he stands near the bed, stroking his cock furiously as he watches us.
“You two are fucking hot,” he says playfully.
“Get over here,” I tell him.
He doesn’t need to be told twice.
I flip Ivy and myself over so that I’m on my back and she’s riding me, which she likes because she can set the pace as fast as she likes. And today, she likes it fast. She’s riding me pretty hard and recklessly, bouncing up and down on my cock.
“Whoa, cowgirl,” Tyler says, his voice low and playful, “Let me in.”
Chapter 23
Ivy
I’m short of breath. I’m lightheaded. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. And I’ve never felt more alive as I do riding Logan into fucking oblivion.
“Fuck me, Tyler,” I encourage him. He’s behind me, warming me up. Kissing my neck and shoulders. Squeezing my tits. “Come on.”
“Patience, Ivy,” he whispers, “I’ve waited so long for this. I want to savor it.”
“Ugh,” I groan, “No more waiting. Fuck me.”
He chuckles. Logan bucks underneath me, sending a rush of pleasure through me. Tyler slides one finger inside my ass, and I shiver.
“Too much, baby?” he asks gently.
It’s a lot. Even a finger there right now feels like a lot.
“It’s okay. Just go slow,” I tell him.
“Cause we don’t have to…”
I shake my head no. “I want to. I want to feel you both. At the same time.”
Tyler gets the lube and slicks up his fingers. I slow my pace with Logan, and he holds my hips in place with his hands. Tyler slides his index finger back inside. Then adds the middle. The pain is quickly replaced with tingling. With pleasure.
“Good,” I pant, “That’s good.”
“Ready for more?” he asks.
I nod, eagerly. I’m ready. I’ve been ready for ages.
Tyler squirts a generous amount of lube into his palm and coats his dick in the raspberry scented liquid. He's so hard, he's practically shaking, and I don't know how he's been able to have a coherent conversation with me for this long.
When he’s all lubed up and ready, Tyler starts to edge his way in, one inch at a time.
“Fuck," I grunt. He's a lot to take. Plus, Logan's already inside of me, and he's not small either.
“You okay?” Logan asks.
“Yes,” I grit out. Really, it’s not pain so much as it's pressure and fullness.
“Relax,” Tyler guides me, rubbing my back and encouraging me to breathe deeply. Then he pushes in another inch or so.
Finally, I start to loosen up. I’m not as tense. This is starting to feel good. And exciting. And familiar in the very best possible way.
I feel Tyler's hips against me, and I know that he's completely inside of me. Right there with Logan. It feels fucking perfect.
Moving with them both in this position is tricky, but the three of us make it work. They’re hitting every pleasure center, every nerve ending. They’re firing on all cylinders. I feel like I’m about to burst.
“Come for us, baby,” Logan says.
As soon as he calls me baby again, I'm done for. I can't fight it. These guys have broken down my last wall. I scream out both of their names, and I come so hard that my vision goes dark.
Tyler groans and comes next. Logan is seconds later.
I collapse on top of Logan and Tyler falls over me. We lie on the enormous bed, a tangled mess of limbs and sticky bodies. Even with the weight on top of me, I feel too comfortable to move.
After a few minutes, Tyler shifts off of me, and I grumble.
“No,” I tell him, “Now I’ll be cold.”
He chuckles and gently wraps the comforter around me.
“I’m just gonna go clean up,” he says with a wink. Logan nods and goes to follow Tyler into the bathroom. The return moments later with a warm washcloth and start to clean me up too.
I’m too spent out to move, but I mumble my thanks.
My lack of verbal skill or motor coordination seems to amuse Logan, and he's laughing as he climbs back in bed next to me. Tyler gets in on the other side, and I cuddle up to both of them.
“Thank God,” I whisper, “Sleep time.”
“Unless you want to go back to the conference room,” Logan teases.
“Not yet.”
A little while later, we return to the conference room for the keynote speaker and a few other lectures, but I barely pay attention to anyone or anything. People congratulate and thank me for my speech, but honestly, all that feels like a blurry memory from years ago.
I just want to get home.
After flying back to New York and retrieving Oliver from my mother’s house, the guys and I return to the apartment building.
“What floor, Ivy?” Tyler asks.
It’s a test. Where do I want to be?
“Top floor,” I tell him.
Tyler smiles as he hits the button for the penthouse. The ride seems to last forever, and Oliver gets fussy.
“Here, let me,” Logan insists. He takes the squirming infant from my arms and cradles him, cooing a little.
I look over at Tyler, and he looks back with the same surprised expression on his face.
“Logan…”
“What?” he asks.
“You’re not freaking out?” I ask.
Logan kisses Oliver’s tiny cheek. “He’s so small,” Logan whispers, “And he’s mine. I’ll get there.”
Watching Logan with our son makes my insides melt. The elevator dings and the doors open. Tyler lets us in.
The door to the third bedroom is open, and I see it right away. The nursery. It’s painted a sweet, pale blue color with a trim. The paint job is… rough. Clearly, the guys did it themselves. But seeing all the patchy spots and weird brush strokes makes me love it even more.
Then I notice the rest of the room. There’s a crib set up in one
corner with a mobile hanging from the ceiling. There’s a dresser and a changing table. And a rocking chair.
But the most impressive thing is the pile of toys. Stuffed animals, a train set, blocks… it’s everything a child could ever want.
“You guys know he won’t be able to play with half of that for another year or so, right?” I tease.
Logan shrugs.
“You like it?” Tyler asks. He sounds nervous.
I don't have the heart to taunt him anymore. Plus, the tears of joy are welling in my eyes, and they're about to spill over.
“I love you guys,” I choke out.
“We love you too,” Tyler assures me. He takes Oliver from Logan, who was starting to get a little twitchy.
“And we love Oliver,” Logan says, nodding, “We can be a family. I think we’re ready.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Ivy
Oliver and I had gone downstairs that day to move some of his things into the new nursery so that he could spend some nights with the guys. But we didn’t move in right away, because Logan’s, Tyler’s and my relationship was still so new, and we were trying to be careful.
It didn’t last long though.
By the end of the month, I'd given up my apartment, and we'd moved to the top floor. The three of us decided to share the master bedroom, using Tyler's room as a guest room, and obviously keep the nursery as-is until Oliver outgrows the baby colors and furniture.
We settled into a domestic routing pretty quickly, and I certainly enjoyed that there were now three pairs of hands helping out with the baby. We got to rely on Patty and my mother much less.
Logan continues to see Dr. Saunders and work through his issues. Sometimes, Tyler and I go with him to discuss our family dynamic. I’m sure it’s unconventional, but Logan’s therapist is nothing by open-minded and supportive. Logan’s even volunteered to take Oliver on his own for hours, sometimes even a full day at a time. Baby steps. And I couldn’t be prouder of him.
He's still running Rutledge Enterprises, and Tyler is still keeping his life organized.
