Resounding Kisses (11 page)

Ivy was working late in her office a few nights later when a knock on her door caused her to look up from the contract she was proofing. She rubbed her eyes and rolled her neck even as she called out, “Enter.”

For a short moment, she closed her eyes as she tried to work the kinks out of her neck and when she opened them with the sound of the door, she jerked up from her chair. Ter strode into the room in all his glory. Leather pants and black t-shirt that molded to his muscled body like a glove. A devilish glint in his emerald eyes.

She put a hand to her thundering heart. Seeing him again filled her with so much love and happiness, she knew without a doubt he was the one. The one she would do anything to have, including confronting and defying her father if it came to that.

Right then and there she decided if, together, they couldn’t convince her father and he kept insisting she stay away from Ter, she would choose him over her family. No. Doubt. About. It.

She watched him walk towards her, letting her eyes drink in his image. He was so different than any other man she’d ever met. He respected her. Loved her.

When she didn’t move from behind the desk, he slowed down and their eyes locked. She saw such sadness mirrored there she almost died. He stopped a few feet from her desk and just watched her. One breath. Two breaths. Three…

Ivy launched herself from behind her desk, throwing herself into his arms. “Thank God, you’re here. I was so miserable without you. I don’t care what my father wants, because from now on – I’m yours.”

Ter pressed her against his chest and took her mouth in a punishing kiss filled with all of the loneliness and desperation of the last three months. She felt how he poured his pent up emotions into their exchange, demanding she pay for the hurt she’d caused him and the anger he’d been trying to deal with.

Ivy didn’t fight him, but gave herself wholeheartedly to the kiss. She gentled him by submitting to his hold, opening her mouth when he demanded entrance. From now on she was his. To love. To hold. To have forever if that’s what he wanted.

Long minutes later, Ter broke the kiss, looking down at her red and bruised mouth. He brushed a finger over her bottom lip, wet from his kiss and whispered into her ear, “I love you Ivy. I will always love you and I will never let you go again. Ever.”

He crashed his lips down on hers again and she sighed into his mouth. Being in his arms was where she belonged and she never wanted to be without him ever again.

***

It felt so good to hold Ivy in his arms once again. From the moment he’d walked into her office and seen her again, he’d known without a shadow of a doubt she was meant to be his. When she’d launched herself into his arms, any remaining worries had disappeared like the mist when faced with the rising sun.

Ivy was his.

He held her at arm’s length and then took another step back, letting his eyes travel up and down her body as he let out a low whistle. “You’re even more beautiful now than three months ago.”

Instead of the boxy pant suits she’d previously worn, she was wearing a figure hugging skirt with a matching jacket. The jacket only had a single button at her trim waist, and dipped low, revealing the lacy camisole she wore beneath it. A figure hugging skirt suit ended below the knee, exposing her beautiful calves.

His mind went down a very dirty road as his eyes followed the outline of her legs from her high heels to her curvaceous hips and wandered to the vee between her legs. Then he swirled her around, appreciating every inch of her amazing body. “Do you have any idea what I want to do to you?”

She giggled, and her blush was too much for his self-control. He kissed her hard, letting all of the emotions from the last three months pour out of him. When he released her, he strode to her office door and locked it with a loud click.

He strode back to her, kissed her hard on the lips while one hand trailed down the exciting skirt suit, which revealed so much yet nothing at all. The other hand traveled down her back and cupped her ass that was nicely accentuated in her pencil skirt.

His erection pressed painfully against his jeans and his thoughts were clouded by the need to claim this woman as his— for good. He backed her up against the wall and shoved his hand under her skirt, slowly traveling up her wonderful thighs to cup her ass again. Oh my god, she was killing him. His fingers traced the smooth skin of her gorgeous legs.

“Oh, lovey. I want you so much.”

“I want you too. Only you.” She was gasping and panting in his arms as his fingers traveled beneath her panties, and slid inside her wet folds. A needy moan escaped her throat as he rubbed his thumb across her sensitive nub. “You are so wet for me already.”

When she didn’t protest, he carried her over to her desk and leaned her over it. She moaned again and his desire for her was ever rising. Her backside was begging him to touch it, to move his hands over it. He squatted behind her and placed his hands at her ankles, skimming them up her smooth legs, watching her as she leaned into his touch and her breathing became ragged.

When he reached the hem of her skirt, he slipped his hands under the edge and began to methodically push it up her legs. Up her thighs, past her ass, revealing the lacy thong she wore beneath. He pushed it to her hips and then used his mouth to map the backs of her thighs.

When she moaned in pleasure and spread her legs, he ripped the panties from her, tossing the scrap of lace behind him. Then he stepped back and took in the exhilarating sight in front of him.

His woman leaned over her desk, naked from the waist down except for her black high heels. Then he delved between her thighs to find her wet and ready for him.

“God, please don’t stop,” she pleaded with him.

Ter had no intention of stopping, but before he took her, he wanted to give her pleasure like she’d never had before. He stood up, pressing against her so she had no doubt about how much he wanted her. His hardness squashed into her softness, and he smiled when she moaned in pleasure and tried to reach back for him.

He grabbed her searching hand and laid it flat on the desk in front of her. At the same time, he slipped his hand further between her legs, finding the spots that gave her the most pleasure.

“Ter…rence!”

“Easy, love. I want you to come all over my hand.”

“I want you.”

“And you shall have me, but first I want your pleasure. Give it to me.”

He rubbed and teased her, sensing when she was close as her body tightened and she arched her back. His fingers plunged deeper into her core, driving her over the edge, her cries of pleasure music to his ears.

Then he leaned over her, whispering into her ear, “This was only the beginning. I want you to come for me again and again.”

She was still gasping for breath. “Ter, I’m not sure if I can take more.”

“I’m sure you can, lovey. A lot more.”

***

Ivy tried to regain her calm, his weight pressing her down onto her desk and for once she didn’t mind that she was a woman. On the contrary, she’d never felt more cherished and wanted.

His hard length pushed against her oversensitive core while his upper body pressed her onto her desk. She was completely at his mercy and she loved it. With him, it felt good and safe to give up control. She was in control all day long, at night she wanted to surrender to him. To the love of her life, the one man who’d shown her she could be tough and successful, as well as feminine and sexy.

Suddenly, she didn’t feel his weight on her anymore, and wanted to stand up, but he nudged her down again with his big hand on her back and said, “I’m not finished with you yet, lovey.”

Those words, whispered in a rough and greedy voice sent thrills through her body as if she hadn’t just experienced a mind-numbing orgasm. “I want you inside me.”

He growled. “Not yet. You may be in charge during the day, but not at night.” With these words, he lightly spanked her bare ass and she hissed.

“You like that, lovey?” His voice was liquid sex and she quivered.

“Yes.”

He gave her another slap on the other side of her ass and she felt the sting of pain heightening her arousal to almost unbearable levels, setting every cell in her body on fire.

She hissed again, but he didn’t give her much time to assimilate the sensations. His tongue and lips laved her backside with soft kisses before he knelt down behind her and cupped her cheeks with his hands, squeezing and kneading them, while pushing her legs further apart. “Oh my god.”

Her legs were already trembling before he buried his head between her thighs and licked and sucked her wet folds, sending darts of pleasure to every region of her body. Ragged breaths of ecstasy filled the otherwise silent room and minutes later, tremors swept down her thighs and up her stomach, her inner muscles clenching and unclenching in anticipation of another powerful release.

When his tongue darted deeper into her, she shattered against his mouth, wave after wave of a climax rolling through her. He circled his tongue over her cleft until the last wave of orgasm left her body.

Trembling and shaking, she gasped when she heard the sound of a zipper and then felt his thick tip teasing her opening.

The need to feel him filling her up overwhelmed her. Never had she wanted a man more than Ter right now. She tried to thrust her hips onto his hard length, to take him in. But he countered every one of her moves with one of his and poised his thick crown right at her entrance without entering her.

“I want you inside me. Now.”

“Lovey. You have to wait.”

She sighed in sweet agony. Yes, she would have to. And she knew the reward would be galactic if she let him have his way. “You’re torturing me, Ter.”

“That’s exactly my intention. I want to hear you scream with pleasure. And completely wasted when I’m done with you.”

His shaft firmly poised at her entrance, he continued to tease her and slid a finger into her tightest hole. “Ahh.”

“Relax, lovey,” he whispered before he started moving the finger. It was a thrilling sensation and before she knew it, she came again. He slowly calmed her down and then flipped her around, carefully putting her legs on his shoulders. He looked down on her, his face full of love. “You’re so beautiful. I have to see your face when I’m inside you.”

Ivy was certain she’d died and gone to paradise when he unbuttoned her jacket and pushed up her camisole and bra to fill his palms with her breasts.

“God, I love you so much, it hurts,” he said as he plucked her nipples into taut, pulsating peaks.

“God, I love you too,” she hissed and then he finally — finally — slid his rock hard erection into her, until he was buried balls deep, filling her completely. “This feels so good. I missed you so much.”

She watched his rippled abs and chest as his pounding became wild and hard, taking them both over the edge together. As the orgasm claimed him, she caught his eyes and could see right into his soul. An eternity later, she lay wasted on her desk, absolutely certain she’d died of pleasure.

“I’m yours, forever,” she whispered and he leaned over her to kiss her, his breath ragged even as his body was still hard inside of her.

“I love you, Ivy.”

“I love you too.”

After righting their clothing as best as they could, Ter escorted Ivy from the office, taking her to his new place. They stopped by her apartment and she gathered up a change of clothes and her bathroom stuff.

“Oh, I’m so glad you two are back together,” Bella said and then hugged Ivy for several long moments. “Whatever you need, honey, you know I’ll always support you with everything.”

Ter watched the two women together and was glad that Ivy had Bella. It would be difficult enough for her if he couldn’t convince her father to change his mind.

Once they sat in his vehicle and drove to his apartment, he clasped her hand and said, “I’m never letting you go again. You know that, right?”

Ivy smiled at him and then scooted over on the seat. “I know that.” She laid her head on his shoulder and then sighed.

“What was that for?” he asked, sensing her worries.

“I’m just concerned about my father.” When he glanced at her, she explained, “I’ve already made my decision, don’t worry about that. But if I never see my family again…it would hurt. It makes me sad to think about that happening.”

Ter hugged her close as he turned into the parking garage for his apartment building. He parked his vehicle and then turned her to face him. Cupping her jaw, he searched her eyes and told her, “Everything will work out fine.”

“And if it doesn’t?” she asked, biting her lower lip, tears making her dark eyes shine.

“If not, then my family is more than big enough for both of us. They’ll welcome you and love you as much as I do.” Still, he saw the worry in her eyes and it bothered him. A lot.

He spent the next few days trying to come up with a plan to make sure she wouldn’t lose her family by being with him. He came up with several ideas, but he’d need to do some planning before putting any of them into action.

A few days later, he picked her up from work and headed for the highway.

“Where are we going?” Ivy asked, watching the city pass by.

“We’ll have dinner at Velveteen Kitchen where we ate when we first met.”

“Any special occasion?” She gave him a suspicious glance.

Ter put on his most innocent smile. “Being with you is always special, lovey.” He picked up her hand and kissed the back before entwining his fingers with hers.

They reached the restaurant and it was just as good as she remembered. Their dinner conversation was light and Ter was happy to see an easy smile upon Ivy’s face once again.

After the waiter removed their plates, he suggested a walk along the beach.

“Sounds good. Let’s search for our star in the sky,” Ivy said, removing her high heels before walking onto the sand.

They walked until they were away from the lights of the buildings and he found a place for them to sit in the sand without getting wet. “Let’s sit here.”

He helped her down and then joined her, leaning back slightly and looking up at the evening sky. “Look, there’s the North Star.”

When she tipped her head back and looked up, Ter withdrew the small velvet box from his pocket. His heart was overflowing with love as he observed her silently until she turned to face him.

“This is for you.” He was holding the jeweler’s box on an open palm and smiling at her.

Ivy looked from him to the box and back, her pulse pounding in her throat. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

With trembling hands, she took the box and lifted the lid to reveal a gorgeous solitaire diamond in princess cut. “Ter. It’s stunning.”

“Ivy…will you marry me?”

She looked into his eyes, tears springing to her own and nodded. “Yes. Of course, yes. I want to marry you.”

Ter removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger, kissing her palm once he was done. She was crying, and he gathered her close. “Why are you crying, lovey?”

“Because I’m so happy,” she whispered through her tears.

He kissed her, using his thumbs to wipe her tears away. “Please don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it. I’m happy, but I’m also sad. It’s official. Now, I can never return to my family.”

“That’s not true.”

“But it is.” She looked away to hide another burst of tears, but he took her face in his palms and turned her head back to gaze into her eyes. His voice low and caring, he said, “I knew you would feel this way. That’s why I went to visit your parents yesterday.”

Ivy pushed him away. “You did what?”

A grin settled on his lips. “Like any good man, I visited your parents and asked your father for your hand in marriage.”

She gaped at him, her mouth opening and closing several times before she said, “I can’t believe you did that for me. And I can believe even less my father would agree. You’re kidding me, right? You’re saying this to make me feel better.”

Her trembling hands caught in his, he answered, “I would never joke with your feelings, Ivy. And you’re right, your father wouldn’t even let me into the house at first. He was downright rude, to be honest.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“Sequoia let me inside. And your mother convinced him it would be polite to at least listen to me.”

“Sequi, of course. But how did you get him to talk to you?”

“I told him about the first time we met and how I had such a hard time concentrating on the contract because your beauty knocked my legs out from under me.”

Ivy was looking at him with wonder in her eyes and he continued, “I promised him I wanted to spend the rest of my life making sure you were the happiest woman on the face of the earth.”

“And he accepted your request, just like that?” She snapped her fingers.

He laughed. “Not hardly. Your mother helped. She kept talking to him, saying you had been so unhappy since we broke up and she wouldn’t forgive herself if you died of a broken heart. That you deserved to be happy and since I apparently loved you enough to make you an honest woman, what else could he ask for.”

“And that did the trick?”

He grinned sourly, remembering the uncomfortable scene at her parent’s house. “Not yet. Your sister asked him if he really wanted to lose you as a daughter, which earned her a severe rebuttal and she was sent out of the room. While leaving, she growled, “If you disown Ivy, I’ll be gone as soon as I finish college.”

Ivy gasped and he squeezed her hand again, and she felt the unfamiliar pressure of the ring.

“Your father was furious and he and your mother talked in a language I didn’t understand. I feared they were discussing the best way to have me disappear without a trace.”

Ivy barked out a laugh, her thumb tracing back and forth on his hand. “I’m sorry. He’s a good man, but he can be rather intimidating.”

“Lovey, I would do anything for you, even confronting ten of his kind. Anyhow, after some minutes, he turned towards me and relented with a growl. Albeit not before threatening me with the most severe methods of torture if I should ever lay my eyes on another woman.”

She threw her arms around him. “I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I did that for us,” he said before he kissed her.

“So, when do you want to get married?” Ivy asked him.

“Well, I was thinking as soon as possible. I leave for our tour in just a few weeks…”

Her heart squeezed. “And you’ll be gone a lot after that,” she finished for him.

“Yes. So, what do you think? Can we get married right away?”

Ivy nodded. “I think we can do that. In fact, I know we can do that.”

“Reese will want to help, as will Sam. They’ll be thrilled. Guess my mom was wrong. Allison isn’t the first Paxton to get married. I am.”

Ivy smiled and then whispered against his lips, “I don’t think she’ll mind being wrong in this case.”

“I think you’re right. And she’ll be even happier when grandkids arrive.”

“Oh, God, I totally forgot about my list,” she said in a joking tone and Ter kissed her. “Too late. You already said yes.”

As soon as he saw the devilish glint in her eyes, he knew he’d set himself up for that one. “Mr. Paxton, it’s not final until I say ‘I do’ in front of a wedding officiant. We better go through my list again. Last time I checked, you scored a measly five.”

They both laughed and he moved behind her to wrap his arms around her while she leaned against him. “Okay, so let’s see if my score has increased. I wouldn’t want you to get stuck with a five.”

Ivy counted on her fingers. “Intelligent. Check. Loving and Caring. Check. Romantic. Much. Strong. A bit.” He squeezed her tight until she protested. “Okay, Strong. Check. Humorous. Check. Advocate of equal opportunities. How about that?”

He whispered into her ear, “I’ll take care of our kids while you go out and earn our living. How does that sound?”

She turned in his arms and asked, “Are you serious?”

Ter chuckled. “No. But I believe we can share the chores.”

After kissing his nose, she turned back to her former position in his arms. “That will do and I think we covered the marriage and kids point as well. Where were we?”

“Incredibly good-looking and irresistible?” he said.

“Those are two points. Good-looking and making me feel butterflies in my stomach. Oh yes, a beautiful voice. You definitely got that one. But the most important one comes last: Faithful.”

Now his tone grew serious as he turned her around and searched her eyes. “Ivy, I love you with all my heart and I can’t even imagine kissing another woman. I promise to always be faithful to you and only love you.”

She flinched when he mentioned kissing another woman and he asked, “What?”

Ivy shook her head, but he insisted. “It’s just when I visited your concert in Chicago, this girl kissed you.”

He paled. “You saw that? Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I was so embarrassed when she caught me by surprise and was grateful that you wouldn’t have to witness her kissing me.”

“But I did. And I was green with jealousy. I wanted to kill her,” she whispered.

Ter brushed her cheek with his thumb and said, “Ivy. That will not happen again. As soon as we’re married, I’ll have the record label announce it to the press and that should prevent other fans from trying to do the same thing.”

“I believe you,” she said, “I knew even back then it wasn’t you who had kissed her or even encouraged her.”

“I’ll show you what a real kiss from me feels like.” With those words, he took her mouth in a passionate kiss and leaned back into the sand to roll them over and position himself over her. When they emerged from their kiss, panting for air several minutes later, he asked, “So how did I score?”

“A not so measly eleven points.” She giggled. “Now, can I have another one of those irresistible kisses of yours, please?”