SIR

by R. J. Lewis

I smile. “Uh-huh.”

  “Don’t sound excited for anything.”

  “I haven’t partied since that night in Ottawa—”

  “Don’t tell me you won’t!”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Good because your birthday is coming up, and we have to celebrate.”

  “Oh, God.” I run my forehead, forgetting about that. “Please don’t tell Aidan about it, okay? I don’t want him to know.”

  She makes a sound of disgust. “Why the fuck don’t you want him to know?”

  “It’s just…things are getting pretty intimate between us, and we’re making progress getting reacquainted and…I just don’t want him to feel awkward about it, or like he needs to do something for me. We don’t…really have a label between us.”

  “You guys haven’t talked about it?”

  “No, but we’re together, it’s just…”

  “You just haven’t confirmed it.”

  I know it’s weird to want to have that kind of talk. It’s apparent we’re getting closer, that we’re in this because we care for each other, and God, I really care for him. He’s…

  I sigh, blinking back tears.

  “Ana,” I whisper, feeling unusually emotional all of a sudden.

  “Yeah?” she asks, sensing my unease.

  “He’s amazing.”

  She makes a soft sound. “You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”

  I draw a circle on the island with my finger, feeling nervous. “I haven’t stopped. I just…didn’t realize he’s the same guy, and…you know, he is the same and different too, but good different.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” she tells me, sounding emotional as well. “Fuck, I just wanted you to be happy. It doesn’t bother you he might not ever remember what you guys shared before?”

  My heart skips a beat, thumping painfully. “It sucks, I won’t lie about that, but…he looks at me the way he used to. I think he’s falling for me, too, and it’s taking him a little longer this time, but that’s okay. There’s nowhere else I want to be.”

  She lets out a relieved breath. “I can’t wait to see you, Ivy.”

  “Not long.”

  “Not long at all, babe.”

  *

  “Drooling, Miss Montcalm?” he asks in an admonishing tone.

  I’ve been caught staring at him. Again.

  I turn away from him and resume typing my email…most of these emails are in the draft folder because I never finish them. I just pretend to act busy because it makes me look more professional in the office.

  “No, sir,” I return swiftly. “I think your ego is doing that thing again.”

  “What thing?”

  “You know, inflating.”

  His lips pull into a smirk. “You want to know what I think, Miss Montcalm?”

  “I didn’t ask—”

  “I think you want another taste.”

  Okay, I shut up now and give him my full attention. I do the usual pretending not to give a shit thing by raising my brows and feigning dismay. “And I think you’re a smug jerk, sir.”

  He makes a deep sound in his throat, turning his chair in my direction. He studies me for several moments, his eyes running over the length of my body. “Get off your chair and come to me.”

  I narrow my eyes. “No.”

  His smirk intensifies. “I want you to drop to the floor between my legs, and I want you to unzip me.”

  I glance into his lap, my tongue begging for another taste of him. I’m trembling already, the anticipation brutal as he continues to wait for me.

  “This is workplace harassment,” I growl at him, but I go to him anyway, dropping to the floor before his chair. His eyes follow my movement carefully, his face so rich in arrogance, it’s hot as fuck.

  “Hurry along, Miss Montcalm.”

  “I’ll go at my pace,” I retort, undoing his belt slowly.

  He drags his teeth along his bottom lip. “You’re forgetting to address me in my office.”

  I blink up at him. “I’m sorry, sir. Forgive me.”

  “You’ll be forgiven when your lips are wrapped around my cock, Miss Montcalm.”

  Fuck, his mouth just does crazy things to me. I feel a pulsing line of pleasure travel straight to the nerves between my legs. I unzip him and he’s hard already when I pull him out. All playfulness subsides when he stares down at me swirling my tongue along the head of his length, causing him to jolt in his chair.

  “Sensitive today, Mr West?” I ask.

  His eyelids are barely open. “A little sore, Miss Montcalm. Too many late nights pleasing the most insatiable seductress in my bed—”

  I cut him off when my lips wrap firmly around his cock, sucking him. He throws the pen in his hand down and fists my hair into both hands, driving himself deeper into my mouth. He groans, growing impossibly thicker as I pleasure him slowly and deeply, just the way he likes.

  I admit I love seeing the surprise on his face when I pleasure him. He doesn’t remember teaching me what he likes, so when I do something like cup his balls or bring him deeper into my throat, I delight at the flare in his eyes as he stares down at me with fascination.

  But he knows.

  He knows I learned it from him, and his eyes narrow.

  He can’t handle that he taught me—he’s jealous of his previous self, for not having those memories, and then he tells me the same thing every time. “I was soft then. I’m rough now. I’ll be teaching you new things, Miss Montcalm.”

  He pulls my face away from his cock and stands us up. His hand is still gripping my hair when he takes me to the window. “Press your hands flat against the glass,” he orders thickly.

  I do. I stand before the window, staring down at the busy streets as he pulls up my dress and cups my sex. I stifle a grown as he grunts with approval. “You’re not even wearing panties, Miss Montcalm. Did you hope for this to happen?”

  I shut my eyes as he rubs me. “Yes.”

  “Yes, what, Miss Montcalm?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He spreads my legs wide, dropping down to his knees to press his mouth against my core. I shake, sucking in a shocked breath as he pleasures me. My forehead knocks against the window. I shut my eyes, shaking as he builds me up, so close I’m about to come—

  He pulls away and stands, making me groan with frustration.

  “Please,” I murmur as he presses his cock against my ass. “Please, sir.”

  His fingers dig into my ass, spreading them. “Fuck, I want to split you open, Ivy.”

  “Split me open,” I urge.

  And he does.

  He drives his cock into me, and the pleasure is immediate. It’s electrifying. He fucks me against the huge windows, slapping my ass once to admonish me when I look back at him. “Look out the window, Miss Montcalm.”

  And I do.

  I come hard around his cock, staring down at the streets, watching the countless people pass by, completely oblivious.

  Thirty-Three

  Ivy

  The next day, Alex shows up early in the morning. It seems like he is very keen on that health business with Aidan. I sort of don’t want to tell him the owner is actually not sixty but really a beautiful young woman he will absolutely want to get between the sheets of. I’d rather prolong that truth for as long as possible.

  I duck out for coffee, trying to find an excuse to leave them together to bond. I don’t want to constantly linger in the background. They need their alone time, too.

  I allow Gaston to make himself useful and drive me around. He doesn’t like to be idle for long, and he seems grateful for my request. We wind up waiting in traffic most of the time because it’s congested and sprawling with businesses. Since being in the office with Aidan, I’m learning what to watch out for. Every store we pass, I eye it, wondering about revenue, profit and overhead costs. It’s been drilled into my head for so many weeks now, I can’t look at a business the same way again.

  And I sort of like
it.

  It’s fun. I can picture myself opening a business, maybe even a salon one day. Something of my own to put my skillset into. The thought actually sparks joy into me.

  Some people have the most amazing stories, and they just want that opportunity to get better—Aidan can provide that. He can really invest in these places and turn them around and maximize on profit. I love the high he gets for it.

  During this ride, I get a phone call from Steven.

  “Hey,” I answer.

  “Ivy, what the fuck is happening over there?” he demands, sounding awed.

  I blink in surprise. Steven isn’t one to swear. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, Aidan has sunk his claws into three businesses and has reached out for me to see if I’m willing to invest with him.”

  I let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, only the tech ones he’s been eyeing. He hoped you might want to do a start up with him again.”

  He lets out an incredulous laugh. “I’m blown away. I…I am over the moon, Ivy.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “You’ve done it, then. You’ve brought him back.”

  Now my smile fades. “No, Steven, he’s bringing himself back—a different self, one that you won’t immediately recognize, but you’ll find is the same at heart. I’m not going to take credit for this—”

  “But you’ve lent a helping hand.”

  “He needed any hand.”

  Steven makes a doubtful sound. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Ivy.”

  “I give credit where it’s due. And Aidan has done all this on his own. I was there to warm his bed, sure, but the passion? That’s all on him.”

  Steven makes a tsking sound. “You don’t just warm his bed. He is…smitten by you.”

  I hope so.

  I can feel Aidan’s adoration for me, and yet I still feel like he’s holding himself back. I know it takes time—I’m willing to give him that and more. It’s been a brand-new journey for us and it’s still new and scary.

  “I love him,” I admit to Steven. “I love him so much.”

  “He’s a good guy, Ivy, and you’ve been remarkably strong.”

  “Thanks, Steven.”

  When I get off the phone with Steven, I sense Gaston’s stare in the rear-view mirror. His brows are pinched together, and he seems bothered by something. “Ivy,” he says, steering my eyes to his. “He loves you. Aidan loves you.”

  My lips flicker into a sad smile. “Maybe. Maybe he needs more time—”

  “He asked me if you wanted that Georgian home.”

  I tense. “When?”

  “When he asked me to come here. Right before you both flew out. He said he knows he bought the house for you.”

  My lips part in surprise. I take a moment. “But he didn’t know we were together at the time—”

  “I think he knew at heart.” Gaston shrugs, scratching at the scruff of his beard. “He dreams a lot. He…remembered a voice telling him freedom meant a Georgian home on an island. He said to me on the phone that he believed the voice to be yours.”

  I’m too gobsmacked to respond.

  My lips tremble a I recall that conversation by the water. Aidan had said he hoped for me to feel that freedom again.

  He remembered. He dreamed it, sure, but he remembered.

  I can hardly breathe.

  “Perhaps you should have heard this from him, but…he takes his time with these sorts of things.” He shrugs again, looking bothered. “It just doesn’t sit well for me to hear you speak to Steven as though…you did nothing. I think you’re being too generous. I knew Aidan before he met you, long before he made his changes. Back when he was reckless, he had no one by his side, and you…You’ve been by his side, protecting him, making sure he’s okay, and I think that made all the difference.”

  “Thank you,” I say genuinely, blinking back my emotion. “Thank you so much for telling me this, Gaston.”

  “Of course,” he answers gently.

  *

  That evening, we eat at a seafood restaurant. We’re dressed casually, and yet Aidan may as well have a neon light blaring around him. Everyone stares at him. His presence is strong, commanding. I can’t describe how sexy it is that he is so confident in his environment. The waitress stumbles over her words as she takes our order, and I grin like an idiot because surely he knows.

  “What’s so funny?” he asks.

  “You.”

  He quirks a brow. “Me?”

  “Yeah, you.”

  “Explain.”

  I raise my brows. “Aside from the fact every single woman here wants to have your babies, even the men are struggling to compete against you. They’re not too happy, Aidan. Shame on you.”

  Aidan appears amused. “And this is funny to you.”

  “I want to learn your ways.”

  “The art of not giving a fuck? It’s simple. Stop giving a fuck what anyone else thinks and suddenly they’re orbiting you, wanting to know exactly what you do think about.”

  I chuckle, taking a sip of my wine. “Good advice.”

  He watches me for a few moments, his finger back on the table, tapping away, which means he’s thinking very deeply about something. “I heard from Steven that you guys spoke briefly on the phone today.”

  I nod. “He wanted to thank me for helping you. I told him you didn’t need my help.”

  Aidan’s eyes deepen. “But I did. You reached for my hand, remember?”

  I run my finger along my glass, staring at it. “Yeah, I remember.”

  We eat our food, enjoying the drinks as the restaurant picks up. Music blasts and I can’t help the way it runs through me. The atmosphere is electric. This place is on fire with boisterous people and a live band that plays the rawest sounds.

  By the time we exit, Aidan’s holding my hand and I’m dizzily twirling before him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He looks down at me, smiling softly as I breathe in the warm air, staring straight into his brown eyes. The music is still all around us, and he’s all around me, his hands at my hips, his breaths against my face. I sway to the sounds and fall into him, feeling delightfully high.

  Aidan’s arms tighten around me. He stares down at me, unable to look away, his face growing more tender by the second.

  Finally, he whispers, “I understand everything now.”

  “What do you understand?” I ask him, dizzied by his gaze.

  “I understand how I could have fallen in love with you, Ivy.”

  I smile at him, my chest filling with indescribable emotion. “How does that make you feel?”

  He eyes my lips, swallowing thickly. “Like I want to do it again.”

  I lightly kiss him, and he shuts his eyes. I watch him as I kiss him. Watch the reverence in his face as he pours himself into me. And then I close my eyes and do the same.

  Thirty-Four

  Ivy

  When Ana shows up in baggage claim of the airport, I am screaming, and she is screaming, and we are hugging like two idiots who haven’t seen each other in years.

  Look, it feels like years, okay? It feels like I’ve had a limb missing because—fuck my life—this girl is my sister from another mister.

  Gaston waits at the car, rolling his eyes when we show up, arm in arm. “It hasn’t been that long,” he grumbles. “Quit being dramatic.”

  “It’s been eternity,” Ana hisses.

  “Uh-huh.”

  We slip into the car, and she smells good despite that long ass flight. Of course everything about her is in pristine condition. She looks like a motherfucking goddess.

  “You gotta touch up your ends,” she remarks, running her hands through my red strands. “And you didn’t keep the manicure going. You fucking liar.”

  “Not like there was a nail salon in bumfuck nowhere.”

  She shakes her head. “There are nail salons in Timbuktu, Ivy. Your excuse is shit. You’re shit.”

  “Ouch.” I feign a pain in my chest and grip it. “
Have you been talking to Aidan behind my back or something because you sound exactly like him.”

  She laughs. “If I were talking to him, I’m sure he’d let me know all the down and dirty shit you guys have been up to.”

  I punch her, consciously glancing at Gaston in the front seat as he drives. He does that poker face thing but his lips twitch. “Stop listening.”

  “I am not,” he retorts.

  “Then how’d you know when to answer?”

  “Je ne parle pas anglais.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “I thought it’d be warmer,” Ana says, leafing through her bag now to pull out a thin zip-up.

  “It was. The weather here is unpredictable.”

  “Not complaining. I just escaped a heat wave.” She grins as she eyes me now. “So, how’s work?” She asks it suggestively.

  “Busy,” I lie. By busy, Aidan and I have been fucking and doing nothing else. It’s really irresponsible of us.

  “Mhm,” she says doubtfully. “Any progress in Mission Remember Ivy Is Your Soulmate?”

  I shrug one shoulder. “It’s not as linear as we thought. Success has been a graph of up and down zigzags.”

  “But you’re good, right?”

  I nod. “Yeah.”

  Truth is, I want to explain more, and it’s not that I’m stopping myself because Gaston is present, it’s that I’m a mess emotion-wise and processing. Aidan is a fucking addiction. Even now, in the car heading to him, I’m itching for my next hit of him.

  When Gaston parks the car and we’re getting out, I suddenly remember to say, “His brother is here. He’s actually staying in the same hotel as you, but he’s currently in the apartment.”

  Ana nods carefully. “Cool.”

  “Ana…” I pause, searching for words. “He is…the spitting image of Aidan and very charming and—”

  “Not gonna fuck him, Ivy, relax,” she cuts in. “That would make things awkward for everyone, including me, seeing as how we are all going to be in each other’s lives forever and ever.”

  My shoulders relax. “What you do is your own choice…”

  “Uh-huh.” Ana is grinning widely. “I think you need to be more concerned with that hothead than who is between these legs.”