In Bounds

by Bronwyn Green

  He slowly lifted his hand away from her face and took her mouth in a slow, sense-stealing kiss. When he finally lifted his head, he murmured, “Your choice, love. But I’m hoping you’ll still be here when I get back from London.”

  Chapter Ten

  Will released Ivy and stepped back, gently extracting himself from her embrace. Her huge eyes had darkened to a stormy color—confusion and uncertainty shimmering in their depths.

  What the fuck had he just done? He hadn’t meant to frighten her, but he knew that she’d intended that first kiss as a goodbye. He was more sure of it than he’d ever been of anything in his life. And he couldn’t just let her run away again—not without trying to convince her to give them a chance.

  “And if I’m here when you get back?” she asked, slightly breathlessly. “What then?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  She snorted. “And if I want you to sit and do crossword puzzles with me?”

  “Then, I do crossword puzzles with you. Though, fair warning—it’s likely I’d attempt to proposition you using the open spaces on the board.”

  Her lips twitched as she fought a smile. “Good to know.” But her expression faded just as quickly. “What if I don’t know my answer?”

  “You don’t need to decide, now. And despite what I just said, I won’t try to coerce you. You’re in control here.”

  Her pink tongue darted out, moistening her slightly puffy lips. “And if I wanted you to give you control? Be submissive to you? Maybe have you use that...that...crop on me?”

  He groaned and closed his eyes as his cock jerked in his pants at the thought of the firm leather against her pale, full arse. At the thought of her submission. Sliding his hand over his groin, he tried to adjust himself, conscious of her gaze following his every motion. “You’re trying to kill me, then?”

  She slowly shook her head. “Just trying to make sure I know all of my options.”

  When he’d broken the kiss a few moments ago, he’d had every intention of grabbing his phone and leaving. Now, he found himself driving his fingers through her hair and holding her head still while he devoured her. Swallowing the needy little noises she made as she clung to him. It was only the sound of a clearing throat behind him that broke the kiss.

  She clutched his shirt and bowed her head against his chest as he glanced behind him.

  “Don’t mean to rush you, mate, but we need to hurry or we’re going to miss the last train.”

  The tension drained from Ivy’s body like a deflating balloon, and she slumped against Will. There was no need for her to tell him she was terrified of Charlotte or Caleb finding out about their potential arrangement.

  And that worried him. If her fear was greater than her curiosity, she might well be gone by the time he got back.

  “Give me a minute,” he shot back at his friend.

  As soon as Will heard the door shut, he slid his fingers beneath her chin and raised her head so he could look her in the eyes. “No matter what you decide, I’m not going to tell anyone, and neither is Simon. Nobody has to know.”

  She nodded solemnly then brushed a gentle kiss across his lips. “You should go.”

  “I should.” He paused, trying to find the right thing to say. “But I hope I’ll see you again.”

  Ivy watched him, her eyes unreadable.

  “Tick. Tock,” Simon said through the screen.

  Will brushed his thumb across Ivy’s lower lip before dropping one more kiss on her upturned mouth. “I’ll let you know when I’m headed back.”

  “Okay,” she murmured, watching as he grabbed his phone off the counter then followed Simon out the door.

  When he caught up with his friend, the other man was grinning. “I’m a little disappointed. I’d hoped to watch you squirm a lot longer than you did.”

  “Trust me, I’m nowhere near done squirming. I don’t even know if she’ll still be in the country when I get back, or if she’ll have flown back to the States.”

  Simon snorted. “After Eric, I’m not going to claim to be a good judge of character, but she seemed really into you. She barely took her eyes off you at dinner, and that kiss definitely didn’t seem like lack of interest.”

  “Interest and interest in pursuing something are two entirely different things—especially when the thought of Charlotte or Caleb finding out seems to terrify her.” He sighed and opened the driver’s side door of his car and slid behind the wheel.

  Simon tossed his bag into the backseat and got in. “She’ll be waiting for you.”

  He’d love it if she were, but Will wasn’t about to get his hopes up. Not this time. How long had he tried to figure out how to contact her after the wedding? How often had he visited Charlotte and Caleb in the States in hopes of seeing Ivy? Both paths had, predictably, gotten him nowhere.

  “So, you’re going to be utterly morose until after the team meeting?” Simon asked.

  “I’m not morose.” Morose didn’t really describe it, but he wasn’t sure what did. All he was really sure of was that he needed to convince Ivy to give him a chance. Give them a chance.

  “No. Your good mood is quite apparent. My mistake.” Simon shook his head.

  Will didn’t bother answering, just pulled up to the train station with enough time to pay for parking and get a couple tickets for the London-bound train.

  Once they were settled in their seats, Simon leaned over and murmured, “I promise, we’ll try to get the MRI over as quickly as possible—get you back to her before you know it.”

  He knew Simon was just trying to help. Will didn’t even know what he was even so bent about. Sure, he’d spent an inordinate amount of time fantasizing about seeing Ivy again, but it didn’t mean they were destined to be together. Hell, he wasn’t convinced he was destined to be with anyone.

  But he couldn’t get the memory of her out of his head. The way her breath had hitched and her eyes had dilated as soon as he’d covered her mouth. The way she’d practically pushed her face against his palm looking for more pressure. The way her nipples had tightened beneath her lightweight shirt and the way she’d squirmed, trying to relieve what he suspected was an ache between her thighs. An ache he was desperate to make more intense.

  When she’d mentioned giving him control—suggested he use the crop on her arse—he’d nearly come in his pants. As tempting as the thought was, he couldn’t imagine starting her out with something so harsh. Maybe he’d bring her some crème brûlée with a side of flogger.

  Lust surged through him and settled in his balls. He shifted in his seat to mask his growing hard-on then glanced at Simon. The other man stared at his phone, looking shell-shocked. Will’s arousal vanished at the sight of his friend’s expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Simon sighed. “Eric wants to talk. Now, he’s not sure he made the right decision.”

  “He cheated on you for three months, and now, he thinks he made a mistake? Fuck that guy.”

  A small sad smile curved Simon’s lips. “Pretty much.”

  “You’re not going to talk to him, are you?”

  He slowly shook his head. “He can deal with his own shitty choices.”

  Will was glad to hear that. He just hoped Simon would stick to it. He didn’t want to see his friend hurt any more than he already was. Loneliness and heartbreak were a bitch, and sometimes, they dragged you back to the place you least needed to be.

  He couldn’t help but think of Ivy, and he wondered what would happen if he and Ivy got involved and her knob of an ex wanted her back. Would she talk to the wanker? Would she give him another chance and crush Will’s heart in the process?

  He shook his head at himself. His heart wouldn’t be crushed because his heart wouldn’t be involved. The only thing he’d offered her was a safe place to explore her kinks and to fuck her ex out of her system. Nothing more. Nothing less.

  Chapter Eleven

  In a daze, Ivy stared at the notebook that held the kids’ lesson plans. Ho
w the hell was she supposed to concentrate on putting together homework packets when all she could think about was how it had felt to have Will’s hand clamped over her mouth again, while his cock hardened between them? She’d almost come on the spot.

  Shifting in her seat, she thought she still might. She was slick and swollen and so insanely needy that it was possible she’d go over at any moment. She still felt the sensation of his mouth, hot and insistent, his body pressed against hers and his arms wrapped around her. And god help her, she wanted to feel it all again, without the barrier of clothes.

  She sighed. She couldn’t believe she’d suggested he use a crop on her. What the fuck had she been thinking? She didn’t want her ass beaten. Except her pussy tingled at the thought of Will’s long fingers wrapped around the handle. It tingled even more at the memory of the heat in his eyes when she’d suggested giving him control. She sighed and tried to push away all thoughts of Will. She needed to focus on getting these packets done before it was time for Charlotte, Caleb, and the kids to head for the airport.

  Maybe she should just pack and go with them. That would put an end to the should she or shouldn’t she sleep with Will question. If they weren’t on the same continent, they couldn’t very well hook up. And if they couldn’t hook up, it was far less likely to come out that they’d ever had sex previously. She knew that line of thought was ridiculous, but false comfort was better than no comfort.

  The sound of knocking had her whirling in her chair. Charlotte poked her head around the door. “Is it all right if I come in?”

  “Of course. How’s Caleb?”

  Charlotte shrugged. “Oh, you know... He’s just focusing on getting everything packed and all of the travel arrangements adjusted instead of talking about how he’s feeling.”

  “Some things never change.”

  “I just hope we can get there before anything else happens.”

  Ivy nodded. “What time is your flight?”

  “Five o’clock, tomorrow evening.” Charlotte groaned. “So, I wanted to say, if you can’t finish everything, tonight, don’t worry about it. You can always email the files, and we can print them when the kids are ready for them.”

  “I should be done in a few hours. There were a few books I wanted to pick up for them, but I can send you the links so you can order them.”

  “That’ll work. We’ll be staying with his parents, so shipping shouldn’t be a big deal.”

  “Or you can just put them on their tablets, so you’ve got less to lug around.”

  Charlotte nodded. “Yeah. That would be better. Glad one of us is thinking.”

  Ivy reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand. “How are you holding up?”

  The other woman shrugged. “I’m worried about Caleb. Worried about his family. Stressed about traveling with the kids and about them keeping up on their assignments.”

  “I can just head over as soon as I can get the flight switched and keep working with them.”

  “No. I want you to actually enjoy some of your time here. All you’ve been doing since you got here is working. And getting hit in the face.”

  “I don’t mind. Besides, that’s what I’m here for. Well, not the getting hit in the face part.”

  Charlotte’s lips quirked. “What was that about going to London with Will?”

  “Nothing.” Ivy felt her cheeks heat and hoped the heightened color wasn’t noticeable. “He was just being ridiculous. I think he’s still feeling guilty about the whole black eye thing.”

  Ivy tried not to squirm under Charlotte’s scrutiny.

  “Maybe it’s just me, but that sounded like more than guilt. Like maybe he was coming on to you?”

  Ivy forced a laugh. “Will? Not likely,” she lied, trying to ignore the memory of his mouth on hers.

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” Charlotte frowned.

  “What?”

  “Remember when I suggested that you needed a good shag?”

  Ivy snorted. “That’s pretty much burned into my memory. Change your mind about that?”

  “God, no! You need a tumble or two.” She paused for a moment before adding, “But not with Will.”

  Ivy’s stomach soured as the few memories she could recall from the wedding played through her mind. “Your friend and your little brother together is too weird?” she tried to joke.

  “No,” Charlotte rushed to say. “I mean... Well, it would be a little weird. And I know I suggested it earlier, but I’ve been thinking about it... I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  For the briefest of moments, the text from Will’s friend flashed through Ivy’s mind, and the heat returned to her face, but then, her brow furrowed. “You think Will would hurt me?”

  “Not intentionally, I don’t think. But judging from some of his previous girlfriends, he’s easy to fall for. You’ve had so much heartbreak lately.” Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears. “I just wouldn’t want you to have more because of Will. I love you too much to lose you to something dumb like a bad breakup. And I wouldn’t want anything to ever be uncomfortable between us.”

  Guilt clogged Ivy’s throat. This just confirmed what she’d always suspected. Charlotte wouldn’t ever forgive her if she found out that Ivy had fucked her little brother. She’d already lost most of the people she loved—her parents, Daniel, most of her and Daniel’s mutual friends—she couldn’t lose Charlotte, too.

  “I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business who you or Will date.”

  “It’s fine. Really. I don’t want anything to be weird, either. And let’s be honest, Will is way out of my league, anyway.” She’d never spoken truer words.

  Charlotte protested, but Ivy shrugged. “It’s true. Besides, you don’t need to worry. That invitation was totally motivated by guilt. And if I took him up on it, it would be as friends only.”

  “I still think you need to get laid,” Charlotte muttered.

  “I know. Just not by Will.” Considering the state that he’d left Ivy in, that was a given. At the very least, she’d have to settle for jilling off once she finished the study guides. Maybe a few good orgasms would help her push beyond her lust for the one guy who was off limits. But she knew she was lying to herself. She doubted she’d ever stop wanting him. She also knew it was going to be his face she saw when she was coming.

  “I should get back up to the house and finish packing,” Charlotte said, standing. “Just promise me you won’t head back to the States until you’ve done all the things on your UK bucket list. And if shagging someone isn’t at the top of your list, you need to write it there immediately.”

  Ivy laughed, trying to ignore the slightly sick feeling in the pit of her stomach because all she could think about was the one guy who was out of bounds. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then, she gestured back to her notebook. “Whatever happens, I’m finishing this first.”

  By the time she’d completed all of the outlines, it was well past two in the morning, but she walked up to the house and tucked the notebook and a flash drive with everything the kids would need into Charlotte’s purse. Ten minutes after that, Ivy had been in her bed, waiting for sleep to wash over her. But it hadn’t.

  She flopped onto her back and glared at the glowing blue numbers on the bedside clock. It was almost four, and she was no closer to dozing off than she’d been when she’d gone to bed. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Will. When she tried to relax, she felt his body pressed against hers, his hand over her mouth. And despite brushing her teeth, she swore she could still taste him. Or maybe that sensory memory had just been indelibly burned into her brain.

  The crotch of her pajama bottoms was soaked, and she was pretty sure her knit top had been replaced by a burlap sack when she wasn’t looking. Every time she shifted, the formerly soft fabric chafed her nipples. Her tight, aching nipples.

  She kicked off the sheet, unable to stand the sensation of fabric on her legs. If she were honest with herself, the only thing she wanted covering
her was Will. For what had to be the millionth time since he’d left, she replayed every moment of his kisses.

  Needier than ever, she dragged her fingertips up and over her stomach, baring herself as she did so. Her nipples tightened almost painfully as the cool night air blew in from the open window. Wetting her fingers, she rolled and pinched the taut buds, imagining Will’s hands and mouth on her. Just the thought of Will’s firm lips closing over her nipple had her arching off the bed, and a moan escaped her.

  In her mind’s eye, Will traveled lower and tugged down her pajama bottoms. Her hand followed his imaginary path, and she absently wondered if Will enjoyed eating women out. As her finger slipped between her slick, swollen pussy lips, she decided it didn’t matter. Fantasy Will totally got off on it.

  She circled her clit with the pad of her finger, careful not to touch it directly—not yet, anyway. She’d been tossing and turning for so long, she didn’t want to rush the release. If she drew it out and came hard enough, maybe she’d finally be able to sleep.

  Fantasy Will knelt between her legs and splaying them wide, dragging his fingertips over her inner thighs, and her hips jerked upward into her teasing hand. His mouth followed his fingers until his face was hovering above her wet cunt. She tried to imagine him spreading her lips and licking her. But before she could envision that, her mind seized on the image of Will’s hand wrapping around the handle of the crop.

  Fantasy Will had taken on a life of his own, and he pushed her face-first on the bed and brought the leather down in her upturned bare ass. She gasped and her body stiffened as her release washed over her. No warning, just Fantasy Will and his kinky toy sending her headlong into shuddering bliss.

  Collapsing, boneless, to the bed, she tried to slow her breathing and her racing heart. Why she’d thought an orgasm would help her sleep, she had no idea. She was now more wired and desperate for him than she had been earlier. Laying in the empty aftermath of her tangled sheets, she questioned the wisdom of her decision to leave.

  Maybe she’d at least stay until he returned. They could have a little fun then she could go home without any “what ifs” plaguing her. She’d know exactly what sex with Will was like because she’d be completely sober this time. Their curiosity would be sated, and they’d both go back to their own lives.