by Mia Ford
“Do you think he means that he doesn’t want to share or none of us are…well…going to be with each other again?” She was fumbling with her words. Archer looked at her calmly, smiled and placed one of his hands on her shoulder affectionately.
“It doesn’t matter what he wants, Ivy. What do you want?” He asked, staring straight into her eyes.
She could barely meet his gaze, not without her cheeks flushing.
“I enjoyed last night. That’s what I want.” She managed to say, and Archer’s smile grew. He was pleased with her answer.
“Me too. Well, I want that because I want you.” He said and she felt the goosebumps on her flesh appear again. He had a tantalizing effect on her. Just his voice reminded her what he was able to do with his tongue. She felt like she was going to drown in his eyes, and that she needed support if she wasn’t going to buckle down.
“What are we going to do then? Leon said no.” She said, still fiddling with her fingers. She felt nervous, excited, afraid…all at the same time.
“Like I said, it doesn’t matter what he wants. He isn’t the boss of us. He’s only my brother.” Archer said and Ivy’s head jerked up to look at him. Where was, he going with this?
“Come away with me.” He said, suddenly, almost defiantly and she sucked in her belly. He couldn't be serious!
“I’m going back to Minnesota. I have to go back home in a few days. Just come with me. What are you going to do cooped up in this place with Leon anyway?” He continued, when she hadn’t replied to him. What he was proposing wasn’t a mad idea, but she hadn’t thought about it. She hadn’t thought about leaving Leon. She hadn’t realized that she could.
But the more that she thought about it now, the clearer it seemed to her. There was nothing holding her back. Especially now, after he had made it clear to her that he was displeased. That he wanted to make some changes. That things were going to work on his terms, and his terms alone.
“Ivy?” Archer asked, squeezing her shoulder as he tried to catch her gaze again. She wasn’t looking at him anymore. She was only thinking about how her life might change if she left this ranch. If she left Leon. What was he giving her anyway? Nothing that Archer couldn’t give her too.
Ivy peeped out of the living room, gently pulling the lace curtain aside. The brothers had taken their dinners separately and Ivy had eaten in her room. There was a chilly air of uncertain in the air, and it was evident to her that the relationships between the three of them had changed somehow.
Now Leon was sitting by himself, on a large wooden rocking chair on the porch, sipping on a glass of iced tea. The house was dark, as was the porch, but the full moon had cast a silvery glow on Leon, and Ivy admired him silently.
This was the man who had taken her virginity, the man she had so willingly given it to. He had asked her for nothing, but had not given her anything in return either. He made sure that she was well looked after, compensated for the hard work she put in to maintain the house, paid for her accountancy lessons…and most of all, he had been an incredibly good lover.
But now Ivy was beginning to wonder if she wanted more from him, from their relationship. After Archer, had arrived at the ranch, nothing had been the same. She had gotten a taste of what life could be like if someone was more attentive to her, if a man spent more time talking with her, and now she was convinced that she wanted to experience that life too.
Ivy cleared her throat when she stepped out on the porch. Leon would have heard her, but he made no move to acknowledge her presence. He remained sitting on the chair, rocking back and forth gently, staring ahead in the cool darkness of his estate.
“Leon.” She whispered his name, afraid that he would be ready to push her away again. After a few moments of silence, he stirred, moving in his chair to finally look at her with his sparkling dark brown eyes.
“Have you come to try and talk to me again, Ivy?” He asked her, and she had nothing more to say but remain silent.
“What is it?” He asked and turned away from her again. Now that he didn’t have his eyes on her, she felt like she could look at him better, she had found her voice again.
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to leave.” Ivy said, clasping her hands together. She could feel her heart racing; she was afraid that he might be able to hear it too. Leaving this ranch, leaving Leon hadn’t crossed her mind seriously before this. And Archer had changed everything. She didn’t know if she could continue living like this, dancing around on tippy-toes, around Leon’s whims and fancies.
He breathed in deeply and trained his eyes on her again.
“I’m guessing it’s Archer. It’s Archer who has offered to take you away?” He said, in a low knowing voice. He didn’t sound angry and she was relieved. At least this might happen smoothly without another big fight.
“Yes, and I want to go to Minnesota with him.” She found the courage to tell him. Leon breathed in again heavily. He was taking his time to respond to her, while Ivy’s heart continued to race. She was afraid of her knees buckling from nervousness. Seeing Leon like this had reminded her why she was so attracted to him, why she had found him irresistible from the first moment that they had met.
“I don’t blame you.” Was all he said, several seconds later after having considered what she told him.
Ivy wondered if their little talk was over already. If Leon had any other questions for her, but he seemed to have fallen into his own silence again.
“I’m sorry.” She blurted out, not quite sure what she had to be sorry about, but she felt like that needed to be said.
Leon looked at her somberly, with tired eyes, like he was already exhausted with the conversation.
“Why are you sorry, Ivy? You’ve done nothing wrong. Archer is my brother, and I wish him well too. I hope the two of you are happy together.” He said, scratching his knee listlessly, almost like he was trying to find ways of occupying his hands. She had been avoiding his eyes till now, but Ivy looked him squarely now. She couldn’t believe that Leon was giving up this easily, that he wasn’t even putting up a fight.
“Yes, but I’m sorry because I feel like I’ve betrayed you by wanting to go away with him.” She said, a certain anger arising in her voice. Leon recognized it too, because he raised his eyebrows and continued staring at her. A smile was forming on his face, but this one didn’t melt her heart. This was a cruel smile.
“You don’t have to feel bad about that Ivy, I know you get nothing from me and your hope is that you’ll get something from him.” He said, and she felt her muscles stiffen. So, he wasn’t giving up without a fight. Leon was planning on ridiculing her decision, making her feel like she was silly and a young foolish girl.
She raised her chin up in the air and stuck out her jaw at him.
“I know he can give me more than you ever gave me.” She said, her breasts were now rising and falling with her heavy breathing. Leon’s half smile turned into a full one and he shook his head, like he was disappointed with a naughty child.
“What makes you think that? You’ve only known him for a few days.” He said, as calm as a cucumber, while Ivy felt like she was tearing up on the inside. Leon was self-confident, he didn’t seem to be concerned by her decision.
“He’s been kinder, more attentive. He is willing to talk. He wants to talk to me.” She said angrily, angrier now that he was smiling.
Leon shook his head again, making her wince.
“I love my brother. I would do anything for him, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut now.” He said.
Ivy’s brows were crossed; she couldn’t quite understand what he had meant by that. If he was simply trying to provoke her.
“Leon, you should just be honest with me. I know you love him, but…” She said and he interrupted her.
“Sharing you was his idea, not mine.” He growled.
Ivy’s lips closed shut tightly when she heard the words. What was that supposed to mean? What was Leon trying to tell her?
�
�He was the one who wanted to share you with me. And I agreed because we had done it before. So, you’re right. He is more attentive; he is willing to go the extra mile to have you. You should be with him; he definitely wants you more.” Leon stood up now, looming over her, and she looked up at him, confusion darkening her face.
“So, you didn’t want to do it? Share?” She asked, trying to catch his gaze again. She could see that she was quickly losing him again. Leon was losing his interest in having this conversation. He wanted to return to his silent solitude again, but Ivy wanted answers.
“No, I didn’t. Not really. Not you. But Archer was insistent, he said you wanted it too. He said you slept with him because you wanted to be shared. And I couldn’t just deny you what you wanted. And I couldn’t give you up either. I was foolish.” Leon had covered his large hands over his face, and then he swooped them down, widening his eyes and running his fingers through his hair. She could see that this was an ordeal for him, that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
“But Archer said that you shared all your girls, except Vivienne.” Ivy mumbled and Leon shot her a look.
“That’s right. We did. We do. But I didn’t want to share you. I was selfish, and greedy, and so you deserve to go with him. He is more open, loving and can give you what you want.” Leon said, and stepped to the side, he was making to go for the screen door but Ivy was quick to move, to intercept his path.
In the darkness, she leaned in towards Leon. She could smell his scent, his musky masculine smell that filled her lungs, reminding her how happy they were together in those weeks before Archer. How she hadn’t care how often Leon spoke to her, because she was the only person who existed in his world.
To her surprise, he leaned in too. Their lips met, she could taste him on her tongue, she extended an arm, wrapping it around his bent neck. She was pressing herself to him, running her hand down his muscular shirted arm. But then Leon pushed her away.
“Not any more, Ivy. We’re not sharing. You belong to my brother now and I don’t want to do this any longer.” He said, and this time she couldn’t stop him. He had flung open the screen door and disappeared into the house. Ivy contemplated following him in, chasing him to his room, confronting him and demanding further explanations. But she knew him well, even though Leon revealed so little about himself, she knew a lot about him. He was done now. He had made his decision, just like she had. He wasn’t going to talk about it anymore. There was nothing to discuss.
Ivy gulped and licked her lips. She could still taste him in her mouth. That was to be her last kiss with Leon. It was only going to be Archer and herself now, and she tried to smile. He made her happy. He made her laugh. He took out time to be with her. He had pursued her, and he deserved his prize.
Leon had done nothing. She was the one who had coveted him from the start. She seduced him to sleep with her. She made him agree to allow her to stay in the house after their first quarrel. Besides his name, and some bits about his past, Leon revealed very little. The fact that he didn’t want to share her with Archer, could mean anything. That nagging feeling, that maybe Leon had actual feelings for her, were being shoved into the back of her mind. Even if he did, he wasn’t ever going to say the actual words.
Ivy had her whole life ahead of her, she wasn’t so sure if she would be able to spend it with a man who spoke so little. With someone who denied her the privilege of actually expressing his feelings. She wondered if she might feel trapped, just like her mother had. She remembered her mother’s words of caution. To run away from living in isolation if she could. She was certain that Archer would give her a better, more fulfilling life. The kind of life that her mother had never been able to lead. What sort of life would Leon give her?
Ivy shuddered as she thought about it. She had never been to Minnesota. Archer had promised to leave the next day, so that they wouldn’t have to remain in the hostile environment of Leon’s ranch for much longer. She felt lucky and privileged that Archer was willing to do so much for her, sacrifice his own relationship with his brother for her sake.
There was nothing left for her here, she thought as she looked around the estate in its darkness. Leon had his chance, nearly seven weeks to express his feelings. To make her believe that he had more to offer her than employment and satisfying sex.
And now it as time for her to move on, with a man who really wanted to be with her.
That familiar feeling of packing her bags and readying them next to her bedroom door, returned to her in a flood. This was the third time she had done this, preparing herself to leave Old Marigold Ranch. And this time, it appeared as though it was time to leave for good. A feeling of calmness had descended upon her. She was resolved to not cry, or make a scene.
Archer knocked on her door at eight and she opened it, his smiling dimpled cheeks greeted her. And Ivy was filled with a conviction that she had made the right decision.
“Where is he?” She asked him, her heart thumping.
“Who? Leon? I’m not sure, but I told him last night that we’re leaving today. So, he knows.” Archer said, smirking at her before picking up her bags off the floor.
“How are we going to get into town? Are we taking a train?” She asked him, mighty anxious now. She had never been to Minnesota and she was beginning to grow excited. Archer smiled at her, as he turned to carry her bags over to the front entrance.
“Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything. You just get ready.” He said, and she nodded her head.
Ivy had been ready since six, but now she gave herself the once over in the full-length mirror. She would miss this room, she thought, as she pinned in a few more black bobby pins into her hair, holding her beautiful golden ringlets in place, neatly away from her face.
But Archer was rich too. They were both wealthy, and she bit down on her lip wondering what kind of house he lived in.
She was in a yellow summer dress, that matched her hair perfectly. One she knew Leon loved her in, because it accentuated her curved. Not that she wanted to stir anything in Leon any more, that would be wrong of her to do, she knew that. She was the one leaving him.
Ivy smoothened the pleats on the front of her dress, and a noise at her door made her turn. She hadn’t shut the bedroom door and now Leon was leaning against the frame. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was looking at her with his usual expressionless face.
“So, you’re ready to go?” He asked her, and she smiled at him. Nothing could change the fact that she was leaving, so it would be better if she left on good terms, she thought.
“I am. Archer has everything arranged.” She said, walking up to him.
“I’m sure he does.” Leon said, straightening up. She studied his sharp chiseled jaw, that sparkle in his eyes that was lost somehow. His broad chest that made his plaid shirt taut with tightness, how narrow his waist was, how strong his legs were. Ivy gulped, this was going to be more painful than she thought. Leon was like a drug to her. She had fallen for him when she least expected to and he had taught her everything. He helped her explore her own sexuality and she hadn’t thanked him for it.
Ivy fell on him, wrapping her arms around his waist. For a few moments, it seemed that Leon wasn’t sure how to react. His arms were spread open in surprise, till slowly he started to relax. She felt a hand on the small of her back. He was holding her.
“Thank you for everything Leon. I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll keep studying.” She said, drawing her face away from his chest, where she had buried it earlier. Leon was looking down at her, and something had changed. His expression had grown softer, and his eyes were shining bright.
“Ivy…” He began to say, and she bit down on her lip. She had no idea what he was about to say, but this was the first time she had seen that look on his face. This was the first time there was an actual imminent danger to their relationship. Was he finally going to say something?
“Stay with me.” He said it in the most neutral, but heavy voice. The
re was a hint of a strain there, but she had heard it. And Ivy was suddenly struck with a feeling of utter happiness, like she had never felt before.
She flung herself on him again, pressing her face to his chest, tightening the grip of her arms around his waist.
“That’s all I wanted to hear from you, Leon.” She cried into his chest, as she felt his hand on her head. He was stroking her hair.
“That’s all I wanted to say to you. I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner.” She heard him say, and she couldn’t control herself any more. Ivy felt like she was going to burst.
She pulled herself away from him, and Leon dropped his hands to her face, caressing her gently. Holding her in place.
“I love you Ivy. I always have. That was why I didn’t want to share you with Archer, with anyone.” He was saying, but Ivy could barely hear him. She was laughing from her burgeoning happiness. Nothing that Leon could say could make her feel better. This was what she was waiting for. There was no choice now. She would never leave him; she couldn’t live without him. Everything she did, had done…she had done to please him.
“I love you Leon. I don’t want you to share me with anyone. I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay here with you.” She was crying by now, but they were tears of joy.
“As my wife. By my side.” He said, looking deep into her eyes. He wasn’t the kind of man who was going to get down on his knees, and Ivy didn’t care.
“As your wife.” She said and they were kissing, blissfully unaware of the fact that Archer had appeared at the bedroom door. He had turned away, leaving Ivy’s bags at the front door. He knew when he had lost, and this time, he had lost to his brother Leon. And he was man enough to admit defeat.
Alpha Male Billionaire Series
BOOK 1 : LUST (PART 1)
Cheating Hearts
Gillian West had been burned too many times by men to get caught up in any kind of romance that goes nowhere. Her life consists of selling high-end cars to those discerning men that have what she calls a midlife crisis. She is approached by three women that have an instant dislike for Marshall Peters. They explain how her reputation has gotten around as being the only woman willing to do what it takes to shame men. This is different. This man is not married and has no significant other. The man in question is a rich philanderer with no ring on his finger and only a good time in his heart. They convince her that he needs to be humiliated and knocked down a few pegs from his masochistic ways. At first, she thinks it’s going to be a cakewalk, but upon meeting Marshall she begins to doubt herself. He’s handsome, charming and if she’s not careful she might be his next hit and run victim with her panties on his floor. How can she remain professional and look into his brilliant blue eyes?