Out of the Ashes

by S. M. Lynn

  After we finish our, um, lunch, things in the office are much more comfortable. Once the meeting ends, he needs to work on a new prospectus so I leave him at his desk and catch up on some emails. “Celeste.” He calls me over and I sit on his desk. “Mmm. I like you like this too. You are too distracting, sweetheart.” He fingers the straps of my garter. “Okay focus.” He says to himself. “I was thinking with a few of the projects winding down and before the ribbon cutting on the England property that you and I could get away. Somewhere with lots of sun and very little clothes, preferably.” An escape with him sounds like heaven.

  “Where are you thinking?”

  “Some place in the Caribbean. Some place a little private but with some nightlife for us to enjoy as well. I was thinking maybe St. Lucia. Or if you would prefer we could go to the South Pacific. Tahiti or Bora Bora?”

  “Oooh, I’d love to go to Bora Bora. I’ve seen those suites on stilts right above the ocean and the outdoor showers. I always thought it was romantic. It doesn’t necessarily have the nightlife you are looking for but I would be content to stay in the room all night.”

  “Anything you want, sweetheart. I will let Connor and the security team know.”

  “Ian, will they have to go with us?”

  “Connor definitely will but I think after yesterday Rebecca is not much of a threat any more and one person should be able to handle the security for us since we will be spending most of our time in and around our suite. Speaking of Rebecca, remind me not to cross you, you have a mean right hook. How’s your hand today?” I look down at it; it’s a little bruised but it was so worth it. “I will get everything in order for us for after the holidays then.”

  “Ian, can I ask you something?” I’m not even sure why I’m thinking about this but I want to know.

  “Anything, sweetheart.”

  “When’s you birthday?” He smiles at me. “Actually, it’s October 21st.”

  “That’s only a few weeks away; when were you going to tell me?”

  “Oh believe me if I didn’t; my mother would have told you in plenty of time.”

  “29, how does it feel to be so ancient?”

  “What? I’m afraid I didn’t catch that. You need to speak up. How did you know how old I was?”

  Well shit, how do I get myself out of this one? “I think you mentioned it before.” I shrug and he lets it drop.

  “How does it feel to date someone of such an advanced age?”

  “You won’t be getting any complaints from me.”

  “So are you coming home with me tonight?”

  “Ian, I told you I just needed some time. I’d like to go home but you and I need to talk. I need to hear your reasons for letting her in. It won’t erase what happened or change anything but I need you to tell me.”

  “Let’s go home.”

  “How about we just stay here then? Order some dinner and talk?” Hmm, talking this over at or near the scene of the crime doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. Then I remember something Gavin said.

  “Hey, Gavin isn’t home tonight so how about we go to the apartment and talk first. Some neutral territory might be good.”

  Chapter 25

  When we arrive at the apartment, Ian and I make our way over to the sofa. He looks scared like he’s worried that I’ll run again so I move over to sit in his lap. His arms wrap tightly around my waist, holding me to him. “Celeste, I’m sorry. I really don’t know what I was thinking. When I heard the elevator I thought it was you coming back from lunch and then she stepped off. There’s no excuse for not just making her get back on and sending her out. Part of me thought if I talked to her I could get her to leave you alone. Honestly I saw it as a way to protect you. I just want her gone from our lives.”

  “But Ian don’t you understand that by you giving in to her all the time even if it’s just small things, she’ll always be around. And with her behavior lately that isn’t something I can tolerate.”

  “I know, angel. I’m sorry. I completely understand that to move forward I need to move on from what she did to me. I need you like I need air. I can’t be without you.”

  Those words capture my heart. They are same ones that I used to describe my feelings for him just yesterday. This man has made me experience every emotion out there but it always comes back to the fact that I love him. I feel my emotions overwhelming me and tears start to slide down my face. “Love, please I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. The last thing I want is to ever see you cry again. I feel like because of me you have done a lot of that lately.”

  I press my lips to his. “Ian, I’m sorry that I’m so emotional but you have no idea how much it means to hear you say you need me. I love you so much and never want to lose you.” I stand and kick off my shoes.

  “Celeste, I don’t want to take advantage of the situation right now and we need to talk this through. I just don’t think in your condition…”

  “Mr. Jacobs, I think I’m in the condition for lots of things right now.” And I pull my tank top over my head. My hard nipples rub against the lace of my barely there bra. Ian lays his head back and groans, throwing his arm over his eyes like he just can’t stand to look.

  “You are fucking killing me, sweetheart.” By the time he moves his arm, my skirt is puddled on the floor at my feet. He takes in the sight of me in my lacy bra and thong. I step out of the skirt and kick it off to the side.

  “Mr. Jacobs,” I say as I chew on my bottom lip. “I think I might have been naughty. I think you might need to discipline me.” I climb up onto his lap and lay on him pressing my stomach into his thighs. My exposed cheeks waiting for whatever he will give me. I twist around so I can see him. “Do I need disciplined, sir?” I giggle.

  Ian runs his hands through his just fucked looking hair and I feel a charge run through me. “Well, considering your ‘roommate’ could walk in at any moment and you’re basically completely exposed in the living room I would say you are in need of some discipline.” He scoops me up and rolls me over so I’m cradled in his arms and carries me down the hall to my room. He sits down on the bed and repositions me so I am exactly as I was on the couch. “You want me to do this, Celeste?” His eyes question mine.

  “Yes, Ian.”

  “Tell me what you want me to do. Exactly.” I chew my lip. “Leave that damn lip alone,” he growls, “and tell me what you want me to do.”

  “Ian, I… I… I want you to spank me.” A smile spreads across his face. I turn so I can no longer see him. I feel his hand rub over my ass cheeks and then he pulls it back. I tense with the knowledge of what’s to come. He brings his down with a satisfying smack on my ass. Then he does the same to other cheek. The third smack lands between my cheeks at the point where they meet my thighs right over my swollen, aching flesh. I cry out. “Can you take a few more?”

  “Please, Ian, please.” He repeats the process again and again until I can no longer control myself and my orgasm pours from me.

  “You have the sweetest ass! And now it’s a glorious color.” He leans down and kisses each cheek. “Celeste, this isn’t why I came here tonight. But just so you know I’m glad I did.”

  “Ian, I missed you so much last night. Part of me wanted to come back and be with you then but I knew you needed time to think this all through. Honestly, this morning when I walked into the apartment and found you hadn’t been there I worried that maybe you decided to leave me.”

  “Love, I told you that you hold my heart.”

  “Ian, I love you.”

  “I know. And you have a past of your own. Last night I realized that you have done a lot to move past that and forge a relationship with me. I’m sure there were times that you worried about me changing and acting like him but you always listened and gave me your trust. I need to be willing to do the same with you. And I am. I know you aren’t her and that you love me. It’s just the feelings that I have for you are so much more than they ever were with her and I know if you ever left or anything
ever happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to function.”

  His mouth covers mine. I rub my hand along his pants over his hardening cock. “Ian, I love you. I need you to know that. Only you. Always.”

  “Love, I know.” I remove his shirt and drop it to the floor in front of him to remove his pants. He pulls me to him and works the clasp on my bra before pulling the straps down my arms. “You are absolutely stunning.” His mouth covers my nipple.

  I moan in ecstasy. “Ian, I need you.”

  “Anything you want, sweetheart.” He pulls my thong down my legs and slips out of his boxer briefs. He is glorious standing before me completely naked. I rake my eyes over his body. I’m pretty sure just the sight of him could make me come. I reach out and grasp his cock stroking it as I pull him toward me.

  “I want you inside me.” He pushes two fingers in to make sure I am ready.

  “God, Celeste you’re so fucking tight and wet.” I feel his weight come down on me and he pushes inside me. I cry out again. The feelings I have for him are so intense.

  Sex has never been like this before. We always fit perfectly and it’s amazing but tonight, there is no doubt that this is where I belong. “Ian, I love you.”

  He is smiling at me while he pumps into me. “I want to see you come apart for me, gorgeous.” He takes my nipple in his mouth again. He licks and swirls his tongue. Then he lowers himself so he’s on his elbows and leans into my ear. “Come for me, sweetheart. I want to hear you when you come.” I scream out and unravel beneath him. I ride wave after wave as my muscles clench; my orgasm continues on and on as he pounds into me. “Fuck, Celeste. So fucking tight. Ah yes, fuck.” And with his own shout, he spills himself inside me. Afterwards he holds me tightly in his arms. “I want to do this forever with you. Celeste, I love you.”

  I’m crying at his words and he’s confused. But my body is so full of emotions right now there’s nothing else I can do. “Sweetheart, did I hurt you?”

  “Tell me again, Ian. I need you to say it again.”

  He smiles understanding my tears. “I love you.” His eyes bore into mine. “And I promise to do this right someday very soon but, Celeste; I want you to be my wife.”

  I’m so overjoyed that I cannot stop the tears. “Ian, I love you so much.” I press my lips to his; sealing all my love for him with him. He pulls me to him and makes love to me again.

  ~

  I’m asleep in bed when I hear someone pounding on the door. What time is it? I look at the clock. What the hell? It’s 3:30 in the fucking morning. Ian must have answered the door anyway as the banging stopped but then voices started to rise out in the living room. I throw on the first thing I can find, which happened to be Ian’s discarded dress shirt. Well, it’s longer than some of the things I wear out to the clubs. As I pad down the hallway I hear Ian’s voice rise. “Look I don’t care who you are; you can’t come barging in here like this, asshole. I’m telling you, you’re in the wrong place. You must have the wrong address.” I can tell that he’s moments away from losing it altogether and getting physical with whoever it is so I hurry the rest of the way down the hall.

  As I round the corner, I halt dead in my tracks; fear runs like ice through my veins and I’m sure it shows on my face. With a small gasp, I reach up and my hand covers my mouth as the tears begin to pour out of me. “Celeste, sweetheart you can go back to bed. This asshole is clearly in the wrong place but isn’t bothering to listen.” I can’t focus on anything Ian is saying; my focus is solely on the man behind him. The man looks up and meets my stare. He smiles, a sadistic smile and moves around Ian toward me but Ian blocks him from entering the apartment. I know what’s coming and I’m powerless to stop it. The man takes another look at me and then focuses back on Ian.

  He raises a finger in my direction and in a disturbingly calm voice he says to Ian, “She’s who I’m looking for.” While Ian tries to make sense of his words, the man walks around him and comes face to face with me staring directly into my eyes.

  “I’ve been looking for you for a long time. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

  I shake my head as words won’t come; my hand is still covering my mouth in disbelief and the tears start to soak the lapels of Ian’s shirt. Ian notices my state but is confused and struck immovable just as I am. Taking his large hand, the man raises it to my cheek as if he’s going to brush away my tears; but instead, he pulls it back hitting me full force with the back of his hand. I’m knocked to the floor; my head bounces against the hard wood. Briefly I see Ian spring into action just as the man begins to laugh. “I’ve really missed you, Lauren.” Those words and Dean’s sadistic smile are the last things I remember before the darkness consumes me.

  Playlist

  Blaze of Glory ~ Jon Bon Jovi

  The Other Side ~ Jason Derulo

  I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You ~ Elvis Presley

  Let Her Go ~ Passenger

  Over ~ Blake Shelton

  Moves Like Jagger ~ Maroon 5

  Misery ~ Maroon 5

  Here with Me ~ The Killers

  Love Somebody ~ Maroon 5

  All In ~ Lifehouse

  Behind Blue Eyes ~ The Who

  Human ~ Christina Perri

  Everything Has Changed ~ Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran

  Acknowledgements

  Where to begin? There are so many people who have been instrumental in getting me here. First off, I want to thank God for the path He put me on that led me here. My husband and children, I cannot thank enough for all the days and evenings they put up with Mommy being busy. My husband has been my rock and my biggest cheerleader throughout all this. I love you, honey. To Libby and Josh, you are an inspiration to me every day and you remind me never to give up. I love you both.

  I want to thank my parents. My mother for being so supportive and getting the info out to all of her friends. My dad for instilling in me the love of reading. Though we don’t always agree on genre, if I didn’t have you I would never have had the courage and drive to do this.

  To the rest of my family and friends that have stood by me and tirelessly supported me in this endeavor, I say a huge thank you.

  To my beta readers, there is nowhere near enough praise or thanks I could give you. Tia Jolly, thank you for painstakingly going through the entire manuscript and showing me ways to improve. Cristina Georgescu, your feedback on the Prologue and the characters made this book what it is. I would never have made the changes if it wasn’t for you ladies. I can’t say thank you enough.

  To all of the book blogs and Heather at Book Plug Promotions, you have been instrumental in getting the word out about the book and writing reviews.

  To my wonderful cover designer, Kari Ayasha at Cover to Cover Designs, your work is beautiful and I can’t wait to work with you on the next one.

  And finally to you the reader. I hope that you have enjoyed Celeste and Ian’s journey thus far. As you can tell there is much more to come. I would love to hear what you think about the book so please post a review on Amazon or GoodReads or contact me on Facebook.

  Thanks again to everyone. This has been an amazing journey so far and I can’t wait to see where it goes.