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And another.
He smiled against her mouth.
“I’ll wait for you to wake up.”
***
The next morning, Christian’s hand lazily traced soft circles against Ivy’s skin. His thumb brushed over her nipple, his head buried in her neck from behind. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine. Then, he turned her onto her back, grasping her chin and tilting her face toward him.
"Why were you so wild last night?" His voice was husky, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
Ivy blinked, then quickly averted her gaze, squeezing her eyes shut. "Because I like you," she muttered nonchalantly, though the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her casual tone.
Christian stilled, his grip on her waist tightening for a fraction of a second.
Then, without warning, he bent down and captured her lips in a deep, searing kiss, stealing her breath and forcing her to meet his gaze. He kissed her breathless, forcing her to open her eyes and glare at him.
"What do you like about me?" he murmured against her lips, his smirk teasing as his fingers traced slow circles over her nipple.
Ivy exhaled, her body arching into his touch. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her fingers in his thick hair, twistingthe strands between her fingers. Her gaze roamed over his face with lazy appreciation. "I like that you’re very, very hot," she admitted, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
His smirk deepened, something dark flickering in his gaze before he caught her mouth in a fierce, consuming kiss. His tongue slid against hers, coaxing a soft moan from her lips as his hands roamed lower, pulling her against him.
The heat between them surged as he pressed her down onto the sheets, his body molding against hers. His lips trailed down her throat, his teeth grazing her skin before soothing the spot with his tongue. She shivered, gripping his shoulders as his hands explored her, his touch leaving a trail of fire wherever it landed.
He took his time—kissing, tasting, savoring every inch of her like he was memorizing her all over again. By the time he finally slid inside her, she was trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps as he moved, slow and deep, dragging out every sensation.
By the time they finally emerged from the bedroom, it was already afternoon.
Ivy’s face burned with embarrassment. She had woken up early, but Christian had refused to let her leave the bed, trapping her beneath his weight, his lazy kisses and wandering hands making escape impossible. Now, as she walked toward the dining table, she felt a twinge of guilt—what would Hank think?
But as they reached the dining table for lunch, a maid informed them that Hank had already left for work due to an urgent meeting and would meet them later.
Ivy exhaled, but guilt still gnawed at her for not spending more time with him.
Christian, sensing her thoughts, kissed the side of her head and reassured her, “Now that you’ve met once, he’ll visit often. He has a habit of dropping by whenever he wants—he’ll meet you again soon.”
Ivy nodded, her heart finally settling.
After lunch, Christian and Ivy left to go home. Christian dropped her off but had to leave immediately for work due to the urgency of a project.
With a bright smile on her face and a light skip in her step, Ivy headed inside. It had been years since she had felt this fulfilled, this genuinely happy. It was as if life had finally returned to her.
She stepped into the house, kicked off her shoes, and collapsed onto the couch without even changing her clothes. As she lazily scrolled through her phone, a notification popped up—a DM from Stella. It was a selfie of her, Ana and Ellie, along with a message: ‘Come over and meet us!’
Ivy bit her lip. It had been weeks since she last saw them. Now that she had received the message, the urge to meet them grew stronger.
‘I’ll come this evening. Promise.’ She texted back and smiled.
After a while, she got up and changed into comfortable trousers and one of Christian’s T-shirts. It was oversized, hanging loosely on her frame, the soft fabric brushing against her skin.
Lifting the neckline to her nose, she inhaled deeply. The scent of dark amber, sandalwood, and a touch of smoky vetiver filled her senses—rich and intoxicating, with a warmth that curled through her chest. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment as the familiar, masculine scent of him lingered. A small smile curled on her lips.
This was exactly how he smelled.
She closed her eyes with a soft sigh. The happiness she felt refused to fade.
Just then, the sudden ringing of her phone shattered the peaceful moment.