Page 33 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

JASON

J osie’s not going to let this go. I can already tell. She knew I was down here. I literally asked her if she’d seen Fallon, and she was more than happy to direct me to her. She’s such a little shit. She and Andrew really are the perfect match, because this is exactly the type of shit he would do.

I look up at the ceiling for a moment, praying my dick softens sooner rather than later.

It’s currently throbbing against the zipper of my jeans, still reeling after the best orgasm I’ve had since…

well since the hotel with Fallon. I glance around again to look for a towel, and find one against the far wall.

I head over to grab it, and make my way back to Fallon.

She’s standing where I left her, trying to right herself in her dress.

“Stop,” I murmur. Somehow, she’s got everything even more twisted than it was before.

I use the towel to clean between her thick thighs, swiping the fabric delicately, hoping to get as much of my cum from her as I can so she isn’t too much of a mess.

Once that’s done, I drop the towel to the ground for now and reach out, untying the bow she haphazardly placed at her waist, and open the dress.

With it completely open, I get a glimpse at her full figure, something I haven’t seen completely before.

When we were in the hotel, she was covered from the waist up, and earlier, I only uncovered her breasts and her pussy.

She’s beautiful. Her stomach is soft and dimpled, and a few stretch marks linger from her pregnancy.

My fingers itch to reach out and trace the marks, but I don’t.

I’ve wanted to see what was beneath her clothes for so long, that this feels like a dream, making my head hazy.

Her hips have the perfect amount to grab onto, something I was all too happy to do mere minutes ago.

I adjust her dress to cover her again and tie the bow, making sure her cleavage isn’t showing too much.

Then, I reach up and fix her braid, making sure her hair isn’t too much of a mess.

Once there isn’t a single hair out of place, I slide my hands down her body, over her breasts and stomach to rest on those hips again.

“There. That’s better.” Fallon winces, and I pause, realizing what I’ve said.

“Not that I want you covered up, sunshine. Fuck, I wish I could unwrap you again, but that’s only for me. No one else gets to see what’s mine.”

“Yours?” she hesitantly asks. I shouldn’t have said that, because in reality, she can’t be. But my stupid brain got ahead of me. I don’t say anything, and Fallon nods. “Right,” she murmurs. “Thanks, Jason.”

I can see the look of disappointment on her face. I don’t trust my voice, so I nod, shifting my asshole demeanor back into place.

Fallon steps back, and leaves the wine cellar, her heels clicking against the tile stairs, the sound echoing with each step until it ceases all together .

When I know she’s gone, I kick at one of the walls, my irritation with myself growing.

I shouldn’t have even come down here in the first place.

Clearly, I can’t be trusted when it comes to Fallon Douglas.

I can’t be alone with her and not lose myself in her, in that easy smile I’d do anything to be on the receiving end of.

Now that I’ve been inside of her though, I fear I’m not going to be able to hold back. Her warmth around me, her slick heat clenching around my cock with each thrust? Fuck, it’s enough to make me nearly finish in my pants, something that clearly wasn’t able to happen before.

I give myself time to wallow in my irritation with myself, because I let her walk away.

While cleaning myself up, I realize something huge.

I didn’t use a condom. Fuck, do I even have condoms?

If I do, they'll surely be expired. I need to talk to Fallon, apologize for my carelessness.

I take a deep breath before heading back up the stairs to rejoin the real world.

When I make it up the stairs, Josie is standing at the bar, talking with Laila and Nora. She spots me, and a devilish grin appears on her face. That little shit.

“Hey, big brother,” she says with a smile when I approach.

“Josie,” I greet.

“Did you find Fallon?” she asks, her face a mask of total innocence.

“Nope,” I lie, avoiding all eye contact and glancing around the room. I find myself unintentionally looking for her, and snap my eyes back to the bar, to anything but the beautiful girl with the honey blonde hair and green eyes that suck me in without even trying.

“Hmm. I could have sworn I saw you follow her into the wine cellar, but maybe I was wrong. ”

“You were wrong,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You know it’s not a bad thing if you and Fallon… explore whatever is between you, right?” Josie states, already striding away from me.

I try not to let my thoughts stray, knowing I can’t get into this right now. “What’s up?” I ask Nora and Laila as I step behind the bar.

Laila raises her pierced eyebrow at me. “I have no idea. You told me to come here for a meeting. Is there a meeting?”

From the corner of my eye I spot Fallon talking to a client. She has a sweet smile on her face. She nods along to something she says, and I rip my gaze from her. I need to stop searching for her in every room.

“Hey, boss?” Nora’s voice thankfully distracts me.

I turn to her and respond, “Yeah?”

“Not to be… rude, but, what are we doing here?”

I raise my brow. “What do you mean?”

She shrugs. “Well, we could have met at the brewery if you wanted to have a meeting. We have a really good system now for the events, and we don’t have to meet here for meetings.

” Her eyes widen as something else occurs to her.

“Unless of course you want to, then that’s fine.

You know what? Forget I said anything.” Nora’s cheeks heat in embarrassment.

“Nora, you’re fine,” I tell her. “I guess I have been wanting to make sure this transition is going well.”

Laila, ever the instigator, feigns a coughing spell. “ Fallon ,” she says through her fake cough.

Nora’s brows raise. “Ohhh, I see.”

“Stop it,” I say through gritted teeth, pointing a finger at my best employees. “She has nothing to do with it.”

“Sure,” Laila says in a teasing lilt. “Whatever you say. I see the way you watch her. ”

I groan. “I don’t watch her.”

Nora smiles. “I cannot believe I didn’t put two and two together. It makes so much sense now.”

“And their girls love each other. When Lennie was in the brewery the other day, she was telling me all about how they’re going to go to the zoo soon! It’s adorable.”

“Stop,” I mutter. “You two are lucky I need you, or I’d be firing your asses.”

“You would never,” Laila says. She’s worked for me for years now, and has become absolutely invaluable to me. She’s my right-hand-gal, and I owe her a lot of the success we’ve had.

“You’re right, but still. Nothing is going on between us,” I lie. The lie is bitter on my tongue, and they see right through me.

The girls are looking behind me at someone, and somehow, I know it’s her. Sure enough, when I turn, Fallon is striding up to the bar, client in tow.

“Hey guys,” she greets. “This is Kay. She’s wondering if she can do a taste test since you’re here.”

“Of course.” I offer her my hand, and give her a professional shake. “What are you thinking?” I explain what we have to offer, and am pleased when she picks one of our top brews.

We get her squared away, and I decide maybe it’s best for me to go. But first, I need to talk to Fallon. I shouldn’t, but I’d rather talk to her in person about the condom situation, and our upcoming plans with the girls.

Fallon is in the zone, barely even seeing me as I reach out to grab her arm. “Hey,” I say when she is pulled to a stop by me.

“Oh, hey,” she says, her cheeks pinkening as she looks up at me, clearly remembering our activities not even an hour ago. “What’s up?”

I clear my throat and lower my voice while leaning in closer to her ear. “I didn’t wear a condom. I needed you to know that… I’m clean. I—it’s been a long time.”

When I lean back, her cheeks are bright red. If anyone were to look over at us, surely they would suspect something is happening between us. Fallon nods. “I have an IUD. It’s okay. And… I’m clean too. I got checked after the divorce. And I haven’t been with anyone else.”

I let out a relieved sigh. Guilt swarms me, knowing I even put her in that position of concern. I should have been paying more attention, should have had the forethought to think of her before sticking my dick inside of her, but when it comes to Fallon, I lose all rational thought.

I clear my throat and change the subject. “Are we taking the girls to the zoo next week?”

“Yes!” Instantly, she’s pulling her phone out, looking at her calendar. “Is that okay?”

“Definitely,” I say. “Lennie has been bugging me to come with her, so I figure now is the best time.”

“Agreed,” she says. “Would Wednesday work?”

With a glance at my own calendar, I nod my agreement. “It’s a date,” I confirm, and immediately regret my choice of words. “Not a date, it’s a…” I trail off, trying to hide my idiocy.

“I know what you mean, Jase,” Fallon says, though she’s actively avoiding my eyes.

“I, uh,” I clear my throat. “I’ll text you later for timing and such. Sound good?”

“Peachy,” Fallon squeaks, and shoves her phone into a pocket of her dress. Huh, that’s neat. Didn’t know her dress had pockets .

“About earlier — ” I try to bring it up again, but she holds up a hand.

“It’s fine, Jase. We don’t have to talk about it. If anything, maybe we… shouldn’t talk about it.” Her green eyes are looking at anything but me.

“Okay,” I say, and then without another word, I wave goodbye and head out the door. I need to get out of here before I do something I shouldn’t.