Page 28 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Luca

? Dive - Olivia Dean

I spent the better part of the last four days avoiding my wife.

She brought home the little three-legged kitten, and my heart nearly lept out of my chest when I saw them all playing together in my living room.

We haven’t spent much time together since.

I’ve been intentionally staying late in the workshop, and leaving bright and early for work in the morning before the girls are even awake.

I’m punishing myself for not stopping when I should have.

Ivy clearly wasn’t ready to go as far as we did.

My entire body aches in protest of the long hours. There’s no way I can keep this up.

Standing in the kitchen, I mentally prepare myself to face them. It's my day off, and I can’t avoid them forever. And if I’m being honest, I’ve been missing my tiny sidekick. I’ll just have to do my best to keep an emotional barrier between me and my wife.

I’m just about to pour myself some coffee when my phone vibrates on the kitchen island. I flip it over, watching the notifications from the group chat roll in.

Paige: Baby Time!

Mags: OMG!

Ivy: Good luck, babe! Keep us updated!

Miles: How’s daddy Cade doing?

Cade: Freaking the fuck out, man. And don’t call me daddy.

Cara: Nurse Cara is on the way!

Dean: ??

Cade: Keep that horny shit out of the group chat.

Miles: You do know how babies are made, right?

Cade: Shut up, Miles.

I walk into the living room, finding Ivy curled up at the far end of the sectional, grinning down at her phone. She looks effortlessly gorgeous in a pair of denim cutoff shorts and a white crop top, showing off her belly button piercing.

“Hey.” Ivy startles at the sound of my voice. Her head momentarily snaps up, but she quickly forces her gaze back to her phone. “Sorry. Just came to ask if you’d want to go to the hospital with me later.”

“Sure. I can ask Evelyn to stay with Ry, if that’s ok? I don't think I’ll be able to peel her away from the new kitten just yet.”

“Ivy, this is your home, too. You can have guests whenever you want.”

“Ok,” she says, still avoiding eye contact.

Things have been stilted since our conversation at the diner.

I can admit that I bear a lot of the blame since I’ve intentionally built a giant wall between us.

I’ve seen many sides to this woman in the time that I’ve known her, but the cold facade she’s wearing now is getting under my skin.

“I can go on my own if you can’t stand the thought of being near me. You haven’t even looked at me since I walked in the room.” It comes out harsher than I intended, and I immediately regret my choice of words as I take in the shocked expression on her face.

“Me? You think this is my fault?” she sneers.

“I suppose it’s my fault you’re out in the workshop every night until we fall asleep.

Or sneaking out of the house before we even wake up.

Do you know Rylin asks about you at breakfast every day?

You’re not obligated to spend time with us, Luca, but don’t pretend like this is on me. ”

“That’s not what I meant. I just figured, with what you said at the diner…” I pause for a moment, carefully considering my next words. “I thought you wanted space.”

Ivy stands from her spot on the sofa. “ I wanted space, or you did, Luca?”

I roughly rake a hand through my hair, her eyes meeting mine for the first time. “You said we needed to keep our attraction out of this.”

She’s standing a breath away from me now, and my body is flooding with heat at her proximity. I’m aching to reach out and pull her into my arms, but I hold back. I can’t cross that line again.

“I remember what I said. I don’t need a replay.” Her breasts lightly graze my torso and it suddenly feels like I could combust. I look down at her, our noses nearly brushing, my breath fanning over her lips.

“What do you really want?” I ask, clenching my fists at my side as I study her gorgeous face.

“You,” she breathes.

I’m on her in seconds, pulling her into my arms, our mouths crashing together in an all-consuming kiss.

She parts her lips, allowing my tongue to glide along hers, as her arms cling to my biceps.

I pull away, still drunk on the kiss, our chests heaving as I look down at my wife.

If only she knew the power she has over me. “What are we doing, Ivy?”

“Personally, I’m hoping you’re about to make me see stars, but I’m open to suggestions.” Her snarky attitude is back, and fuck, I missed her. I know this is a bad idea, but I can't seem to stop myself. She pulls me in like a magnet and I’m helpless to resist.

“Where’s Ry?”

“I put her down for a nap.”

“Do you think you can be quiet for me?” Her gaze snaps to mine, a fire burning in her irises that wasn’t there before.

She nods as I wrap my hand around her throat, gently bringing her face closer to mine. “Words, Ivy. I need to hear it.”

“Yes,” her voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s enough.

Our foreheads meet, hovering just a breath away until our noses brush and I gently bite down on her bottom lip.

“This fucking mouth,” I growl. I slowly walk her back to the sofa, watching as her knees hit the surface, causing her to collapse backwards into the cushions.

I kneel at her feet, getting down on my goddamn knees for the goddess in front of me.

“Were you trying to torture me with these tiny shorts?” I ask. She shakes her head in response.

“Your ass cheeks hanging out the bottom,” I continue. “The seam teasing between your pussy.” I unbutton her shorts, tugging them up so the stitching hits her clit as she moans my name.

“Quiet, sweetheart. You said you could be quiet. Don’t make me take you over my knee.”

She nods frantically as I carefully slide her shorts to the floor, taking her underwear with them, exposing her bare pussy glistening with her arousal. “Is this all for me, Ivy?”

“Yes,” she responds.

I don’t waste anymore time, diving headfirst into her soaked cunt. I run the flat of my tongue over her in one long stroke, pausing to circle her clit a few times before sliding lower, plunging my tongue inside.

“Oh my god,” she cries. I grin against her core, looking up at her with my head still buried between her thighs, her face tipped up in pure ecstasy as her hand fists my hair.

“That’s it. Ride my face.” She circles her hips as I continue fucking her with my tongue, sucking her clit into my mouth before nipping at it with my teeth. Her breath hitches, and I take that moment to slide two fingers inside, stroking in a come hither motion.

“Oh god, Luca. I’m gonna come.” I clap a hand over her mouth to stifle her cries as I push her over the edge, her climax coming on fast and hard, as her pussy clenches and her legs start to shake.

Her chest heaves as I finger fuck her through her orgasm.

She bites down on my palm and my dick twitches behind my zipper. She’s so fucking sexy.

Her chest heaves as she comes down from the high, eyes glazed and sated.

I sit back on my heels, taking in her flushed cheeks and the goosebumps dotting her arms and legs.

Slowly crawling up her body, I plunder her mouth in a languid kiss, swallowing her gasp as I let her taste herself on my tongue.

She reaches out to unbutton my jeans, but I stop her, and for a split second, her hand hesitates mid-air.

The warmth in her eyes falters, a brief shadow crossing her expression before she quickly masks it with a forced smile.

“Not now, sweetheart,” I explain, gentling my tone.

“We have to check in on Paige and get ready to go.” She nods, her shoulders slumped as she lifts herself off the couch.

“I promise you can have my cock later,” I tease.

She rolls her eyes, then pulls her clothes back on before retreating up the stairs to her room. Fuck. I hope this wasn’t a mistake.

An hour later, Ivy and I are walking into the hospital waiting room, hand in hand. Nana’s voice carries out into the hallway and we find her standing near the desk, giving one of the nurses an earful.

“Hey Nana, any news?”

“Luca!” she exclaims, pulling me into her arms for a bone-crushing hug. “And my Ivy. How are you my dear?” she asks, patting Ivy’s cheek.

Ivy replies with an affectionate smile, “I’m good.”

“How’s Paige?” I ask, hoping I’ll get an answer this time.

Nana glares at the nurse, hands fisted on her hips. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

I throw her a look of sympathy before she meets Nana’s piercing stare. “Ma’am, I told you I’m waiting for the doctor to send an update. In the meantime, y’all can have a seat, and I'll let you know as soon as I hear something.”

We find a row of empty chairs in the waiting room, Ivy and I sharing one of the longer bench seats as she cuddles up into the crook of my arm.

Given how this week has played out, I wasn’t expecting this sort of easy affection, and I can’t wrap my mind around whether it’s real or just for show.

As time passes, Dean, Liam, and Miles join us, along with Mags via video chat.

Cade hasn’t texted, so I’m taking that as a sign that things are still progressing. The anticipation is killing me.

We wait for what seems like hours when, finally, Cade comes out of the double doors, holding a tiny bundle swaddled in a blue and pink striped blanket with a matching hat.

I walk over to my niece, taking in her tiny features, from her adorable button nose to the curly tendrils of dark brown hair peeking out from beneath her hat.

“Oh Cade. She’s beautiful,” Ivy says from her place at my side.

She slides one hand down my arm, intertwining our fingers. “How’s Paige?” she asks.