Page 4 of Summer Nights (The Kingston Brothers #3)

Chapter Four

Cooper

My pulse picked up in anticipation of seeing Ivy. She usually scheduled the inspections for after work hours so that I didn't have to take time away from my other projects. That meant she was usually alone in the house.

There was no possibility of anyone walking in on us. I didn't expect her to want to hook up again, or even entertain the idea, but I still hoped that something would happen.

So far, my impression of Ivy was that she didn't trust people to be there for her. She hated asking for help, and she didn't like relying on anyone. She probably hated that she needed me to take one last look at her buyers’ homes.

But she was even more protective of her siblings. She wouldn't let me hurt Duncan or Rae. If she had an inkling that I'd let them down, she'd shut me out.

I'd gotten all of that from the few meager interactions with her. She might allow herself to have fun with men here and there, but she hadn't let anyone in. I was positive of that without any solid evidence.

When I pulled up the truck, I had the sudden urge to test her, to see if she wanted more from me. But I had to avoid her logical side. I needed to appeal to the side of her that acted on instinct.

I knocked on the door, and as soon as it opened, I took her in. She wore her usual outfit of a blouse, slim-fitting skirt, and heels. I wondered what color bra she wore today. I stepped inside, and she locked the door behind us.

"Thanks for coming—" Before she could finish her sentence, I was on her. I backed her against the wall, kissing her like I'd imagined all week.

I should have completed the inspection first, but I didn't want to give her any time to think. I needed to separate the logical side of her brain from the reactionary one. The one that wanted to be careful and maintain distance.

I angled her face so that I could ease inside her mouth.

Her leg hitched over my hip, and I held it there as I ground against her center. She moaned into my mouth, and I knew I made the right decision. She wanted me. She wanted this. She was just too cautious to let herself have it.

In this position, there was nothing separating us except for her panties and my jeans. I eased a hand between her legs, teasing the edge of the lace.

She arched her hips against my hand, urging me to go farther. When I slipped underneath the scrap of material, she moaned again.

I kept the onslaught on her mouth and senses. She held onto my bicep, powerless to conjure up any desire to stop this.

I felt like a freight train barreling out of control. It was too late for the brakes.

My fingers eased between her folds, collecting the wetness, then slid inside her tight channel. I pumped my fingers inside her, my thumb circling her clit.

She bit my lower lip. "I want you inside me."

She didn't want to play around. She wanted the real deal. She wanted me.

"Yes," I said as I fumbled with the button of my jeans.

She reached between us to grip my cock.

I lifted her so that she was once again pressed against the door. I hadn't even checked to see if the house had any furniture. But this wasn't our place; we couldn't use the bed anyway. As much as I wanted to take my time with Ivy, she wouldn't allow that.

No time to think. No time to consider that she might be making a mistake. I wanted her to feel me. To be surrounded by sensations. My touch. My scent. My desire.

My cock teased her entrance, and I lost all sense of reason. I thrust hard, bottoming out in one motion. Her head fell back against the door with a thunk. "Condom."

"Shit." I never forgot about protection, but I'd made it a habit with Ivy. Hopefully, she wouldn't decide that I was too careless for her. I wanted to protect her, but I was doing a poor job of that.

I eased her down to the floor, grabbing the condom I'd placed in my wallet this morning, hoping something would happen between us. I wanted to get my mouth between her legs, but that kind of foreplay was impossible with a woman like Ivy.

It was a race to the finish line, not a slow seduction. As much as I wanted to try different things with her, this would have to be enough for now.

While I was fumbling with my wallet, she'd managed to open her blouse and unhook her bra.

I ripped the wrapper with my teeth, and she held her hand out for it. I waited for her to smooth the rubber over my length before I sucked a nipple into my mouth.

She was perfect. I wanted more than a quick fuck against the wall, but this was the only way past Ivy's defenses, and I was almost positive she'd never done this with anyone else.

She needed to maintain control, so she could walk away at a moment's notice.

So far, she hadn't wrestled it from me, and I hoped she wouldn't.

She guided my cock between her pussy lips. It was hot as fuck. I'd never encountered a woman who was as confident during sex as she was. If I didn't think she did it as a way to control our interaction, I'd be more impressed.

Instead, the act, as attractive as it was, set off a wave a tenderness inside me.

What was it about this woman that had all my protective instincts roaring to life?

She needed less protection than anyone else I'd ever met.

At least on the surface. But underneath, she was vulnerable, begging for real intimacy.

I wanted to be the one who cracked her hard outer shell. I expected I'd receive pushback. I'd have to be patient to get under this woman's skin.

She'd somehow managed to get under mine already.

I didn't know that she was close with her much-younger siblings. I had no idea that she took them out every weekend for big-sister time. It was impressive. But maybe not if I knew more about her background.

I suspected she couldn't count on her mother, and her father wasn't around. She was a lone wolf who was protective of her siblings. She wouldn't want them to grow up the same way she had.

When I was inside her to the hilt, I dropped my forehead to hers, letting her adjust to the fullness.

Her fingers, which were tangled in my hair, pulled lightly, as if she wanted to remind me that she needed me to move.

I leaned back slightly so I could see her face, withdrawing my cock and then thrusting deep. "You need this?"

Her lips parted on a gasp, and she nodded.

I did it again, watching the flush on her cheeks, the hard points of her nipples. One day, I'd have her naked on a bed, her hair spread over my pillow and her legs parted for me. But for now, this would have to be enough.

She gripped me tight, her legs wrapped around my hips, as I drove into her. My movements grew more frantic as I chased the inevitable release. I wanted her to orgasm first, so I reached between us, circling the swollen nub. She was slick with desire.

I enjoyed the sight of her pussy stretched by my cock, the glistening evidence of her arousal, and the tightening of her body.

"Cooper," she gasped in frustration.

"You need to come."

She nodded, her eyes bright with desire.

I slowed my movements, removing my hand so that I could grind against her clit with my pelvis on every thrust. I circled my hips, and her head fell back again, her eyes falling closed. Her lips parted, and she said, "Yes."

Sweat beaded on my forehead with the effort to hold back. My muscles were locked. I needed her to come.

I wondered if she was holding back. If she was afraid to let go. To let someone else master control of her body.

Just when I thought I'd have to change tactics, her body bowed off the door, and she cried out. It was the most satisfying feeling in the world.

She spasmed around my cock, squeezing my orgasm from me. I thrust one more time and let go, spilling into the condom and resting my head against hers. Our breath was ragged as we came down from the high.

I slowly let her slide to the floor, ensuring she was steady before handing over her panties.

She eased them under her skirt before righting it and then fastening her bra and buttoning her blouse. Her cheeks were flush, her hair tangled.

I adjusted my jeans, refusing to apologize for my behavior. I couldn't give her an opening to set rules and boundaries. The more time I spent with her, the better I was able to anticipate her possible reactions. I wondered if my sixth sense about houses worked on Ivy.

When she was dressed, she attempted to fix her hair, and I immediately switched to professional mode. "I'll get started while you clean up."

I figured she'd want to visit the bathroom, and I needed to discard of the condom. I went outside and threw it into the garbage I always kept in the back of my truck. By the time I returned, she was looking slightly less freshly fucked.

I wanted her all over again. I'd never get enough of this woman.

She held up her phone. "I have some calls to make."

I raised a brow, surprised. "You don't want to follow me around?"

"I'm in the middle of contract negotiations on another house that's in a bidding war."

"Right." I believed her, but she could have done that while shadowing me. She wanted time to regroup, and I'd give her that for now. As long as she wasn't telling me this couldn't happen again.

If she started talking about rules, I was in trouble. To head it off, I went straight to work.

I took my time checking every nook in the kitchen and bathrooms before heading upstairs. Ivy was in the kitchen talking on her phone. Her voice was confident as she ran through the comps, the likely outcome, and what she knew about the other bidders.

I enjoyed the sound of her voice as I moved from one room to the next. She finally joined me when I was in the master.

"This bathroom is gorgeous."

I hadn't paid much attention to my surroundings except to look for possible issues. But I could appreciate that the recent renovation was top-notch. "You looking to renovate your master?"

Ivy shook her head. "I own a condo, but I don't intend to put any money into it."

I never thought about it, but I had no idea where she lived. "You own a condo?”

"Uh-huh."

"That's surprising." I would have expected her to have a house on the beach. She should have amassed enough to buy one by now.

She tipped her head to the side. "Why is that?"

"I took you for a beach-house girl."

"Maybe one day," Ivy said quietly.

"Why not now?"

She shifted on her feet. "I have big saving and investing goals."

"A girl who likes to talk money. I love it," I said before I could censor my words. She wasn't supposed to know that I admired her, that I was curious about who she was as a person.

"Well, when you come from nothing, you become obsessive about having money." Then she sucked in a breath as if she hadn't meant to reveal that much.

"You deserve to treat yourself too." I wondered if she was scared to spend money, worried she'd end up back where she started.

She chewed her lip. "I have to be smart about money."

"I'm sure you are," I said without any reservations. She'd always struck me as a responsible woman who took care of those around her, and seeing her with her siblings only reinforced that impression. "You get to enjoy your money too, you know."

She raised a brow. "Who says I'm not? I have a nice car and expensive clothes."

"You seem like the kind of woman who'd enjoy coming home to the view of the ocean."

She tilted her head to the side. "Speaking of which, are you enjoying yours?"

Ivy had helped me purchase my home a few years ago, shortly after Shepard moved into our grandmother's house. The only problem with the house was that it was empty when I came home. I hadn't bothered to get a dog since I was gone for so many hours a day. "It's great."

"Good. I'm glad."

I wanted to ask more questions about her living situation, but she'd effectively diverted the conversation to me. I'd have to pay attention and see how often she did that. Was she an expert at diversion tactics? Did she not want anyone to know the real Ivy?

She looked around the bathroom. "Did you notice anything?”

"Not this time." It was a newer build, so I wasn't expecting to find anything too concerning.

"I appreciate you helping me out."

I raised a brow. "You worked a sweet deal with my father, apparently."

Ivy grinned. "My clients are grateful when you find something, and it saves them money.”

"My dad’s always looking to boost the company's reputation and continuing to build our client base.”

"I'm happy to help in any way I can. When a buyer asks for a contractor, I always refer them to you."

Ivy was in full professional mode now, as if we hadn't just fucked against the front door.

"If that's all, I'll head out." I pulled open the door, not wanting to give her an opening to bring up the state of our relationship. I'd rather leave it as it was.

She held the door open for me, and I wanted more than anything to push her back inside and go again. "Thanks again, Cooper."

I let out a breath as I headed toward my truck. I wasn't sure how long I'd get away with fucking Ivy in the houses we were tasked with inspecting, but I intended to enjoy every minute of it. I just had to remember that Ivy wasn't wired for more, and she could shut it down at any minute.

I almost expected to get a text or a phone call to that effect all week. Maybe she was happy to enjoy the physical relationship and ignore the rest.

But if I was right about Ivy, she wouldn't let herself feel anything more than desire for me. If she did, she'd break things off. Was it too much to hope for, that we could continue as is?