AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ivy,” a familiar voice calls out softly from behind me.
I turn to see Cillian walking toward me. He stops a few feet away. “Are you okay?”
“I needed some space.” I try to sound casual. “I’m a bit peopled out.”
His eyes scan my face. He knows this about me. Few do because I’m adept at putting on a pleasant public face. “Yeah. It’s a beautiful party, though. Your parents did it up.”
“Yeah, they did. It’s their way of trying to make up for all the years we didn’t celebrate.” I can’t take my eyes off him. I long to feel his arms around me.
Cillian steps closer, his gaze intense. “About our conversation the other day…”
“Cillian, it’s okay.” I hold up a hand, stopping him. “We don’t need to keep hashing it out.”
He shakes his head. “No, um…it’s not, um. Look, I’ve been struggling. I didn’t like how we left things. I’m not as skilled with words as you are—I wasn’t able to articulate what I wanted to say.”
“I’ve been struggling too.” My heart begins to race. “I knew being around you would bring back old feelings, which you clearly don’t reciprocate. If I’ve made you uncomfortable in any way, I’m sorry. I wish I knew how to turn them off.”
He shuts his eyes and sighs. “Are you seeing the guy you were with upstairs?”
“Pierlo?” I ask, though I know exactly who he means. “No, he’s my dear friend from Italy.”
“Thank Christ.” Cillian closes the distance between us, grips my face with both palms and angles my head back. We look into each other’s souls before he lowers his mouth to mineand gives me a long, slow, openmouthed kiss that makes my toes curl. I kiss him back, pouring all of my confusion, longing, and love for him into this moment.
All of a sudden, it’s like no time has passed—and yet everything has changed in an instant.
We finally pull away, breathless. Our foreheads remain pressed together.
“Ivy,” he whispers, his voice ragged. He grabs my hands and brings them to his lips, kissing my knuckles. My heart melts.
My heart aches with the intensity of my feelings for him. “Cillian, I’m scared. I don’t want to confuse what you want with how I’m feeling. I couldn’t bear getting hurt again.”
“Are you serious? You’reallI want. My every fantasy. I tried to fight it, but it’s useless. You’re it for me.” He kisses me again.
Tears well up in my eyes. I blink them back. “Except, it’s not only about us. My parents, the company—it’s even more complicated. I’m not running away from my life anymore.”
“I don’t want you to. I’m willing to face anything if it means being with you.” His thumbs wipe the tears from my eyes. “I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to make this work. I’ll never hurt you again.”
I lean into his touch, the warmth of his hands soothes my fears. “I want to say yes, but we need to talk more andtonight’s not the time. Dad gets pretty tired, they’ll probably head home soon. I should get back up there.”
“One more minute.” Cillian envelops me in his arms. “I don’t want to let you go.”
After a long embrace, I clutch his forearms. “Um…my mom put my friends and I up at the Edgewater Inn for the weekend. I’m in the Presidential Suite. Stay with me tonight?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Fuck, yes.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” I whisper.
Cillian inhales sharply. He runs his hands over my hair. “Show me.”
His fingers wind around the back of my neck as he lowers his lips to mine again. He kisses me gently, swiping his tongue along my lips. I snake my arms around his waist and press myself tightly against him. His hard cock presses against my belly, causing a shiver to run through my body in anticipation of our night. A groan I can’t control escapes. As our kiss deepens, I feel a very familiar pulse start to throb between my legs.
My God, am I going to come from kissing him?
“Let’s go inside.” I pull back slightly. “I’m about to climb you like a tree, but someone’s bound to come looking.”
The sound of laughter and music comes back into focus, reminding us of the world we’ve momentarily stepped away from.
Cillian nods and smiles sheepishly. “You go. I’m gonna need a minute. Maybe two.”
