Lawful: Gia ~ Hunter ~ Julian ~ Jarrod

“I believe you.” She climbs on my legs as my hands slip down to hold her bottom against me. “I wish tonight had never happened… I don’t mean the award.” She smiles. “I’m so happy that they finally acknowledged you. Gia told me in the past about you being nominated for the award, year after year. I’m so proud of you.”

Groaning, I can’t resist her anymore and cover her mouth hungrily. Her tongue sends shivers of desire racing through me, and when the kiss deepens even more I loose all sense of time.

Her hands slide through my hair while her hips rock against me. Our breaths become heavy while I try to remember what we were talking about before the need for more or a physical connection overrode everything.

“Make love to me… Show me that I’m yours.”

Growling, I haul her into my arms and crawl on the bed, placing her against the pillows. “You’re mine, Ivy, and what happened earlier won’t ever happen again. I’m done trying to please everyone. You’re the only one who counts.”

Reclaiming her lips, I grab her shorts and tug them down her legs before I’m quickly unfastening my pants and tugging my throbbing cock free. I don’t wait and thrust inside her. Her fingers dig into my shoulders and her body arches beneath me, tightening, pulsating, around my flesh.

“Jarrod,” she moans, yanking her top over her head. Before she can get it all the way off, my mouth captures a nipple, and then I feel her hands on my shirt. “Take it off. I need to feel you.”

I slam inside of her and pushing down where we’re joined, I rise up and rip my shirt open, buttons popping everywhere. She giggles and my cock jerks hard at the sound.

Her eyes widen followed by a moan from between her beautiful lips. “I felt that.”

“So did I.” Resting on my elbows, I bring some of my weight down on top of Ivy and feel my heart ache with the amount of love I have for her. “I love you,” I whisper before reclaiming her lips.

36

Ivy

Having lunch with Jarrod on our patio the following day makes my heart lighter. I’m just happy to put last night behind us because when it comes down to it, I’m the one he loves, the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. No one will ever top that.

He looks amazing in his old jeans and thin T-shirt that I think he’s had since his university days. The scruff on his face gives him a disheveled look and I can’t stop staring at him, or wanting to pinch myself that he’s mine. All mine.

“I can see you watching me,” he drawls, placing the newspaper down onto the chair next to him, but not before I catch the frown on his face.

“What?” I raise a brow.

He sighs. “There is a small story of what happened last night as the award was announced.” He covers my hands. “I had a feeling that something would be printed, I just hate that I’m right on this occasion.”

“Instead of concentrating on the snake,” I grin, “let’s concentrate on the fact that they honored you with the award.” I lean forward and kiss his cheek. “Have I told you lately how proud of you I am?”

“Feel free to tell me anytime you’d like.” His lips twitch before he becomes serious. “The only woman I wanted to be with me last night was you, Ivy. I wish we could go back and do it all again with a different outcome.”

I shake my head, knowing that it happened the way it did for a reason. “I wouldn’t have a do over because it made me realize that the only way to handle people like Ana is to be more assertive, and I wasn’t.” I smile, letting it reach my eyes. “If we ever go to a function again, it’s going to be so different.”

Jarrod tugs me closer and doesn’t stop until I’m settled on his lap. “I want you to know that you don’t need to change for anyone. I love you just the way you are, and by agreeing to marry me, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. I hope you know that.”

“I do.” I snuggle into his chest and rest my face into the crook of his neck. “When are you going to make an honest woman out of me?” I ask knowing that I’ll marry him tomorrow if it could be arranged.

He chuckles and tips my face up to his. “I love you,” he whispers. “Tell me what kind of wedding you’d like, and then we’ll arrange a date.” He softly rubs his nose against mine, his lips touching mine in a whisper of a kiss.

“I’d like something small, with only close friends and family,” I admit.

“She’d like,” we turn at the sound of Gia’s voice, as she continues, “to be married on St. Thomas.”

I laugh as one of my best friends tells my childhood dream.

“Really?” Jarrod looks at me before his eyes turn to his daughter.

“Growing up we’d always talk about where we’d get married, and what we’d wear, what food and the list goes on.”

“Hmm,” Jarrod mumbles. “St. Thomas, huh?”

I smile and after hugging the life out of him, I plant a quick kiss to his lips before I jump up to hug Gia. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m complaining.”