“I know you’re not her. But I don’t want you to regret this, Ivy.” He said, softly.
“Mr. Cooper? Ivy?” Her father was still calling out to them.
“It’s just a job. Can I not leave whenever I want? What would you do without me?” Ivy asked, still crying. He was still brushing the tears away from her cheeks.
Then, after several seconds of silence, he shook his head.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m being foolish.” He said and pulled her to him in a tighter embrace.
“There’s been a mistake, Mr. Hart. I’m sorry for making you come here all this way, but Ivy will be staying with me for a little while longer. I’ve found a few new tasks for her.” He called out to her father.
Ivy had a beaming smile on her face when she turned to look at him. She could see that he had got out of his car and was standing with his arms flailing, confused and bordering on anger.
“Ivy? What the Hell is going on?” Her father asked.
Ivy shook her head and then slowly wriggled out of Leon’s arms.
“Sorry daddy, I’m not going home with you. You can go back home now. Thank you for not coming to pick me up when he first called.” She said and went over to hug her father as well.
He was still confused, still at a loss for what to do.
“Ivy, maybe you should just come home. I think you’re confused, my darling.” He said as she pulled away.
“I’m not confused daddy. I have never been surer of anything as much as this. You can leave now, daddy. We have a lot of work to do.” She was beaming as she said it. Her life was just about to begin, and she was glad now that she had never replied to that email.
Leon had carried her bags back to the house, and now they were both standing in her bedroom with several feet of distance between them.
Ivy could feel her shoulders rising and falling, her breasts heaving with anticipation. Neither of them had said a word since they returned back to the house. They just stood there, staring at each other. This was actually happening. She was actually going to be here in this house with him. She couldn’t believe it.
“Leon…” She began, breaking the silence.
“Ivy, this is just a job for now.” He interrupted her.
She shook her head, with a broad smile on her face. She would take anything. She would agree to anything, just to be close to him.
“I can’t promise you anything more than an employment for now.” He continued and she shook her head some more.
“I don’t expect anything more, Leon. We don’t even know each other. All I want is to be able to work for you, to make some kind of living, and to be close to you.” She said, and he took a few steps closer to her.
Just that movement was enough to set her body ablaze. Ivy felt like all her limbs had turned to soft clay and like her knees were going to buckle. She had hyped herself to accept that she would never see Leon again in her life, to be back in the room, to have him so close to her, close enough to touch him…felt like it was too good to be true.
He had his eyes focused on her, he was licking his lips like he was preparing himself for the hunt. They were both holding themselves back, they both knew what they wanted. But they had to get the talking out of the way.
“And, you are free to leave whenever you want. You are not a prisoner here and neither do you owe me anything.” Leon continued.
“I know that. I just want to work here.” She added.
“And to be with me.” A smile was creeping up on his face again, and Ivy felt like she was going to melt straight into his arms.
“One of the perks of this job.” She said, tucking in a few errant curls behind her ears. She could see that his gaze had fallen to her cleavage, to her waist where her dress was cinched and then fell in waves to her knees. He was imagining her naked, just like she was imagining him.
“Good. So, that’s sorted.” He said gruffly and took two quick strides towards her and she was in his arms again.
Ivy smiled at him, giggled and then accepted the lips that engulfed her own.
“I’ve wanted this for so long, Ivy. When I saw you in this dress today, I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself for very long. What are you doing to me?” Leon’s voice was hoarse as he was kissing her, her chin, her neck, the top of her breasts.
Ivy felt more courageous now and she allowed her hands to travel down the front of his chest, down his abdomen, unbuttoning his shirt as she went along. Then she found the belt and the buttons on his pants. She undid them as he kissed her, his hands squeezing her breasts.