Brazen Ivy, page 20
“Oh, I’m coming,” I howled, my voice strained. I writhed and shivered until the sensations overpowered me and I shoved their hands away.
Afterwards, the three of us lay on the lounger, my legs tangled with theirs. Julio fed me pieces of our forgotten dinner by hand. Something Sophie mentioned came to mind. She loved Liam displaying her at the parties because she became the center of attention. I’d enjoyed that aspect, too. But with Julio, Archer and Graham, I was their center. Their world. Their dreams and futures.
I must decide soon. Either these three amazing men who’d promised me love and support and sex that drove me crazy. Or the complicated man who beckoned with his need to direct me and explore a more daring side of my sexuality.
Fireworks shot off in the distance, the bright light filling the sky, and I blinked away tears at how perfect this moment had become.
“Oh, Babe, no.” Graham wiped a tear that had somehow spilled over.
“Did we do something wrong?” Julio asked.
I shook my head, quick to reassure them. “No, you guys did something wonderful.”
“That’s because we love you,” Archer said, his words rang with a solemn truth, and I finally understood the depth of their feelings for me. They truly loved me and I–
“I love you, too.” As soon as the declaration left my mouth, a sense of utter rightness blanketed me. I loved all three of them. Graham for his competitive thrill-seeking who pushed me to my limits. Archer blurted out his thoughts and feelings, and I never questioned my place in his life. Julio who included me in his hopes and dreams and loved my body with his sweet earnestness.
The only problem was, I also loved another, and I couldn’t have all of them.
The next morning I texted Elliott.
Me: I’m ready to talk.
Him: I’ll pick you up in front of the cabin.
I spent over thirty minutes primping before a mirror, curling my blonde hair and adding a dash of dazzling red lipstick. I stepped into my most daring sundress. I adored the bright yellow fabric, with the spaghetti straps. But the tie closure at my breasts took my outfit to the next level, baring a little of my acquired suntan on my midriff.
Julio’s eyes widened when he saw me step into the hallway, his sweet smile turning carnal and he stepped toward me. The gravel crunched in the driveway, and both of us caught the sight of Elliott’s car out the window.
“You’re going to him, aren’t you?” Julio’s face shuttered closed.
I heard the pain in his voice and it killed me. Someone would leave the cabin hurting tonight. “We’re just talking.”
But Julio didn’t appear convinced, and who could blame him? I didn’t know my own heart or mind either.
I licked my lips. “Please don’t–”
My underwater drone designer flashed me a tight smile. “It’s okay.” Now it was his turn to reassure me. “Figure out what you need. We gave it our best shot on the boat.” His hands fisted, and with a hard pivot, he left me alone in the hallway.
I rushed out the door, blinking against the harsh sunlight. Elliott leaned against the side of his car, his ankles crossed and looking better than a million bucks. No, way sexier than money. He never removed his mirrored glasses, so I couldn’t see if his smile reached his eyes. He escorted me to the car and off we went down the lane.
He never mentioned where we headed, but in a few minutes I recognized the landmarks of the small town of Harkins. A sign stretched across Main Street welcoming us to the Apple Blossom Festival. After we scrambled out of the car, he took my hand and warmth zipped up my arm from his easy gesture. A sweet, fresh smell scented the air from the apple blossom displays that lined the sidewalk. A little girl sold wreaths of the pink and white flowers and Elliott slipped her a twenty and tucked the crown on the top of my head. “Stunning,” he said, and caressed my cheek with his thumb.
My shoulders tensed. “Elliott…”
He raked a hand down the back of his neck. “It’s a no, isn’t it?”
My jaw dropped. “How did you know? I didn’t even know.”
He led me to a secluded park bench, shaded by a tree. He slumped onto the wooden seat, drawing me next to him. The muscles along the column of his throat flexed. “I knew because I love you, Ivy. I know you.”
I lifted my hands to touch him, but let them fall. A thick gloom draped over me because he was right. I am choosing Julio, Archer and Graham, and the agony of losing Elliott strangled me.
“I love you, too.” My last words rang out as a sob.
“I know you do. That’s why I’d wished…for so much more.” With a bleak sigh, Elliott dragged me against his chest, tucked my head under his chin and stroked my shoulders. My tears flowed now. This amazing man offered me comfort despite me hurting him by choosing a path without him. I blinked to hide my misery. But why? Why shouldn’t I let my emotion flow?
Elliott was the first man to believe in me, and even though he was a genius, he never made me feel dumb. He encouraged me to follow my dreams and was all a man should be for a woman. Just a different woman. He needed to know this decision was tough. I loved and valued him, but I could never fulfill his true needs.
After my tears subsided, I disengaged from him, brushing the wetness from my cheeks.
“I have something for you,” he said. Elliott dug in his pocket and drew out his key ring. He chose one and circled it around the ring until it slipped free. He placed it in my palm and tucked my fingers over the metal. “I moved out yesterday.”
I stared at my closed hand. This was his key to the apartment. He knew yesterday I’d say no. Before my evening of the boat date even ended. “Oh.”
“There’s something else.” He held an envelope toward me. “This is for you.”
I took the envelope from him, uncertain. What else could he have for me? I carefully slid my finger under the flap and broke the seal of the glue. Inside I found a check and gasped when I saw the many zeros stretched across the paper. “I don’t understand.”
“Liam came through with the money. The rest of the investors fell like dominoes after that. We’ll start our initial IPO by the end of the year. I’ll be meeting with an engineer in California next week.” The first hint of a real smile touched his rugged lips.
Joy swelled inside my heart. “Oh, Elliott. I’m so happy for you. All your dreams, all you’ve worked for...it’s all coming true.”
His lips twisted. “All but one.”
I tried to shove the check in his direction. “I can’t take your money, Elliott.”
“Ivy, if you hadn’t come along, I wouldn’t have this cash. The whole reason I finally got off my ass and put my plan into action was because I wanted to impress you. Spoil you.”
My eyes narrowed as I studied his face. “I don’t understand.”
He fiddled with the keychain, his only “tell” cluing me into the turmoil raging inside him. “I couldn’t ask you to be with me, put your whole trust, your body everything with me if I couldn’t afford to provide for you. You once told me I gave you the courage to tackle math, well, you gave me the confidence to tackle life.”
I cupped his chin and kissed his cheek.
His brows furrowed and his jaw set. “If you won’t let me take care of you the way I want, at least allow me to assist you financially. You won’t have to worry how to pay your tuition. Or pick up extra shifts at the diner. Don’t say no. Let me do this for you.”
My throat thickened with emotion, so I only nodded. Someday, Elliott would find the woman who loved him the way he needed to be loved. He was too amazing not to. “Thank you,” I said, folding the check in half and tucking it into my pocket.
Elliott stood, twirling the key ring around his finger. “This crown looks cute on you. I think they’ll like it.”
And with that comment, we were friends again. Not ex-lovers. I quizzed him about his project and upcoming trip to California on the way back to the cabin. A few minutes later I watched the red of his taillights fade away. Elliott drove to his future. A future without me, but that was okay, because behind that cabin door waited my mine.
I wiped my tears and rushed to the door. Three anxious faces greeted me as I crossed the threshold.
“We uh, thought you might have left with him,” Julio said, breaking the long silence.
I shook my head, my apple blossom crown scenting the air.
“He’s not returning later to pick you up is he?” Archer asked, color rising on his cheeks.
I shook my head again. “He only stopped by to leave me this.” I produced the key to the apartment. My key.
Graham grabbed the hunk of metal in my hand and laughed. “Is that what I think it is? You coming home with us?”
“It sure is.”
With a loud whoop, Archer hauled me into his arms and spun me around in the air.
“You guys up to helping me move in?” I asked after he settled me on my feet.
The others rushed me then. Julio kissed me, while Archer stroked my skin and Graham whispered how much he loved me.
“Let’s celebrate tonight,” Julio announced. “Tomorrow we’ll pack you up and take you home.”
The cabin, the apartment, the location didn’t matter. These three men were my home.
I hope you enjoyed reading Brazen Ivy, as much as I loved writing it. It would mean the world to me if you’d leave a review. This helps other readers find my book.
About the Author
Poppy Tuistra never thought she’d write until she read her first Reverse Harem novel. Obsessed, she’s currently working on her next. Brazen Ivy is Poppy’s first book.
Poppy Tuistra, Brazen Ivy
