Page 32 of Tender Temptation

But, am I that person for her?

My chest tightens. The thought of her discovering who she is, on her own terms, fills me with a mix of pride and fear. Pride for the strong, determined woman she’s becoming. Fear she might outgrow me and the love we share.

Fuck it. She’s mine now. I’ll make the most of every moment we have left. I type my reply

Me :You’ve made my day a whole lot harder...

The bottom line is, I don’t want to break up. I’m also not going to hinder her from reaching her full potential before we make such a big commitment.

For the next few hours, my concentration is needed on the business. Specifically, my upcoming meeting with Peter Vander, a renowned green architect with whom I’ve worked extensively over the past few years. His firm was chosenas the architect for the project I’m up for, which means my chances of getting this job went through the roof.

Peter’s connected to me in other ways. He’s married to Jordan Deveraux, whose brother, Jace, is in LTZ with my brother Connor. We met a couple years ago when we were both recruited by LTZ’s guitarist, Zane Rocks and his wife Fiona Reynolds, to help design and build their business, The Mission and its sister restaurant, Gus.

Since then, I’ve handled many of Peter’s builds in Seattle. I’m extraordinarily familiar with his aesthetic and commitment to the environment, making us a perfect team.

Glancing at the clock, I realize if I don’t leave now, I’ll be late. It’s only a ten-minute walk, but I’ll definitely need a coffee pick-me-up. Fifteen minutes later, I step into the airy, modern lobby of Peter’s architecture firm with a Venti sweet cream Cold Brew. The receptionist greets me with a professional smile and guides me to the spacious conference room. While I wait, I admire the minimalist, yet stunning decor, which is not only VA’s signature, but indicates their commitment to sustainable design.

Peter pushes through the glass door and holds out his hand. “Cillian, always a pleasure.”

“Great to see you, Peter.” We shake and I settle back down into the chair across from him.

The table between us is strewn with blueprints and eco-friendly material samples. Peter wastes no time, his enthusiasm evident. “This new project, Cillian—it’s more than a structure. It’s a vision. Imagine a shipping facility serving not only as a benchmark in environmental design, but this one will truly revolutionize operations.”

“A project like this feels like my next logical step. I’m looking forward to diving into something this complicated, I hope I’m selected.” I trace my thumb over a piece of roofing material.

With a conspiratorial grin, Peter leans in slightly. “I’d love to give you more details about the client, but you know how these NDAs can be. It’ll be quite the reveal, you might be surprised.”

“Understood.” I chuckle. “I feel proud of what I submitted. I wanted to pick your brain about next steps, without pushing your boundaries, of course.”

Our discussion shifts to the technical—solar panels doubling as architectural features. Innovative water recycling systems, and green roofs teeming with native plants. We spend the next two hours going over details. The project is ambitious, a complex puzzle fitting perfectly with our mutual goals.

“Well.” Peter’s eyes burn through me. “If we nail this, we’re looking at potentially revolutionizing how shipping hubs are built worldwide. I have an inkling our work together willopen up opportunities we never dreamed possible. Are you on board?”

“Definitely.” I nod.

As he walks me out the door, Peter nods, his smile broad. “Good luck in your presentation. Let’s make this happen.”

I start back to the jobsite but realize it’s past four. Considering the conversation I need to have with Ivy tonight, maybe it would be better to go home early. She should be back from her painting class by now. Spinning on my heel, I walk seven blocks to my place.

By the time I step into my loft, I’m feeling lighter than I have all day. The meeting with Peter went better than expected and the thrill of a potential breakthrough project pulses through me. At the very least, I’ll have something to concentrate on while Ivy’s away at school.

“Ivy?” There’s no answer. The loft is quiet, the late-afternoon light spills through the windows casting long, warm shadows across the hardwood floors. A smile tugs at my lips as I head toward the bedroom, anticipation building with each step.

The door is ajar. I push it open and I almost need a moment to compose myself. There, before the full-length mirror, stands my girl. Ivy hasn’t heard me come in, she’s too absorbed in adjusting the delicate straps of the black lingerieshe’s wearing. I’m rooted to where I’m standing, struck by her beauty and the intimate vulnerability of the scene.

“Ivy,” I say, my voice a low rumble. I’m already unbuckling my jeans as I approach.

She whirls around and both surprise and delight flash across her face. One arm instinctively covers her breasts, the other her pussy. “Cillian! You’re early.”

“Let me see.” I kick off my jeans and boots and fling my T-shirt to the ground. “Don’t hide your beautiful body from me.”

Ivy drops her hands and standing before me is my every fantasy come true. She’s wearing some sort of lacy contraption. The top is like an open-cup bra with thin black straps framing her tits, just enough to hold floral-shaped appliqués in place over her nipples. The rest is essentially lacy fabric that crisscrosses over her body in a geometric pattern and is fastened with miniature black ribbons.

Pumping my engorged cock, I close the distance between us in a few strides, my eyes not leaving hers. “I couldn’t wait to get back to you, and this is what I find?” My hands span her waist, my fingers maneuver their way under the soft fabric and caress her even softer skin. “You’re stunning. Is this for me?”

“Of course. Welcome to your private show.” Her arms loop around my neck, pulling me closer. Her turquoise eyes sparkle with mischief.

Sliding my palms down her hips and around her ass, I effortlessly lift her off the ground. Her legs wrap around my torso and I walk us to the mirror. Reaching between us, Ivy guides me into her slick heat and we both watch her pussy stretch around my cock.

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