Page 33 of Tender Temptation

I capture her lips with mine and the rest of the world fades into insignificance.

A potential Vegas wedding. My meeting with Peter Vander. Her leaving for school. None of this is important when we lose ourselves in each other.

An impromptu fuck, in our own sanctuary, allows the complexities of our lives outside these walls to be suspended in time.

Challenges are momentarily paused.

Discussions are on hold.

Nothing matters but this moment.

fifteen

Ivy

The Next Morning

Fear claws at melike a slice across my gut.

It worsens every waking day.

Mornings like this are going to end forever if Cillian doesn’t see things my way.

Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long, warm stripes across the bed where he and I lie tangled in the sheets after making love this morning. He stirs beside me, his arm tightening around my waist as he plantsa soft kiss on my shoulder. The digital clock on the nightstand blinks 7:30 a.m., a blatant reminder of the real world waiting outside.

There’s only two weeks left until my parents return. Two weeks until the hammer comes down. Two weeks to make our relationship permanent. Two weeks will change the trajectory of my entire life.

“Whoops,” he mumbles against my skin, his voice thick with satisfaction. “I fell back asleep.”

“I like cuddling after sex.” My mind is a chaotic mess with thoughts racing faster than my heartbeats. “We only have a few more of these mornings left. I want to cherish them.”

“Sweet Ivy, we have millions of these mornings left.” Cillian shifts, propping himself up on one elbow to look at me. His hazel eyes are soft with affection but clouded with thoughts of his looming workday. He kisses my shoulder again. “It’s time for me to jump in the shower. Big day ahead.”

Cillian slides out of bed, his muscular frame unfolding as he strides toward the shower. He moves with a fluid grace. I blatantly ogle the defined lines of his back down to his sculpted ass.

Lately, I find myself desperately cataloging every detail about Cillian, trying to etch every moment we have into my memory. Last night we were supposed to talk about getting married, but we fucked all night instead.

I’m not complaining, but a sense of urgency feels like it’s choking me. Somehow, it hasn’t seemed to register with him.

“Cillian, wait.” My voice is sharper than I intend.

He pauses, then turns with towel in hand. “What’s up?”

“We didn’t talk about Vegas.” I sit up, clutching the sheet to my chest. “About…everything.”

Cillian’s expression tightens and the air between us charges with unsaid words. “Ivy…I, uh, thought we agreed to give it a week.”

“Ithasbeen a week. If you don’t want to marry me, say it,“ I blurt out, the fear of losing him twists my stomach.

He sighs and returns to the bed and sits. His eyes search mine. “Ivy, that’s not fair. It’s not about wanting to marry you. Of course I do. It’s about making sure we’re both ready for something that big. This—us—it’s been fast. Amazing, but fast.”

”Iknowit’s been fast,” I shoot back, feeling desperate and frustrated. “Don’t you get it? If we wait, everything could fall apart. My parents will be back in two weeks. What if they force me back into the life I had before? I couldn’t bear it.”

Cillian rubs his temples, clearly struggling to keep his composure. “Wecannotbase this decision on fear. Or your parents. Marriage is a huge step. It’s not a quick fix.”

“Are you looking for reasons to avoid it? Are you embarrassed by me? Is this just a game to you?” The words tumbleout before I can stop them, each one laced with more accusation than I intend.

He winces, hurt.

---