Page 5 of Tantalizing Tales

Chapter Two

Ivy

Ivy prayed when she opened her eyes that it would be to find this had all been a dream. One incredible, erotic, mind-blowing dream, like the many others she’d had in the last few months. She’d never stopped wanting Jake. There had been no one after he shut her out of his life. But now, giving in to him so easily, under circumstances that dubbed her little better than a prostitute, she felt slightly ashamed and used. Even if she had enjoyed every second of it.

If he still loved her like she still loved him, it would be different. Ivy could admit that now. Seeing Jake again reinforced how much she felt for him. He was the only man who’d ever reached her on all levels of her existence. When they’d been together, Ivy had needed him like she needed to breathe to live. It had nearly destroyed her when he’d turned away from her, saying he never wanted to see her again.

I have his brother to thank for that.

All of a sudden Ivy became embarrassingly aware she was sitting there, totally exposed to Jake from her waist down, her pussy wet with her cum and his saliva trickling down between her butt cheeks, his breath warm against her thighs as he rested there. As her heart rate and breathing began slowly to return to normal, she was reminded of other things. Like that they’d just had hot sex in his father’s office.

God…what if he comes back? Or his secretary comes in?

Ivy immediately calmed when she recalled Jake locking the door. He kissed her knee and removed his hands from her thighs. She opened her eyes to see him rising to his feet. Their gazes met. Smoky desire still simmered in his dark eyes, a reflection of her own, Ivy was certain. In spite of what they’d just done, she was unable to break her gaze from his. So many emotions were running through her, too many to decipher before she spoke.

“What just happened doesn’t change anything, Jake. I mean it.” She tried to straighten her skirt, seeing her discarded panties on the floor at his feet. Without realizing what she was doing, her gaze moved up the length of his long muscular legs, pausing to watch him zip up his jeans.

“Who are you trying to convince, honey?” His capable hands did up his belt buckle with a lot more finesse than Ivy had undoing the damn thing. “I’m willing to replace the money your brother stole and keep him out of jail, for a weekend of sex with you.”

Ivy reached for her panties. “I’m not a prostitute.”

His hand was there first. “You won’t be needing these.” Their gazes clashed. “And I look at it as payment for a loan.” He had the nerve to tuck her panties into his pocket. “Unless you want him to go to jail.”

Ivy felt panic settling in, afraid if she gave in to Jake’s demands that he’d know exactly how she felt about him before the end of the weekend. She couldn’t bear it if he found out her weakness for him and used it against her. “It’s his first time, he’ll probably get probation.”

Jake’s chuckle held little humor. “I have news for you, honey, this isn’t the first time Wally has helped himself to what doesn’t belong to him.”

Her eyes rounded with disbelief. “I don’t believe you. You’ll say anything to—” Ivy halted abruptly when she realized what she’d been about to say.

“Get into your panties?”

Damn him, his smile is as is sexy and intoxicating as I remember!

“I don’t believe you,” she repeated. “Why would you and your father keep him on?”

A brow rose and Jake paused for significance. “The other two episodes happened while we were sleeping together. I had a reason for protecting you.”

“What about now? Why don’t you just press charges?”

Ivy wasn’t expecting Jake to reach down and pull her to her feet. The next thing she knew, she was up against him and very much aware of his strength. “This time I just want you. I need to cleanse my soul of you. And there’s only one way I can think of that will do it.” Ivy caught her breath when he jerked her even closer. “I’m going to fuck you until I don’t want you anymore.”

Jake’s hard and hurtful kiss quickly turned to passion. Tears gathered in Ivy’s eyes as she kissed him back. His words tore into her heart but she refused to believe he could be that ruthless. She didn’t know this Jake. He was a stranger to her. Bitter, hardened by what his heart believed to be the truth. That she’d betrayed him. Could someone change that much in three months?

A sob escaped Ivy when their kiss ended. For a moment Jake stared down into her face, his expression softening at the sight of her tears. “Now what’s it going to be? I won’t force you, Ivy. If you come with me, it will be your choice.”

“That’s hardly true, is it? You’re blackmailing me.”

“Spending a weekend with me is scarcely a fair exchange for what Wally owes the company. As I see it, accepting will only benefit you and your brother.”

His hands roamed down her back until they were cupping her bottom. Ivy knew what Jake was doing. He was using her weakness for him against her. She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his renewed arousal against her. A telltale moan escaped her when he squeezed her cheeks with growing urgency. In spite of everything, she couldn’t deny that Jake made her feel alive when he touched her. I’ve missed him.

“Make your choice, Ivy. Jail time for Wally or a weekend of sex with me?”

Oh god! Why does it feel as if I’m making a deal with the devil?And why was making the decision so hard for her? A weekend of sex with Jake wouldn’t exactly be a hardship. She took a deep breath, knowing once the words passed through her lips she wouldn’t take them back.

She opened her eyes, falling right into Jake’s powerful gaze. “Will I get something in writing?” Ivy didn’t know what possessed her to ask him that. His expression turned dark and she could tell he didn’t like her question either.

“You have my word, Ivy. That’s always been good enough before.”

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