Chapter 15
Ivy jumped off the horse without any help, even though Archer had extended a hand towards her. When Leon finally slowed his horse and eventually came to a halt, Ivy was quick to jump off. She was still trying to keep some of her pride intact, even though she was outnumbered now, by two strong cowboys who also happened to be twins.
She took a few steps back from the horse as Leon jumped off the saddle as well, and to her absolute horror, she saw Archer approach his brother. Now they were standing side by side. Nothing she had ever seen, had ever looked this good. They were both oozing masculinity, both muscular, handsome with sharp eyebrows and chiseled jaws. And she also knew exactly what they both looked like without their clothes on.
“Ivy, where did you think you were going? You have a duty to this ranch.” Leon was the one to break the silence. He wasn’t smiling, and neither was Archer. But to Ivy’s complete surprise, they both looked quite calm, and quite comfortable with each other, given that they had both slept with the same woman.
“I give up on those duties. I don’t want to work here anymore.” Ivy said. She was the only one among the three of them who was still breathless, who was still speaking too loudly. She didn’t know what to expect. What sort of punishment did Leon had planned for her?
“You can’t just quit your job like that. Without notice.” Leon continued and now he had crossed his arms over his wide chest. The muscles on his arms clenched and Ivy gulped. Those were the very arms that had swept her off the ground and placed her on the saddle of his horse.
“Ok, here is my notice now.” She said, jutting her chin up in the air.
“Why are you leaving, Ivy?” Archer said and she jerked her head to look at him. How dare he ask her that? She narrowed her eyes at him and had fixed a harsh glare on his face, and to her further surprise, a smile was breaking on Archer’s face.
“My brother tells me that he recently got a taste of what I have.” Leon said and Ivy almost felt her knees buckling. Here it was. So, Archer had told him. She could feel her nostrils flaring, her lips quivering. She didn’t want to hear what Leon had to say to that. She was suddenly very afraid of him, and afraid of Archer too.
“Does that have anything to do with why you were planning to leave?” Leon continued and Ivy hung her head down in shame.
“I am ashamed for betraying you, Leon.” She forced herself to say. Now that he knew, she had no other choice but to admit to what she had done. Now there was no escaping this.
She looked up when she heard Leon laugh, and soon enough, Archer had joined him too. The brothers were laughing.
“I tried to tell her. But you know how she is, a feisty one this one.” Archer was speaking to Leon, through his laughs, while Leon laughed silently, his shoulders shaking. Ivy’s mouth hung open. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Why wasn’t Leon angry? Why wasn’t he angry with her? With Archer? Why wasn’t he feeling betrayed?
“Why are you ashamed, Ivy? Didn’t I tell you that I share everything with my brother?” Leon said, his laughter finally dying down.
“Even me?” Ivy still couldn’t manage to keep her mouth open. She couldn’t quite understand what Leon was saying, none of this was making sense to her.
“Of course.” Leon said and now he took a few steps towards her.
Ivy gulped, following his movement with her eyes as he came closer towards her.
“My brother and I share everything, Ivy. And I planned on sharing you too. I’m glad you had a chance to experience him before I suggested it to you.” Leon said, coming up to her and holding her face in his hands. There was a sudden warmth in his eyes, that made Ivy’s heart flutter. She could hardly believe what he was saying. It seemed too good to be true. She could never have predicted it.
Archer was standing where he was, and smiling at them.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Leon said and Ivy licked her lips.
“There is no jealousy between us, Ivy. We have always been this way, ever since we were kids. What’s his is mine and what’s mine is his.” Archer was the one speaking now. Ivy looked at him, over Leon’s shoulder who was still holding her face in his hands.
She looked back at him, her eyelids flickering. If what he was saying, was to be believed, it meant that she could have both the brothers, in the same house, as often and as much as she liked, without either of them having a problem with it.
“You understand, Ivy?” Leon asked huskily, before lowering his face so he could fuse his lips with her. She nodded her head as he kissed her. She could feel her belly twitching, and she kissed him back. This would mean that she wouldn’t have to leave the ranch. That she wouldn’t have to give up this life, and she wouldn’t have to choose between one or the other brother.
When they parted, Ivy was gasping for air. Archer was still behind them, his arms crossed, smiling.
“Now, can we go back to our usual day, please?” He said, and Ivy couldn’t stop herself from breaking into uncontrollable laughter. This was actually happening. Her biggest, deepest, darkest fantasy was actually going to come true. She had completely misjudged Leon. He was happy to share her. She hadn’t betrayed him; in fact, she had done exactly what he wanted her to do. She leaned her head-on Leon’s arm and looked up at him with a soft smile on her face. He had no idea how happy he had just made her.