CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
NOLAN’S KISSING SKILLS never ceased to amaze Ivy and she loved mating her tongue with his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held on as he gave her yet another kiss to remember. One that sent pleasurable shivers all through her body.
Moments later he broke off the kiss and tumbled them onto the bed. Their naked limbs entangled, he pulled her into his arms as if needing the feel of her there. It seemed the bed was filled with the drugging scent of him.
Then he was straddling her, looming above her. She looked up into the darkness of his eyes and felt something she’d never felt before. It seemed her heart suddenly ceased beating as unexpected emotions overwhelmed her. Emotions she thought she would never feel again. Emotions she didn’t want to feel now.
Nolan must have noticed the distressed look in her features. “You okay, Ivy?”
No, she wasn’t okay and she wasn’t ready to admit why. The problem was hers alone to deal with and she would. Falling in love with Nolan Madaris was not an option. “Yes, I’m fine,” she lied, wondering if she would ever be fine again. She was well aware of what he’d said earlier. Basically, this was a temporary situation. Their plans hadn’t changed. In the end they would go their separate ways, and he will return to being Mr. One-Night Stand.
A slow, sensual smile touched his lips. “I intend to make you feel better.”
“Promise?” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Promise. If you don’t believe me, just watch.”
And then he was kissing her again and the intensity left her moaning. Each stroke of his tongue had her shaking, filled with urgency and need. He broke off the kiss and whispered against her lips, “Wrap your legs around me.”
She did as he instructed and could feel the massive head of his shaft ease inside her, stretching her to accommodate his size. His gaze held hers and something, she wasn’t sure what, flickered in the depths of his eyes. She started to ask if anything was wrong, but then he was lifting her hips in his big hands, holding her steady as he continued pushing inside her.
Immediately, torrid sensations from where their bodies were joined made her moan. And when he began moving, stroking her and thrusting in and out, hot fire seemed to spread through her loins, causing contractions in her womb. She closed her eyes, convulsed in pleasure, overtaken with desire, by the way he was making her feel. She could get addicted to this, but only with him. As if it had a mind of its own, her inner muscles began milking him, clenching him tight, and her nails dug deep into his shoulder blades.
“Nolan...” She said his name when she felt a climax building.
In response, she heard a growl of deep male satisfaction in his throat just seconds before his body bucked hard into her, causing her body to splinter into never-ending spasms. “Nolan!”
He began thrusting inside her with increased speed as he continued to ride her mercilessly. Her legs tightened around him. And when he screamed her name she knew he was consumed in as much pleasure as she was.
That thought was short-lived when another orgasm ripped through her body. When he made another growling sound, followed by an increase of thrusts, she knew he’d followed her into yet another orgasm.
* * *
NOLAN’S NOSTRILS FLARED as they inhaled Ivy’s scent. He shifted in bed, realizing just how good it felt to wake up with her beside him. Their bodies were so close it was a tight fit. Snug. And even in sleep her body was hot.
He didn’t want to wake her but he wanted to make love to her again. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was eight in the morning. He would be patient. Then his cell phone rang.
Nolan knew who was calling. The gospel-music ringtone was a dead giveaway. He glanced at Ivy and saw the sound had awakened her. Pushing hair from her face, she pulled herself up in bed before reaching for her eyeglasses to put them on.
“Good morning,” he said and leaned over to place a kiss on her lips. “Happy Saturday.”
“Good morning and happy Saturday to you, too. Do you need to get that?” she said, referring to the ringing phone he was trying to ignore.
“She’ll call back if I don’t.”
Then he pulled her into his arms, needing her taste this morning. He should think that was odd since he’d consumed a lot of her taste last night, but he was discovering when it came to Ivy, he always wanted more. At some point his phone had stopped ringing and now it was ringing again.
Nolan knew how his great-grandmother operated. If she tried to reach you and couldn’t, there was a chance she would get Jake to drive her to your place to make sure you were still alive and of sound mind. The way she saw it, there was no other reason for you not to take her call.
Breaking off the kiss, he said, “I need to answer it this time or she’ll be sending out the cavalry.”
He reached for his cell phone and clicked it on. “Good morning, Mama Laverne.”
“Good morning, Nolan. It took you long enough to answer the phone.”
He smiled and glanced over at Ivy. “I was busy. You’re up rather early, aren’t you?”
“I’m up planning the party for tomorrow.”
Nolan raised a brow. “What party?”
“A celebration for the two new Madarises.”
“Don’t you think it’s kind of soon? Kenna isn’t out of the hospital yet and it will be a while before the twins come home.”
“That’s fine. We’ll have another party again later. Besides, I want the family to meet Ivy.”
Nolan went still. A fierce frown appeared on his face. “What do you mean you want the family to meet Ivy? Why?”
“Nolan, that’s a stupid question and you’re far too intelligent to ask it. I’ll see you tomorrow at five. Whispering Pines. Don’t be late.”
He held Ivy’s gaze. “Does Ivy know about tomorrow?”
“No, but you can tell her. If she’s awake, you can tell her now.”
Nolan’s frown deepened. “Tell her now? What makes you think she’s here?”
“Tsk-tsk. There you go again, asking stupid questions. Goodbye, Nolan. See you tomorrow.” And then she clicked off the phone.
Nolan didn’t say anything as he continued looking over at Ivy. Then he placed his cell phone back on the nightstand. “Mama Laverne wants to invite you to a Madaris family gathering tomorrow. She figures now will be a good time for you to meet the family and for the family to meet you.”
“And how did she know I was here?”
Nolan shrugged. “Trust me, it wasn’t Corbin and it definitely wasn’t me. It had to have been her allies.”
“Allies at Sisters? You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I understand several of the waitresses at Sisters attend her church and she was instrumental in getting them hired there. And I heard she’s even played matchmaker for one or two with guys on Granduncle Jake’s ranch. She doesn’t limit what she perceives as her God-given matchmaking skills to just family members.”
Ivy frowned. “Thanks for telling me about the invitation, but I’m not going.”
Nolan lifted a brow. “Why not?”
“It’s obvious that you prefer I not go.”
Did he say that? Granted he’d been annoyed at Mama Laverne, but he should have suspected she would try to do something to maintain an upper hand. “Sorry, if what I said to Mama Laverne has you thinking that I don’t want you to go, because that’s not the case. It just annoys the hell out of me when she manipulates any situation to suit her purpose. But meeting the family tomorrow will be a good thing. Then we can officially put our plan into motion.”
Instead of saying anything to him, Ivy quickly got out of bed and moved to the chair to retrieve her clothes. “Where are you going, Ivy?”
“Home. I’ll get dressed, and you can take me there or I can walk. Do you have extra toiletries?”
“Yes. Look in the top-left vanity drawer. Why are you leaving?”
She looked at him as if it was an odd question. He refused to think she might think it was stupid one. According to his great-grandmother, he’d asked a couple of them today.
“Why should I stay?”
He started to say so they could enjoy more great sex but figured that wouldn’t be a good idea. It was obvious Mama Laverne’s phone call had upset her. “No reason. I brought you here and I’ll take you home. I refuse to let you walk.”
“Fine.” She quickly walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Nolan rubbed a frustrated hand down his face. Today was not going the way he’d hoped. Ivy was wrong. Nothing was fine.