I don’t say anything. I understand being torn about family—it’s how I feel about Theo and Cara. They’re my King and Queen, and I owe them my life and my recovery, but they’ve also caused me more pain than I can imagine.
Ivy lets out a sigh and shrugs. “But on the other hand, maybe you, Georgie, Giselle, their brothers, and every single other person who knows me is right. Maybe I need to live my own life.” She lifts her gaze to mine, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth.
My eyes drift down over her body—so curvy, so womanly, so fucking perfect. How could she be untouched?
Letting my fingers drift up her sides, I brush my thumbs over the curve of her breasts. She sucks in a breath, sliding her hand up my forearm. Even a gentle touch sends my body into overdrive.
Contrasted against the nothingness that I felt when Cara touched me, I know that what’s going on between us is real.
I want to give her pleasure like she’s never felt before. I want to see her face when she feels a cock inside her for the first time.
But not like this. Not splayed out in a tiny pool house, where anyone could walk in.
I want to treat her like a princess, and make sure that she wants it as much as I do. When I finally have her, it’ll be on top of a king-sized bed, with down pillows under her ebony hair, and silk sheets for her to twist her fingers into.
I stroke her face with my fingers, and Ivy blinks as she stares at me.
“You know how I’m a virgin…” she says, reading my mind. “Is that… Is that a problem? I know we’ve been taking it slow. Is it too slow for you?”
I smile, leaning over to kiss her. “Nothing about you is a problem, least of all the fact that you’re a virgin.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” she stammers, gulping. “I just… I don’t know. It’s just never happened.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“You make my head feel all messed up, Your Highness. Luca. I…” Ivy closes her eyes for a moment, and then finally lifts her gaze up to meet mine. “I just need time.”
I nod. “You’ve got all the time in the world, Ivy. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You don’t think I’m a freak?”
“I do, but not because you’re a virgin.”
Ivy laughs, swatting my chest. She pulls me to the daybed, and we lay down together. I wrap my arms around her, trailing my fingers through her hair. Having her in my arms feels right, and I already know I’ll go as slow as she wants me to.
21
Ivy
I wake up at dawn with Prince Luca’s arms still wrapped around me. Sitting up in the day bed, I rub my eyes and groan at the stiffness in my body. There’s a chill in the pool house. I shiver.
The Prince roughs his hands through his hair, making it stick up in all directions. He yawns before smiling sleepily at me.
He’s never looked as handsome as he does now. Unkempt, sleepy, and completely mine.
Blinking at the rays of sun that are poking over the horizon, I let out a happy sigh. Standing up and stretching my arms over my head, a twinge of excitement pokes my stomach. I glance at Luca, and then pull my shirt off over my head.
His eyebrows jump up, and his hand instinctively moves between his legs.
Without saying a word, I unclasp my bra and let it fall to my feet. The Prince’s eyes sweep over my chest and he lets out a soft breath. When my hands move to my pants, the Prince’s throat bobs.
He looks at me like he’s never seen anyone as beautiful, his gaze sending sparks flying across my skin. Truthfully, I’ve never felt as beautiful as I do now. To have a man like him looking at me like that… It’s not something I ever thought I’d experience.
I unfasten my jeans, pulling them down along with my underwear and kicking both garments off. I stand up again, naked.
I’m not sure where this confidence came from, but it’s too late to turn back now. I’ve never been naked in front of Luca, and doing it now makes me feel incredible. Powerful. Sexy.
“Ivy…” The Prince sighs, his eyes sweeping up and down my body. His hand rubs between his legs, and I smile, blushing.