Page 38 of Redeem Me

I never claimed to be polite, though.

I’m torn between a desperate urge to see her in that bikini again and the urge to cover her up so my brothers can’t see her. Mind you, James wouldn’t notice if Ivy got naked. He only has eyes for Scarlett. Killian and Sean are probably too gentlemanly to stare, but Rian, well, I wouldn’t put it past him to dry hump Ivy’s leg like a mangey rabid dog.

‘Orla, we’re going in the sea now.’ Owen runs towards his sister, who is still digging.

‘Am I safe taking this off?’ Ivy glances at her top. ‘Or willyou really “take me in front of your entire family?”’ she whispers with a giggle.

‘I’m still contemplating it,’ I mutter. My cock is already stirring in my swimming shorts. I need to get in the water fast, or risk embarrassing myself in front of my brothers.

‘I’ll take my chances.’ A smirk touches her lips before she yanks her top over her head and stares at me defiantly.

‘That bikini top is nothing more than a couple of Post-it Notes covering your tits,’ I grumble. ‘Are you trying to torment me?’

‘Maybe,’ she shrugs, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

‘We talked about this last night.’

‘We did a lot of things last night,’ she reminds me. As if I could forget.

An ear-splitting wolf whistle pierces the air. Rian. I catch Ivy’s wrist and pull her towards the water. ‘Don’t make me drown my brother. My parents would probably be cross.’

‘What time will I pick you up tomorrow, Ivy?’ Rian shouts.

‘Oh, leave him alone, Rian!’ Scarlett chides.

‘The only thing you’ll be picking up is your ass from the floor after I knock you on it.’ I glare at him, and he chortles.

‘I needed some fresh material for the spank bank!’ Rian grabs his crotch and laughs.

‘I will kill him.’ I shake my head as I mentally commit every inch of Ivy’s body to my own personal vault.

Owen slips his hand in mine and Ivy takes his other one. Orla grabs Ivy’s free arm until the four of us are joined physically for safety. Mentally, I’m not sure how safe any of us are. The kids are already forming attachments with Ivy, and they aren’t the only ones.

‘On the count of three, we run in together, okay?’ Ivy says, swinging the kids’ arms back and forth.

‘It looks cold.’ I stare at the waves cascading in front of us.

‘Says the ice king himself,’ Ivy quips. ‘One. Two.’ She glances between my kids, checking they’re ready. Their little faces are lit up with glee and my heart thaws a fraction.

‘Three!’ Ivy calls, pulling me forwards until the cold water slaps my skin.

‘Fuck! It’s freezing!’

‘Daddy! That’s a bad word!’ Ivy scolds jovially. The kids are too busy shrieking with laughter to pay any attention.

‘I’m a bad man, Ivy.’ If I’m not thinking about torturing and murdering the entire O’Connor family, I’m thinking about fucking my best friend’s little sister.

Bad doesn’t cut it.

‘I don’t think you are.’ Her head turns towards mine. ‘I think you’re a good man who’s been through a really awful time.’

Oh Ivy, you have no idea.

Ignorance really is bliss, I suppose.

Chapter Seventeen

IVY

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