Page 49 of Redeem Me

‘So, let me get this straight.’ She inclines her head thoughtfully. ‘You like me, which is why you haven’t had sex with me, because you feel… guilty? Because of Isabella?’

‘Amongst the other things. Like I’m your boss. And your brother’s best friend.’

‘Don’t worry about Dermot. He’ll never find out.’ She puffs out a breath. ‘As for Isabella, I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through and how you feel, but you can’t live in this permanent state of dark and tortured forever. It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for the kids. You needto live while you can. I know nothing about your wife, but I do know that she wouldn’t want you to live in a permanent state of misery.’

Ivy’s words are an uncanny echo of Jocelyn’s.‘Isabella would hate to see you like this.’

‘I told you already, I don’t want a proposal, I want your penis. Don’t panic. Don’t overthink this. We both know where we stand. It’s one summer in both of our lives. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use me as a practice run for when you find a woman you really do want to date.’

I can’t think of any woman in the world I’d rather date than Ivy.

I suppose that’s why they say opposites attract.

‘Life is short, and everything can change in the blink of an eye. You know it better than anyone. Let’s live for today,’ Ivy says, patting my knee.

For a horny twenty-three-year-old who chose not to pursue a formal college education, she’s the smartest woman I know.

Chapter Twenty-Two

IVY

Tortured likes me. It’s enough to give me the warm and fuzzies.

I wasn’t lying when I told him I wanted his penis, rather than a proposal, but I have a feeling if he were to lose the armour (along with his underpants), I could fall hard and fast for a man like him. A man who’s strong and self-assured. Successful and confident. Which is whyIneed to erect some defences.

‘You’re like the blazing sun, bright, blinding and flaming hot.’ His hand lands on top of mine on his knee and electricity bolts between us again.

‘It’s a life choice. You should try it sometime,’ I tease to lighten the tone.

His onyx-like eyes land on mine, burning hot enough to melt me into a puddle. ‘What did Rian say that was so hilarious?’

‘He asked me about my favourite position.’ I bite back a smirk.

‘That little prick.’ He shakes his head and his jaw clenches. ‘Did you tell him?’

‘No, I’m more of a show than tell type of woman.’ I place my hand on his knee again. ‘Whenever you’re ready.’

‘I’m trying. I just need a bit of time.’ He rubs a hand over his dark stubble, and the memory of it grazing my inner thigh has me drooling. ‘You already know my cock is utterly invested in the idea.’

‘In the meantime, buy me an ice cream and I guess I’ll settle for being Daddy Pleasure Dom’s fuck toy.’

Ten minutes later, Caelon pulls up in the Royal Marine Hotel car park, a stone’s throw from Dun Laoghaire East Pier.

‘Oh, my God! Can we go to Teddy’s Ice Cream Parlour? I haven’t been here since I was a kid!’ I hop out of the car, scanning all the smiling faces surrounding us.

‘And there was me thinking I’d got rid of the kids for the day,’ he says drily.

My head whips round. ‘Did you just make a joke? Next thing you know, you’ll be cracking a smile.’

‘I blame you,’ he says, falling into step beside me as we stroll along the pier. As we walk, the pier stretches out ahead of us, long and inviting, with the soft hum of the town behind us slowly fading into the background.

The Irish Sea glitters under the sunlight, the waves gently lapping against the stone pier. Boats and yachts are lazily anchored in the harbour, their sails fluttering like lazy summer butterflies. A group of kids are fishing off the edge, their excitement almost as bright as their neon shorts.

Colourful buildings and lively cafés are dotted all along the shoreline. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries wafts over us, mixing with the sea breeze. People lounge on benches, soaking up the sun, and a few couples are having picnics on the grassy patches nearby. Caelon is quiet, thoughtful, or perhaps he’s just soaking in the scenery, like me. The silence between us is anything but awkward. It’scomfortable, especially given the hustle and bustle around us. We pass a busker with a guitar strumming away, adding a charming soundtrack to our walk. I toss a coin into his case, because good vibes deserve a little appreciation.

As we near the end of the pier, we’re treated to a gorgeous panoramic view of Dublin Bay, stretching all the way to Howth and beyond, the horizon expanding like an endless promise.

I pause, taking it all in. The sound of the waves, the distant chatter, the seagulls caw-cawing overhead – it’s like the perfect symphony of summer.

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