Page 4 of Ivy

My eyes travel his body and I can’t stop from licking my lips. My gaze lands on his sexy mouth that’s surrounded by his designer stubble. Surely he pays someone to make it look that good. The smirk that is in place just proves he knows the effect he has on me, and God knows, many other women. That thought is like a bucket of cold water on my overactive but deprived libido. I roll my eyes at his smug face.

“You know it's done, Beast.” I started using the nickname ‘Beast’ for Luke after a few days of meeting him. He is freaking huge, and the name suits him. “Now, what can I really do for you?” I regret the question as soon as it leaves my mouth. I go to rephrase, but he beats me to it.

“You know what you canreallydo for me, Peaches.” He winks at me. I take a deep breath and go to reply, but the door opens, and a woman walks in. Bloody hell, can her clothes be any tighter on her body? I’m pretty sure she has the same clothing-painter as Luke.

Her face lights up when she sees Luke standing there. I shake my head and force the little green demon inside my mind to stay quiet. My head is mixed up when it comes to this man. I know he wants me, but he sleeps with other girls. Why do that if he desires me? That alone is not going to make me fancy him more. I do want him, but I have to think of Carter. I know he thinks the world of Luke, but what if he walks away in a few months? From what I’ve gathered about Luke, he’s a ‘hit it and quit it’ type of bloke.

A high-pitched laugh breaks through my thoughts.

“Oh, Luke, you are too funny.” I chuckle to myself. Funny isn’t a word I would use to describe Luke Baker. They both turn to look at me. The woman has a confused look on her face, but Luke… well, I can’t read his expression. I wave my hand at them.

“Ignore me,” I say, and turn my back to them.

“Excuse me, but are you going to book me in?” the annoying voice asks. Shit, I knew I had forgotten to do something. I bend forward and collect the forms she needs to fill out before getting her piercing. I can feel his eyes on my arse, burning into my skin. I stand up, form in hand, and turn to them. Beast’s mouth is lifted up at one corner, showing me he appreciated the view I just gave him.

“Here, I’m sure Beast—um, I mean Luke, can handle you from here,” I say, and hand the forms over to her.

She takes them from me and offers a smug smile. “Oh, I thinkBeastcan handle me just fine.” I clench my fists at my sides at her using my name for him.

“Only her,” he growls out. His tone shocks me.

“Pardon?” she asks him, looking a little bewildered.

He points to me and answers her. “Only Peaches gets to call me Beast.” I stand stock still and take in the scene in front of me. Even though I know what he’s saying is true—I am the only one he allows to call him ‘Beast’—his words still shock me. The woman looks between us, like a bobblehead.

“Oh, okay. I didn’t realise you were a couple.”

“NO!” I all but scream the word, making her jump. “Oh, no, we aren’t a couple. We’re just friends. Yep, just friends. No coupling going on here. Nope, not us.” I shake my head.

“We get it, Ivy.” Ooooh, he said my proper name. He is pissed. Oh no. My heart sinks, because I know what comes next. He’s now going to hit me where it hurts the most: my heart.

Our gazes are locked. It’s like he’s drilling his thoughts into my head, and my breathing becomes erratic, my cheeks flush. He breaks the connection and turns to the woman.

Here it comes…

“Come on, doll. I can handle you just fine. Why don’t we go back to my room and have some privacy. I don’t think myfriendwould like to see the things I’m going to do to you.” He winks at her and she giggles, and all the while my heart sinks into my stomach. I know I have no right feel like this, but I do. I can't stop the thoughts that run through my head, or the feelings that are in my heart.

Only three months of knowing this man and it seems that he has taken a hold of my heart almost completely.

I shake my head and turn my gaze back to them. Seeing him with all these women is only hurting me, but it’s only me who can stop it. I need to think about everything, take everything into account, and go from there.

Bollocks. The woman’s giggles fill the room and my stomach revolts. I take a few deep breaths and turn to go back to my waiting design.

I jump when I turn around to see my brother Jay standing in front of the reception desk.

“Holy shit, Jay, you scared the fudge out of me.” His face crinkles in disgust at my words.

“Fudge? Really, sis?” I shrug and pick up my pencil. It’s a pencil Carter got for me when he went out on a day trip with Dex and Addy one day in the summer. “You do know that when you say that it sounds like I literally just made you shit yourself, right?”

“No, it doesn’t,” I retort.

“Ummm, yeah it does, but anyway…” He looks towards Luke’s room, and then back to me. “Do I need to go all big brother on his arse? And I don't mean that shit show where the stupid people lock themselves in a house full of strangers and then bitch because they don’t like them or the tasks they’re asked to do. For fucks sake, they knew what they were signing up for.” He takes a deep breath. God, I love my big brother. I love them both. They have been there for me and Carter since we showed up on their doorstep.

“I think they know and are told to play on their issues.” I drop my gaze to his ‘Captain Awesome’ mug that he drinks out of, and chuckle. Dex has a ‘Captain Twat’ mug. That was a fun conversation to have with Carter one morning. Beast needs a mug. I need to get Addy on that. I look back up at my brother and give him a big smile. A fake smile.

“No need to go all big brother on him. He’s an arsehole, Jay, and we all know it. My head is battling over what to do. It’s clear that he wants me, but at the same time he’s still sleeping with anything that will open their legs for him—or drop to their knees. I can’t afford to get hurt again. I deserve a man who will worship me and Carter both.” Jay’s eyes search mine, looking to see if I mean what I’m telling him.

He nods his head, comes around the counter, and wraps me up in his arms. I love being held by Jay because I feel loved and wanted. One day, Dex will hug me like this too. I know my mother loved me, but this is a different kind of love. I never got to have a father’s love because he died before I met him. After a minute or two, Jay steps back but keeps his hand on my shoulder. We smile at each other before he speaks.

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