Page 24 of Silver Fox's Secret Triplets
"That sounds perfect for you."
"It was." I took another sip of wine, feeling the alcohol begin to loosen the tight knots in my shoulders. "I loved waking up every morning and walking to the harbor, seeing the boats come in with their catch. The community there was so close-knit, so genuine. Everyone looked out for each other."
"Is that what you miss most? The community?"
I considered the question. "I miss the simplicity of it. Life there was slower, quieter. I could think clearly there."
"And you can't think clearly here?"
"Not when you're around."
The admission slipped out before I could stop it, and I saw Duncan's eyes darken in response.
"Ivy…"
"We should probably stick to safe topics," I said quickly, but even as I spoke the words, I found myself leaning closer to him.
The wine was making me bold, or maybe it was the way the fading sunlight caught the silver in his hair, or the way he was looking at me as if I were the only woman in the world. We talked about everything and nothing—books we'd read, places we wanted to travel, childhood memories that made us laugh until our sides ached.
The sky deepened to purple, and stars began to appear overhead. The jazz music continued to play softly, creating an intimate cocoon around us. I found myself relaxing for the first time in weeks, the constant anxiety about Mom and the children and Dad's anger fading into the background.
"I should probably go inside," I said eventually, though I made no move to stand up.
"Stay." Duncan's voice was rough, and when I looked at him, I saw heat burning in his eyes. "Please. I don't want to go home alone tonight."
Before I could respond, he moved closer, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. His thumb traced across my skin, and I felt myself melting into his touch.
"Duncan…"
"I've missed you," he whispered, his breath warm against my lips.
And then he kissed me.
10
DUNCAN
"Duncan." My name on her lips was barely a whisper, but it undid me completely.
Before I could think, before I could remember all the reasons this was dangerous, I closed the distance between us. My mouth found hers with a desperation that matched my own, and I was lost. The kiss was fierce, hungry, full of almost four years of absence and regret and need. Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer, and I responded by rolling her over under the apple tree, my palms braced on either side of her face.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing hard. The rational part of my mind screamed at me to step back, to restore the careful boundaries we'd maintained. But when she tried to slip away, to put space between us again, I caught her wrist.
"Don't." The word came out more plea than command. "You're so magnetic, Ivy. I can't—" I stopped, running my free hand through my hair, struggling to find words for what she did to me. "I can't even remember being so excited to come to work. Or happy to wake up."
Her eyes widened at the admission, vulnerability flickering across her features. For a moment, I thought she might run again, disappear the way she had before. But instead, she reached up and touched my face, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw.
"I missed you," she whispered, and those three words shattered the last of my resistance.
The night was warm, private, perfect. Above us, the branches swayed gently in the evening breeze, and in the distance, the house glowed with golden light from the windows. But here, in this shadowed sanctuary, there was only us.
I leaned in again, this time more slowly, and my lips brushed against hers. Her breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she deepened the kiss, her tongue seeking out mine with a hunger that matched my own. The flames of desire that had smoldered between us for so long exploded into an inferno, and I couldn't get enough of her.
My hands traveled down her body, unbuttoning her blouse one agonizingly slow button at a time. I wanted to savor every moment, every inch of her skin that was revealed to me. When the barrier of fabric was finally gone, I let out a low groan at the sight of her lacy bra and the swell of her breasts.
"God, Ivy," I breathed against her neck as I kissed my way down her collar.
"Duncan," she moaned, arching her back and pressing herself against me. My lips trailed lower, closing over her erect nipple through the delicate fabric of her bra. She gasped, her nails digging into my back as I teased her with my tongue and teeth.
