From This Moment (11 page)

Ivy hadn’t had so much fun in a long time, at times feeling like a teenager. At first she had refused to go on the ice, but Jonathan kept telling her it was like riding a bike. She finally relented when everyone insisted that she join them.

Ivy had trouble keeping her balance, and Jonathan’s assistance didn’t help much. He held her hand or wrapped his arms around her waist, and his sheer nearness was disconcerting, making it hard to even keep her balance. She had finally gotten the hang of it, and ended up being happy she had gone out with him.

After going to a fast-food restaurant, they headed home.

* * *

Leaning back against the headrest, Ivy closed her eyes and reveled in the fact that she was completely relaxed.

“Tired, baby?”

“Yes, but a good tired.” Ivy smiled, but kept her eyes closed.

Jonathan parked his vehicle in front of her house and eased his arm around her shoulder, drawing her closer. After kissing her passionately, he said, “I had fun, too. We’ve definitely got to do this again.”

“Do you want to come inside?” she asked, her face flushed from the kiss they just shared.

Jonathan looked intently at her. “Are you sure?”

Ivy nodded before saying, “Yes.”

They got out of the car and went inside.

“Have a seat. I’m going to change into something more comfortable,” Ivy said, leaving him in the room.

Leaning back against the sofa, he rested his arms on the back of it and said, “Make it something sexy.”

Ivy admitted to herself as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom that she didn’t know what she was doing, but she was going to roll with it because tonight was the night.

Trying to figure out what to wear wasn’t easy. She loved pretty, silky lingerie, and had an armoire full of it, but had no idea what he liked. She rummaged through her drawer at first, then suddenly had a devious thought. “Jonathan, can you come here for a minute?”

Jonathan got up from the couch and walked down the hall. “Where are you?”

“I’m back here,” she yelled.

Once at the door, he saw her standing in front of her dresser wearing a short navy blue silk robe.

“Can you help me find something you would like?” Ivy asked innocently with a peach and black negligee hanging from the tip of her finger and a lacy blue thong dangling from the other.

Jonathan clenched his teeth to keep from running across the room to grab her. “You don’t have to wear anything.”

Ivy dropped the lingerie back in the drawer and said, “As you wish.”

Without thinking about what she was doing, she loosened the tie around her waist, causing the robe to come apart and revealing her blue lacy bra and panties.

Jonathan moved farther into the room, meeting her. Ivy fingered the collar of his black polo shirt before kissing him lightly on the lips.

“Girl, you better stop playing with me,” he said, attempting to restrain himself from picking her up and taking her over to the bed.

“What did I do?” Ivy asked innocently.

“Don’t play innocent little schoolgirl with me, Ivy.”

Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed the back of his neck.

“So you want to play, huh?” he whispered huskily.

Ivy kissed his neck in response.

The atmosphere in the room changed dramatically. There was no more kidding around; this was serious.

Jonathan stepped back and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to hate me in the morning.”

Ivy’s stomach tightened and she took one step forward. “I’m sure,” she whispered in his ear, then nibbled it with her teeth.

Excitement exploded in every nerve of his body as he slipped her robe off and watched it fall gently to the floor.

Reaching around her, he unhooked her bra in one smooth motion. Pulling the flimsy material forward, he paused to give her time to move away in case she was having second thoughts. When she didn’t move, he finished removing it and pulled her to him.

“Ivy, you are a beautiful woman,” he whispered, dipping his head and lightly kissing her right nipple first, then the left.

Ivy was grateful he was holding her; otherwise she would have surely hit the floor.

Jonathan reached up and massaged her temple before undoing her pinned-up hair. Running his fingers through her loose curls, he said, “You look so sexy with your hair loose and free. I want that for you like nothing else.”

“What?” she asked, trying to focus because she was a bundle of nerves.

“To be sexually free; no inhibitions.”

“Show me,” she said, her hand moving to his belt buckle.

Jonathan lifted Ivy into his arms with ease and carried her over to the bed. He gently lay her down on top of the covers. He kicked his shoes off and climbed into the bed beside her.

For a few moments, he just drank her body with his eyes, from the beautiful wisps of dark-brown hair that had fallen in her face to her perky dark-brown nipples and her flat stomach.

Jonathan kissed the tip of her nipple again, almost sending Ivy over the edge with anticipation of what was to come.

He rained small kisses on the surface of her stomach before moving further down her body. The warmth of his lips on her skin made Ivy feel as if she was going to come off the bed.

Jonathan peeled back the top of her panties and kissed the exposed skin. Ivy panted as she helped him push the lacy material over her butt and hips and down her legs.

Shaking his head, Jonathan said, “It doesn’t make any sense for a woman to have a body like yours.”

He got up, reached in his wallet and retrieved the small gold foil packet; he then pushed his jeans and underwear to the floor and stepped out of them, releasing his manhood.

Watching him, Ivy’s tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth; she wanted to say something but couldn’t. She marveled at the fact that he was about to make love to her.

Jonathan got back into the bed on his haunches, rolled the condom on to his rigid sex, and positioned himself between her thighs. He gently grasped her legs and pulled her down to him. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he stopped suddenly.

Rising on his knees, he caressed her face.

“What is it, baby? Don’t be afraid,” he said, trying to reassure her.

Jonathan moved next to her and gathered her into his arms. Maybe he was moving a little too fast. He was anxious to make love to her again, and maybe he had scared her when he’d pulled her toward him.

Moving several loose strands of hair from her face, he asked, “Did I scare you just now?”

“No, I’m fine,” Ivy lied. Besides that fateful night in Las Vegas, when she was impaired by alcohol, she hadn’t been with a man since Randall.

“We don’t have to go any further if you don’t want to,” he said, reassuring her that even though he wanted to make love to her like there was no tomorrow, he would stop.

Ivy pushed Jonathan on his back and lay her upper body across his. The intensity of her need shocked her, so she could only imagine what it did for him.

As Jonathan caressed her buttocks, their lips met, releasing all their pent-up desires. He pulled her fully on top of him so she could feel his desire.

With his hands firmly palming her behind, in slow motion, Jonathan moved her body up and down against his. Watching the anticipation on her face, he knew it was time to move to the next level.

Lifting her, he quickly positioned her beneath him. With a deep kiss, he parted her legs and touched her wet heat; she was ready, and he was glad. He needed to be buried deep inside her, her long legs wrapped around his waist.

Ivy didn’t think she could stand anymore. When he touched her feminine core, that was her undoing. If he didn’t make love to her, something bad was bound to happen.

Jonathan positioned himself at the entrance of her heat, pushing gently. Suddenly, Ivy pushed her body forward, bringing him deeper inside her.

Feeling her tight, wet heat wrapped around his engorged sex, Jonathan moved slowly, but methodically, causing them both to gasp at the delicious sensations the motions created.

Ivy caught on to the rhythm and moved with him. Her heart beating next to his felt as if their heartbeats had become one.

Jonathan started to slow the pace.

“Don’t stop,” Ivy pleaded, caressing his face. She climbed higher and higher with every stroke. They could hold back no longer. Suddenly their pleasure rushed forth, spiraling them to ecstasy.

Ivy had never experienced this feeling. She felt wonderful and free. They lay next to each other, breathing deeply, thinking about where they had just gone as they drifted to sleep.

Ivy snuggled closer to Jonathan’s warm body. She could feel him kissing her forehead, nose and neck. Then he wrapped his legs around hers.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he said. A smile touched his lips as he stared at her, his head propped up on his right hand.

He leaned forward, kissing her lightly on the lips. “How are you feeling this morning?”

Ivy stretched luxuriously. “Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”

Jonathan kissed her bare shoulder. “I’m glad I had something to do with that.”

She ran her hand across his chest. “Me, too.”

His demanding mouth descended upon hers, moving closer to her until their lips touched.

After he ended the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. “You know I’m crazy about you, Ivy,” he said, his voice soft and low. After an awkward moment of silence, he said, “You don’t have to say anything.”

Ivy rapidly blinked her eyes. She wanted to respond, but didn’t know what to say; his words had taken her by surprise. But there was no doubt she loved him because she’d given him her body, something she didn’t take lightly. So her actions confirmed her feelings; she just wasn’t ready to say the words.

Instead she said, “I’m still trying to take it all in.”

He caressed her face. “I understand.” Releasing her, he threw back the cover and sat up on the side of the bed.

Looking back at her, he asked, “Why don’t we go out for breakfast?”

Pulling the sheet up over her, Ivy replied, “Good idea, but by the time we get dressed it will be too late for breakfast and too early for lunch.”

“We can go to Tiebels. They serve brunch on Sundays.” Jonathan stood. “Do you mind if I take my shower first?”

“There are plenty of towels in the little closet in the bathroom. Help yourself.”

Ivy watched how his dark chocolate skin glistened in the light of the early morning sun as he walked out of the room.

* * *

Momentarily closing her eyes, Ivy lay in bed, her arm thrown over her face, reflecting on how unbelievably fantastic her experience with him had been the night before.

The memory of the heat from his body pressed against hers, the way his mouth caressed the tender places of her body, only fueled the fire inside of her, making her want him more. Their lovemaking was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

“Ivy,” Jonathan called out to her, breaking into her thoughts.

Ivy got up, slipped on her robe and went to the bathroom.

“Yes, Jonathan? You need something else?”

“I need you to wash my back.”

“Wash your back?” she repeated.

Jonathan turned around, looking over his shoulder. “Yeah, there’s a spot I can’t reach,” he said, giving her an example.

Ivy shook her head and said, “I’ve never washed a man’s back.”

A wide smile grew on his face as he noticed her free flowing hair and dark nipples through the sheer robe.

Moving the shower head to the side, he turned toward her. “There’s a first time for everything.” He opened the shower door and handed her the soapy white wash cloth.

Ivy tried to tear her eyes away, but she couldn’t. Her pulse raced and her body tingled at the sight of him; he was magnificently built.

Taking the towel from him, she washed his back in an up and down motion from the outside of the shower, watching as the soapy water ran down his back and disappeared into the crease of his tight behind.

“That feels good, baby.”

“Good.”

Jonathan turned around, his eyes twinkling with desire. “Now, the front.”

Ivy rubbed his chest first in a circular pattern. Jonathan covered her hand, moving the towel down to his shaft, which was erect.

With trembling hands, she gently caressed his manhood with the towel; all the while every sensitive nerve in her body came alive.

The heat rose in Jonathan’s soulful brown eyes. The only thing on his mind was his lengthening sex and the beautiful woman in front of him . . . his wife.

“Now you know if you come in here, you’re going to get your hair wet.”

Ivy could see the desire in his eyes, and she was ready to join him. Loosening the knot of her robe, she slipped it off, letting it hit the floor.

Stepping forward, she whispered, “That’s okay. It will be worth it.”

Jonathan immediately slipped his arms around her waist when she joined him, pulling her against his hard body.

With Ivy’s arms wrapped around his neck, he stopped the water flow and guided her to the back of the shower, where he sat on the granite bench and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her lightly on the lips and gazed into her dark-brown eyes.

Ivy rested her forehead on his. Dropping her lids, she proclaimed, “I love you.”

Both stunned and touched, Jonathan continued studying her before confessing, “I love you, too.” Sealing his statement, he kissed her wildly.

Jonathan stopped abruptly. “This isn’t going to work, he said, lifting her up from his lap and standing.

Reaching outside the shower door, he pulled a large bath sheet from the wall rack. He wrapped Ivy in the navy blue bath sheet and swooped her up into his arms. “When I make love to you, I want us to be in the bed.”

Holding on to him tightly, Ivy did not protest.

Jonathan walked down the hall into the bedroom, closing the door with his foot.

* * *

A short time later, the doorbell sounded.

“Baby, I think there’s someone at the door,” Jonathan said after hearing the chime of the bell.

Ivy glanced at the clock on her night stand to check the time. They had fallen back to sleep and it was now nine-thirty. She never had any friends come over on Sunday morning, so it had to be one of her sisters.

The doorbell sounded again.

Maybe if I don’t answer, they’ll think I’m not home.
She snuggled closer to Jonathan.

“Babe, my car is sitting outside,” he reminded her.

Ivy snapped her fingers. “Dang, I forgot about that.”

The doorbell rang again.

Ivy got up from the bed. “I better answer. It doesn’t look like they’re going to let up.”

“I’ll be here when you get back,” he said.

Ivy walked over to the dresser and pulled out a nightshirt, slipping it over her head as she walked out the room.

Standing on the tips of her toes, she looked through the peep hole. She took two steps back and said, “Damn, it’s Lili.”

Lili probably recognized Jonathan’s car outside. She would ask a million questions, Ivy thought.

“Yes,” Ivy said, watching Lili reach out to press the button again.

“Vee, open up,” Lili yelled from the other side.

Ivy opened the door and Lili stepped inside.

“Is that Jonathan’s truck outside?” Lili asked.

“What are you doing over here this time of morning on a Sunday?” Ivy asked her, pulling the collar of her gown together.

Lili stared at Ivy. “Remember, you told me to come over here on my way to church to pick up the clothes you were donating to the battered women’s shelter.”

“Battered women’s shelter?”

Lili frowned, and then started looking around the room. “Yeah, you said you didn’t think you were going to make it to church on Sundays until your schedule let up, so you asked me to come and get the stuff.”

“Baby, where’s the lotion?” Jonathan interrupted. He came around the corner with only a towel to cover his body.

Ivy jerked her head in his direction. She turned back and saw the shocked expression on Lili’s face.

She decided there would be no need in trying to explain Jonathan’s presence, so she wouldn’t.

“Oh, hey, Lili,” Jonathan said.

“Mornin,” Lili said, her eyes on her sister.

“Well, well, well,” she said, stepping toward the front door, “I see you’re a little busy, so I’m going to get going.”

“Don’t you want the clothes?” Ivy asked her.

Lili waved her hand forward. “Naw, I’ll get them another time. I’ll let you get back to
whatever
you were doing.”

She removed the paper she’d held underneath her arm, handing it to Ivy. “Oh, yeah, I checked out your column in this morning’s paper. Great job!” She winked at Ivy, opened the door and rushed out.

When she left so fast, Ivy knew what was coming next. She ran down the hallway to the bedroom, where Jonathan was putting his clothes on.

“How much do you want to bet that Walter Cronkite is going to go blabbing to Violet and Rosie?”

“Walter Cronkite?”

“Yeah, that’s what we call Lili. She tells everything she knows or thinks she knows. Plus she’s nosey, so she’s going to try to pull the other two in to get the info.”

Jonathan chuckled. “Family,” he said, buttoning his shirt.

“Watch, my phone is going to ring.”

Ivy started a countdown, five, four, three, two and before she could say one, the phone rang.

“Vee?”

“Good morning, Rosie,” Ivy said, and then mouthed the words
told you
to Jonathan.

Nobody said a word.

“Girl, Lili just called us and said that Jonathan was at your house,” Violet finally said, breaking the silence.

“I didn’t believe her,” Rose said.

“He is here, Rosie,” Ivy admitted.

“In a bath towel,” Rose stated.

“You have such a big mouth, Lili,” Ivy said. There was no answer, so she continued.

“I know you’re on here. I think you set a record, it wasn’t even ten minutes this time.”

“I told you guys he was there,” Lili said. triumphantly.

“Don’t hurt yourself, girl,” Rose said.

“Ladies, I’ve got to go, I’ll talk to you later,” Ivy said before hanging up. She lay back on the bed and burst into laughter.

“You’d better get dressed,” Jonathan said before he heard the buzzing of his cell phone.

He picked it up from the nightstand and looked at the caller ID. He glanced over at Ivy. “Guess who?”

“Marc, I bet.” Ivy shook her head. Their siblings were acting like middle school children.

“What up?” he said after pressing the talk button.

“You tell me,” his brother said.

“We’ll talk about it later, okay.” Jonathan hung up, ending the call.

Ivy was still sitting on the bed. “What are we going to do about them?”

She picked up the newspaper, turned the pages so she could find her article.

Jonathan slid his belt through the loops. “Nothing, we’re going to finish getting dressed, go eat and leave our siblings to their shenanigans.”

He came around to the other side of the bed and bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. “And you’re not going to let your cackling sisters get to you, either. You deserve to have a man in your life.”

Ivy stared at him in appreciation for how he handled the situation. Sure, he was sexy and sweet, and now she knew that he was a great lover, but there was much more to him than she’d realized. She admired him for his loyalty, protectiveness and sense of humor. She got up and prepared to go out with her man.