Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

IVY

The sun's warmth is incredible here; I could sleep in this cabana all day. We've been in Bald Head Island for three days, and it already feels like a month. I didn't understand how much of a break I needed until we landed, even though this was meant to be my honeymoon.

Colter tried to get a room, but I insisted he stay with me. There was a sofa bed, and I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. I haven't wanted to think about anything because I'll have plenty to do and think about once I'm back home.

"You're starting to turn a little pink." Colter nudges me from my relaxation.

I force open my eyes and peek at my legs. "Yeah, I need to put some sunscreen on again."

"I'll do it." Colter's hand brushes against mine as we both wrestle through my bag. "You're not even looking, let me."

I pop the back of his hand. "Fine, grouch."

"I am not grouchy," he knocks my hand out of the way. "but you're relaxed and not even watching what you're doing. So let me."

"You know, I never knew you were this bossy," I grumble and hold my arms in the air.

He pushes my arms back down and slathers on the lotion. "Again, not bossy. You simply have no self-preservation."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I huff and stiffen my legs as he starts to work on them.

"That you don't think about yourself enough or even put your needs first." He swats my thigh. "Roll over."

I raise up on my elbows, snarling at him. "It's who I am. I like helping people." I plop over on my stomach and brace for the chilly feeling from the sunscreen.

"My point." A massive squirt of lotion lands in the middle of my back, and I arch in protest.

"That's freaking cold! Couldn't you have warmed it between your hands first?" I grumble, knowing he's grinning from ear to ear.

"I'll do better next time." Colter rubs my back, moves down to my shoulders, and works his way to my legs, but he doesn't go near my cheeks. I know they're hanging out because I checked when I bought it with his card.

"You missed a spot." I wiggle my ass, and he takes the chance to smack it. Hard.

"You can handle that yourself." I can feel him start to stand, and I lift my leg between his. He stumbles, which wasn't a part of my plan and falls on top of me.

"Oh, my gracious! What are you doing to me, Colter?" I squeal as I twist under him. His weight against my back has me sweating, but I'm not ready to face it for some reason. He's heavy, although I can tell he's using his arms to keep from squashing me under him.

"I-I," he stutters, and it catches me off guard.

I whirl around when I can and stare at him. Is he blushing? He's embarrassed? No, he's definitely flustered. I avert my eyes, hoping not to rattle him more than I have.

"I'm sorry," I try escaping under his arm. "I was trying to joke with you. I forget that I'm not funny."

He slips, falling on top of me again, and we're face to face. My heart pounds, and I search his eyes, hoping he can't hear it. His face is so close his mouth could be on mine in seconds.

"It was funny," his words are low, sending a tickle deep into my belly. "I lost my balance."

"I know because I tripped you," I whisper, catching my breath as he licks his lips.

We lay around each other, wrapped up like pretzels, and I'm not sad about it. Colter smells good, and not just his body. Which has an earthy scent and notes of vanilla. But his breath smells sweet, like pineapple.

"You smell like pineapple," I mutter before freezing and praying I don't roll my eyes for sounding like a teenage girl.

"It's the drink or maybe your lotion." He runs his nose along my collarbone just close enough that I can feel his breath running over me.

"Have you been drinking my lotion?" I can't help but giggle, which leads us in another direction as our bodies rub against each other. Suddenly, he's jumping up and grabbing a towel.

"I'm gonna go for a quick swim." He quips, running off toward the water.

"You can run, but I know a hard-on when I feel it, Mr Rivers." I blow a long, exaggerated breath out. "Although, I've never felt one that size."

Colter keeps his distance for the rest of the day; I might have been offended had I not been so confused. As I showered for dinner, I counted back to the last time Will and I had slept together.

"Six months?" I say a little too loudly for my roommate.

Colter was at the door in a flash. "Did you say something?"

"I was just thinking out loud, sorry." Dang, was I that loud? "I realized something that should have been a huge red flag with Will, and I feel stupid now."

"Don't; he was sending mixed signals for months." Colter snaps with disdain.

I shut the water off and grabbed a towel to bundle up before rushing into the room. "That's what I'm thinking!"

"Yeah, he was acting weird for the last six months." Colter mutters as he turns around. His glare changes when he finds me standing there, wet and in only a towel. I may not be so great at signals from exes, but the look in Colter's eyes screams desire.

"Exactly." I fist my towel to my chest and then excuse myself. "I'm gonna go get dressed."

"That's a good idea," he replies. "I'm going to go down and get us a table. Take your time; I need a drink before we eat."

I stop at the bathroom door, glancing over at him. "I'll hurry."

"Take your time, I think I might need a couple of drinks.' A smolder burns deep in his stare as he takes me in and hurries out the door.

Something about the way he looks at me stirs my soul. A need I haven't felt in a long time, and I admonish myself over it. "Stop, Ivy. You were literally getting married just a few days ago, and now you're lusting over one of your closest friends. What are you thinking?"

Still, I rush to get dressed and down to him. I want to hate myself for liking the attention, but I can't help myself. He looks at me like he desires me, needs me… wants me.

Will hadn't looked at me like that in such a long time, and now that I think about the fact he hadn't touched me in six months, it reminds me of how desperate I must have been for him.

"Maybe that's why he stopped wanting me?"

"Why do you think he stopped wanting you, Ivy?" Colter questions me softly.

"I didn't see you standing there." My face reddens; I'm mortified that he overheard me.

"Again, why do you think like that?" He positions himself in front of me, his brows laying low.

"I don't know. Maybe," I shrug, uncommitted to my earlier thoughts. "he thought I was desperate, or he no longer found me appealing."

He swallows hard, and then the tip of his tongue parts his lips. "Appealing? Desperate? Those aren't words I would ever use when I think of you."

"What words do you think of… when you think of me?"

"Shall we?" Colter takes my hand, leading to the dance floor. He pulls me into his chest and begins swaying. The tension melts away as I'm soothed in his arms, feeling safe and wanted.

The music plays continuously, and I'm lulled by his heart beating. It's been so long since I could just be and not have to think about what comes next. I like it here, in his arms.

"Ivy?" There's something in the way Colter says the name that startles me. I jerk my head off his chest and follow his gaze across the floor. I search franticly, trying to find the source of his irritation, but when I finally spot what it is, he's glaring at me by the door.

It's my brother, Rome, and his fiancé Campbell. Two other friends are with them, but that's still not what has brought Colter's ire. Beyond the couples waving at us stands someone in the shadows. The figure is fixated on us, and a chill runs down my spine.

Will steps into the light, and Colter's anger ripples off him. Oddly, my energy matches him, and we're both ready to brawl. I take a step forward, and Colter grabs my wrist.

"Let them come to us." He grinds his words through his teeth.

I pull my hand away as Colter looks down, and I lace our fingers together. I usually run away or shut down in times like these, but I feel strong with Colter by my side.