Chapter Nine

Rafael

I'm in the middle of a board meeting when the message arrives. Before Ivy, my phone was never active during work hours. But I've stopped silencing it since we started seeing each other, which is why I saw the message when it came in.

I read it, shocked to the bone at the content. She called what we had an arrangement . I can't believe it. The remaining minutes of the meeting are hell for me since I can't just walk out. I ran out immediately after it was over, though, not giving the people there an afterthought.

When I woke up without Ivy beside me this morning, I knew something was off, which was why I called and reassured her that I was all hers. But she clearly doesn't see it that way.

I can't remember the last time I drove myself, but I do today, driving like a man with everything to lose to her apartment. I bang on the door, and soon someone is opening it. But the person is not Ivy. From the striking resemblance, I assume it's her sister. "Hello Tara, I'm—"

"I know who you are. You're Ivy's boss. What are you doing here?"

Ivy's boss? She didn't tell her sister about us. That realization hurts me more than her message did because I know I'm going to change her mind. No way she's leaving me. "I'd like to see Ivy," I mutter.

"She's at work, your house. Shouldn't you know that?" she asks, looking at me like I've lost my mind.

I nod. Of course, she's at the mansion. I just thought she would have left after she sent the message. When she said she wanted things to go back to how they were, I didn't quite understand. "Right. Sorry. I was coming from work. I wasn't sure she'd be at the mansion. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, bye."

I rush back to my car and drive to the mansion within fifteen minutes. I'd barely put the car in park when I fling the door open and run inside. I don't have to wonder where she is. I can hear Sadie's voice from the kitchen, so I rush there to find Sadie in front of a crying Ivy, trying to comfort her.

This would normally be a sight that would melt my heart because of how special both girls are to me, but I know the reason she's crying is probably because of that ridiculous message. I wonder what prompted it. It certainly can't be that email Tamara sent because I reassured her of that this morning.

"Sadie, come here for a minute?" My niece quickly rushes toward me, grateful for the interference. I dial my driver and inform him to drive Sadie home. "Go wait in my car. Mark will come take you home soon."

"Will Ivy be okay?" she asks worriedly.

I don't have to lie about that. "Sure," I say. I'm going to make everything right.

When I return to the kitchen, Ivy's still trying to get her tears to stop. "Come here," I say from where I stand against the door.

Her eyes meet mine, hesitation and pain written all over her face. "I can't," she chokes out.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Ivy," I say sternly.

She looks at me to gauge if I'm serious or not. Whatever she finds has her grudgingly walking toward me. When she's in front of me, I pull her close—caressing her back as more sobs start to leave her.

"I'm sorry I'm such a mess," she says between hiccups.

"Shhh. It's okay, let it out. I'm going to be here through it all." My words seem to assure her because she stops trying to fight her tears and just lets them flow. I carry her from the kitchen to the living room, checking through the window to see if Mark has taken Sadie home. He has.

Ivy cries for a while, but eventually, she quiets. I almost thought she'd fallen asleep until she raised her head off my chest to look at me.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on now?"

She sniffs, so I bring out my handkerchief and clean her up, ignoring her protests. When I'm done, I repeat my earlier question.

"I just don't want to continue."

"Why?"

"There's no reason," she says, not meeting my eyes.

"That's a lie. You don't do things without reason. When I asked you why you signed up on the website to sell your virginity, you said it was for fun. And from where I stand, we've been having a whole lot of fun. Unless your definition of fun is different from mine. In which case, you'll have to update me so I can make changes."

She huffs, still not meeting my eyes.

"Ivy."

"I wasn't doing it for fun," she snaps in frustration.

"What?" I bark, almost dropping her off my lap in shock.

"I was going through some financial crisis. I needed money. That's why I decided to auction my virginity."

I can't believe this. Ivy was having issues with money, and she couldn't come to me? What if I hadn't been the one to bid on her? What if it was someone else? Someone terrible? I don't even want to imagine that right now. As bad as her decision may have been, it's the only reason I've had the chance to be here with her like this right now.

"So you need more money then? I'll send you as much as you desire."

She shakes her head in the negative, more tears leaving her eyes.

Damn it! What does she need?

"I can't take your offer, Rafael. Not after everything that's happened."

She has to be kidding me. What does she mean by everything that has happened? "I'm not letting you walk away from this, Ivy. I refuse to."

She pushes away from me, and I let her go, not wanting to hold her against her will physically. "You don't understand!" she snaps when she's finally standing.

"What don't I understand?"

"You! This! It won't work. I liked you even before we had sex, but I was able to manage my feelings then. Now that I've had you, I can't continue without falling for you, and I know you won't want that, which is why we have to—"

I don't let her finish before I close the space between us and seal my mouth over hers. I can't believe this. Not only did fate bring our path together through the auction, but she also feels the same way about me!

She kisses me back even though she just told me she can't continue what we have. I start to remove our clothes, not caring that anyone could walk in on us right now. No one would, anyway.

"Rafael, we can't. I…I can't," she protests in between kisses when I'm close to getting her fully naked.

I break the kiss. "Ivy, I didn't tell you this before because I didn't want to scare you away. Now that I can see our hearts heading the same way, I might as well have."

She stares at me eagerly, waiting for my next words.

"I love you."

She starts to cry again.

"Damn it, woman, will you stop crying?"

She laughs at my words, holding onto me like a lifeline. "These are tears of joy, I promise."

I draw her closer. "How about we make you scream in joy in the next ten minutes, too?" I ask, nibbling her earlobes.

She laughs before she pulls away so our eyes meet. "Five minutes or no deal."

"Done," I whisper against her mouth, then pick her up and throw her over my shoulder.

She squeals as I walk us to my room while removing the last of her clothes. She's naked by the time we get to the room. I gently place her on the bed and proceed to remove my clothes, too. When I'm finally settling between her legs, I've never felt more fulfilled.

"I love you, Ivy," I whisper.

"I love you too, Rafael DeMontez."

I push into her and then spend the next five minutes showing her just how much I love her and want to keep loving her.

Never in a million years did I think I'd find a love this beautiful until her.