Forbidden Love with the Marine(15)
She was looking away so Ivan couldn’t tell how she was taking that morsel of information. It didn’t really matter. At least his conscience felt better; he hated to think Olivia had been hurt thinking he’d jumped straight in between Molly’s legs so soon after he’d shared that monumental night with her.
Olivia gave that jerky shrug again. “Interesting, Ivan. But trust me, I don’t wish to be privy to your bedroom tidbits just as I’m sure you’d rather not be privy to mine.”
“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong,” Ivan drawled, his eyes narrowing as he turned to her with darkened interest. “I think I do want to know. I’d hate to think you’d go on the rebound, getting hooked up with the wrong sort.”
Olivia huffed, finally facing him, her eyes stormy. “Well, surprise, Ivan; it’s actually none of your business. Who I see...and who I f*ck – has nothing to do with you. You gave up the chance to have a say about that when you told me what we’d shared was not worth building on.”
The hurt look that suddenly flashed in her eyes pierced him straight in his chest. “Olivia...”
“You know what? I’ll say goodnight now. I’m sure you’ll need your rest. And I’ve had a long day, so...”
“No goodnight kiss? For good luck?” he asked, the same teasing light in his voice though he knew his eyes blazed with banked flames. He wondered if she could tell how much he wanted...craved her right then. How he so wished he hadn’t drawn those invisible boundaries that made it impossible to cross them now.
“I...,” she began, and he heard the soft quake in her voice. At last, she sighed deeply, and then slowly leaned forward. She aimed for his cheek but with a quick motion of his head, he got her to plant her kiss on his mouth instead. She gasped, but didn’t pull away. Ivan resisted the urge to crush her body to his and instead, slanted his lips gently over hers. It was like partaking in a symphony; all that harmony of sensations bursting forth and merging his soul instantly with hers. How could a kiss do that? Ivan was floored.
He wasn’t surprised when she pulled back suddenly, looking flustered. Hell; he couldn’t seem to keep his head from spinning himself.
“I have to go,” she said shakily, clutching her purse.
“Yeah; you do,” was his somewhat grim reply.
Because if she didn’t leave now, he was inches away from ravaging her right there in the Jeep. Thankfully, she didn’t say another word but raced out from the car much the same way she had exactly two months ago when he’d dropped her off after their one night together. He watched the front door close after her, and it suddenly felt like his one chance at future happiness was locked away from him forever.
Chapter Eleven
Olivia backed up against the door, shaking so hard she felt she was going to be sick. She willed the tears of pain not to fall as the most paralyzing agony seized her whole body. Just knowing that Ivan was going to be gone – for who knew how long this time, made her feel like her whole life was over. What if something bad happened to him? What if he got badly hurt – or worse, never came back? He’d been somewhat somber at dinner, even beneath all his humor and wide smiles. She’d sensed the tension in him and she knew she’d have done anything – no matter what it took – to ease the strain he might be feeling just before he had to go on a dangerous mission.
But Ivan didn’t need anything from her – certainly didn’t need her compassion. At that very moment, he would be driving off home anyway...probably into the waiting arms of Molly. Maybe she would have the chance this time to make his last night before his next assignment a memorable one...
In a split second, Olivia wished with all her heart that she was wrong. That Ivan would be yearning for her just as much as she was craving him at that moment.
And just then, Olivia stiffened as she realized that, standing there against the door and unconsciously waiting for his Jeep to drive off, that she’d heard nothing to that effect. It was more than a minute since she’d sped into the house, and he still hadn’t left. Or had he?
When the soft peal of her doorbell sounded seconds later, she almost didn’t allow her heart the chance to hope, or even breathe. The next moment, she was flinging open her door to find Ivan leaning against the frame. Her heart tumbled to the pit of her belly as she stared speechlessly up into his handsome face.
“Olivia,” he said softly. And that was all he said. Right before he was inside, scooping her in his arms and kicking the door shut after him with his booted foot. As always, he amazed her with how quickly and lithely he moved, like some huge jungle feline. Gasping, her fingers clutched at his shoulders as he hefted her up by his arms wrapped around her upper thighs. This brought her lips level with his, and she was instantly devoured by his hot, piercing kiss.
Happiness, bewilderment and plain smoking lust wrestled within her disordered senses as he beloved kissed her like a man starved. “The bedroom,” he rasped against her panting lips, and still unable to speak, Olivia could only point out the right direction. Not putting her down on her feet, he carried her straight there, his steps purposeful as he moved quickly with her in his arms like she weighed nothing.
It didn’t occur to Olivia at anytime to protest. To ask him what he meant by this. Because none of that even mattered. He needed this – and she did too. So much that she was just as quick and adept at tearing off his clothes as he was in ripping off hers once they reached the bedroom.