Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 42

Asher’s POV

My thumb hovered over the screen, stuck on the same image had seen dozens of times today ivy, looking as beautiful as ever, with Maxi massive bouquet of rests and balloons. The post was blowing up, and I couldn’t stop scrolling. More pictures. More comments. Most people were speculating that the gifts were from me.

I tried to push the tightness in my chest away. Ivy wasn’t mine in any real sense. This marriage was just a contract. A convenient arrangement for both of us. It was impulsive, at least for her. I told myself it wasn’t serious. After all, I had explicitly told her I didn’t need delity, nor should she expect it from me

It was a lie I told with a straight face. And now I had to deal with this. Just the thought was maddening, and now seeing actual pictures at them together, her smiling at him, made my stomach chum

The door clicked open, and by walked in, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor, cutting through the quiet. She stopped for a moment, her gaze drifting over to me. I glanced up from my phone, clearing my throat to mask the rush of discomfort.

“You’re still up?” she asked in a calm voice.

“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I was thinking of opening a bottle of a new wine from Sterling Winery, we’re still trying to figure it out. Do you want to join me perhaps?”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Of course,” she replied and sauntered towards the table.

Inodded, hiding the relief that flooded me. She was here, staying, even if just for a drink. That was enough to make my pulse race. I did everything to ignore the light sway of her hips as she walked towards me, or her scent that enveloped me as she got closer. There were traces of vanilla and cherries. I shut my eyes, taking it all in. I wanted to commit it to memory.

I poured the wine, watching her as she settled into the seat across from me. She took the glass in her delicate fingers, swirling the wine, taking in its deep red hue as if she were studying it rather than just admiring it.

“Tell me what you think,” I said, leaning forward, watching her carefully. I needed her approval. It mattered more than anything to me. This was our first project at Sterling Winery, the first thing I was doing for the company and for myself I wanted her to love it.

She took a sip, her lips curling slightly as she examined the taste. “Not bad, actually. Smooth finish… hints of blackberry, maybe?

I stared long and hard as her tongue flicked over her lips. I imagined her cute mouth wrapped around.

“You’ve got a good palate,” I commented, sighing in relief internally.

“Well…” she began, setting the glass down. “My husband is the owner of Sterling Winery. It’s expected that I should know my wines.

I let out a quiet laugh. “You should come around, you know,” I blurted out. “If you like, that is…” I added, drumming my fingers on the table. I acted like was unbothered, even though deep inside, my heart was racing, I needed her to agree. I saw her cheeks heat up as she slowly broke into a smile. I knew she was on board.

Inodded slowly, my eyes lingering on her face. The soft light from the chandelier above caught her features in a way that made her look almost….. ethereal. Beautiful. I had always known that, yet every time I saw her, it was like I was blown away all over again.

“Is there something on your mind?” she asked tenderly, as if she’d noticed me staring a bit too long

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I had to tell her, didn’t It I couldn’t just pretend anymore. I wanted to tell her that seeing her with Max had hurt. I wanted to tell her I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. That the damn contract meant nothing compared to the pull I felt when she was

Mound

“No.” It was all I said. All the thoughts I had were reduced to such a simple word. I noticed her empty glass and poured her another. “Tell me all about your day, by

I stared with a small smile as she began to recount her day. Her eyes lit up, her gestures were animated as she told me all about the “crazy day” she had

1/3

Chapter 42

My only input was the occasional hum, raised brows, and a smile. Admittedly. It was because I wasn’t listening attent

of her voice and her mesmerizing face, I didn’t know which was more distracting

The servers strolled in with their trolleys and served our food. We fell into deep conversation about everything and nothing I didn’t know wh linked fingers. I looked up to see her staring at our interlinked fingers. The moment was broken, and I pulled away.

Ivy took a long sip of wine, and her gaze softened. “Why did you really invite me for wine, Asher?”

“It was a good excuse to get you to stay and not rush into your room,” I admitted in a quiet voice. My eyes never left hers as I took a long sip of my drink 1 want to stare at you all day long because I could never get bored of it. I want to listen to you talk every day, knowing it is the sweetest voice I have ever heard. I love to watch the way your eyes light up when you smile, I answered in my head.

She blinked in surprise, then smiled. “You didn’t need an excuse.”

Her smile had me gawking, I wanted to reach out, pull her close, kiss her, feel the weight of her in my arms, roam my hands all over her body, and stop pretending I didn’t want her. But the moment passed, and I was too late. She leaned back, setting her glass down with a small sigh

Was that a sigh of frustration? I asked myself. Was it possible that she wanted more? Could she? There was Max…I shook my head. I couldn’t dwell on thoughts Uke that. I couldn’t be vulnerable, hy had a lot of power over me. I didn’t want to get hurt, not again.

The silence stretched between us. We exchanged glances occasionally, and then we reached for the wine bottle at the same time, our fingertips brushing against each other. I didn’t know such small and simple contact would affect me, but it did. All my self–restraint went flying out the window.

Fleaned across the table and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She tasted like the wine we just shared, and it tasted even better. She reciprocated, her arms wrapped around my neck from across the table. We knocked off a few items, spilling food everywhere.

She kicked off her heels and pulled her skirt up her thighs so she could cross over to me. I grabbed her from the table and picked her up. She straddled me, each thigh wrapping around my waist. I gripped her thigh and softly caressed her skin. She wrapped her hands around my neck, deepening the ki

Her skirt bunched up even higher until I could feel her crotch, shielded only by the thin material of her lace panties, against the bulge in my pants. Í wanted to tear the material off and slide my fingers into her stick folds, I knew she would be soaking wet.

She pressed her body hard against mine and rubbed her crotch against the bulge in my pants. She let out a loud moan, her eyes rolling back.

I lost it. I pulled up her sk

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