by Day, Laura
“So, what’s going on?” Blue asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing...” Ivy said with a wave of her hand.
“Really? Then why are you here instead of at home? Is someone bothering you?”
She looked at him and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. He could see that she was debating with herself. She was struggling to keep some secret.
“You can tell me anything, Ivy,” Blake said.
“There’s this ex who’s a real pain. But he hasn’t actually done anything. He just likes to scare me.”
Blake’s felt himself go numb with her words. Who would dare hurt Ivy? All Blake needed was a name and he would personally show this guy the error of his ways. “Who?” Blake said, one word all he could muster.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about and I don’t want to involve you in this.”
“Just give me a name, Ivy.”
“Blake, no!” Ivy said, putting her drink down and standing up. “This was a bad idea; I should have known as much. I’m gonna go, but thanks for the drink.” She put her half-filled glass back down on the coffee table as she stood to leave.
“Come on, Ivy. Don’t be like this. It’s me, all right? We don’t have to talk about it tonight if you don’t want to,” Blake said. The sight of her leaving filled him with a sudden panic. He would have said anything to keep her there and safe with him.
“I’m just tired of talking about this guy. He’s a real jerk and I feel like I’ve already wasted so much energy on him,” Ivy said, but she was still standing, still halfway to the door.
“Don’t go home,” Blake pleaded. “Stay here, we won’t talk about it until you're ready.” He wasn’t ready for the tears, but they came quickly to her eyes before sliding down her cheeks. Blake stood and walked towards Ivy, gently wiping away her tears and tilting her head so she looked him in the eyes.
She smiled up at him and nodded before walking back to the couch and quickly finishing her drink. “You’ve won a lot of trophies,” Ivy said, indicating all the framed articles on the wall. “I guess you really are good.”
“And you haven't even seen my trophy room yet,” Blake said.
“You have a trophy room?”
Blake nodded and took her by the hand. He led her out of the kitchen and down a short hallway where he opened the first door on his left. He flicked on the light switch and watched as Ivy gasped at the room around her. It was an office, or maybe library would be a better word. Built in shelves lined the walls, but they weren’t filled with books. Instead there were trophies, ribbons, and medals. Gleaming and gold, they reflected the overhead light as Ivy walked towards them to inspect them more closely.
“Wow,” was all she could muster as she looked at the rows and rows of trophies, some taller than she was. “You are good at fighting.”
“Thanks, there are more, but those are less special, so they’re in a storage unit somewhere.”
“I am suitably impressed,” Ivy said as she turned to face him.
“Finally,” he answered.
“Thanks for answering your phone and letting me stay here. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said.
“I thought you would be out celebrating after your victory.”
“I did for a little while, but that wasn’t a great fight. I almost lost. I barely edged out a victory and all things considered, I probably should have lost.
“Oh,” Ivy said. “How did you almost lose?”
“I was distracted during the fight. I was thinking of something else.”
“What?”
“You.” It was one word, but it was the only word that mattered. Blake didn’t know if getting involved with Ivy was good or bad for his mental game. All he knew was that being without her had almost cost him his last fight, so abstaining from her wasn’t working. He wanted to be with her and, unlike Ivy, he couldn’t see any reason for them to be apart any longer.
“Oh-” Ivy started, but she stopped as Blake took a step towards her. He watched as she stayed where she was as he took another step until they were almost touching. She looked up at him through her long dark lashes and then her hand reached up to his cheek.
With the lightest of touches, she ran her fingers over his bruised skin, wincing in pain for him as she went. He captured her hand in his and brought it to his lips. He kissed her soft and delicate knuckles and then he opened her hand and kissed her palm, closing his eyes as he focused on her soft, warm skin.
She closed the gap between them. With one step their bodies were touching and she pressed her lips chastely against his. But chaste wasn’t enough. Blake kissed her back and felt as her lips opened and her tongue slid out and grazed his. Blood pumped through his veins, gripping her arms and pulling her closer.
He wrapped his hands around her waist until his body was flush against hers. He could feel her breasts against him and he ran his hands up and down the curve of her body. Already he was growing hard for her; this was all it took – a few moments of kissing, his hands on her – and he was done for.
She was still kissing him. Biting, sucking, and nibbling on his lower lip. Her hands were on his neck, her fingers gentle and delicate around his fresh bruises. She began to writhe her body against his in the subtlest of ways. She pressed herself against him, putting pressure on his cock as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and deepened the kiss.
“You like this room, you should see my bedroom,” Blake said breathlessly as he pulled himself away from her.
“That’s so cliché,” she said, but she was smiling up at him and he took her by the wrist and pulled her to the bedroom.
He slammed the door closed behind him, whipping off his shirt and unbuckling his jeans, letting them sink to the floor. Ivy walked to him and gestured at the bruises that lined his ribs.
“It’s nothing,” he whispered as he spun her around so her back was to him. “They’re just the cost of doing business.” He began to kiss her, biting and nibbling his way down to the nape of her neck as Ivy began to whisper his name to urge him on. He stopped and lovingly stroked her neck with his tongue as she arched her back away from him, pushing her ass onto his already hard cock.
Blake quickly found the hem of her shirt and he pulled it off her. Next he expertly undid the snaps of her bra, sliding the straps down off her shoulders, revealing her beautiful body. He reached up and took her breasts in his hand. She leaned back against him as he massaged her, her pert nipples rising under his attentions. She was grinding against him now and the sensation was almost more than Blake could handle.
He left her breasts and reached down to unsnap the buttons on her jeans, quickly sliding her pants down her lean thighs and holding her steady as she stepped out of them. He spun her around again and kissed her deeply as his right hand slid down her body and snuck underneath the waistband of her simple pink panties.
He stroked her gently with his fingers without entering her, but she pushed against him, urging him to go harder and faster. But he liked making her wait. He continued to tease her as she kissed him and her actions became more desperate. She moaned into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer and finally he slipped his fingers inside of her, encountering the wetness that was waiting for him. He slid his finger along her and she shuddered underneath him.
“Blake, yes,” she whispered as she leaned her head against his shoulder and his fingers increased their speed. The hair on her skin was standing up and forming goose bumps under his fingers. Her breath hitched in his ear as she whimpered and begged for more. Her skin was growing hot and cold and back and forth as she yielded to his touch.
She was moving her body with his and the image of beautiful Ivy desperate for him sent currents of electricity pulsing through his body. His free hand reached around and grabbed her ass tightly, pulling her even closer to her as his other hand spun circles.
“Oh, yes, yes,” Ivy whimpered into Blake’s ear as he began to kiss her neck and he felt h
er entire body tense beneath him and he pressed his fingers a little harder and then she was screaming out his name as her body shook and he held her up as she finished her orgasm.
“I want you,” Blake whispered as he edged her to the bed. “I want to fuck you right here and right now.” He was consumed with his lust for her, with wanting her. He was remembering what it was like to be with Ivy, not some random girl he met at a bar, but this girl, the one who knew him better than anyone.
“Yes,” Ivy whispered back and then they were at the bed and she spun Blake around and sat him down.
Blake pushed himself back until he was in the middle of his bed and he watched with fascination as Ivy crawled towards him. There was something about a naked woman on her hands and knees that drove him wild. Blake held himself back; he wanted to pull her towards him, to dominate her, but he knew that whatever Ivy had planned he would like it.
She slipped his boxers off of him and then settled between his legs. She took his hard cock and brought it to her lips. Everything went hazy for Blake as Ivy took his cock in her mouth and swirled the tip with his tongue. He was speechless; there were no words for what she was doing to him. He closed his eyes and let the sensation of her warm mouth overtake him. He reached out to touch her and he ran his fingers up her back.
He was ready. He was holding himself back. Her tongue was working magic on him, but he wanted more. He wanted to be with her, inside of her. He took her arm and pulled her closer to him, kissing her deeply as he reached into the nightstand and quickly slipped a condom on.
“Come here,” he whispered.
With a wicked grin Ivy straddled herself over him and then she took him in hand and lowered herself down onto him. Blake groaned and held onto her hips as she enveloped him. She began to pump herself up and down on top of him, her movements smooth and even as she brought him to new heights of pleasure.
But he wanted her to feel it, too. He reached between them and began to stroke her again, quickly finding her clit and he concentrating his attention there, spinning quick circles that made her moan his name. He wanted to see her come, to watch as her orgasm overtook her. He held himself back and focused on her, on how his touch affected her.
It didn’t take long.
“Oh, Blake, yes. Just like that,” Ivy murmured as she sped up her thrusts. Blake grabbed her tightly with his free hand as he forced himself to wait for her. “Yes, Blake. Yes!” she cried out as she rode him.
He felt as her orgasm overtook her, taking him with it. Her entire body tensed, her muscles convulsing, screaming his name. That was all it took and Blake couldn't hold back any more. He grabbed her hips and with one long, final, thrust he came, gasping into her.
Chapter Fourteen
Ivy sat on Blake’s couch and watched as the rising sun brightened the city below her. It was one of their rare sunny days in the Northeast with the type of weather that demanded people spend the day outside. Blake brought a cup of coffee and sat down next to her on the couch, wrapping his arm around her. She leaned against his chest and gave a contented sigh as she sipped her drink.
“So when are we going to talk about why you came over?” Blake asked. “Something was wrong on the phone. What was it?”
Ivy didn’t answer. She continued to stare out the window. She half closed her eyes as the scenery out of the window went fuzzy in her vision. She didn’t want to think about Darryl. She didn’t want to worry about him. She felt so safe and comfortable with Blake; she didn’t want to have to deal with his worries or his questions.
“You have thirty-five missed calls all from unknown numbers on your phone. And thirty-five voicemails,” Blake said. His voice was quiet. He wasn’t pressuring her for answers; he was willing to wait for her. She rested her head back onto his shoulder and closed her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s okay if you can’t tell me,” he whispered, his lips grazing her forehead with each syllable. “You can just let me listen to the voicemails.”
Ivy nodded. This would be the easiest way. It was hard to explain Darryl’s actions to others. The things he did seemed so innocuous as first. A few random phone calls and a few strange gifts. It was hard to describe the fear it instilled in her. It was hard to explain how she never felt safe. She was always expecting Darryl. Every time her phone rang, her heart stopped in fear it would be him. Every time a piece of mail came that she didn’t recognize she would be nauseous as she opened it.
Ivy unlocked her phone and handed it to Blake. She pulled away from him. She didn’t want to hear the voicemails. She knew there would be nothing useful in them. It would just be noises meant to frighten her. She kept the voicemails in a special folder on the cloud. Evidence in the case against Darryl that would never actually happen.
Blake stood up and pressed the phone against his ear. She turned to watch as he listened to the voicemails. He was pacing the floor of his apartment. His face went from confused to to disgusted to angry as he cycled through the calls.
“You don’t need to listen to all of them,” Ivy said quietly. “It’s all just variations on a theme. There’s nothing usable in them. They’re just meant to frighten me.”
“Who sent them?” Blake asked ending the voicemail and putting the phone down on the counter.
“My ex-boyfriend, Darryl Linden. We dated for a few months three years ago. I finally ended things with him, but he didn’t take it well. He kept saying, who do you think you are that you can break up with me? Don’t you know who I am? His family is heir to a logging fortune. They spent a lot of money in local politics and a lot of people owe them a lot of favors.
He knows what he’s doing. He knows how to stay on the right side of the law. The few times he’s done something he’s been arrested for, they’ve just been misdemeanors. He’s been hit with a few fines, but he just pays them and goes home and starts up again. I have a restraining order against him, but none of these are from his number and I can’t prove he did it. He’s a very smart man.”
“There has to be something we can do,” Blake said and Ivy noticed how easily and comfortably he used the word “we.” He didn’t offer to be there for Ivy; he didn’t need to say the words. He just was there for her, however she needed him to be. What had happened to self-centered Blake from high school? She had grown up in the intervening years. Maybe he had, too.
“We have a file on him, but...” She shrugged her shoulders. “Until he actually physically harms me, there’s not much the law can do. I talked to his mother once. We were on the courthouse steps. I was crying and begging her to talk to her son and get him to stop. Do you know what she said to me? She said, My son is a good boy. You did this to him; this is your fault, and then she walked away like it was nothing.”
Blake shook his head in and slammed his hand on the counter. “There has to be something we can do.”
“It’s best to just ignore him. Eventually he’ll get bored and move on to something else.”
“That's not good enough,” Blake said. “I know someone. He’s a private detective.”
“A private detective can’t do anything,” Ivy said with a shake of her head.
“He can follow this creep around. He can get information, prove this jerk is harassing you.”
Ivy didn’t say anything. She and her father had tried everything. They had talked to the police, the FBI, the Federal Marshals, everyone. But Darryl almost never broke the actual law. There was nothing to catch him with, nothing to charge him for. But it made people feel good to try and help. So she didn’t stop Blake when he made the phone call.
He went into his bedroom and she could hear his muffled voice through the wall. She could hear him offering names and details. She wished he wouldn’t. Fighting Darryl was like trying to fight the wind. It was pointless. All you could do is lean into it and hope it passed over you without destroying anything.
A few minutes later he came back out and sat down on the couch next to Ivy. “What did he-”
“No,” Iv
y cut him off. “I don’t want to talk about Darryl anymore. We weren’t even together that long. There’s not even that much to talk about. I don’t want him to ruin today, or last night. I want to forget about him for just a little while.”
“Okay,” Blake said quietly as he took his place next to Ivy on the couch and she, again, leaned into him.
She finished her coffee and put the empty cup on the coffee table. Blake wrapped his arms around her and she knew he still had a million questions about Darryl, but she appreciated that he was letting them be for the moment.
“We have to go back home this weekend,” Ivy said with a sigh. “Do me a favor and let’s not talk about this. Whatever it is. When we go home, can we pretend like nothing happened?”