by Leah Holt
Running to the bathroom, I turned on the cold water and dampened a face cloth. As I sat beside her on the bed, I pressed the cool cloth to her skin and tried to get her to wake up. “Ivy, wake up. Come on, Ivy, wake up.”
Quiet moans started to make their way out, her head rolling gently on the pillow. Her eyes were fluttering behind her lids, opening to slits then closing again.
Fuck! What the hell is wrong with her?
“Come on, Ivy, open your eyes, let's go, open them up.” Giving her cheek a delicate slap, I shook her again. “Ivy,” I said anxiously as the nerves began to stretch around my brain and turn me frantic. “Ivy, wake up!”
“Hm?” she asked, blinking and starting to come around. “What's going on?” Opening her eyes wide, her muscles went rigid and shot her up straight. “What's going on?” she asked again, confused.
“I don't know, I came in to find you on the floor. What happened? Are you alright?”
Cupping her forehead, Ivy closed her eyes and rested it against her hand. “Ugh, it happened. It really happened.”
“What happened?” Holding her cheeks, I forced her to look at me. “What happened, Ivy?”
“Panic attack, I had a panic attack. I must have passed out.”
“Shit, Ivy, does that happen a lot?” Bringing my thumbs right below her eyes, I pulled down her lower lids and tried to look deep into her stare. I'm not a doctor, so I had no fucking clue what I was looking for.
Her skin looked pale; the skin under her eyes was slightly puffed. She felt clammy and cold, not warm and vibrant like when I had left.
Wrapping her thin fingers over my hand, she smiled softly. “They come and go. I'm alright, really, I'm fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why? If I said no, would you take me to the hospital?” Peering at me under hooded lids, she laughed.
It was the first time I had heard her laugh, a real laugh. I couldn't stop myself from laughing with her. “Funny. I'm glad you have a sense of humor.” Stroking her hair, I teasingly said, “And no, I wouldn't take you. But we do have a doctor that works for us, so yeah I'd call him for help if you needed it.”
“Well, shit. You thugs have it all figured out, huh?”
“Us thugs don't fuck around.” Flicking her chin with my thumb, I rested my hand on her thigh. “But you're sure you're okay?”
Leaning over her, she looked so beautiful. Her mouth was parted, breathing slow and casual. Her body relaxed, snuggling into the pillow and letting the bed consume her.
Rubbing her shoulder, I dragged my fingers between her shoulder blades. “Ivy . . .”
Making a sweet, soft moan, she asked, “Yeah?”
“Do you want to shower?”
“You're going to let me shower? You'd have to unchain me to do that, I can't reach the tub, I tried.”
“I will, but you have to promise to be good. Can you promise to behave?”
“I can't promise you anything.”
“Then you stay where you are.”
Rubbing her eyes, she stretched her arms up. “Why are you being nice to me? I mean you fed me, you gave me clothes, now you want to let me shower. Why?”
“I'm a bad man, Ivy, I know that. I've done shit you couldn't ever imagine, but I'm not a complete asshole. I do the things I do because I have to, not because I want to.”
Shaking her head, her lips scrunched to the side. “That's not true.”
Arching a brow, I pulled out the key for the lock and lifted her leg over my lap. “Oh yeah, and how do you know that?”
“Bad men do things because they want to.” Glancing up at me with large doe eyes, her fingers anxiously twined together. “I think you're just lost.”
A single laugh hit my lips as I looked at her with disbelief. “You wouldn't say that if you knew half of what I've done.”
“Try me.”
I couldn't tell her about who I was. There was no way I could let her in on the horrible things I've had to do to get where I am. If she didn't already think I was evil, she would after I spilled that shit.
“No, you don't want to know.” Letting the lock pop free, I held her ankle tightly in my hand. “Now you're not going to do anything stupid, you understand?”
Shaking her head yes, she kept her hands in her lap.
“I'm serious, I won't put up with it.”
Ivy shook her head again, letting her eyes fall to her waist. “I won't.”
Nodding towards the bathroom, I stood to let her up. Her small frame slipped past me, so delicate and completely breakable. Her feet hit the floor so lightly it was as if she was floating, the weight of her body was barely noticeable against the wood.
Following her closely, I wanted to make sure she did only as I said. I still didn't know if she had planned anything while I was gone. Had she contemplated a way out, a means to escape?
My feet were practically on hers as she walked. I could feel the small amount of heat off her body as my chest crept closer to her back. Ivy's head rolled over her shoulder, looking up at me. “You don't need to watch me, I'm not going to do anything.”
“I wish I could believe you, but I can't just yet.”
“Are you expecting me to shower with you in there?”
“No.” A look of relief washed over her body, her shoulders slumping slightly. But that quickly disappeared as I told her what I would be doing. “I'm going to shower you.”
“What?” Her tone was laced in disapproval and anger. “You're not doing that.”
“I am.”
“What the fuck? Why?” Stopping short, Ivy spun on her heel to meet me head on. Her thin arms flew to her hips, fingers coiling deep into the bone.
Fuck this woman had balls. And it was making me hard.
“I've already seen you naked, if you forgot that part.” Holding up a single finger, I pointed towards the window she had tried to blow out with the chair. “And with your little explosions, I'm not taking any chances.”
“I told you I won't do anything.”
“And I told you, I don't trust you.” Snapping my chin in the air towards the bathroom, I said, “Go.”
Folding her arms into her chest, Ivy veered her stare. “No.”
“Fine, then don't shower.” Quickly lunging in, I grabbed her around the waist and threw her over my shoulder. “I'll just put you back where you were.”
“No, no. Okay, fine, we'll do this your way. Please, I really need a shower, I can still feel that creep on my skin and I don't want him there anymore.” Her fingers bunched into my shirt, tugging hard.
Lowering her back down, I held her for a moment to make sure she had her footing. If that panic attack she claimed she had was real, I wanted to make sure she didn't fall. The last thing I wanted was for her to get hurt in any way.
“Good. And just so you understand me . . .” Pressing closer, I let my size hover over her. She thinks I'm not a bad man, she has no idea how wrong she truly is. “Let's get one thing straight. I'm running this, I call the shots.”
Ivy's lips turned down, her face pulling taut. “Yeah, I kinda figured that out, thanks.”
Stepping into the bathroom, I reached over her shoulder and flicked the light on. “Sit,” I said, pointing to the toilet. Keeping her in view from the corner of my eye, I leaned in and turned on the water.
“This is ridiculous, you know. I'm really not going to do anything. What if I just get in and close the curtain? You could come in after and just monitor me.”
“Ivy, there are no options here. I know what you did with that pipe, I'm not taking any chances. You're not weak, and what you did to Tony was gutsy. I can't risk it.”
Her face brightened for a second like I had just given her a compliment about how she looked. She did look amazing still, even with the swollen jaw and dirt covering her skin.
“Fine, you win.” Holding up her arms, her palms were flat in the air.
“I always win,” I said with a smirk.
Tapping her fingers against h
er thigh, she nervously looked all around the room. I wasn't sure if she was doing that because she was worried about the shower or if it was to take in what the room had to offer.
But there wasn't anything in here for her to just reach out and grab. The only thing she'd ever be able to get might be a pipe off the sink . . .
I'll keep my eyes on them, too. She can swing one hell of a pipe.
“Alright, come on.” Holding out my hand for her to take, she stood and stepped back.
Staring at the ground, she let the dress slip off and pool around her ankles. Stepping out of the silk puddle, she let her fingers twine around my hand and climbed into the shower.
The moment her fingers touched mine a warmth spread through my gut. My heart hammered in my chest, muscles twitching with need.
The water sizzled over her skin as it ran down her body, washing away the brown dirt stains from the night before. I watched the water break off into thin streams, dripping off her pebbled nipples, and following the curves of her body.
Letting the water wash over her face, Ivy rested her forearms against the tiles, lowering her head. “Thank you, I needed this.”
I was never really a full-blown gentleman, I never really got close enough to someone to even try. But I couldn't look away from her even if I tried, she was mesmerizing. My dick jumped as the water rolled over her ass, turning into droplets as they fell off her cheeks and splashed onto the floor.
Clearing my throat, I grabbed a facecloth from under the sink and lathered it up with the bar of soap. Pausing, I was stunned by what I saw. “Did they do this?”
The closer I looked at her the more I noticed the discolorations on her skin. Her entire body was spotted in bruises from her mid-back to her ankles. All the bruises varied in size, some lighter than others.
I hadn't seen them before, but in here, with the harsh blast of bright bulbs . . . Nothing was hidden.
“Some, I'm sure, are from them . . . But not all.” Closing her eyes, she held her face directly in the water. She spoke low so I almost couldn't hear her. Her voice trickled with an uncertainty of what to say.
Rubbing light circles over her back, I washed her body, exploring and taking her in. There was a level of shock that coated my brain with all the damage to her flesh. Thin, long scars riddled her back, so light that I might have missed them if I wasn't examining her so closely.
Fingertip shaped bruises wrapped her biceps, and her hips. Even her inner thighs were spotted with the same pattern. Looking closer, my mouth dropped open. “Are those bite marks?”
Snapping her head up, she whipped her face in my direction. “Stop looking at me. I don't want your questions, I don't want to talk about it, just hurry up so I can get out.”
Spitfulls of water spurted out and hit my chest as it splashed off her shoulders. “Ivy, who did this to you?”
“Does it matter?” Cocking her jaw, her lips pursed tight. “I'm done, can I have a towel?”
“No, tell me who did this?”
I knew who did that to her, but I wanted to confirm the suspicion. Remo.
That rat bastard had harmed her, he put his hands on her in a way no man should ever touch a woman. A deep seeded rage scorched my insides, forcing the blood in my veins to boil.
I'm going to kill him.
I might be an evil soul who didn't take shit. I might lay a motherfucker out right for even glancing at me the wrong way.
But I would never do something like that. You don't inflict pain to show dominance, and never to get what you wanted from a woman.
That . . . That was a bad man.
“Why? Are you going to go rough him up?” Holding up her hand, her palm was firm as it pushed against my chest. “Or maybe you'll just kill him?” Shrugging her shoulders, she crossed her arms. “Right? You're a bad man, go kill him, then come back and kill me too. That's what you guys do, isn't it?”
My chest began to fill with steam, her heated words making me want to grab her and kiss her, and show her how bad I really could be.
“Do you want me to kill him?”
Ivy stood frozen, her eyes trying to read my face to see if I was being serious. Her tits began to lift rapidly, nostrils flaring as she breathed in hard quick breaths. “Fuck you.” Stepping into the shower, I grabbed her arms with force. “What are you doing, Dante?”
She tried to move away, but she only backed herself against the wall. A level of fear settled over her expression, brows shooting up, eyes open wide.
“Do you want me to?”
“What?”
“Kill him.” Digging my fingers into her hair at the base of her neck, I grabbed her roots hard. “Say the word, Ivy, and it's done. I won't stand for that shit.”
I watched her body shudder, lips parting. “Stop, I don't want anyone dead, I didn't even want you to kill Tony.”
“No?” Tilting my head, I eyed her curiously. “That's not what your eyes said, but good thing it wasn't up to you. He deserved it, Ivy. And now he's burning in hell where he belongs.”
Arching her back off the tiles, her head rocked in my hand. “And where do you think you'll go when you die?”
A deep laugh rolled out, my tone low and thick. “You don't scare easy, do you? You're not afraid to die, you're not afraid of me. What are you afraid of?”
Turning her chin up high, the base of her skull pressed harder into my palm. Her lips plumped up, tongue running across the bottom. Her voice started to come out, but I stopped it.
I didn't want to know. Ivy didn't need to fear a thing as long as I was here. No one would touch her, no one would even look at her crooked with me around.
Crushing my lips into hers, I kissed her hard. My hands drove deeper into her hair, tightening and curling around the wet locks.
And Ivy kissed me back. She started off tempered, cautiously letting me control the intensity. But she didn't try to stop me.
Her mouth opened, tongue finding its way to mine. The passion turned on, heating into arousal, lust, desire.
The water drenched us, making our kiss liquid fire. Gripping the neck of my shirt, I yanked it over my shoulders and threw it to the floor. Ivy held on, kissing and licking, never letting go.
“I won't let anyone hurt you, Ivy.” Whispering into her mouth, I spoke the truth. “I won't let it happen, not now, not ever.”
And I meant what I said.
Never again.
Feverishly, her hands stroked my hair, raking my scalp. Her wet body pressed against my chest, hardened nipples pricking my skin. My cock thickened, turning rock solid. Popping the button on my jeans, I tugged the heavy material down over my legs, kicking them off. My cock bounced free, standing firm and aching to feel her.
Dipping into her neck, I kissed and nipped her skin. Planting kisses up her throat, I bit her lobe, and licked the shell of her ear. The sexiest moan slipped out of her mouth, head rolling off to the side.
With one hand in her hair, I dragged the other down over her ribs, and stopped at her hip. My fingertips dug into her skin, holding her tight as she rocked and gyrated against my thigh. Licking her collarbone, I made my way to her tit, taking her nipple between my teeth and biting it softly.
Ivy's hands scratched down my back, piercing my spine. I could feel her nails in my skin, and I knew I'd still be able to see her pleasure tomorrow if I looked at my back.
I was so fucking turned on, so hard and eager to slide deep into her hot cunt. Stroking up her slit, I felt her arousal. She was wet and warm, her pussy pulsing against my finger and clenching at nothing.
Flicking her clit, Ivy moaned louder, her legs trembling to hold her body up. “You're so fucking wet. Fuck.” The air-filled words met her hair as I cupped her cheeks and kissed her head.
“Dante, I . . .” Moaning again, she gasped as I slipped a finger into her heat. Her thighs clenched around my arm, back snapping square.
“You like that, Princess? You want to feel a real man?” Fingering her cunt, I let her juice drip over my wrist
. “I'm going to fuck that pussy, I'm going to make that mine.” Quickening the pace, I brought her right to the edge of coming.
“Ah! Mm, Dante! Fuck!” Her head fell into my chest, tits rising and falling with need. “Dante, you need to know—”
“Shh, Sweetheart, just enjoy this, enjoy right now.” Slipping in a second finger, I fucked her with my hand. Her legs shook, goosebumps jumping off her skin.
And just as her body was about to crash and explode, I yanked my touch away. “Not yet, not yet, Princess.”
Flashing her bright eyes, her thick lashes fanned like canopies. “Dante—”
“Don't talk, just tell me you want this. Tell me you want this and that's all I need.”
Biting her lower lip, Ivy nodded, her fingers gripping around my shoulders.
Scooping my hands under her ass, I lifted her up, pushing her back against the wall. Kissing her hard, I positioned my cock against her pussy, and slid in slowly.
Burying her head into the side of my neck, a pained moan hit my ears. “Are you okay?” I whispered into her ear.
Nodding, she lifted her face, and stared into my eyes. “Just go slow for me.”
Holding her up with one arm, I pushed the wet strands of hair off her face. Pulling out, I pushed back in. My pace was slow, her pussy tight and squeezing so hard around my shaft.
She felt amazing, and I wanted to live here, inside of her forever. Her skin was shining under the hot water, turning a blushed pink. Her nipples pricked my chest, back arching as I pumped in and out of her.
Her thighs crushed around my waist, moans growing louder as her walls clenched around my cock. The orgasm rushed through her body. Ivy's head fell back, hitting the tile, her mouth hung open, eyes rolling up into her skull.
As her muscles went limp, I yanked my cock from her cunt, resting it against her belly. The hot come spilled from my tip, purging in forced spurts that coated her skin in pearl white.
And as we stood motionless, breathing heavy, and at a loss for words, I knew.
I knew this woman needed me.
I knew I needed her.
Ivy was the one who finally spoke first. Her eyes were still, lips holding a small smirk. “Congratulations.”