Page 55 of Corrupting Ivy

“One more minute.”

“Now. Let’s take a shower.”

She didn’t budge. Her eyes stayed closed, her body limp on the mattress. I waited for just one more moment and, when she didn’t do as I told her, I grabbed one arm, lifted her from the mattress, and hauled her tiny frame over my shoulders in a fireman's carry, then slapped her ass for good measure, making her squeal.

I started the water and jumped in before it could heat itself, then placed her down on her feet, her body shrinking away from the icy water, screaming.

“That’s fucking cold.” She pressed into me, her hands clutched to her chest.

I tucked my fingers under her shirt and removed it over her head. Her bra followed next. It landed on the tiled floor with a wet plop. “Careful with that mouth of yours.” I stuck the pad of my thumb between her open lips as the water pelted down around us, finally coming to a suitable temperature. “I’d love to stuff my cock in there and see if you can talk around it.”

A grin lit up her beautiful features. Then she licked my thumb and bit it. I placed my hands on her shoulders and pushed her under the water to wash away the goosebumps attacking her skin. Her hard nipples, dripping with water, had my mouth salivating. What would she do if I sunk my teeth into them just to feel her pain?

She leaned against the shower wall and lathered her black hair. “I’ve never done that before, you know?”

“Never done what?” I picked up her body wash and rubbed it in her loofah until a thick lather formed, then scraped it across each nipple, and down her stomach until I reached the apex of her thighs. I rubbed the suds between her legs and soaked in her quiet moans as I slipped a finger between her folds. She tipped her head back and stared up at me.

“Asked someone to choke me.” Her words came out with each rapid breath of air as she exhaled.

“I don’t remember you asking.” I slipped another finger inside her warmth, then removed it and finished washing her body. Turning her to face the wall, I swiped her hair to the side and lathered her neck, back, and round ass. “It was a demand.”

“Well, I’ve never done that before.”

“And you liked it?” I whispered next to her ear, then bit it.

She nodded. “Now I know why they warned me to stay away from you.”

Full-bellied laughter erupted from my lips. “I’m flattered, but way off base.”

She turned to me with bunched brows and a frown curling her lips. “Then why?”

“It’s complicated.” She kept her frown, but this time added in the pouty lip.

“I’ve got time.”

“Remy likes to think she knows me, she’s seen things, knows my nightmares.” The color drained from her face, and she looked away. “I don’t share things with anyone, but she’s caught enough glimpses over the years to figure some things out.”

“Were you and her—”

I placed my finger to her lips. “Never. She’s the same age as my mother.” I shuddered at the thought as she sat quietly, her eyes wandering. “Want to fill me in on those thoughts?”

“You scare me sometimes and, other times, you treat me like a precious stone. You have my head in a whirlwind, and I don’t know which way is up and which way is down. But what Idoknow is, I don’t want to be hurt again.” Ivy tipped her head back and rinsed the suds from her hair, then wrapped a towel around her body and left the room.

My stomach became heavy, as though I’d been sucker-punched. Just the thought of hurting her made me sick to my stomach.

I let the water cascade over my shoulders, her confession swirling around inside me like a storm until I’d lost track of time.

The cooling water snapped me out of my mindless thoughts. I finished scrubbing with cold water.

She didn’t have to worry about me hurting her, but whoever was after her should worry about me.

I dried off, hung the towel up, then stepped out of the steaming bathroom to find her apartment empty. My mouth went dry as I dressed in record time. I threw on my shoes, ready to go find her when the front door opened, and she walked inside.

Holding two large plastic bags, one in each hand, she stopped when she caught sight of me. “Were you leaving? I brought us some food. I’m starving.”

Relief sagged my shoulders, an unfamiliar feeling stabbed at my chest, and I didn’t like it. She was waking up feelings I had long since buried, and I wanted to keep them that way.

“I could eat.”

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