29. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
B rody
“Look at you being a real joy. Why, oh why, am I not talking to you?” She rolls her eyes.
“Oh, come on, Ivy. You know that’s not why we’re not talking.”
She snuck out of the room this morning while I was in the bathroom to escape me. I wonder what harebrained ideas she’s come up with since she’s been in here. Yes, I’ve been searching. Apart from the fact that I need to keep an eye on her so she doesn’t intentionally put herself in the path of danger, she’s also a target for a shooter. She can’t up and go wherever she wants without protection. She isn’t far away this time but who knows where else she’d go to prove she’s capable by herself?
“We’re not talking because you can’t talk to me without expecting that I take your word as law.” She turns away from me to face Cliff. “And you’re rudely interrupting my conversation so go away.”
“Like you’re any different.” I shut the door and fold my arms across my chest. “And I’m not leaving.”
“Tell him to get out, Cliff.” She looks up at the older man.
He shrugs and splays his hands, a bemused expression on his face. “I really can’t. The media room is open to everyone at all times. He can come and go as he pleases.”
“Ugh.” Her shoulders droop.
I give her a smile. “It pleases me to stay.”
She shakes her head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re no better. Tell me. What have you been telling Cliff? Did you tell himself you want to get yourself killed?”
“You know it’s not like that. You’re just exaggerating because you can’t stand that you didn’t give your approval on this.”
“I would never give my approval on something so foolhardy.”
“And no one’s asking for it.” She juts her chin out defiantly.
“You’re not looking at this rationally, Ivy. It’s dangerous what you want to do. Anyone that supports you isn’t considering the risk.”
“There’s a greater risk if I stand by and do nothing. Iris and I will be sitting ducks waiting for him.”
“There are other ways. You just have to give it some time.”
“Time’s a luxury I can’t afford, Brody. I frankly don’t care if you or anyone else supports me, I’m doing this.”
“Just so unreasonable.” I turn to Cliff. “Back me up on this. Isn’t this plan insane?”
Cliff raises both hands. “What’s insane is the quick quips you throw at each other.” He places his hands on his knees and rises with a sigh. “I was on my way to check on a report about a missing snowmobile. Whatever this is, I’m sure you can both handle it on your own.” He pauses. “Eventually.” Then he touches Ivy’s shoulder. “You’re a smart woman. I’m certain you’ll do what is right for you.”
She smiles at him sweetly. “Thank you, Cliff.” That smile falls away as her gaze returns to me.
I scoff. Unbelievable . Cliff has fallen for her act too.
He stops by my side and pats my arm. “You should take it easy on her.”
My jaw drops. “She’s not the delicate flower you think she is.”
The person he’s speaking for is now making crude faces at me because he can’t see her. Go fuck yourself , she signs.
“And you are stronger than you think you are,” he says. With that, he exits the room, leaving me alone with her.
I close the door, Cliff’s words ringing in my head. I could try a gentler approach but that has never worked with Ivy so I’m not holding out hope.
“Don’t use yourself as bait, Ivy. Please?”
“Tacking please on with that tone doesn’t make what you’re saying polite.” She folds her arms, settling back on the sofa and throwing one leg over the other. “Also, no. I’m doing what I can to end this. I have a life to get back to.”
“There are other ways. You don’t have to get in front of a gun again.”
“There are ways? Really? Let’s hear them.”
My brain draws a blank. “We haven’t got enough time to think things through yet.”
“I don’t have time , Brody.” She stands. “I’m on the verge of losing my job, okay? If I don’t get my act together, I won’t have a roof over my head very soon. And you know what? Forget about me for a second. What about Iris? I can’t give my sister the life she needs to thrive because we can’t even catch a breather. If we don’t get him now, then when? I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of being worried. I just want things to go back to the way they were.”
I cross the room to her. The fear and worry plays on her features underneath her defiance. I wish I could give her a timeline, something to hold onto but I can’t.
“You know all those things won’t matter if you’re hurt, right?” I look into her eyes. I can’t believe she doesn’t see it. “Your life is more important than anything else.”
She starts to turn away because she must see the truth. I cup her cheeks and keep her looking at me.
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Ivy.” My voice drops to a whisper. “Please. We can deal with the rest of that shit after we get the shooter, but let’s not get you killed because we’re impatient.”
“You’re being pessimistic. There’s no guarantee that I would get hurt.”
“There’s no guarantee that you won’t.” I lower my head to her forehead. If only she can see what I’m thinking. I’ve seen more foolproof plans with trained professionals go wrong than I can count.
“Aren’t you going to be there?” Her dark green eyes shine with a special kind of trust. Her hands flatten on my chest as she pulls closer. “I know you won’t let me get hurt. As will the police, who’ll help set it up.”
“I know.” I nuzzle her hair, her cheek, drawing in her sweet scent. “I know, but I don’t trust…” Anyone with your life . The words dance on the tip of my tongue but I can’t confess them. Ivy’s a job and it’s best if she believes I see her as that and nothing more. I nudge her face up so her parted lips are upturned. Even though I can’t speak the words, I can show her some other way.
Her eyes blink languidly as she leans into me, head tilting to the side. I give into the urge powering through me and fuse our lips together. My chest expands as she melts against my body, reaching her hands around my neck to deepen the kiss.
Our lips meld, moving together in an almost practiced rhythm. If only our minds worked this way. She’s given me access to her body, urging me to touch her until she pants, but never her mind. Her mind is firm, and her will, even stronger. She will do as she wants and no can stop her.
I take what she gives, cupping her face and rolling our tongues together. Kissing Ivy is like tasting the sweetest berry.
Her moans send a rush through me and her hands pulling at my shoulders, my neck, proving how much she wants this, how much she wants me, makes me grow hard beneath my jeans.
She must feel my thick length pressed against her because she grabs it and tugs.
“Hmm, fuck, Ivy.” A groan leaves me. I came here with the intention to change her mind, not get mine fucked by her touch.
She pulls away and pushes me toward the sofa. “Sit.”
I plop down, keeping my eyes on her. She follows me down, placing her knees on either side of my body and crawling up so her pussy sits right on my cock where it points in her direction.
“Fuck.” I run my hands through her soft, lush hair and bring her lips back to mine.
Her hips starts to rotate and she moans, making tight little circles. My cock aches to be out and in her heat but I’m letting her lead this, going at her pace. There’s a lot in her life now that’s out of her control but with me, she can have control. She can decide her fate.
She bounces a couple of times and a grunt chokes out of me and my hips thrust upward. I wish she’d decide to slide her panties to the side and sit bare on me, but we’re following her lead.
Her lips leave mine and her kisses trail my jaw and neck. Soft bites pepper my skin soothed by her warm breath. She licks me softly while her fingers slide down my chest, past my tensed stomach, and underneath my jeans.
When her hands graze my cock, my hips shoot off the couch.
“Fuck, Ivy,” I exhale. “I need to be inside you.”
“We’re in the media room.” She licks my ear. “In public. We can’t do it here.”
“Then you’re torturing me, baby. The way you stroke my cock.” My head falls back as she runs her thumb through the slit, spreading precum around the cockhead.
“We can’t,” she insists. “Someone may come in anytime.”
But she’s not slowing down. Her fingers fist me hard, stroking fast and slow. Root to tip.
“Just a little.” I sound like I’m in my first month of puberty but it’s only because Ivy does crazy things to me. “Just the tip.”
“No,” she says with a tremble and then takes my lips before I can convince her differently.
If she’s torturing me with her touch, then I might as well touch what I’m missing too. With my left arm braced around her lower back, I slide my right hand beneath the waistband of her tights. She shivers as I cup her ass and knead both cheeks.
“You’ve soaked your panties, haven’t you?” I suck on her tongue. “Naughty girl.”
She moans and rolls her hips, encouraging me to feel her up. I dip my finger lower and find a juicy treasure.
“Look at that. So wet.” Her entrance gives way easily, opening up for a finger, then two.
She throws her head back and moves up and down on my fingers. In a rush, she undoes my zipper and exposes my cock, stroking faster as she pleasures her greedy snatch.
It only takes a few seconds until she’s spilling onto my fingers and clenching around me. The warm, spasming feel of her sets off my orgasm. The first jet of cum shoots from the tip and lands on her finger.
Ivy dips her head immediately, licks off the stray drop, and swallows my spurting cock into her mouth. I groan, unable to keep the sound low as I watch her enthusiastically suck me off. A trail of cum spills but she catches it with her tongue and licks upward. When she proves that I’m done coming, she tucks me back in and cradles herself against my chest.
I can’t take my hand out of her. Not yet. I’m enjoying her warmth way too much.
She draws me down and we kiss slowly. Her breath is shallow as I pet her clit once more, stroking in and out of her at the same time. Soon, slight tremors pass through her body as she comes again. She whimpers against my chest and dances around on my fingers.
“Good?”
“Mm-hmm.” She shudders.
I play with her clit until she goes limp against me. Determining she’s had enough, I pull my fingers free, but keep her against my chest.
She sighs, eyes closed and face peaceful.
I allow us to catch a breath before speaking again. “That took a turn.”
She giggles. “Yeah, it did.”
“So, have you reconsidered?” I keep my tone neutral so she doesn’t take offense. “Are you still going to be bait?”
Her eyes open and there’s a serene smile on her face. “Yes, I’m going through with it.” She pats my cheek. “And no more conversations about it. I’m done arguing.”
Of course. I expected nothing less.