Chapter 39 Ivy
thirty-nine
Ivy
Although it was only her third visit to Diarom, Ivy felt instantly soothed as the city filled her vision. She glanced over at Finare’s car driving alongside them and was grateful that they’d made it out. The knot of tension within her loosened.
With both cars parked, they made their way to the elevator. Killian stabbed the button for the seventeenth floor a moment before Finare pushed the button for the lobby. Ivy’s head turned towards Finare, a look of confusion on her features.
“It’s been a long night. I’m going to get a drink somewhere. That’ll give you two some time to make up.” Finare looked between her and Killian, and it made a blush sweep across her cheeks.
“At least come up and get a spare key, so you don’t disturb our making up.” Killian’s lips kicked up to form the smirk that she’d come to adore. She bit her lip to stop from grinning.
Finare reluctantly agreed. Killian let them into the apartment, and Ivy made her way inside. She heard a caw from outside, and she headed to the balcony. Ozias flew inside as she slid the door open, perching on the loft’s railing.
Ivy advanced to the couch, feeling instantly at home. She watched as Killian handed Finare a key and pointed out the spare bedroom. Finare shot her a wink before he left.
Once they were alone, the energy in the room rapidly changed. Killian stalked towards her, setting her heart racing. He descended upon her, caging her body against the couch as he crashed his lips against hers. The kiss was urgent, and Ivy found her arousal surging almost immediately.
She pulled back before her urges could get the better of her. She wanted to clear the air. She met Killian’s gaze and was mesmerised by the way the swirls of black shifted and whirled against the backdrop of red.
“I’m sorry for walking out on you.” Her words chased the swirls of black in Killian’s eyes away. He shifted to sit beside her but remained close enough that their thighs were touching.
“It took everything in me not to come after you.”
Ivy winced at the sound of anguish in his voice. “I’m also sorry for the way I reacted about Eryn.” Ivy felt a flush spread across her cheeks as she reflected on her impulsiveness.
“I should’ve told you about her in a different way.”
“It wasn’t that. It made me think of my own failures. I felt jealous.”
Killian’s brow creased, and he tilted his head, clearly confused. “Jealous? What do you mean?”
Ivy drew in a deep breath. She told Killian about Emer, including her sister’s fascination with Noctis and her disappearance. She explained the revelation that the Black Letter provided anything but certainty, and the shame she felt for giving up on her sister so soon after her disappearance.
Killian was silent as he processed the information, and when she was finished, he pulled her into a hug. She breathed heavily against him and was comforted by his scent.
“I felt jealous that the path to your sister was so clear. But for me, I’m living with false hope that she could still be out there, and I’m terrified to search for her in case I find out that she really has been dead for twelve years.” Ivy’s eyes welled with tears.
She felt Killian’s fingers stroking her hair, and she rode the stormy seas of her emotions. She cried against him, and when the storm lifted, she pulled back to look at him.
“I’m sorry for making this about me.”
Killian’s expression was soft, and he lifted his hand to wipe her tears away with his thumb. His hand shifted to rest against the place where her neck met her shoulder, his thumb now brushing against her collarbone.
“No more apologies for tonight, okay? It’s been a rough one, and lots of shit has happened to you. Starting with that dress.” His eyes swept down at the teal dress that was now in tatters from the mid-thigh.
She grimaced at the sight of it, but when their eyes met once more, Ivy saw a look of desire in Killian’s eyes that made her insides clench.
“You’re not wrong.” Ivy rose from her seat.
Killian remained seated and watched her intently as she started backing towards the windows. She unzipped the dress while moving, keeping her gaze fixed on him.
“I hate this thing so much. I want to throw it off the balcony.” A smile curled her lips as she lifted the dress over her head. While her vision was obscured, Killian had surged from his seat and was now standing before her. Ivy gasped.
“Allow me to do the honours.” He reached down and took the dress from her hand. He paused and looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on the scar on her chest.
He strode towards the balcony door. Ivy followed, wrapping her arms around herself to fight against the chill.
She watched as Killian held the dress aloft, allowing it to dangle over the void.
But instead of letting go, he narrowed his eyes at it, and the dress burst into flame in his hand.
It was only then that he dropped it. It fluttered down, rapidly shrivelling to nothing as the flames devoured it on the descent.
He turned back towards Ivy and fixed her with a lust-filled stare that made Ivy’s insides turn molten.
“That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Ivy bit her bottom lip as her brazenness flooded her with embarrassment.
“You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Killian retorted almost instantaneously, before he launched himself towards her.
Ivy shrieked with excitement and ran back inside. Killian gave chase, and she couldn’t help but feel an echo of their first chase in this apartment. Killian stopped, and Ivy wondered if he felt the same, because when she turned, his demeanour had changed.
He approached her tentatively, and when she didn’t run away, he bent to pick her up.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
It felt natural for their lips to meet next.
Killian navigated the apartment with his eyes closed, and they made it to his bedroom without having to break the kiss.
Killian deposited her on the edge of the bed and stood before her. For a moment, he simply stared at her, causing her to tilt her head inquisitively.
“I’m thinking about all the things I want to do to you.” The carnal undertone in his voice made her squeeze her thighs together.
“I hope it doesn’t involve that dagger of yours,” Ivy quipped, unsure how else to respond to his directness. Ivy’s eyes flashed down to Killian’s leg, but the dagger wasn’t there. As her eyes made their way back up, her gaze lingered on his groin, and she blushed once more.
“Unless you need more clothes cut from your body, Cataplexis will remain far from you. One scar upon your perfect flesh is more than enough.” He inched closer as he spoke.
The reverence in Killian’s tone dragged her eyes back to his, and despite still wearing her underwear, she felt ridiculously bare under his gaze.
“I want to see you,” she breathed, and that smirk that made her crazy appeared on his lips again.
Killian lifted his hands, snagging the hem of his shirt as they travelled upward. He pulled the shirt over his head and Ivy took a moment to appreciate the view she was rewarded with. She couldn’t help but lick her lips and it earned her a hearty laugh from Killian.
“So lecherous,” he chastised playfully, as his hands moved down to his jeans.
He worked on the jeans too slowly, and she reached over to assist, but he stepped out of her reach.
“Impatient, too. I have my work cut out for me with you.” This time his light-hearted scolding elicited a laugh from Ivy.
She shook her head and waited for the jeans to drop to the floor before wiggling her finger to summon him back towards her. He slowly walked forward and nudged her knees apart to stand between her legs.
Ivy reached up, hooking her fingers inside his underwear.
She pulled them down slowly, holding his gaze.
His eyes swirled, and although the shifting colours were mesmerising, she was distracted when his cock became visible in her peripheral vision.
Her gaze shifted, as did her hand, and they both met on his impressive length.
She felt him twitch against her, and he watched her as she started to stroke him.
She luxuriated in the feel of him in her hand, and she used his low moans of approval to guide her strokes.
When a bead of pre-cum rolled out from the tip of his cock, she felt the urge to lean forward and catch it with her tongue.
She heard Killian gasp at the sensation, and she couldn’t help but smile at the effect the simplest of actions had on him. She took him into her mouth, being careful to shield her fangs with her lips, and continued to pump his length with her hand as she sucked.
Ivy felt his hands running through her hair, and she was surprised by the gentleness of the touch.
She let her gaze drift upward, and when their eyes met, she elicited a moan that vibrated along him.
She increased her pace, taking more of him into her mouth with each forward movement, until she could feel the tip of his cock brushing the back of her throat.
Killian elicited a deep moan that she felt rumble through her lower region. It only served to spur her on.
As he neared his climax, she could feel him holding back from thrusting into her mouth.
His fingers gripped her hair tightly, but not tight enough to hurt.
He let out a groan as he found his release, and she swallowed all he had to give.
She licked her lips after she pulled away and laid back on the bed, fixing him with what she hoped was a lascivious grin, but it felt goofy more than anything.
She glanced down at his cock and her eyes widened with surprise when she discovered he was still rock hard.
Her experiences with Leseldh were usually wrapping up by now, but as Killian climbed onto the bed and hovered over the top of her, she could tell he was gearing up for another round.
He laughed, and when her eyes returned to his, she saw he was smirking.