Chapter 16
Rami strode around the pool with a naked Ivy in his arms, and it might’ve been the longest, most uncomfortable stroll he’d ever taken. His cock twitched and pulsed—so hard it fucking hurt.
Her juices still clung to his mouth. He sucked his bottom lip to savor her flavor. Jesus. She tasted as delicious as a guilty man’s last meal.
Hearing Ivy moan and shudder had shredded his self-control and elicited a flood of longing inside him. But not just sexual need—there was something else brimming just below the surface.
And he didn’t want to explore it.
Instead, he’d focus on the physical aspect of what he was feeling. Because as far as he was concerned, her coming was the sweetest, most craze-inducing sound he’d ever heard.
He’d never particularly gotten off on the sound of a woman, but Ivy’s raspy little cries had him unglued. One thing was for sure: he liked this. Like the sated, curled-up weight of Ivy against his naked chest. Too damn much.
He approached the double-sized chaise longue at the end of the pool near the doors and lowered her to the cushion. Kneeling on the lounger, he reached over to his discarded his jeans and dug through the pocket until he found his wallet. He yanked out a condom and then quickly glanced at his phone to make sure the ringer was on and no one had called or messaged since he buried his face in Ivy’s pussy.
Couldn’t be too careless.
Ivy let out a little sigh and stretched. “It’s such a beautiful night.” She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, and she looked so damn relaxed he almost didn’t want to take that feeling from her. But the need to get deep inside her was too great.
He’d never made love—fucked. Shit, he was getting soft. He’d never fucked under the stars, and until now the idea hadn’t meant much to him.
But the moonlight coating Ivy’s sleek body in its rays, her pink nipples little rosebuds—it was erotic as hell. Shoving his sopping wet briefs down his legs, he stretched out beside her. Instantly she curled into him, meshing with every cell in his body. Her fingers went to his side, brushing along his skin. He rolled on top of her, boxing her in with his elbows.
“This is more comfortable than cement,” she said with a chuckle.
He grinned. “Sorry about that.”
A throaty laugh rumbled from her throat. “Mmm. No apology necessary. You numbed the pain quite well.”
He didn’t stop his bark of laughter. “Anytime, sweetheart. You taste like heaven.”
Everything about her was like heaven. He’d never considered himself religious, but Jesus, Ivy had become his salvation.
Ivy’s face softened. Her smile was slow and cautious, her eyes warm and watchful. As if she wanted to ask something but was holding back.
“What?” he asked.
“Do you have a condom?”
He’d bet his ass that wasn’t what she’d been thinking, but when her featherlight touch skimmed his abs, he forgot everything else.
She shimmied her legs so he could nestle between them then hiked her knees up to his hips. He let out a groan as her still-wet pussy rubbed against his shaft, nearly kicking his eyes to the back of his head.
After quickly ripping open the foil wrapper in his hand, he rolled on the condom and guided himself to her opening. She was soaked, making his entry easier than her tight tissue would’ve normally allowed.
A little cry breathed through her lips, and he sealed his mouth over hers to steal it. Her hips surged forward as he swept his tongue between her teeth, filling her mouth with her own delicious flavor.
God, he loved the way she welcomed him. The way her walls gift-wrapped his cock perfectly. Need tightened every muscle and pleasure infiltrated his brain.
He rocked into her, tapping his shaft to her clit. She cried out sharply and crushed her arms around his neck, holding on to him as if she were drowning. Her scent was thick and sweet in the air. All he could feel, smell, and taste was Ivy.
And he was fucking addicted.
“Rami. Omigod,” she squeaked against his lips.
A guttural moan rose from deep within him. Her warm wetness coated his cock, clenching until it threatened to bust. He brought his mouth to her neck, licking and tasting her.
Her fingernails dug into his shoulders and he wanted more. Pulsing into her at a steady rhythm, he teetered on the edge of an orgasm. Already. Christ. But he wasn’t ready. Not until she came again.
Her moans became high-pitched cries and he continued in a steady rhythm, stroking her clit. She convulsed. Her legs squeezed his sides. The sound of her unbridled pleasure broke the dam inside him and he came.
Pumping fast and hard into her, he ground out a curse against her neck. He buried himself over and over until his seed leaked its last drop. He went slack, every muscle spent.
Ivy’s fingers moved lightly up and down his back, and the sensation was like a deep tissue massage after such an intense orgasm.
When her nails toyed lazily with his scalp, goosebumps prickled his flesh. He could lie with her forever. Her touch was like balm on a burn, like a hot bath after a stressful day—Ivy was sheer paradise.
He’d never been a praying man. Never really expected golden gates to open for him at the end of his life...
But Ivy was all that and more.
Her hand caught his jaw and steered his lips to hers. She kissed him gently, her mouth sensually teasing his, making him aware that this was the most perfect moment he’d ever experienced. She licked his bottom lip. The act didn’t feel sexually charged but soft and, hell, loving.
And then, she pulled away. He groaned with the need to deepen the kiss but knew he’d already wrecked her little pussy for the night.
“Be right back,” he said. He rolled off the lounger and quickly disposed of the condom inside. He came back outside in a dry pair of briefs and with a blanket and a warm, damp cloth.
Getting back on the chair, he waited while she cleaned herself then tossed the blanket over them. He lay on his back and Ivy curled against his side. Her knee dragged up onto his thigh and her hand settled in the valley of his chest. Her breathing was steady and relaxed.
The cool night air surrounded them but beneath the blanket, their bodies generated enough heat. “You warm?” he asked, just to make sure.
“Mmm,” she mumbled sleepily.
He tucked her closer and brushed his lips over her temple. “Sleep.” As he said the word, he drifted off.
Buzz, buzz, buzz
Rami’s head twitched. His brain identified the sound but at the same time rejected it. How long had he been asleep? The still-dark sky indicated not long at all.
Buzz, buzz, buzz
Shit. He snapped open his eyes and peeled away from Ivy’s warm, snuggly form. After scooping up his phone from the cement, he quickly crossed the patio and opened the slider. “Yeah?” he answered.
Pressing the cool device to his ear, he rubbed his eyes against the glow of the kitchen’s undermount lighting. Their supper dishes were abandoned on the table, and the white stone countertop was covered with the mess they’d made preparing their meal. His plans to clean up had been interrupted by Ivy’s decision to strip down to her underwear.
He hated leaving a mess for the morning.
“Dammit. Why didn’t you answer?” August’s voice rang with annoyance. “I called a few minutes ago. Thought they already got a bullet in your head.”
“Still kickin’. What’s up?”
“You need to get out of there now. The cartel guys have left their motel and are heading in your direction. You’ve got fifteen minutes. Tops.”
Sonofabitch.
“’Kay.”
“Where you gonna take her?” Defeat clung to August’s words. He didn’t have to spell out where his mind was going.
This was getting exhausting. They didn’t have the manpower to go up against the cartel. Running was the only way to keep Ivy alive, but they couldn’t keep doing that.
At some point the cartel would catch up.
That wasn’t a situation he could afford to put Ivy in.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, ignoring the headache blooming at his temples. He’d already been working on a loose plan. Before he’d fallen asleep on the chaise longue, a loose plan had entered his mind. One that didn’t bode well for him but was necessary nonetheless.
“I’ve got a plan. Let me get packed. Meet me at the point and we’ll discuss in person.” The “point” was their emergency meeting spot—a small lookout on the outskirts of Seattle.
“All right. Taschen’s still stationed in the neighborhood. I’ll tell him to follow you when he spots your vehicle.”
“Sounds good.” Rami disconnected and made his way back onto the deck. Lead forming in his stomach, he paused over Ivy’s sleeping form for a heartbeat. The moonlight bathed her pale skin. Her eyelashes were dark crescents resting on her cheeks. Her lips were full and relaxed, slightly inflamed from his love bites.
She let out a loose breath, and the dread grew to press against his chest. After this, there was no going back. Possibly no coming back to this.
But the cartel’s pursuit was his doing. He’d thrown the fucking grenade that turned a shitty situation into a fucking earthquake. He’d pay for it.
But so would she. His heart twisted in his chest as he gently placed his palm on her cheek. “Ivy, baby.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. “What? What’s wrong?”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb, wishing like hell he could go back and do anything but throw that fucking bomb. “We gotta move.”
***
Rami’s words hammeredinto her brain like nails through sheet metal. Still, her mind fumbled with each syllable. All that translated was run.
Wrapping the blanket around her, she followed Rami into the house. Tears prickled her eyes. Still weak from being eaten out as if her center held the secrets of the universe, her legs trembled. Then she’d gotten banged into oblivion. She’d do it all again without hesitation.
For a few blissful hours she’d been free. Part of her had known the running would resume, but dammit, she’d wanted one night in Rami’s arms. One night where she didn’t have to worry about whether they’d see tomorrow.
“Don’t panic. We’ll be gone long before they get here.” He escorted her to her bedroom and tossed her still-packed bag on the bed. “Dress warm and comfortable.”
He left the room, his broad, tanned back as rigid as if he were suited up in tactical gear.
Grabbing her favorite yoga pants, she stepped into them. Hysteria knocked at the steel trapdoor in her mind, behind which she’d locked it away. It pummeled its angry fists, threatening to break loose and turn her into a weeping puddle.
“Nope,” she said aloud, popping the p. “Not happening. You can do this,” she murmured to herself as she pulled on a long-sleeved white T-shirt then shrugged into a loose-fitting hoodie. She tossed a few more items into her bag then added her phone and charger and hooked her arm through the strap.
Rami poked his head around the doorframe. He was dressed in a long-sleeved charcoal-gray shirt and black combat pants. A black vest dangled over his arm. “Ready?”
She nodded. His gaze raked over her. He took her bag from her, his gaze narrowing on the cord dangling from outside the zipper. “Can’t bring your phone.” He clicked his tongue and pulled out the device and cord and tossed them onto the bed.
She huffed. “I need to call Gigi.”
He held up the vest. “You can call her once we get where we’re going. Right now, I need you to put this on underneath your sweater.”
She swallowed and stared at what could only be a bulletproof vest.
“We need to move,” he said, sharply snapping her from her moment of hesitation.
She dropped her bag to the bed and shrugged out of her hoodie. Before she could orient herself, Rami fitted the vest over her head.
“It’s pretty lightweight. A little big, but that’s not a bad thing considering it’ll cover you even more.” As he spoke, his fingers clicked the buckles in place then cinched the material until the vest was secured to her chest and back.
“Do I really need this?” she asked, her voice strained and high-pitched. The thought of being shot filled her mouth with the coppery taste of fear.
“Hopefully not.” He picked up her hoodie and tugged it back over her head. Then he examined her chest. “Can’t even tell you’re wearing one.” A note of anxiety hung on the words, and her hackles rose.
Of course he’d be on edge considering they had to run yet again—but the stern line of his brow and the muscle jumping at his jaw, not to mention her ensemble, made her insides swirl with unease. Even when he’d rescued her from that hellish camper, he hadn’t looked nervous.
So why now?
The questions evaporated on her tongue as he led her to the door that would take them to the attached garage. He moved in front of her, his gun in hand and ready to shoot.
Sweat collected on her brow. The ice-cold droplets irritated her skin but she didn’t dare move to rub them off.
Rami yanked open the door, flicked on the light, and quickly scanned the garage. When no one jumped out, he urged her onto the steps that descended to the cement floor. “One sec.”
He traveled around the vehicle, quickly ensuring the space was clear. Then he dropped to his stomach and turned on the flashlight on his phone to look at the undercarriage.
“What are you—” Her belly bottomed out then ricocheted to her throat as realization dawned on her.
He hopped to his feet. “It’s fine. No bomb.” Waving at her, he held out his hand. “C’mon. We need to hurry.”
Her feet carried her to the passenger side as if she were floating through a dream.
“I need you to get low, okay? I’ll tell you when it’s safe to get up.” The edge to his voice was sharp enough to dice gravel.
Tears burned her eyes. His face softened, and he touched his forehead to hers. “You’re gonna be fine. Just move.” The air crackled between them. “Please,” he added on a whisper.
She climbed inside and shimmied low in the seat. He tossed her bag in the back and in seconds, he was in the driver’s seat, his fingers punching the garage door opener Gigi had left them.
The metal rattled open.
Her tears overflowed. As far as she was concerned, they’d just been birthed into hell.