7. Ivy
Chapter 7
Ivy
“Are you serious? They were having actual sex? In front of everyone ?” Isabelle’s face is a bright crimson and her eyes display the same wealth of shock I feel.
Mackenzie giggles mischievously and flicks her wrist, flaunting her just-done coffin shaped nails. “Yes they were. Everyone was. It’s a sex club.”
The girls all gasp and look at each other. Sawyer and Billie exchange curious glances. Savannah and Isabelle look like their interests are peaked. I’m somewhere in between curious and dumbfounded.
Everyone decided to assemble in my room to get their hair and makeup done for the Lords and Ladies party tonight.
The six of us are all sitting together in my living room. I’ve been on hair duty, while Sawyer and Savannah have been doing our makeup.
I’ve gone from Ivy, new girl on campus with no friends, to this little gathering which has happened every day for the last few days.
It started with me inviting them to watch a movie the other night. When they saw my room they fell in love with it.
It was so exciting to have them around that I dropped my guard and allowed them to talk me into going to this crazy party that has bad news written all over it.
Tiffany made a point of not inviting us but Eilish got us in.
We got on to the topic of sex clubs because the party is being organized by the same people who own the Dark Odyssey— a sex club .
I’ve never heard of the club before. Of course I knew that places like that existed but I didn’t know just how popular they were. Mackenzie on the other hand is a well versed and very satisfied patron.
She turned eighteen nine months ago, but has been going since she was seventeen. I get the feeling though that she might have been younger. She’s the girl with the wild streak. Sawyer is a runner up.
“And you do this?” Billie asks, looking at Mackenzie as if she’s checking she’s really telling us the truth. “I mean you go there and have sex?”
“Yeah.” Mackenzie answers as if she’s talking about the weather. “But I was with my boyfriend at the time. I’ve never been by myself.”
The said boyfriend was five years older. They broke up just before she came to Raventhorn because she caught him cheating on her with her cousin. Mackenzie is also the girl with the kind of outlandish drama you’d see on Jerry Springer.
“Would you go by yourself?” Isabelle cuts in.
With a guilty look in her eyes Mackenzie bites the inside of her lip. “Yes. I love the excitement and thrill of doing something totally wild. Something you’d never do in real life. The club allows you to step into a fantasy. Knowing the Dark Odyssey guys and the frat guys at Erebus and Lapetus, tonight is going to be one hell of a party.”
And that’s what worries me. Along with the fact that I’m very likely to see Thorne.
I haven’t seen him at all in the last three days but I’m sure he’ll be there tonight.
I haven’t been able to get his words/threats out of my head. Or the worry of him and this weird fascination he seems to have with me.
Because I haven’t seen him I’ve been hoping that maybe he’s forgotten me. It’s wishful thinking but I’m wishing anyway. Maybe he found another girl to haunt.
With his looks and status it wouldn’t be that difficult to replace me.
“You’re super quiet, Miss lady.” Isabelle looks at me and chuckles. She knows I’m nervous and that I’d prefer not to go to the party.
“I just don’t know what to expect from tonight.”
“Think speed dating meets seven minutes in heaven.” Mackenzie flashes me a wicked grin. “But we’re considered tributes to the guy you end up with.”
“And we have to agree to do anything he wants?” I fill in because she’s totally missing that part.
“Yes. That’s the fun part. Come on Ivy, where is your sense of adventure. This is college, the place where you’re supposed to live a little and experience life.”
Live a little and experience life. It sounds… normal. I’ve lived this secret life so long that I don’t know what normal feels like. I’ve never known and this—being here at Raventhorn and going to a crazy party—might be as close as I get.
“There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a little fun.” Isabelle nods and Sawyer joins her.
“Wild, sexy fun with hot blooded hot guys,” Mackenzie cuts in and they all laugh.
I join them, but it’s not funny. Apart from Isabelle and me, they’ve all had boyfriends. And they’ve all had sex.
Billie is even engaged to her boyfriend, Chad. They’re going to the party together.
“It’ll be alright.” Isabelle reaches across and taps my hand. “It’s going to be great to go and meet more people.”
“Exactly,” Savannah chimes in, beaming with anticipation.
“And hopefully, I get Kade.” Isabelle rubs her dainty hands together. “This party is the perfect opportunity to speak to him.”
“Speak? Girl, there’s no way that’s all you want to do with that boy.” Savannah giggles, swatting Isabelle’s leg.
Isabelle gives her a sheepish grin. “Of course I want to do so much more, but this is a start. Seven minutes in heaven for the three years I’ve known him. Maybe he’ll want to speak to me for longer than seven minutes.”
I smile back at her. It’s nice to see her so excited. Isabelle has spoken about Kade more than anything over the last three days.
“I hope tonight goes well for you.” I give her a positive nod.
“Me toooo.”
She’s praying for a kiss. But I just want to make it through the night without seeing Thorne, or doing anything completely insane with anyone else.
“Okay ladies, we have to get dressed now.” Sawyer glances at her watch and stands.
“Yayy. I can’t wait to get there.” Isabelle bounces to her feet.
“Easy tiger.” Billie giggles. “Remember to play it cool.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.” Isabelle tosses her hair over her shoulder and does her best rendition of a runway walk. She does great until she stumbles over Savannah’s makeup bag.
We all laugh and I catch her when she stumbles again.
“Oh my gosh. Tonight is going to be very interesting if nothing else.” Mackenzie rolls her eyes and chuckles.
The girls leave but Isabelle hangs back, laughing at herself.
“I’m so silly.” She shakes her head. “I pray I don’t fall over again in front of everyone, especially Kade.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Are you worrying about Thorne?” She raises one perfectly arched brow and gives me a questioning stare.
“A little?”
Against my better judgment I find myself telling her about what happened with Thorne at the library. He’s been on my mind so much that I had to talk to someone.
“Okay a lot,” I amend. “It’s not like I can ignore him if I end up with him.”
“I know, but that’s no reason to miss out on our first party, or worry yourself. If you end up with him, then it’s just for seven minutes. You’ll live.”
“I guess so. And I’m still hoping he’s forgotten me.”
“No offense, you’re absolutely beautiful, but I know what he’s like with girls. He probably has forgotten you. You haven’t seen him in days, right?”
“I have not.”
“That’s a good sign. Now suck it up and get ready. Let’s go party.” She gives me a tap on my shoulder and makes her way out the door.
Suck it up.
Okay. Maybe I can. I’ve been doing well here so far even though I’ve still had to clean the kitchen. I’ve just tried not to let it get to me.
The best thing was speaking with the music teacher about my lesson plan. I found out that each student actually has allocated study and practice times in the music room and if we need extra time we can get it. The room is also open twenty four seven. Meaning I can play the piano whenever I want.
Yesterday I went there at four in the morning. I played for several hours.
It was just the medicine I needed.
So I can do tonight and live a little. The last date I had was just before graduation. I’m here now at Raventhorn and I don’t intend to spend the rest of my time here living like some kind of social recluse.
I’ve been so hard on myself over the last few months, worrying myself sick. This could be medicine my soul needs too.
And who knows, I just might surprise myself and actually have fun.
So far so good.
We arrived at the Verge, the campus club, ten minutes ago. Billie left with Chad, leaving the rest of us to look around.
My mind is totally blown. I’ve never seen a club that looked like this in real life. It has multiple levels and wide arches on each floor, decorated with a contemporary meets Renaissance vibe.
There are aerial acrobats floating around the ceiling and pyro artists, juggling and breathing fire.
On top of that, all the girls are wearing elegant dresses and the guys are in full dress suits with black button down shirts and pants. I wondered if they’d be dressed in their Knights’ tunics or some sort of period wear, but this suits them more.
The girls who are taking part in the activities are wearing gold bracelets, so each of us—except Billie—was given ours at the door.
The bracelet is symbolic of the token of a favor given to a knight at a tournament like jousting. For this game, if a Knight requests your favor it means he wants to spend more time with you, or do more with you.
My bracelet matches the gold, Grecian-style dress I’m wearing.
Isabelle and I went to Nordstrom yesterday to get our dresses.
“Oh my God, this is fantabulous.” Isabelle twirls around, taking in all the awesome things around us.
She’s swapped her usual Lolita style for a blue sleeveless cocktail dress. It’s the most colorful thing I’ve seen her in since I met her.
“It certainly is amazing.” I look around too.
“Hey let’s get some cocktails before we join the games.” Mackenzie points over to the bar where they’re making colorful cocktails and other drinks that are in keeping with the Renaissance theme.
We head to the bar and get our drinks, then we sit in the little lounge nearby and absorb the atmosphere.
Everything seems run of the mill so far, and no one is having public sex. But that could be because the section we’re in is just the beginning.
The club owners have created a labyrinth for tonight’s game, which you have to go through to get to your guy or guys. That’s where all the wildness will take place.
Apparently all the girls who’ve agreed to take part have already been selected by the guys they’re supposed to see.
When we go over to the entrance of the labyrinth the organizers will split us up, so I won’t see Isabelle or the other girls until we get back to Myrrdin.
Now that I’m here I fully realize that coming to this party was truly a bold move for me.
As we’re all underage our drinks are non-alcoholic but Mackenzie had a flask of brandy. She gave us each a little drop to give our drinks a kick.
Usually I’d say no but I needed a little something to take the edge off. It worked. I have a gentle buzz going that’s sated my nerves.
When we finish drinking we head to the labyrinth.
Isabelle was already bouncing with excitement, but her drink has given her additional energy.
“This is it,” she bubbles, walking ahead of us. “Have fun, girls. I know I will.”
Mackenzie glances at me and we giggle.
“Have fun and do something wild,” she whispers to me.
I nod, although I’ve already decided against anything wild.
We walk through the entrance to the labyrinth where we find four guys dressed as knights in full silver and gold armor.
Once again I’m fascinated by how much effort was put into this party.
“Your hand please,” the Knight closest to me says.
I put out my hand and he scans my bracelet.
“That way.” He points down the dimly-lit path.
I glance back at Mackenzie and Isabelle who are nodding at me, silently telling me I’ll be okay. I hope I will.
With a wave I leave and proceed down the path with my nerves rolling into a ball of heat in my stomach.
What on earth am I getting myself into?
And what if I see Thorne?
I rehearsed a speech to give him where I sounded confident in my mind, but every time I’ve seen him the guy has left me tongue tied.
The things he says to me… well, no one I know speaks like that. And not because there’s that much difference between guys here and guys in L.A.
He’s just… him.
At the same time I’ve become increasingly aware that something happens to me when I’m around him. Something different from fear and apprehension.
I’ll be honest. It’s attraction. I hate that I can even admit that, but deep down, I know it’s true. And that’s why I mustn’t lose my mind when I’m around him.
Thorne Ivanov is no ordinary guy, so no matter how persuasive or gorgeous he is, he will always be off limits to me.
Suddenly the path becomes darker and the music changes. The wall becomes glass and I realize I can see a bed behind it. A fog of mist surrounds it.
When the fog clears I see four people on the bed having sex— three guys and a girl.
My mouth falls open and if it were possible to hit the floor and smash it would.
I’m so stunned I’m frozen to the spot.
Two guys pound into the girl at the same time—one in her pussy, the other in her ass—while the other feeds her his cock.
They take her like they own her inside and out. And she looks like she wants to be owned.
Suddenly I understand everything that Mackenzie said about being wild and doing something you’d never do in real life.
I’ve seen some porn before but I’m the kind of girl who can’t watch for too long. A minute or two at the most before I feel all weird. This is different.
Would I do this?
Could I allow myself to be taken in such a way, by not just one guy but three? It seems inconceivable but unnervingly fascinating.
Mom and Levgen have encouraged me to fit in, but I knowwww they would never class this as fitting in.
The spell is broken when the fog comes back, covering the glass so I can’t see the group anymore. But that doesn’t mean the show is over.
I notice the rest of the wall on this side has more to see. More that lures me away from my shock.
The next window shows only one couple. An older man and a younger woman who doesn’t seem that much older than me.
I’m captivated by the sensual way they touch.
It’s like they’re satisfying a thirst for each other. The group before had a savagery about them.
I realize both impressions were right and designed to come across that way on purpose.
“I’m trying to figure out which you like more,” comes a deep voice I’ve come to recognize awake and asleep. It’s the voice of the man I prayed I would avoid tonight.
I turn around to find Thorne leaning against the wall opposite me.
Although I’ve seen him wearing nothing but black since we met, tonight he has an elegance about him in his smart-casual clothes.
An elegance that seems too refined for him yet enhances his masculinity in a way that makes him look as irresistible as a Hollywood heartthrob.
“What do you mean?” Like always when I’m around him, I try to imbue my voice with confidence.
“The group or the couple.” His eyes roam over me, taking in my dress, my hair, my lips. “You wouldn’t like being shared.”
“Wouldn’t I?” He’s right but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. “Maybe I’d like that.”
“No. You wouldn’t. You can’t divide your attention between two men.”
“How do you know? Maybe I could.”
A muscle twitches in his jaw, but he keeps that cool edge about him that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.
“You’re the kind of girl who will be satisfied with the attention of one man only . But that man has to worship you like you’re the only woman in this world, and fuck you like a savage. Like he can’t get enough of you and he’ll die if he doesn’t touch you.”
I didn’t realize I was biting down hard on my back teeth until the tightness in my throat begged me to swallow. And I’m parched. Parched as if I haven’t drunk water in decades.
Thorne watches me, his face stern and stony, but amusement dances in his blue gaze.
“Looks like I’m right, little deer.” His voice forces away the awkward silence between us.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll experiment.” I decide to rile him up and throw him off his game.
“Come here.” The possession in his tenor hits me low in my core, grabbing at my insides with the savagery he spoke of moments ago.
My breath stills but I try to think of all the things I need to say to stop this craziness in its tracks. He’s clearly guy number one, so I’ll use our seven minutes to set him straight.
“I like over here, thank you very much.”
His lips curl into an award-winning grin. “With the people fucking behind you?”
I frown and move a few paces down the wall where the glass stops and it’s concrete again. It puts some distance between us, but not enough.
“We have seven minutes so let’s just get to the point.” I set my shoulders back and lift my chin.
“What point would that be?”
“You need to leave me alone. Even you can see how closely you’re bordering on stalking. It’s creepy as fuck and not a good look for anyone, least of all you. An Ivanov.”
The humor in his expression intensifies as if I just added to a running joke we’ve had going for years.
Thorne stares back at me for a few heartbeats while I wait with expectancy for an answer. Another stretch of time passes before he pushes away from the wall and my breath falters when he comes closer, taking slow, methodical steps.
I move back, pressing right into the wall as he invades my personal space, making it non-existent.
Using his body he presses into mine and I swear I can feel every hard muscle of his wide torso molded against me.
Leaning in, he brushes his nose against mine and inhales me, then he moves to my ear and lingers there. I’m numb with trepidation and a potent dose of apprehension that has my stomach fluttering with electric butterflies.
“I’ll bet you practiced that little speech every day since I last saw you.” The scruff of his jaw grazes my cheek and the heat of his breath tickles my skin.
“It doesn’t matter how much I practiced it. I mean it.” I try to shove him away but he grabs my hand and presses it against the wall, holding me captive. “Let me go, I’m sure your seven minutes are up.”
He laughs, cold and twisted. “Really, now? Did you seriously believe I was going to allow you to come to my party and only give me seven minutes?”
I struggle against his grasp. “Your party?”
“My party. You seem to forget who I am, little deer. Pretty much everything that happens on this campus is mine.” He presses his lips to my cheek, and a finger to my already-leaping pulse. “Nothing happens here unless I agree to it. So you’re certainly not going to give me seven minutes, and you won’t be seeing anyone else.”
“You’re insane. You need to leave me alone.”
“No.” He clutches my throat. His large hand wrapping around me is terrifying and I’m wildly aware of the fact that he could snap my neck if he wanted to.
Thorne moves closer so we’re eye to eye, and the demented expression on his face scares and excites me at the same time. That shouldn’t make sense, yet it does in my head and I hate it.
I hate it because it means I’m accepting that I’m attracted to him.
My nerves frazzle at the acknowledgement in my mind. Then my heart triple beats when he holds up my gold bracelet before me, showing he’s taken my favor.
“My lady.”
“You asshole.”
“Finally, you see who I am.”
Before I can comment his mouth crashes down on mine, stealing my senses as he pins my body and soul to his. Thorne captures my head and soul kisses me, leaving me numb and aroused in a way I can’t describe.
Nothing makes sense to me but his lips on mine and the important parts of my mind that should be working are frozen. Frozen like a fossil captured in amber, waiting to be discovered.
The kiss turns greedy and needy and desperate.
I lose my mind.
I lose myself.
I lose sight of every single warning my mother gave me and in those moments I don’t care about anything.
I don’t come back to earth until he lifts the hem of my dress and cups my sex through the lace of my panties.
Thorne presses his fingers into my clit and I gasp against his kiss. No one has ever touched me there before. The foreign sensation of his fingers fluttering over my mound makes my head spin and my breath go short.
He stops kissing me, just so he can look at me and smile at what suddenly feels like my defeat—me unraveling in his arms.
“You’re wet, malen'kiy olen' .” He calls me little deer in Russian sounding sexier for speaking the language I haven’t heard in far too long.
I’ve barely paid attention to the fact that he’s telling me I’m wet.
“No,” I pant.
“Yes. You want me to fuck you and take the cherry between your legs.”
“No.”
“Liar.” This time he slips his finger into my panties so he’s touching my bare pussy. He flicks his thick thumb over my aching clit and I moan out so loud the sound echoes around us.
“Thorne—”
He answers by pushing my dress up my hips and spreading my legs wider, then he adds another finger into my pussy and pumps hard, in and out, finger fucking me.
“Let’s play this game tonight.” His sinful smile adds to my delirium.
I can’t think anymore and my body has taken over control of my mind.
Lost in rapture, I press my fingers into the wall and surrender to him.
Vicious waves of pleasure sweep through me, up and down my body. Once. Twice. And all over again. I’m so hot my skin feels like it might fall off.
Finally the deadly combo of Thorne’s ruthless fingers and the insatiable pleasure splits me apart and I come. A sharp cry leaves my lips and the waves of my orgasm leave me trembling against him.
I grab on to his shirt, squeezing tight as if he can stop me from falling off the face of the earth, and he smiles.
Thorne holds my gaze, his piercing stare intensifying with every passing second of me trying to regain my composure.
Damn him for doing this to me. And damn me too.
I didn’t stop him. I didn’t try hard enough.
I’m better than this.
He withdraws his hand and I slump against the wall, my chest heaving, my soul shaking. Then the devil shocks me even more by holding up his fingers, showing me the glistening juices of my arousal. He places his fingers in his mouth making a show of licking it off with a satisfied smile.
And then he looks at me as if he’s only just getting started.