23. Ivy #2
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Teddy grunts, reading the short letter over my shoulder, and I shrug, but it’s Archer who finds an answer first.
“It means whatever awaits her in that forsaken relic will make her want to be his fucking Kingdom Champion,” Archer surmises, and I grimace.
“I don’t see how that’s possible,” I mumble, eyeing the relic.
“Ivy, I know curiosity likes to get the better of you, but I need you to hear me out for a second,” Archer starts, reaching for my hand, and I let him turn me away from the gifts.
“His letters are usually cryptic, especially the last one. It was all alluring and enticing, reeling you in to discover what he had to offer you while also trying to piece together why he wanted you to have that information. This… this is different; his letter only includes what he wants to gain from offering this to you. There’s no mention of this being a freebie, or for your gain; it’s for his. ”
My pulse races in my chest, hammering between curiosity and the hatred of feeling like I’m being controlled. Delving into these relics is addicting, and Leonardo Corrigan knows it.
But even more frustratingly, Archer is right.
This relic comes with an invisible binding contract between the leader of the Second Kingdom and me. I can’t be so na?ve and gullible this time.
The realization zaps me like an electric bolt, jolting me back a few steps as I eye the relic cautiously.
“Get it away from me,” I blurt, lacing my fingers together behind my back as I turn away from it.
I don’t trust myself not to act stupidly.
I clench my eyes shut, pressing the palms of my hands against them for good measure as I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, fighting against the desire inside of me.
“Breathe slowly, Princess,” Teddy murmurs, his breath ghosting over my face, but he doesn’t touch me. “I’m right here with you; everything is going to be okay. You’re making the right decision for this moment, and you should be proud of yourself for that.”
“I feel like I’m not. Or I feel like I’m making the right decision for the moment, but it’s not my decision because mine wouldn’t be the correct one.”
“Say the word and I will charge after Archer and get it back for you right now.”
“Despite the consequences?” I press, daring to lift my hands from my face as I look at him through my slightly splayed fingers, and he nods.
“As long as the consequences keep you at my side, I’ll face them all.”
“You’re insane,” I mumble, exhaling some of the weight away as Teddy finally reaches for me.
His fingers ghost over my waist, grounding me in the moment with him, and the tension stiffening my spine loosens. I feel like I can breathe again.
“I’m insane for you,” he whispers, the tip of his nose touching mine, and I shiver, my train of thought long forgotten as he cups my cheek, running his thumb across my bottom lip.
“I hate feeling helpless,” I rasp, almost hating the vulnerability on my tongue just as much, but the way he smiles at me so soothingly makes it impossible for me to cling to the emotion.
“Then don’t be helpless, Princess. What can we do to fix it? You need something to make you feel like you have control again.”
“That makes me sound ridiculous,” I grumble, and he scoffs.
“No, it makes you sound real and raw. Overwhelm comes when we don’t have a sense of control. To stop the spiral, you take the reins. What does that look like for you?”
I shake my head, understanding his words, but I’m too deep in what he’s deeming a spiral to formulate a way out.
“It’s okay, Ivy. Look at me.” He presses the tip of his finger under my chin. “Look at me,” he repeats, and I drag my gaze to his. “Tell me to do something, anything.” My eyebrows furrow as I shake my head again, but he insists. “Tell me.”
“Take this dress off me,” I rasp, the sequins itchy against my skin, and he nods.
“Of course.” He trails his fingers down my arm as he slowly walks behind me, before finding the zipper and dragging it at the slowest pace possible.
A shiver runs down my spine, and I can’t bring myself to make him hurry as I relish the moment.
“Would you like me to run you a shower?” he asks as the material pools at my feet, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.
“I showered before, at Archer’s home,” I breathe, hating how empty I feel as he removes his hands from my body. I can’t even remember what I was craving before, only what I want so desperately now.
Turning to face him, in my white lace lingerie set, I brace my hand on the beam of my four-poster bed as I lift one foot off the ground.
“Take them off for me, please,” I whisper, and he grins.
“Don’t use your manners, Princess,” he replies huskily as he takes a seat on my bed, bringing my foot to his thigh as he reaches for the clasp.
He steals my breath, doing as I ask before pressing a kiss against my ankle, shamelessly repeating the motion on the other foot too.
“What now?” he asks, his gaze fixed on my breasts, and despite the way my cheeks heat, I feel bold, in control, and completely addicted to the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Take what’s left or finish the job.”
Lightning fast, he snaps at the waistband of my panties, letting the material crumple at my feet before tearing at my bra, exposing my breasts without wasting a single second.
“I used up all of my patience already, Princess,” he states, eyeing me greedily as the door swings open behind me, and a whoosh of air ghosts over my skin.
Archer moves through the door, kicking it closed behind him as he startles, taking us in. He looks from me to Teddy, the scattered clothes on the floor, and back to me.
“Did I miss something?” he asks, cocking a brow at us, and I turn to Teddy, but he grins at him.