Page 41 of Ivy’s Poison

He was struggling for his breath. “You’re the only one it has ever felt right with.”

You are perfect for me. My eyes drifted shut. “Kiss me, Bors.”

I’ve had rough, I’ve had downright cruel, but I had never been kissed as gently and as lovingly as my assassin kissed me that night.

Bors

She stayed… In bed on my back, I was still amazed Ivy didn’t leave me. And then, when she closed her eyes, showing me ultimate trust, I almost lost my shit. Never had I felt so much pride boom in my chest. She was utterly vulnerable and offered it all to me to guard.

There was no urge to fuck her, only to hold her. I kept her wrapped in my arms, gently touching her mouth with mine. Damn, she tasted like what I would imagine heaven to taste like. And, if this is what God was dishin’ out above, I knew I would do my best to earn a spot beyond the Pearly Gates. As we lay in bed together, clothed, I begged God to never take her away from me.

With Ivy lying half on my chest, me on my back, I wanted to sleep deeply, but I had a little family now. There was no way I was not going to protect them properly. Plus, Ivy jolted throughout the night, seemingly lost in nightmares. That morning, she did the same, gasping awake. I tightened my hold, quietly telling her, “You’re safe.”

She burrowed into me after giving my neck one kiss.

What could feel better than such affection? A tiny toddler grabbing on to the sheet to pull herself up into our bed. If I weren’t a badass, I would have cried when she lay on my chest next to her mama. I really should have got everyone on the road, it was early morning, but Mini-me fell right back to sleep and started snoring. There was no way I was interrupting the most precious sound in the world.

No. Fucking. Way.

Now, when she woke again an hour later and started this temper-tantrum thing she had clearly mastered, it was time to roll. Hungry gremlins had not a damn thing on this kid’s appetite. To entertain the impressive little beast, I stuck her on my shoulders in the hotel room.

Ivy snatched my baseball cap off the dresser and stuck it on her head, covering all her beautiful hair. I tapped the bottom of her perfect chin. “What are you up to?”

“After breakfast, I’m driving.”

“The hell you are.” Ivy suddenly appeared riddled with guilt as she looked all over the hotel room except at me. This time, I took hold of her chin. “Smoke is comin’ out of those sexy ears, babe.”

She tried to free her chin, but I wasn’t having it. So, she sneered, “There is no such thing as sexy ears, you Neanderthal.” With tiny pink Doc Martins happily bouncing between us, I leaned down to nibble on the ‘non-sexy’ ear. Giggling, both girls laughed. Jade’s shoes danced wildly and Ivy smacked my chest. “You’re impossible.”

Grabbing the nape of her neck, I pulled her to me until our bodies were flush. “You’re crabby when you don’t get enough sleep.”

She gripped my wrist, trying to appear angry and stubborn, but I felt her shaking. I felt her holding on to me as if needing the touch. “You’re one to lecture about being crabby.”

“Stop turning me on, Ivy. I got my kid on my shoulders. I’m no expert, but I think that’s twisted. Now, tell me what the fuck is up.”

Her mouth turned to my palm in a relief that I didn’t quite understand, but I knew she wasn’t aroused, just desperate for something else. “My dad will search for me.”

“I’m countin’ on it.”

“No. You don’t understand. He doesn’t take lightly to looking bad in front of the club.”

I shrugged. “Why do you think I made him look like a fool, taking you right from under his nose?”

“You set me up?” squawked Ivy.

“Nah, just using you as bait.”

“Ch-Champ, this is not a game.”

I ran my thumb over those incredible lips. “Killing is never a game to me. I’m going to get you home safely, let us recover, then let him come. For now, he’s on his way to Cali, following a false breadcrumb trail.”

“If he gets past you, and gets me, Champ, you are to let me go and save my baby.” She grabbed the little pink shoe. “Promise me.”

I smirked at the sexy as hell bitch. “Now, ya gone and done it.” I slammed my mouth to hers. Jade squealed from above, seeming to love the open affection. Face to face, breath to breath, I explained some facts. “Babe, you are the bravest woman I know. You’ve sacrificed yourself for me, for Jade, and I’m suspecting Crazy Beth, too.”

“Hey!” balked Beth who was packing the diaper bag.

“Haven’t you?” Ivy didn’t answer, nor did she need to. I knew I was right. “You did it because you had no choice and had to protect your own. Now you’ve got me. Understand?” Her nostrils flared while she fought the tears filling her eyes, but she shed none. She held strong and knew she was no longer alone. I smirked. “How about that? Ivy is poisonous after all.”