Poisoned Ivy

by D W Marshall

  Our new room is several floors higher than the previous. It is a mega-suite with four bedrooms and nearly three-thousand square feet of living space. Enough room for Vivian and Dominic, Miles and me, and Jonathan and Mitch. Our personal items arrive shortly after us.

  “This is amazing,” I say to Miles when we lie down on our new bed in our much larger room. “Thank you so much, for everything.”

  “Anything, anytime,” he says.

  I can’t resist. I fold myself into his arms. He doesn’t pull or push me away. Instead he wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.

  “You nap now. You are going to need your energy to keep up with me on the dance floor.” I know he’s trying to lighten the mood. He must feel it too.

  My heart is mending, with every inch of it that he takes up residence in. “I accept that challenge. But I should warn you, love—before I became a model I was a competitive dancer,” I say, and giggle when his hand smacks his forehead in premature defeat.

  “You know I trained the Jabbawockeez,” he says.

  “Whatever. Go to sleep, Miles.”

  “Anything for you, Miss O’Malley.

  The guys react just as we expected them to. They are shocked, awed, and I believe a little worried. Dominic is the first to speak up.

  “Oh my damn, baby. You look ravishing.”

  Vivian twirls. “Why, thank you.” She is wearing an Alexis Rustam black and white lace minidress, with long, sheer sleeves and a higher than mid-thigh scalloped hem. Oh, and best not forget her six-inch Gucci pumps. Her black hair is cascading down her back in big sexy waves. My sister is gorgeous.

  Miles walks up to me and twirls me around, then leans close to my ear. In my four-inch heels I am only a couple inches shorter than him. “So did you want me to dance with you or spend the evening fighting off guys? Because you nearly stopped my heart in this dress.”

  Who needs cheek blush when you have an amazing man paying you compliments like that? “This little thing, love?” I say and stand back, astonished.

  “Little is right. And sexy, that’s another word for that dress,” he says, assessing me from head to toe. The smile on his face registers that he likes what he sees.

  Wow, I knew when I picked out this little mid-thigh Halston Heritage one-shoulder embellished faux-wrap silver dress with my silver Louboutins he would like it, but I think he more than likes it.

  “You look pretty damn snazzy yourself, love.” He is wearing black dress pants and a charcoal dress shirt with a sheen, almost like we planned it.

  “Do you know how much I love when you call me love?” he asks, his eyes all smiley and twinkly.

  We are falling in love. I can feel it. It’s not any big thing. It’s a bunch of little things, like stolen glances, endearments, warm touches, or marveling at the many things we have in common. The biggest reason I know that I am in this bubble of newfound love with Miles is because I know that he wants the best for me. He wants me to be strong and confident, and most of all he wants me to be myself.

  I should have known back in Ireland that he was special. I felt it the first day I met him. I knew it at the coffee shop, and now here he is, mine for the taking if I am smart enough to reach out and grab for what I want. “I do now,” I say, my lashes fluttering, my cheeks warming.

  Dominic looks equally chic in black dress pants and a burgundy dress shirt. With our bodyguards in tow, we are ready to go out.

  First stop: the Whiskey Down. We order bottle service, and enjoy very strong whiskey and fine company. When we are sufficiently buzzed, we head to Hakkasan restaurant for a much needed dinner. We are ushered inside without wait because the guys made reservations for four and two—our bodyguards at a very nearby table. I love the effort the guys make to cast the illusion that Mitch and Jonathan are not with us, that our lives are normal, that we are just on a double date. How I wish the last part were true. Is it wrong to pretend that it is for one night?

  Dinner is amazing. Every single moment: hanging out with my sister; the way Miles caresses my arm or grazes my leg—I’m sure each time is by accident or a platonic endearment, but for me they are the moments that add to this newfound bliss that I am allowing into my life.

  The restaurant is chic and tropical at the same time, with ambient lighting, gorgeous latticework, and mood-altering colors. The food, a Cantonese-inspired masterpiece.

  Catching Miles watching me, lighting up my heart with each smile, is Christmas, my birthday, and every special occasion of my life rolled up into one.

  Best night ever.

  Next stop: dancing.

  The Ling Ling Room is the perfect-sized venue for us. The other room is an EDC explosion—I would be on sensory overload for sure. The guys secured us a VIP booth. Perfect. There are bottles of spirits and mixes on our table awaiting us. Our security has posted themselves around our booth, standing at the ready, making us look more important than we actually are. Which on a night like this is actually fecking cool.

  “Let’s toast!” I shout above the music.

  A scantily clad woman pours drinks for us. I expect her to flirt with the guys, but she doesn’t. She is all business.

  “To new beginnings!” I shout.

  “To sisters!” Vivian shouts.

  Dominic takes his turn. “To finding the woman you can’t live without!”

  “To all of what you guys said!” Miles says.

  We all down our shots, followed by a variety of reactions to the strength of the liquor. I cough, Vivian shakes her head repeatedly, and the guys both shout.

  “Again!” I say. We take three strong shots in succession, and I can feel them all. My head is sufficiently swirling and my inhibitions are down.

  “Let’s go dance,” Vivian shouts close in my ear.

  I nod with excitement.

  The dance floor is really a small space in close proximity to our booth. The song the DJ is spinning is a sexy hip hop song with lots of bass. Vivian and I dance together, moving our hips in that sexual way that makes guys go crazy. I am so happy that I chose to wear my hair down in soft fiery waves that fall to the middle of my back.

  When I dare a glance over at Miles, his seductive gaze tells me he is enjoying the show.

  “I think he really likes you, Maeve!” Vivian shouts over the music.

  “I hope so!” I shout back. My smile says it all for me. I have it worse than bad.

  We’re continuing our slow gyrations on the dance floor when two very attractive guys approach us, asking us to dance. Both with chocolate brown hair and fair skin, and model good looks. Though I have had a lot to drink, so my assessment of their looks may be off. We attempt to dismiss them, but they persist and actually have the audacity to start dancing with us. Only a couple seconds go by before four turns to six as Miles and Dominic make their approach.

  “Excuse me, gentlemen, but these ladies are with us,” Dominic shouts, his deep voice booming over the slow, gentler song.

  “Calm down, man, we are just dancing with these beautiful ladies,” one of the guys says.

  “Yeah, man, no harm,” the other guy says. “You should never leave girls this hot on the dance floor alone.” He smirks.

  Oh my goodness, are they insane? Miles and Dominic are big, dangerous guys who just laid a claim to us. We are with them. No doubt alcohol has made them braver and stupid. We tell these assholes to bugger off and they refuse. I don’t want a fight on my perfect night.

  Just as our guys step forward to probably demolish these two insignificant jerks, Vivian wraps her arms around Dominic and smashes her lips into his, telling them that she is his. In a brazen move on my part, I wrap my arms around Miles. I don’t kiss him, though every fiber in my soul wants me to. He isn’t mine, and even liquored up I know I need to respect the boundary line he has drawn, even though everything about him blurs that line. My lips are dangerously close to his. I know he would taste divine. He smells edible. Mmm. Could I somehow turn the tides and make him mine? With him I a
lready feel as though I can face anything, and I have only had one day of training.

  We sway to the music. The idiots who wouldn’t leave obviously get the hint because they disappear, leaving the four of us on the dance floor.

  “You promised me a dance battle,” Miles says close to my ear.

  “I’m kinda liking doing this,” I say. I don’t want to not be in his arms for any reason. I glance over at Vivian and Dominic and she has come out of her six-inch heels. She is holding them in her hands while she dances and they look like they can be used as a weapon.

  “Yeah, I’m enjoying this too,” Miles whispers in my ear.

  I may not be able to kiss him when I want, but I just had three strong shots, and we are about to have another. I pull him to our booth and pour two healthy shots. No toasting—we down them—and I pull him back onto the dance floor and show him exactly how I feel about him. If he doesn’t reciprocate I can just use the excuse that I was drunk. The way Miles holds onto to me as we grind and move to the music tells a different story. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that he wants me too.

  The four of us take a seat when it gets so crowded that it feels like they turned the heat up. Thankful for our booth, Miles and I snuggle in the corner of one of the sofas.

  “Maeve, do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asks.

  “No, tell me.” Please tell me.

  “When I first laid eyes on you I knew that it was going to be a challenge to do my job. I wanted to walk away, because I didn’t just want to protect you that day. I wanted you to be mine. In my business that is not the best way to begin protecting someone,” Miles confesses.

  Wow, that is a confession that I will replay over and over.

  “How could you feel that way seeing me for the first time?” Hearing his candor is sobering. I don’t dare peel my eyes from his.

  “There was something about you, more than your beauty. Something inside you dying to get out, a part of you I knew I wanted to meet. Even in that tiny moment I wanted more.”

  “And?” Butterflies are battling inside me.

  “And what?”

  “Are you happy with your decision? Have you met this part of me?”

  He leans in closer to me. “Can I try something?”

  “Anything.” I can barely think straight with him so close to me. My head feels swirly. That is a funny word…swirly. I repeat it in my head until it sounds foreign. I have a feeling what he wants, though I can’t be sure. But I would give him anything.

  We are face to face, so close that our lips are nearly touching. There is no music playing in my background. I’m sure it is there—we are in a club—but the only sound I am aware of is our deep breaths. I want to close the distance, put my lips to his as I have in my dreams, but I don’t dare. Miles grabs the back of my hair and does what I am too afraid to do. When his lips meet mine it is all I can do not to pass out. What starts off as a soft, tender kiss ignites into the passion and desire we both feel for each other. I want to climb into his lap, but don’t. I want to lie onto my back and take him with me, but I won’t. This is his dance to lead.

  His hands warm the small of my back as he pulls me closer to him. Our lips and tongues devour each other. He breaks away from kissing me and I feel his breathing in my ear, sending fiery sensations down my body. Oh my.

  “To answer your question, I am falling in love with her,” he whispers.

  I pull back and look at him. Did I hear him correctly? We are locked eye to eye. I bite down on my lower lip. I do not take my eyes away from his. Then I smile. “Best thing I’ve heard all day…I mean, it’s wonderful to know that I am not the only one feeling that way,” I say. “I am feeling more and more like her everyday. She is the very best part of me and I have enjoyed her presence. I kinda hope she stays around.” I say, and this time it is my turn. I take Miles’s hand and pull him off the couch. “Stay right here. Don’t move.”

  He nods in agreement.

  I walk over to Vivian and Dominic. “We are headed back to the room. We may be back, though I doubt it.” My face splits into a smile.

  “Take one of the guys with you.” Dominic orders.

  “Okay,” I say.

  “You two have fun!” Vivian squeals, squeezing my hand.

  I fold into Miles’s arms and lead him to our room, though I don’t make my intentions known. Mitch follows close behind. Mitch slips the access key into the elevator and the three of us step inside when it pings and opens. I separate from Miles once inside. I want to see him. Really see him before I make him mine. I’m sure he believes the distance has something to do with Mitch and the three of us traveling in the confines of this mechanical box.

  I stand on the opposite end and watch.

  My chest rises and falls with haste.

  I see lust in his eyes as he watches me.

  My lids heavy with desire, I catch a moan before it escapes me.

  I may be unsure of so much around me, but not this. I am a graduate of The Chamber and I have become skilled in the art of pleasurable sex in a way that would make Miles’s head explode. As he will soon see.

  The tension in the elevator is so thick, it feels as though ten more bodies are riding with us. Sex slams into me, pulling me closer to Miles. When is this fecker going to reach our floor because I am so wet they are going need a mop for this floor. Miles undoes his top button, telling me he is having a hard time breathing.

  Yes. Just wait until you are buried deep inside me. We may need to call an ambulance when I am done with you. My legs wobble when we finally reach our floor. For all of my bravado my nerves are starting to get to me. I mean, this is Miles.

  Mitch probably wants to get out of the way because he opens the door in haste. I pull Miles by the hand toward our room. I am already undoing my dress when the door closes behind us, standing in front of Miles, wearing only a strapless black lacy push-up bra, matching lace panties and my heels.

  I am sex.

  I am raw passion.

  I wait for him to undress. He regards me with a look of lust and admiration, then like an answered prayer he unbuttons his shirt and lets it fall to the floor. His pants follow. Miles’s body is every bit as spectacular as I imagined. Chiseled and grooved in all the right places, with that perfect vee that leads to where I can only imagine my new heaven must be. His full erection is everything. I want him like nothing I have ever wanted in my life so far.

  “Are you sure?” he asks, breathless in want.

  “More than anything.”

  “Are you drunk? I don’t want to make love to you tonight only to have you wake up filled with regret. If I make love to you tonight, you will be mine by morning.”

  “I think I was yours the moment you got on the plane with me. This works both ways. The moment I sink that loveliness between your legs into my mouth, you belong to me.”

  I watch as his face registers shock before he can cover it up and he swallows hard. “Deal. I’m yours,” he promises.

  That is all I needed to hear. “Then you should hold on.” I strut across the room and peel off his boxer briefs and set his erection free. It is every bit the specimen I expected. Beefy, the way I had hoped, with a length that promises to please. I sink to my knees. I stare up into his eyes, mine full of the promises we just made. Miles’s eyes are wide with amazement. I open my mouth and take just the tip inside. I savor the tip with my tongue, round and round until he is moaning his pleasure. Then I beginning sucking, taking his entire length into my mouth, over and over.

  “Maeve, ohh, Maeve. This feels amazing, but I’m not coming like this,” he pulls me to stand. We lock eyes. “Damn, girl. That was fucking amazing.”

  His lips crash into mine, both hands holding my face. I can’t breathe I am so overcome with joy being able to share this moment with someone like this.

  “I love you, Maeve,” he says between kisses. His hands skillfully undo my bra. He breaks my kiss and he sinks to his knees. First, he removes my shoes.
Then his hands explore my bare skin, caressing. It is scintillating.

  Moans escape and I don’t stop them. I am nerve endings raw and exposed as he comes up and takes one of my nipples into his mouth. Yess! The he takes the other one into his mouth. His free hand cups my sex and a finger slips inside me, then two.

  “I love you too!” I nearly come around his fingers. “I love you!”

  “You are so wet and ready for me,” he says.

  “I want you so bad, love. Take me and make me yours.”

  Miles scoops me into his arms as if I weigh nothing and lays me onto the bed. My chest is rising and falling, while he watches me for an agonizing time. My legs open, revealing the prize awaiting him. He leaves me and goes into the bathroom. He emerges tearing open a condom package.

  “Always carry those around?”

  “Dominic bought them for me from the gift shop as a hint of what he thought we should be doing in our spare time.”

  I shake my head. “Please, no. I’ve got that part covered, I promise. I want to feel all of you.”

  He tosses it and joins me on the bed. His lips find mine again as he sinks deep inside me. We fit perfectly together. Miles pushes farther inside me and I thrust my hips forward to receive all that he has to give me.

  “You feel amazing, Maeve,” Miles moans. “Look at me,” he asks.

  I gaze into his eyes. I can see lust and pleasure, but mostly I see care and love. I don’t break eye contact as he continues to push in and pull out of me, his erection hard and fulfilling. I feel the tension building inside me, overcome by the excitement of finally making love to someone of my choosing, someone I want to be with more than air.

  I push at his shoulder and indicate that I want to be on top. Miles rolls us over and I sit up straight and stare down my nose at him, my lids hooded with desire. I don’t move. Instead I contract and release my walls around him.

  His moans tell me that he likes what I am doing. With my eyes never leaving his I begin to roll my hips. His erection feels amazing inside me. I am so full of him that I want to cry and laugh and scream from the feeling that is taking over.