Shadow of a Doubt (Tangled Ivy Book 2)

by Tiffany Snow

  Devon cried out in his sleep, throwing his arms like he was hitting someone and grunting as though he was in pain.

  I rushed to the bed, unsure what to do. He was flailing and I didn’t want to get hit accidentally. I reached to turn on the lamp, but Devon knocked it to the floor.

  “Ivy!”

  I froze.

  He’d called my name. In his sleep, Devon had called my name.

  “Ivy!” he said again, his voice desperate. “Where are you?”

  “I’m here,” I answered, speaking loudly to try to break through his nightmare. “Devon, I’m here.” Tentatively, I reached out and touched his shoulder. His hand snatched at mine.

  “Ivy . . .” he breathed in relief, hauling me off my feet and into the bed.

  Devon wasn’t even awake. His eyes were still shut as he tucked me in beside him like a child with a teddy bear. An arm curved underneath my shoulders and another wrapped around my waist to hold me close. His face was buried in my neck, breathing in my scent.

  He was murmuring something against my skin, but I couldn’t tell what. He was falling back into a deeper sleep and his lips barely moved. It took a moment before I could make out what he was saying.

  “Need you . . . need you . . .” Over and over and over until the words faded away to nothing and he was still, his chest steadily rising and falling with his breath.

  I didn’t know what to think. I was overwhelmed, stunned at what Devon’s subconscious had shown me. I was wrapped so tightly in his arms, his bare legs entwined with mine, there was no way I was going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

  Tears leaked from my eyes to trail down the sides of my face and into my hair. I wished Devon could tell me more about how he felt when he was awake. I wondered what prevented him from doing so . . . and if he’d ever overcome it.

  We were a pair, he and I. Both damaged goods, but from the outside looking in we were perfect—our pretty façades hiding the broken and jagged parts of our souls. Perhaps that’s why we fit so well together. The shattered pieces of our psyches were just enough to complete the other.

  I loved him. I knew that, accepted it, despite realizing the chances of us being together were between slim and none. I thought, and tonight had given me hope, that Devon loved me, too. Even if he didn’t want to admit it yet.

  Hope was a dangerous thing. Hope could save me . . . but hope endlessly deferred would kill me by inches.

  I woke slowly, my eyes fluttering open. The sky was just beginning to lighten outside.

  Devon was kissing my neck, his lips trailing a warm path to my shoulder. He’d spooned me during the night, my back to his front, and his hand was palming my breast through the thin material of my blouse.

  All the reasons I’d had for keeping him at arm’s length had disintegrated in light of what had happened during his nightmare. I wanted him. He wanted me. This wasn’t just about sex. That was now obvious.

  It was a relief, giving in. My body craved his touch. To be so near and yet to be denied had been agony.

  Closing my eyes again, I reached back, threading my fingers through his hair. At my touch, an obvious acquiescence, Devon groaned. His lips met mine in a hard kiss, his tongue stroking mine as his hands skated down my body.

  He pushed my jeans and panties down my legs and off before pulling my shirt over my head, carelessly tossing away the blouse and my bra. I was just as eager, shoving at the boxer briefs hugging his hips. His erection sprang free into my hands.

  Pushing against his chest, I was able to reverse our positions so he was on his back. I slid down his body and took him in my mouth.

  The air left him in a sharp gasp, which was incredibly satisfying. He was thick and long and I had to wrap my hand around the base of his cock since I couldn’t get all of it in my mouth.

  My hair was in my way, so I flipped it up over my head with my hand. He tangled his fingers in the long blonde strands that trailed across his chest.

  I lightly brushed the tip with my tongue, teasing him, circling the head before wrapping my lips around him again. I was no expert at deep-throating, but I did all right; at least by the noises he was making I was doing a fine job indeed.

  Cupping his balls in my other hand, I gently squeezed. His hips thrust upward, pushing his cock into my mouth, sliding in and out at an ever-increasing pace. Seeing him lose control was an incredible turn-on, and I watched his face. His breathing was harsh and his face was creased in lines of pleasurable agony. The flesh between my legs began to throb with need.

  When the steady rhythm of his thrusts began to change, I knew he was close. But before he came, he hauled me back up and flipped me onto my back.

  “Want to be inside you, sweet Ivy,” he rasped, spreading my thighs. His cock was still wet from my mouth and he slid right into me.

  Our tongues tangled and I wrapped my legs around his waist, lifting my hips to meet his. He’d slowed, waiting for me to catch up, I expect. But I gripped the muscled globes of his ass, squeezing and urging him to move harder. Faster.

  Devon groaned, deep in his throat, his hands biting into my hips hard enough to leave a mark. But I didn’t care. If for now this was the only way he could show me how he really felt, I’d take it.

  His orgasm overtook him, his body jerking hard into mine, and I could feel the pounding of his heart against my chest. The noises he made were more vocal than usual, the kisses afterward deeper and lingering. He petted my hair and pressed light kisses to my cheeks, my eyes, my jaw.

  There was a sharp rap on the door, then Reggie walked in carrying his laptop. “Hey, guys—”

  I shrieked and dove under the covers. Devon gave a heavy sigh.

  “Dammit, Reggie,” he said.

  “Aw, shit, I’m sorry,” I heard Reggie stammer.

  “Do you mind?” Devon asked.

  “Oh! Oh, yeah. Okay.”

  The door closed. I cautiously peeked out from under the covers. Reggie had retreated back to his room. I glanced at Devon and giggled at the ludicrousness of the situation, getting caught in bed like teenagers.

  He cracked a smile, too, then rolled his eyes. “Reggie isn’t the most socially aware person I know,” he said dryly.

  “I got that,” I replied, still smiling. “He’s nice, though. I like him. Obviously, he’s a really smart guy.”

  “Too smart,” Devon said. “The things he thinks about are on a whole other level than you and me. But that leaves him vulnerable because he just doesn’t see the dangers around him or in what he does.”

  Glancing at the bedside clock, Devon swung his legs out of bed and stood. Sunshine flooded through the window and I didn’t look away, staring unabashedly at his naked body as he walked to the desk and checked his phone.

  “I need to go out,” he said. “Can you watch him for me while I’m gone?”

  “Yeah, sure,” I said.

  “I won’t be gone long,” he said. “Why don’t you order us something to eat while I shower?”

  That sounded good to me. I was starving.

  When the food was delivered, Devon was still in the shower, so I knocked on Reggie’s door. I’d thrown on one of the hotel’s complimentary bathrobes.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked once he’d called out for me to enter. “I ordered room service.”

  Reggie’s face was beet red and he wouldn’t look me in the eye as he stammered back, “Uh, no, I’m fine.”

  “Did you eat already?” I persisted.

  He shook his head.

  “Then come eat.” I grabbed his elbow and tugged him into the room. His embarrassed shyness was sweet.

  I made him a plate of eggs with bacon and sat down to eat with him. It took a little coaxing, but he relaxed once I got him talking about his gaming again. By the time Devon emerged, fully dressed in jeans and a black, fitted long-sleeved knit shirt, we were chatting away like old friends.

  “You two all right to be left alone for a few hours?” Devon asked, grabbing a couple of strips of bacon f
rom the tray.

  “We’ll be fine,” I assured him, watching as he slipped his gun into the back of his jeans and shrugged on a leather jacket.

  Devon cast a skeptical eye our way, but I just blew him a kiss and waved him off. After he’d gone, I turned back to Reggie.

  “I think I’m going to take a shower,” I said, “but I can come get you when I’m done. We can watch a movie or something.”

  “Okay, sure, no problem,” he said, wiping his mouth with the napkin. “See you in a few.”

  He went back to his room and I was quick with my shower, slipping the robe back on as I combed out my wet hair. A noise from Reggie’s room distracted me. Was that the sound of his door opening into the hallway?

  Worried, I set down my brush and went to my door, peering through the peephole just in time to see Reggie creep stealthily by.

  CHAPTER TEN

  I wasted no time in yanking open the door.

  “Reggie, where are you going?”

  He spun around guiltily. “I, uh, um, I was, uh, just . . .” he stammered.

  “Yeah,” I said, sarcasm edging my voice. “You were just, uh, what? Leaving? After Devon told you to stay? He’s here to help you, and this is how you’re repaying him?”

  Reggie hung his head. “I swear, I wasn’t sneaking out,” he said. “Well, I was, but not for the reason you think.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Then why?”

  “You’ll think it’s dumb,” he muttered.

  “Not any more dumb than sneaking out on Devon,” I retorted.

  “Fine,” he huffed. “It’s just that . . . there’s this convention going on just a couple of blocks away, and I really wanted to go.” He shrugged. “I didn’t think Devon would miss me for a couple of hours. There’ll be tons of people there and it’s not far.”

  He looked so forlorn, like a kid desperate to go to the fair. “What kind of convention?” Lord, please don’t let it be one of those ones where people dress up—

  “Comic book,” he said, confirming my fears.

  I winced. “You’re not going to dress up, are you?”

  He looked so guilty, I knew I’d caught him.

  I made a frustrated sound. I knew Devon had said to stay here, but the guy looked like I’d just drowned his cat. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to pop over to whatever this thing was for a short time. “Okay, fine. We’ll go, but just for a little while. Get in here so I can dry my hair.”

  He hustled past me into the room, and I made quick work of my hair and makeup. I threw on a pair of skinny khaki pants and a deep burgundy blouse, pulling on a pair of brown leather boots before grabbing my purse.

  “Okay, let’s go,” I said. “But don’t try to ditch me, got it?”

  “Got it.”

  The convention really was only three blocks away and there were plenty of people in costume as we got closer. I tried not to stare but some of the costumes were downright risqué and chilly, I would think, for this time of year.

  “You have to have tickets or something for this?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry. They know me so I can get you in. I wrote the software for their website’s ticketing and ordering system.”

  Lovely.

  The registration desk was being manned by two people who’d gone all-out on their costumes, complete with real leather and tattoos that I couldn’t tell were temporary or permanent.

  “Reggie! Hey, good to see you!” one of them said, smiling and shaking Reggie’s hand. “We didn’t know if you were gonna show or not. You missed opening ceremonies last night.”

  “Yeah, I was working. Kinda lost track of time,” Reggie said. “I have a friend with me today, but she doesn’t have a ticket. Is that going to be a problem?”

  The man’s eyes flicked over to me, widening slightly, then he shook his head. “Not for you, it’s not. She’s got a cool costume, though. Crossplay is so in right now. Have fun!”

  Reggie snagged two badges, slipping one over his head and handing me the other as he pulled me away from the table.

  I looked down at my clothes. “Reggie, what was he talking about?” I asked. “I’m not wearing a costume.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said, already hurrying ahead to where masses of people were clustering. I had no choice but to keep up with him.

  We spent the next hour wandering through various booths selling everything you could possibly imagine, and some that I couldn’t even tell what they were supposed to be. Reggie seemed to be having a ball, and I’d gotten a few more compliments on my non-costume. I’d just smiled and said thanks.

  I was looking through a collection of famous sci-fi actors’ autographs when I realized Reggie and I had gotten separated. Crap. That wouldn’t do.

  I’d last seen him by a display of samurai swords, so that’s where I headed. To my relief, I spotted him talking to a couple of men and headed his way.

  “. . . figured you’d be all decked out, Reg,” one of them was taunting as I approached. He was smiling at Reggie, but it was the kind of smile I’d seen a lot and usually directed at me. A sneering sort of smile that appeared friendly, but wasn’t. Instantly, I was on alert.

  “Yeah, well, I, ah, I’m not staying long,” Reggie stammered a reply.

  “Somebody’s gotta play those video games, right?” the other guy jeered, not even pretending to be nice.

  My eyes narrowed. What shits. Reggie had his hands shoved into his pockets and looked for all the world like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him. While the two guys just looked like snakes, enjoying making him squirm.

  Well. We’d see about that.

  I tossed back my hair and put a model strut in my step as I walked up to Reggie. I slid my arm over his shoulders and put on my fake French accent.

  “Reggie,” I purred, “I could not find you. Why did you leave me?” I added a pout for effect.

  Reggie seemed utterly taken aback, so I kept talking.

  “I see something I want. Will you buy it for me? We can play with it later.” I gave him a come-hither smile and leaned to put my lips by his ear. “Play along. I’m your girlfriend,” I whispered.

  To his credit, he caught on fast, slipping an arm around my waist. “Uh, yeah, absolutely. You bet.”

  Not exactly Lord Byron, but it would do. I glanced at the two men who stood staring at us, jaws agape.

  “Who are you?” I asked, putting as much French haughtiness into the question as I could muster.

  “We, uh, we’re . . . friends of Reggie’s,” the first guy said. The second guy just swallowed, the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbing up and down. “I’m Ryan, and this is Dale. And you are?”

  “I am Ivy,” I replied, raising an eyebrow as I turned to Reggie. “Is this true?” I asked him. “Are these two . . . men . . . friends of yours?”

  “Um, yeah, I guess. Well, not really,” he said.

  “I did not think so.” I put every ounce of disdain I had into my voice as I looked both men up and down before turning back to Reggie. I was pressed against his side with both arms wrapped around his neck. “Let’s go,” I pleaded. “I want to go back to the hotel and be with you.”

  One of the guys, maybe Dale, made a strangled sort of sound, but I ignored him.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Reggie said, and his voice was much stronger now than it had been before. “Gotta go guys. Catch ya later.”

  We walked away and it wasn’t until we were back on the street that Reggie let go of the death grip he had around my waist.

  “Oh my God!” he said, bursting out laughing. “Did you see the look on their faces?”

  “Yeah,” I said, chuckling. “What a couple of jerks.”

  “Hey, Ivy, thanks,” he said, stopping and facing me. “That was . . . that was awesome. Seriously.”

  I shrugged, my cheeks heating. “No problem. We’re friends, right?”

  “Absolutely,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

 
Our good moods lasted until we entered the hotel room. Devon was there, pacing, and when he saw us, the look on his face made me take an instinctive step back.

  “I told you to wait here,” he gritted out, pointing down at the floor. “Where the bloody hell have you been?” He was looking at me as he said this, not Reggie.

  “Um, let me handle this,” I said in an undertone to Reggie, pushing him through the connecting door into his room and closing it behind him. “I can explain,” I said to Devon.

  “You damn well better,” he shot back. “After all my precautions, I thought they’d found you, taken you.” Without any warning, he picked up a porcelain vase from the bureau and threw it. It hit the wall and shattered into a million pieces. I gasped in dismay, my hand flying up to cover my mouth.

  Everything was quiet after that, only the sound of Devon’s breathing audible in the room. I wasn’t afraid, but this was the most emotion I’d ever seen from him and I wasn’t sure how best to handle it. He was angry, yes. But he was angry because he’d been worried. Because he’d thought he’d failed.

  I went to him, standing in front of him. He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at the floor and his hands were in fists at his sides.

  “Devon,” I said softly, covering his hands with mine. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to worry. I swear to you. Reggie just needed a little diversion for a while. If I’d known you’d get this worried and upset, I never would have gone.”

  Raising his eyes, his gaze met mine. We stood like that for a moment and I could almost feel the anger ebb from him. He was studying me intently, his forehead creased as his blue eyes gazed into mine. After a moment, he spoke. “When Kira was murdered, I was . . . devastated. I hadn’t protected her. She’d died because of me. The pain and guilt were . . . overwhelming.”

  Devon unbuttoned his shirt a few buttons and pointed to a bullet wound scar on his chest. “This was the result.”

  I frowned in confusion.

  “I was reckless. Too reckless. Perhaps I had a death wish, but was too much of a coward to do it myself. I felt I should pay, atone for what I’d done to her. And when it happened, when I was shot, I felt like pain was bleeding out of me.”