“Hey,” I say, pushing off the wall, approaching the gates.
“Hi.” She smiles shyly.
My eyes break away from hers, taking in the sexy-as-sin dress she’s wearing, down to her black tights covering her legs.
I’ve always had a special love for Ivy’s legs. Fuck, they’ve been the center of many sexual dreams. Not even my memory or the thoughts I’ve dreamt up in my mind compare to seeing them in person, but I pause when I see the intricate design wrapped around her leg.
“Did you mean it?”
Confused as to what she could mean, I narrow my eyes in question.
“The song. The lyrics. Did you mean it?”
“Yes,” I reply, matter-of-factly.
Reaching my hand out for hers, she hesitates, staring at it before looking back up to me. I hate how she’s even second-guessing it, but before I’m able to say anything, she places her hand in mine.
Leading her through the gates, she stops to look back at Kyla and a blonde girl I don’t know or recognize.
“Hens, will you wait for me for a few minutes?”
“Yeah, no problem. I’ll go grab my car. Once the crowd dies down, I’ll meet you out front.”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, I’ll just give her a lift home.”
Ivy turns back at me, her eyes roaming over my face, smiling once again before she turns back to her friend.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course.” She grins. They both turn to leave, as her friend stops and turns back to face me. Stone-faced, she says, “If you ever hurt her again, I’ll have your dick cut off and shoved down your throat.”
Gaping at her, I cough out a laugh. Her jaw clenches, clearly not liking my response, as I wipe it off my face.
“I’ll do you one better. If I ever hurt Ivy like that again, I’ll personally hand you the knife.”
She grins. “Good answer.”
“Bye.” Ivy smiles, waving at her friends before turning back to me.
The hesitant look she wore before is gone.
Rubbing my thumb over the soft skin on the back of her hand, I pull her in closer to me, wrapping her arm around mine. I’m not usually one to be overly affectionate with women unless it’s leading up to going to bed together. This is different. My body has felt the loss of not having her close to me for too long. I crave the feel of her soft skin, the weight of her body pressed against mine.
“This is my dressing room. I hoped you’d be here tonight, so I asked for a separate space. I wanted us to have somewhere to go to talk before we had to leave.”
I shut and lock the door behind us, not wanting to be interrupted by anyone. Guiding her over to the couch on the back wall of the room, I take a seat, pulling her to sit on my lap.
“God, I’ve missed you so fucking much,” I whisper, pressing a soft kiss against her shoulder.
Goose bumps spread over her skin sending shivers through her. I love how her body still seems to respond to my touch.
“I have so much I want to say, but I want to sit here with you. I want to forget all the problems we’ve had between us. As much as I know we need to talk about them, I also don’t want to drudge it all up again.”
“Well, we can’t pretend like it didn’t happen.” Her words come out bitter, anger seeping into her tone.
“Of course not, but aren’t I allowed to want to be around you for a few minutes before I have to see the hurt in your eyes knowing I’m the one who put it there? Fuck, Ivy. Do you seriously think this has been easy for me? Do you really believe this is what I want?”
“Actually, yes, I do. Did anyone hold a gun to your head? Were you forced to make a bet with Tysin with the end goal of breaking my heart?”
“No…”
“Then what makes you think I’m going to believe you? Is this some part of your prank still? To pull me in here, show me some sad, puppy dog looks in your eyes in hopes I’ll forgive you and you can get back at me? Make me pay for being the one who gave you a dose of your own medicine?”
She pushes my hands away from her as she moves to stand.
“What? No, Ivy. Dammit, I can explain. Just give me a chance to explain.”
Standing, she crosses her arms in front of her. I want to lean forward, wrap my fingers in hers, and pull her back to me. Tell her to give me a chance, and I will, but before I start, I want her in my arms again.
There’s a time to give her space and a time to push her further, pull her closer to me even if she says it’s not what she wants. This isn’t one of those times.
She wants her space, and the last thing I want is to piss her off even more than I already have.
I take my hat off, tossing it to the side somewhere so I can see her better.
Taking a heavy breath, I begin, “It started the night you started working at Whiskey Barrel. Tysin was giving me shit about you turning me down.”
Her eyes narrow as she rocks back and forth on her heels, waiting for me to continue.
“Ivy… fuck. Will you promise me no matter what I say that you’ll stay here and let me explain?”
She keeps clenching her hands into fists, before ringing them out as she bites her lip. I hate thinking about the pain this is causing her.
“Please. Just promise me.”
“I promise, Brix. Now tell me already.”
There’s an urgency, frustration in her voice. It’s different than how she’s ever talked to me before, and I hate that I’m the cause of it right now.
“Anyway…” I lean forward, rubbing my fingers over my forehead, massaging them into my skin.
“Tysin was starting shit with me after the show ended, and I said something about if the girls were single, to hit me up or whatever. I knew you were there, that you were listening. I shouldn’t have let him bother me, but I did.
“He kept razzing me about how you rejected me, saying I cared more than I wanted to believe. He wasn’t wrong, but things with us, in the beginning, had been so volatile, I wasn’t about to admit it.
“He kept talking about what you think of me, and I don’t know, I just snapped. I told him I could get you to change your mind. That I’d have you eating out of the palm of my hand by the end of the summer.”
I pause, staring at the floor and Ivy’s feet as she paces from side to side in her high heels. I’m stalling while I muster up the courage to tell her the last of it, but I don’t even know how. This could ruin every chance we may have to get back together. But if she finds out I’m lying now, it’ll be hell to pay when she learns the truth.
“I told him I hated you, just like I had back then. That I’d fuck you, then I’d send you back to school heartbroken.”
My voice cracks as I utter the last words. Tears fill to the brim of her eyes as she closes them. Her mouth falls open, trying to slow her breathing. I tell myself it’s going to be okay, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if she’s preparing herself to leave. If the reason why she closed her eyes is because she can’t bear the sight of me.
The tears that once filled her eyes, now stream down her beautiful face. I’m fighting against myself to sit here and wait, but all I want to do is pull her into my arms and hold her.
“Can I please touch you?”
I don’t even care if I sound like I’m begging because I am, and I would.
She opens her eyes, looking down at me. Her stare is void of any emotion, and I wonder if I broke her.
I wait for any response before she snaps out of it and takes a step toward me. When she does, I grab her hand, guiding her into my lap. She doesn’t resist, and I’m relieved as she sits, stretching her legs out in front of her on the other side of the couch.
“I need you to know everything I said to you after you came back home that night down by the beach was real. I had planned to tell you everything when we stayed at the beach house. I wanted a chance somewhere away from everything to come clean, but when you told me your fears, how you were still scared to give in, I knew it wasn’t the right t
ime. I needed to show you how I felt about you, I needed you to believe me when I told you I loved you. It’s just, there’s never a good time to sit the person you love down and tell them the things you know will break their heart. I’m sorry though, for not telling you sooner. Hell, I’m sorry I made the bet in the first place, but I’d never want to hurt you. Never! Do you know how much it gutted me when I found out you left?”
I wrap my arms around her waist, holding onto her, not wanting to let her go. She relaxes a little more. I stare at her as she traces the collar of my shirt, hoping she’ll look at me. I want to kiss her so damn bad, but I’m trying like hell to prove this isn’t about wanting to get in her pants, even though seeing her tonight, being near her, touching her is driving me out of my damn mind.
“So much good has happened to me since you came back into my life, with a smart mouth full of sass. The guys and I were offered a record deal. For the first time ever, I’ve found someone, besides my mom, who means more to me than my own life. I’ve been a selfish asshole for the last twenty-three years, but it’s different with you. I want you next to me when we release our first single when our record comes out. I want you with me when we go on tour. I know I’ve given you every reason not to trust me, to run away, but please, give me a chance.”
“A chance for what? Brix, do you really think we’d be able to do long-distance when you’re out traveling for shows, or when you go on the road? I mean, look at us. We’ve spent more time fighting with each other than anything at all.”
I grin. “We are good at fighting, yes. But think of all the fun we’ll have making up.”
She smacks me on the chest, pushing me away, as my hold on her tightens. She shakes her head, and in the mirror in front of us, I can see her rolling her eyes before a subtle grin lines her mouth.
“We’ll figure it out. We can FaceTime every night. I’ll make plans to come see you as often as I can. You graduate in what five, six months?”
She nods, turning to look down at me.
“Ivy, do you love me?”
Her face softens. My breath is caught in my throat, waiting for her to answer as she nods her head once again.
“Tell me,” I whisper.
“I love you, Brix.”
Wrapping my hand around the back of her head, I kiss her. I kiss her like she’s the air I need to breathe, like she’s the blood pumping through my veins, and the heart beating in my chest. Like she’s the only thing in this world that means anything to me, and I hope like hell she feels it, too.
Pulling back, I press our foreheads together and whisper, “I love you, too. I promise I’ll never let you forget how much.”
Tears fill her eyes once again as I kiss her. This time softly, as she quickly moves to stand and climbs back on top of me, facing me.
My hands roam over her body, her thighs, over her waist up toward her chest, sliding back down to her hips to pull her closer to me. It’s been too long since I’ve been near her.
I’m going to show her how much I’ve been missing her.
Twenty-Eight
Brix – Six Months Later
“Do you see her?” Charlene leans closer to ask.
Looking down from the stands into the crowd of graduates, my eyes roam for any sight of my girl. She’s hard to spot in a sea of people wearing the same cap and gown, but I know if I spot her, I’ll know it’s her.
“There she is,” I say, pointing, as Ivy looks up at us. Even from here, I can see the smile beaming on her face as she takes a seat.
Today’s the day we’ve been waiting for. The last six months haven’t always been easy, especially the last couple of weeks with things getting busy for the band. We’ve had to do a lot more traveling as we’ve been working on our record.
It’s cut into my time to see Ivy, but she’s been so reassuring. There hasn’t been a night where we’ve gone to bed without speaking to each other. Most nights we FaceTime when I’m back in my room away from everyone else.
On the nights when the ache of not being near her stings the most, I love her in only the way I can being far away. Watching her touch herself for me, letting me see her in the most intimate of moments. Fuck, I don’t know how I got so lucky with this girl.
Now, she’s finally graduating, and I won’t have to be away from her as long. I told the label I had to leave to come back to North Carolina this week to see her. There’s no way I was going to miss seeing her graduate. She’s been there for me every step of the way since we got back together, and I wasn’t going to miss this milestone for her.
Sitting next to her mom, hearing them say her name, and watching her walk across the stage is one of my proudest moments. Standing, I stick two fingers in my mouth, whistling as she stops in the middle of the stage to look up at me. I can see the smile on her face as she reaches her hand up to blow me a kiss.
After the ceremony is over, I walk with Charlene down the stairs toward the front of the event center waiting for Ivy to join us. It reminds me of the same night we had not too long ago when I waited for her to come walking out of Vibrate, the night we got back together.
“I’m so proud of you, honey,” Charlene says, as Ivy finds us, shuffling through the crowd of people.
She wraps her arms around her, whispering something in her ear as Ivy stares at me over her shoulder.
I wink at her, earning me another one of those beautiful smiles.
It wasn’t long after Ivy and I got back together that Charlene and my father’s divorce was filed and finalized.
I hated to say it when I found out they eloped, but it was inevitable. Jasper Ward is a selfish man. Hell, where do you think I got it? He’s never been faithful to any woman he’s been with, and I’m glad Charlene got out before she was in deep like my mother.
She seems to be doing well, though. After they separated, she made the move to Chapel Hill where Ivy went to school. She wanted a fresh start and being close to Ivy again was good for both of them.
Charlene moves to take a step back, as Ivy steps in close to me. Pulling her in my arms, I press my face in her hair, kissing her.
“I’m proud of you, too, baby.”
“Thank you.”
Whispering low enough for only her to hear me, “All I keep thinking about is how beautiful you look. Wear that cap and those heels for me later tonight, please.”
“You would, Ward.” She laughs, pushing back at me.
My face turns serious. “Ivyana Marie.”
There’s a heat that passes over her face when I call her by her full name. She doesn’t say anything, simply nods. I press my lips together, firmly, and shove my hands in my pockets to resist pulling her out of here, in front of her mother and finding us somewhere private.
She knows it, too, as she looks at my arms and the fists bulging in the pockets of my pants, biting down on her lip to hold back her smile.
We join her mom for dinner before we hit the road. It’s late by the time we make it to Myrtle Beach, staying at the beach house for the weekend.
Ivy’s sitting in the middle of the bench seat of my pickup, her head on my shoulder, sleeping.
“Wake up, baby. We’re here.”
She lifts her head, looking up at me as I kiss her softly. Reaching over, her hand grips the front of my t-shirt, deepening it. Our tongues tangle together, and I almost forget we’re sitting in the middle of the open driveway, where the neighbors not too far could likely see us.
“Let’s get you inside, and we can finish where this is going.”
She grins, nodding as she slides over to my side and climbs out behind me.
I pick up both of our bags from the back of my truck as she grabs the keys from my pocket, heading toward the front door. I haven’t been back here since we were here last summer. I thought about coming back after she left, wanting to get away, but I couldn’t without her.
She flips the lights on as I set our bags down by the door. We both look around the room as she spins on her heel, looking up at me.
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Raising my eyebrow suggestively, her body molding against mine as my hands roam over her sides, reaching for the back of her thighs to pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist, rubbing against me in the most deliciously torturous way possible.
I walk with her like that through the entryway and into the dining room, setting her on the edge of the counter. Her arms are band around my neck, holding me against her as her mouth ravages me.
It’s been two weeks since we’ve been together, and my body is on overdrive wanting to feel her again. Her hand slips between us, reaching for my belt.
I want to help her, to speed this process along, but when she finally gets the belt through the loop and tugs my zipper down, her hand quickly finds its way home wrapped around me. I have to lock my knees in order to keep myself standing because the feel of her soft, warm hand stroking me has my eyes rolling back in my head.
“Fuuuuuuck.” She presses a kiss against my lips, hard and full of passion.
Reaching my hands up, I twist my fingers into her long, curly hair holding her mouth against mine. My breathing comes out ragged, struggling through every move she makes.
None of those FaceTime dates compare to feeling her body against mine.
She pulls back, lifting her palm in front of her mouth as she spits on it before she resumes touching me.
“You dirty girl,” I moan, feeling her hand slide over me.
My hips thrust into her palm, wanting more.
“I need to feel you, baby.” My hands find their way to her waist, unbuttoning her pants. She’s still wearing those sexy heels she had on during her graduation ceremony and a pair of trouser shorts, along with this sexy, lace top.
She looks so fucking good, I’m not sure if I want her to wear the top or if I want to rip it off her.
Slipping her shoes off her feet, I slide her pants down her legs. My eyes zero in on the red thong she’s wearing as a guttural groan slips out of my mouth.
Wrapping my hand around my dick, I hold her off, trying not to cum as I bend down. She knows exactly what I’m after, as she spreads her legs open for me. I use my other hand to trace the edge of her panties, down toward her pussy, sliding the material to the side.
BRIX: A Stepbrother Bully Romance (A Rebels Havoc Book 1) Page 17
