Chapter Fourteen

IVY

A Week Later

It’s been a weird freaking week. With Dash mysteriously gone and Void acting all weird, I know something’s up.

Void’s been jumpy, agitated—almost like he’s afraid of his own shadow. Sure, we’ve been carrying on with our daily routines. He’s even taken me for professional riding lessons. It’s the first time I’ve had to use my fake ID, and I have to say, I got a kick out of that. You’d think doing something illegal would scare me, but all it did was ignite a fire inside me. Made me burn to be this badass woman I’m positive I could be if only Void would let me free in this world.

He’s scared.

I get that.

Of me blossoming.

Of people hunting me down.

But this past week, there’s been a shift in him, since the morning after his fight with Dash. I have no clue what happened, or where Dash has gone. No one will tell me. The thought has crossed my mind that someone killed him for beating up Void. Dash took it too far, I understand that, but surely he didn’t deserve to die for it.

The man was drunk!

But I can’t think like that.

I know these guys. Yes, they’re killers. Yes, they’re what Americans call “1%ers.” But I don’t believe Nycto would do anything to Dash like that. I have to believe he wouldn’t.

In the meantime, I have Void to worry about, and why he’s so bent out of shape. He’s put his walls back up, and they’re firmly in place. He’s hardly talking, hardly touching me. He’s kissed me twice since the fight. I’m not sure if it’s me. Have I done something, or did a problem occur I don’t know about? So, I’ve decided to try and make him feel better. Whatever’s troubling him, whether he wants to tell me or not is up to him, but I want to help him unwind and relax.

When I place the last candle out in my room, the Cell comes across as more of a calming meditation suite than a place Defiance uses to lock people up in. The scented lavender, ylang-ylang, and chamomile candles make light flicker off the walls, and the place smells amazing. I want Void to relax, let him know this is a safe space for him to let go.

I take a last peek around, liking the ambiance of the room, then head upstairs to find Void, who’s slouched on the sofa, sipping on a whiskey. I sigh as I walk over to him. He eyes me up and down, and a brief light gleams on his face before it’s all but extinguished.

I reach down, grab his arm, and yank. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

He doesn’t budge. “I’m comfortable.”

“Don’t be a cunt. Come with me.”

“Ivy! I’ve never heard you say that word.” A small smirk touches his lips as he stands and starts walking with me.

I loop my arm with his. “Well, if you’d stop acting like one, then I wouldn’t need to say it.”

He exhales as we traipse down the stairs to the Cell. Void stops, his eyes focusing on the flickering lights of the candles sporadically placed around the room. His muscles tense as he side-eyes me. “What’s this?”

I let go of him as we walk inside, then turn back to him. “Surprise!”

Drinking down the rest of his whiskey in one swallow, he narrows his eyes in on me. “You tryin’ to be romantic?”

I jerk my head back at his tone. “I’m attempting to help you relax. Let me give you a massage, help you unwind. You’re so freaking tense.”

“You’re gonna do that for me?”

With a small laugh, I wave my hand through the air. “I’m already doing it. Now, stop being your usual asshole self and come sit on the bed. Take your shirt off, and I’ll rub your shoulders for you.”

Void hesitates, but I pat the bed, which makes a slow smile creep up onto his face. “I’ve been a prick to you this last week,” he states, taking off his cut and placing it carefully on the desk.

I shrug. “I’m not going to pretend I understand what’s going on, because I don’t.”

He nods, pulling off his shirt.

I will never get sick of seeing him shirtless. Even with the bruising still smattered over his ribcage, those chiseled abs, his perfect V, not to mention those black and gray tattoos—he looks perfect to me.

Void rests his shirt beside his cut, then sits in front of me. It’s the first time I’ve seen his back clearly. The muscles on this man are simply breathtaking, but it’s the Defiance logo covering his entire back that really makes my insides quiver with desire. Void is pure sexual torment right now, but I need to keep myself focused.

I kneel in behind him, my thumbs pressing into his incredibly tight shoulders. “But, in saying that, if you don’t want to talk to me about whatever it is that’s going on, then I won’t push you, either.”

“You’re far too understanding, Ivy. Any normal woman would’ve given up on an asshole like me a long time ago.”

I knead his muscles, feeling them begin to loosen with my touch, and see his body starting to relax beneath my grasp. “The thing is, Void, I’m no quitter. I don’t give up unless there’s a one-hundred-percent reason for me to do so. You haven’t given me a reason to quit, yet.”

He snorts. “You must have your scorecard set quite high, because I can name a dozen reasons why you should’ve given up on me by now.”

I lean down against his ear. “And that’s why you’re not me.” I press my lips to his cheek, giving him a quick kiss before pulling back and continuing with my massage of his shoulders.

“I’ve never had anyone take care of me the way you do.”

My chest squeezes as his walls come down again. This is the Void I’m falling for.

“You need to let me do it all the time. Don’t put your walls up around me. I see you, and I happen to like you… the real you, Cade.”

Void inhales like he’s having trouble trying to keep his shit together. His chin drops to his chest, but I keep massaging him anyway. I’m sure we’re making progress.

He clears his throat, and his voice comes out low, almost a whisper. “I grew up in a cult.”

Everything stops as I take a second to let that tidbit of information sink in.

That explains some things.

My head spins as I think of all the possible shit he’s witnessed or been put through. My breathing quickens, a cold sweat racing over my skin.

“Ivy?” Void’s concerned voice breaks through my rising panic as he turns to me, and that’s enough to bring me back to earth.

He grounds me.

He’s my rock.

I put on a calming smile and keep massaging his shoulders. “Keep going… tell me everything.”

“My father ran it. He was known as the Redeemer…” He pauses. “That man was anything but.”

I continue to listen as Void hesitantly tells me his story.

“I grew up with many siblings. Some older, some younger. Some male, some female. But none of us knew who our mothers were. It’s just how it went. The women in the cult shared the duties and responsibilities of taking care of the children and serving the men. They were all our mothers, I suppose.”

An ache forms deep in my chest as I think about my mother. I grew up loving her, but she was taken from me far too soon. I can’t imagine growing up not knowing who she was. It must have been terrible for Void.

“You say you have siblings. Do you ever see them?”

“No. I have no clue where they are. Some went to jail, others to foster homes. I was lucky when I got out.”

“How did you? Get out, I mean?”

He takes a few deep, steadying breaths. “I started to realize something wasn’t right—that maybe this way of life that was ingrained into me wasn’t the right way. When my dad started bringing in outsiders and they wouldn’t assimilate, they wouldn’t change to our way, I started listening. They kept telling me it was wrong. We were immoral for doing what we were doing. That what I was doing was evil.”

My fingers stop on his shoulders. “What were you doing?”

His chin drops to his chest again, like he’s ashamed. “I was only young, sixteen at the time, but my father was trying to initiate me to become like him and my older brothers who were running the farm. I didn’t know any better. I was raised this way from birth. It’s all I ever saw growing up. When the children turned five, we were taken to a party to see the elders doing all kinds of fucked-up things. That was our initiation into the farm. From that age, it’s so entrenched into you that it all becomes second nature.”

I need something to relieve my tense muscles now.

“Void… what were you doing?” I repeat, an edge of hesitation bleeding through.

He turns to face me. His eyes meet mine, and they’re so full of regret, it smacks me right in the chest. “My job was to tie women to the wooden crosses, naked, and make sure they were prepared for the elders.” He grimaces the second he says it, and his whole face screws up in pain.

“It was a sex cult?”

“Yeah… everything my father and brothers did was in aid of pleasing the human form. The women who were there were willing participants, but then he started bringing in outsiders, and they… they were not willing. That’s when I knew that maybe this life I’d been living wasn’t the right kind of life for me.”

“So, you got out?”

“The farm was raided by the heat. My father and older brothers were taken into custody, and the rest of us sent to foster homes. I struggled for a long time, fighting between the urges my father taught me to embrace, and the life the real world taught me was the right way. It’s why I struggle with you. Because I don’t want to be that guy with you.”

I shuffle, moving around to sit next to him. “I get it now.”

“You do?”

I breathe out faintly. “Yeah. Growing up like that is rough. It made you think, made you act differently.”

“Yeah, exactly. It’s why I can’t rush this with you, Ivy. We both have to be ready.”

After hearing his story, all he’s been through, plus the fact he’s finally opened up to me, I can’t imagine a better time than right now. I sit up on my knees, grab the hem of my shirt, and slide it over my head, then throw it to the floor, leaving me in my black lacy bra.

Void widens his eyes like he has no clue what the fuck I’m doing, and my heart begins to race. “I am ready, Void. You won’t hurt me. Trust yourself like I trust you.” I reach out to grab his hand and move it to the top of my breast. He squeezes, just enough to send a wave of excitement through me. “Don’t hold back, Void. Please. Just let go.”

A low growl reverberates through him as he lunges forward, taking me with him as he falls to the bed. I let out an excited squeal as his lips press against mine. His tongue slips in, rough and hot, and my hands slide up his back and into his hair, pulling him closer. Void’s body presses down between my legs, applying pressure against my aching pussy.

I can’t help but whimper into his mouth.

He pulls back from me, and for a second, I think he’s going to stop, but his hands move either side of my bra, and with brute strength, he rips it apart at the seams. I giggle as I throw it to the floor, and his eyes take in my ample mounds.

He shakes his head. “Fucking hell. I’m going to go easy on you this first time, Ivy, but next time, I can’t make any damn promises.”

Hearing him talk like that does something to me. I squirm on the spot as his fingers make quick work of my leggings, yanking them down the same time as my panties, leaving me completely bare in front of him.

Void sits back on his knees between my legs, spreading them wide. He closes his eyes for a moment, just taking in a few deep breaths before he opens them again. “You’re so fucking sexy like this, Ivy.”

I gnaw down on my bottom lip while waiting patiently for him to touch me. “Void, please,” I beg.

He grins, the sight almost making me orgasm on the spot, then his head ducks down between my legs. Anticipation builds inside me until his tongue hits my clit, and I gasp at the warmth. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Sure, I’ve double-clicked my mouse more times than I can count, but this? This takes it to a whole new level. “Shit…” I pant as his tongue caresses me in the best possible way.

A tingle moves from my toes to my scalp as my heavy breaths echo around us. My fingers move down to thread through his hair and hold him to me. He slowly slides a finger inside me while his tongue annihilates my senses. My back arches off the bed as a throaty cry erupts from me. I’ve never had a man touch me before, and hell, am I glad Void is the first, because he’s amazing.

His finger moves in and out while his tongue flicks my clit. Beads of sweat top my brow, and goose bumps cover my skin. My breathing quickens so fast, I can hardly catch it. My fingers grasp his hair, holding him to me harder, grinding his face against me as I gnaw on my bottom lip so intensely it hurts, but I love the pain. Everything’s so damn fucking good.

“Holy shit, Void!”

He pushes his finger higher and adds another, making my entire body shudder and shake as he flicks his tongue one more time. My muscles tense so fucking tight it’s like they might burst from the tension, and lights flash behind my eyes. Then, I hold my breath as a wave of pure ecstasy slams over my body. I orgasm so fucking intensely that I find it hard to breathe, but once I remember how to inhale, my muscles fully relax, and everything turns to jelly. “Jesus Christ.”

Void chuckles as he slides his fingers out, and I have to hiss—a combination of being too sensitive and wanting more making my body shiver. He quickly stands from the bed, but I’m too zoned out to focus. His belt buckle clangs, then there’s the ruffle of his pants falling to the floor, followed by two thuds of what I assume are his boots.

Suddenly, I’m being hoisted up, and my jelly-like body is moving through the air with his strong arms.

Void sits naked on the bed and pulls me to kneel over the top of him. “You have more control this way,” he says breathily. “You’re able to guide how deep you wanna go, and if it hurts, you can slow down or stop.”

“If it feels anything like that just did, I’ll never want to stop.”

Void’s soft lips stretch, but his smile doesn’t quite reach his hooded eyes. His hand shifts up to caress my cheek, then pulls my face to his. Our lips connect, and I kiss him with every damn thing I have in me. All I’ve wanted for so damn long is to fuck Void, and now the moment is here. I thought I’d be nervous, a hint of anxiety about this, but all I feel is ready. So ready. More than ready.

My hand moves down, and my fingers barely wrap around the width of his cock. Despite my trepidation, I pull it into place beneath me. I line my pussy up as I continue to kiss Void with everything I have, then edge the tip of his cock to my opening, my heart racing in anticipation as I slowly, very slowly, slide partway onto him.

I gasp.

He’s huge.

I break our kiss and rest my forehead against his, letting myself become accustomed to his size before I go any further.

His hands slide up my back, helping to keep me relaxed and in place against him as we sit together. “I’ve got you,” he whispers.

My eyes meet his, and nothing but adoration shines back at me. “Yeah, you do.” I lean my lips against his again, keeping my eyes on his as I kiss him, then continue pressing down. A pinch hits me deep inside, but it’s not unbearable—more like an ache in the pit of my stomach. Certainly not enough to stop me from moving. If anything, it spurs me on more. Suddenly, the pressure gives, and I groan.

I’m not a virgin anymore.

Void rubs my back soothingly as I begin to slide up and down. His cock inside me is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s filling, intense, and I have the overwhelming feeling of him surrounding me.

His cock is so fucking big, I’m not even down on him the entire way, and he’s stretching me so damn much. It’s a mixture of uncomfortableness teamed with pleasure as I continue to work myself on him.

“You’re so fucking tight, Ivy, I can hardly stand it,” he groans out, his voice husky and full of lust.

I pant, my walls loosening a little, enjoying each movement more and more, pushing deeper and deeper, as he keeps an even pace with me. It’s not frantic, not animalistic, but it’s certainly not slow and tender either as a wave of pleasure rolls over me.

Eventually, I lower myself fully onto him, and we both let out a deep moan. My nails dig in to his back as I try to adjust to the pressure and the feeling of fullness. “Fuck!” His cock pulses inside me as his thrusts meet mine. No wonder people go crazy over sex—it’s the best feeling in the world!

I move a little faster, a rhythm building, the pleasure rolling through me as I ride him. My head falls back as I start to pick up the pace and grind down against him, the ache seemly gone, only desire and enjoyment flooding me. My fingers run through Void’s hair as his lips move to my neck, his teeth grazing my skin, his tongue darting out to soothe the sting.

I pant for breaths as the pleasure rises inside me. “Fuck, this feels so good,” I whimper.

Void groans. “Can you handle a little more?”

“Yes. All of it. I want everything.” The words come out all breathy.

Void’s hands move to my hips, and he starts to move me. My eyes widen as he rotates his hips in time with the movements, then thrusts deeper. My fingers thread through his hair, gripping tightly as I ride him.

“Oh shit! Oh, shit!” The intensity picks up dramatically as I clench my eyes tight. A tingle shoots all the way through my body, my back arching while lights dance behind my eyes again. “Oooh, fuck!” My orgasm slams into me deep inside, making me shudder all over as I clench around him. My body falls forward, my arms looping around his neck, and I grip hold of him, trying to bring the intensity under control.

“Hold on, sweet thing. I’m not done yet.”

Hearing him call me sweet thing wakes me. I sit back, continuing to ride him, my arms resting on his shoulders. His hand snakes down between us to press on my clit. My eyes all but roll back into my head as I pant, frantically riding out this crazy wave of pleasure. “Void…” I plead.

“I know, we’re almost there.” His voice comes out as a breathy groan. “Are you ready?”

I whimper, not sure what he has in store for me next. “Yes.”

Void grabs my hips, pulls me up, then slams in me so deeply I see stars. My breath catches as something inside me clicks. The power of his thrust, the pleasure he’s triggering, unleashes something dark inside of me—a woman I didn’t know I was until right this very second. I guess I had an inkling. I knew something dark was inside me, but now poison Ivy is coming to the surface, and I can’t control her. If my virtue was the key to poison Ivy’s chastity belt, consider the cage wide-fucking-open.

With bared teeth, I growl and push him back down onto the mattress. His eyes widen as one of my hands moves to the side of his head, the other to his throat. My eyes meet his, an understanding in them as I tighten my fingers around his neck. A light explodes behind his eyes, and his hands move to my ass, moving me on and off his cock faster and harder to reach our mutual climax. Void’s mouth opens noiselessly like he’s in fucking heaven, and I squeeze harder on his neck, the skin around my fingers starting to turn red as I ride him.

The tingles in my body ignite again, bursting through me, this time in an explosion. I release a guttural moan as I ride him through the biggest fucking climax I’ve ever had. Void’s cock throbs inside me, and I think he’s getting close, so I tighten my grip even more. My body slickens in a sheen of sweat, goose bumps lining my skin as I clench my eyes, the explosion overtaking me at full force.

I let go of Void’s neck and, bringing my palm up, slap him hard across his face. His head snaps to the side, and a throaty moan escapes him as he grabs my hips, spins me, and flops me down onto the bed on my back. He pumps a couple more times inside of me, then pulls out to release all over my stomach, his hot cum coating me from the tip of my pussy to below my breasts.

“Fuuuck!” He collapses over me, fighting hard for breath.

I exhale and let out a contented chuckle as he drops onto the bed beside me, panting for air. At the same time, I stare up at the ceiling, feeling like a completely different woman.

Holy shit.

Void turns his head from the pillow to look at me. “I’ve been calling you sweet thing. Maybe I’ve been reading you wrong all this time… after that, I should be kneeling at your feet and calling you mistress.”

Smirking, I giggle. “Too much?” I ask.

He flips over onto his back, throwing his hands under his head. “Fuck no. That was perfect. Not what I was expecting, but fucking perfect. That slap at the end… Fuck! I’ve never come so fucking hard in my life.”

I smile, glancing down at the mess on my stomach. “You’d better clean this up, cabrón.”

“Asshole, hey?” He snorts out a laugh. “Gimmie five to recover. You cut off my airway.”

“You can handle it.”

Void leans in and plants a kiss on my lips, a small smirk on his face. “Seems you can too. I don’t know why I delayed this for so fucking long.”

“I did try to tell you.”

He shifts onto his side, moving a strand of hair away from my face in a gentler gesture. “I know I treated you like you weren’t ready for this, and as it turns out, I did keep myself in check, but you’re the one who unleashed.”

My palm moves to his reddened cheek, still displaying my handprint, caressing it as his eyes stare into mine. “Maybe now you’ll stop treating me like some innocent little girl?”

He chuckles. “Yeah.”

“Now, clean me up! ándale!”

Void shifts off the bed. “Yes, ma’am.”