Chapter Eighteen

VOID

A Few Days Later

Even though I like having Ivy to myself, she’s starting to go stir-crazy in the bungalow. There’s only so much daytime television you can watch and walks around the backyard you can take before it all starts to get a little monotonous. Sure, we’ve passed the time by fucking on every surface of the house, but again, there’s a limit to how often you can do it with someone inexperienced. The last thing I want to do is hurt her.

Going without news from home, my palms are twitchy, and I need an update. Hell, I want to find out whose heart that was. So, I pick up my burner to call Nycto, and he answers on the third ring. “What’s wrong?”

I huff. “We’re going fucking crazy out here, man. Need to know what’s happening.”

Nycto grumbles down the line. “I told you to call only if there was a problem.”

“There is a problem. Ivy’s stressed about Dash. I gotta tell her something.”

Nycto huffs. “Fine. The DNA came back… it wasn’t Dash. In fact, it wasn’t even human. Pig, just like I thought.”

“You’re fucking kidding me?”

“Nerve confirmed when he dissected it. Said while it’s similar in anatomy, it’s not the same as a human heart.”

“Well, fuck,” I murmur, running my hand through my hair. “Any word from Dash?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. Still working off his punishment. Tell Ivy he’s safe.”

Rolling my shoulders, I try to ease the tension around my neck. I hate myself, because for some warped, selfish reason, I wished it was Dash. I know he’s always going to be a part of Ivy’s life, and I can’t control myself. I’m a jealous cunt. It’s simple. I don’t want any guy taking space in Ivy’s mind but me.

“Void?”

I shake my head, coming back to the conversation. “Yeah?”

“There’s something you should know,” Nycto states.

“Tell me.”

“Another package was delivered to the clubhouse…” I wait for the blow. “We opened it. This time, it was a timer. It has a countdown. Three days. Everyone here is on high alert. The clubhouse is on full lockdown while we figure out whether to leave or wait it out.”

Attempting to calm the now-raging headache blasting my skull, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fuck, brother. I should be there helping, considering it’s my fault. I’m sure this is my father.”

“Figured as much. When Tony swore it wasn’t him, I knew straight away some asshole was coming after you. So, I did some digging and saw your father’s been released, but obviously, you’ve done your own research. I knew how you’d react to hearing the news, so that’s why I tried to keep it from you as long as I could, till I could figure out what the fuck to do about him.”

I glance over at Ivy in the kitchen, who’s oblivious to our conversation. She’s got her headphones on and is dancing away as she bakes something that smells fantastic. How she can be so carefree, while I sit here panicking about how this is all going to end, astounds me.

“I feel fucking useless sitting here doing nothing.”

“You’re keeping Ivy safe. That’s what matters right now. The rest is noise. Let us handle anything coming the club’s way.”

“Keep me in the loop. I want updates.”

“You got it. For now, spend time with your woman.”

I glimpse back at her. She now has her headphones off and is walking over with a tray of something I can’t quite make out.

“Nycto, be careful. You hear me?”

“You too, brother. You too.” He ends the call.

As I slide the cell across the table, Ivy places a tray in front of me. My eyes widen as cookies with something that looks like caramel in the middle come into view. Some are a little browner on the edges than the others. They’re not picture-perfect like Trixie would bake, but hell, they’re fucking good enough for me. “You made these… from scratch?”

She nods, wiping her hands down her pants. “They’re alfajores… Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies.”

“Dulce de what now?” I tilt my head.

She giggles, then picks one up and hands it to me. “Just try it.”

I take it from her, then pat the sofa next to me. “I just spoke to Nycto.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh?”

I take a bite, and the flavor explodes in my mouth.

Shit, my girl can cook.

“Fuck, Ivy, these are aweso—”

“Don’t change the subject. Tell me what’s going on.”

“The heart…” Ivy’s muscles tense, her hand moving to her chest like she’s preparing for the worst. “It wasn’t Dash.”

She clenches her eyes, letting out a long exhale. “Is he okay?”

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her to me, then kiss the top of her head. “Yeah. Nycto’s had contact with him. He’s fine.”

“But who…”

“The heart wasn’t even human.”

“Thank God.” She pulls back, searching my eyes. “There’s strain in your voice. You’re not telling me something.”

I hesitate, and she fully withdraws from me, stands, and folds her arms across her chest. “Void, what the hell is going on? Don’t hide shit from me. Not here. Not now.”

I rub the back of my neck, my muscles tense as fuck. She isn’t going to like this.

“Another package was delivered to the clubhouse.”

She’s trying to remain stoic, but one look and I can see her walls are crumbling. “Another heart?” she says, her voice straining.

“A timer.”

“A timer? What for?”

“A countdown. Apparently, it has three days left on it.”

She lets out a heavy exhale, then starts pacing. “Three days? Three days till what?”

Here comes the storm.

“Nycto is assessing whether to keep everyone locked down or get them the hell out of the clubhouse.”

Ivy’s head snaps to me, her eyes wide in terror. “They’re going to attack the club looking for us… in three days? But Eva… Eva’s there!”

I stand to go to her, but she turns, heading for the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She spins, glaring at me. “I have to go back. I must help Eva.”

“And what are you gonna do that the entire club isn’t already doing? Think this through, Ivy. You’re one woman. The club is better off with us here. Then they don’t have to be concerned about protecting us as well. They will be better able to defend themselves if we stay away. After all, whatever this is… it’s leveled at us.”

She lets out a low growl and throws her hands in the air. “This is bullshit!” she says, then turns, heading for the back door.

“Ivy, it’s for the best.”

She scowls at me. “What would you know? You took me away from my sister, and now she could die. I might never see her again. This is all your fault!”

Her words hit like a sucker punch straight to the gut.

She heads for the door, and I move to follow her out, but she puts her hand up in a stop signal. “Don’t you dare follow me. I don’t want to see you right now. ?Déjame en paz!”

I’m glued to the spot as she walks out the door, slamming it in my face. Usually, I’d yell right back, tell her not to talk to me like that. Show her who the man is in this relationship.

But she has me by the balls.

Why?

Because she’s right.

This is my fault.

We are here and not helping those back home because of me and my fucked-up family.

And because of that, Ivy might not get to say goodbye to hers.

With a deep inhale, I turn, make my way back to the sofa, and slump down on it with an overexaggerated huff. She needs to cool off. Chasing after Ivy won’t accomplish anything right now.

I have to let her come to me.

And she will, once she realizes we’ve got to stay here to protect those back home.

It’s the only way.

Having us at the clubhouse would be more of a distraction, and the boys don’t need that. They have enough to worry about with protecting everyone else who’s there right now.

Reaching forward, I grab another of Ivy’s sugar cookies and shove it into my mouth. No time like the present to eat my feelings. As I sit pondering what the hell the next three days is going to look like for Ivy and me, I slowly swallow down another four cookies, taking my time, my mind racing all over the place. The rush of sugar hits me hard, so I slide the tray away, because I need to get up and move. I start pacing the living room, my fingers running through my hair as my eyes shift to the rear door.

She’s not back.

It’s been at least fifteen minutes, and she’s outside, doing God only knows what.

This is fucked.

Ivy can’t stay mad at me forever.

I should go find her.

My feet pound against the floor as I make my way to the rear door. I yank it wide open, expecting her to be on the back porch. But, of course, she’s not fucking there. A sinking feeling creeps through my veins as I edge out of the house, looking through the trees of the backyard.

“Ivy?” I call out.

Nothing.

Racing out the door and down the stairs, I turn left, my chest squeezing with anxiety as I rush around to the front of the house.

The pickup is still here.

She hasn’t taken off back to Tampa.

She’s not stupid enough to try to get there on foot, or hitchhike.

So, where the fuck is she?

“Ivy!” I scream louder, racing faster around the back as I head toward the tree line of the bayou.

My adrenaline spikes, my head twisting from side to side with every snapping twig, every singing bird.

My mind starts going places I don’t want it to.

What if my father found us while I was too fucking busy on the phone?

What if he’s aware the one thing holding me back from joining him is Ivy?

What would he do to get her out of my way?

“Fuck’s sake, Ivy, this isn’t a damn game!” I yell, causing a flock of birds to flurry out of the trees above me. I duck and pull out my gun, my anxiety becoming too much to bear. I pant for breath as I turn and spot the bayou in the distance.

I pause.

Take a second to gather my thoughts.

If my father is here, that’s where he would take her.

Each step I take is harder than the last. My breaths are short and shallow as I enter the clearing, and the sight almost knocks me to my knees.

Ivy, floating on top of the water, her eyes closed.

Her arms out like a starfish as she drifts aimlessly.

Her usually tanned face a little paler against the murky water.

I can’t tell if she’s alive or something much, much worse.

My stomach lurches in my throat when suddenly, I see something moving in the trees on the other side of the bayou. I stop dead still, watching, my head snapping up to see a flash of white, then Ivy’s eyes shoot wide open. She turns her head in the water, looking right at me, then shifts to standing, fully clothed, in the water, watching me while I practically fall apart on the bank of the bayou. “What’s wrong?” she asks, confused.

I take off into the cold, murky water. Fully clothed, boots, fucking everything as I rush toward her in frantic movements. She scrunches her eyebrows when I finally reach her and pull her to me in the tightest of fucking embraces I’ve ever given anyone in my whole damn life.

She holds me, water running down our bodies as her hands smooth down my back.

“Don’t you ever… ever scare me like that again. What the hell are you doing out here?”

“Just recharging my energy.” She holds on while I try to soothe my racing heart. “I get this is stressful for you… but it is for me too, Void.”

I pull back, and my hand comes up to caress her face. Leaning in, I kiss her like I fucking mean it. My tongue collides with hers, desperate to let her know how much I care about her. Even though the water’s cold, I’m heating up like a raging inferno.

Pulling back, I lean my forehead against hers, staring into her eyes. “I’ve never been as petrified as I was when I saw you floating. I thought you were dead. For fuck’s sake, I swear a piece of me broke seeing you like that, Ivy.”

Her concerned expression falls as she exhales. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to process this the only way I know how.”

“You could’ve talked to me—”

“Can we not talk right now?” She moves in, wrapping her legs around my waist, her body floating in the water. I understand what she’s asking for. She wants me to take her emotional pain away.

I don’t know what the hell I saw, but my mind was obviously playing tricks on me from being so fucking torn up at seeing Ivy lying motionless on the water, not to mention the threat of fucking gators. She’s completely oblivious. I need to get her out of the water, now. And with the way my heart is pounding, adrenaline racing through me…

I fucking need her right now.

So, I move my hands to support her ass. My cock grows hard against her as Ivy presses her lips to mine again. With her wrapped around me and my hands gripping hold, I walk us out of the water and over to the grassy patch a fair way back toward the house. I kneel on the greenery, lowering Ivy to the ground, my lips never leaving hers as I tower over her.

My fingers move to her button-up blouse, ripping it apart with ease. Buttons pop off in all directions, but the wet fabric sticks to her gorgeous skin. My lips slide down over the black lace bra where her nipples are so pert and ready. I bite through the fabric, my cock so fucking hard I can hardly bear the feeling. Ivy’s back arches off the grass with a slight moan as my hands slide under her back to release the clasp. I pull it off, leaving her topless, her ample breasts heaving as her hooded eyes look up at me through her lashes.

Making my way to her leggings, I slide them off at the same time as her panties. She’s so fucking beautiful, panting like this, in wait for me. “You don’t know the effect you have on me, do you, sweet thing?”

She draws her bottom lip in with her teeth, the move sexy as fuck. A single water locust leaf sits on the ground next to me. It’s perfect for what I need right now. She shows me who’s boss in the bedroom all the time.

I’ve been holding back, but now, it’s time for Master Cade to come out to play.

“Put your arms above your head and lock your fingers together. Don’t move them, or I will punish you.”

A wicked glint twinkles in her eyes as she wriggles on the spot, rubbing her thighs together, but I grab her ankles, pulling her legs wide apart.

Leaning in over her, I stare into her eyes, full of lust. “Do. Not. Move.”

She grins mischievously. “Okay.”

Bringing the leaf up, I gently edge the lengthy tip of leaves down in between her breasts. Her body shudders when she feels the tickling of the flora against her.

She’s reacting exactly how I planned.

“Keep still, sweet thing.”

Her fingers wriggle against each other as I slide the leaf down the center of her body. Beads of water run down her skin from being in the bayou, and it makes her body look so fucking tempting as she writhes about. Having the leaf gently grazing her skin will bring all her nerve endings alive, awakening her entire body, and make her feel everything more powerfully.

I run the leaf slowly over her pussy, and she gasps out, “Void, please.”

“We’re only at the beginning, Ivy. Patience.” I shift further as her body wriggles again. “Don’t move,” I warn her.

She groans, and her hands release, one moving to her breast so she can massage it herself.

“I warned you.” I sit back on my knees, smirking widely. Her eyes fly open as I grab her and hoist her to sit. “Get on your knees,” I say, and her eyes widen. “This time, you’re submitting to me. Now… on your hands and knees, facing me.”

She tries to hide her grin, but she scurries to her knees before me as I stand. I move to my belt buckle, undoing it, and lower my jeans to my ankles, my cock jerking free from the tight restraints.

She reaches out to grab hold, and I seize her wrist. “You are not in control here, Ivy. I am. I tell you what to do.”

Her hooded eyes look up at me like she’s having trouble holding herself together. “Yes, Sir.” Her voice is so low and husky, it nearly does me fucking in.

My hand wraps through her wet hair. “Open your mouth, Ivy. I’m going to fuck it like I mean it. You couldn’t stay still before, and this is your punishment. You won’t want to find out what happens if you pull away.”

“Yes, Sir.” She licks her lips.

A low growl rumbles through me as she opens her supple, fuckable mouth so damn wide, and I ram my cock straight past her lips, giving her no time to prepare.

She broke the rules, she pays the price.

Ivy’s eyes widen as I push my cock to the back of her throat. Her eyes glisten as her warmth envelops me and I huff out a deep, guttural groan.

“Damn, Ivy, you feel so fucking good.”

I slide her mouth halfway off me, then pull her back down. She doesn’t resist. In fact, I see the light in her eyes—or should I say hellfire. She loves this, revels in it as I fuck her dirty little mouth. For her first time doing this, she’s sucking like a pro. Her tongue glides around my cock, her lips sheathing her teeth as she does her best to take all of me, but her mouth is only so deep. Warmth and tingles radiate from the depths inside, but I can’t let go just yet. I can’t let the leaf play go to waste, even if this is her punishment for moving.

“Ivy, I want you to touch yourself,” I demand.

She looks so fucking gorgeous wrapped around my cock like this, but I want her pleasure too. Ivy edges her hand down between her legs, her fingers searching for her clit. The moment she touches herself, her eyes close in delight.

“Eyes on me, beautiful.”

Her eyes fling open as I use my grip on the roots of her hair to pull her on and off my cock, my hips thrusting to push deeper. A light whimper vibrates through her mouth, making me tense. She flicks her clit, and a wave of pleasure rolls through me as she sucks my head down her throat a little. I groan at the feeling of us being in this moment together.

To be honest, I thought I had to hide Cade from Ivy, but the truth of the matter is, Ivy and Cade belong together. She’s as fucked-up as I am. This is nothing compared to what I used to do, so I can’t wait to take this up a notch with her when she’s ready. And knowing she is more than capable of handling that side of me has my cock twitching.

The deep moaning against my cock as she works herself up only makes this all the more fucking hot for me. She doesn’t waver, sucking on me as if her life depends on it, not even gagging as she swallows the crown.

I grip her head harder, thrust deeper, and slide my cock further down her throat. Finally, she gags on my length, and the tightness wraps around me like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Letting out a loud groan as my balls pull up, I throw my head back, a tingle flittering down my spine as my skin slickens in a sheen of sweat.

I’m so fucking close. Just a little more.

Ivy begins to squirm—she’s obviously close too, but we can’t have that. I look down to look at her. “Open your eyes, Ivy. Stare at me. Don’t look away,” I demand, as she draws me right down her throat again.

I groan, my fingers wrapped in her hair tight as hell as I hold her mouth to my pubic bone. It must be hurting her, but my girl likes it rough—my fucking amazing girl. My gaze bores into hers, and my muscles tense so fucking tight, I could be mistaken for a statue. My balls pull up as the pressure builds inside of me, and I gasp as the intensity hits me. Using my grip on the back of her neck, I continue to thrust shallowly, deep in her throat. Her eyes are streaming now, spit running out of the side of her mouth, and I free a hand to stroke my thumb along where her lips meet, the skin pulled tight. Her nostrils flare, her face redder than red, and I realize my dick is blocking her airway—she can’t breathe.

Will have to make this quick, then.

With that realization, my balls pull up, and I explode like a fucking typhoon washes over me. I come so damn hard while she gags, trying to suck down air but only managing to suck the cum out of me. It’s like I’m being wrung dry as I empty my seed deep down past the back of her throat. With one last gentle thrust, I pull out, leaving a trail of cum over her tongue, and she heaves in air, her lips plump and her mouth slack.

After a few breaths, her eyes widen as she realizes she still has the taste of me in her mouth. She licks her lips, wiping them a little, then sucks her fingers clean and swallows it down like a good little soldier.

“Good fucking girl,” I pant out.

Within a second, her hand moves between her legs to finish herself off.

“Uh-uh, sweet thing. You don’t get to come yet. You think I’m going to allow that? You climax when I say you can.”

Her brow furrows, and she whimpers. “But I’m so close.”

“Don’t talk back. Turn around, get on all fours.”

She waggles her eyebrows. “Yes, Sir!” she replies as she moves onto all fours, this time facing away from me.

Moving into position, I slide my hand up into her wet hair, my fingers wrapping around the long chestnut locks, and I hold tight, then yank her head back. She lets out a yelp, but I know the sound. It’s not from pain—it’s a satisfied moan. My cock is thick and ready again, and my free hand slides over her supple ass, caressing.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, sweet thing?”

“Yes, Sir,” she says, then I slap her cheek, hard. She jolts forward, but my hand holding her hair keeps her head where it is, so her back is forced into an exaggerated arch. Returning to position, she pants as I line the tip of my throbbing cock up with her slickened pussy.

You’re so ready for me, my dirty girl.

“Say my name, Ivy,” I growl out.

“Void,” she says huskily.

My palm twitches, and I slap her ass again. “Wrong. Say my name, Ivy.”

She pushes back and wriggles her hips, the tip of my cock breaching the lips of her pussy.

Greedy little bitch.

“Cade!” she gushes with much more gusto.

Hearing her call my name like that sparks something inside me. I yank her head back and thrust inside her. Her warm pussy envelops me so fucking tight, squeezing me for all I have. I stop for a second to gather myself. Still, I can’t wait for long, because she starts to move, like the eager fucking bitch she is.

I grip her tighter and slap her ass again and again, adding to the collection of red handprints decorating her delectable cheeks. “Don’t move, Ivy. I control this, not you.”

She whimpers in disagreement. She likes to control our sex, so letting me take over is hard for her.

My free hand moves to her waist to help pull her on and off me. She feels so fucking good as my fingers in her hair keep her head pulled back, her hands off the ground, unable to move anything but her hips.

After this build-up, I don’t think it’s going to last too long for either of us. So, I thrust deep inside of her, pull back, rotate a little, then thrust back in.

“Fuck, Cade!”

A slow smile crosses my face. I’ve been trying to keep this part of me hidden from her, but she’s accepting me so openly and freely now. The further we delve into my sexual expectations, the more it confirms she can take all of me. She’s made for me.

Her walls clamp around my cock, and I know she’s close, so I pump into her harder.

“You want to come, Ivy?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I yank on her hair, which elicits a pleasure-filled moan. “That’s not how you answer me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

My free hand slides down to find her clit. She writhes and thrusts against me as I circle, bringing her closer to her climax. As I feel her tighten around me, my balls pull up again, readying for another release. Ivy pants, her skin slickening, her breaths more frantic, and the tingle starts in my spine.

I’m so fucking close.

“Don’t you come until I tell you to.”

Ivy pants as I feel the pressure build from the tips of my toes all the way to my balls. She’s writhing, bucking like a damn bronco to get her release. “Please!” she cries. “Please!”

My balls pull up, and I throw my head back and let out a guttural groan. “Now, Ivy!”

Her pussy clenches around my cock, draining me for all I’m worth, and she gushes—actually gushes—around me. My cock throbs, tensing as my muscles constrict, then my entire body erupts as I come so fucking hard my vision whites out, and I can barely contain myself. “Fuuuck!” My dirty fucking girl.

Everything in me is completely spent as I pull out and drop to the ground beside her.

She flops next to me, and we both look up at the sky, panting for breath.

“That… was… amazing.”

I turn my head to take in the look of awe that crosses her features. “I didn’t hurt you?” I ask, while caressing her hair.

“Hurt me? You hurt me real good, Void.”

She knew. She knew that at this moment, I needed to be me again.

Not Cade from moments ago.

That’s why I can never let her go.

I don’t think my heart could take it.

“I fucked up,” I admit. “I came inside you.”

She smiles. “A few weeks before we left, Eva gave me a packet of her contraceptive pills. I’ve been taking them.”

I lean in, pressing my forehead to hers. “I need to thank Eva. But right now, let’s go inside and shower. We’ve both had a big day, and I think we need to unwind… together.”

Ivy rolls on her side, facing me. “I’m sorry I scared you… in the water. I don’t know why, but I wanted to float in it. Everything got a little too much for a moment there.”

“When shit gets hard, when your mind can’t take the load, talk to me. We’re a team. We’re in this together. I don’t ever want to see something like that again. It scared the living hell out of me, Ivy.”

“I know. And it won’t happen again. I promise I’ll come to you. It’s you and me against the world.”

“Yeah, baby. Just you, me… and the gators.”

Her brow furrows, but then her eyes widen as the realization hits. “Gators?” she whispers. “There’s alligators in there? You didn’t tell me there were alligators!” She slaps at my chest. “You’re kidding, right?”

With a laugh, I lean in, pressing my lips to hers until she melts against me again.

This woman gives me peace, but I can’t help my mind drifting to the flashes of white I saw before Ivy came back to me. I don’t know if my head is playing tricks on me, or if this is something I need to talk to Nycto about.

But right now, while I’m holding Ivy, it’s not the time to think about this shit.

So I let the white vision drift from my mind.