22. Ivy

22

IVY

I slip into my house, relieved to find it dark and quiet. Ramsey and Josh must be asleep. Thank fuck for small mercies. If Ramsey caught me sneaking in, just wearing Vex's shirt, he'd throw a shitfit that would make the earth tremble. He is fairly easy going, but fuck around, and you'll find out just how powerful he is.

A loud rap on the door makes me jump out of my skin. I contemplate ignoring it and running upstairs, but I don't want the guys to wake up. I turn and peek through the peephole. "Tate," I murmur. I force my eye even closer to see if I can spot Bram, but all I see is the distorted blonde head of Tate. He lifts his hand to knock, so I make a snap decision and open the door.

"What?" I ask, my eyes scanning the area for his pals.

Luckily, he seems to be alone.

"Ivy," he murmurs, his green eyes taking in my dishevelled appearance and bare legs sticking out of the end of Vex's shirt.

"What are you doing here? How did you even know where I live?" I clip.

Tate's eyes narrow as he takes in my appearance. "Nice shirt," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "Looks familiar."

I cross my arms over my chest defensively. "What do you want, Tate? It's late and I'm tired."

He steps closer, forcing me to back up into the house. "I want to know what the fuck is going on with you, Ivy. Or should I call you Poison?"

Ice floods my veins at his words. Shit. He knows.

I try to keep my expression neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Tate's hand shoots out, gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. "Don't lie to me," he says calmly. "I know it's you."

I wrench my face from his grasp. "You're delusional. Now get out before I scream and wake the whole house."

His eyes flash dangerously. "Go ahead. Scream. Let's see how you explain this to your housemates." He gestures to my state of undress. "Or are you going to inform Ramsey that Torin and I fucked you senseless on the side of the road where anyone could've driven past and seen?"

We glare at each other in tense silence for a long moment. "No idea what you're talking about." It doesn't surprise me that he knows Ramsey. Warlocks of a feather, flock together, blah, blah.

Tate's jaw clenches in frustration. "Cut the bullshit, Ivy. I know you're Poison. I followed you to Vex's earlier, then to Nox, where Ivy was mysteriously nowhere to be seen, yet Poison was there in all her glory. I'm not a fucking idiot."

My mind races, trying to find a way out of this. But I'm exhausted, and my defences are crumbling. I can keep lying, but what will it achieve? He clearly has facts, or enough of them, to form a very solid theory. "Fine," I spit out. "You caught me. What are you and your buddies going to do about it?"

His eyes darken as he steps closer, backing me into the house and up against the wall. "That depends on you," he murmurs. "Are you going to be a good girl and tell me everything, or do I need to get creative?"

I glare up at him defiantly. "Fuck you."

A wicked grin spreads across his face. "Oh, sweetheart, we've already done that. Multiple times. But I'm more than happy to refresh your memory."

His hand trails up my thigh, slipping under the hem of Vex's shirt. I shiver despite myself.

"Stop," I hiss. "Ramsey could wake up any second."

"Then I suggest you start talking," Tate growls as he cups my pussy and squeezes. "Because I'm not leaving until I get answers, Ivy."

I weigh my options. Tate knows too much already. If I don't give him something, he could blow my cover wide open to everyone who will listen. And I have no doubt he'll follow through on his threat to get creative if I don't cooperate.

When I don't say anything, Tate's eyes flash with triumph, and he slips a finger between my folds to rub over my clit.

I gasp and close my eyes, as I'm still so sensitive after this hellish night.

"Start talking, Ivy," he demands quietly.

I sigh, running a hand through my tangled hair. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything, princess." He rotates his fingers, sliding over my clit, and I suppress the urge to moan.

"You don't ask for much, do you?"

"Tell me, I'm right. Tell me you're Poison."

"Why, so you can tell your friends and blow my cover?"

"I'm not going to tell anyone. Yet," he whispers in my ear. "This will be our little secret."

I glare at Tate, my mind racing. He knows too much already, but I can't risk giving him any more information. Not without knowing what he plans to do with it.

"Why should I trust you?" I hiss. "For all I know, you'll run straight to Torin and Bram the second you leave here."

Tate's fingers continue their maddening circles on my clit as he leans in close. "Because I'm the only one who can protect you from them right now. You have no idea what Bram wants to do to you after that little stunt in the forest."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. "What does he want to do?" I ask warily.

Tate's eyes darken. "Trust me, you don't want to know the details. Let's just say it involves a lot of pain, and you never seeing the light of day again."

I swallow hard, fear clawing at my throat. "And you? What do you want?"

He sighs softly and draws his face back a bit. With his free hand, he curls his fingers around my long blonde hair, tightening it so that when he pulls his finger down, it tugs painfully on my scalp. "You."

"Me what?"

His eyes lock on mine. "I want you. But if you are not Poison, then this is every kind of wrong, so tell me I'm right." His voice has taken on a desperate edge, and his fingers have stilled on my clit.

"Wrong?" I murmur. "Why would it be wrong? Do you have some warped loyalty to Poison, Tate?"

Tate's eyes flash dangerously. "Tell me you're Poison."

My heart stutters at his words. Does he actually care about Poison? About me? I shake the thought away. I can't afford to get sentimental right now.

"And if I am her?" I ask quietly.

Tate's grip goes back to my hair and tightens as he leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. "Then I'll protect you with everything I have. But I need to hear you say it. "

Tate already knows too much. If I don't confirm it, he could expose me anyway out of frustration, and right now, with Bram out for blood, Vex upping his fucked-up seduction, and this bastard assignment looming on the horizon, I need all the protection I can get.

"Fine," I whisper, brushing my lips over his. "You're right. I'm Poison."

Tate's whole body relaxes against mine, and he thrusts his fingers deep into me. "Thank fuck," he breathes before plunging his tongue into my mouth in a bruising kiss. His fingers fuck me faster, twisting and thrusting as he devours my mouth. I moan softly, unable to help myself.

"Well, well. If it isn't the little blonde bitch with a mouth on her the size of Ben Nevis. Tate," Torin asks from the open doorway. "Care to share?"