25. Ivy

25

IVY

"Fuck, Ramsey!" I squeak as he takes in the scene in front of him with a sleepy-eyed gaze.

"Heard screaming. Guess you're fine," he says. "Are you fine? Is this consensual?"

"What's going on?" Josh asks, coming up behind Ramsey with cute bedhead and a towel around his hips. "Oh, fuck. Hello there. Guess Nox proved to be a good night then."

"Does everyone mind?" Tate interjects, placing his hand over my tits to cover them up. "We're right in the middle of something."

"Sounds like you were right at the end," Josh snickers and elbows Ramsey. "Told you not to come barging in here. It's like you've never heard a female orgasm before."

Ramsey grimaces. "I needed to make sure she was okay."

"And she is," Josh says and takes him gently by the elbow and leads him. "Sorry for the interruption. Carry on. Sounded like it was getting good!"

He shuts the door behind them, and I put my hands over my face as Tate drops his hands. "God, that was embarrassing," I mumble.

Tate takes my wrists and pulls my hands away from my face. "You don't want to be seen with me?"

"Well, it raises questions I don't have the answers to," I point out. "Why are you suddenly in my bed when I've never mentioned you before?"

"It's not unheard of," he says with a soft laugh.

"I know, but you don't get it. Ramsey knows me inside and out." I give Tate a pointed stare.

It takes him a second, and he nods. "Ah, okay. Well, just tell him that we are fated to be together, and now we are."

"Fated?" I croak louder than my voice was ready for.

Tate's eyes soften as he looks up at me. "Yes, fated."

I stare at him in shock. "But… how? We barely know each other. And what about Poison?"

He shakes his head. "Poison is still you. The guys and Poison is a game. You play it as much as we do. This, right now, is real. I've given you my power, my name. We're bonded now, Ivy."

My mind reels as I try to process his words. Fated? Bonded? It's too much.

"I need a minute," I mutter, climbing off him and wrapping myself in a blanket .

Tate sits up, watching me with concern. "Talk to me, Ivy. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking this is insane. We can't be fated or bonded or whatever. You don't even know me - the real me."

"I know enough," he states. "I know you're brave and clever. I know you have secrets and depths I want to explore. I know I've never felt this way about anyone before."

His words make my heart flutter, but I push the feeling aside. "And what about Torin and Bram? What happens when they find out?"

Tate's jaw clenches. "I'll handle them when the time is right." his eyes darken as he reaches for me. "Come here," he says softly.

I hesitate, still reeling from everything that's happened. Fated? Bonded? It's too much to process.

"Ivy," he murmurs. "I know this is a lot. But I meant what I said - I'll protect you. From Torin, from Bram, from Vex, from anyone who tries to hurt you."

"How?" I ask. "You can't be with me every second of every day."

"No, and that's why I gave you my power. You go into your jobs as Poison, and I know you are more than capable. You kick arse. But now, knowing who you really are, knowing you are mine, I'm worried."

"Worried about what?"

"You getting into danger, or worse."

"It's my job, and I can handle it," I snap, getting fired up, but only because I'm scared of the depth in his tone, in his words. How did we go from him fucking me and leaving me on the side of the road to this in the space of a night? How? My brain is struggling to keep up.

Tate's eyes flash with frustration. "I know you can handle yourself. But you don't have to do it alone anymore. That's all I'm saying."

"I've always been alone," I say quietly. "It's safer that way."

He reaches out and cups my face gently. "Not anymore. I'm here now, Ivy. I'm not going anywhere."

I search his eyes, looking for any hint of deception. But all I see is sincerity and something else. Something that makes my heart race.

"Why?" I whisper. "Why me? Why now?"

Tate sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I just know that from the moment I figured out who you really were, everything changed. It's like a switch flipped inside me. Suddenly, nothing else mattered but keeping you safe."

"But what about Poison? What about the games with Torin and Bram?"

His jaw clenches. "That was before. This is now. You're mine, Ivy. Do you want to be theirs as well? Do you want them to know you as Ivy?"

His sincere question catches me off guard. I hadn't even thought that far ahead. "I don't know. They shouldn't know me. You shouldn't know me. The creatures I work for… they won't take this well."

"I don't really give a fuck about The Syndicate," he says. "I'm not interfering with your work as Poison, so they can fuck off if they think they have a say in this."

"That's not how they work," I say, chewing my lip.

"I didn't ask about them, Ivy. I asked about Torin and Bram."

"Bram hates me, and Torin just wants a fuck and run with some humiliation thrown in for good measure."

"That's how the cards have fallen now, Ivy, but that can change. Quickly."

"They want Poison," I argue, still not wanting to think about the other two when I have Tate here giving me the world. Or so it seems. My blood runs cold. What if this is another game? Am I being stupid if I believe him now, or am I being stupid if I don't? I have never been in a real relationship before. I have no idea what waters these are that I'm floating about in recklessly. "They can't have Poison."

"Then let them decide if they want Ivy, after you make your mind up if you even want them in your life."

"That's one big rejection you're setting me up for," I grouse.

He chuckles. "Says the girl who isn't even sure she wants to want them in the first place."

"You know what I mean!"

"I do, but life is about risks, princess. You don't get what you want if you don't go after it. "

Well, he has a point, I suppose. But this is all moot. Torin and Bram are not going to accept me as Ivy, and I can't expect them to. Tate wraps his arms around me and settles me against him as we lie down.

I lay my head on Tate's chest, my mind still reeling from everything that's happened. His arms are strong and warm around me, but I can't shake the feeling that this is all moving too fast.

"Tate," I murmur. "I need you to be honest with me."

"Always," he says, running his fingers through my hair.

"Is this real? Or is it just another game?"

"Ivy, look at me."

I lift my head to meet his intense gaze.

"This is real," he says firmly. "I've never been more serious about anything in my life. I know it seems fast, but sometimes when you know, you just know."

I search his eyes, looking for any hint of deception. But all I see is sincerity. So, I take the leap of faith and hope that it doesn't blow back on me and crush me.

"Okay. I believe you."