Page 41

“I'm serious, I won't put up with it.”

Ivy shook her head again, letting her eyes fall to her waist. “I won't.”

Nodding towards the bathroom, I stood to let her up. Her small frame slipped past me, so delicate and completely breakable. Her feet hit the floor so lightly it was as if she was floating, the weight of her body was barely noticeable against the wood.

Following her closely, I wanted to make sure she did only as I said. I still didn't know if she had planned anything while I was gone. Had she contemplated a way out, a means to escape?

My feet were practically on hers as she walked. I could feel the small amount of heat off her body as my chest crept closer to her back. Ivy's head rolled over her shoulder, looking up at me. “You don't need to watch me, I'm not going to do anything.”

“I wish I could believe you, but I can't just yet.”

“Are you expecting me to shower with you in there?”

“No.” A look of relief washed over her body, her shoulders slumping slightly. But that quickly disappeared as I told her what I would be doing. “I'm going to shower you.”

“What?”Her tone was laced in disapproval and anger. “You're not doing that.”

“I am.”

“What the fuck? Why?” Stopping short, Ivy spun on her heel to meet me head on. Her thin arms flew to her hips, fingers coiling deep into the bone.

Fuck this woman had balls. And it was making me hard.

“I've already seen you naked, if you forgot that part.” Holding up a single finger, I pointed towards the window she had tried to blow out with the chair. “And with your little explosions, I'm not taking any chances.”

“I told you I won't do anything.”

“And I told you, I don't trust you.” Snapping my chin in the air towards the bathroom, I said, “Go.”

Folding her arms into her chest, Ivy veered her stare. “No.”

“Fine, then don't shower.” Quickly lunging in, I grabbed her around the waist and threw her over my shoulder. “I'll just put you back where you were.”

“No, no. Okay, fine, we'll do this your way. Please, I really need a shower, I can still feel that creep on my skin and I don't want him there anymore.” Her fingers bunched into my shirt, tugging hard.

Lowering her back down, I held her for a moment to make sure she had her footing. If that panic attack she claimed she had was real, I wanted to make sure she didn't fall. The last thing I wanted was for her to get hurt in any way.

“Good. And just so you understand me . . .” Pressing closer, I let my size hover over her.She thinks I'm not a bad man, she has no idea how wrong she truly is.“Let's get one thing straight. I'm running this, I call the shots.”

Ivy's lips turned down, her face pulling taut. “Yeah, I kinda figured that out, thanks.”

Stepping into the bathroom, I reached over her shoulder and flicked the light on. “Sit,” I said, pointing to the toilet. Keeping her in view from the corner of my eye, I leaned in and turned on the water.

“This is ridiculous, you know. I'm really not going to do anything. What if I just get in and close the curtain? You could come in after and just monitor me.”

“Ivy, there are no options here. I know what you did with that pipe, I'm not taking any chances. You're not weak, and what you did to Tony was gutsy. I can't risk it.”

Her face brightened for a second like I had just given her a compliment about how she looked. She did look amazing still, even with the swollen jaw and dirt covering her skin.

“Fine, you win.” Holding up her arms, her palms were flat in the air.

“I always win,” I said with a smirk.

Tapping her fingers against her thigh, she nervously looked all around the room. I wasn't sure if she was doing that because she was worried about the shower or if it was to take in what the room had to offer.

But there wasn't anything in here for her to just reach out and grab. The only thing she'd ever be able to get might be a pipe off the sink . . .

I'll keep my eyes on them, too. She can swing one hell of a pipe.