Page 4 of Melt For Us, Daddy (Big Daddy Energy #4)

Ivy

A s it did every morning, regardless of the day, the soft beeping of her alarm woke Ivy.

While Cordelia was a relatively light sleeper, she’d gotten used to the soft chirping of Ivy’s phone pretty quickly, and most days she slept through it.

Occasionally, she’d wake along with Ivy, and if it was a weekend morning Cordelia would keep her pinned to the bed, not letting her up to start her morning routine until she’d come at least three times.

Those were some of the best mornings, even if it did put Ivy way behind on her routine.

Today, however, Cordelia slept through. Which was probably a good thing given how heavy Ivy’s stomach still felt after the events of the night before.

Cordelia was right. They needed to talk, and the sooner the better. But how could she talk about it when just thinking about all those secrets made her want to throw up?

Routine. She needed her routine. Crawling over Cordelia’s still-sleeping form, Ivy slipped from the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. Pee, wash her hands, brush her teeth, wash her face. In that order, always.

As she’d hoped, each step helped to settle her a little bit more.

So that by the time she padded her way into the kitchen to start Cordelia’s coffee, she was feeling a bit steadier.

A little hungry even, which was a good sign.

With the coffee brewing, she pulled out everything she’d need for pancakes.

The ones with chocolate chips, because Cordelia had a sweet tooth, though she’d never admit it to anyone else.

Humming softly to herself, Ivy went through the steps one by one until she had the first pancake bubbling on the electric griddle Cordelia had bought for her on a whim when they’d been out shopping one day.

“Mmm. Morning, baby.” Soft, familiar arms slid around Ivy’s waist, and she instinctively leaned back into her woman’s embrace. “Something smells good.”

“Chocolate chip pancakes. Or they will be once I add the chips. But not this one because?—”

“The first pancake never turns out right,” Cordelia finished for her with a low laugh. “But I wasn’t talking about pancakes.”

Taking the bowl from Ivy, Cordelia set it aside before spinning her around and lifting her up onto the counter in a move that stole Ivy’s breath.

She’d always been taller and stronger than Ivy, but Beckett and Ice had somehow convinced her to start working out with them and lately her woman had moves .

“Dee!” she squealed in half-protest. “Let me down! I need to make breakfast.”

“What you need to do, is whatever I say. Isn’t that right, blossom?”

Why should I?

The question flitted through Ivy’s mind, shocking her. Not once in all her years as a submissive had she ever questioned why she should obey someone. It was such a part of her, right down to her very soul, that even when she was being a brat there was no question that she would eventually obey.

She tried to put it aside. Tried to ignore the heaviness that settled back in her stomach with that one unfamiliar question.

But when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Cordelia in that alleyway, telling everyone she had a husband that Ivy knew nothing about.

Cordelia going toe to toe with Holden, telling him they wouldn’t be going to the safe house Ivy knew nothing about.

What else didn’t she know?

Stop it. This is Cordelia. The woman you love, and she needs you right now.

Right. If Cordelia needed her, then it was her job to be there for her. To submit, to let herself be used. It was what she craved, what she lived for.

Doing her best to put everything else aside, she focused on the feel of Cordelia’s soft hands on her calf, traveling up her leg with gentle, sure strokes.

But when those same fingers brushed against the inside of her thigh, the thought of letting Cordelia touch her there made her stomach give a single, nauseating roll.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Tears pooled behind her eyes, slipped down her cheeks as she dragged in a shuddering breath.

Wrong, wrong, this is all wrong.

“Dee. Stop.”

Her woman’s laughter vibrated against the inside of her thigh, a low chuckle that normally sent shivers up Ivy’s spine.

Not this time.

“Dee. I said stop .”

“Babygirl, I’m just getting started.”

Soft, warm lips pressed against her skin, closer and closer to where she should have been quivering with need. Anger, fear, and a dozen other emotions she couldn’t name slammed into her with every kiss.

“Red! Fucking red , Cordelia!”

Pushing slowly to her feet, Cordelia took a step back, her hands up to show she wasn’t touching her anymore and her beautiful green eyes full of worry.

“Okay, baby. I stopped. I’m sorry I didn’t listen before.

” Her voice was soft, soothing, and it only pissed Ivy off even more.

She didn’t want to be soothed, not when she had so many reasons to be angry.

“Ivy. Baby. What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

She should. She knew she should talk to her. Lay out all her anger, her worries, her fears.

But the words wouldn’t come. They tangled in her chest, refusing to budge. Everything just felt so big , like if she gave voice to what was inside her it might break her in ways that could never be repaired.

Break them in ways they could never put back together.

“Nothing. I need to finish breakfast.”

Eyes narrowing, Cordelia took a step forward. “You don’t safeword for nothing , Ivy Mae. Turn the griddle off, then go sit your butt on the sofa so we can talk about what just happened. Breakfast can wait.”

The hint of anger in Cordelia’s tone threatened to break her. She really had the nerve to be pissed off when she was the one who’d lied? The one who’d kept secrets? The one who’d refused to listen?

Sliding from the counter, Ivy ignored the order and scooped the slightly burned pancake from the griddle and tossed it in the trash can.

Glad I didn’t waste any chocolate chips on that one .

“Ivy Mae. Turn that griddle off right now.”

“Your coffee should be ready. I haven’t had a chance to make it for you, yet.

” Even as she said the words, her stomach churned.

None of this was right. But she couldn’t bring herself to make that damn coffee with exactly the amount of milk and sugar Cordelia liked knowing the woman she loved had lied to her.

“Ivy. Baby.” The firmness left Cordelia’s voice, turning it soft and pleading, tearing at Ivy’s chest. “We need to talk about whatever this is. Please turn the griddle off.”

“Fine!” Wrenching the knob to the left, she turned it off and whirled on Cordelia, her mind and heart both racing. “I’m going out.”

“Like hell you are, little girl.” Snagging Ivy’s arm, Cordelia pulled her close, her eyes blazing a bright green that normally would have made Ivy tremble with the delicious fear of a submissive who knows she’s in big trouble.

But now, it only added to the fury bubbling in her veins.

“You are staying right here and we are going to talk. That is non-negotiable. What is up for negotiation is whether that discussion happens with you over my knee or not. Your choice, blossom.”

Part of her wanted the spanking. Maybe a good punishment would cleanse all big, messy emotions enough for her to think clearly.

But the thought of letting Cordelia touch her, forget punishing her just then made her stomach roll.

“No.”

Mouth hanging open, Cordelia just stared at her. “No?”

Feeling bolder now, Ivy wrenched her arm from Cordelia’s grasp. “No, we aren’t going to talk right now. And no, you sure as hell aren’t going to spank me. I am going out, and I’ll see you at the club tonight for our shift.”

“Ivy!”

Without even bothering to change her clothes, Ivy bolted for the door, grabbing her purse and keys on the way. And for the first time in over two years, she left home without her collar around her neck.

Cordelia

What the fuck just happened?

Still reeling from shock, Cordelia stared at the door, the one Ivy had just slammed behind her.

She’d known last night something was off. But she’d ignored her gut, telling herself they were both just tired. That a good night’s sleep would fix everything.

If she’d ever been more wrong in her life, she couldn’t remember.

Turning on her heel, she headed for the bedroom and snatched her phone off the nightstand, scrolling frantically through her contacts.

“Cordelia.” Holden answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”

“Ivy left. We had a… fuck, I don’t even know what it was. But she’s pissed and I have no idea where she’s going. Is your man following her?”

“Shit. No. His orders are to stay on you if you two split up. Do you know where she went?”

“If I did do you think I’d be calling you?”

“Fair enough. Hang on.” He paused and his voice was muffled when he spoke again. “What’s that, baby?”

In the background, she heard Frankie’s voice but not the words and tried to reign in her impatience at being made to wait while her babygirl was out doing god knew what god knew where.

“All right,” Holden said, speaking into the phone again. “Ivy called the girls. They’re all headed to Ice and Silver’s. I’ll send someone to watch over them.”

“Not necessary. I’m on my way. Our guy can follow me.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why the fuck not?”

There was another short pause before he continued. “If it was me or Beckett or any of the other guys wanting to crash a girl talk session after a fight, what would you do?”

He had a point. She didn’t want him to have a point, hated him a little for making it, but he had a fucking point. “I’d kick your ass.”

“Damn right you would. And you’d be totally justified. So let her have this, let her blow off some steam, and when she’s ready to talk she’ll let you know. In the meantime, you’re going to meet me at this address so we can figure out what to do with our guest.”

Right. Jacob. They were supposed to meet him today, try and get more information out of him. Grabbing a pen and the pad of paper Ivy always kept on the table, she jotted down the address. “I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

“Sounds good.”

It wasn’t where she wanted to be. She wanted to be wherever her babygirl was, fixing this goddamn mess.

But Holden was right. Ivy needed her girl time. They’d talk her down, convince her she needed to actually talk her shit out with her Domme, and send her home.

Until then, she had promises to keep. And a scared boy with big gray eyes to take care of.