Page 28 of Recovering Ivy (Red Team #4)

Ivy

I was elbow deep in the refrigerator when the door to the kitchenette opened. The first thing that happened was goose bumps had raised on my arms, and it had nothing to do with the cool air from the fridge. The second was my body caught fire at the smell of his cologne.

Damn, my man smelled good.

My man .

I’d never thought of any guy as mine before; I liked it.

“What are you doing?” Zane asked.

“Cleaning out the science experiments,” I told him. “For as healthy as you all are, you’re all slobs. I don’t think anyone is interested in eating moldy cantaloupe.”

“It’s not your job to clean up after the guys. I have a cleaning crew,” he informed me.

“Well, they suck at throwing away old food. Besides, I’m bored, and I don’t mind pitching in.”

His hand went to my lower back before he caressed my ass. The food was forgotten, and I stood to face him.

“Sorry we’re here on a Saturday.” He closed the refrigerator and pushed my back against it, caging me in. “I’ll only be a few hours, then we’ll get out of here and I promise to make it up to you.”

This morning when he told me we had to come to the office I didn’t bother protesting.

After seeing my mother yesterday, I didn’t want to take the chance of another run in, especially after what she said about Forester wanting me.

We still hadn’t fully discussed what she’d said, and I didn’t want to.

I wanted to pretend Sarah hadn’t swooped in and shattered my heart again.

“I understand. You have to work,” I told him.

“I’d rather be home, alone with you.” His mouth lowered to mine and, just like every time he touched me, it hit me like a tornado.

My heart thundered, and my mind was lost in the whirlwind of emotion.

I thought I’d been doing alright strolling through life, but after the first time Zane kissed me, I realized I spent my life numb and unfeeling.

“I love your mouth. You taste like heaven,” he whispered against my lips.

“You’re dangerous, Ivy. You make me want to forget the world and get lost in you. ”

My pounding heart skipped a few beats before it resumed the fast rhythm. I wanted Zane to see me, the real me, not the trash my mother had convinced me I was.

“I feel the same way. I feel alive when you’re near. For the first time in my life I feel something other than defeat. I’m scared.”

“What scares you?” he asked, not taking his hands from my hair where he’d tangled his fingers through the strands.

“You. Us. Disappointing you. You figuring out I’m not worth it and leaving me. Falling in love with you.”

“I need you to open your eyes and look at me.” I hadn’t realized I closed them, and now I was afraid to open them.

When I did, Zane’s face was free of the social mask he normally wore.

“Together, we’ll figure this out.” He pulled his right hand out of my hair and grabbed my hands.

Bringing them to his chest, he held our intertwined fingers over his heart.

“Honest to God, I’ve never felt anything close to what I feel when I’m with you.

When I touch you, Ivy, everything makes sense.

When I touch my lips to yours the demons quiet, and when I slide inside of you…

Jesus… my heart finally beats. I’m fucking crazy about you.

Relax, and let’s enjoy where we're going. Just let it happen.” His hand tightened and he dropped his forehead to mine.

“Fall in love with me, baby. I’ll catch you. ”

“It’s a long fall, Zane. I’m scared I’ll never recover if you’re not waiting for me,” I admitted.

“I’m waiting. Take a chance. Go big or go home, sweetheart. We can do this.”

This was it, I had to jump. Take a chance and believe Zane would be there.

“My ride or die, huh?”

“Ride or die, sweets. I’ve got you.”

“I’m ready,” I whispered and came up on my tiptoes so I could reach his mouth. “Please catch me.”

He didn’t answer verbally. Instead, he took my mouth in one of his sin-soaked kisses that made my knees weak. It was a good thing he was holding me up, because I was ready to melt into a puddle of lust on the floor in the kitchenette.

A throat was cleared and Zane broke the kiss and took a breath.

“What?”

“Sorry to interrupt, but Olivia and Violet are here to see Ivy,” Garrett said from the doorway.

Now it was my turn to ask, “What?”

“Fuck me,” Zane muttered. “I can tell them to leave if you don’t want to meet them.”

“Why are they here?” I asked .

“Because they’re nosey…” Zane let the statement hang before he continued.

“Because I’m sure Leo and Jaxon called their women and told them about you and they’re curious.

I wish I could warn you away from them, but the truth is they’re good women.

Except Loose Lips, she still has some shit to make up for, namely calling me cute. ”

“I said your dimples were cute, asswipe,” a woman said.

“Nice.” Zane chuckled before he looked over his shoulder. “Glad to see you’re finally coming out of your shell, Violet.”

“Well, I figure if you get to have a nickname for me, I should have one for you. Asswipe seems fitting. Though I will admit I had plenty of more colorful ones for you when we first met.”

Zane laughed and turned, tucking me into his side.

“Ivy, this is Violet, Jaxon’s woman.” He pointed toward a beautiful brunette woman and then to a pregnant blonde and continued. “That is Olivia, Leo’s wife.”

My God, could these two be any more stunning?

I was plain and average looking on my best day but next to these women I looked like a gutter rat, especially in my ripped-up jeans and plain black fitted tee.

They were both in stylish outfits, complete with accessories and hair done nicely.

If I’d known there was going to be a meet and greet I would’ve at least tried to look halfway decent.

“Sorry to barge in on you. We were at some hoity-toity luncheon thing for my father and thought we’d stop by and see if you wanted to go to the mall with us,” the blonde one, Olivia, asked.

I didn’t know who her father was, but if they had to dress to the nines to go to lunch with him she had to come from money. I hated to sound like a reverse snob, but I had nothing in common with rich people and tended to get tongue-tied and sound like an idiot.

“Jesus, that sounded pretentious. I hate having to get dressed up and put on the whole dog and pony show. I promise we both have a change of clothes in the car. I am in desperate need of greasy mall food and an extra-large Coke.” Olivia smiled.

“Water. Tesorino, you’re not supposed to drink soda,” Leo said, entering the conversation.

“The doctor said I could still have one a day, Mr. Bossy. I plan on having one. Besides, after lunch with the DC crowd I deserve an alcoholic drink, but I’ll settle for a soda,” she said, placing her hand on her hip.

“A small,” he countered.

“A medium.”

“Fine. Come here and give me a kiss. I gotta roll.”

She walked over to Leo and gave him a soft lip touch. “I love you. Be safe.”

“Always, Tesorino. ” Then he looked at Zane. “I gotta lead. I’ll call you from the road.”

“Roger that,” Zane said.

“Anyway.” Violet rolled her eyes and said, “So the mall? You up for shopping?”

“Negative,” Zane answered for me.

“Zane! Don’t be rude.”

“Baby, you’re not going to the mall.”

I knew I couldn’t go to the mall with Sarah lurking around. I would die a thousand deaths if she found me and had one of her episodes in front of Olivia and Violet, but I didn’t like being bossed around.

“Says who?” I asked.

“Says me. You can go to the mall and shop ‘til your heart’s content after the douchebag and his sidekick are behind bars. Until then? It’s a no-go.”

“What if Garrett or Linc goes with us?” I was grasping at straws but I wasn’t ready to concede without a fight.

“Garrett has work to do and Linc doesn’t know what the inside of the mall looks like.”

“What if…”

“No,” he cut me off.

“Stop talking over me. You don’t even know what I was going to say. You’re being unreasonable.”

“About your safety and mental wellbeing - goddamn right I am. Just no, Ivy. I’d prefer not to spend a few hours in lockup on a Saturday afternoon while my team gets bail money together. And that is exactly what would happen if that bitch comes around you again.”

“Ahh, I knew under all that gruff there was a sweetheart hiding,” Violet said. “I’ve changed my mind. Your new nickname isn’t asswipe - it’s sweetcakes.”

“Jaxon!” Zane billowed.

“Yo.” Jaxon walked into the kitchenette, grabbed Violet around the waist, and kissed the top of her head.

“Get your woman out of here. And if she ever calls me sweetcakes again, I’m shooting someone. Probably you because you can’t control your woman. Christ, I knew it was a bad idea when my men started collecting women.”

“Stop being an ass.” I smacked him on his stomach. “And don’t threaten to shoot people. It’s not nice and makes you sound like a dick.”

“Baby, I am a dick,” he told me.

He kind of was. Especially now, telling Jaxon he couldn’t control his woman.

“Did you call Zane sweetcakes?” Jaxon asked, laughing.

“Sure did.” Violet smiled .

“Jesus, woman, you’re loopy.” Jaxon may have been teasing Violet, but the look of affection could not be missed. “Colin wanted me to tell you he won’t be by for dinner tonight; he had to go back to DC.”

“Well, damn. I invited the girl I’d met at the gym over to meet him,” Violet pouted. “She would be perfect for him.”

“Baby, I think Colin has more on his plate than he can handle. Let’s chill on the matchmaking,” Jaxon told her.

“Fine. But if he doesn’t spill his guts soon about this mystery woman that has him turned inside out or quit refusing dates, I’m gonna parade strippers in front of him until he breaks.”

“Fuck,” Zane huffed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing.” Then he leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I’ll tell you later.

” Then addressing the people in the room again, he said, “Ivy cannot go in public without a guard. Everyone has shit to do. The sooner that shit is done, the sooner she’ll be free to go out alone.

So, I’m not pulling one of my men off the case.

But if you want, I’ll drop her at our house and the two of you can meet her there. ”

“ Our house ?” Violet asked before she smiled. “Nice.”

“Don’t start, Loose Lips,” Zane said.

“I’ve never been to Zane’s penthouse,” Olivia commented. “I wanna see it.”

“Jesus. Now people are gonna think they can just come by for a stop and chat,” he grouched.

I suddenly realized I had yet to address either of the women directly.

“Hi, I’m Ivy. It’s nice to meet you both,” I said. “I’d love some company if you wouldn’t mind putting your mall plans on hold. ”

“Sweet. We’ll grab takeout and meet you there,” Olivia said. “We need your address.”

“I know where they live,” Violet happily supplied.

“Christ,” Zane muttered.

“You use the Lord’s name in vain a lot,” I complained.

“And…” he prompted.

“And nothing. Merely an observation.” I smiled.

“This is so awesome.” Violet turned to Jaxon. “See you at home later?”

“Absolutely.” He winked and kissed her forehead.

It hit me as I was standing in the small space, something I’d never experienced firsthand before.

Adoration and respect. Seeing the way Leo had been with Olivia, loving and protective.

Jaxon was tender with Violet. Even Zane, for all of his wicked sharp edges, was sweet to me and in his own way had shown me over and over how much he cared, a stark contrast to the dealers and addicts my mother had brought around.

Their idea of affection was another hit of dope.