Page 48 of Poison Ivy
She gapes at me as the door to her bedroom bursts open, and I grin at the newcomer. “Hey, Ramsey. Sorry we woke you.”
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 bythe 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.”
