Page 2 of Ivy's Venom

I turn and face a girl I grew up with and at one time called my best friend. Molly is sweet and innocent, but a complete loser now. I don’t know what happened to her in the few years I’ve been gone, but now she’s one of the loners that eats their lunch in the bathrooms.

I don’t answer her and instead watch as she huffs her way to me. She’s always been asthmatic and now that she’s added braces to the mix, she’s a bonafide weirdo.

“When did you get back?” She asks when she finally catches up to me.

“A few nights ago.” I unlock my M5 and throw my bag into the backseat.

“We should totally catch up.” She grins wide and I cringe as the sun reflects off all the metal in her fucking mouth.

“Listen Molly,” I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re just not my type.”

“What?” She looks horrified and her face turns the colour of a beetroot. “Not like that.”

“Like what? You aren’t down to eat my pussy?”

“Ivy!” She shrieks and begins to back away. “I meant like the old days, like friends.” She’s stumbling over her words.

“I’m not looking for any friends.” I shrug. “How’s your brother?”

“What?” Her eyes widen and I become increasingly annoyed at her stupidity.

“Nevermind.” I roll my eyes and get into my car. “Get lost, Molly.”

I close the car door on her stunned facial expression and flip down the visor, I have a date. I check my makeup and see my bright blue-green eyes looking back at me, their depths reflecting my inner turmoil. No matter how tough the exterior is, your eyes are the windows to your soul.

And that’s about as deep as I’ll get on that shit. I open the center console and pull out the already rolled joint waiting there. Time to drive and forget where the fuck I am.

I roll into the hotel lot and throw my keys to the valet. This better be worth the drive here, Toronto is a forty-five minute trek, and if this man’s dick is subpar, I’m going to snap. I walk into the lobby and head straight for the elevator, I already know his room number.

He has two hours to make me come and then I need to head back, because regardless of what I said to Carmelo, I will be racing tonight.

The elevator doors slide open and I see the bellhop standing inside. He has his hat pulled down low on his face but he fucking fills out the uniform perfectly. His face is stuck in his phone, so he doesn’t pay attention as I get in.

“Eleven please.”

I keep my eyes on the door and I can see his head snap up in my peripheral. He reaches his finger out and presses a floor, the whole time his eyes are on my face. I fucking hope he hit the right one.

“Ivy Greene.” His voice is deep and slightly familiar.

I turn and look into a set of light brown eyes, framed by thick black lashes, and skin the colour of terra-cotta, warm and golden. His lips are turned down into a frown but they are the sexiest set of lips I have ever seen, moist and full.

“You don’t remember me.” His tongue comes out to run along the plump bottom lip.

“I don’t.” I admit.

I can’t control this immense attraction I’m feeling, like he’s pulling me in, and I can’t stop myself from falling.

“Why would you?” His voice becomes mean and snarky. “Why would you remember the family of the girl you killed?”

Everything stops in that moment. My lungs stall, my heart falters, and my mouth drops. What the fuck did he just say?

“But Mommy and Daddy were there to make sure it was swept away.” He shoots his hand out and presses the stop button. “I wanted to kill you, too.”

He steps towards me and I wish I could get my body to work so I could move or scream but I’m stuck, just staring at him with my mouth agape.

It finally hits me exactly who this guy is and now I am the one fearing for my life, because if the tables were turned, I would’ve already killed him.

“Neil.” My voice is hoarse and dry.