Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) (2 page)

Chapter Two

Maze

Vague,
blurry images of my mom flashed across my mind. They were the only memories
really I had of her. I looked at pictures of her and I could see I’d inherited
some of her features. My hair and eye color. But I had no clear recollection of
what she looked like other than the photographs. What I recalled most was her
scent, like a combination of vanilla and something flowery, and the melody to
her favorite song.
Dust in the Wind
.
She’d play it over and over while she danced with me in her arms. Then I
remembered one day those arms just being gone and the sound of a child
screaming in despair. But most of all I remembered her incredible love for me.
Kinda the way I loved the woman who lay beside me.
Ivy
. My world.

After
my uncle and Dante had departed, I’d turned on the radio in the master bedroom
and left it on low. The music pulling at me was a song from my childhood that
brought me out of a deep satisfied sleep. That and Ivy’s stiffness, her ragged
breathing. My baby was hurting, and she tried to hide it from me. Damn. I knew
in my soul I shouldn’t have ever let her see me fight like that. Knew in my
heart the raw savagery would be too much for her, but she wanted to be there
and I couldn’t deny her anything. I’d denied us both so much already. In truth,
I needed her there as much as I think she needed to be there. It was over now.
All over. Uncle Tsang and Joe made sure I had no choice but to win. And even
though the choice wasn’t mine to stop fighting, it was the right thing to do.
The Triad wouldn’t tolerate what I’d done. They’d be out for my blood if I ever
tried to fight pro again. They still might despite the fact I’d retired.

I
knew Tsang and his bodyguards hustled us out of the arena in order to prevent
any immediate retaliation. Even now Tsang and Joe had taken steps to protect me
as well as the Tong, the legitimate business association Joe had built. I
wasn’t stupid. All of this I understood they’d do. It was the reason we had
come back to the condo. Tsang owned the entire building, and most of the businesses
on the block owed him. No one could touch us here. I was floored when he
offered me ownership of his gym outright. No strings attached. I could build
the place as I saw fit. He had the paperwork ready to go. Everything was
already filled out. They just needed my signature. I didn’t know Joe had a
small interest in the gym too until I saw the names on the document. His
signature written next to Uncle Tsang. They signed all of their interest over
to me. Both the deed and gym were placed in my name. I just had to stop
fighting. It was a difficult decision for me to step down. Even though I really
had little choice, I did it willingly. There was also Ivy to consider. My
heart. My soul. My reason for being. And right now she was hurting.

I
understood why and I knew how to relieve her fears.

I
turned her over. She couldn’t hide those tears from me. I told her what she
needed to hear, to finally get everything out in the open. Well, the parts that
mattered to her. The look on her face, when I told her I was giving up
fighting, was worth everything to me.

My
heart damned near wanted to explode when she told me she loved me. Shit. If I
didn’t know I already loved her I would have known at that moment. She was
mine. Always had been. Always would be. And God help any sonofabitch who tried
to take her away from me.

I
set out to prove to her just how very much I loved her. We’d already made love
once tonight. But that was hard and fast, too fast, but at the time it was what
we both needed. I understood she had to make sure I was still in this world
with her and I needed to be inside her, claim her, brand her like I’ve never
wanted to another. But this time right now was about us. Belonging together,
pledging ourselves to each other, truly making love because nothing stood
between us now. When she parted her thighs for me and I entered her slick
wetness, a sigh of utter pleasure escaped from me. I filled her, wanting to go
deeper inside of her. Wanting her to take all of me, as I wanted to become
everything to her. I took both of her soft hands into my calloused ones and
raised them until they rested beside her head. She threaded her fingers through
my own and we stared at each other. I continued to rock in and out of her.
Feeling every inch of her upon my skin and letting her into my heart.

She
raised her legs and wrapped them around my waist, drowning me. I wanted to make
this last for us both. I needed her to know I would always be there for her. I
would never leave her or hurt her. “I love you. I will never hurt you again.
You are my balance. My light and my heart.”

Then
I lowered my lips to hers because I couldn’t resist joining us there, too. My
mouth covered hers and her tongue greeted mine as it entered. I moaned into her
and we made love there, too. Blood rushed to my dick swelling it even more, and
my balls tightened. Not yet. No. I wanted to stay inside her forever.
Ivy. Mine.

I
pulled away slightly and rolled until she lay on top of me. I yearned to make
it last and so I needed to slow down. She sat up on me and lifted herself up
and down on my cock. I held her hips loosely letting her set the rhythm. But
then her sex muscles clapped around me and I instinctually surged up into her
in response.

A
strangled curse escaped my lips at her sudden tightness. I must have been crazy
to think this position would slow us down. Bullshit! As long as we were joined
there was no slowing down. Despite that cast on her foot, my girl rode me like
a rodeo bronco. My fingers dug into her hips and she increased her movements.
All the while I kept time with her. Her breathing came in quick pants, her flat
stomach muscles clenched, and I had to fight not to explode into her. She was
so beautiful as she tossed her head back and opened her mouth. Her sex
tightened around me just before her heat coated my dick. It was over.

“Fuck!”
I had no control over the surge rushing through my body. There was only one
outcome. My hips left the bed, taking her with me. My balls tightened, and my
essence released inside of her. Still joined, I sat up and helped her
straighten her legs over mine to shift the cast as she continued to bear down
on me and I continued to cum into her.

Finally,
depleted and with our legs entwined and wrapped in each other’s arms, we slept.
The sound of thunder outside had me tightening my arms around Ivy. I grabbed my
cell on the nightstand to check the time. It was going on ten a.m. We’d slept
in this morning, but we both needed the rest. When I turned back, Ivy was
wide-awake and smiling at me. Damn. I’d already glanced at the windows and saw
the day was gray, cloudy, and raining outside. But inside, right here, nothing
but pure sunshine reigned. I smiled back at her and moved to kiss her, but her
phone on the other side of the bed chimed.

She
pushed away from me. “Oh, oh,” she said.

“What
is it?”

“My
folks.”

I
took the phone then handed it to her.

“Hi,
Mom,” she said, relaxing back onto the pillow.

I
bent my arm at the elbow, placing it under my head as I lay on my side facing
her. I ran my fingers along her waist to her thigh, trying to get her to part
her legs. She swatted my hand away and grinned.

I
smiled, but decided I had to stop teasing her.

I
threw off the covers and headed to the bathroom and the shower. Giving her some
privacy. I knew she still hadn’t told her parents about her accident. And she
also hadn’t told them a thing about me. Would she tell them now or wait? Not
that they’d remember me from all those years ago. I kinda hoped they didn’t. I
wasn’t so sure I made such a good impression back then. And with my background,
and all the new artwork running all over my body, I wasn’t sure I’d make a
great impression now.

At
least I don’t have any nipple piercings. That was like waving a red flag to a
bull in the arena. But my ears were pierced. I just rarely wore anything in
them. I wonder how Ivy felt about piercings? I wouldn’t do anything to make her
uncomfortable. Nor have her parents dislike her choice of a boyfriend. In the
end though, it didn’t matter what her folks thought of me. As long as Ivy loved
me, that’s all I cared about. Still, I didn’t want them to hate me. I was a
part of their daughter’s life and I damn sure wasn’t going anywhere. Which
meant sooner or later they were bound to meet me, and for Ivy, I’d do
everything to make sure I didn’t cause a problem between her and her folks. If
that meant wearing long sleeves to hide my ink, hide it I would.

After
brushing my teeth and taking care of business, I turned on the shower and got
in. I’d left the bathroom door ajar and lingered a little, hoping Ivy would
come join me. But when she didn’t, I started to worry a little. Maybe the call
with her folks didn’t go so well.

I’d
just finished drying off when the door pushed all the way open and she stepped
in wearing my t-shirt.

She
was so goddamned beautiful. All warm brown skin over a sleek toned body. And
she was all mine.

I
licked my lips wanting to taste her. But when my gaze reached her mouth I saw
the tremble. I took the two steps that separated us and got her attention.
There were tears in her eyes.

“Babe,
what is it? Is something wrong?”

She
blinked. “I told my parents about my injury and they were really supportive,
but also a little disappointed I hadn’t called them right away. They understood
I just needed a little time, though.”

I
was confused. There had to be more to warrant her tears. “Okay.”

She
lowered her head and then raised it to look at me again. A sheen of tears still
in her eyes. “It’s…my mom, and Shelly’s parents. They’re all coming to New York
tomorrow.”

I
nodded still not understanding why this should upset her. She didn’t have to
explain to me who Shelly was. I knew Shelly. I was there the night she died.
Even though we really didn’t keep in touch during the almost five years I’d
been in Japan. My doing I think. I didn’t encourage her to contact me. But I
texted her every year on the day of Shelly’s death to let her know I still
thought of her and wanted to make sure she was okay. I knew what Shelly meant
to her.

Ivy
seemed hesitant, maybe because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. She wanted
to meet with her people alone. Was she ashamed of me or felt she had to hide me
from her family? My heart sorta missed a beat at the thought. But I’d do
anything for her. If she wanted to keep us a secret, then shit, for now I would
be.

Steeling
myself for it, I wrapped my arm around her so she wouldn’t see the hurt in my
eyes. “That’s great. Do you…do you want to spend time with them alone? Want me
to stay behind?”

Please say no.

She
shook her head and her eyes opened wide at my question. “Why would I want to do
that? I told my mom we’re seeing each other again. She remembered you.”

The
pain gripping my chest suddenly disappeared but I couldn’t smile. Something
still wasn’t right here. “Then what’s making you so sad?”

“Maze…Shelly’s
mom. Bev, she’s been diagnosed with cancer. They’re coming here to see a
specialist before deciding on the type of surgery she should have.”

“Oh,
babe. I’m so sorry.” I wrapped my arms around her tighter while she cried into
my chest. I knew she wasn’t just crying for Shelly’s mom as much as for her
daughter, Ivy’s best friend, who’d died so long ago.

I
kissed her eyelids then her mouth, hugging her while I did. I just wanted to
comfort her, so I gave her what she needed. My love, my arms, my support. They
were all hers.

She
pulled back. “I’m such a mess. I’d like to use the bathroom and take a shower.
I need to get into some clean clothes, too.”

“Okay.”
I stepped back, but put my hands on her arms and nuzzled her neck for a minute.
“You go ahead and jump in the shower. How about I run down the street and grab
a couple of bagels for us? After we eat, we’ll head to your place for you to
change. Then I need to run to the hospital. Joe’s been moved out of ICU but I
want to check on him. You can come with me if you like. Or I’ll come back when
I’m done and we can decide what to do for the rest of the day. Whatever you
want.” Yeah. As long as we did it together.