Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux Page 5

  “So, you’re on the new Narc-TACT squad,” Ivy said changing the subject. She had evidently scared him. He was beginning to turn red.

  “Yeah. I’m a Special Ops lieutenant. Why? Are you interesting in going out for the MPD? If so, let me know so that I can fill all vacancies to my department right now.” He yawned and looked at his watch. The night was getting away from him. He needed to make a move on this girl or get into some of the other action in the den.

  Ivy laughed aloud for the first time since she had met him. Maybe she was being a little too uptight. “I’m sorry,” she said trying to relax. “I wasn’t trying to be mean before. Can we start over?” Taking his hand, she put it back on her knee.

  Nicola smiled. “That’s more like it,” he said playfully. Moving his hand away, he tried to regain his composure and at the same time mellow out on trying to push up on her. Besides, slow and steady could win the race.

  “Back in the day, I graduated from Memphis State before it was University of Memphis. I majored in marketing.” He would play on her turf a little and impress her with something that she didn’t know. “Then, I went back and got my MBA a few years later.

  “Really.” Ivy’s face lit up. “Why didn’t you pursue it?”

  “Well, I was torn at first. I had debated going back into the family business. But I loved law enforcement more. So, I pursued it.” He could see that she was impressed. That was all that he needed. She is an intellectual type, attracted to brain of a man. Okay. Cool, he thought to himself. Now, he knew her angle. It was smooth sailing the rest of the way.

  “It’s best to go for your passion when trying to identify a career. You can do that kind of work for free.” She was unknowingly eating out of the palm of his hand.

  Nicola looked down at his watch. “Yeah, I agree…small talk is always hard for me. So you’ll have to excuse me if I’m not the best at it.”

  “No, I understand. I’m not really used to it either.”

  “Obviously. You’re nearly married.”

  “No,” Ivy said shaking her head. “I’m not.” Nicola had hit a nerve, and it hurt.

  “But Trina said that you were engaged.” Nicola knew perfectly well that she and her fiancé had broken up, but he just wanted to hear her confess it with her own lips before he moved any further.

  “I was engaged. Things just didn’t turn out the way I planned. I don’t even have a boyfriend anymore.” Ivy looked down at her fingers. Word traveled fast in Memphis.

  Bingo, Nicola thought to himself as he tried to repress a small grin. “You two must have had a big fight to just break up after eight years.” He would encourage her as much as possible to talk about it. Open up. Feel the need to be consoled. The usual drill.

  “You could say that.” She slumped down in the seat for a moment. Her mood instantly changed.

  Seeing her sudden melancholy, Nicola decided that he needed to make a move before it got too out of control. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you down. We can change the subject, okay.” He sat at the end of his seat. “What’s your favorite subject in school?”

  “God, I’m not a child,” Ivy said exasperated and appalled. “Don’t patronize me.”

  “I’m not trying to patronize you.” He was. “I just want to get your mind off of this guy we’ve been talking about…none stop for the last few minutes.” The situation was becoming somewhat awkward again. He had to pull in the reigns on her. Whoa horsey!

  “Well, find another way to do it then,” Ivy said quickly snapping.

  “If you insist...” Nicola said equally as quick.

  Grabbing her by the small waist, Nicola pulled Ivy’s body to him and looked her in her eyes. “Why are you so feisty?” he asked as they sat face-to-face. Speechless, Ivy shrugged her shoulders. Staring at her full lips, he caressed her body with his fingertips and felt her instantly relax. It was then that he advanced before she had time to protest. He would taste her if it was the last thing that he did.

  Involuntarily, Ivy closed her eyes and parted her lips. As she felt him move closer to her, his lips pressed against hers lightly, and she could feel their warm wet flesh mingling together. His cologne was like an intoxicating elixir that made her drunk with desire, and his touch was so soft and sensual that she began to respond back with movements of her own. Her breathing became heavy as his huge masculine hands moved up her back into her soft flowing locks of hair while he pulled her down demandingly onto his lap. With each passing minute, their kiss became more and more passionate.

  Finally realizing that she had straddled the stranger on Brooks’ couch amidst Gerald Levert singing Made to Love You and the dancing candlelight, Ivy let out a small moan and tried to separate herself from him.

  “Don’t stop,” Nicola whispered in between their long heated kisses and passionate embrace. He could feel her awakening more and more by the minute. He wanted her right then. Damn, she smells good. And her lips are soft as rose petals. No. Softer.

  “Wait,” Ivy said tasting his lips again. “Please,” she said as she pulled away trying desperately to ignore the all too familiar milk that moistened her hidden flower. This was crazy! But it was hard to control herself. Oh God. It feels so good to be wanted again, she thought inwardly.

  Climbing off of Nicola’s large, excited body, Ivy cleared her voice and straightened her clothes. Who in the hell was this guy? She stared at him for a moment in total dismay. That had never happened before. Disoriented and teased by her first erotic experience outside of her once coveted relationship, Ivy sat back on the couch and tried to regain her senses. But she could smell his cologne all over her, and she could taste his lips on her mouth.

  Nicola licked his lips and stretched trying to make his erection go down now that the mood had changed. Amazed by the weakness his body experienced from what felt like all of her emotions pouring into him through her full warm mouth, he stared off across the room in amazement. Ivy caught a glimpse of his confusion and was reassured of her own feelings. Whatever had caused them to connect almost instantly, he had also felt.

  Spellbound, Nicola pulled her close to him again. “Come here,” he said in a whisper.

  Now sure that most barriers had been broken, Ivy felt relaxed enough to put her head on his chest. It was strange, but in only a few moments she had made a connection with another individual so strong that she wished she could have laid there forever. Too afraid to speak and ruin the moment, she waited for him to say something.

  “Are you okay?” Nicola asked rubbing through her soft, cotton hair. There was no need to say anything else that he didn’t want to. She was his.

  “No. I’m far from okay.” Ivy was lost for words, but she smiled carefree.

  “Good.” He kissed her forehead.

  “You know, I actually I enjoyed that.” She looked up at him and pulled at his dimpled chin like she had known him for years.

  “So did I,” Nicola looked in her eyes again trying to read the young black siren that had enchanted him so quickly.

  “Honestly though, I am definitely not the type to just go kissing on every guy that I’m attracted to. This was just one of those…peculiar situations.” Ivy hoped that he believed her.

  “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” He nudged her side. “I am sorry to hear that you’re having such a hard time though. Sounds to me like the guy is a dumb ass, but at least you found out before he put the brass shackle around your finger.”

  “Brass shackle?” she repeated. Normally she would take offense to a white man even mentioning shackles in a joke around her, but with him she felt comfortable and free of intimidation.

  “I’m not into commitment. Can’t you tell? Weddings and marriage have always sounded too much like a life sentence without the possibility of parole.” His analogy made it clear why he was not married and probably not in a serious relationship.

  “Well, whenever you get married give my condolences to your wife. Sounds like she’s in for a treat.” She loo
ked down at his ring finger just to make sure that there were not traces of a wedding ring. He passed the test.

  “Yeah well maybe by then I will have found a woman capable of handling me. Mrs. Agosto will have to be some lady.” His words drifted off for a moment, and he went into deep thought.

  “Thinking about the one you let slip away,” Ivy said bringing him back to reality.

  “No, thinking of all the Ms. Wrongs I’ve been with.” His honesty intrigued her almost as the all the Ms. Wrongs. It was weird meeting a real playboy.

  “Anyway, let’s get off our sad stories. Tell me something that will make me smile. You see the way I behave when I get depressed and lonely.”

  Nicola recalled their kiss with her reminder. “ I suggest that you stay in the house until you get over him then. Otherwise, you might find yourself in some pretty compromising situations being so depressed and lonely,” he said mockingly.

  “Believe me, this is as comprised as I’ll be.” She laid her head back down on his chest and rubbed his side.

  “Were we gone that long? Damn, ya’ll under each other like you’re in love,” Trina said walking back into the living room with Brooks. She had told Ivy to watch herself.

  “Evidently so. Look at them all cuddled up together like some old married couple.” Brooks winked at Nicola. Damn that boy was good.

  The sudden attention made the two uncomfortable, and Ivy sat back up in her original position, only this time a lot more relaxed. Nicola didn’t budge, but he did give Trina a dirty look.

  Confused and in total disapproval of her friend’s actions Trina raised her eyebrows at Ivy. “Are you hot? Need something to drink,” Trina said pulling another Smirnoff Ice out of the cooler.

  “No, I’m fine,” Ivy said ignoring her friend’s body language. “Considering I have to drive back to the dorm, I need to be sober.”

  “You live in the dormitory?” Nicola said sitting up a little uncomfortable himself.

  “Yes, Trina and I are roommates.” Ivy could sense something was wrong.

  “How old are, if you don’t mind me asking?” Nicola said recalling his actions and now inwardly wondering if he had moved to quickly. That should have been the question to ask nearly an hour before. Ivy looked at least mid-twenties, but maybe her looks had deceived him. He prayed she was at least twenty-one.

  “I’m twenty-one,” her smiled faded. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-nine.” Nicola turned his attention to his empty bottle trying not to show his relief of her legal status but disapproval of the age gap. He had dated a girl around her age a couple of months ago. She was slightly air headed and extremely hard to manage. She was always bouncing around his place when he was trying to sleep, calling him every hour on the hour when they were apart and nagging him for money to go with her sorority sisters shopping. It was a total nightmare. “I’ll be thirty in two months.” He smiled politely at her. Ivy didn’t seem that type though.

  Sensing the new conflict about their age difference, Trina tried to make light of the situation despite her dislike for Nicola. “Eight years is not a lot in age difference these days.” She nodded at Ivy in approval. “I once dated a guy that was thirteen years older than me, but he acted like his was my age or younger. I guess that as long as you’re legal, nothing matters but how mature or immature you behave.”

  “When did you date someone thirteen years older than you?” Brooks asked frowning. “Hell, I’ve been on an off with you for three years. You’re only twenty-three.”

  “He came during one of our off periods,” Trina said defensively.

  “Alright, you better explain yourself,” Brooks said taking his arm from around her.

  “Don’t get no attitude now, Brooks,” Trina said pulling his arm back.

  “Don’t tell me. Go tell your senior citizen friend.” Brooks laughed as he took another sip of his beer.

  “You know what, forget you. Ivy are you ready to go?” Trina grabbed her purse off the ground. “It is getting late.”

  “Yeah, when ever you’re ready.” Looking over at Nicola once more, Ivy stood up. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Nicola.” She extended her hand.

  Accepting it, Nicola stood up and shook her hand and kissed her on her cheek. “Please call me Nicky. It was nice meeting you too, Ivy…What’s your last name?”

  “Winters.”

  “Okay, Ms. Ivy Winters. It was nice meeting you, too. I’m sure the next time we meet, you and your guy friend will have worked everything out, and you’ll be on your way to being Mrs. Somebody.”

  “I doubt that very seriously.” Ivy laughed. “You said it, but I forgot. What is your last name again?”

  “Agosto.” He said proudly. “It’s Italian.” Black women loved Italians. It was common knowledge on the force.

  “The Italian lover!” Brooks stretched and tapped Trina on her behind. “Ladies, hold on to your panties!”

  “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s a hater.” Nicola blushed slightly.

  “No, I believe him,” Ivy said softly. “Thanks for keeping me company though Italian lover.”

  “You’re quite welcomed,” Nicola said wishing that they had more time to spend together. “Like I said, the pleasure was all mine.” He had to play the gentleman long enough to see her out of the door. Then he would go back into the party and wreak havoc on all the women who wished that they could have been having a private moment with he and Brooks.

  “We’ll walk ya’ll out,” Brooks said motioning at Nicola.

  “No. We can find our own way out,” Trina said kissing Brooks on the cheek.

  “You sure?” Brooks asked.

  “Positive,” Trina said smiling. She loved when he behaved like a gentleman.

  “Alright then. Give me a call, and let me know when you make it home. Don’t forget,” Brooks said pulling another bottle of beer out of his cooler. He was ready for them to leave as well. Trina was messing up his action by constantly hugging and kissing him around the other prospects.

  “I will.” Trina pulled Ivy by the arm.

  “Bye,” Ivy and said looking one last time at Nicola before they walked out the door.

  “Arrivederci,” Nicola said watching Ivy walk hesitantly out of the door. He bit his lip at the thought of her warm mouth.

  “What the hell was that?” Brooks asked sitting down on the couch once the girls were out of sight.

  “That was perfect timing, mi amico.” Nicola wiped his lips. He had a distinct feeling that he had just begun the biggest chase of his life. It was a good thing that he had on his running shoes.

  Chapter Three: Someone Borrowed

  Chapter 3

  SOMEONE BORROWED

  I should have given him my number.

  The recurring thought made Ivy sit up in bed. It had been two days since her encounter with Nicola, but she all she could do was think about the next possible time she would see him. She would give anything to just say, “Call me sometime.” Unbelievably, Nicola had struck a chord in her heart that she didn’t know existed.

  Curiosity was a feeling that Ivy had never experienced for anyone except Grey, until now. She wondered a hundred things about this mysterious man with a great kiss and God-like body. Was he really single? Did he have kids? What did he like to do? What was his middle name? Where was he from? What was he like in bed? Oh no! She shook her head. The thought had crossed her mind several times. Every time she let her mind roam, she found herself recalling his touch and the warm sensation it sent down the depths of her soul.

  Ivy laid her head back down on her pillow and looked at the phone. Too bad she hadn’t slipped her number to him before she left. Agitated by her own shyness, she rolled over and stared at the wall. She heard the voice of sanity creep into her head.

  Just go back to sleep. Think about how you’re going to mend your relationship with Grey. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she tried to concentrate. In her last attempt to keep from thinking of Nicola, she got out
of bed and kneeled down on her knees. She would simply pray until she fell asleep.

  “Lord...” Interrupting her last line of defense, the phone rang. Ugh!

  “Hello?” Trina said looking at her caller I.D. “Hey,” Listening. “Yeah, she’s here.” Listening. “No, she’s awake. I don’t know why, but she’s up. Hold on.” Trina turned on her lamp and shook her head at Ivy. “It’s Nicola,” she smirked. “He wants to talk to you. Both of you are getting on my nerves.”

  “Nicola?” Ivy whispered with her hands still clasped together. Trying to control herself, she took a deep breath before answering the phone. “Hello?” She turned quickly away from Trina’s glaring eyes.

  “Ivy?” Nicola said unsure of how she would receive his call.

  “Hi,” Ivy said overjoyed.

  “I hope that I didn’t wake you.”

  “No,” her response was too quick, but she didn’t care.

  “Good. Look, I’m sorry for calling so late, but to be honest I just had talk to you again. You left so suddenly the other night; I didn’t get a chance to get your number or anything. Brooks gave me Trina’s number and said I could reach you here. I hope that you don’t mind.” Unable to see him face-to-face, Ivy couldn’t detect Nicola’s nervousness.

  “No, It’s fine. You wouldn’t believe it, but I was just sitting here thinking about you.” Why did she let that slip out?

  “Really?” Nicola smiled. So, I did leave a good impression.

  “Yeah,” her voice softened.

  “Well, I was thinking about you, too. Actually, I’ve been thinking about you since you left.” His voice became more confident, and he was suddenly glad that he called. “I would love to see you again.”

  “I would love to see you, too,” she was glad that he had finally asked.