Page 78 of Mommy

The line of concern is still between her brows, telling me that this is not the end of her sentence.

“But?”

“He’s eleven years older than you, Ivory. And I know he can be really persuasive.” Shelly watches my reaction carefully. “He’s a handsome man and he knows how to use his charm. Please don’t let him push you into doing something you don’t want.”

Let me breed you.

You’ll be my little wife.

Let me make you a mommy.

I’m not sure how much of what he said is just kink for Derek. And I’m honestly not sure how much of it I want to be kink and how much I want to be reality.

Lies.

I try to shake the thought from my head, but the picture of me holding onto Derek for longer than this game is already planted deeply into my mind. So deep that I’m a little scared how much of myself will get ripped out when we run out of time.

“I’ll be careful.” I promise, the lie comes over my lips so easily.

I already broke that promise.

No matter what we do from here on out, no matter how careful I am, I will still get hurt.

Shelly doesn’t seem to detect the guilt in my tone, her arm wraps around my shoulder and she squeezes me lightly.

“He got you to eat, didn’t he?”

A little laugh hides in my answering yes. Derek does way more than just making me eat, he is feeding me in a way I didn’t know before.

It’s not only food for my body, he’s somehow found a way to get my starving soul to accept the affection he offers. He is the fuel my cracked little heart will run itself into the ground on.

I make it my mission for the day to get Chino’s old kennel ready. He only moved out yesterday, but I know that sometimes there’s a new dog just waiting for a spot and I want their place in this shelter to be prepared and comfortable for the time they are with us.

I sweep and wipe down every surface, and before I close the door, I get a new stuffy from the supply closet and place it upon the blue raised dog bed.

Perfect.

I’m about to get myself and Shelly another cup of tea before taking Bella for a walk, when my phone starts to vibrate in my back pocket.

What the⁠—

It’s Derek.

He never calls me.

Chapter forty one

Derek

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK.

I was 100 times wrong when I thought I had this under control and didn’t need help. My first instinct told me to call for help, but on second thought I really expected things to go smoothly. I wanted to surprise Ivory when she got home.

And now I have fuck knows what on my hands and I don’t know what to do.

I knew she would’ve murdered me if I were to call Samuel but not her, so here I am, waiting for her to pick up the phone.