Page 9 of Surprise Baby for the Enemy

Derrick looks down at the floor, then back at me. “I thought you were the one who was going to jump me when we got to my house.”

Suddenly I remember his last words before everything went to hell. He’d accused Thomas of sending me to seduce him, and asked if I was going to call my men in. The irony is so bitter, I have to spit it out.

“Something like that,” I admit.

Derrick’s eyebrows rise. “Really?”

I keep my voice so quiet he probably has to read my lips to know what I’m saying. Silver might be gone, but god knows if there are cameras or mics in this room. “I knew who you were right away,” I say, and roll my eyes. “My big brother caved your face in. How could I not?”

And since we’re probably going to die before the day is up, I add, “I was going to get revenge for him. Ruin your life, the works. After I got laid for the first time.”

I don’t have the courage to watch Derrick’s face when I say this. His dead silence is bad enough to hear. After a long moment, he finally chokes out, “That… that was your first time just now?”

He sounds so horrified, so pitying, that a tight ball of heat forms in my chest. I don’t need his sympathy, and I don’t want it either. “It was about time,” I say brusquely. “I’m twenty-five.”

The stinging in my eyes is getting worse. I sniff, affecting disinterest, but it sounds too thick to be believable.

Derrick is quiet for another long moment. Then he says, slowly, “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“You didn’t,” I say, too fast. For the first time I look him in the face.

Derrick’s blue eyes are shadowed by his frown. The loss of his smile… makes my stomach pinch.

“It wasn’t so bad,” I say, totally inadequately. I’ve always been allergic to saying reassuring things, but that might be worthy of a trophy. “I mean- you made it easier.”

It’s not remotely what I want to say, doesn’t cover how incredible I felt when he gripped my neck and made me come, but it’s all I have.

Derrick’s smile doesn’t return, but he cocks his head, considering me. “You should come sit on the bed. It might be a little cleaner than the floor. At the very least it’s more comfortable.”

I smile painfully. “No thanks.”

“Raleigh,” he whispers, almost scoldingly. “I can help you zip up your dress. Come on.”

Feeling too hot, I slowly unfold off the floor and go toward the bed. My whole body prickling, I turn my back to him, holding my dress against my body.

His fingertips are warm as they feather over my skin. He zips me up, but doesn’t let his hands linger.

It’s too much to sit beside him, but I should stay close so it’s easier to talk. Compromising, I go around the mattress and sit so that our backs are to each other. We stay like that in silence for a second, but Derrick is again the one to break the silence.

“How were you planning to ruin my life?”

I’m so glad I’m facing away from him. “I hadn’t really gotten that far,” I admit.

He makes a sound, like a stifled laugh, then falls silent again. After a while, he speaks again.

“Twenty-five is really young. You shouldn’t feel ashamed that you only just had sex now.”

I swallow against the heat in my chest. “You did a good job just now. Don’t ruin it by patronizing me.”

“I’m not,” he says behind me. “I’m only telling you- it’s not bad that you waited.”

I snort. “I didn’twait. I literally wasn’t allowed to. You think my old man let me leave the estate on my own, much less date? And if I did ever sleep with a guy, do you think he would’ve been allowed to live?!”

Derrick goes quiet again. The bed shifts beneath me, and I feel his heat at my back. I sense him glance over his shoulder, his voice is barely a whisper at my neck. With perfect placidity, he asks, “Do you think Thomas will let me live?”

I’m so glad my brother has better things to do right now, like leave for his fabulous European honeymoon with my best friend, Clara. Still, I don’t want to let Derrick completely off the hook. I turn my head, to him, and realize we’re almost cheek to cheek. “You should be more worried about Silver letting you live,” I murmur. “Speaking of which, you do know I’m ratting you out if you take that freak’s deal, right?”

“Why do you think I didn’t take it in the first place?”

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