Page 59 of Seeds of Malice

Dax still wants me.

"There's that smile I love." He leans down and kisses me, then states, "I better take you back to your place while your father's gone. But, Ivy, you'll have to stick with the story that you were home, okay?"

I nod. "All right. I'll tell him I was home for a bit, then went for a walk."

Dax smiles in approval and squeezes my ass. "Good girl." Then he stills, staring at me for a moment.

Nerves fill my belly. "What's that look for?"

He assesses me one more time and leans into my ear. He murmurs, "I loved your mouth on me."

Through all the stress, I laugh.

Dax tugs me close and claims, "I mean it. And I can't wait for you to do it again, my filthy whore."

10

Ivy

Dax gives me a final kiss and drives off in his golf cart.

I step inside and close the door. I immediately get a text.

Dax: Take a cold shower, Ivy. You need to sober up a little more. And erase this message in case your father reads it.

My heart beats faster. I close my eyes, leaning against the door. I can't believe my father did that. If he finds out I've been drinking, he's going to be even angrier, but I've never seen him like this. Even when my mom disappeared, he controlled his rage. But this is another level.

I reply.

Me: Okay. Thanks.

I erase his message. I go into the bathroom, lock the door, and strip out of my bikini. Then, I study myself in the mirror.

My glassy eyes aren't going to help convince my father I haven't been doing things he doesn't approve of, even though I've never drank before. I assume I look better than earlier, but my head's still a little woozy.

I open the medicine cabinet and pull out a bottle of drops, putting several in each eye. I look better than I'm sure I did, but not totally sober.

The more I gaze at my naked reflection, the more my anxiety builds.

What was my father thinking?

Dax said he wouldn't fire him, but what Dad did was extreme. How could Dax not fire him?

It confirms what kind of person Dax is, because if I were in his position, I can't say I wouldn't let my father go.

I tear my gaze off myself, turn the water on, and let it run for a while, returning to my reflection.

Did I really just do all that with Dax?

I bite on my lip and take a deep breath.

Dax's deep voice rings in my mind.

Slut.

Whore.

My expression falls.

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