Page 53 of Thorns of Malice

Ivy puts her hand on my leg, and tingles go right to my cock once again. "Look at me, Dax."

I slowly turn and face her.

"Your father used to hit you?"

I must be drunk from being in her presence. Things I've never told anyone roll out of my mouth. "Yeah. When I was five, he took a belt and beat me so badly, I had welts on my ass for a week. But that's how I grew up. And Avery and Cooper, they could do no wrong. I was the whipping boy."

Pity fills Ivy's expression.

I hate it. I insist, "It's water under the bridge. He's dead and my mother's in Europe. So I no longer have to see them. You don't have to feel sorry for me."

"Well, that explains a lot, if it's true," Ivy says.

"You think I'd make something like that up?" I accuse.

She narrows her eyes. "Can you blame me?"

I sigh. "Ivy, I know I've done a lot of bad shit to you, but I'm not lying about this...not that it matters. It is what it is. You asked me a question, and I told you the truth. I'm done lying to you."

She tilts her head. "Really? You're never going to lie to me again?"

"Yeah, I'm not going to lie to you."

"Good to know." She gets out of the car.

Once again, I'm confused. I'm unsure what her next move is, so I get out of the car and follow her.

I slide my arm around her waist, then lead her up the stairs and into the house.

She glances around the large foyer. "Love the tufts," she says, staring at the circular bench wrapped in navy leather.

"Thanks."

"Kind of looks like your style."

"I had it redone when I moved back in," I admit.

She puts her hand on my cheek and then pecks me on the lips. I try to pull her closer, but she pulls away. She takes my hand. "Show me around."

I give her a tour of the first floor.

We reach my office, and she chirps, "Well, this is an interesting room."

I question cautiously, "Yeah? Why is that?"

She struts over to the desk, her whore-red, satin-clad ass swaying, and orders, "Unzip me, Dax."

Unzip her?

Is she serious?

I don't move.

She turns her head, giving me a coy look. "Are you shy all of a sudden? I thought you said you love me. Unzip me."

In a trance, I walk toward her. I unzip her, move her hair over her shoulder, and kiss it the way I used to.

She moves her hands to her straps and shoves them down her arms. Her dress falls to the floor, unveiling a matching whore-red strapless bra and thong. She spins to face me. "Step back, Dax."

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