Page 106 of Don't Call Me Daddy
“Eventually, my parents had to put me in therapy because the dreams wouldn’t go away. After a while, they stopped, but the weird thing was, as soon as I got promoted and put in charge of safety, they came back. Only this time, rather than being trapped and alone, I would see an explosion. Sometimes, I was working with the crew, and other times, I was spectating, but every single time … I was the one responsible, and the number was always the same. Sixty-three.”
I let out a sigh and shake my head, and Ivy runs a hand over my jaw.
“You think the Phantom was warning you because you were being reckless again?”
I shrug. “I don’t know what to think, but when it actually came true, I vowed I’d never be that negligent ever again.”
“And you never told anyone this? Not even your brother?”
I shake my head. “No, Jett and I have always had a rough relationship. We were hardly speaking at that time in our lives. Besides, he’s got his own shit to deal with.
“So, that’s all of it. Now, you know every dark secret about me …”
She loops her hands behind my neck and pulls me into a hug. “Thank you for trusting me with that. I get why that would make you so uptight. I just wish you’d told someone about it before now. You might’ve been able to let go of some of your guilt.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to see that you’re right.” I push myself up to stand and offer my hand to help her up. “Enough about all of that stuff.” I gesture over my shoulder with my thumb. “This could be a pretty awesome place to sprinkle your sister’s ashes if you want to check out the cave.”
Her eyes fall, and she shoves her hands in the pockets of her overalls as she shuffles her feet. A few moments pass before she finally speaks, the usual brightness in her eyes replaced with something dull and heavy. “I don’t know, Leo. You’re right; this is exactly the type of place my sister would’ve loved …”
She bites her quivering lip like she’s trying to keep her emotions trapped inside. It kills me to see her in so much pain, but there’s nothing I can do. As much as I wish it were possible, I can’t take it away from her. All I can do is support her and hold her hand, show her I’m here for her.
I brush a stray hair from her face, my palm moving to cradle the back of her neck as I meet her gaze, our eyes saying everything our words can’t. “You don’t have to do this right now. If you’re not ready, then we’ll wait until you are. Okay? This place isn’t going anywhere.”
She looks around and huffs a laugh. “As if I’d ever ask you to come back here after everything you told me tonight. Trust me, Leo, I’m not that delusional to expect you to overcome your biggest fear a second time just to impress me.”
She nudges me with her elbow, and I playfully rub my rib cage like she wounded me.
“You know, I think you’d be surprised … I know I am …” I say more to myself than to her.
“Now, for the love of God, can we please get out of here?”
She shivers, and I wrap an arm around her.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ivy
We’re silent as we make our way downstairs. We both need this distraction after all the painful memories we dug up tonight.
The heavy thud of the door closing behind us is like a starter pistol. Our lips crash together and we both begin shedding our clothes. Leo stifles a growl as he pushes me against a wall, his kisses devouring as he lifts me with one arm and removes his pants with the other.
I wrap my legs around his waist as I yank his sweatshirt over his head before attempting to remove my own.
“Fuck, baby, I need to be inside you so bad, but there’s no need to rush,” he says as he unclasps my overalls, sliding his large palm over my hip and moving it up my back, where he unhooks my bra with a flick of his fingers.
My bra falls down my arms, the cool air and the heat of his gaze making my nipples harden into tight peaks. I arch my back as he removes my shirt and bra in one smooth motion. Immediately, his hungry mouth is on me, sucking and licking myexposed skin as his grip tightens on my ass like he’s trying to hold himself back.
He adjusts his grip on my ass so he can pull my overalls off, and I take the opportunity to grind my clit against his erection. We’re both in only our underwear now as I reach my hand down to stroke him, cupping his balls and teasing his massive length.
It’s dark down here, the red accent lights giving the whole room an edgy, moody glow.
“Leo. I need you to fuck me,” I say in a breathy moan as I edge myself closer just from rubbing my clit against him.
I’m so worked up, so desperate, that I don’t need anything more. I just need him, bare, inside me. It’s all I can think about.
“Fuck, baby, you’re so goddamn perfect.” He carries me over to the bed in the middle of the room, the cold sheets on my bare back catching me off guard.
