Page 102 of Save Her from Me

I reclined, my mind stuck on all things Jackson. I wanted to hate his mother, but the impression I’d taken away was that she was brainwashed. Lost to a man. She had to miss her daughter, surely.

My thoughts took another direction. My mother had walked out on us. She’d done so without a backward glance and had never made contact since. Her situation was different in that men ruled the roost in that world. Toxic masculinity to the max. It was hard to understand the mindset she must’ve had, but I tried. If all she knew was the rule of whichever man she’d chained herself to, then was that to block out some other major trauma? Not doing any thinking for herself?

I didn’t want to forgive her, like I didn’t think Jackson should forgive his. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t try to understand.

Then there was the odd comment my father had made. That my concerns were questions for my mother, not my father. Was that a clue?

Steeling myself, I grabbed my phone and found my stepmother’s social media accounts. Sent her a private message, asking her to get my mom’s phone number for me. Once, Willow had offered to do that. I’d refused her. Now felt like a good time.

Other messages decorated my screen. A group chat with my brothers, and Raphael updating us on his progress. Something from The Girls where Casey was hinting at some hella sexy act she was trying with her guys which I’d definitely be reading in detail later, and then one from Jackson.

I read it quickly.

Jackson: In case you wake, I’m putting dinner in the oven. I’ll be down soon.

I replied with a love heart.

Another message came in from him. A code.

Jackson: IWTWYCIFOTM, LF.

Glee filled me. I loved him doing this, and him using punctuation? It sent little bursts of joy through me.

I squinted, trying to get his code.

The last two letters were easy.Little fox.

The first three came to me quickly, too.I want to.

But what did he want to do to me? I puzzled over it, trying to make a sentence. An action. Then I reached for my list and tried to make it into one of those.

Had he even read the full list? I wasn’t sure.

Try as I might, I couldn’t determine the middle part of his clue.

After a few minutes more, footsteps descended the spiral stairs, and Jackson stepped into the room, something hidden behind his back. I sat up, letting the blanket fall to my waist.

His gaze sank to the outline of my boobs under my delicate purple top. Typically, I didn’t wear pretty underwear every day. I’d taken to doing so for him.

He moistened his lips. “Did ye guess my code?”

I shook my head in the negative, unable to stop my focus from sliding down his body to his tented boxers. He’d put on a plain blue T-shirt to do food prep, and with a smirk, he stripped it off, dropping it to the floor.

“Want a clue?” He prowled closer.

Breathless, I nodded again.

Jackson went to my wardrobe and opened the door. Inside was a tall mirror. He angled it at the bed until I could see my reflection, and raised his eyebrows.

I grabbed my phone.

I want to…WYCIFOTM, little fox.

“Watch you come in front of the mirror?” I said slowly.

Jackson smiled, his expression pleased and devilishly turned on. From behind his back, he brought an object.

The sex toy we’d bought earlier.

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