Chapter 6
Katherine stared blankly at Derrick in front of her, her voice soft and clear “Of cour
I know who you are
Her fingers were cold as they slid from his sharp brows to his lips. “You’re Derrick, the father of the baby in my belly, and my husband. right?”
Each time Katherine spoke, her fingers moved from one part of him to the next, from his warm lips to the pulsing veins in his neck, and finally to his pounding chest. “See, I’m fully awake,” she said.
Derrick now felt like he was in a dream. He thought, “How else could I hear Katherine saying these things? Not a single word sounds real. yet I can’t help but want to hear her say more.
Suddenly, his large hand gripped Katherine’s wrist, pulling her into his arms, his grip tightening slowly. “And what else?” Derrick’s gaze dropped, his eyes swirling with madness and obsession. “What else am I to you?”
Katherine was squeezed tightly, her shoulder feeling like it was about to break. She tilted her head back slightly, her gaze sliding over the obsession and darkness in Derrick’s eyes, her eyes flickering.
Then, Katherine stood on her tiptoes, raised her chin, and with great effort, placed a quick, light kiss on Derrick’s lips. It was swift, as gentle as a hand brushing across a cloud–she gave him a peck, but it felt like nothing at all.
In an instant, Derrick was calm. The overwhelming emotions that had been rising inside him were suddenly doused with cold water, snapping back into control.
He lowered his head, his gaze scrutinizing Katherine in his arms, as if trying to figure out whether her actions were meant to tease him or if there was something else behind them.
Unfortunately, Derrick couldn’t tell. All he saw was the tenderness and indulgence in Katherine’s eyes. He thought, no matter how he looked at it, those two words didn’t fit the way Katherine felt about him.
Suddenly, Derrick released Katherine, turning his back to her. “Why did you call me back?” He didn’t even realize it, but when he spoke the first word, he had sucked in a breath
Katherine’s eyes reddened, and tears welled up, falling uncontrollably. She didn’t cry out, but used both hands to wipe her tears away. though her voice still caught in her throat. “I just want you to be here with me.”
Derrick heard the sob in her voice and furrowed his brows instantly. “I didn’t touch you. Why are you crying?”
Katherine pouted, looking utterly frustrated. She thought, “Listen to him. What’s with this tone? Doesn’t he know how to say something nice to calm me down? With an attitude like that, who could tell he loves me so much that he’d die for me?
Katherine also took a deep breath, trying to control her temper. “Turn around and look at me when you speak.” Then she added, “I don’t like it when people talk to me with their backs turned.”
Derrick’s body stiffened for a moment before he turned around. He couldn’t help but reflect on the times he had spoken to Katherine with his back to her.
He hadn’t noticed it before, but now he realized that when she made him so angry that he couldn’t control his expression, he’d turn away, worried that the harsh look on his face would scare her.
What he hadn’t expected was that even his turned back would bother her. “I’m facing you now. Go ahead,” Derrick remarked.
Katherine didn’t respond with words. Instead, she threw herself at him, opening her arms and crashing into Derrick. Her hands slid around his waist, locking tightly behind his back.
Derrick, shut up. Katherine said with a tone of helplessness. “I don’t want to hear you talk right now.”
The more she heard, the angrier she became, thinking. If only in my previous life, Derrick had said something nice and taken better care of himself, maybe Kit and we wouldn’t have.”
With that thought, Katherine suddenly tilted her head and bit down on Derrick’s neck, growling as she sank her teeth in hard.
Derrick furrowed his brows, his body tensing. But soon, he relaxed his muscles, one hand cupping the back of her head, pulling her closer. “That’s too soft. Haven’t you eaten? Katherine, you’re the one who started this
He had been about to let her off, but she insisted on getting close. Derrick closed his eyes, feeling the bite sink in, ready to endure the
1/3
Chapter 6
sharper pain that would follow. But the next second, a wet, uneven sensation made his eyes snap open.
“Katherine, don’t,” Derrick gasped, his voice trembling. “Don’t lick me.
Katherine ignored him. She had learned one thing by now–she should never listen to what Derrick said and should only feel what he
did.
Just like now, he told her not to lick him. Though his voice sounded like he was about to get angry, the hand on the back of her head was only tightening, almost urging her to lick harder.
Katherine scoffed inwardly. “What a hypocritical jerk. Let’s see him pretend now.
When she finally pulled away, her teeth ached. She glanced at Derrick’s neck, noticing the beautiful set of bite marks she’d left there- purple and blue, but no broken skin. She couldn’t help but feel pleased with her bite.
Derrick didn’t even bother to pay attention to the mark on his neck. He pressed his thumb to the corner of Katherine’s lips, wiping away the saliva. “Why didn’t you bite harder! If you’d hit the right spot, you could’ve bitten through my carotid artery.”
He thought, I just handed my life, over to Katherine. Too bad she wasn’t ruthless enough.
Katherine’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “Mind the baby.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “Baby, don’t listen to your dad. He’s not encouraging Mommy to kill.”
Derrick watched her actions and couldn’t help but remind her, “He’s still an embryo. He doesn’t understand.”
Katherine looked up, silently staring at him. Derrick suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck, the spot where she had bitten him pulsing. “Sorry. Please continue,” he said, pursing his lips and raising his hands in surrender.
Seeing his helpless but cooperative gesture, Katherine suddenly laughed, thinking, I just realized that Derrick’s kind of cute. With the right training, he might make a good husband and a good father”
not to disturb
“Mrs. Graham, someone’s looking for you.” A knock came at the door, followed by Maeve’s voice. She seemed to be trying n them, speaking softly.
“Got it. I’ll be right down,” Katherine replied as she walked around Derrick. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, almost like a stealthy attack.
“I’m going to freshen up. You should probably do the same. Aren’t you working today?” Katherine said as she walked toward the bathroom, Derrick following behind.
“Tin off today,” he replied, standing tall in the doorway; casting a shadow across the floor.
Katherine squeezed out some toothpaste and bent down to grab a new toothbrush from the drawer below. “If you don’t want to leave, you can freshen up with me.”
Derrick stared at the toothbrush she handed him, wondering if she had sprinkled it with poison.
“What’s with the blank stare? Take it Katherine, oblivious to his thoughts, pushed the toothbrush forward, her voice hopeyed with playful accusation. “My arm’s getting tired holding this out. You’re really going to make things hard for à pregnant woman like this?”
Derrick raised his hand, reluctantly taking the toothbrush. He thought, “Forget about the poison. Whatever Katherine gives me, I can swallow it without batting an eye!
Katherine stepped aside, making room at the wide vanity, which easily fit both of them. She squeezed toothpaste onto Derrick’s Toothbrush before starting to brush her teeth. Her checks pulled out as she brushed, humming a cheerful children’s song, clearly in a good mood.
Derrick recognized the tune–it was a song he used to hum to her when they were younger. But now, the melody had gone completely off–key. Only he could tell what song it was.
When Derrick walked out of Katherine’s room, safe and sound, he had a moment of disorientation. He thought back to what he had done over the past few hours, and what had been done to him, feeling dazed.
He thought, ‘It’s only been this long. Could it be that Katherine really accepted me for the baby’s sake? Has my position really changed because of the baby?”
