Chapter 148: Accident?

Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Accident?

"There you go," Derrick said smoothly, leaning over her as he adjusted the pillows behind her back.

Because he was bent right over her, his face was mere inches from hers.

Ruth could feel his hot breath brushing against her cheeks, smelling the faint, clean scent of the sea and mountain air clinging to his skin.

Her eyes darted down to his full lips, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

"Do you need me to bring you a glass of water, Aunt Ruth?" Derrick asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern, completely oblivious to the dirty thoughts raging inside her mind.

Ruth swallowed hard, her hand instinctively clutching the soft fabric of her robe over her chest to keep her heart from leaping out.

"N-No, I’m fine, Derrick... just a little tired," Ruth whispered, her cheeks burning a bright, fiery crimson as she looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze any longer. "Thank you... you’re very sweet."

"Derrick..." Ruth whispered softly, her voice trembling just enough to make him pause right before he reached the door handle.

Derrick turned back around, his eyes looking at her with a calm, patient expression. "Yes, Aunt Ruth? Do you need something else?"

"Come here for a second," Ruth murmured, giving him a faint, weak smile as she patted the edge of the mattress.

Derrick walked back over without hesitation, stepping close to the side of the bed and leaning down toward her. "What is it?"

’Just a sweet, harmless kiss on the cheek to thank him...’ Ruth told herself frantically in her head, her pulse racing wildly as her hands gripped the bedsheets. ’Just to show appreciation... like a mother would...’

She leaned up off the pillows, closing her eyes as her face moved closer to his.

However, just as her soft lips were about to touch his cheek, Derrick subtly shifted his head to hear her better.

Smack.

Instead of his cheek, Ruth’s lips pressed firmly against the soft, warm corner of his mouth.

A sharp jolt of raw electricity shot straight through her entire body. The intense heat of his skin against her lips sent a dizzying wave through her mind, making her heart skip three beats in a row.

Gulp!

Panicking internally, Ruth quickly pulled back and settled back onto the pillows, her whole face exploding into a scorching, fiery crimson.

"T-Thank you for carrying me, dear," Ruth stammered out rapidly, forcing a tiny, nervous smile as if her lips hadn’t just grazed the corner of his mouth at all. "You really are a good boy."

Derrick froze for a brief second, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked down at her.

He didn’t look flustered or shocked, but a faint, knowing glint flashed deep within his gaze.

Without saying a word about the kiss, Derrick reached out his hand.

His fingers brushed smoothly through her soft, brown hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear.

His warm touch lingered against her cheek made her lean into his touch.

"Don’t worry about it, Aunt Ruth," Derrick said softly, his voice deep and smooth as silk. "Just take it easy and rest. I will go check up on Beth."

He gave her one last, lingering look before turning around and stepping out of the room, closing the door behind him with a silent click.

Ruth stared at the closed door, her hand rising to touch the corner of her own lips where the phantom warmth of his skin still burned.

’He really didn’t notice a thing...’ Ruth let out a long, shaky breath, collapsing back against the soft pillows as soon as the door clicked shut. She covered her face with both hands, her skin scalding hot to the touch. ’What am I going to do... how am I ever going to look at him normally again?’

Derrick walked up the stairs, his footsteps quiet against the polished wood as his mind weighed everything that had transpired downstairs.

Focused on his thoughts, Derrick didn’t bother knocking. He pushed the door open smoothly and stepped inside.

The click of the latch made Beth snap her head toward the entrance. She was standing right near the workbench, completely bare from the waist down, holding a clean pair of lace underwear in her hands as she prepared to step into them.

"Ah—!" Beth let out a sharp gasp, dark flush swept over her cheeks.

Before panic could set in, Derrick offered her a calm, warm smile, keeping his demeanor entirely composed so as not to startle her.

He closed the heavy door behind him with a silent click and locked it before stepping deeper into the room.

"Sorry for barging in without knocking," Derrick said softly, his deep voice carrying a relaxing warmth. "I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright."

Beth stood frozen for a second, her hands clutching the thin fabric over her lap in a vain attempt to cover herself.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, but seeing how completely unfazed and gentle Derrick looked, her tension melted into a shy, breathless flutter.

"D-Derrick... you could have knocked," Beth stammered out, her voice dropping into an embarrassed whisper as she bit her lower lip.

Derrick walked up to her, his eyes swept over her bare, sleek legs before settling back on her face.

He gently took the lace underwear from her trembling fingers.

"Here," Derrick murmured, leaning down slightly to look her in the eye. "Let me help you."

"You really have no shame, do you?" Beth mumbled, her voice trembling with a mix of pouting anger and deep embarrassment as she stepped one smooth leg through the lace fabric. "Right at the table... right in front of Mom! What if she had dropped something and looked down?!"

Derrick slowly pulled the thin fabric up over her knees, his thumbs lightly grazing the tender skin of her thighs. "She didn’t, did she? You handled yourself exceptionally well, Beth."

"I was losing my mind!" she hissed softly, her face burning like a furnace as she placed her hands on his broad shoulders for balance. "My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to pop straight out of my chest!"

She tried her absolute best to sound stern and angry, but the trembling pitch in her voice completely betrayed her.

More than anger, what she felt was a deep, burning embarrassment. But even more than that, she didn’t want to admit how good the thrill of almost getting caught felt.

The terrifying danger of her mother sitting just inches away, completely unaware while Derrick pushed her over the edge right under the tablecloth... the sheer adrenaline of having to hold back her gasps while taking bites of pot roast... it had been the most intensely thrilling moment of her life.

’I’m completely out of my mind...’ Beth thought frantically, her fingers digging slightly into his shirt as he slid the underwear higher up her hips. ’Why did it feel so damn good? What is he doing to me?’

"You didn’t seem to complain while you were eating," Derrick murmured smoothly, a dark, wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as his hands settled warmly against her waist.

"Derrick!" Beth squeaked out, her cheeks exploding into a deep, fiery crimson as she buried her burning face into the crook of his neck to hide her complete defeat. "Just... shut up and help me finish getting dressed!"

Derrick let out a low chuckle, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her flush against his body. "Whatever you say, Beth."