Just For You, Sir (Doms of Decadence 1)

“I actually wish I was showing a bit more,” Jacey told Holly.

“Guess we always want what we don’t have, huh?” Holly said, leaning against Brax.

“So you see, you needn’t scold me for buying so much stuff,” Derrick said. “There will be two babies to use it all.” He placed a hand over Jacey’s stomach and she stiffened in surprise at his touch.

“I’m not sure whether just replicating the nursery in another room wouldn’t be better though, because we’ll probably want this baby’s nursery a bit closer to our room, won’t we?” he asked Jacey.

She opened and closed her mouth. “Umm.”

“Wait, our room? You mean, Jacey lives here? With you?” Holly looked at them in shock.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But you two barely know each other.”

“Holly,” Brax said in a low, warning voice.

“Wait, so she doesn’t have a job, she’s pregnant with someone else’s child and she’s living with you? Derrick, do you know what you’re doing? Have you made her sign an agreement?”

“Holly!” Brax warned in a sharper tone. “That’s enough. This is Derrick’s life, it’s up to him how he wants to live it.”

“But-”

“But nothing. I think you owe Derrick and Jacey an apology, don’t you?”

Holly just glared at him.

“No, she doesn’t. At least, not to me.” Jacey sat forward. “Holly, maybe you and I could talk in private for a moment.”

Jacey hated confrontation, she’d normally run in the other direction, happy to let someone else deal with the issue. But she needed to convince Holly that she had Derrick’s best interests in mind.

“Fine.”

Holly stood and followed Jacey out of the room.

Jacey led them out onto the deck. “Look, Holly, I know what you must be thinking. I’d be thinking the exact same thing if I were in your shoes. You love Derrick and you want to protect him. Well, so do I.”

She took a deep breath and looked out over the grounds. “Believe it or not I tried to leave. I told Derrick that I didn’t want to take advantage of him. Derrick wouldn’t even consider it. I had my mind made up, and in the space of ten minutes, he had me promising to stay here and let him look after me.”

Holly snorted. Jacey turned to look at her, thinking the other woman thought she was lying. “I really did.”

“Oh, you probably did. I know what Derrick’s like. He’s nearly as bad as Brax in the bossy male department.”

Actually, Jacey thought Derrick probably had Brax beat in that department. But she didn’t want to argue with Holly.

“I promise you I would sign whatever Derrick wanted me to, Holly. I know you don’t know me, but the very last thing I want is take advantage of Derrick. He’s, well, he?

??s very important to me.”

“I love him like a brother,” Holly said. “I won’t allow you to use him.”

Jacey smiled wryly. “Do you really think Derrick would let anyone take advantage of him?”

Holly relaxed slightly. “No.”

“I know we’ve only known each other a short time and I really have nothing to offer him, but I love him. I’ll protect him the best way I know how, even from me, if necessary.”

Holly sighed, but nodded. “You seem pretty cool. But hurt him and I’ll hurt you, understand?”