Emma was applying cucumber juice on her face and neck, carefully massaging the cool liquid into her skin, when her phone beeped softly, alerting her that a message had just popped in.
Keeping the liquid by the bedstand, she reached for her phone, her fingers hesitating for a brief second as she wondered who could be texting her by nine in the night.
Maybe Amelia?
Unlocking her phone, she tapped on the unread message.
“I miss you baby. Goodnight, and think of me.”
A smile escaped Emma’s lips as she read it, then read it again, slower this time.
She already knew who the sender was. It could only be her new boyfriend, Derek—the one who made her feel things she had never felt for anyone before.
And judging by the warmth blooming inside her chest, she knew a blush must have coated her cheeks, already slick with the slimy cucumber juice.
Still staring at the short message, she wondered whether it was necessary, or even advisable, to reply, or if she should simply play dead.
For a fleeting second, she wished her sister were here with her; Amelia would have known exactly what to do.
Perhaps I should call her, she thought, tapping her thumb repeatedly against the screen, right over the message, as she drowned in her thoughts.
But almost immediately, Emma laughed softly at herself. She couldn’t believe that a single text had made her so jittery that she was considering seeking her sister’s help over a relationship matter.
It had always been the other way around.
Another text message trooped into her phone, gaining her attention.
“And don’t forget to call me tomorrow, to pick you up for school. If you don’t, get ready for a spanking.”
Sinful thoughts wrecked Emma’s mind as her eyes skimmed over the word spanking.
She shuddered when she realized herself.
Dropping her phone on the bed, she fanned herself with her right hand, breathing in and out, trying desperately to shake away the idea of being spanked by Derek.
The message tone sounded again, sharp in the silence, and Emma stiffened, wondering what the next message could possibly be.
“I love you.”
She smiled. This time, she knew she couldn’t ignore it. All of a sudden, she wanted—needed—to reply, to talk, to linger in the moment.
“Spanker,” she typed, then quickly erased it.
She didn’t want to think about the word again, or have a conversation centered around it.
The five-letter word made her uncomfortably aware of things she wasn’t ready to explore.
“I love you too,” she finally typed.
After a brief pause and a shallow breath, she sent it.
Holding the phone loosely in her hand, she traced unseen sketches across the screen with her index finger, counting the seconds as she waited for a reply.
When the phone beeped again, she jerked slightly.
“You’re still awake?? Why?”
She bit her lip for a few nervous seconds. “Couldn’t sleep.”
She didn’t think he would be interested in hearing about her night routine.
She jerked for the second time that night when her phone suddenly started ringing, cutting through the deep silence of the house.
She hadn’t been expecting a call. Texts seemed safer…
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She stared at the phone in a flutter as it rang, her chest tight and warm all at once. After a moment, she tapped the answer icon, pushing out a deep breath, unsure why she felt both hot and happy at the same time.
“Hello…” she said, putting the call on loudspeaker.
—
Derek smiled widely as he heard the sweet, tiny voice of his little witch through the phone.
He figured she must have been surprised—and a little flustered—to see his call light up her screen. Truth was, he hadn’t planned to call either; it had simply… happened.
Holding the phone in place against his ear with his left hand, he hurriedly shoveled the last remnants of spaghetti from the ceramic plate on the counter into his mouth, swallowing before dropping the empty plate into the sink with a dull clink.
“Hello…” he answered, pulling out a stool and taking a seat nearest to the cupboard by the western wing of the kitchen.
“How are you doing, baby?” he asked, already turning over other sweet names in his mind—names he could use for now.
She was human, after all, and so he had to court her the human way, at least until the time of unveiling came.
That day still filled him with dread. The day his little witch would find out who, and what, he truly was.
“I’m fine. How about you?”
Her reply came in a thinner, softer voice, and Derek smiled again. He knew her cheeks must be flushed rosy red at his term of endearment. He was just about to respond when his mother’s voice cut in.
“Derek, why are you smiling that way?”
Melvina studied her son, amusement glinting in her eyes as she took in the goofy, sheepish grin on his face. She already knew who he was talking to—but she wanted to hear his excuse.
“Smiling?” Derek muttered, more to himself than to his mother, though she heard it all the same.
He reached up and touched his lips, blinking innocently at her. “I’m not smiling. Just exercising my lips.”
He failed miserably at holding the chuckle in. The grin widened, especially as Emma’s contagious laughter rang through the phone—she had clearly overheard the exchange.
Melvina laughed aloud. “Exerciser,” she said teasingly. “Send my regards to Emma. And remember, we have a meeting tonight with your cousin.”
With that, she picked up the plate of food she had dished out earlier and walked out of the kitchen.
“Yes, Mom,” Derek replied—this time through the mind link.
“Your mom is funny,” Emma said over the phone. “But how does she know my name?”
Excitement creeped into her voice. “You told her already?”
The thought thrilled her. To Emma, it could only mean one thing—Derek was serious about her.
She smiled to herself, a familiar blush warming her cheeks as she recalled the fondness in the woman’s voice.
Then the thought stuttered to a stop.
Rewinding the moment in her mind, Emma realized something unsettling. That voice sounded exactly like Melvina’s.
How was that possible?
Could it be…?
No. She shook her head almost immediately. If Melvina were his mother, he would have said something. He had to have.
Besides, both of them had been in her house earlier that day.
“Derek…” she called softly when the line fell silent except for static.
“I’m here,” Derek replied, slowly. He had been scrambling for a way to divert her attention, his mind racing. He had forgotten to keep up the lie.
Rubbing his forehead in slow circles, he sighed as the next question came.
“Is Melvina your mom?” Emma asked tentatively, as though she wasn’t entirely sure of her own suspicion.
“No, she isn’t.”
“Why are you lying?” Maru’s voice cut in. “Telling her the truth won’t change anything. Your mother won’t reveal your identity without your permission.”
“I know,” Derek linked back. “I just don’t want her to treat me differently—as a governess’ son.”
Maru scoffed. Sometimes, its human half was utterly ridiculous.
“Well, I hope you have a better reply when you’re busted… governess’ son.”
Derek winced.
“Okay then,” Emma said, dragging his attention back to her. “But she really has her voice. Melvina, I mean.”
“Really?” Derek replied smoothly. “Didn’t notice.”
“You should be sleeping,” he added quickly, glancing at his wristwatch. “It’s getting late, and we have classes tomorrow morning by eight.”
He faked a yawn, hoping she’d take the hint.
“Yeah, right,” Emma replied reluctantly. She wanted to talk more; sleep hadn’t claimed her yet. Normally, sleep was her best friend—
Till Derek came around, her mind teased.
She laughed softly and decided to let him go.
“Goodnight then,” she said, still lingering, still waiting.
“Just like that?” Derek asked, making her laugh again.
“Should there be anything else?” she teased.
“Well, yes,” he replied, playing along.
“Something like…?”
“Emma!” Derek whisper-shouted, in mock frustration.
“Okay, okay. Goodnight, darling,” she finally said, reining in her laughter.
“Goodnight, babe. Sweet dreams,” Derek blew a kiss into the phone, choosing not to think about how ridiculous he must look.
“Alright, bye,” Emma said, ending the call.
She dropped the phone onto the bedstand, chuckling to herself as she lay back. Closing her eyes and willing sleep to come, she heard her phone beep again.
She snatched it up instantly and unlocked the screen.
A new message.
“Dream of me, baby.”
