CBTB | MW [✔]

04.

"Baby?" My hand drops to my stomach, and unfamiliar lace slides beneath my palm.

A whine of distress leaves me, and my eyes dart to the driver as I try to cover myself. I don't want strangers to see me like this. It's already bad enough that Mingyu has witnessed me at my worst after I snuck out on him this morning.

Shame rises in me, and tears fall down my cheeks as I cross my arms over myself. "Why did you pretend you didn't Mark me? Is it because I work in your strip club? Or because I'm dirty?"

His expression turns fierce. "Never say that again."

"But I made you..." I pull my legs up onto the seat and cross my ankles, trying to hide myself. "And I was going to—"

A sob cuts me off, and my shoulders shake.

"It's okay, sweet boy." He shrugs out of his suit jacket and wraps it around my body, his scent enveloping me. "You didn't make me do anything."

"I didn't want to work in the back rooms, but I was going to do it." Shivers run through me, and I pull the jacket tighter around myself. "I need the money— Oh, god, Donghun's going to fire me. I need to—"

Outside the car windows, the city rushes by.

When did we leave the club? I can't remember, and panic sets in. How long have I already been gone?

If I don't go back to Velvet Oasis, that's it for me. There's no way Donghun will give me a third chance. I need to go back.

Lunging forward, I grab the back of the driver's seat. "Please, turn around. I need to—"

"You're not going back there." Firm, gentle hands draw me onto Mingyu's lap and the pheromones that flood from his body help to calm my panic. "Didn't I say I would take care of you?"

Straddling his powerful thighs, I clutch the front of his shirt. "You don't understand. Without this job, I—"

More sobs drown out the rest of my words.

"It will be okay. Everything will be okay." He wipes the tears from my eyes and cradles my face in his hands. "Now, tell me what drugs you took. Is this the first time? Or is this an ongoing addiction? Who supplied you?"

"Ongoing..." I stare at him blankly. "I can't afford drugs. I can't even afford suppressants right now."

"Good, that makes things easier." His thumbs sweep over my wet cheeks. "Do you know what you took? And who supplies it?"

"I don't know. One of the boys gave it to me. He said it would help make things easier..." My face crumples. "It didn't make things easier. Donghun was going to give me to Jaekyung. I didn't want to go."

Rage twists his features before his expression gentles. "It's okay. Come here. Everything will be okay."

His hands move to my back, and he draws me forward until our chests rest flush against each other. Then his palm on the back of my head urges it down to rest against his shoulder, near the spot behind his ear that smells the sweetest.

A low rumble vibrates from his chest, traveling through me, and I melt against him. My hold on his shirt relaxes, and my arms wrap around him, needing his warmth to anchor me so I don't spiral back into anxious panic.

Mingyu will make everything okay.

Distantly, his voice fills the car, but the gentle sweep of his hand over my back tells me I don't need to pay attention. All I need to do is breathe him in and let the rest of the world fade to nothing.

*****

"He should recover, but he needs nutrients," a voice murmurs, drawing me up from unconsciousness. "He's extremely malnourished. If he's pregnant, he needs to take better care of himself, or he won't be healthy enough to carry to term."