Chapter 3 Call Me Derek

• Crystal’s pov
• I never meant for things to escalate like this. But how could I have known that my life would change forever the moment I laid eyes on him? I was sixteen—young, impressionable, and completely unprepared for the feelings that would take hold of me. Derek. He wasn’t just Ella’s father; he was everything I’d ever wanted in a man.
• Boys my age? They were a joke. Immature, obsessed with one thing. I never fit in with their chaotic, hormone-fueled world. Maybe it was because I grew up too fast, especially after my dad passed away. I spent my days escaping into adult movies and fantasizing about the kind of man who could make me feel safe, who could truly see me. So when my mum had to leave town for an important assignment, I ended up staying with Ella’s family. I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
• From the moment I met Derek, something shifted in between my legs. It was like the universe had dropped my dream man in front of me. His smile—it was more than just charming; it was electrifying. Every time he looked my way, I felt something deep inside me stir, something I couldn’t explain. And then came the worst part—the secret. The crush on my best friend’s father that I could never admit to anyone, not even myself, fully. How could I? It was twisted, forbidden, and wrong… wasn’t it?
• But every time he laughed, every time he flashed that TV-presenter smile, I found myself sinking deeper. I hated how much it hurt seeing him kiss his wife. It felt like betrayal, like he was cheating on me. God, it sounds so insane, but back then, that pain was real. I was consumed by this secret love, replaying every interaction in my mind, imagining us together like a real couple. I’d fantasize about what it would feel like to have him hold me, touch me the way I desperately wanted.
• I obsessed over him, and it became something I couldn’t shake off. It only got worse when he taught me how to swim. It was innocent—he was just helping me, but to me, it was intimate, like something only the two of us shared. Those moments felt like the closest I’d ever get to him.
• The water would cling to his swimming trunks, revealing his chiseled abs and sometimes, I could even see the thick veins on his cock whenever he emerged from the pool. During these lessons, I gave myself to him completely. I purposefully guided his hands to my breasts, asking him to hold me so I could float on the water. He would hold one hand on my breasts and the other on my belly, and I loved every second of it. Whenever I made progress, I would jump into his arms, and Ella thought I was acting innocently. But for me, it was all deliberate. However, Derek saw me as his daughter, and his behavior was pure. His wife, Chloe, always sat outside the pool, laughing at my nervousness. She believed I was scared of the water and never suspected anything more from the way I clung to her husband.
• "Crystal," Ella’s voice broke through my thoughts, her hand gently squeezing my leg.
• "We’re home. You must be exhausted." Her words snapped me back to reality, but my mind was still filled with memories and emotions.
• As I peered out the window, I saw the new house. “This is different,” I murmured, noting the unfamiliar driveway.
• "Yeah, we moved a few weeks ago," Ella said, her voice slightly tinged with something unspoken. She paused for a moment, waiting for her dad to exit the car before she continued. “Mum didn’t come with us.”
• My stomach tightened. "Where is she?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
• "In her own place. My parents… they’ve been having some serious problems. Mum’s even talking about a divorce."
• Divorce. The word lingered in the air, hanging between us. I could barely suppress the excitement bubbling inside me. Was this… an opening? Was this fate, finally giving me the chance I’d secretly hoped for all these years?
• "Oh," I muttered, trying to mask the wave of hope that came over me. I forced myself to sound surprised. “I didn’t know things had gotten that bad.”
• Ella sighed as she stepped out of the car. "I’m doing everything I can to fix things between them. It’s been rough."
• I followed her out, but my mind was coming up with new possibilities. This is my chance. Derek wasn’t with her mother anymore. Maybe, just maybe, I could finally show him that I wasn’t the same girl from all those years ago. But how could I do that without Ella noticing?
• As we walked toward the house, Ella broke the silence again. “My dad has always been the same, he hasn’t changed. He’s still the caring guy you remember. I saw him looking at you when you closed your eyes in the car.”
• My heart skipped a beat. Had he been watching me? Did he notice me the way I wanted him to? Was there still that spark?
• "What’s wrong?" Ella asked, sensing my sudden discomfort.
• "Nothing," I lied, forcing a smile. But my mind was racing. Was it wrong to feel this way? To still want him after all these years?
• "I know you’re upset about Tony," Ella said, her voice softening. "But trust me, you’ll forget all about him soon. I even have a surprise for you."
• "A surprise?" I forced myself to ask, though my mind was far from whatever she was planning.
• "Yep, but I’m not telling you now," she teased, leading me into the house.
• The mansion was stunning, but all I could think about was him. Derek. It wasn’t long before I found myself alone in the guest room, waiting for Ella who had gone to the kitchen to prepare dinner. My heart raced when there was a knock at the door. I assumed it was Ella, but when I opened it—there he was. Derek.
• My heart nearly stopped. He carried one of my small luggage in, I must have forgotten it at the sitting room because of my obssesion. I watched his every move, trying to keep my composure.
• "Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely steady as I moved toward the wardrobe, twirling my hair nervously. I could feel his eyes on me. Could he sense how badly I wanted him? How every inch of me ached for something more?
• Derek’s voice broke through the tension. “Ella told me about your breakup… Tony is foolish for letting someone like you go.”
• I blushed. Did he really mean that? Was he thinking about me the way I was thinking about him?
• "Thank you, sir," I replied softly.
• "Please," he said, his voice smooth, "call me Derek."
• The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. "Derek," I repeated, letting the word linger. I’d do anything to be with you.
• Before he left, I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, “And your wife? She’s not here?”
• “No, she’s not.” He paused. “In fact, she’s pursuing a divorce.”
• The words hit me so hard. A divorce. It’s happening. I could hardly contain my excitement.
• "I'm so sorry to hear that," I said, feeling a pang of sympathy for him.
• "It's alright. We've been trying to make it work for years, but as we've grown older, it's become more difficult to be together," Derek explained, his voice calm but carrying a weight I couldn’t ignore.
• I hesitated for a moment, then added with a small smile, “a wise person once said, 'One woman's trash is another woman's treasure.” I let the words linger, trying to sound casual, though my heart was racing. "I still remember those days you taught me how to swim."
• His eyes lit up as he looked at me, almost surprised. "Do you really remember those days?"
• "Of course I do," I chuckled softly, but inside, I was anything but calm.
• After he left the room, I sat on the bed, my mind spinning. I knew this was wrong. I knew I shouldn’t want him this much. But the thought of him made me lose control. Forgive me, Ella, but I’ve wanted this for so long. When will I finally feel his lips on mine? When will he hold me the way I’ve always dreamt? When will I be able to run my fingers over his abs? I can't help but stare at his lips, wanting to get wet."
• *********************
• Author’s pov
• Derek loosened the top button of his shirt, as the memory of Crystal’s playful smile replayed in his mind even after thirty minutes when he left Crystal's room. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair before heading to the bathroom. As he splashed cold water on his face, he leaned over the sink, gripping the edges tightly.
• “This is madness. She’s my daughter’s best friend. What am I even thinking?”
• But no matter how hard he tried to push her from his thoughts, her image kept coming up. He could still feel the intensity of their brief embrace when she had leaned in to hug him at the airport. The scent of her perfume had ignited something primal in him, something he hadn’t felt in years. Chloe had never stirred this kind of passion in him. He cursed himself for letting his mind wander into what he never thought of.
• He stood up, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, but all he could see was Crystal—her lithe figure, the curve of her hips, the delicate way she’d run her fingers through her hair. The thought of what it would feel like to pull her close, to claim her lips as his, was a battle he couldn’t seem to win.
• “A once plump, young girl has blossomed into the most stunning lady I've ever laid eyes on. No. I can’t. This will destroy everything. Ella… what would she say?”
• He ran a hand over his jaw before stepping back into the bedroom, where the familiar emptiness of the bed mocked him.
• The sound of Ella’s knock startled him back to reality and she opened the door.
• "Dinner's ready, you know you love it hot.” Maggie said, while holding the door and looking at her dad's face.
• "Okay, I'm coming," he replied, forcing himself to put on a mask of normalcy. Yet, as Ella left, his gaze returned to the closed door. Once again, he found himself thinking about Crystal, the woman who stirred desires that should never be spoken.
• Ella headed to Crystal's room and knocked. But before she could speak, the door swung open, and her eyes widened in shock at what Crystal was wearing.
• “When did you start wearing something revealing like this?” Ella asked, clearly taken aback.
• Crystal shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.