Page 54 of The Player

“I’m glad you like that I can carry you, Sugar Plum.”

Biting his jawline right before his chin, I suckle on his flesh. He jolts and stops walking.

“Fuck, Julie. Such a naughty little girl, aren’t you?”

There’s no reason to answer. No, I’m going to show him.

Two hours later, I’m exhausted and all I want to do is curl up in Aaron’s arms, but Lennox is banging on my bedroom door.

“He’s persistent, isn’t he?” Aaron grumbles around my nipple.

“Just like his father.” I arch into his mouth, and he moans.

“Fuck, we have to get going. If we don’t, I’ll never get any food in either of you.”

Smiling, I kiss his forehead. “A-bear, take Lennox out. I’m going to take a shower and rest. You two need to bond.”

He looks at me, assessing.

“Do you not want to go?”

More than anything, I do. But right now, I know he needs time with Lennox. “It’s not about that. It’s about taking time with your son away from his mom. Bonding time.”

I smile at him and run my hand along his face. “Besides, I believe you’ve shown me more than once what you feel about me.”

That smirk of his makes me melt every time. And he knows it. Bending down, he kisses me and licks my lower lip. I shiver with need.

“Alright, but don’t let the past make you think I don’t want you with us. I want to show your sexy ass off.”

“Whatever.” I push at him and laugh. “Don’t be silly. I know you do, or at least I think you do. It doesn’t matter though. Tonight is all about you and Lennox.”

“Fine, but we will have Bry and Kaylee watch him one night so we can go out.”

We get up, and I hug him. “Yes, we will.”

This seems to placate him because he doesn’t push.

* * *

The boys have been gone for about an hour when Tuxedo comes into the living room and sits down on my lap.

“What are you doing, handsome boy?”

His yellow eyes look up at me with annoyance, and I laugh. “Are you out of food again?”

He rarely hisses at me, but he does this time. I frown and pet him. “Hey, now, that’s not very nice.”

He hisses again and his tail goes rigid. “Oh,” I whisper. “Someone is out there, huh?”

That’s normally his tall tell that a stranger is near. Tuxedo’s head bumps my chest, and I hold him close.

“Don’t worry, handsome. They will…”

Before I can finish my sentence, the glass bay window crashes inward and I jump. Tuxedo jumps from my arms and hides under the couch. The little thing has always been jumpy, but at least he could have defended me.

Shaking, I look at the rock sitting on the floor. It’s just a rock. Nothing more. No note or anything. Slipping my feet into the slippers, I walk over and pick up the rock. A scream leaves me as I see the bloody note on the underside.

The letters spell out slut, and I close my eyes. Not again. Please not this crap again. It had been horrible during college. But now I have to think about Lennox and Aaron. Does anyone know that he’s living with me?

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