Page 58 of The Player

“You can’t be serious.” Getting off the toilet, I stumble, and Aaron catches me.

“Dead serious, Julie. And that fucker downstairs is going to die for even thinking he could touch you.”

Aaron pulls out the kit, grabbing the antiseptic and bandages. “You are my everything. I’ve done a piss poor job of making sure you were safe and that you knew you were mine. Always fucking mine.”

He kisses me before I can protest and demand more answers. “Now, enough of this. I want you to sit here like a good Sugar Plum and let me doctor those wounds.”

I shouldn’t be turned on. No, I should be running for the hills. Instead, I sit back down and let Aaron clean me. It hurts, but he kisses me every time I whimper, so I whimper a little more than is necessary.

“When this is all over with, I’m going to worship you. Make you my wife and be the best damn father to Lennox possible. And we are going to have more children. Do you understand me, Julie?”

“I…” My mind spirals at the thought of being his, but he…he’s a killer. “You’ve killed someone.”

“Doesn’t matter.” With the last bandage in place, he pulls me up and pushes a hand through my hair. “Tell me right now, if I walked away, would it hurt you?”

The thought of him leaving me and Lennox kills me. Daggers shoot through my heart. “Yes. I’d probably end up curling into a ball and not coming out of my room for days. But I have Lennox to think about. He’s…he’s my everything, and I can’t lose him. Nor can I trust…”

Aaron kisses me, pulling me deeper into him as he licks his tongue into my mouth. “This isn’t up for discussion, love. It’s how it’s going to be. Lennox needs his father in his life and you know I would do anything to protect you and him. I’ve lost so much time with you both. Don’t make me lose more.”

“Is this your way of groveling?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Telling me how it’s going to be?”

A laugh slips his lips, and he shakes his head. “Always the smart ass.” He peppers kisses along my forehead and holds my face in his hands. “I love you, Julie. Let me be there for you. Please.”

“Alright, but you can’t kill Josh. You have to turn him over to the police.”

I run my hands along his chest, wanting to feel him. It’s insane to think how alright I am with him being a killer. “Wait,” I nearly scream his ear off.

“What, Ju-Ju?” He looks amused, but I’m anything but amused.

“Did you stalk me?”

Aaron grips my right breast and pushes me against the wall. “Yes. And I’m doing it now. I’m going to have cameras in every nook of this house. You won’t know what privacy is anymore.”

Huffing, I sigh. “You can’t do that.”

“It’s already being done. Bryson is probably on the phone right now ordering what I need to make sure my future wife and son are safe.”

“You can’t do this. I don’t even know if I can trust you not to hurt Lennox or me in the future.”

The gasping growl that leaves Aaron’s mouth has my heart shattering. I can’t believe I just said that. “Do you mean that?”

Do I? I look at the man I love. Have always loved and my lower lip wobbles. “No. I didn’t…I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”

“That’s what I thought. I won’t kill him. But he’s going to have to go. Which means you are going to press charges on him. Aren’t you?”

“Yes. I didn’t…I didn’t think he would go that far. I’ve been scared before, but he invaded my home.”

“Our home, Ju-Ju.” This earns a smile.

“Yes. Our home.” I chuckle and give him a quick kiss. “We should get out there before Bryson carries out whatever crazy plan you two devised.”

“This is true. But this isn’t over. I owe you a spanking for not trusting me.”

I stick my tongue out at him and roll my eyes. “Oh, come on. You just told me you killed my professor. I should be running to the cops about you. Instead, I’m kissing you, wanting you to take me, and not turning you in.”

His eyes dilate with need. “You want me to take you, huh?” The way he bites my earlobe makes me whimper.

“You… I… Stop that. You are distracting me.”

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