Page 76 of Rectify

Aedan was silent for a long moment. “What would you think about having a bodyguard?”

“I don’t know. That would be awfully expensive. Especially when it’s not really necessary.”

“Lovely, I’ve got plenty of money. That isn’t an issue. Having you and Mateo safe is what’s important.”

“I wouldn’t feel right hiring a bodyguard when I’m just paranoid.”

“What about my paranoia? You’re not the only one who worries. I’d feel a lot better if you had someone watching over the two of you. I’ll talk to Declan. See if we need to hire someone else or if he wants to handle it himself. Please, do this for me?”

If it would make him feel better . . . oh, who was she kidding? She knew it would help her feel more secure as well.

“All right. I’ll agree for both of our peace of mind. But this is a temporary measure. Once I feel better, I have the right to review the situation.”

“Agreed. Now, I believe there’s another situation that needs your immediate attention.”

She scanned his body to find his cock standing at attention.

“Wow, that was quick.”

“Told you,” he said. “I’m insatiable around you.”

“It must be my superpower, turning you on.”

He grinned. “You’re also the cure.”

12

Natalya woke with a fright. With her heart pounding in her chest as she gasped for breath, she immediately rolled over to check the nanny cam monitor, wanting to ensure that Mateo was safely sleeping in his bed. Once she saw him lying there, sleeping peacefully, her panic dissipated.

“Lovely?” Aedan questioned, sitting up. “Did you have a nightmare?”

She nodded, still feeling out of sorts. “I thought I was over them.” Aedan’s presence in her bed the last week had seemed to keep them at bay.

He rubbed her back soothingly. “These things take time.”

“I’m tired of hearing that,” she yelled. Then she shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“Shh, no need to apologize.”

“I just wish I could get over this fear. Stop wondering if someone is going to take him from me again.”

“Do you want to talk about the dream?” he asked.

Not really. But she’d learned that she had to talk things out, or she’d go insane. “It’s weird. The dream has changed over the last few months. When they first started it, my dream used to beclose to the incident, that I was walking along the street when two masked men suddenly jumped out of a van and grabbed Mateo from my arms. He was screaming for me, crying. Only, I couldn’t move. I was stuck. Frozen.”

“And now?”

“Now, we’re in the park, and someone is watching us. I can feel their eyes on me, but I can’t seem to find them. All of a sudden, just as I find them, they disappear, and I wake up. Silly, huh?”

“No, not silly at all.”

Of course, he would say that. Sometimes she felt like she was a few steps away from the crazy house.

“You go back to sleep.” She brushed his chin with her lips. “I’m going to get up for a while, maybe watch some television. I don’t think I’ll go back to sleep for a while.”

“Well, I have an idea about how to get you to relax.” He turned and pulled her vibrator out of the bedside drawer. Natalya blushed bright red.

“No.”

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