Chapter 21
“Oh my God!” That’s the only thing I can say as I run up the stairs and lock my door. Why, oh why, do I keep putting myself out there with him? How many times does he have to hurt me before I grasp the concept he doesn’t want me?
Crawling into bed, I curl into a ball and quietly cry. For a moment, I thought I could be with him. That he…he may want me. Aaron probably felt obligated to kiss me since I helped him. God, he was most likely calling out my name to tell me to stop, and I thought he was moaning in pleasure.
Sleep fails me all night. Sugar Plum. It rolls around in my brain and latches on. No one has ever called me that but James. It doesn’t make sense though, for him to be James, does it? Wishful thinking. That’s what I chalk it up to be. By the time the alarm goes off at six, I’m already up, showered, and dressed. As I plate our breakfast, Aaron comes in. He sits down beside Lennox and I smile. At least he’s nice to my kiddo.
“Something smells great,” he mumbles and Lennox laughs.
“Mom’s the best cook ever!”
“Eggs and bacon,” I tell him as I slide the plate onto the table with a glass of orange juice.
“You put garlic powder and pepper on it?” I can hear the excitement in his voice. As if I could or would cook it any other way. It was the same last night. Did he think I forgot within twelve hours how to cook bacon?
Turning around so he can’t see the tears pooling, I answer him. “Yes. It’s the only way to eat bacon.”
Grabbing my coffee, I pick up my lunch. “Good luck with therapy today. Your sister will be here in ten minutes to pick you up. Lennox, go brush your teeth, honey.”
“Wait, you aren’t taking me?” There’s surprise in his tone, and I almost smile.
Keeping my gaze from him, I take a sip of my coffee. “No, I have to get to the office to finish yesterday’s paperwork, plus I have to drop Lennox off at school.”
With one last look back at Aaron, I give him a soft smile. It’s best this way. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
* * *
“Mom, are you and Aaron friends?”
Leave it to my kid to ask the hard questions. “Yes. I knew him before he went pro.”
“That’s so awesome. No one believes me he is living with us.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing or maybe crying at this. How I’ve wanted to live with Aaron for so long is kind of sad.
“Don’t let the others pressure you into anything, and don’t you dare tell them you’ll get them autographs. That’s not right.”
My little boy’s blond hair flops in his eyes. It’s time for a haircut. “Mom, I know better. I love you. See you after school.”
He kisses my cheek and hops down from the Bronco. I watch him enter the school and I know he’ll be breaking hearts very soon.
I drive to work in a trance-like state. My mind won’t stop replaying what happened last night or what Aaron said. Gah, I have to stop thinking about this. It was nothing. A kiss. That’s all it was.
Getting into work, I can take a breath. Helping others has always been what I‘m good at. I mainly work with veterans. They are more likely to do what’s necessary to get better. That’s why I’m working with Bryson instead of Aaron. I’ve read the reports. He’s been stalling and not following what his therapist put in place. Instead, he’s been lazy and soaking up the easy settlement.
Sure, his surgeon did him wrong, but he should have been out of therapy and off meds five months ago.
“What the fuck?” Aaron’s shocked voice reaches me as I come around the corner. “You’re a physical therapist?” He limps over as Bryson laughs.
“No. I’m a doctor of physiology and physical therapy. I oversee twenty-two physical therapists and assistants.” My annoyance is clear as I place a hand on my hip and raise an eyebrow at him. He’s always been a bit of a drama king.
“And why the hell is Bryson working with you and not me?”
Bryson doubles over, wheezing with amusement. I can’t help the smile teasing my lips. “I work best with veterans.”
“Fuck that!” Aaron is getting louder and everyone is staring.
“Aaron, please, you’re causing a scene. Your sister is more than qualified to treat you.”
“When the hell did she get a degree in physical therapy?” How the hell do I not know anything about my family anymore?
“The same way you got your degrees brother,” Kaylee smirks. “Online at night for the main courses, and Julie let me do my clinicals here with her. It took three years to get the needed hours because I’ve been running everything else. Now that I have enough money, I’m able to let others take care of the family farm and bed and breakfast.”
I laugh as I take Bryson over to the massage tables, looking over at Aaron as Bryson places his hand on my arm for help.
“Don’t even think about touching her.” The deadly tone in his voice gives me pause. He’s never talked like this before. My back tingles and I tremble.
Kaylee comes in and looks at us. “Um, why don’t I take Bryson and you take Aaron?”
“No, I’m not his therapist. You know…”
Bryson cuts in. “It’s alright. We will all work together. That way, we’re getting the best treatment.”
Aaron hobbles over to the table next to me as Kaylee settles Bryson down on his table. I take a deep breath and prepare the lotion. “You’ll need to change into shorts, Aaron.”
I show him to the changing room, and he pulls me into the door and locks it. “What the fuck, Julie? You chose not to be my doctor?”
His front is to my back as he crowds against me. The door is cold, but he is hot. So very hot. My breathing hitches as I try to move from his touch. He doesn’t let me get far at all.
One of his hands is at my hip, and the other is on my neck. “This is unprofessional, and we need to get to work. My time is valuable. You are wasting it.”
Trying to remain aloof is like trying to say no to chocolate. Hard and completely ridiculous. My breathing picks up, and I close my eyes, hoping I can ignore him. “Look at me, Julie.”
His voice is dripping with something I don’t understand but have pined for, for years. Turning my head with the help of his hand, forcing my neck to the side, I meet his eyes. I see the anger and lust. I have to tell myself there’s no way he is lusting after me. “You’re driving me fucking nuts, Sugar Plum.” He tilts my head up and pulls me into a kiss.
Just like last night, it’s devouring and all-consuming. Pushing against him, I close my eyes. “No. You and I can’t do this. It was very clear last night you don’t want me. I don’t know what you are doing now, but…”
Aaron cuts me off as he slams me against the door and forces his cock along my butt. He’s so hard. “You feel that, Jules? You make me so damn hard. I am like a teenager that needs to come every thirty minutes.”
His cock throbs underneath my hand, and I realize this is real. He’s not joking when he says he wants me. “Stroke it, Sugar Plum. Feel the weight of my cock in your hand.” Aaron pushes his pants down, and his cock is heavy in my hand.
“We…we shouldn’t be—” Again, he doesn’t let me finish. His hand comes up against my mouth, and he shoves his free hand down my scrub pants.
“Spread your legs,” he demands, and I comply. Two of his fingers delve into my heat, and I moan behind his hand. “My Sugar Plum sure is tight,” he whispers against my ear as he licks down my neck. “Tight, wet, and ready for me.”
The way he claims me as his Sugar Plum causes memories to flood me. “You…you…”
“Goddamn right, it was me,” he growls into my ear. “You think I’d ever let anyone ever fucking touch you?”
“Please,” I beg behind his hand as he rubs two fingers along my wet lips and dips them into my slit. I tremble, and my legs shake with the power of my desire. Aaron latches onto my shoulder and sucks. He uses his fingers to scissor inside of me, causing me to buck against him.
“My goodness, you like it when I put bruises on you. Naughty girl.” His words almost set me off, but he pulls his fingers back, and I cry out in dismay. I was so close. He brings his fingers to his mouth, and he sucks on them.
“Goddamn, Sugar Plum, you taste so sweet. Just like I remember.”