“About that.” I squirmed against him. “It doesn’t make sense to me that you want to get married. Why would you want to get married?”

“I want both of us to be safe. I feel like the only way both of us will be safe from our fathers is by being together.”

“Hmm.” I sighed as I looked up at him. I wanted to believe him so badly. I wanted him to be genuine. I wanted him to really be concerned with protecting me. I wanted to be number one in someone’s life for once.

“It’s the only way, Nancy.” He kissed my forehead. “We can take care of each other.”

“You’re the one that started this.”

“I didn’t know your dad would become a murderer.”

“I’m not so sure my dad is a murderer.” I shook my head.

“Did you call him?” His eyes were intense and I shook my head.

“No.” I whispered. “Not yet. I needed time to think.”

“Think about what?”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” I sighed and shifted under him. “I didn’t know that therapy was a part of the lesson.”

“It’s only a part if you want it to be a part.”

“I don’t want it to be a part.” I shook my head.

“Then we don’t talk.”

“That’s what you guys prefer right?” I tried to ignore the touch of his fingers on my breast. “You prefer it when the girl doesn’t want to talk.”

“Depends on the girl and the conversation.” His fingers found my nipple. “I don’t mind talking when it’s something I want to hear.”

“Or if it’s something you want to touch right?” My hand crept up to his. “Then you pretend to listen.”

“I don’t pretend to do anything.” He growled and moved his mouth down to my breast. “I just do.” His lips bit down on my breast and he sucked on my nipple through my top.

“Jaxon, no.”

“No?” He frowned. “What do you mean no?”

“I mean, no, I’m not doing this now.” I pushed him away and jumped off of the bed. “You can’t just come into my room with a rope and ask me to do kinky shit and think I’m just going to say yes.”

“You’re a typical girl.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your body says one thing, your mouth says another.”

“Are you out of your f**king mind?” I glared at him as I shouted. “Do you think that’s cool or funny?”

“Do I think what’s cool?” He jumped up and glared back at me. “Having blue balls every damn night.”

“Women’s bodies respond in ways we can’t control.” I snapped. “Do you think you have the right to do anything to a woman’s body based on what her body is telling you or do you think you should listen to what she’s saying?”

“You really think I’m a jerk, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what to think. I don’t know you.”

“What’s going on here, Nancy?” He sighed and sat back down on my bed. “Are you mad at me?”

“I’ve nothing to be mad at you about.” I shook my head and turned around. My head felt like it was spinning. I was confused and unsure of everything that was going on around me. I just wanted to go back to bed so that I could fall asleep and forget everything that had happened the last couple of weeks. I just wanted to ignore the fact that my nipple was still aching and tingling for his touch. I wanted to ignore the fact that I wanted to touch Jaxon and taste him. I wanted to tease him until he couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted him to want me so badly that my very touch would make him blow.

“I’m going to go to my room.” He walked towards the door. “I see you need time to think and be by yourself.”

“You’re leaving me by myself?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “You need to have a clear head. Obviously, it’s not clear right now. I’m not going to do anything with you until your head is clear.”

“I don’t know what to say.” I bit my lip, feeling shocked that he was leaving so early. Had I annoyed him? Was he no longer interested in me? I was angry at myself for feeling so weak. Already I was starting to doubt what I’d said to him and how I’d acted. Maybe I should go with what my body was feeling, instead of the indecision in my brain. I was about to ask him to stay when he walked out of the door. I closed my eyes and stood there wondering what I was going to do. I froze as it suddenly hit me that Hunter was dead. I’m not sure why the reaction was so delayed, but I stood there in the middle of my room with tears streaming down my face and all I could think was I’d gotten Hunter killed. I’d gotten him killed and I didn’t even know who was responsible for his death.

Chapter Five

Jaxon

Timing is crucial in every aspect of life. When you meet the love of your life, the time makes a difference. For example, if you meet them in grade school or junior high, that’s bad timing. If you meet them in college, that’s perfect timing. Timing in investments is also key, buy low, sell high. Everything in life revolves around timing. Success revolves around timing. My timing with Nancy could make or break everything.

There’s one thing you can’t account for in timing and that’s emotions. Emotions can ruin everything. I’ve never had to worry about that before. In fact, I’ve never wanted to care about anyone else before. Love was a weakness I couldn’t afford in life. Not after everything that had happened. Even though I knew that, I was finding it hard to feel impartial about Nancy. She was everything I didn’t want her to be. Honest, beautiful, charming, trusting, sexy, beautiful. She had an air about her that was fragile. She was broken inside. I could see that. I could see that and I was playing on it. My father would have been proud. Everything he’d ever taught me was based around the fact that I should be able to read people. When you can read people you can figure out answers to questions you didn’t even have to ask.

I loved knowing people’s fears and loves and playing it against them. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s hard. Especially when they have a good poker face. Brandon had a good poker face. I hadn’t even known about Katie until I’d come across an article about a museum event they’d been photographed at. They weren’t even standing together in the photo, but I’d seen the way he was looking at her. He loved her. He loved her more than he loved himself. She was to be my in. And it had worked. Even though, they’d been broken up for years, Brandon had still showed up at my doorstep warning me to stay away from her. He’d had no idea who I was. If he had, I was positive that he wouldn’t have given me all the ammunition he had. However, I’d been the one to come out ahead. I’d told him that Katie and I were getting serious. I’d told him that we were thinking about taking it to the next level. It had all been a lie, of course. Katie hadn’t been interested in me in that way, but he didn’t know that. Even now, he thought that he’d busted up a serious relationship with his stalking. I knew that I was close to him finding out the truth. I had to get Nancy to marry me, before all the lies came pouring out.

I quickly pulled out my phone and called Brandon. It was a call I didn’t want to make yet, but it was a call I had to make.

“Brandon Hastings.”

“It’s Jaxon Cade.”

“What do you want?” His voice lowered and I could tell he was pissed. I smiled to myself at his tone. He was going to become even more pissed once I was done with him.

“She said she wants to marry me. She wants her child to know his father.” I lied smoothly, the words flowing from my mouth as if they were water flowing from a stream.

“So this is how this is going to go then? You’re going to marry my daughter?”

“Better than your fiancé, right? Though, I’m sure Katie would like to know the real story of why we broke up.”

“If Nancy wants to marry you.” He sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“We’re in love.”

“She barely knows you.”

“You know what it’s like when you’re young. You fall in love quickly. And now we’re having a child. Well, you know how it is. Now we’re having a child, everything in our relationship seems bigger and brighter.”

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you for sleeping with my daughter.”

“You don’t want more blood on your hands, do you?” I was about to ask him about Hunter when I heard a knock on my door. “Hold on.” I walked to the door and opened it. “Hey,” I frowned and pulled her into the room quickly. “You shouldn’t he here.” I whispered.

“I needed to see you.” She whispered back.

“I have to go now, Brandon or should I say dad.” I laughed into the phone and hung up.

“Who were you talking to?” Amber pressed her lips against mine and I pulled away.

“I told you, no kissing.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t kiss.” She sighed and pulled off her top. “It’s so impersonal.”

“You knew this from the beginning.”

“Doesn’t mean I like it.” She pulled her bra off and I stared at her br**sts in a clinical fashion. “I was surprised to get your text.”

“I was horny.” I shrugged. “You should have waited to come until tonight. What if someone had seen you?”

“Who’s going to see me?” She dropped to the ground and undid my zipper.

“Anyone.” I frowned down at her as she pulled my c**k out. “I don’t want anyone knowing that we know each other.”

“You mean intimately?” She giggled before putting my c**k into her mouth. She got to work immediately sucking me off and playing with my balls. She knew exactly what I liked and she did it well. Though, all I could think about was what my next step would be with Nancy. She was getting to me in ways I never thought possible. She was complicating everything. I was so close to accomplishing everything I’d ever dreamed of. So close. Yet, something was holding me back. If I was honest with myself, I knew it wasn’t something, it was someone. Amber continued sucking on my c**k and I knew that I was about to blow my load. I didn’t bother pulling out or warning Amber that I was about to come. I knew she didn’t love swallowing, but I didn’t care. I’d been f**king her on and off for the last year. I had absolutely no concern for her, but I was happy that she was eager to please. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have had Shannon and Louise here, playing their roles.

I came hard and fast, my c**k exploding in her mouth. Her eyes widened as she continued sucking and swallowing. She stood up after a few minutes, licking her lips and playing with her nipples.

“My turn now.” She smiled at me. “I need to feel your tongue inside of me.”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible.” I dismissed her, staring at her body in disdain. I had no interest in touching her. All I could think about was Nancy. I was starting to feel angry at myself. What the f**k was going on here?

“What do you mean that’s not possible?” She slipped her fingers into her panties. “I’m f**king wet.” She pulled out her fingers and ran them across my now limp cock. “Feel that. I’m soaking. I need to feel you inside of me.”

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” My eyes narrowed. “Now.”

“I thought you were horny.”

“I was. I’ve come now.” I nodded and gave her a short smile. “Thanks.”

“Bastard.” She shook her head. “This is all a game to you, isn’t it?”

“You know it’s never going to be more than that.”

“I know that.” She shrugged and grabbed her top off of the floor. “Does your little girl Nancy know that though?” She pulled her top on. “I’d hate to think she’s believing the bullshit you’re spewing in her ear.”

“Is that a threat?” I grabbed her wrists. “You’re not planning on saying anything are you?”

“I don’t care either way.” She pulled her wrists away from me. “You’re the one that has to pretend you’re interested in her. I think it’s stupid, but you have your reasons.”

“I’m not pretending.” I answered her softly and I saw her eyes widening in shock. I couldn’t blame her. She knew me as the cold, heartless man that I was. There had been many nights when all we’d done was her sucking my c**k and then I’d dismiss her. She’d never stayed the night. We’d never kissed. I didn’t care if she orgasmed when I f**ked her. The fact was I didn’t care about her. She was just one in a long line of women I used at my disposal. She was one of a long line of women, I didn’t give a f**k about. All that was starting to change though. I was starting to have feelings. I did kiss now. I did care about a women orgasming more than myself. Of course, the one person I would start to have feelings for happened to be the one person I was going to bring down. “You can leave now. Don’t come to my room again.”

“You’re the one that…” She started and stopped when she saw my look.

“If you tell Nancy anything you’ll be cut off.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to help.”

“So far you guys have been great.” I nodded. “Just keep it up.”