“You have no idea, do you?” He leaned in and pressed his lips against my forehead. “My beautiful broken girl.” He sighed and led me into the tub.

I dipped my toe into the water to check the temperature.

“Good?” he asked, leaning in to see my face.

“Perfect.” I smiled over at him as I lowered myself into the tub. He reached over and shut off the water before slipping in behind me.

I relaxed my arms on his knees as he grabbed some liquid soap and poured it into the palm of his hand. His hand slid over my breast as he began to wash me.

His fingers hesitated for a moment.

“What?” I asked.

His hands slowly started to move again. “We need to start thinking about funeral arrangements.” His voice was low. I swallowed hard and nodded my head. I didn’t want to think about any of that, but there was no one else.

He didn’t say anything else. His hands roamed my body making sure every part of me was clean. He didn’t turn it into anything sexual and I was glad. My mind was somewhere else.

After he was finished lathering me up, I turned around and returned the favor. As my hands moved down his body, he grabbed my wrist and stared at me for a moment before letting me continue on to the hard shaft between his legs. His head fell back for a moment, and he swallowed hard, trying, I knew, not to let his hormones take over.

“That is enough of that.” He smiled and climbed out of the tub.

I realized that the water had long since lost its warmth. I shivered as I stood, and William wrapped an oversized white towel around my shoulders. His own towel hung low on his hips.

“Thank you.” I shot him a half smile as I followed him out of the bathroom.

He nodded and ran his hand through his wet hair, sending water droplets sprinkling over me.

“I mean it. For everything.”

He stopped and spun around, wrapping his muscular arms around my waist, and lifted me to my toes to kiss him.

“I love you, Emma. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

I let my fingers slip into his hair and tugged it gently as I kissed him. He eased me back down and walked towards the kitchen.

He handed me my phone and urged me to call the police department to see when the body could be released. I grabbed the detective’s card from my purse for the number, and bit my nails as I waited for an answer.

William worked his way around the kitchen, throwing together something for us to eat.

Most of what the detective said went in one ear and out the other. I was so overcome with emotion, it was hard to focus. I hung up the phone and let my head fall in my hands.

“What did they say?” William asked as he placed a bowl of hot tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich in front of me. My stomach growled.

“Thanks.” I picked up my spoon and took a small bite.

“What did they say?” he asked again.

“They said her death was… insulin overdose.” I tore off a piece of my sandwich and dipped it into the bowl of creamy red liquid.

“That’s a good thing, right? You don’t have to worry about anyone coming back to hurt you.” William picked up his sandwich and began to eat.

“I guess. I never realized being diabetic was that serious. I just don’t believe she is gone.” I took another bite as I watched him ravish his food. Nothing kept William from missing a meal.

“They said I can make the arrangements.”

He didn’t respond, just nodded his head as he continued to eat.

After William saw to it that I ate my entire meal, he began to call around and helped me make arrangements for Judy’s funeral.

Chapter Ten

We drove to Jacoby’s Funeral home just a few blocks from William’s place. It was a small brick building just off the main strip in town. William squeezed my hand and brought it to his lips.

“I’ll be there with you. You don’t have to worry about anything.” He waited for me to nod a response before letting my hand fall from his. He exited the Beamer and made his way to my side. He pulled the door open and held his hand out for me to take.

I didn’t let his hand go until every last decision had been made. William made most of the arrangements, leaving only the casket and location of burial to me.

By the time we left, my head was spinning. My aunt would be buried at Mt. Rose Cemetery in two days. I was happy that this would finally be over soon. I didn’t know how much more I could take.

My aunt and I didn’t get along that well, but I still loved her and she was the only family I had left. I tried not to think of the humiliation she would feel if word got out that she had died in the middle of some sex act, but she must have, since she was naked. She brought home lots of men, sure, but I still didn’t believe it.

“Let’s get you back home.” William slid his arm around my waist as we made our way back to his car.

I cranked the radio in William’s car until it drowned out my thoughts. I didn’t want to think anymore. I wanted these next two days to fly by so I could put this chapter behind me.

William watched me as I stared ahead. As the first song finished he turned down the volume slightly.

“You want to talk… about anything?”

There were a million things I wanted to say to him. I wanted to confess my anger for not taking the time to get to know my aunt better. I wanted to tell him about my parents. Words failed me. I shook my head and reach for the stereo to crank it back up to deafening levels. He gripped the steering wheel and didn’t say anything else.

We reached his home in record time. I didn’t wait for him to open my door. I felt like I was suffocating. I needed to get upstairs as quickly as possible. William took the stairs two at a time to catch me as I made it to his door. I leaned my head against the cold hard surface, fighting back my tears.

What would I do if he decided that I was too much trouble? That I wasn’t worth it?

His arms wrapped around my body and he pulled me into his chest. I felt safe when I was in his arms. I only felt safe when I was there.

He reached behind me and unlocked the door. His arm dipped under my knees and he lifted me into his arms and carried me inside. He placed me gently on the couch and brushed the hair from my face.

“What is it?” His voice was warm and caring.

“I’m going to lose you too, aren’t I?” I held my breath as I waited for him to tell me I was right. That my whole world was going to implode.

He pressed his forehead against mine as he continued to stroke my hair.

“Never, Emma. You are my everything. I could never leave you. You would be impossible to forget. Why would you even think that?”

I nodded as my hand twisted in his hair.

“I love you,” he said gently.

“I love you, too. So much.”

“Wait here.” William kissed me lightly on the forehead and left the room. I waited, wondering what he was doing.

A moment later, he returned with a square cardboard box in his hands.

“What is that?” I laughed, cocking my head to the side.

“This, my dear, is a distraction.” He sat down in the middle of the floor and motioned for me to join him.

“Yatzee? Really?” I laughed as I sat down across from him and folded my legs under myself.

“What? You expected Parcheesi?”

I made face at him as he opened the box and we each rolled to see who went first.

That game turned into ten and before I knew it, I was yawning and stretching across the floor like a cat.

“Quitting already?”

I smiled and propped myself up on my elbow.

“Thank you… for everything.” He had no idea just how much it meant to me. I needed the distraction.

He winked and pushed himself off the floor, holding out his hand for me. I wrapped my fingers in his and let him pull me to my feet and against his chest.

“One more day to go,” he said as he kissed the top of my head.

I knew as long as I had William, everything was going to be okay.

Chapter Eleven

“Oh…mmmm…” I pushed back against the fingers that slid over my mound. I opened my eyes to see William’s face watching me as his fingers traced the delicate curves of my body. “That is the best wakeup call I have ever received.”

“It’s not over yet.” He smiled as he ducked his head to my chest, pinching my nipple between his teeth. I arched my back, desperate for more contact. His tongue gently pushed back against me.

“Ahh…” His fingers, wet with my excitement, slipped lower. He traced my entrance before slipping one finger inside of my folds. His tongue swirled small circled over my breast as pleasure began to build between my thighs. I reached for him, slipping my hand behind his neck. His free hand grabbed my wrist tightly. He pulled it to his mouth and peppered light kisses over it before pushing it down on the pillow above my head.

I squirmed against him, trying to pull my hand free. His lips trailed along my ear.

“I like it when you fight.”

A moan escaped my lips and I brought my hips up to grind against his hand. His palm rubbed against me as he slipped another finger inside. I used my free hand to push against his chest. He grinned wickedly as he pressed his body against mine.

“Bad girl.” He kissed me hard, pulling back to tug my bottom lip between his teeth. I pushed against him, bucking my hips. His fingers left my body and he grabbed my other hand, securing it above my head with the other. I was helpless beneath him and loving every minute of it, except for the aching emptiness between my thighs. He smiled again as if reading my thoughts.

“I want to hear you beg for it.”

My stubbornness kicked in, and I clamped my mouth shut, refusing to give in. His hips pushed into mine as he throbbed against my entrance.

“Ohh…” My mouth fell back open.

“Do you want me?” His hips moved again, his hand slipping between my folds.

“Yes,” I panted. I lifted my head to kiss him but he pulled his face back, smiling.

“Tell me you want me.” He pulled back slightly and I tugged my arms, trying desperately to free my hands from his grip. I needed to touch him.

“I want you, William.”

With one hard thrust, he buried himself deep inside of me. I gasped and cried out. His mouth quickly covered mine, absorbing my moans as he took me rough and without caution. My core burned with pleasure as he filled and stretched me. His fingers curled and dug into my flesh of my wrists as his release neared.

I forgot everything painful in my life when I was with him. He stole my sadness away with his touch. I couldn’t get enough. It didn’t matter if he was gentle or rough.

I rocked my hips as our bodies pounded together, fitting so perfectly. We were made for each other. He broke our kiss to look me in the eye.

“Tell me you belong to me.”

“I’m yours, William,” I moaned as he pushed violently against me as he came, sending me over the edge of pleasure with him. My legs went limp as he collapsed his body on top of mine.

After catching our breath, we took a long soothing soak in the tub. We talked of random events in our lives to keep the mood light. He never let me think of my aunt’s death.

“Tell me about your first kiss?” I asked as William swirled circles of soap on my knee.

“Junior High. She slapped me.” He laughed as he recalled the memory.

“Quite the lady killer.” I laughed and William’s hand stilled.

“Got you, didn’t I?” he whispered in my ear.

“I didn’t mean to offend-“

“You didn’t.” He slowly started to rub the soap over my leg again.

“What about pets?” I asked.

“I got a golden retriever for Christmas when I was ten. Her name was Lacey. She was a great dog.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “What about you?”

“My mother was highly allergic to pet dander. I was never allowed to have a dog.” I sighed.

His hands slid up to my shoulders and he began to rub the tension from them. “We can get a dog one day.”

The idea made me smile from ear to ear.

“I’m beginning to prune.” I laughed and held up my fingers. William slipped from behind me and grabbed a towel for each of us.

I dried off and threw on an old pair of jeans and a tank top. William dressed in a navy blue vintage t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

I cooked a nice brunch for the both of us. William settled in at the island, clearly not happy about not being in control in his own kitchen.

“I need to get these smoke detectors upgraded if you are going to take over cooking in my kitchen,” he groused.

I shot him a glare over my shoulder as I prepared our omelets.

“Careful,” he warned, raising his eyebrow at me.

My cheeks flushed pink and I turned back to the food on the stove. “So… what are our plans for today?”

“I was thinking we could rent a movie, cuddle on the couch.” He got up from his seat and began to prepare a pot of coffee. We danced around each other as we got our breakfast together. It was nice.

“A movie sounds great.”

I dished out our breakfast and took my usual seat at the island. William sat the coffee cups on the table and sat next to me.

“This is nice, having you here all the time.” He took a bite from his food.

It was nice. It felt natural. We worked well together. I wanted to be able to stay with him forever, but I knew it was a bad idea. William’s father hated me, and he could disinherit him or cut off his money. I was still worried about his job, too. No one would offer a teaching position to a professor that was sleeping with a previous student, I was sure—despite what he said about it not mattering since I’d graduated. We already have taken too many risks.