Page 13 of Waggs

“You think that was Ralph Edwards? That’s a leap, Wills.”

“I know, but it makes sense. You all knew Ralph from school, but that isn’t all. Once I got the thumb drive, I asked Emma about the meeting. She was reluctant but said she’d ask. I never saw her again, she disappeared, and a week later her body washed up in the river. Someone had shot her in the head and chest.”

“Contract.”

“Exactly, that same day I saw men watching AJ’s school, and I freaked. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I knew if I went to your parents, I could put them in danger, but I couldn’t stay and risk my son. So, I ran to the only person who I knew could and would help me. I know I have no right to drag you into this mess, but I honestly didn’t know what else to do.”

Waggs cupped her face forcing her to look at him. “You did the right thing, Willow. It’s my right to protect you and my privilege. I should never have left you and AJ alone. It wasn’t what Aaron would have wanted.”

Willow blinked, and he saw tears in her eyes. “What about you, Aiden? What do you want?”

He held her tortured gaze and wished he could carry on denying the truth, but he couldn’t; it was past time. “You, Willow. It’s always been you.” Her eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her eyelids and hoped he hadn’t just lost everything.

“I want you, too, but how does this work, Aiden? You protect me, and we have sex, and then when the threat is gone, we go our separate ways? Because I can’t do that anymore. I care about you, always have, and it’s tearing me up inside fighting my guilt over Aaron. Loving him and yet still wanting you.”

“Don’t cry, baby.” Waggs lifted her, so she was sitting on his lap, her body curled into his chest. “I don’t know how this works. This is new to me, and we both have so many unresolved feelings towards Aaron, but I’ll tell you this right now. This is not just sex for me. I don’t think it ever has been. I care about you, too. I’ll protect you and AJ and then we’ll decide together if and how a future could work for us.”

“I don’t want to lose you again, Aiden.”

“You won’t, no matter what happens or doesn’t happen between us, you won’t lose me. I’ll always be here for you and AJ.”

Waggs held her, savouring the feel of her in his arms in a way she’d never been before. He was telling the truth when he said she and AJ would always have him; he’d never walk away from them. He wasn’t so sure she wouldn’t walk away from him though. He wasn’t Aaron, and if she thought he would be, then it would never work. He wasn’t sure it could work anyway. People would assume they’d been cheating on Aaron, and he wouldn’t allow his brother’s memory to become tainted by rumours that weren’t true. Then there were his parents. What the hell would they think about him and Willow being together?

None of that mattered now. First, he had to deal with the danger Willow and AJ were in and find out if his brother had met with Ralph and what that meant. “What happened to your luggage and your purse? AJ said the bad man was coming.”

Willow nodded as she traced patterns on his shirt over his heart where the tattoo in his brother’s memory lay. It was distracting and wonderful at the same time.

“Yes, one of the men I’d seen at the school was on our flight to Heathrow. So when I saw him, I panicked and left my luggage, and we got on the first train to Hereford.”

“You did good, baby.” He kissed her head softly, noticing the scent of his shower gel on her skin and wondering if she hadn’t been able to find the one he’d bought for her to use. “You find the shower gel I got you?”

Willow wrinkled her nose. “Yes, why?”

“Because you smell like mine.” Her cheeks went the perfect shade of pink as she ducked her head, and he felt his dick harden underneath her soft ass. “Willow, look at me.” His demand seemed to catch her off guard, but she looked up, and he rewarded her with a kiss. “Why did you use mine, and don’t lie to me.”

“I wanted to feel close to you and your scent. It makes me feel safe.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What else does it make you feel?”

“Turned on.”

Waggs sighed and his cock, which was undeniably hard now, pressed against her soft curves. He bent and caught her bottom lip with his teeth, pulling gently until he heard her sigh and lean into him, her hands flattening against his pecs. Wanting her more than his next breath, he knew he had to take it slow, but he needed to make sure she understood he wasn’t a substitute for his twin. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, take his place or be a replacement, a sad second best. “Willow, I’m not Aaron. I won’t treat you the way he did, like a china doll or protect you from the darkness inside me. I’ll protect you bodily, but I know emotionally you’re stronger than anyone thinks.”

“I know who you are, Aiden. You’ve never been, nor will you ever be, a substitute for anyone. You may be a twin, and we both loved Aaron, but he isn’t here, and we are. We deserve to be happy, too.”

Waggs couldn’t deny that they’d both loved Aaron; he knew that. Whether he deserved happiness was a question he didn’t have the answer to. Decker would have a fucking field day with this, which brought him to another thought. “I need to let my team in on this. We have resources we can use, and if this goes south, I need them on my side, or at least aware of what’s happening. They’ll also help me with a plan of action.”

“Whatever you need.”

Waggs growled as need took him. “What I need is to be buried inside that sweet pussy.” He smiled when she squirmed against him, and he fought the groan when she brushed her lips against his, the scent and taste of her a temptation. “But you’ve spent the last two days in bed sick with flu, and as much as I want you, we should wait, take things slow.”

He saw the disappointment on her face and liked that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. “How about this, we make out on the couch like teenagers, and then you go sleep in my bed and get yourself off and think about me? I’ll go to the spare room and do the same.”

Waggs lowered his head and captured her mouth, tasting her essence. Willow had always let him guide their fucking, and that was what it had been, but now he let her explore. He kissed her thoroughly until she sighed into his mouth and she became more aroused, her fingers tunnelling into his hair, the short nails digging in as they made out like teenagers on a third date.