“Tell me you belong to me.” I needed to hear it, to feel it as she came around my cock.

“I’m yours, William.” I slammed inside of her as every muscle in my body tightened, and I filled her with my come. Her walls constricted around my dick, milking every last drop from me as she let go and tumbled over the edge of ecstasy with me.

I collapsed on top of her, struggling to right my breathing as I focused on the steady thumping of her heart against my chest. I knew mine was just as erratic, and it wasn’t because of the sex. It was her. She would always have this effect on me. I knew if she ever left me, it would stop altogether.

I shook the thought from my head and pulled her from the bed. My plan for the day was to do anything I could to keep her mind off the impending funeral.

We made our way into the bathroom to soak in the tub and clean ourselves up from our morning activities, although I enjoyed the idea of her walking around all day with a piece of me inside of her. I wanted to keep her filled with my seed.

She relaxed against my chest as I ran my fingers down her damp arm.

“Tell me about your first kiss?” Her question caught me off guard and amused me.

“Junior high. She slapped me.” Visions of Katie Moore pinned against her locker in the empty hallway at school filled my memories.

“Quite the lady killer.” Emma laughed, and my hand stilled as I struggled to bite back the anger that always seemed to sit just under the surface.

“I got you didn’t I?” I whispered quietly against her ear. Her body stiffened against me.

“I didn’t mean to offend—”

“You didn’t.” I ran my soapy hand over her leg as I watched the bubbles pop against her silky skin.

“What about pets?” She was eager to change the subject and ease the tension. I was making her scared. I took a deep breath and tried to change my tone.

“I got a golden retriever for Christmas when I was ten. Her name was Lacey. She was a great dog.” She had been my best friend during a lonely childhood. When I was thirteen, my father had come after me for standing up for my mother. Lacey bit his forearm as he swung to hit me. I sat back in shock as she latched on to him, and blood poured from the corners of her mouth. I could hear my father screaming at me to call her off, but I was in a trance as I watched her protect me from the man that should have been my protector.

An hour later, my beloved best friend was dead, and I was tasked to dig the hole in the backyard to bury her.

“What about you?” I asked, wondering if Emma had a best friend who had kept her company and made her feel safe.

“My mother was highly allergic to pet dander. I was never allowed to have a dog.” She sighed heavily. I slid my hands up her arms to her shoulders as I tried to rub the tension from her muscles.

“We can get a dog one day.”

She relaxed against me as she lifted her hand from the water and examined her fingers.

“I’m beginning to prune.”

I stepped out of the tub and got us each a towel. I was unable to pull my eyes from her body as she ran dried herself off. We made our way back to the bedroom and pulled on some clothes. As much as I would have loved to keep Emma naked all day, I needed to prove to myself that there were more reasons for my affection toward her. It was becoming an obsession. I watched as she pulled on a tank top and jeans while I buttoned my own pants and pulled a navy blue shirt over my head.

Emma took my hand and pulled me into the kitchen, motioning for me to sit down at the island as she made her way around the kitchen to prepare us brunch. I hated not being the one in charge at all times, but even I couldn’t deny how well she fit in around here. She belonged.

“I need to get these smoke detectors upgraded if you’re going to take over cooking in my kitchen.” She glared over her shoulder at me as she stood in front of the stove.

“Careful.” I cocked an eyebrow at her, and her cheeks flushed as she turned her attention back to the omelet in the frying pan.

“So…what are our plans for the day?” She asked as she flipped the food. I saw a splatter of melted butter fly from the pan and sizzle on top of the burner.

“I was thinking we could rent a movie, cuddle on the couch.” I couldn’t focus on anything but wanting to take the spatula from her hand. Being equal in a relationship was definitely lower on my list of priorities. I pushed up from my seat and made my way to the coffee maker so I could brew a fresh pot.

“A movie sounds great.” I grabbed some plates from the cupboard and sat them next to her. She dished out the food as I grabbed two coffee mugs and waited for the pot to finish brewing. Even without total control, we worked well together, and I knew I could get used to that.

We both sat at the island as I looked over my plate. It looked and smelled amazing.

“This is nice, having you here all the time.” I took a bite of my food and struggled not to make a face. Perhaps giving over control of the kitchen would have to wait. I watched her as she began to eat, scrunching her nose as she tasted it.

We ate in silence, and I made sure to eat every last bite. Was it selfless to suffer through her horrendous cooking to keep from hurting her feelings? I’m going to break Stephen’s fucking nose for making me question my every motive.

I cleared our plates and had to smile when I noticed Emma had finished her meal without me having to tell her to. It made me wonder, if she weren’t someone I saw as a victim who needed guidance, would my feelings for her have taken hold of me the way they had. What if she became stronger and didn’t need me to help her anymore? Would she still want me? Would I still need her?

I washed our dishes as I thought over our relationship. I had spent years blocking out any emotional attachment to others, and now I was overwhelmed. My last relationship ended badly, and as easy as it was for me to put the blame on Abby, I knew that my life turned out the way it had because of the way I am. I had needed control, and if someone had stood in the way of something I wanted, I didn’t hesitate to take him or her out of the equation. I didn’t know what the outcome would be if Emma challenged my authority. That scared me more than anything did. I could never truly protect her if I couldn’t leave her.

I drove us down to the movie store across town and made my way through the aisles as I glanced over the covers. Emma took off toward the romantic comedies.

“What about this one?” She held up a DVD that had a female bounty hunter on the cover. I frowned and shook my head as I grabbed the movie in front of me that had caught my attention. The cover was a man smiling with a bloody knife in his hand.

“Fine, if you throw in some popcorn, it’s a deal,”

I rounded the end of my aisle, wrapped my arm around her waist, and pulled her body against mine.

“Good girl.” I whispered, and she relaxed against me.

We headed back to my place and prepared for our romantic evening in. Emma popped the popcorn as I popped in the movie. I grabbed the comforter from my bed and brought it out for us to cuddle under.

The movie started out like most thrillers do. The killer was stalking an unsuspecting woman who was wearing next to nothing.

I pulled Emma closer to me as I ran my hand up her thigh, my lips ghosting over her neck.

“I’m actually enjoying this.” She pointed to the television, and I watched as the killer chased a woman up a set of stairs. She tripped, and he grabbed her. Emma’s body melted against mine as she tensed, waiting for the bloody fight. I laughed against her neck, loving how she felt safe with me. I knew it was sick and twisted, given my secrets, but I felt just as safe with her. I knew she had my heart, and at any moment, she could crush it if she chose to. She had just as much power as I did.