I laid awake in my bed staring up at the dark ceiling. There was a hint of sadness in Lizzy's voice moments ago and I wished I could have taken it away. Had she and Sean finally had it out? Would this be my chance to finally get her to myself? My feelings for Lizzy were getting stronger but it didn't seem like I had her full attention... that pussyannie stood in the way.

Finding out that she had just jumped on a plane and ran to him set uneasy with me. She could have picked up a phone and told me but she didn't. Was she hiding something from me? Did she really have feelings for him and using me to hide them? No way, after our last interlude he was the last person on her mind.

I took a deep breath. Even if she was romantically involved with him, I would put an end to it. Sean Gipson was a nobody to me. He was a punkass and needed to fly off the face of this earth. He thought he was the best player in the world...not! I am the best and until he realized that, he would never see a victory.

It was no way he could give her what she wanted. They may have been childhood friends but now...it was time to grow the hell up. They still acted like two grade school kids, shu-shuing on the phone, or texting each other every few minutes...it was ridiculous. Lizzy played into his game. As an intelligent, beautiful, sophisticated woman, Sean was bringing her down.

I wondered what happened between them? "I'm not staying with Sean I can tell you that," she had said. Maybe something really monumental had gone down. I grinned thinking about the possibilities.

From what I heard through the grapevine, the Old Crackerhead was still dating that psychotic girl Shaunte and the rumor was she was pregnant for him. I wonder if Liz knew? Would he tell her if it was true? Maybe that's why she's upset?

Talking to Lizzy recently I knew she didn't want to have children especially now and it was no way she would take care of one that wasn't her own. That's why I couldn't tell her about AJ. Maybe with the news of baby Sean's arrival, this could be the end of their perfect little friendship. I also heard Shaunte was a take charge kind of girl so I'm sure she and Liz wouldn't see eye to eye.

I should send Shaunte a bouquet of flowers thanking her and wishing her a safe pregnancy. She could actually be the one to help me get Lizzy all to myself.

What Liz and I have is still new and I can feel she could be the one to break me out of my bad habits. I should try to convince her to move here where we could really spend some quality time together. I really do miss her laughter, her silly stories and most of all her sexual explorations.

I admit at times I can be a man whore, I love women but I think she could be the one to tame me. I had to smile thinking about our Tarzan and Jane escapades.

She was independent but still rough around the edges but that could totally be remedied. With her here I wouldn't be so easily tempted. A man has needs and not having a permanent fixture to satisfy that need could lead him to stray.

I could definitely introduce her to my family and they would absolutely adore her. She's beautiful, has a great career and not after my money. All these other chickenheads my mother would sniff them out in a moment's notice and send them packing.

I was so deep in thought that a moan escaped through my lips. Before long I felt something warm covering me down below. It felt so good that I didn't want it to stop so I closed my eyes giving into the delight. Visions of Lizzy riding me appeared before me. Feeling the corners of my mouth form up into a smile, my body arched off the bed pumping hard into the hallow cave.

"Oh yes Lizzy, that's it," I whispered in the darkness. My hand snaked under the covers gripping silky hair. I guided her back down and before long I had pulled her up, and flipped her over. With her legs up, feet pointed up to the ceiling, I slipped on a condom and speared her folds. I could hear her moans and groans as every single stroke took her higher and higher.

"Yes baby! So good don't stop, don't you ever stop!" A deep harmonic voice called out but it didn't sound like my girl but I was so deep she could have been singing.

"Aries baby, you...oh...Gawd...yes bae...oooooo...yas...!

I felt myself about to explode. White flashes ran rampant against my dark lids. I pulled her down wrapping her ankles around my neck, grabbed onto the headboard and pounded into her so hard the sound of her heavy breasts was music to my ears.

Sean couldn't give her close to what I was giving her at this present time. She needed to be branded and shown that nobody else could make her feel like this. I looked up as my orgasm hit me like a tidal wave and fell face first on something soft and damp. It felt like I had ran a marathon and was tired as hell.

My breathing was out of control. Beads of sweat were rolling down the sides of my face. Man what a dream! I rolled over turning on the lamp and froze.

"Shit!" I called out. Not because of my release but that she wasn't Liz.

I looked down at the woman that had once owned my heart. Rue. What had attracted me was those dark brown eyes and long, thick, black wavy hair. Her flawless cinnamon skin was still so soft to the touch. Those heart-shaped lips and long lashes that use to melt my heart stared back at me. Regret was starting to set in.

"What's wrong baby?" Her naked body was sprawled out like an endless feast.

"Get out!"

"What? What do you mean get out?!" Her eyebrows bunched up as if I was speaking in a foreign language.

I was shaking my head as it felt like cobwebs were taking over. What had I just done? I slid right out of the bed and went to the bathroom slamming the door. Pouring the contents of the condom in the toilet I wrapped the rest in a napkin. Tidying myself up I was getting angry.

I gripped the pedestal sink in anger ready to pull it from the wall. I closed my eyes tightly and started hitting my head with my palms.

There was a knock on the door. "Aries are you okay?"

That's not Lizzy's voice. Don't be fooled. Why man? Why? I kept repeating over and over again.

"Baby what's wrong? Let me in."

I couldn't answer her, I wouldn't answer her. I could feel my anxiety building. I opened up the medicine cabinet and grabbed my prescription, Lexapro. I quickly took it and swallowed them down with a drink of water. I hit my head with my palms again. What was I doing?

"Aries you're scaring me. Please open the door. We can talk about it."

I didn't want to talk about it, I wanted her gone. Taking another deep breath, I could finally feel the the medicine starting to work. Turning on the faucet, I palmed my hands together and threw water on my face. I did it three times and pulled the hand towel from its holder on the wall.

I opened the door almost knocking Rue to the floor. She was still naked and I squeezed my eyes tightly. Rue was just another groupie to me now. Good sex and nothing else. No more talk about the future, or how my day were, no those days were long gone.

I paced the room looking for my own escape. My eyes seem to fall back on her. Her body was still beautiful, curvaceous, with those thick legs that she use to wrap around my neck... Oh so many nights...stop it! Looking closely at her a twinge of pain pierced my heart. I was really starting to hate myself for what I had just done to Liz. I had gotten mad with her when I couldn't get in touch with her and then to find out she was with Sean just put the icing on the cake.

I sat back on the bed and put my face in my hands. How did I even...bottles of vodka, and gin lined the floor. Thinking back I had gotten jealous about those two so I called Rue over and my old ways seem to kick in. Total mistake.

"Daddy, I want you so bad. This last time got me feening. I don't know what got into you, but I need some more." She started rubbing her hands up and down her body.

"You need to get your stuff and go Rue."

"What's wrong A? It's not even midnight and I thought we could go for round four? You seem to have a lot of pent up stress," she said purring those last three words.

"It's over Rue. I shouldn't have even done this. We keep playing this same old tired song and you know what, I don't want to do it anymore." I got up and grabbed my clothes off the floor.

"You can't do this to me! What do you mean it's over?!"

"It's not fair to you or her."

"Her? Who is she Aries?"

"I didn't..."

"I heard you quite clearly. Who the hell is she? You weren't thinking about her two hours ago when you picked up your phone and called me. You weren't thinking about her when I came over and you basically ripped my clothes off my body because you were hard as a two ton brick below. You weren't thinking about her when you were so deep inside of me that you were panting and sweating."

She kneeled up on the bed where we were almost face to face.

"It was a mistake and I promise it won't happen again," I said leaning in. She kissed me and I pushed her back against the pillow getting up.

"I hate you Aries: you play with my emotions. One minute you want me and then you tell me you have somebody else? You're a liar, you don't want her, you want what Aries want or what someone else has. You are a selfish SOB. I made a mistake all those years ago and I have apologized and you have been making me pay for it ever since," she said wiping her tears away.

I raised my hand to slap her but I didn't.

"We were suppose to be married and having that family we always talked about."

I put on my pajama pants. I stopped and turned to her. She really needed to shut the hell up.

"You're right, you messed that up not me you ungrateful bit...just get out!"

"I'm not leaving." She climbed back in under the sheets and wrapped them around her naked body.

Rue and I had met my first year in the pros. She was a physical therapist helping out my old teammate Ryan Sayes when he got injured. She was sweet and kind and we soon dated. For two years we were thick as thieves and I had proposed. Three months later I went to her apartment and caught her in the bed with Ryan.

She had claimed it only happened one time, but Ryan said he had been sleeping with her since we met. None the less I broke it off and Ryan was traded a month later.

"I have a plane to catch in a few hours so you need to leave."

"You're going to the funeral aren't you?"

"Yes. He was a good guy and a really good player."

"Why don't I go with you?"

"Hell no!"

"What is really wrong with you? You seem so stressed. Does it have something to do with this so called new chic?"

"You are stressing me out, now just go Rue."

"If you would just let me take care of you..."

"I swear if you don't leave I am about to drag you out. It's over; I don't want you. This was a mistake like it always has been."

"You don't mean that!"

"I do, now get out!"

I turned my back to put my shirt on and she jumped on it and started pounding on me like a wild woman. I was losing my balance but I managed to turn and toss her off. She bounced off the mattress but not before she dug her long, sharp nails down my back.

"You bitch!" I called out shutting my eyes tight. I could feel the burn and something else...blood. I went to the bed about to drag her out but she was running from me.

"Why in the hell did you do that?!"

"I should have scratched your eyes out! You led me on. You would have done better never calling me."

I was reeling my anger in. "You have five seconds before I grab you by the hair and drag you out of here tossing you over the railing."

She must have seen the promise in my eyes. I was mad as hell. She started putting her clothes on. I opened the bedroom door. She stumbled out and it took everything in me not to push her down the stairs.

"Aries I hope you reap what you sow. You're an evil bastard and nothing but misery will come your way!"

"Blah, Blah Blah!!! Call me what you want but you don't have to ever worry about me calling or texting you again."

"Oh but just wait. We are not done until I say we are done," she said laughing.

My back was burning and I could feel the wetness from the thick red substance rolling down my back. I opened the front door to my mansion and before she could get all the way out I shut it. I heard her yelp but I didn't care.

I went in the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit. Turning my back to the mirror I could see the long indentions of the welts forming. Gawd they hurt like hell. I took the bottle of alcohol and just poured the liquid down my back. Now I was the one hissing.

I watched as my wounds sizzled from pain until I was able to let out a deep breath. This was my punishment. I let my head play tricks on me. Lizzy's relationship with Sean always ran rampant when she was near him.

These marks on my back weren't going to heal overnight. I couldn't believe she had attacked me. If I would have attacked back she would have me labeled as a violent man. I walked out the bathroom and into my bedroom. Looking down at the messed up sheets, I pulled them off and tossed them down the staircase along with the pillowcases and comforter. I would toss them out in the trash tomorrow.

I grabbed some fresh linens out the closet remaking the bed. I sprayed air freshener and checked for her belongings but didn't find anything. I sat on the edge of the bed regretting what I had done. I had officially cheated on Lizzy even after I promised myself I wouldn't. Her jumping up running to that white boy had me so pissed off.

I could never do this again with anyone. Although Rue said those things, I couldn't see her causing trouble. She would have too much to lose especially in the field she was in.

Should I tell Lizzy? Hell no, that would ruin this before it even got started.

I heard my phone ring. I looked over and it was Lizzy. I took a deep breath, I had to play this cool. I couldn't tell her even if I wanted too.

"Hey?"

"Are you sleeping?"

"No. I was up."

"What are you doing?"

"I was thinking about you."

"I bet you say that to all the girls?"

I chuckled.

"I just called to say goodnight."

"That was sweet of you."

"I try."

"You sound a lot cheerful than before."

"My day is starting to look up."

"You know if you want..."

"I don't actually."

"Okay." I stared at the back of the door. There was a long silence that almost had me back in panic mode. I heard her yawn in the phone.

"Sorry, just a little tired. My flight leaves tomorrow afternoon after the funeral so I better get some sleep."

"Me too. I have a long day tomorrow."

"Goodnight Aries."

"Goodnight Lizzy."

We hung up and I went in the closet and pulled out my Hermès overnight bag. I dumped a few items in the bag and pulled out a black suit from the closet. I went back in the bathroom and turned the shower on and jumped in. After, I shaved grabbed my suit and bag headed downstairs.

I heard a knock on my door and knew exactly who it was. I unlocked it and it was my teammate Victor.

"You ready?"

"Yep, let me grab my bag."

"Just about the whole team is going to the funeral. Even Coach and the staff are going."

"That's good. We need to show our support." I grabbed my bag and suit sleeve.

"Hold this while I lock up."

I turned on my alarm with cameras just in case Rue decided to come back.

"Thanks," I told Victor as we walked to the awaiting van.

"Now that was awkward," Jarreau said.

"He is my boyfriend technically." I checked my phone to make sure I had disconnected the call.

"You don't love that boy, why you playing him?"

"I am not."

"Ah... yes you are. You got us watching an apartment of a woman that you think may not be pregnant for your so called friend. Would you do this for Egghead?"

"Stop calling him that. This is different."

"How?"

"Aries wouldn't cheat on me."

Jarreau fell into a hysterical laughter. I slapped him on the arm.

"The two of you live eight hours away and Aries is known for being a male whore, I would say, he is probably in the cut right now, while you have us out here like two homeless people stalking out our next victim."

"I would know if he was cheating on me."

"Please. A good whore can cover their tracks. Change the sheets, freshen up the cesspool of sinful delights, check for damages or anything that could indict them and tossed it out with the morning trash leaving them as innocent as the day they were born."

"You speak from experience, I see."

"I'm not a cheater. Never have been but I have had my share of women, a few at the same time but no verbal or physical commitment from my side."

"You nasty. I hope you covered it up?"

"Always. I hope you do too," he said looking at me.

"Of course I do. Even in the shower and those other undeveloped spots of lust."

"TMI Lizzy."

"You asked."

We sat there waiting.

"If she is pregnant, why does it feel like he's cheated on me? How could he say all those things on how much he loves me and want to be with me while he's grinding on that bald headed trick? If Sean and I ever got together, do you think he would cheat on me? I might be hard on the outside but my inside is a very delicate place."

"I think and this is my personal opinion, that if you two would have been together, none of this would have happened. I could be at my house chilling watching a movie on demand."

"I don't think Aries is a cheater Jarreau. I'm the cheater." I couldn't believe those words spilled from my lips.

Jarreau whipped his head around so fast, I thought he was Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist.

"Say that again?"

"I'm the cheater not Aries. Sean and I have done some things recently and I didn't tell Aries. Although I promised myself I wouldn't keep anything from him and I have."

"You slutty trick, I knew you weren't perfect. Hahaha," he said laughing.

"Not funny. We didn't go all the way but close. I haven't told anyone but you so can you like keep this between us and us alone."

"You little horny toad, your secret is safe with me. Although if you would just break it off with Aries and then get with Sean you wouldn't be considered a cheater."

"No I would be labeled a golddigger which I am not. I do really like Aries. I like the way he makes me feel."

I could see Jarreau narrowing his eyes.

"It's not just about the sex there are other things I like about him."

"Like what Lizzy?" He turned his whole body towards me.

"He's handsome."

"You need glasses. My pinky toe is cuter."

I rolled my eyes.

"He has a really nice sense of humor. He's smart, funny and knows how to treat a girl."

"Bull..." He pretended to sneeze, "shiz."

"I'm being honest."

"Sorry, as you were lying...I meaning saying." He started pretending to play the violin.

"I swear you remind me of Sean. He is influencing you."

"Maybe we see the same things Liz. Maybe you're just dick-whipped. Ever thought about that?"

"I'm not."