Kayla's POV:

"Calm down rulebook", I say as Aaron jerks anxiously. "I've literally done this before"

"I'm sorry", he says. "It's just that it's my first time", he gestures at me. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Okay. So maybe asking Aaron to watch me get a tattoo wasn't the best of ideas, but it sounded nice at the moment, and since the tattoo was significant to both of us, I thought it would be good for both of us to be there at the same time.

Jake – my tattoo artist – rolls his eyes as he starts up the tattoo gun again and the needles begin to pierce into my skin, leaving behind a tapestry of ink on my shoulder.

Aaron winces, and I laugh – the way he is acting, you would have thought he was the one getting a tattoo, not me.

"Tell me what happened with your parents", I ask, mostly to distract him, but also out of curiosity. It's been over a week since my dad met with Aaron's parents, and while I've gotten the main news, I want to hear all the details.

"My parents didn't want to talk about what happened, but Caleb told me everything", he says, and I have to hide a grimace as the tattoo gun pierces my skin. I nod at Aaron to keep talking, hoping it will distract him from me, and it does.

"Your dad drove a hard bargain – thank you again for telling him about me – and my dad was kind of okay with it. He kept saying how after a year I would see that football wasn't useful and I would have a good job in medicine or law. I don't think my mother believed it for a second, especially as she knows how important football is to me, and she complained like a lot, but Dad out-vetoed her"

I chuckle at the thought of an angry chicken-like Mrs Delany, clucking her opinion which no one cares about, and then getting angry about being ignored.

"So you're going to Brown?", I ask, almost unable to believe it.

"Yep", he gives me a broad grin. "Your dad made mine sign the paperwork immediately – I guess he didn't want to give my parents anytime to change their minds. So I'm officially going to play football at Brown University"

He smiles so hard his cheeks must and I smile back, happy because he is happy.

Jake turns off the tattoo gun and holds it up, nodding to me.

"Is he done?", Aaron asks, and I nod. The tattoo I asked for wasn't too complicated – simply a football on a field – but it is so significant to me. As all tattoos, it is a work of art so it brings me happiness, but this one is also connected to Aaron and also my dad so it's importance is magnified.

Aaron stares at it in awe.

"Can I touch it?", he asks, his voice hushed with reverence.

"Not a chance rulebook. Leave it for a while, it hurts a bit", I say as his face turns a bit disappointed. I draw my sleeve down to cover up the tattoo, and get off the 'master's surface', as Jake likes to call it, which is just a rusty old hospital bed where his clients get tattoos

"Ok Kay run along now", he says, as he begins to pack up, but Aaron clears his throat.

"Actually, I would also like to get a tattoo", he says, in almost a whisper.

Jake jerks his head towards him, his usually impassive face now bearing a faintly amused look.

"Say that again", he demands.

"I said I want a tattoo"

Jake has on an expression of surprise which mirrors mine.

"What are you doing?", I whisper to Aaron. "You could barely watch me get a tattoo and now you want to get one of your own?"

Vaguely, I remember Aaron once mentioning wanting to get a tattoo, but I didn't think he was serious.

Apparently, he was.

Aaron takes a deep breath.

"You don't have to prove anything to me you know. I love you just the way you are."

Aaron kisses me on my head, then gets on the master's surface and glares at Jake who is almost laughing, even though the situation isn't even slightly funny.

"I'm paying for a tattoo, not your laughter", Aaron snaps and Jake's face instantly becomes impassive again.

"Do you have an image that you want?", Jake asks, his voice hard enough to break rocks.

Aaron gestures for Jake to come closer and whispers in his ear, occasionally pointing at me. My heart is tense. Does he want to get a tattoo of my name? Or even worse – of me? I don't know why the idea terrifies me so much, but maybe its because tattoos are permanent, while this relationship of ours in uncertain. Still, at least any future girls that he is with would see my name or face and be warned off. The thought of Aaron with other girls turns me hot with anger.

Jake starts the tattoo gun and the sound brings me back to reality.

"Where do you want it?", Jake grunts out, and Aaron points to his lower back as he takes off his shirt and turns over on his stomach.

Jake starts on the tattoo, and I lean in closer to see. It doesn't start with an alphabet stroke, but instead a roundish shape. Lines dot around it, but I cant seem to understand what he is drawing. It can't be a football, it isn't a name... what is it?

Aaron groans a bit, and I squeeze his hand hard. I know how painful the first tattoo is. He turns around to face me, his eyes shining, not with tears but with a bit of joy. Whatever this tattoo is, it must mean a lot to him.

I let go of his hand anxiously twist my ring around my finger, trying to understand the tattoo. It isn't round, more like a skull shape.

A skull shape.

I whip off my ring from my finger staring at the symbol on it, and all the pieces click together. Aaron's eyes are trained on mine, and as soon as he can tell that I've figured it out, he flashes me a smile and winks.

The tattoo on his back is beginning to look exactly like the skull shape of my ring

"So that I'll always have a part of you – and your mom with me.", he says with a smile.

And while I know I shouldn't jolt him while Jake is working on the tattoo, I can't help but give him a powerful hug which causes the master's surface to creak, and Jake to yell at me.

🏈🏈🏈

"Show me the tattoo again", I ask, pausing the movie, causing Aaron to smile.

After the tattoo shop, we went to the art gallery where we saw my painting hung up, my name proudly written by the side. Then we came to my house where we argued on a marvel movie to watch. Eventually, Captain America won, since dear little rulebook hadn't watched it before, and was keen to know what it was about.

However, all I can think of is the tattoo he got of my mom's ring.

"Please show me", I repeat and his grin broadens. We are both sitting on my bed, and there is an empty bowl between us, which was once filled with popcorn. My room is tidier now because Aaron refused to let me watch a movie in 'an unsanitary environment'

"So technically, youre asking me to strip?", he asks, his mouth turning upwards.

I roll my eyes, and he laughs. In one fluid movement, he strips the shirt off, and sdrops it on the floor. I have to force myself to remove my eyes from his abs, and I find him blushing slightly.

"Turn around", I order, and he complies, and then there it is. Covering his entire lower back is the magnified version of my mother's ring. I trace my finger over it gently, admiring the work that Jake did on it.

"A part of me", I whisper, and he turns around, catching my finger. His brown eyes train on my face, and I can't stop myself for reaching out for him and bringing his face to mine.

"I love you, you know", I choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I love you", he says it back, and then his lips are on mine.

This kiss is soft and tender, and Aaron holds onto the side of my face as he gently bites my lip so that I moan and his tongue slips into my mouth. His hand slips to my back as he lower me on the bed, our breaths coming in shallow pants. I slide my hands down his hard stomach, tracing each of his abs, and he growls against my lips as his body hovers above me.

"Kayla", he groans, lifting his mouth from mine before returning them back with just as much enthusiasm.

His hand slips under my shirt, caressing my stomach lightly, his fingertips causing a little burn of flame anywhere his fingers move. I whimper, but his lips are still on mine and the sound barely escapes. I squirm, trying to close my legs, but he is right in between, his body pressed firmly against mine. He trails his lips down to my neck, nipping, biting and sucking, his lips causing an inferno everywhere they go.

"Aaron", I moan, and I feel him smile against my skin.

His hand travels up, up to my jeans, toying with the button at the top, and then in one swift move, the button is undone, and his hand is in my jeans, rubbing against my panties.

My eyes widen in panic, the feelings I was enjoying earlier gone in a flash.

"Venom"

I don't know why I say it, our safeword from the original fake agreement, but Aaron stops immediately, his eyes filled with panic.

"Kayla I..."

I squirm from underneath him, and he slips his hand out of my jeans immediately.

"I'm sorry", I apologise, tears threatening to cloud my eyes. This always happens, anytime I'm about to do it – to have sex- my body freezes up.

I'm so but Aaron shakes his head. "I shouldn't have rushed you Kay. It was my fault."

But I shake my head, refusing to listen. "That's why Jason broke up with me. I just can't be... intimate. I freeze and I just can't make my body act and I'm just so useless", I sob out, and the tears finally begin to trickle down.

Aaron grabs me by my shoulders and forces me to look at him. "You are not useless. You have boundaries, and until you feel comfortable, we won't have sex. And Jason was a fool for breaking up with you over that"

I look at him with new eyes. I had hoped things would be different with Aaron, and I was scared that if I couldn't sleep with him, he wouldn't want me. Yet here he was reassuring me.

How the tables have turned indeed. When we first started, the safe word was for Aaron, yet here I am, using it. I can't help the small laughter that builds up in me at that.

"Are you okay?", Aaron asks, looking worried.

"I'm just thinking of how far we've come you know. From fake dating to this."

"Yes well I hope you consider our relationship as more than just a this.", he replies drily, and we both burst out laughing.

"What are the rules for this relationship?", I ask, raising up an eyebrow.

"Who cares? We'll decide them later, but you'll probably break them all anyway."

I roll my eyes as I throw a punch at him, but he catches my hand drawing me towards him, and gives me a peck on the cheek.

"Don't worry", he whispers in my ear, his breath caressing my skin. "I look forward to you breaking my rules"

🏈🏈🏈🏈THE END🏈🏈🏈🏈

A/N: And that is a wrap loves.

Sorry for the very late post loves. I was in the  hospital for a week, and immediately I was released, I had to write my end of semester exams. It isn't an excuse for keeping you all waiting, but I hope you all aren't too mad at me.

So now, Aaron and Kayla's story is over, but that doesn't mean Meadowbrook is done. In fact, I may have a little Christmas gift for you guys, so be sure to check in 🤭🤭🤭

Special thanks to all who read this book, voted and commented. I want you to know that you kept me going when I felt like giving up. I love you all and I can't wait to see you in the next book. And who knows - it may be sooner than you think.

Until then loves 💋💋💋