by Mary Smith
The photographer calls Alden over and begins to tell him what’s going to happen. He takes direction with ease and he becomes sexier with each shot. There are close-ups, long shots, and everything in between. I’m feeling breathless watching his toned body and dark hair.
Oh shit, I want him.
I bite hard on my bottom lip as my eyes roam over his body more. My knees grow weaker, my breath shallows, and my palms sweat. I squeeze my thighs together in hopes to ease the tension building.
The shoot took several hours and each passing moment brings me closer to the edge of my sexual cliff. Soon, everything is cleaned and packed up leaving Alden and me alone. I lock the door and go to my office where he’s changing.
“Hey,” I say shutting the office door behind me.
“Hey.” His jeans are undone, and his shirt is still off.
I jump him before I can stop myself. Our lips crash together, and I push him against the wall. My hand reaches into his jeans and stroke his long, thick cock. My hand leaves him only for a second as he jerks off my t-shirt. He spins me around to have my back against the wall. He pulls my breast out of my bra and sucks on my nipple ring.
“Alden.” I breathe. He bites down on the right one causing me to hiss in delicious pain.
He pulls back and licks his lips. “We’re not having sex in here.” He fully stands and adjusts himself back into his jeans. “Besides we have to pick up Kace.”
I’m trying to catch my breath but having issues regaining the correct rhythm.
“Trust me, you’ll enjoy it more than the office desk.”
ALDEN HELD MY hand as we picked up Kace from school, through his hockey practice, through dinner, and on the way home. He would only let go for short periods of time.
I love the feel of the simple touch.
I make sure Kace showers and all his homework is done before he crashes in bed.
“Baylor, you’re coming back to work tomorrow, right?” Amara asks as I sit next to her at the kitchen table.
“Yes, I’ve missed it terribly.” My bruises have greatly diminished in the past five days. “Oh, I have something for you.” I pull my sketchbook from my bag.
“Is that my tattoo?”
“Yes.” I turn it around for her to see it.
It’s an open book with a few flipping pages. Coming up from the book are all the items Amara loves including Alden and her mom’s names. Amara lightly runs her fingers over the page.
“Do you like it?”
“Bay, I love it. It’s exactly what I want.” Tears fill her eyes. “When can we put it on?”
“I’ll double check my schedule, but it’ll be done before your birthday.”
She claps happily and then hugs me. “I have to tell Nathan.” She leaves the table and heads upstairs.
I giggle to myself, picking up my book and going out to Alden’s patio. His vast yard and impeccable landscaping is breathtaking. I can easily get lost in it all. I lounge in one of the chairs and begin to sketch. I don’t create anything specific but let my mind wander where it may.
After a while, I feel a tender touch of lips on the side of my neck. “Are you drawing me?” Alden’s voice fills me.
“No.” I close my eyes and lean into his touch.
“You sure? Because that certainly appears to be me on the ice.” He nibbles on my earlobe.
I glance down and realize it is him. He’s on the ice with his stick and setting up for a shot. Why did I draw this?
“You have practice tomorrow.” I state.
“At nine. Why?”
“Just making conversation.” Small talk helps me break away from the hard topics bouncing around in my head.
He chuckles. “I’m heading to bed and I’d like for you to join me. I want to finish what we started at your office.” He tilts my chin up and kisses me fully on the lips before leaving me alone.
My body wants him. I want him but this could be bad. I love him. I can’t deny it either. Even though it’s a new emotion for me, it’s the most potent. I’ve never felt my stomach flip, heart flutter, or have my breath taken away like this before. It’s my love for Alden causing this.
But I’ve been burned before by men and more than once. Rocco is the biggest jackhole ever to walk this earth. My father shoved me out on my ass when he found out I was pregnant. The other men who peppered my life we’re just fillers...until Alden. He has the ability to break me in a way I can’t even imagine. A way I might not even come back from and I know it. I feel it in my bones.
Can I put myself through this?
I cannot.
I shut my book and go back into the house. I ease myself upstairs and go to the spare room I was originally in and shut the door. I pray I can build a tougher barrier around my heart.
Chapter Nine
Alden
I WAITED FOR her almost all night. I heard her moving around the room across from mine, and deep down, I knew she wouldn’t be in my bed. It hurt me. I began to enjoy having her right next to me. In my bed, in my house...in my heart.
I finally drag myself out of bed hours before I need to and head downstairs to get coffee. Amara, the early riser of the family, is already on her phone tapping away at the screen.
“Who are you talking to?” I pour myself coffee in my favorite cup. It says World’s Best Brother. Amara painted it for me when she was a kid. I love it and always use it.
“None of your business.” She glares.
“That means it is my business.” I sit down next to her. “Who is it?” I growl at her.
She seems confused. “Why are you in a pissy mood? Someone get up on the wrong side of the bed?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“What happened?” Amara puts her phone to the side and focuses on me. “Is it something between you and Baylor? When I left her last night, she said it was going good between you two.”
I sigh. “I thought it was. Then she didn’t come to bed last night.”
“Well...where did she sleep?”
“In the spare room.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “I have no fucking clue.”
“Alden, give her some time to process her feelings. A lot is happening in her life. I don’t know all the details but I know it’s a lot on her shoulders.”
I shake my head. “This is why I just fuck ‘em and leave ‘em.” I shove my chair back and storm out of the room.
Why is Baylor the only one to have emotions to deal with? Is it because I’m a guy and people assume I don’t have feelings, I don’t get a pass? This is all a mistake. I should say fuck it and move on.
I change and quickly get to the arena. I’ll work out for a bit before hitting the ice. It’s the only place I want to be right now.
“WHAT GIVES?” NATHAN looks down at me as I push the bench press up and cradle it.
“What do you mean?” I sit up and wipe my forehead with the bottom of my shirt.
“You’re too quiet,” Teo says coming up behind Nathan.
“I don’t have anything to say.” I go over to the free weights but instead of picking them up, I stare at them.
“It has to be Baylor.” Nathan came up to me again. “I have to tell you I never thought you’d be fretting over a girl.”
“Fuck off.” I grumble and walk away from him toward the locker room.
During practice I couldn’t get a handle on the puck. I couldn’t even get it past Nathan or Teo. It didn’t get better when Coach called me into his office. The man is sympathetic but not during playoff time. He gave his normal speech of how he’s here for me, but it’s an important time for the Bears. It was just a couple of seasons ago when we were dead last in the entire league. Now, we’re the team to beat.
I left the arena without speaking to anyone and jumped into my car. I don’t know where I’m driving to, I’m just driving. My thoughts are clearly on Baylor. For the past several nights, she’s been in my bed and fallen asleep in my arms. Had someone told me six mon
ths ago I’d enjoy sex-free-cuddle-abundance nights, I’d laugh in their face. But here I am...missing the cuddling of a woman I’m in love with.
Fuck love.
The words actually hurt my heart. I want to be in love. Again, never thought I’d say that either, but I do. Coming home to Baylor and Kace has been the greatest. I want it. I’m almost craving it. I turn my car around and head straight for Kace’s school. He’s getting out soon, and I’ll be there to pick him up.
I lean against my car as the final bell rings and kids begin to disperse out onto the sidewalk. I keep my eye out for Baylor or her car, but I don’t see either.
“Alden!” Kace shouts my name and races over to me.
Damn, the kid is fast.
“Hey, Buddy.” Kace hugs my waist tightly.
“I missed you this morning. Aunt Amara said you had to go workout.”
Did he say Aunt Amara? “Yes, I did and I missed you too. Hop in the car. We’ll go to the house and get ready for the game tonight.”
“Okay.” Kace tosses his backpack into the back of the car and buckles up.
Before I get into the car, I text Baylor.
Me: I have Kace. We’re going home. Meet us there.
She doesn’t respond and I drive home listening to Kace give the details of his day. I’m glad he’s coming to the game tonight. Even if Baylor doesn’t come, Amara and Mom will bring him. Although, I want Baylor there too.
As I pull into my driveway, Baylor stands with her arms crossed staring my car down. She’s pissed, but I’m going to make sure she gets over it. She’s not going to run out on me.
“Kace, go into the house. I need to talk to your mom,” I tell him.
“‘Kay.” He grabs his bag and quickly hugs his mom in passing.
I tower over Baylor and her brown eyes are uncertain of what I’m going to say.
“Alden, I’m sorry.”
“For what?” There are several things she can apologize for and I need clarification.
“I get in my head and sometimes it’s dangerous.” She takes my hand in hers. “I’d like to go on an adult date with you.”
I’m slightly taken aback. I was about to go all Alpha and now…I’m unsure of what to do. “Okay. Fine.”
“I have a small favor to ask.”
“All right.”
“The police think Rocco is still in the area. Aunt Lois is going to stay with friends, in case he shows up there, and I was wondering—”
“You and Kace will stay here. You can stay here as long as you need.” I pull her into my arms. “I don’t like you not sleeping in my bed. If you stay here, it’ll be in my bed.”
She wraps her arms around me. “I promise. I didn’t sleep well last night either.”
I kiss the top of her head and lean back, making her look up at me. “What changed your mind?” Baylor isn’t the type to just change her mind.
“I became very jealous today and almost throat punched a girl. Then I had a long talk with Amara and realized I’m a dork and I need to face my feelings.”
“What?” This time I pull away from her, but she holds me in her arms. “What?” I ask again.
Baylor sighs and her cheeks become flamed. “INK America sent a few of the proofs back for me to see and Starlight’s client saw them over my shoulder. She went on and on about what she would do to you in bed and the more she talked, the more I wanted to throat punch her.”
I do my best to hold back my smile but fail and chuckle. “Woman can say all they want about me, but all that matters to me is you.” I cup her face and kiss her. “Only you.”
Her face lights up and she bites down on her bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”
“All is forgiven. I vote that we move on and forget all about it.”
“Deal.”
THE MINUTES ARE ticking by faster and faster. The sweat is burning my eyes, but I keep my focus on the puck. The score is zero to zero and I will do anything to change it. Keeping my position in front of the Mustangs net, I’m going to get this puck into the net.
I slap my stick on the ice and Vance catches my eye. He shifts right and then left before being able to get around the defensemen.
“Playa,” Vance yells my nickname as the puck sails effortlessly to me.
I barely have to touch it as it sinks between the legs of the goalie. The red light swirls behind the net as I throw my hands up in celebration. The guys skate over to me as joyous as I am right now.
“It’s about time you got your head out of your ass,” Teo shouts as I skate by him. The bench chuckles as do I. It feels good to be back on top.
The time still continues to move faster and faster. Thankfully Nathan is able to hold them off until the final buzzer.
We won!
The entire team jumps the wall and heads over to Nathan, congratulating him on the shutout. The guy is a beast in the net. Not to mention, Teo is just as good. We’re truly unstoppable. I feel as if this is our year.
The locker room is rocking with cameras, reporters, social media reports, and celebrating between players. After I finish several interviews and pose for a picture for the Bears Instagram account, I rush through my shower and out to the parking lot, where I know my family will be waiting.
And they are.
Kace runs up to me first, jumping into my arms. The kid can’t do this for much longer. He’s tall and soon will be filling out. I’m not that strong.
“You were awesome.” He holds tightly to my neck.
“Thanks, Buddy.” I put him down.
Mom and Amara hug me next. I gaze over to Baylor and smirk. She’s mine and I love it.
“I say we order takeout and head to my place.” I suggest, reaching for Baylor.
“Perfect.” She squeezes my hand.
We get Kace into the car and I’m desperate to be with her. Alone and in my bed.
DINNER TOOK FOREVER and I wanted to shove Baylor into the laundry room and bend her over the dryer. I knew better than to do it, but damn I wanted to. Finally, Mom headed home, Kace went to bed and Amara left us alone.
“You know I know what you’re thinking.” Baylor puts the last container into the fridge.
“What do you mean?” I lean against the counter unable to hide the smirk on my face.
“Alden.” She sways over to me. “You want to have sex with me.”
I grow harder in my pants. “Yes, but I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure that detail out.”
She giggles. “I don’t know if it’s all the carbs I’ve been eating or if I’m horny, but I’m willing to drop my no-sex rule for tonight.” She bites down on her bottom lip.
My heart is in my throat and there’s only two things I can think of right now – my raging hard-on and her stunning body. I move with such speed I almost startle myself as I grab the back of her neck and pull her to me. I need her.
My mouth devours her and I guide...well, more like push...her toward the stairs. With our lips still locked tight, we make our way to the top, down the hall, and to my bedroom. I managed to shut the door without kicking it and waking up the entire house and began to tug away Baylor’s clothes. She’s doing the same thing to me as our tongues battle each other.
I shove her against the door, finally breaking our connection. I still can’t breathe as my eyes roam over her half naked body. Her tattoos only highlight her beauty. It’s an extension of her. I drop to my knees as if to worship her. I pop the button on her jeans and slowly she shimmies out of them. I toss them aside and kiss each of her thighs. I keep going up until my lips hover over her covered pierced clit. Her hands are buried deep in my hair as she stares down at me. I hook my thumbs on her thong and pull it away, throwing it to the side.
“Alden.”
There have been many women who have said my name in the middle of sexual activities but never like Baylor. There’s a soft growl as it leaves her, and it only makes me harder. I could almost blow my load with just the sound of her voice. This time it eggs me on to
enjoy every inch of her. With the first swipe of my tongue, her head falls back and her knees almost give out. It makes me hold her tighter and work her faster.
“Alden.”
It’s a struggle for her to say my name and her body is tightening up. I know the signs for when a female is going to come, and it’s clear Baylor is on the edge.
“Alden.”
Her body begins to shake, and I pull away, gathering her up in my arms and tossing her on the bed. Practically ripping my boxer briefs off, I cover her body with mine and slam right into her. I can’t wait. My body is craving her as if I’d been in the desert a hundred nights and she’s my first drink of water. I know I’m not going to last long as I pound harder into her, letting her ride out the orgasm from my tongue.
“Fuck.”
She arches closer to me and wraps her legs tighter around me. I can’t hold out much longer as I feel her tightening up around me again. I pound into her as hard as I can until I’m moaning out her name.
I love her.
Chapter Ten
Baylor
MY EYES ARE open to a whole new world. A world where Alden Brockman is in it all the time. I can’t explain or even really process how my life has changed in such a short time. I figured I didn’t need a man. Ever. However, Alden seems to be the knight in shining armor in my fairytale dreams.
But does he feel the same way? No I’m certain he doesn’t because he’s not the type to fall in love. I know this, and I need to come to terms with it. Then again, he has asked me to date him, and I don’t believe it’s just for the sex.
I remember the jealousy I felt when that girl commented on Alden’s picture. It’s something I never felt before with anyone. I wanted to punch the girl for looking at my man. It’s then that reality hits me. I care for Alden. I love him. If he never returns the feelings I can still live knowing we at least tried. It’s why I made the choice to put my heart on the line.
