Kenny (Shifter Football League Book 2)

by Becca Fanning

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  Samantha opened her eyes and looked up. She frowned – what was she doing in the living room?

  “Hey, you’re awake.” The voice was familiar and male. Samantha jumped as Rust stepped into her field of vision. “I didn’t think you were ever gonna get up.”

  Samantha frowned again, quickly sitting up and arranging herself. She was on the couch, with a blanket and a big glass of water on the coffee table. There was an empty plastic bucket on the ground. When she realized what had happened, she clapped a hand to her forehead and groaned. Her whole body still hurt and she reached forward for the glass of water, downing the whole thing in a matter of seconds.

  “I passed out, didn’t I?” Her voice was flat as she eyed Rust.

  He nodded. “Yep,” he replied. “Good thing I was here to make sure you didn’t kill yourself.” He raised his eyebrows and a warm flush came over Samantha’s cheeks. “That wasn’t a normal evening for you, was it?”

  Sam shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “I….I don’t know what happened.” She swallowed hard as her heart began to beat rapidly and unevenly in her chest. The familiar feelings of panic and anxiety washed over her and she felt her cheeks burn bright with shame. “Can you leave?”

  “Nope,” Rust said lightly. He sat down next to Sam on the couch and she recoiled, pulling the blanket around herself. “Sam, I know you’re hurting. But come on. Call into work, and let’s go out to breakfast.” He eyed her and Sam felt a slight wave of calm soothe her nerves. “I bet we have a lot to talk about.”

  Twenty minutes later, Sam was buckled into the passenger side of Rust’s Jeep. She liked the way he drove – his Jeep was a stick shift and as she watched his muscular arm move the gearshift into place, she felt a little thrill of something unfamiliar in her body.

  “Are you sure about this?”

  Rust laughed as he pulled into the parking lot of a local diner. “Very sure,” he said smoothly. “This place makes the best hangover cure breakfast I’ve had. I’m sure you’ll dig it.”

  Samantha blushed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been alone with a guy for more than just a few minutes. It felt alien, but for once, she didn’t mind. It was a nice change from being alone. Rust was proving to be a good companion – he wasn’t someone who chattered away to fill every silence, and when he did speak, he had something to say.

  “Thank you,” Samantha said softly as Rust opened the door for her. The inside of the diner was neat and a little cramped, but mostly free of people. Waving to someone behind the counter, Rust guided Samantha over to a corner booth.

  “I always sit here and like clockwork, I get hungry,” Rust said. He rubbed his stomach through his shirt – Samantha could see that he was hairy, with the front of his shirt a little puffed up off his chest. “It’s like magic.”

  Samantha nodded. Her stomach growled and she blushed. “I haven’t eaten anything in a long time,” she said softly. “Probably why I got so drunk. I hadn’t had anything to drink in months.”

  Rust opened his eyes widely. “So I won’t have to show up and rescue you from any more nights of self-induced debauchery?”

  Samantha blushed harder. “My therapist called it self-care,” she said softly. “But I have a feeling she didn’t mean getting blackout drunk.”

  After they ordered (jumbo scramble with biscuits and sausage for Rust, fruit salad and a bowl of oatmeal for Samantha), Rust sighed uneasily.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” he said after a moment. “I wanted to remember what you said to me when you called me last night.”

  Samantha stared. “I don’t even want to think about that,” she said in a low voice. “I was drunk. I didn’t mean it.” Her stomach twisted and suddenly, she didn’t feel hungry anymore. She wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and forget that she’d ever met Rust.

  “I know you were drunk,” Rust said gently. He gazed into Samantha’s eyes and she felt a little chill go down her spine. “But it wasn’t a horrible idea, was it?”

  She stared at him. “You’re crazy,” she said flatly. “I didn’t mean it.”

  Rust didn’t break eye contact and she had the oddest feeling that he was reading her mind.

  “It’s not a bad idea,” he said slowly, in a guarded voice. “Have you been thinking about it?”

  Samantha sighed. Her nerves were jangling, her body felt tired and sore, and she was starting to get a headache from the bright lights of the diner. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a good idea,” she snapped. “I’m sick of thinking about this! I’m sick of talking about it!”

  Rust shook his head slowly. “No one’s asking you to make a decision right now,” he said slowly. “But Sam, I know how badly you’re hurting.”

  She bit her lip and sniffled. The tears were starting to come back. She didn’t even care if everyone else in the restaurant was staring at her. “I’ve always wanted a baby,” she said softly. “I’ve always wanted to be a mother. Always.”

  “Now’s your second chance,” Rust said softly. “I think things happen for a reason. They don’t always make sense, but whatever happened in the past has brought us together here. Now.”

  She sighed. “I can’t,” Samantha replied. There was a knot forming in her throat. “I can’t. I can’t try again. I can’t go through that.” She looked deeply into Rust’s eyes. “I’m so scared it was my fault,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m so afraid that something happened because the universe knew I wouldn’t be a good mother. Everything…everything was normal until I was almost ready to give birth,” she said softly. “And then one day, I had a lot of pain and I collapsed. When I went to the hospital, there wasn’t a heartbeat.”

  Rust slipped his hand under the table and took Samantha’s. His skin was reassuringly warm and dry and calloused. Samantha shivered as his strong, warm fingers stroked her cold hand.

  “We’re united right now because we’re both in the same kind of pain,” Rust said softly. He gazed into Samantha’s eyes and she shivered. “But if we do this, there will be more bringing us together. Love, strength, we’ll have all of that. It’s not gonna be this world of pain, not forever.”

  Samantha bit her lip. She couldn’t bring herself to speak.

  “I never knew I wanted to be a father until I found out about what happened,” Rust went on. “And then as soon as I was told, I knew instantly that I couldn’t go on without trying again. I’m so scared of getting too old with no one to love and no one to look out for. I want a real family, Samantha.”

  Tears splashed over Samantha’s lids and dripped down her face. She knew, suddenly, that maybe her life story wasn’t over. Maybe there could still be good things in the world. Maybe, maybe. Maybe, somehow, everything would be okay.

  “I wanna try,” she said softly, her voice shaking with emotion. Rust reached over and wiped her cheek with his free hand, gently brushing the tears away. He pulled her into his arms as she sobbed, stroking her black hair and soothing away all of the pain, all of the hurt.

  “Me, too,” Rust whispered into Samantha’s ear. “Me, too.”

  Chapter Four

  Six months later

  Samantha fidgeted nervously in her seat. The hem of her dress kept catching on the edge of the plastic and finally she reached down and tugged the hem over her knees, shifting forward.

  Rust reached out and patted her hand. “It’s gonna be okay,” he said in the reassuring voice Samantha had come to trust and love. “I’m here with you, baby. We got this.”

  Samantha closed her eyes and squeezed Rust’s fingers with her own. “I hope so,” she said under her breath, almost more of a prayer than a reply. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Rust said. He squeezed her hand in return and Samantha felt a warm, encouraging thrill shoot through her body.

  “Samantha Cardiff?”

  Samantha’s head shot up. “Yes?” She practically leapt out of the chair. “That’s me.”

  The ultraso
und technician smiled. “You can come on back now,” she said. “Would you like your partner to come?”

  Samantha nodded nervously, squeezing Rust’s hand and practically dragging his large frame across the doctor’s office. As the technician helped her up onto the bed and pulled up her shirt, Samantha winced.

  “That stuff is cold,” she whined.

  “Just relax,” the ultrasound tech replied. Her nametag read ‘Lisa.’ “You’re going to feel just a little bit of pressure here,” she said softly. “How are you feeling?”

  “Nervous,” Samantha admitted. She looked to Rust for encouragement. He was standing next to the raised bed with his hand resting on Samantha’s head. “My first baby….I had a stillbirth.”

  Lisa nodded. “Dr. Ankeny told me all about it,” she said smoothly. Reaching down to flick a switch, she pointed up at the large screen mounted on the wall. “Now, here’s your baby,” she said. “Here’s the head, right here, and here’s the body.” She glanced at the screen. “You’re about four-and-a-half months along, is that right?”

  Samantha and Rust nodded together. “We’re excited,” Rust said. He squeezed her shoulder and Samantha felt a burst of happiness and pride. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched their baby move on the screen. Inside, she felt a fluttering sensation in her womb.

  “Would you like to know the sex?”

  Samantha and Rust glanced at each other. Samantha nodded. “Would you?”

  Rust nodded. “I would,” he said. He rubbed Samantha’s shoulders. “I’d love to know.”

  Lisa grinned. “You’re going to be the lucky parents of a healthy baby girl,” she said. “Would you like a moment alone?”

  “Please,” Rust said. He stood protectively by Samantha, rubbing her back until the technician had left the room.

  “Rust,” Samantha said in a soft voice. “I can’t believe it. We’re having a girl!” Happy tears welled up in her eyes and dripped down her cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.”

  Rust grinned. “I’m taking both of my best girls out for a fancy night on the town,” he said, reaching down and rubbing Samantha’s stomach. She was just beginning to show, after having a relatively easy first trimester. “I’m so proud of you,” Rust whispered as he leaned down and placed a gentle, chaste kiss on Samantha’s lips. “I never thought I’d be this happy.”

  “Me neither,” Samantha said honestly. She began to wipe the gel off of her stomach and pull her shirt down, hopping off the table. The last image of their soon-to-be baby girl was still on the screen and Samantha stared happily. A tear ran down her cheek and she reached up to wipe it away.

  “Come on,” Rust said. He gently patted Samantha’s ass, making her jump. “We gotta get going if we want to make that reservation.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “You already planned this?” Samantha stared. “How did you know today would go so well?”

  Rust shrugged. “I trusted that it was going to work out,” he said smoothly. “Now come on. I bet you’re starving.”

  Dinner was magnificent. Heavenly. Samantha ate so much food that she didn’t even miss not having the usual wine with her Italian dishes. The pasta tasted richer and more delicious than ever before, and she closed her eyes, savoring the final bite.

  Rust, all cleaned up in a button down shirt and a nice pair of trousers, had never looked so handsome. Samantha stared into his eyes across the candlelit table, watching the shadows play on his sculpted, rugged face.

  “I don’t know how I got so lucky,” Samantha said softly. “I don’t feel like I deserve this.”

  Rust raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’re an amazing woman,” he said in a low, husky voice that sent a shiver of desire through Samantha’s body. “I believe it. You deserve every moment of this night, I promise you.”

  Samantha shivered. “Let’s go home,” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from Rust’s strong jaw. “I want to be alone with you.”

  In the car, she could barely keep her hands off her hunky boyfriend. As Rust drove, Samantha scooted close and slipped her hand between his legs, caressing his muscular thighs with her fingers. Rust groaned – she could feel that he was hard – and she felt her own skin get heated and flushed with desire. But as soon as they stepped into their apartment, Rust stepped away.

  Samantha pouted. “What’s wrong?”

  Rust grinned. “Nothing,” he said. “I just have a surprise for you, that’s all.”

  Samantha frowned. “And it can’t be in the bedroom?”

  Rust dropped down to one knee, making her gasp. He still wore a cocky smile and as he held out a small velvet box, Samantha covered her face in her hands and let out a small sound of excitement.

  “Samantha, mother of my child, I can’t live without you.” Rust’s voice was deep and sincere – just listening to it made Samantha want to wrap her arms around him and cling tightly. “I need to be with you. You’re my soul mate, and I love you. Will you marry me?”

  Samantha threw herself into his arms, getting down on her knees and pulling him on top of her. They kissed passionately – by now, Samantha was used to the rough, clumsy-but-trying-to-be-gentle manner of Rust’s kisses. As his tongue slipped between her lips, she shivered and pressed her body against him. The pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow were making her crazy for Rust and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

  “I guess that’s a yes, huh?” Rust teased, gently breaking the kiss. Samantha nodded, her face flushed with love and desire. “Don’t you want your ring?”

  Samantha swallowed. “Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, Rust, I want to marry you.” She gasped as Rust slid a beautiful, sparkly ring onto her hand. It was a pear-shaped diamond on a plain band of yellow gold and Samantha didn’t think she’d ever seen anything so beautiful in her life.

  “Good,” Rust said huskily. He pulled her close and kissed her. “Because now I want to finish what you started in the car.” He scooped Samantha up into his arms with ease and carried her into the bedroom, gently setting her down on the mattress. At once, the two of them were wrapped around each other, kissing passionately. Samantha groaned as Rust slipped his hands under her shirt and tugged it over her head. With a shy smile, she reached behind her back and unclasped the bra. Rust ran his hands over her breasts, marveling at the way her body looked.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Rust murmured, lowering his head and kissing the sensitive skin. “You were gorgeous before, but you’re a goddess right now,” he added in a sensual, husky voice before kissing Samantha’s stiff, swollen nipples. She let out a hoarse cry of pleasure as Rust’s hot tongue lapped at her sensitive skin, sending hot flashes of a delicious feeling through her body. Rust gently pinched and squeezed her other nipple, rolling it in his fingers as he lavished attention on her breasts with his mouth. Samantha groaned with pleasure, arching her back and throwing her long, black hair back over her shoulders.

  Rust gently pushed Samantha down on the bed and fumbled with the hidden side zipper for her skirt. Tugging it down her legs, he stared at her body in wonder.

  Samantha giggled nervously. “I feel so fat,” she complained. “My belly already looks huge.”

  Rust trailed down her body, kissing her skin and inhaling the musky scent of her pussy. “You’re a goddess,” he repeated, nuzzling at the cotton band of her panties. “And I can’t wait to make you mine.” A chill of pleasure coursed through Samantha’s body as Rust’s fingers slipped into her panties and began to rub at her swollen, delicate flesh. She was already soaked as she moaned as he slipped a finger inside the entrance to her most secret place, grinding her hips against his hand.

  Eagerly, Samantha strained towards Rust and licked her lips before pressing them against his. The kiss was passionate and deep and Samantha moaned, closing her eyes and caressing his tongue with her own. As Rust’s fingers wandered and played inside of her panties, she spread her legs as wide as she could. Rust’s thumb found her e
ngorged clit and began to rub slow, delicate circles around the hard nub of arousal. Samantha moaned loudly as her arousal grew. Intense feelings of pleasure swarmed her body and she began to feel her muscles tightening up, almost like a cramp.