Enforcer

by Ryleigh Rhodes

  "The normal: flowers, jewelry, expensive vacation, stuff Kristen normally likes. Give me something here."

  This time I did laugh. That stuff was so not me. "Practicality is best. Can't go wrong with chocolate. What the hell am I suppose to get Clay then?"

  "For practicality's sake." The word practicality dripped with sarcasm. He paused then continued, "you could just move in with him. As a gift," he said, then had the audacity to smile at me. That little shit.

  "Seriously?" I asked, not hiding my annoyance.

  I jumped as the buzzer sounded indicating a goal was made. Thankfully, Clay's team had pulled a win and he'd be in a good mood later, assuming his body wasn't hurting. Craig waited for the crowd to settle down.

  "Yeah, honey. That's the other thing. I'd like to release a statement to the press about him being in a committed relationship. I've known both of you a long time, you make each other happy. If I was worried there'd be a scandal later, I wouldn't even push this otherwise, Jack would have my ass. Plus this could help Clay's image, not that his image is bad. But certain companies prefer to endorse pro-family athletes."

  People actually care about athletes' personal lives? Jesus. I was way out of my element here. I watched fans start to file out, while I thought about what Craig just said.

  "Look, I get enough shit from Kristen about this. Clay and Jack know I'm still thinking things over. I don't want any attention, so if you could not mention my name and leave certain details out, I would appreciate it. I'm not sure what that exposure would do to the twins, that's where my hesitation lies."

  Anyone with half decent research skills would be able to find out about my injuries or Sawyer's death. That shit was private, I didn't need anyone digging into it.

  "I understand that."

  I gave Craig a look. "You know what ... tell Clay I want to go to an indoor shooting range for Valentine's day." He did a double take. They always seemed to forget that I had experience handling small arms.

  It had been well over a year since Wilson and I last went. Part of me wanted to see if that'd scare Clay, the other part of me needed to practice. "I'll talk to him tonight about the other stuff, and he'll let you know."

  Kristen and Jack had the twins and dogs tonight, in turn I'd watch Matt tomorrow night since Jack has a game. Kristen wanted some adult time, and I was happy to oblige. Tonight, Clay and I could finally hammer all this shit out. We needed to clear the air.

  ######

  Due to a unplanned team meeting, Craig, ended up dropping me off at Clay's. Who knew how much longer that would take, so I showered and took care of my nightly routine. Briefly, I debated if I should wait up for him downstairs or just go to bed. It was late, and I needed to be productive tomorrow and would have the kids. The decision was easy: bed. The twins' weren't here so I didn't have an issue sharing Clay's bed. Settling into his plush bamboo sheets, I turned off the light and closed my eyes.

  Sometime later, Clay woke me getting into bed. I was facing him. His hands were at my ass, pulling me into his warm body. His hand tipped my jaw up slightly, allowing him to kiss me. "You taste like beer."

  "Most of the team went out to celebrate," he said. I understood the need for team bonding or whatever. Being half asleep, and not mentally sharp for this discussion was not exactly in my favor.

  "Are you up for talking? Craig and I had quite the conversation while you played."

  "We can talk, but first, did you enjoy watching?"

  I rolled, adjusting my head further onto his chest. "Parts of it I liked." I was leading him on in a way, I wanted to throw him off kilter. If he was off his game a bit, it wouldn't matter that my mental acuity wasn't in full swing.

  "What didn't you like?" he whispered near my ear.

  "I think Craig called it, boarding or checking, something like that." He was silent for a second, kissing my forehead.

  "I thought you were going to say fighting."

  I let out a hoarse chuckle. "No, Mr. Enforcer, I found the fighting kind of hot, actually." I smiled against his chest.

  He tightened against me. "You've seen some of the damage before. Bruises. Broken nose. I've lost teeth fighting," Clay warned. There was something deeper here. Between dentures and dental implants, losing a tooth really isn't a big deal.

  "So many worse things could happen while you fight than losing teeth. I do care about you being able to eat, so try not to lose all your teeth. My body is littered with scars and stretch marks, and you don't care. Who gave you a hard time about losing teeth?" I asked, knowing it had to be an ex and not one of his friends. Not that I'd track her down and beat her up, but mentally I could visualize whooping some ass.

  "Melanie. I didn't need Kristen's help running her off." Melanie didn't last long. From what I remember, she hated competing with Clay's career. She was a model, who needed a lot of constant attention.

  "Her loss, is my gain." Grabbing his nape, I pulled him towards me, lifting my head enough to plant a kiss on his lips. After a brief brushing of lips I let him go. "Craig cornered me about making us official, for your image." His body, that had relaxed when I kissed him, stiffened back up.

  "My image is fine," he said, in a no nonsense voice. I found his defensiveness amusing.

  "He said that too," I replied, running my fingers across his chest. I was being a bit devious, trying to get him to relax before I really delved in. "Another piece of advice, you shouldn't ask Kristen for gift ideas, at least concerning me." I lightly pinched his nipple, mostly for effect.

  "Aw, fuck." He cried.

  I stifled a chuckle.

  "You think it's funny? You're not pissed?" He asked incredulously.

  "I was, now it's funny. I told Craig, we'd talk about it, and you'd let him know. I want the twins protected, and I don't want to be portrayed as a martyr, veteran. I want my past to stay there."

  That was non-negotiable to me. Not that Clay would exploit my accomplishments, but some of his sponsors might try. I was not for sale. He stopped my hand moving across his chest with his, linking our fingers.

  "I'll talk to Craig. If someone's determined enough they'll find it though. You gotta know that, babe." Rolling onto his back, he pulled me plush into his side.

  Too true. "I know. I also know you wouldn't intentionally capitalize on my past. Doesn't mean it hasn't happened."

  "What do you mean?" I'd told no one about this, not even Wilson. I just kept it to myself wishing bad karma on the asshole.

  "A certain member on the hospital board, used my background in a salacious manner to secure more funding. It was a long time ago. The twins had just turned one, but it was a betrayal, since it was used in a devious manner. Getting back on track though, maybe we can do like a trial run before going public."

  His hand dipped lower, skimming the skin on my hip. "Trial run?" He ran knuckles across the skin at my hip up to my waist and back.

  Slipping my hand under my chin, I rolled more to look at him. "Yeah. I still feel like this is rushing it, but we're here when you're not. We give it a month, or so, I stay in the room across from the twins. No sex, if everything is still great, then Craig can do his PR-image, whatever he's worried about thing."

  He kissed me and I melted. "You sure that's what you want?" His hand went up under my shirt, brushing along the swell of my breast.

  An electric pulse shot downstairs, and I managed to say, "Yeah."

  He pushed me on my back, and leaned over me. I felt the evidence of his arousal and my heart started racing. He kissed me again, his mouth was open and so was mine. Our tongues intertwined as my arms laced behind his neck.

  Breathing heavily into his mouth, his hand found a way between my legs. Persistently pressing until they found the spot. The perfect Oh-My-God spot. Fingers pushing, they dipped right in. It didn't take long, and it hit me strong. Fucking toe curling glorious. I rode the waves, until my body relaxed. The euphoric high didn't last because my brain turned on.

  I was embarrassed by my quickness, for one, a
nd terrified where it meant we were headed, for another. It wouldn't take much longer for me to be fully expose to Clay, and that was frightening. Tears formed in my eyes. Trying to hide the tears, my breath caught in my throat.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Sorry. Just being emotional." I struggled to regain my composure.

  "Emotional about what?" I felt exposed, but excited in a scary way.

  "Honestly, I'm scared and I feel vulnerable. I've been alone for a long time, it'll be an adjustment."

  Intimacy equals vulnerability, and that side of me had been turned off for a long, long time. Now that I had committed to move-in, albeit perhaps temporarily. It was time to take my wedding rings off. I'd been over the pain of losing Sawyer, but I used the rings as a shield for a long time.

  "I understand. It'll be an adjustment for me too, but I'm excited about it."

  Chapter Twelve

  Memorial Day

  Clay returned late last night from his previous game. His team had progressed to round three of the playoffs, meaning he was even more focused and on edge. To help ease Clay's stress and cut down on travel time, the twins and I, stayed at Jack and Kristen's, since they volunteered to host the memorial day party, allowing me to relax a bit. Davis flew in yesterday. Wilson was scheduled to come in today, with Q picking her up from the airport. Pohl and Q agreed to hang around for the weekend. Everyone's schedules had aligned, and Kristen and Jack's house was packed with people.

  The twins woke early, as usual, and I sent them downstairs for breakfast. With Clay in the shower, I headed downstairs. My munchkins were probably excited and hyper to be around so many people this morning.

  Q was heading towards the front door. "Good morning." I smiled at him.

  "Good morning. I was hoping to see you before I left. I wanted you to see this," he said, tossing a velvet box at me. Please don't let that be what I think it is. I flipped it open and there sat a three stone diamond ring, in white gold or platinum.

  "You're going to ask her to marry you?" My mouth was hanging open. Oh, God. I didn't have a good feeling about this at all. As far as I knew Wilson had been on good behavior, good considering it was Wilson, but she hadn't been perfectly committed.

  "It's now or never." Totally didn't see that coming. He was finally putting his foot down. Sarah would either settle down or leave him. Sadly, I doubted it would be the first.

  "You sure that's a good idea?" Davis' voice boomed behind me. "Last I heard you two weren't even together. She hasn't moved to Colorado yet, she doesn't want to leave Ohio, or else she would have." Part of what Davis was saying is true, but he was being malicious about it. Hell, if it wasn't setting off warning bells in my mind. I was willing to bet some money he's screwed Wilson recently. Poor Q.

  "Do you know something I don't Davis?" Q asked.

  Evade, evade, evade. I closed the box and handed it back to him.

  I cleared my throat. "Sorry don't you have to leave to beat traffic? Davis why don't you go into the kitchen. They might run out of food with four professional athletes in the house." I tried to smile. Clay could put away food, and I was sure that his teammates were the same. Davis nodded, walking towards the kitchen.

  "Sorry Q. I don't know what's up with him. I haven't heard from Wilson in a week, so tell her she's in trouble." I tried to smile, and it was weak.

  "That's okay. I'll be back in a few hours."

  "Drive safe, okay?" Q nodded, heading out the front door.

  Heading back to the kitchen, I contemplated the best course of action. Knowing Davis, I figured it was better to be blunt and confrontational. If I was nice about it he'd deny it and lie.

  Everyone was in the kitchen. Craig, Clay, and his two teammates(Campbell and Johnson. I don't know them, and they're about to see a rare side of me.), Maria, the kids, Kristen and Jack, and of course Pohl. Breakfast and a show, great.

  "Okay, kiddos. Y'all need to go upstairs with Maria. Color, watch a movie, whatever." I nodded to Maria. She took the hint and stood, helping Cullen out of his chair.

  "Why?" Matt asked.

  "Well, sweetie, we're going to have a grown up conversation. There may be some things said that I don't want y'all to hear. 'kay?"

  Tara-Lynn's eyes widened, and she grasped Cullen's hand. Maria noticed my tone, and didn't delay in herding the kids upstairs. I pulled two beers out of the fridge.

  "Babe, are you okay?" Clay asked. He was worried, and he probably should be.

  "Fine," I said, setting one of the beers down in front of Pohl, and keeping one for myself, I sat next to Clay. He rested his arms behind my shoulders along the chair. I liked his little possessive moves like that. Call me crazy that I liked him marking his territory. It meant he cares.

  "Not that I'm complaining, but why do I need a beer?" Pohl asked.

  I could feel Clay's body tighten next to me. I wasn't sure if he was reacting to my vibe, or just expecting the worse, probably both. This topic would not be easy for any of us.

  "I'm going to flirt around Pandora's box. Cause something is goin' on with Davis and Wilson, and I wanna know what." There was this look that briefly flashed across Davis's face, before he tucked his shock away. It's confirmed. Davis is a man-whore. Asshole.

  "If Wilson didn't tell you, it's not your business," Davis said. "Just like bringing up C.B. would be none of my business."

  Taking his cue from Davis' harsh tone, Pohl, twisted off the top of his beer, taking a long drag. Things were about to get nasty. I opened my own beer and took a long sip.

  "Who's C.B.?" Jack asked, falling into the trap that Davis had laid. Kristen looked equally confused. Part of me felt bad for hiding my past, but that was my decision not Davis'. If I wanted to disclose my past to people it was my choice. Rubbing my brow, I let out a sigh.

  "I know who C.B. is," Clay confided with cold eyes, shooting daggers at Davis. For a second, Davis looked shocked, like he almost regretted bringing up C.B. "I can see you didn't think I knew. Just proves what kind of friend you are, stirring up shit from her past, swinging her ass out there. Just to avoid discussing your fuck ups with Wilson." Clay could care less about Wilson fucking around, but he was angry that Davis would purposefully hurt me. It pissed me off too.

  "I'm guessin' you're the mistake she made a few weeks ago. And, yes, those were her words. A mistake." That may have been a tad bitchy of me. "Q saved your fuckin' leg, you could at least show him some respect."

  Davis' eyes narrowed. "So what if I did fuck her? She's been stringing him along for FUCKING years." I didn't think it could get worse, but now that he admitted it out loud. It somehow did.

  Davis retreated to the fridge, pulling out a beer. "He did not single-handedly save my leg. Just like you didn't carry me out of there."

  That punk ass bitch was mistaken. While in Iraq, Wilson and I worked out six days a week. Sometimes twice a day even, and not just cardio. We lifted heavy weights, meaning I was squatting more than Davis weighed then. Boredom turned us into gym rats. And it made my ass look fantastic.

  His denial might as well have been a slap to the face. I did fireman's carry his huge ass out while avoiding incoming fire. Carrying him out was why I have lower back problems to this day. His ego couldn't handle me saving him, and it made my blood boil.

  "You might want to stop while you're ahead," Pohl said, the chair screeching across the floor as he stood. Johnson and Campbell both looked uncomfortable. Kristen was scanning the scene, mainly keeping her eyes on me.

  "Believe whatever the fuck you want Davis," I said, proud that I kept my tone calm.

  "You expect me to believe that you carried me fifty yards under fire, with shrapnel in your thigh? Fuck no, I don't believe it." Davis' eyes caught mine, burning into me. I glared back.

  Ungrateful prick. There's not an excuse for what I did next, except I saw red and acted. Out of my peripheral I could see Clay's hand reach for me, but he was too late. I was across the room, tackling Davis. His beer bottle hit the floor and shattered, sending
glass shards everywhere. That bastard didn't expect it and went down, hard. Not giving him a reprieve, I landed the first punch square on his cheek, while yelling, "asshole."

  The ruckus really started then. Craig moved Kristen behind him. Kristen kept murmuring, "Oh. My. God." Clay tried to pull me off Davis, which only pissed me off more. I dropped my center of gravity lower so it was harder for him to pull me away.

  Pohl yanked Clay off of me, allowing me to punch Davis in the face again.

  Jack lugged Pohl off Clay. "Back off, Pohl!" Jack roared. I saw Johnson move behind Jack. I'm sure they had their hands full trying to keep Pohl off Davis.