Full Count

by C. A. Williams

  “And this is where all the magic happens.” He swung open the last door at the end of the hallway and flopped down on one of the biggest beds I had ever seen. The room itself was all white with a giant flat screen mounted on the wall above a giant white entertainment stand that was dotted with pictures of him with the Chapmans. And then my eyes landed on the other half that was filled with pictures that contained only him and me.

  I quickly darted my eyes elsewhere, not even wanting to think about why he would still have those. All of the pictures I had of us together were safely tucked away in a box under my bed and would remain that way.

  A massive bathroom was attached all done in marble with a sunken Jacuzzi in the corner and a walk- in steam shower that looked big enough for about ten people.

  “I thought you said you never bring girls here. You aren’t one of those Harry Potter freaks running around with wands in your spare time, are you? What kind of magic is going on in here?”

  “None,” he answered back with a grin and stood up, pulling on my hand to take me with him. “I just felt like I was on an episode of Cribs giving you the grand tour. And what in the hell is Harry Potter?” I let out a loud sigh as he dragged me along, not believing that he didn’t know anything about one of the biggest franchises, he probably had all of the movies hidden away in a closet.

  “C’mon I want to show you the view, it’s pretty spectacular.”

  I followed him out through a sliding glass door off the living room that led to a wraparound deck. I leaned against the railings and looked out at the view, which was absolutely breathtaking. The land surrounding the house seemed to go on for miles of gentle rolling hills. Just between the green trees, I could catch a view of shimmering water and heard it lapping against a wooden dock.

  I could feel Dylan behind me as I looked out and he placed his hands on either side of my body against the railing, pinning me in. “This is the perfect view,” he whispered against my neck, his lips just barely grazing the sensitive skin.

  His lips finally made their landing and I could feel his smile against my neck. He ran his hands up and down my sides, over the thin material of my tank top, sending shivers racing through my whole body that I willed to stop, but they wouldn’t. “Dylan, I can’t do this.”

  “Why the hell not, Paige? You never even gave me a chance to explain myself. I know I majorly fucked up at the bar but people make mistakes. I reacted like a fucking idiot when I saw you with Jake, and then Kitty filled me in on what really happened after you left. I was destroyed. I knew I ruined what we had, but don’t you think I at least deserved a second chance?

  “What we had, what we have, is special and I know I won’t ever find anything like that again. I don’t want to. I haven’t even looked at another girl since that night, I haven’t wanted to. You’re the only one for me. I want to marry you and have babies together that are as gorgeous as their Mom and grow old together, sitting in a couple of rocking chairs, yelling at a baseball game on TV. I love you so much.”

  “Dylan, I just can’t.” I twisted my body around to face his, but I couldn’t look into those damn eyes, they would suck me in. His words had shot straight to my heart and I wanted to give in, but I couldn’t.

  This time it wasn’t from not believing him, because I did. This time it was over the guilt that rippled through me. I didn’t think he would ever forgive me from what I had kept from him. Most people wouldn’t be able to. So instead of staying, I left Dylan behind and ran away from him as fast as I could.

  Chapter 34

  Paige

  “Hey MaryAnn, have you seen Dad lately?” I stepped into the kitchen where she was throwing handfuls of ingredients into a crock-pot. I had started to feel more comfortable in the kitchen, but she still did almost all of the cooking and I just helped out where I could.

  “Yes honey, he left earlier this morning and said he had to run out somewhere. He’s been checking in almost every half hour, so I know he’s doing alright. Says he should be home pretty soon.”

  “Ok,” I drawled out. I really wanted to talk to him about the whole debacle of yesterday. I could tell he had been let down that he didn’t get to make it inside of Dylan’s house, but I had to get out of there. I hadn’t spoken a word on the way home and Dad surprisingly hadn’t pushed me to talk. I think he suspected a few things and wasn’t sure how to bring them up. Now I think I was ready.

  I made a stop in my bedroom before heading back downstairs and quickened my feet when I heard the front door open. “Hey Dad, I’m glad you’re home…” My mouth dropped open when I saw who followed in behind him and I swear my heart stopped.

  Dylan

  What. The. Fuck. There was Paige looking gorgeous as always with her sandy curls piled on top of her head, a pair of those tiny shorts that I loved, and a tank top that gave me just a glimpse of that flat stomach of hers. But that wasn’t what had my mouth hanging open. The baby girl perched on her hip with the sandy brown hair and wide brown eyes that were currently staring back at me with a wide smile and just a hint of a dimple was.

  Max shuffled his feet behind me as we stood there in silence just looking at each other. Finally he cleared his throat. “Excuse me…I think MaryAnn needs some help in the kitchen.”

  “Dylan…just let me explain… I didn’t…I wasn’t sure how to…”

  “Paige, just stop,” I breathed out shakily. What in the hell was going on? My whole life had just completely changed in a second of seeing this little girl. “Just answer me one question, is she mine?” The brown eyes that looked so similar to mine had already basically answered my question for me, but I needed to know. I needed to hear it from her lips. And I hoped it was true, I was already in love with that little girl.

  “Of course Lily’s yours, I haven’t been with anyone else, Dylan. I wasn’t the best at taking my birth control, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything now. I was just so scared after I found out and I had no clue how you would react. I knew about your upbringing and you had said before you didn’t even know if you wanted kids.

  “Then yesterday when you were talking about us starting a family together… well, it all just sort of sunk in. I felt horrible that I hadn’t included you in her life, all because I was being selfish.” Her face was covered in tears and I couldn’t help myself, I just needed to comfort her for all of the pain she had gone through without me, I brushed my thumb over her cheek and let it rest there, until my baby girl, my baby girl, reached up and curled her tiny fingers around mine. That right there was the most unreal feeling I had ever had in my life. I had a daughter. I reached up to play with the tiny curls that covered her little head, so much like her mom’s and she actually giggled when I did it, letting out a small musical noise.

  “Paige, I understand why you did it. That doesn’t mean I have to like it, but I understand. I would like to be a part of her life though and make up for everything I have missed so far.”

  She sniffled and laced her fingers with my free hand, giving it a small squeeze. “Of course Dylan, I wouldn’t deny you that now. You have as much right to Lily as I do, I know I was wrong and I wouldn’t be surprised if you hated me.”

  “Baby, I could never hate you, I love you with all of my heart.” My lips crashed into hers, trying to pour out all of the love I had built up in my chest from the time we had spent apart. And now I could share this love with our little girl.

  Chapter 35

  Paige

  “You sure she’s gonna be alright with your dad and MaryAnn? We could just stay in and hang out, build some blocks, have a tea party.”

  It had been almost two weeks since Dylan had come back into our lives, and he had spent every possible minute with Lily and me. I loved to watch the two of them spend time together. They had an instant connection that was undeniable.

  “Dylan, if you really want to stay and do that stuff with Lily, that’s fine. But trust me when I say, it’s nice to have a break every once in awhile. Dad loves watching her; I think t
hat’s what’s kept him around so long. MaryAnn’s always there to help too. Now are you ready to go?” I held out my hand and he gripped it tightly before finally leading the way to his car and opening the door for me.

  “You look beautiful tonight, by the way.” His lips landed on my bare neck and remained there for a second, lightly sucking, shivers ran through my body and I was so ready to just tell him to forget the whole date thing and take me straight back to his house.

  “So are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?”

  “Nope, total surprise. I figured you would like that.” His brown eyes twinkled with amusement as he pulled out of the driveway and I sunk back into the seat, my eyes already closing from the lull of the car. Lily had been up with an earache almost all night and I had gotten about two hour’s worth of sleep, but there was no way I was cancelling our date. No way in hell.

  I woke up when the car started to slow down and glanced at the clock to see almost two hours had passed. “You brought me on a date to your house? Isn’t that a little presumptuous, Rookie?”

  Dylan smirked, pushing the down button on his window and punching in the code to open the gate. “Hey, I just wanted to cook you dinner. If anything happens after that, well that’s just a bonus. But I don’t expect anything.”

  “Mmhmm.” I narrowed my eyes at him as he helped me down and I straightened the lacy cream dress I had picked out for the night. I knew how his mind ticked, sex was on his brain almost 24/7 and right now, that’s exactly where my head was going too.

  I followed him into the kitchen where he immediately opened the oven, filling the whole room with the overwhelming smell of roasted meat, absolutely mouthwatering. “Take a seat at the table. I’ll bring over a glass of wine, just about everything’s ready.”

  I watched his broad back as he grabbed plates from an overhead cabinet, just showing off a sliver of his flat stomach and the V that disappeared into the waistband of his boxers. I felt my tongue slip out and I licked my lips at the sight. This was truly going to be a long meal.

  Everything about the dinner was perfect. Dylan brought out a roast with potatoes and carrots, and poured us each a glass of wine. And to top it all off, he made my favorite, dessert. Didn’t matter what it was, he knew it would make me happy.

  “So,” he drawled out with a smirk, lightly tapping his fingers on the table. “What do you want to do next?”

  “I don’t know, maybe we could try out that movie theater of yours.” I don’t know why, but suddenly I had just gotten a whole lot more nervous about being with Dylan again. I mean I had a baby, my body was different now. What if he didn’t like the weird things pregnancy had done to me?

  We agreed on a movie, selecting a comedy and snuggled up into the home movie theater that I was very excited about trying out. Dylan, of course, had to make a huge bowl of popcorn, having not filled up on the massive meal we had just polished off and grabbed a selection of candy.

  “Take your pick, Paige.” He threw the pile between us and started the movie up. We both instantly went for the Sugar Daddies and played a game of tug of war before he finally let go and gave them up. “So you still like your Sugar Daddies, I should of known,” he said with a smirk.

  “Uh duh, why do you think I’m here?” I hit him in the chest with one of the throw pillows that were heaped into piles everywhere and slightly knocked him back, catching him by surprise.

  “Oh it’s on now Sparky, you have no idea what you just started.” He scooped up his own pile of pillows and began attacking me, before knocking me completely backwards and pinning my body down with his.

  I kicked and screamed in between giggles as his fingers attacked my body, tickling me everywhere. “Please stop,” I managed to choke out. I hated being tickled and he knew it, everywhere on my body was sensitive and I swear it made me feel like I was dying a slow death. He pulled his fingers away suddenly and just gazed down at me with the most intense look I had seen yet come from this boy.

  “You are so beautiful, Paige,” he stated through hooded eyes before he leaned down and kissed me gently, starting with the most sensitive part behind my ear, lightly nipping and sucking, moving down lower to my neck.

  My heart was beating through my chest so hard I’m sure he could hear it. Everything was so familiar, but felt so new at the same time. I let out a soft moan when I felt his warm fingers brush underneath the hem of my dress and work their way up my bare stomach before caressing through my bra.

  His lips worked their way back up to mine while his hand stayed firmly planted in place, pushing my bra strap aside and working the lacy material down. He pulled on my bottom lip with his teeth and I opened my mouth to give him full access, tasting him while he explored my mouth like he could never get enough of it.

  “Mmm,” he groaned into my mouth and slightly pulled back, before removing his hand.

  “Seriously Dylan? I think you’ve been plenty gentlemanly enough…” he cut me off with a loud laugh and placed his arms under my knees before scooping me up.

  “Oh I’m done being a gentleman with you, Sparky, if that’s what you want. I just figured we would move this into the bedroom.”

  “Well then, yes please,” I answered back while placing warm open -mouthed kisses across his jaw line and moving to his neck.

  I’m pretty sure we got to the bedroom in record time and I barely noticed the trip because the next thing I knew I was sprawled on top of Dylan’s massive bed. He was over me in a heartbeat, his hands everywhere, working my dress off quickly and then he took a step back to look at me in my black lacy panties and bra that I had picked out specifically in hopes for this right here to happen.

  “I love these,” he gripped each one with a hand and pulled them off with a flick of his wrist. He had that down to a style. “But they look so much better off.”

  He moved down so his mouth was near my ankles and moved slowly up, caressing every part of my body as he went with his lips and hands. My body was on fire just from the simple caressing touches but I needed more.

  Dylan finally made it up to my lips and I could feel the rough material of his jeans against my body. “I think you need a little less clothing too.” I leaned up to help him with his shirt and flicked the button open on his pants pushing them and his black boxers down with my feet.

  “There that’s so much better.” I reached down between us as my hand slid up and down the length of him and he hissed between his teeth, letting out a low moan.

  “Paige, if you keep doing that, this isn’t going to last very long.” I pulled my hand away and stifled a laugh as I looked back into his brown eyes that were so filled with depth at this very moment. His hands palmed my breasts, running over the nipples roughly, causing shivers to run right to my toes before he placed a warm mouth on each, pressing himself against my stomach.

  I held onto his hair for strength, trying to control myself as my hips had a mind of their own and arched into him. Dylan must have realized how close I was too because he slid a hand in between us, palming the wetness between my legs before I felt his weight press against me again and he slowly sank in as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Dylan sucked in a breath at the sensation and slid slowly back out.

  “You feel amazing, Paige,” he murmured out huskily before raining light kisses down all over my face. I squeezed my legs even tighter to pull him back to me; I couldn’t get enough of him. I felt him sliding in and out of me slower and then faster before falling into a steady rhythm. It was one of the most intense experiences of my life.

  I threw my head back and moaned out his name before his lips connected with my neck, our movements becoming frenzied. I dug my fingers into his back, I’m sure leaving marks and we both seemed to explode together as he yelled out my name and collapsed on top of me, our sweat mixing as we laid there together, my chest heaving in small gasps.

  I was completely overwhelmed by what we had just shared, something I had never felt before with anyone else and hopefully would feel
forever with him. He pulled out of me slowly before heading to the bathroom and quickly returned, sliding underneath the sheets that I had wrapped around my body. He pulled me against his body and placed a light kiss onto my shoulder. “I love you so much, Paige Brinton.”

  “I love you too, Dylan Turner, forever and always.”

  Epilogue

  Paige

  It had been almost a year since Dylan had come back into mine and Lily’s lives and it had definitely been a whirlwind. After recreating our date on the baseball field at the Ray’s stadium, Dylan proposed at home plate with an engagement ring that he had bought just a couple of months after we had first started dating.

  I, of course, said yes, only after him agreeing that he would have to clean up his mouth a bit around Lily, he could save all of that for the bedroom. After he agreed, we were married shortly after. I think that really sealed the deal for my dad. He could see that I was now truly happy and had Dylan to take care of us, so he quickly deteriorated and lost his battle to cancer only about a month after the wedding. It was hard at first to deal with the loss of my dad, but it helped to have Dylan there for support.

  Before he died though, another wish of my dad’s came true, and he got to see the Rays win a World Series. Dylan was still considered a rookie, so he didn’t get as much playing time as some of the more seasoned players, but when he did, he played perfectly.

  When we got back together, it was kind of the perfect time. Baseball season was ending and we were able to adapt to being a little family together. Dylan was the best Dad any little girl could ask for and Lily had him wrapped around her little finger.

  I would wake up early in the morning sometimes and find him just standing there over her crib watching her sleep. At first, I felt guilty that he had missed the first moments of her life, but after awhile I just had to let it go. We were a family now and we could only look forward to the future.