Dare To Stay

by Phillips, Carly

  Making her choice, she asked, “Then what are you waiting for?”

  He studied her for a moment, and she knew he was wondering what she’d been thinking.

  She didn’t want to talk. “I want you, Braden.”

  “You have no idea how much I need you.” He came over her and covered her mouth with his, kissing her like he needed her to breathe.

  Sex between them had always been amazing, but his current intensity took things to another level. She kissed him back, shoving all negative and worrisome thoughts out of her mind. Instead she concentrated on Braden, her hands rubbing over his back, savoring the feel of his warm skin against her palms.

  With his hands on either side of her head, he rose up, and though his mouth never left hers, his cock slid back and forth along her clit. She trembled, the feel of his velvety-soft erection sending sparks of fire throughout her body. She craved him inside her, hard, thick, and filling her completely.

  It was her turn to confess her need. “Fuck me, Braden,” she said, arching her hips and begging him to take her.

  He lifted himself up and met her gaze. “It’s been too long, so this time I’ll give you what you want, but make no mistake. I am going to make love to you, too.”

  Her mouth dropped open and he grinned, a sexy, heart-stopping smile. And then he was at her entrance, working his way inside. Although wet and aroused, she gasped at his thickness and groaned.

  He paused and she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “It’s been awhile, okay?”

  He held himself steady, the veins in his biceps straining with his weight. “How long?”

  “Unimportant. Move,” she said, diverting her gaze. She bent her legs, pulling him deeper, her insides pulsing with desire.

  “Babe, look at me.”

  She had no choice. “What?” she asked, staring into his gorgeous eyes. Eyes that devoured her.

  “I need to know.”

  “There’s been no one since you,” she admitted, hating how that sounded. Like she’d been pining for him.

  “There’s not going to be anyone else,” he said on a growl, thrusting inside her and pausing.

  She lowered her hands, grasped his ass, and pulled him against her. “Do not stop.”

  Once freed from the leash he held himself on, he began to thrust hard and fast inside her. He filled her, pulling back and plunging back in. Over and over he took her, the sensations building every time. Unfortunately so did the emotions and feelings she’d been holding back. He didn’t need to make love to her in order for her to remember them. When they were good. Happy. A couple.

  And as her inner walls clasped him tight, he moved faster, thrust deeper, taking her higher. It didn’t take long for her to feel the beginning of her orgasm, and she let out a low moan.

  “That’s it, come for me. Come hard,” he said, slamming back into her.

  “Braden, oh! God,” she cried out. His cock hit exactly the right spot inside her, and she came apart, white spots behind her eyes, a roaring in her ears as pleasure consumed her.

  She rode out her orgasm, and only when he’d wrung everything out of her did he pick up his pace with short, fast strokes, and soon he was coming, too. His body shook and her name was on his lips.

  She wasn’t sure how long they lay with him on top of her, breathing heavily, perspiration coating their bodies, before she came back to herself. She opened her eyes just as he pulled out of her and rolled to his back.

  “Jesus.” He rested his arm over his head and groaned. “Best ever,” he muttered.

  She didn’t respond despite the fact that she agreed. “C’mere,” he said, reaching for her.

  “I should get back to my room. We have an early morning.” Leaving before they curled up together was the only way to keep some semblance of emotional protection, her promise to keep an open mind be damned.

  He tipped his head toward her. “Don’t run.”

  She drew a deep breath and swallowed hard. “I’m not. I just feel like it’s smarter on the road not to call attention to us.”

  He frowned like he was going to argue but finally pushed himself to a sitting position. “Does that mean you’ll stay over once we’re back home?”

  She shook her head and couldn’t control the laugh that escaped. He was like a little kid who would try every which way to get what he wanted.

  “How about we’ll see?” She hadn’t said no, so she could at least claim to be keeping an open mind, she thought wryly.

  Taking her off guard, he pulled her into him and wrapped his big, warm body around hers. “I’ll take it,” he said, pressing open-mouthed kisses against her neck.

  She had no doubt he’d hold her to her promise, and though she said she’d consider it, she had no doubt he’d convince her to stay over one day soon.

  She finally dressed and walked out of Braden’s room. Leaving him in bed, she shut the door behind her.

  “Willow!” The sound of Cole’s voice startled her, and she glanced up to see him stepping into the hall from a few doors down, ice bucket in hand.

  “Hi.” The need to run her hand through her definitely messed hair was strong, but she refrained.

  “I didn’t know you were on this floor.”

  She bit down on the inside of her cheek. “I’m–”

  Before she could come up with a reply, the door behind her opened, and Braden joined her in the hall … in his boxers. “You forgot your phone,” he said gruffly, his gaze coming to rest on Cole. “Everything okay?”

  Cole narrowed his gaze. “I see you didn’t take my advice not to get involved with him.”

  She stiffened. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

  Braden’s hand came to rest on her shoulder. “I agree.”

  Willow didn’t know what Braden’s expression was behind her, but Cole shook his head, turned, and went back into his room, slamming the door behind him.

  She flinched at the sound, and Braden turned her to face him.

  “You do realize you’re still nearly naked?” And she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his gorgeous body.

  He pulled her back inside and shut the door. “I know that’s the last thing you wanted. Someone from work knowing you were with me tonight.”

  She sighed. “He already knew we had history. I just don’t get what his problem is or why he’s so angry. He and I weren’t serious.”

  Braden raised an eyebrow. “He lost, sweetheart. No man with a healthy ounce of ego likes to know he came in second to another guy. Especially regarding a woman as sexy and special as you.” He ran his knuckles down her cheek, and she shivered at the sensual touch.

  “Thank you,” she said, a rush of heat rising to her face. “Still, he’s acting like an ass.” And if he continued to give her a hard time, she’d be having words with him.

  A troubled look crossed Braden’s features. “I don’t like him trying to get between us by planting ideas in your head that don’t need to be there.”

  Ideas about him leaving again, she thought. She didn’t need Cole reminding her of what Braden was capable of, having already lived through his unexpected departure once before. A subject she didn’t want in the forefront of her mind. It was always there, lingering.

  “Don’t worry about Cole. I can think for myself,” she assured him, her tone a little cooler than she’d intended.

  Besides, the last thing she wanted was for Braden to get into a male pissing contest with Cole since they worked together. Or rather, Cole answered ultimately to him.

  “Good.” His lips lifted in a satisfied smile, which made her relax a bit. “Now kiss me good-night.”

  “I already did.” But she wouldn’t mind another long, wet, drugging kiss to keep her warm for the rest of the night.

  Reaching up onto her tiptoes, she met his lips with hers, and he gave her exactly that.

  * * *

  Braden stood on the sidelines watching the game. He still hadn’t gotten used to the sound of clashing helmets and the
roar of the crowd from this close to the action, but the play was fascinating from his vantage point. As the hours passed, he became more aware that Willow made a concerted effort to remain far away from him, on opposite sides of the bench, unless an injury on the field brought them together. He understood and had no problem with respecting her boundaries. Not as long as he knew he had a shot.

  He glanced over to see her retaping a player’s ankle while Cole smartly kept his distance from them both, his focus on his job as it should be. The Thunder won thirty to twenty-eight, Damon having his best passing yardage total of the season so far. Braden considered the weekend a success.

  They flew home that night, and next Sunday was a home game, which meant more rest and less stress. Willow sat beside Steffy on the plane.

  Braden joined his brother in the seat next to him and buckled his seat belt. “Good game.”

  Damon leaned back against the headrest, turning to meet Braden’s gaze. “I have to say it feels great to be back and playing in top form with that damned scandal behind me.”

  “Can’t say I blame you.” He checked his phone, grinned, and typed something in.

  “Evie?” Braden guessed.

  Still smiling, Damon nodded.

  “Why the fuck are you grinning like the Cheshire cat? You’re creeping me out.”

  Damon leaned closer. “Evie’s pregnant. We’re keeping it quiet for now because it’s still early, but I need to tell someone or I’m going to explode.”

  Now Braden understood his brother’s great mood and shit-eating grin. “Congratulations, man. I am so happy for you. Give Evie my best. If you tell her I know she’s pregnant, that is.”

  Damon’s expression turned to one of horror. “Are you kidding? She’ll kill me. She wants to wait until after the first trimester.”

  Braden chuckled. “Something tells me you won’t make it till then. And you know Mom’s going to lose her mind.”

  “Which is why we have to wait.” Damon was adamant.

  “She won’t hear it from me,” he promised.

  “So what’s the deal with you and Willow? Austin said he walked in on you two at Mom’s over Thanksgiving.” Damon changed the subject on him.

  Braden rolled his eyes at his gossiping brothers.

  Unable to help himself, he turned and caught a glimpse of her in an aisle seat, laughing at something her friend had said. As if sensing his stare, she looked his way, their eyes meeting. He winked at her, she blushed, and after he grinned, he turned back to Damon.

  “Okay, talk,” Damon said.

  “I’m working on her, okay? It’s going to take time for her to trust me again.” Braden had no intention of revealing last night to anyone, not even his brother. Not against Willow’s wishes. This wasn’t anything like Damon being unable to contain his excitement about becoming a dad and spilling those beans.

  Damon stretched his legs in front of him, as far as they would go given the boundaries of the seat in front of him. “And Aurora? The pregnant girl you two brought to Mom’s? Bri seems to have taken her under her wing by giving her a job.”

  “So has Willow. She insisted Aurora move in with her, and given where the girl was living before, I couldn’t exactly argue. Although that wasn’t in my plans when I introduced them.” He rolled his shoulders, feeling cramped in the small area. “I admit I brought them together because I thought it would help Willow and Aurora both. They have trust issues in common.”

  “And Dr. Do-Good couldn’t help trying to fix them?” Damon cocked an eyebrow, annoying Braden.

  “No. I needed Willow to see me in a new light and help Aurora at the same time.” He let out a groan. “I just want her back without the distrust lingering in the back of her mind. She thinks I’m going to up and leave again.”

  “Are you?”

  He shook his head. “When I left, I was looking for something, though I didn’t realize it at the time.” He cleared his throat. “I needed to carve out a niche that was mine. Not in the shadows of the successful Prescott athletes.”

  Damon turned to him. “I had no idea you felt … what? Less than us? God damn Jesse,” he muttered.

  Stiffening at the mention of the man who’d raised him, belittled him, and yes, had put those inadequate feelings in his head, he clenched his teeth hard. But Damon had a point. It always came back to Jesse Prescott.

  “It’s fine. I’m over it. Doctors Without Borders helped me with finding myself. Goal accomplished.” He knew who he was, his place in the world, and in the family now.

  Damon studied him as he spoke. “And have you explained this to Willow?”

  “No.” Braden groaned, rubbing his hands over his eyes. “If I bring up the time that I left, she pulls away. I’m lucky she’s giving me the little that she is.” He paused, needing to explain more but constrained by Willow’s desire to keep their relationship a secret.

  Fuck it, he decided, he needed his brother’s advice, and Damon would be discreet with anything Braden told him. And he was certain Steffy knew where Willow had disappeared to last night.

  “Okay, here’s the truth but keep it to yourself. Willow doesn’t want the team to know. She came to my room last night. She’s willing to sleep with me, but she intended it to be a friends-with-benefits type of thing. Not a relationship.”

  Damon let out a low chuckle. “Been there, done that,” he muttered. “What’d you say?”

  “Hell no. If she wanted me, she needed to agree to keep an open mind and give us a chance.” Damon opened his mouth to speak and Braden held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I know she’s full of it. She’s going to keep her walls high.” He blew out a huff of frustration.

  “Take it from someone who’s been in your position. It just takes time. The longer she’s with you, the more she gets to know you again, the harder she’s going to fall.” He slapped Braden on the shoulder. “Hang in there.”

  “I intend to.”

  Chapter Eight

  Willow arrived home and found Aurora watching television on the couch that substituted for Willow’s bed. After dragging her carry-on into the apartment, she shut the door and locked it behind her.

  “Welcome home!” Aurora rose from the couch and immediately began folding up the blanket she’d been lying under.

  Willow smiled. “Relax. I need to unpack and wash up before I can even think about using the sofa bed.” She wanted the young woman to feel comfortable here, not as if she was in the way. “How was your weekend?”

  Sitting back down and leaning against the sofa, Aurora smiled, and for the first time since Willow had met her, it reached her eyes. “Amazing. I relaxed in a comfortable home and bed.” Gratitude filled her gaze. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Willow joined her on the sofa. “Just seeing you looking rested is enough. And work?”

  “Work was amazing. Sitting at a desk is a blessing compared to waiting tables, and I’m really learning things. One of the secretaries is teaching me Excel, and it hasn’t been too hard answering phones and transferring calls.” She sighed and her happiness was real.

  “Have you thought about what you’re going to do after the baby is born?” Willow asked gently. She didn’t want to bring up uncomfortable subjects, but they were important.

  Placing her hand on her stomach, Aurora shook her head. “I mean, yes, I’ve thought about it. No, I haven’t come up with any solutions.” She rubbed her belly, tears in her eyes. “I want to keep her. I just don’t know how I can.”

  Willow placed a hand over hers. “I didn’t mean to upset you. We’ll talk about it when we have more time. But I have to ask. What about the baby’s father? Does he know you’re pregnant?”

  Aurora shook her head hard. “It was a one-night thing. I don’t even know how to find him. And I never knew his last name.” She blushed at the admission.

  “You are not the only woman to get pregnant from one night. And don’t beat yourself up over it, honey. Let’s get some sleep and we’ll talk more another time.” M
eanwhile she’d look into federal subsidy programs and other options for single moms. Although, one way or another, Aurora would need child care while she worked.

  “Thank you, Willow.” Reaching over, Aurora wrapped her arms around Willow and hugged her tight. “I’ll give you your bed,” she said, pushing herself back and standing up. “Oh! How was your weekend?” she asked.

  Which part? Willow wanted to ask. Her time with Braden? Hot, incredible, and better than she could have dreamed. Keeping her expectations in check was going to be even more difficult than she’d hoped. “The game was great. If you didn’t watch, the Thunder won.”

  “I saw! It was a fun game.” She was standing now, folding the blanket. “It’s amazing having a television to watch, too.”

  Willow smiled. “Let me do a quick unpacking in the bedroom, and then I’ll be out of there.”

  After tossing her dirty clothes into the laundry basket and grabbing pajamas to sleep in, she washed up in the bathroom. To her surprise, Aurora had pulled out the sofa bed and set up her extra pillows and comforter she kept in the closet.

  By the time she lay down, she was already exhausted from a long weekend of travel and game day. Not to mention she’d tossed and turned after leaving Braden’s room the night before, pleasurable memories consuming her.

  Before she could relive the time in her mind yet again, her phone buzzed, and she reached over, picked up the phone, and checked the screen.

  Braden had texted her. Did you and Steffy get home safely?

  She wrote back, We did, thanks. She wasn’t used to someone looking out for her.

  The other night meant something to me.

  She sighed. It had meant something to her, too, but she hesitated on how to answer, and he replied again before she had. Sleep tight. See you tomorrow.

  She typed back, Night, Braden. She sighed and put her phone on the end table beside her make-shift bed, knowing her alarm was set for the next morning. Though she expected to toss and turn and worry about what was going on between herself and Braden, to her surprise, she fell right to sleep, and when she woke up, she felt rested.