Exposed

by Winters, Ember-Raine

  “I was carjacked.” I sighed. “They pistol whipped me from behind and took everything I had, including my phone.”

  “Doc says it was just a shallow gash so you shouldn’t need stitches. They aren’t sure why you passed out when the police found you. You don’t have a concussion, thank fuck.”

  “I’d been walking for an hour when they found me. I was so tired.”

  “You’re awake.” An unfamiliar male voice said from the doorway. “You wanna tell me what happened?”

  “You’re one of the cops that found me,” I stated the obvious.

  “Yes sir, Mr. Walker. I’m glad your memory is intact. We found your truck and your ID in a ditch not far away from where we found you. Whoever took it must have realized their mistake and dumped the vehicle before anyone saw, but we do have partial prints so there is a possibility we will catch these guys. At the moment it looks like a completely random car jacking.”

  “Thank you, officer.” I tried to smile but it was forced. My gaze went up to the clock on the wall and I flinched, wondering if anyone had told Delia what happened. Darren saw my line of vision and I guess time had gotten away from him to because the apologetic look on his face said it all. Since I’d only just woken up, I assumed Delia and my sisters had no idea why I’d missed the shoot. When word got out about the attack, I was in a whole lot of trouble. No excuse short of death would get me out of a lecture from my sisters. “Oh fuck, can’t I catch a fucking break?” I grumbled. “When can I leave?”

  “Doc has to check you over. They might want to keep you an extra day.”

  “Good, maybe if I’m here I won’t feel the wrath of Bethy.” I flopped back in the bed.

  DELIA

  I waited all morning for Kyle. He never did end up showing. I didn’t want to think about what it meant for us. If I’d answered the door the night before would we have worked things out? Would he have shown up to pose for the calendar that was inspired by him? He was supposed to be the cover model. I was starting to wonder if I should just ask Kaden to do it instead, when Pete came rushing into the room panting.

  “Came as soon as I heard.”

  “Heard what?” I asked dreading what he was about to tell me. Had something happened to him? Was that why he didn’t make it that morning. My hand traveled protectively to my belly. I felt like I was about to be sick as I waited for Pete’s answer.

  “Kyle was carjacked on his way home from the gym last night. They pistol whipped him and stole his phone.” My hand shot to my mouth as I gasped. Tears filled my eyes and I shook my head in denial.

  “Is he… he… okay?” I sobbed. A million scenarios ran through my head in the breath of a second. Did my stupid decision mean that I would never see him again? Would I have to raise our baby alone because I was too stubborn to forgive him? Oh God… he didn’t even know we were having a baby. What have I done? Pete’s mouth gaped like a fish as he watched the wide range of emotions cross my features. He couldn’t speak and I was sure it was horrible news. I once again numbly dropped to my knees. I didn’t care who was watching. Pete reached down, pulling me up.

  “Delia, get up, hun. He’s fine. He just had to stay in the hospital a little while. Coach called me on the way to take him home. He wanted me to let you know why he didn’t show up at the shoot,” he said rubbing my back soothingly.

  “The shoot? I don’t give a shit about the shoot. Take me to him, please? I don’t think I can drive right now.”

  “Sure thing, sweetheart. Let’s go,” Pete said helping me off the floor and half carrying me through the throng of people there for the photo shoot.

  “Max? Can you take over for me? Something came up.” I tried to smile but it was forced. Max’s girl Layla took the clipboard from me.

  “Don’t worry, Delia, I got this.” She winked and started barking orders. Max chuckled shaking his head.

  “Go take care of your man. We have it handled here.” I shot him a grateful smile as I practically ran from the room.

  Pete drove like a bat out of hell and we were there almost before I could blink. Darren’s car was in the driveway along with a couple others that I didn’t recognize. “Those are his sisters’ cars. Looks like you’re about to meet the rest. Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.”

  “Should I be worried?” I laughed nervously. I loved Bethy, and Kimmy took some getting used to but if the others were in-between then I didn’t see a reason to be nervous.

  “Nah, I don’t think so….”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” I growled.

  “As much as they tortured him growing up, they were even more protective of him. Just watch out, I know Kimmy and Bethy are on your side but Trace and Rae are the oldest and basically run the show. Stay by me. They have a soft spot for me.” He grinned but his eyes remained serious.

  “You’re so not making me feel better about this situation.” I groaned.

  “I’m not trying to, that’s not what warnings are about.” He stepped out of the car. When it was obvious I was too nervous to get out on my own he walked around opening the door for me. He held out his hand but I shook my head. “Did we seriously drive all the way out here so you could chicken out on me?” He reached for me again but this time I put my hand in his. My steps were leaden as we walked up the path to the front door. I hesitated but it seemed Pete was more of the rip the band aid off kind of guy. He threw the door open and all conversation halted as they turned in our direction. Kyle’s eyes widened and he stood staring at me in disbelief, with his sisters behind him.

  “Is that her?” A tall beautiful dark haired woman eyed me with reproach.

  “Trace….”

  “No. Look what happened because of her.” She sneered.

  “Enough, Tracy. You heard him. Leave her alone or just leave.” Darren stood in front of me effectively blocking the two women who were glaring at me.

  “Everyone get the fuck out,” Kyle growled. I turned to leave but a hand came around my biceps. “Not you.” His tone was softer eyes pleading. I turned back around nodding. He ushered everyone out, even to his sisters’ protests. Darren and Pete were happy to wrangle the women before we had an all-out riot on our hands.

  Once everyone was gone, Kyle spun me into his arms so my head was resting against his hard chest. “Oh God I missed you,” he whispered into my hair.

  “We need to talk,” I said softly. Kyle flinched. “Not like that.”

  “What’s going on, beautiful?” he asked as he led me by the hand to sit next to him on the couch.

  “I’m sorry. I should have asked you, not run off like a coward.” My stomach was roiling and the tears were starting to burn at the corners of my eyes. “I had every intention of coming back and confronting you once I calmed down, but then… something else happened.” I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I felt like at any second I was going to puke all over him. I tried to get up but he refused to let go. My look of panic finally had him releasing me and I shot into the bathroom being sure to lock the door before I puked my guts up. Kyle’s fist banged into the door repeatedly. He begged me to open the door. I couldn’t. Didn’t want him to see me like that. “Baby, let me in? Please?” he begged quietly.

  After a few minutes without throwing up, I opened the door. Kyle’s face was right in front of mine. “Are you sick?” he asked. I shook my head no. “That’s the second time in as many days that I’ve heard you blowing chunks. You wanna tell me what’s going on?” He eyed me.

  “Stress?” I offered. He shook his head as if to say “try again.” I took a cleansing breath and looked him in the eye blurting it out without another thought.

  “I’m pregnant.” Kyle stumbled back, his hand over his chest like I’d shot him.

  “Wait, what?” He shook his head in disbelief. “I thought you were on the pill.” His whole reaction felt wrong somehow, and I knew it was just shock but it didn’t stop my arms from reflexively shielding my baby from his disbelief and what
was sure to be anger once the shock wore off.

  “I was, but I was also on antibiotics and I forgot that antibiotics cause birth control to be ineffective.” I shook my head.

  “That was over two months ago.” He was still not getting it, and if he was implying that somehow this was Brandon’s child, I needed to leave, and quickly. I grabbed my purse the tears falling.

  “This was a bad idea. Don’t worry about it. I can do it on my own.” Kyle grabbed my arm and whirled me around.

  “What? Where are you going? Give me a minute to process.”

  “This isn’t the reaction I was hoping for, that’s all.” I sniffed. The tears were streaming down my face. His hand came up and he wiped my cheeks with his thumbs.

  “We’re gonna have a baby?” he asked, there was awe in his tone. I nodded still unsure of how he was going to react, yet it was sounding as though my worry was unnecessary. “I love you. I love you so fucking much. These last weeks have been complete fucking hell without you. Please don’t ever leave me again. I won’t survive it. Pete might not either.” He smiled before his lips crashed down on mine. My arms wove around his neck kissing him back with everything I had in me. He was everything and when he broke the kiss to fall to his knees he pressed closed mouth kisses on my belly murmuring the sweetest words to the little baby inside me.

  “I love you, Kyle. So, so much.”

  KYLE

  Those words lit me like a fire. Getting up off my knees, I scooped her up in my arms placing gentle kisses all over her face and neck. I missed her so fucking much I felt like I died inside a little more each day. The fact that after all the stupid shit I did she would still give me the most amazing perfect gift nearly brought me to my knees again.

  Laying her out on the bed my lips moved down her neck to the tips of her breasts as I unbuttoned her top slowly. “Kyle.” She writhed. “Are you sure you should be doing this? What about your head?”

  “Baby it was a shallow gash. I’m fine. I promise.” I opened the front clasp on her bra. Her tits looked even bigger. I grinned as I tried to fit one in the palm of my hand and she wiggled around on the bed. “God, beautiful. It’s killing me, the need to be inside you. Is it okay? Can we…? Will we….?” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “The doctor said that sex won’t hurt the baby.” She smiled.

  “You asked?” I looked at her amused.

  “It wouldn’t be fair to be this horny all the time and not be able to do anything about it.” Her hands came up under the hem of my shirt her fingers tracing the ridges of my abs causing me to shudder. I touched my lips to her nipple swirling my tongue around it before moving lower. Her hands lost contact with my chest and her lips formed the most adorable pout. Smiling wickedly I pulled my shirt over my head slowly, her hands moved up my body touching and exploring every bit of tanned flesh I exposed. Throwing the offending garment away, I crashed my lips back to hers. Leaning her forward I removed the shirt and bra from constricting her arms and threw it on the growing pile of clothes before I laid her back and went to work on her pants. Delia was writhing beneath me. “Fuck me, Kyle.”

  “No, beautiful. I’m going to love you and cherish you this time.” I was resolved until her breathy plea had me losing all control. My lips crashed down on her licking, sucking and nipping at her before thrusting two fingers in and pumping them.

  “Mmm, more.” Holy shit. She wasn’t lying about pregnancy making her horny. I thrust in all the way to the hilt over and over again, whispering words of love and devotion in her ear until I could feel her walls start to contract against me. My brain short circuited as I came roaring her name. I was careful to collapse to the side. She looked at me with a happy dazed smile.

  I got off the bed and walked into the adjoining bathroom, turning on the bath tub and adding bubbles and all the stuff I knew she loved before going back, scooping her up and carrying her naked body and sitting us both in the warm sudsy water. Carefully I washed her hair and kissed her neck as she continued to come back to earth from that massive peak. Laying back in the water I felt whole for the first time in a long long time. Maybe forever.

  ***

  The next month I was as happy as I’d ever been. Delia did end up rescheduling the photo shoot, and I loved that things were back to normal so I didn’t even argue about the ridiculous outfit she wanted me to wear.

  Delia had the tiniest little baby bump and I found myself waiting impatiently to see her completely round baby belly. I just knew she would be even more beautiful with my baby growing inside her.

  The calendar was finally finished and we were at the shelter hosting a low-key adoption day. This time the stars we were celebrating were the animals featured in the calendar. “I can’t believe the number of pre-ordered copies of this thing we sold,” I grumbled.

  “Don’t be like that. You know it’s for a good cause.” Delia batted her eyelashes at me and I was toast. That’s all she ever had to do and I was putty in her hands.

  We celebrated for hours and by the end almost every animal from the calendar had been adopted.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’ve completely sold out of calendars,” Pete said at the table where they had been autographing and selling calendars for the better part of eight hours. Delia had done an amazing job on the PR side of things. The sales table had been crowded with long lines all day.

  “You mean you need me to go to the back and get more?” I offered.

  “No, Brandy went back a little while ago and grabbed the last box.” He shook his head.

  “Pete, you realize there were twenty-five thousand calendars back there right?” He nodded his head.

  “Yup, they’re all gone.”

  “Bethy!” I yelled to my sister, jumping up and down. We’d been selling the the calendars for ten bucks a piece and overhead was only five. “You might want to sit down for this, baby sister.” I grinned.

  “What is it?” Pete moved from his chair and sat Bethy in it.

  “We ran out of calendars….” Her eyes grew wide.

  “Holy shit. Are you serious?” I nodded. She jumped from her chair and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh my God. You know how many animals I can help with that kind of money?” My tough little sister was on the verge of tears and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “I would suggest ordering some more calendars first.” I laughed. Everything was looking up. I had everything I could ever want and I was on my way to a title fight. Nothing could be better.

  DELIA

  It was the night of the title fight, and I was more nervous than ever as I watched the guys from Sin City fight against other guys from around the country. As I sat there I noticed a few people in the stands watching. There were a bunch of Rock Hard Gym members in Kaden’s family box. I waved at Layla and her little sister Calla. Olivia “Kicks” Creedmore, who was once a woman’s kickboxing champion, was also there. I looked over to our box and saw it packed. All four Walker sisters were in the stands as well as a bunch of Kyle’s teammates. When the music started playing and the announcer came into the cage, I was confused.

  “Before we start. Kyle “wrecking ball” Walker has an announcement he’d like to make.” The announcer smiled down on me. Darren came up behind me, guiding me to the cage.

  “Darren? What the hell are you doing? I can’t go in there!” I whisper-shouted at him.

  “Trust me, okay? Kyle has something he wants to say.” He grinned. Realization dawned and I tried to back up, but I backed up into a sweaty Pete. He’d just beat Kit Richey by submission there was no reason he should be there right now except that his friend probably asked him to be there for the most important night of our lives.

  “Dee, where the hell do you think you’re going? The cage is that way.” Pete pointed in front of me.

  “Exactly. He can’t do this here.” I pointed to all the cameras and the people, but even as I said I looked up at his happy smile and found myself moving toward him. It did
n’t matter where or when he did this. All that mattered was us.

  Tears streamed down my face as I made my way to stand in front of him. He dropped to his knees kissing my growing baby bump. His eyes started watering as the announcer handed him the microphone. “Delia Campbell, I think I loved you since that first time in your office when you brutally shot me down.” I reached for the microphone.

  “It wasn’t that brutal.” I giggled.

  “Hush, this is my speech.” I smiled miming zipping my lips and he chuckled. “You’ve given me so much over the months that we’ve known each other and you’ve quickly become everything to me but there’s one thing, one thing that would make me the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet if you would agree to be. Will you marry me? Will you be mine forever?”

  My smile was brilliant as I nodded my head. Kyle jumped to his feet picking me up and twirling me around the cage kissing me like I was the air he needed to breathe. He was definitely mine.

  THE END

  More Books by Ember-Raine Winters

  Pride and Honor Series (Romantic Suspense)

  Beautiful Delusions

  Beautiful Sacrifice

  Beautiful Confusion (A Pride and Honor Prequel Novella)

  Beautiful Deception

  Beautiful Surrender

  A Beautiful Christmas (A Pride and Honor Novella

  Las Vegas Nights Series

  There’s Something About Vegas

  Vegas, Baby

  Viva Las Vegas

  Fighting Vegas

  Hot Pants Books

  DJ Hot Pants

  Professor Hot Pants

  Daddy Hot Pants Daddy Duet part 1 (September 2018)

  Sin City Gym

  Exposed

  Addicted (January 2019)

  Silent (TBD)

  Standalone

  Christmas for the Byrds (A standalone Novella)

  Anthologies

  Kiss My Luck: A St. Patrick’s Day Anthology