Second Down Love: A Second Chance Sports Romance

by Kara Hart

  “Look,” he sighs. “I know I fucked up and made you paranoid. But I’m here now and I’m here for good. There isn’t anything short of ‘leave me alone forever’ that’ll make me disappear now.”

  “Promise?” I ask. I need all the reassurance in the world. I’m so worried my happiness will be stolen away from me that I have to ask.

  “I promise,” he says. “I, uh, was going to save this for another time. But now I can see that there isn’t any other time but now…”

  He looks around himself embarrassed and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a small wooden box and falls to his knees. “Bianca Luccioti,” he says. I’m already fucking bawling because I know where this is going. “Will you do me the honor of being my drop-dead gorgeous, trophy wife?”

  I laugh. “No! I mean, I won’t be your trophy wife, you freak. But I will marry you and show you off at every party we go to.” He laughs and kisses me, running his hands all over my body.

  His tongue falls across my mine and for a few seconds, we’re all over each other. “Truth is, I just want to eat your pussy every single morning, afternoon, and night. That is, if that’s okay with you.”

  I bite his lip and pull back. “That’s part of the deal. When we’re at home, you live on your knees and you serve me, dammit.”

  “Yes, my queen,” he says, picking me up into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and we kiss one more time before heading out on our way.

  I fumble at the ring inside the box. It’s so fucking beautiful, I don’t even know what to do or say. My eyes turn glossy. I guess I’ll just have to live with being a crying mess today. “What do you think?” he asks me, cautiously.

  The diamonds flicker against the light through the window. There’s three. One big one in the center and two on the side. I swirl it around my fingers and slip it on. “It’s perfect,” I smile. “How did you know it would fit?”

  “I think it was my mom’s,” he says. “I found it when I was a young boy. I never knew. But I always loved it. I always wondered if I’d ever get the chance to give it to the girl of my dreams. I’m so damn grateful I get to today.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I say, with tears falling down my cheeks. He wipes them away with his thumb and kisses me.

  “Not as beautiful as you,” he tells me. Why does he have to be so sweet?

  My father has the car started and he honks the horn to get our attention. Embarrassed, I jump back onto the ground, grab my things, and we head out. In the hallway, however, is Giovanni. He’s waiting to say goodbye.

  “Thank you,” I whisper. “I’m sorry for getting on your case so much. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “I get it,” he says, nodding. “You’re a good sister. You always have been.” When I start to tear up, he smiles and shakes his head. “Don’t forget to call and visit. I know you hate this place, but it’s still your home. You still have family out here. Don’t forget that.”

  “I won’t,” I tell him. It’s bittersweet, but I know this a turning point for us. From now on, things can be okay within the Luccioti family.”

  He smiles and hugs me, and when it’s time to go, he says, “Well, I’ll see you.”

  And just like that, I’m in my dad’s car with Hunter, headed back home. Only, this time, it’s much different. This time, I have a fiancé. We take one look at each other and know that this is a huge turning point. We look out the back window together and watch the houses disappear into memory.

  Detroit. My home. I’ll always have a soft spot for this place. Always. And even if I get down on where my family comes from and what they represent, I know that there’s still a whole lot of good coming from these people. Sometimes, it takes meeting the love of your life to figure that out.

  Hunter

  Her dad turns to us. “You better treat her right,” he says. For the first time ever, I see him stern-faced and serious. It’s a darker shade than her dad is used to and it surprises the hell out of me. “I get one call from my daughter and I’ll be down there, and you’ll have to deal with me.

  I glance at Bianca awkwardly. She just sits there and smiles. “Well, you better listen to the man,” she laughs.

  “Um, yes sir,” I say with hesitance. “She deserves only the best treatment in the world.”

  “Damn right, she does,” he says, staring at the road.

  “Dad…” Bianca sighs. “Come on. I’m fine, really.”

  “I just want to see my daughter receive the best treatment she can get. Got it?” he says. “And she’s not dropping out of school to get married, if that’s what you think.”

  “I think we should have the wedding after she graduates. And then she can start working. She’ll obviously need to go to graduate school. I think she’s going to be the best lawyer in all of America someday.”

  He stops at the light in front of us. He slowly turns his head to look at me. He smiles and nods, in thought. “Yes! I know it. She’ll be incredible at it,” he says.

  That’s the first time we see eye to eye and it didn’t take much, other than the love we both have for Bianca. “She’s a damn godsend,” I say, smiling. “And I’m going to make sure she gets treated like a queen, every single damn day. I promise you that, sir.” It’s like I’m a young man again, taking some broad out on a first date.

  It’s funny, really. Turning a new leaf and starting over is the weirdest thing a man can do. You go throughout this life thinking you’re one person. In all actuality, it’s just a character you’ve made up.

  I always thought I had to live like a gangster. I always thought that being hard was the best thing you could be. My parents were taken away from me and I vowed never to have something like that happen again. I thought that life was too hard for soft people. If you didn’t do the crime, someone else would and you’d wind up dead.

  All that was wrong. Being strong isn’t good if you’re not leading a decent life. I didn’t have Bianca to teach me that before. But now I know that love is stronger than bullets. I can see the power in what we can become when we have each other.

  We come to a slow halt at the airport. “Here we are,” her father says. For a second there, I thought he had tears in his eyes. He helps us with our luggage and I wait as Bianca says her goodbyes.

  “You’re a woman now,” he says. Now I can see definite tears forming. I can only imagine the feeling having a son or daughter gives you. It’s heavy.

  “Dad, I’ve been a woman for a while now,” she laughs. “Cut it out.”

  “I just love you, my little girl,” he starts sobbing and she embraces him instinctually.

  “It’s okay, Dad,” she tells him. “I’ll visit as much as I can.”

  “Dammit, you better,” he cries, wiping the tears away quickly, as men often do. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you too,” she says.

  “Shit. Now I’m crying too,” I say, wiping a small puddle of tears from my eyes. “Dammit.”

  “Bring it in here. You’re family now,” her dad says. Soon, we’re all bawling and I’m feeling… emotions. Is this what it’s like to be out of the game?

  * * *

  The plane takes off and we’re in the air. I’m surprised I got through security so fast, but I guess I shouldn’t be. I really have no record to worry about. I just always feel antsy around law enforcement. I’m going to have to get used to this shit, fast.

  In the air, my heart beats fast when I see all of the city’s monuments turn into small, toy-like versions of themselves. “This is crazy,” I tell her.

  “What is?” she asks.

  “I’ve never flown in a plane before,” I laugh. “I can’t even believe this is real.”

  “You’ve never flown in a plane before?” she asks me. “Man, I guess I forget where you come from.”

  I smile and keep looking out the window, feeling like a child. Everything is new to me now, including the feeling of butterflies flapping in my stomach.

  Eventually, everyone on
the plane seems to be asleep. She turns to me and glances at my body. She places her hand on my thigh and squeezes. “What?” I ask her.

  “I want you to fuck me,” she whispers. “Right here. On this plane. None of this crying, sobbing bullshit. I want you to take your hard cock and fuck me against the bathroom mirror.”

  It doesn’t take long before I’m in the bathroom with her, slamming her back against the sink. I lift her up and set her ass down, as I carelessly rip her pants off. She’s wearing these spandex, comfortable yoga-style pants that hug her figure perfectly. She’s right, fuck all the sappy shit. I want to cum inside her.

  “You’re so fucking hot,” she whispers in my ear. “I need to you to give it to me so bad, baby.”

  “Give me your panties and spread those legs for me,” I command her. She’s completely naked, except for her panties, and her ass is resting on the sink. She slowly rolls her panties down and I grab them and force them in her mouth.

  “Fuck,” she moans with her mouth full, circling her finger against her clit. My cock grows incredibly hard, to the point where I’m already about to blow. We’re thousands of miles in the air and I’m hoping no one is waiting outside this bathroom.

  I run my palm against her pussy and feel just how wet she really is. She nods when my eyes widen. “I need you, Hunter,” she moans. “I’m so wet.”

  I slide my cock in and she tells me to “pound” her. That’s the way she puts it, completely dirty and vulgar. The way my wife should be. I grab her thighs and lower my head down, kissing them as I fuck the life out of her in slow and rhythmic thrusts.

  She eventually turns herself around and arches her back for me. “You like it when I’m like this? Do you like to watch your cock slide in and out of me from behind?” God dammit, how is she real? How is this the woman I’ve decided to marry?

  “Fuck,” I grunt, trying to remain as quiet as possible. “You know me too well now.”

  “Shh,” she whispers. “No more talking.” She places her hand over my mouth and smiles. When she lets go, I grab her hips and take her on a ride. She’s mine. Mine forever. And I’m never letting go.

  With my right hand, I grab the thick of her hair and pull back. Her chin goes upright and she smiles. She doesn’t say anything, but I can tell she wants it harder. So I give it to her. And I give it to her again. I keep giving it to her until she falls back onto me, riding me like a cowgirl and pleasing herself to no end.

  Her face grows rosy and pink and her stomach twitches. She grabs my chest and runs her fingers across my abs. And then she bursts. It’s like nothing I have seen before. She nearly screams, but I’m quick enough to cover her mouth to stop her.

  When the intensity stops and she’s left quivering silently, I bring her forward and wrap my arms around her. There’s no escaping my grasp now. I hold her in a bear hug and fall against the toilet loudly. A knock goes on the door, but I could give two shits about responding.

  “I’m going to cum,” I whisper.

  “Fill me up,” she says.

  Shit, I can’t even believe this is happening. My fiancé might be the dirtiest girl in America. Lucky for her, she got me.

  I feel my body grow tense and my balls turn rock hard and compact. My cock twitches inside of her and I release everything I have. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I whisper, head hitting the back of the narrow bathroom. “Fuck!”

  She bursts into heavy laughter when I hit my head and I can’t help but laugh myself, even if I am still cumming. I release, and fall back. And when I come back to reality, I kiss her deeply.

  We quickly throw on our clothes and run out of the bathroom, hoping to god that elderly woman won’t say anything. Before she can, I tell her, “She just had surgery the other day. You know how to is. I have to accompany her to the bathroom until she’s, uh, better.”

  The old woman just shrugs. “Honey, I’ve had my fair share of experiences in plane bathrooms. You don’t need to tell me about the mile-high club.”

  We run back to our seats, laughing uncontrollably. Fuck, the pilots could probably hear every second of that. Well, I hope they enjoyed it.

  When we find our seats, we sit down. She places her head on my shoulder and I squeeze her hand three times. We’re completely in love. It’s just a fact.

  I never want anything different. I never want to look back on the life I once led. She completes me in a way I never thought possible. It’s too good to be true and, yet, it is. It’s as real as ever.

  I was a gangster and then I was given a choice. I almost lost it all, but Bianca was there to keep pushing me forward. I was a prisoner and she gave me the key to my freedom. All it took was love. Who would’ve thought?

  When the plane lands, our life begins. You know, everything just may happen for a reason. Or, maybe it’s just the luck of the draw. Regardless, I’ve found the reason to continue living. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.

  Epilogue

  Epilogue: Bianca

  15 years later…

  “Brody! Come on, quit horsing around. Your father’s had a rough day and you promised you’d take it easy tonight,” I say, feeling completely overwhelmed and out of breath. Last night, was his middle school graduation and now he’s going absolutely bonkers. Puberty is a bitch, let me tell ya.

  “It’s okay, honey. Really, I’m okay,” he tells me, rubbing my shoulders. He’s sweet, but I know he’s making shit up. He had a huge dinner party he had to cook for tonight and he was stressing hard for it.

  I turn around and kiss him tenderly, wrapping my hands around his strong arms. Even after fifteen years, he’s still as buff as ever. He’s still giving me those same goose bumps, year after year. I smile. “It’s good to see you, Chef. How’d everything go? Good?”

  He gives me one of his winks and I instantly know it went great. He hangs up his uniform in the kitchen and stretches his arms. “You’ll never guess who I served tonight,” he says, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He’s excited, which is a really good sign.

  I’m bouncing up and down on my heels, ready for him to surprise me. “Who? Oh, let me guess. Donald Trump!”

  He makes a confused face at me and laughs. “No, not Trump,” he laughs. “Guess again.”

  “Oh, I hate guessing!” I clap my hands together and think hard. “Brad Pitt!”

  “Shit, I wish,” he says, biting his lip. “If I served him, I might not be here right now.”

  “I wouldn’t blame you,” I laugh. “Okay, just tell me. I’m never going to guess.”

  “Alright, you asked for it. Jacob fucking Larkson,” he says, eyes lighting up wide. It’s cute when he gets this excited, but I have no clue who the hell Jacob Larkson is.

  “Am I supposed to know him?” I ask. “Is he a Swedish actor or something?”

  He groans and wipes the sweat from his forehead. He sits on the couch and Brody comes running toward him. Oh, shit. Kids. They’re always jumping on everything and everyone. Of course, it’s not long before he’s bouncing into his lap and rolling back over onto the floor, doing a million summersaults. I always thought kids were bad when they were younger, but they’re completely insane when they turn thirteen. Especially boys. I always thought I’d have a girl. Turns out I was wrong.

  I take one look at Brody and he knows he needs to chill out. “Sorry, mom,” he says with that precious voice of his. I still can’t believe he’s ours. It’s hard to imagine Hunter being a father, considering all he’s been through, but he’s the best damn father in the world. He really spoils that kid. Like, too much sometimes.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I kiss his hair and smell his shampoo. He’s really growing up and that pains me, but I’m still so excited to see what he’ll do with his life. He’s so invested in his music. It’s really refreshing to see that much dedication. Someday, he’ll lead an orchestra or something. “How about you go to your room and practice?”

  “Fine,” he says, walking toward his room. But before he goes in, he turn
s to Hunter, who has now turned on the TV and poured an iced tea. He says “I’m proud of you, Dad.” It’s totally out of nowhere and I practically feel my heart shatter into a million pieces. My eyes start to water and I nearly squeal. Gosh, having a child like Brody has turned me into a total softie. Oh well. This is my family and it’s everything I’ve always wanted out of life.

  “Well, I’m proud of you too, Brody,” Hunter says with a huge smile. “You did so well in school. You deserve to have a nice summer. Hey, how about we go to the lake tomorrow and fish?”

  “Sure!” he says. “I’m proud of you too, Mom,” he laughs and runs into his room.

  “You’ve raised him well,” Hunter says when we both hear the door shut.

  “He’s really great, isn’t he?” I say, feeling the love rush into my chest. I walk up to Hunter and sit on his lap. He runs his hands around the curves of my ass and groans, lightly slapping it. Yes, there’s still a whole lot of that going on too.

  “He’s the best kid in the whole damn world,” Hunter says with confidence. “I’m sure of it. He’s going to change everything.”

  “I know it too,” I smile. “So, tell me about this Larkson guy. Who is he and why is he such a big deal?”

  “He’s the biggest critic in all of San Francisco,” he tells me with pride. “And he came to my restaurant to eat. He seriously told me he had heard a ton of good things about my cooking.”

  “Oh my God! That’s incredible, baby!” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I’m proud of you too,” I laugh. “Were you nervous at all? That’s such a big deal. I’d probably lose my shit.”

  “Oh, man. I was scared shitless. I mean, I’ve dealt with a lot of scary people in my life. I’ve been hunted down, shot at, and I’ve seen a whole lot of horrible things. But, I don’t know… nothing’s ever felt like this. It felt so terrifying and right, all at the same time,” he says, almost out of breath.