The Pickup (Imperfect Love Book 1)

by Nikki Ash

  The players usually take the team bus to the hotel to check in, but today I’m going with Olivia. The car service takes us to the Four Seasons, and then I have to leave Olivia and Reed to go to the stadium for our scheduled media day. I’m glad her stepmom and stepsister are both here so she won’t be alone. Not that she can’t take care of herself, but it makes me feel better to know she has other people around her.

  Questions about my injury, the upcoming game, and my future are tossed at me for hours by reporter after reporter. When seven o’clock rolls around, I can’t get out of there fast enough. Tomorrow is the first day of practice, which means I need to rest up, but before I do, I’m going to spend some time with Olivia. The players are required to share rooms, and I always share with Killian. I was able to book Olivia a suite on another floor, and as much as I’d like to spend my free time there, I’m not going to make any assumptions. She did give me a keycard, though, so there’s that.

  “Brown-Eyes, I’m—” I haven’t even finished my sentence when Olivia flies through the main room and covers my mouth with her hand.

  “Shh…he’s finally asleep. I don’t know if babies can have jet lag, or if it’s the time difference, but he was so cranky tonight.”

  She moves her hand from my mouth, and my eyes dart to her plump, pink lips. Damn, I want to taste her. Instead I give her a peck on her cheek. “Have you eaten? I was thinking we could order some room service and watch a movie or something.”

  “Disney?” she teases.

  “Funny.” I have Olivia order some food while I jump in the shower to rinse off. When I’m done, I return a call from my publicist and confirm a couple endorsement deals with my dad. He’s been rather quiet lately. Now that I think about it, both my parents have been. And neither of them have once asked about meeting their grandson. Not that I should be surprised. What could he possibly do for either of them?

  When I come out, Olivia is dressed in tiny cotton shorts and a long sleeve Henley—sans bra. She’s closing the door and has a couple bags in her hands.

  “Food’s here.” She places the bags on the table and grabs the boxes of food, bringing them to the coffee table so we can eat while we watch TV. I sit down before her and pull her between my legs on the couch. Her body is stiff at first, but she quickly relaxes her back into my front.

  “Here.” She hands me my chicken sandwich. “I got a parfait. I ate a bigger meal earlier.” Grabbing the remote, she switches through the channels stopping on That 70’s show. “I love this show!” She throws the top of her parfait onto the table and takes a bite of her yogurt.

  We eat and watch the show in comfortable silence. I’m starving, so my sandwich is gone in minutes. “Want some of my parfait?” she asks. “It’s the perfect sweet after your sandwich.”

  She turns slightly and pushes the spoon toward my lips. I open wide, and she thrusts the yogurt into my mouth, the sweetness of the strawberries and vanilla yogurt hitting my taste buds. “Good?”

  “Yeah.” I nod in agreement, swallowing my bite. She smiles before turning back around. We continue to watch the show, and every few minutes Olivia reaches back to give me a bite of her yogurt and fruit until it’s all gone. Once she places the empty cup on the table, she settles back farther into my hold. We’re in between sitting and laying down. Her head is resting on my shoulder and her ass is perfectly placed in front of my dick. My top leg parts her legs and my knee and thigh rest in between her thighs. I try to remember the last time I cuddled with a woman. Then I do remember; it was with Olivia on New Year’s Eve when we fell asleep, and before that…the night we hooked up.

  My right arm is situated under her—my fingers running up and down her arm. My other arm is wrapped tightly around her waist. There’s no doubt about it, this woman’s body was made perfectly to fit with mine.

  The show ends and another episode begins. I’m not paying attention to what’s happening, my focus completely on the woman lying in my arms. Her hair is up in a messy bun and her face is free of any makeup. She’s the perfect mix of sexy and adorable. I lift my head slightly, and she tilts hers to give me access. My nose brushes against her exposed neck, and when she feels my skin touch hers, she releases a small shiver, reminding me how responsive she is to me.

  When she doesn’t stop me, I take a moment to inhale her scent. She smells sweet. It’s the same perfume she was wearing during our one night together. Don’t ask me how the hell I even remember that, but I do. I find myself latching on to every detail when it comes to this woman, not wanting to forget a single moment I spend with her. My nose brushes across her neck again and then my lips land on her sensitive pulse point. She lets out a soft sigh, and my dick twitches as a result.

  “If you want me to stop, tell me,” I whisper into her ear.

  She stills and then says, “I can’t have sex…I haven’t been given the okay from the doctor yet.” I’m not sure how long a woman has to wait before she can be sexually active after giving birth, but for some reason this tidbit of info has me smiling. For one, I wasn’t planning on having sex with her yet. Olivia needs to know I want more than just sex from her. She needs to know I’m serious about us. And two, sex is great, but the foreplay—the buildup—can be even better, and once I’m done with her, when the doctor gives the okay, she’ll be begging me to make love to her.

  “That just means we get to do everything but…” My lips go back to her neck as I trail open-mouthed kisses downward. My fingers brush across her taut nipples through her shirt, and Olivia’s soft sighs turn into moans.

  “Everything but…” She repeats my words, turning her face toward me and pressing her lips to mine.

  Nineteen

  Olivia

  Nick’s long fingers rub back and forth across my hardened nipples. His lips trailing kisses all over my neck. But I need more. Tilting my neck to the side, I cover his mouth with mine and kiss him eagerly. He kisses me back, his tongue passing through my lips and groping mine. And then he’s moving us. His body is hovering above mine, my back now flat on the couch. Our kiss deepens, our tongues hungrily meeting thrust for thrust. We kiss passionately for God knows how long—until Nick breaks the kiss.

  With one hand holding himself up, he uses his other hand to pull my shirt over my head, my heavy breasts hitting the cool air, and my nipples hardening to the point it’s almost painful. Nick brushes his lips against mine once more before he trails kisses downward, stopping on my breasts. He kisses everywhere but my nipples, teasing me until I’m squirming with want. It’s been almost a year since I’ve been with this man, since I felt his touch.

  “Nick, please,” I beg. He obliges, his lips parting slightly and wrapping around my nipple. He sucks on it for a few seconds before his teeth gently clamp down. My back arches and my hands go to his head. My fingers entwine in his hair. His tongue darts out and licks the areola before moving to the other breast. He sucks and bites, teasing me and turning me on. Foreplay seemed like a good idea…until now.

  I can feel his bulge through his sweats rubbing against my thigh, and remembering how well-endowed he is, I raise my leg slightly, rubbing his cock through his pants. Nick lets out a moan, his teeth biting down on my nipple harder. I yelp, and he chuckles mischievously.

  His lips leave my breasts and move down farther. He rains kisses on my soft belly, giving extra attention to my stretch marks. “Our son did this to you.” His tone conveys pride mixed with awe.

  “The downside to carrying a football player’s baby. He was nearly a month early and still a solid seven pounds.”

  He lifts his head to lock eyes with me, laughter shining in his beautiful green irises. “I love these. They’re a reminder that you carried our baby.”

  “I’m pretty sure the baby sleeping in the other room is reminder enough,” I volley back, and Nick laughs. He kisses a couple more of the silver marks before he pulls my shorts and panties down, putting my entire lower half completely on display.

  “You still have the same landing st
rip that you had before.” His face lowers until he’s face to face with my pussy. He kisses the landing strip, and I run my fingers through his soft hair, needing to touch him in some way.

  His fingers part my lips, and his tongue delves into my folds, landing directly on my clitoris. My bottom bucks against the couch, and Nick’s hands come down to my hips to hold me in place. His face ducks lower and then his tongue laves up the entire length of my seam before settling back on my clit. He licks and sucks and nibbles, successfully working me into a frenzy. I watch as he feasts on my pussy like it’s his own personal dessert. My orgasm builds, and I’m forced to bite down on my bottom lip to keep my screams down. I can see my juices coating Nick’s lips as he lavishes my pussy, working me up higher and higher. I’ve never felt this way with anyone I’ve been with. This instant connection. It’s been months since we were together, and it was only that one night, yet it feels like I’ve been with him a million times.

  His eyes lock with mine. His tongue licks. His lips kiss. He laps at my juices, and then I’m coming. My butt tries to lift off the couch, but Nick’s hands grip my hips harder, his tongue and lips not slowing down at all, not letting up a single bit as my climax rips through me wave after wave. Only when I’ve come down from my orgasm, my lids barely able to stay open, and my head slightly fuzzy, does he remove his mouth from between my legs.

  “I’ve been wanting to have another taste of you since the morning you left me.” He gives the hood of my pussy one last soft kiss before he climbs up my body, his face intimately close to mine. He debates whether to kiss me with my juices still lingering on his mouth, but I make the decision for him when I pull his face to mine and kiss him hard. The tanginess of myself mixed with Nick’s own personal taste has me wanting him something fierce.

  Reaching down, I rub my hand up and down the outline of his rock-hard cock. His moan rumbles and vibrates into my mouth before he pulls back. He licks a trail back down my neck, stopping at the pulse point to suck on it. My hand makes its way to his sweatpants and boxers, and I begin to push them down. I feel Nick’s hand grab mine, and what I think is him helping me is actually him stopping me.

  “We were supposed to take things slow,” he murmurs against my lips.

  “Says who?” I ask, pulling my head back slightly.

  “Me. I wanted you to see that it’s not just sex I want from you,” he admits sheepishly.

  “Oh, okay, duly noted. Now move your hand, so I can slowly suck your dick.” Nick laughs under his breath as he lets go of my hand, so I can finish pushing his boxers down the rest of the way. My fingers wrap around the shaft, and his dick thickens under my touch. I stroke it slowly at first, then pick up the pace. His face burrows into my neck, his breathing rapidly increasing. I love the feel of his dick in my palm, but I need to taste him. I need to feel more of him.

  Pushing him back slightly, I let go of him as I slide down the couch until my head lands on the sofa pillow and my back hits the cushion. “Come here.” He looks confused at first, but when my hands go to his butt and I pull him closer, he catches on quickly, all too willing to comply. He’s on his knees, one leg on either side of me, his hard as steel dick bouncing in front of my face. I lift my head and take him into my mouth, circling the swollen tip with my tongue. He tastes fresh and clean—from just having showered—mixed with a tad bit of saltiness from the precum dripping out of his slit. Grabbing him from behind, I pull him closer, his dick thrusting into my mouth and down my throat as I swallow almost all of him. He’s too big to fit his entire length down my throat, but it’s not from lack of trying.

  “Fuck, Liv. I’m never going to last…it’s been…fuck, it’s been too long.” He groans and his words spur me on, wanting to pleasure him that much more.

  I tilt my head back slightly releasing him completely. Then I lift up, inserting his entire length back into my mouth. I pull back again, and he moans in frustration. “Fuck my mouth, Nick.” His eyes dart to my face, his brow raising in a silent question. “Please.”

  His hips begin to thrust slowly at first. My tongue swirls and licks his hard shaft. My cheeks hollow to create a suction. My fingers dig into his flesh, pulling him closer, silently telling him to give it all to me.

  Nick picks up the pace. His cock driving in and out of my mouth. It hits the back of my throat over and over again, and my pussy clenches in response. I can feel it when he’s about to come. His shaft begins to throb, and his thrusts become frantic. I’m ready to take it all, every ounce of his cum, when his dick leaves my mouth. Before I can protest, Nick’s large hand grips his dick, and less than two strokes later, his cum shoots out and all over my breasts, warm seed coating my nipples.

  “See what I mean about writing our own story?” Nick grins. His fingers come down and swirl a bit of his cum around my nipple. “This chapter never would’ve made the cut in those Disney books.”

  * * *

  I come out of the shower to find Nick feeding Reed a bottle. He’s sitting up against the headboard in nothing but his boxers, and I have to remind myself I can’t go there, yet. After Reed finishes his bottle and Nick burps him, I take him to change his diaper. Then I rock him back to sleep before placing him back into his crib and checking to make sure the monitor is on.

  I get back to my room, and Nick is still in my bed. He’s reading something on his phone that has the corners of his mouth turned down into a frown. Not knowing what’s wrong makes me realize how little I truly know about Nick. Sure, I know him sexually, and the night we spent together we talked for hours, but we kept it at a surface level. I know his favorite food is Chinese, his favorite color is blue, and his favorite animal is a dog—he hates cats. I know his favorite movie is The Blind Side, and he loves to go snowboarding every winter. I know his relationship with his parents is strained to say the least. But I want to know more. I want to know what makes him laugh, what makes him smile. I want to know why right now he looks so sad.

  When he hears me come in, he sets his phone down on the end table to give me his attention.

  “Reed asleep?”

  “Yeah. Everything okay?” I nod toward his phone as I lay down in bed.

  “Yeah, my mom and dad are here for the Super Bowl and want me to attend a breakfast with them and some of my dad’s clients.

  “And that made you frown?”

  Nick scoots down the bed until he’s lying on his side facing me. “My relationship with my parents is kind of tense right now.”

  “Because of Reed?” He hasn’t once asked me if his parents could meet our son, which seems so crazy to me. My dad and Corrine can’t get enough of their grandson.

  He shakes his head. “It’s more complicated than that.”

  I wait for him to elaborate, and when it’s clear he’s not going to, I tell him what I was thinking a moment ago. “I want to know everything about you. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

  Nick is silent for several long seconds before he says, “You said you went to college in Paris, right? What was your major?”

  “Art. I used to work at a museum over there.”

  “Well, my degree would’ve been in business.”

  “Would’ve?”

  “I didn’t graduate.” Nick grimaces. “I wanted to major in English Literature, but my dad told me it was a waste of time, and it interfered with practice. Not that it mattered because I went into the draft at the end of my junior year, so I never graduated.” I can’t imagine my dad ever telling me what to major in. He’s always been so supportive of whatever it is I’ve wanted to do in my life. Both my parents were.

  “Who was he to tell you what you could or couldn’t major in?”

  “The school paid for my education, but my dad paid for everything else, therefore he got to have the final say in my major. I was so busy trying to make him and my mom proud, I didn’t see how badly they were always trying to manipulate me.”

  Nick laughs softly, but it’s a sad laugh. “Want to know something really fucked up? I
found out recently my mom paid off my last girlfriend. Five hundred thousand dollars to leave me because she didn’t want her to convince me to retire and start a family after I was injured.”

  My hand comes up to my mouth in shock. What the hell! “And she took it?”

  “Yep. I came home from the hospital and found a note on the counter. Only I got there before she could leave, so she was forced to face me. We argued, and she told me that having a family with me was her idea of a nightmare.”

  “Oh, Nick. Is that why you didn’t want to have kids? Why you didn’t think you would make a good dad?” My palm rests on his cheek as my heart breaks for this man. It’s easy to forget that not everyone was raised in a loving home the way I was. I know Giselle’s parents have issues, but she never wants to discuss them no matter how much I beg.

  “I had failed my parents and team by getting injured. I failed Fiona by putting my parents and football above her.” He turns his face slightly and gives the inside of my palm a kiss. “I think I was afraid of failing Reed, of failing you.”

  We lay here for a few minutes in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts, when Nick says, “You know…that year after Fiona dumped me I was with a lot of women.”

  I groan, not wanting to know about his previous conquests. “Do you have to remind me?”

  “Let me finish,” he says. “I was with a lot of women, but it wasn’t until that night with you that I even considered putting myself out there to try again. I knew the moment you told me you could buy your own drink you were different.”