by Maya Rossi
“Yeah. Can you believe I went to the doctor’s a few times to complain he’s not crying enough? Robin went crazy with the laughs on that one.”
Idly, he played with the end of her hair. He kissed her hair and inhaled deeply. It reminded Ava of when she used to smell him for his sexy cologne. With that thought came another worry.
“I haven’t ah, actually washed my hair these past few days.”
He stroked a hand through her hair. “Doesn’t matter. And you’re the only woman I’ve ever been with so we’re even. Janet doesn’t count, I couldn’t get it up once I saw the blood. We were thirteen.”
Ava rose up to her elbows to study his face. With his other hand draped over his head, and his legs crossed over the other, he looked a picture of relaxation.
“Are you embarrassed about it?”
He grinned. “Not even a little bit.”
“Because I’m fucking honored. In fact I feel like wonder woman or something.”
Brayden shrugged. “Maybe you are because at one point, I wondered if I was gay. Then since I never found men attractive, I kind of imagined myself to be asexual or something. Jack called it demisexual.”
That came as a shock to Ava. She shook her head vehemently. “No way you’re asexual. Have you looked at you?”
Brayden’s response was to tuck her back into his side. “Looks have nothing to do with it. A therapist told me it’s fairly common in children who have suffered traumas.”
Ava had to bit down hard on her lip not to cry. Did Brayden even realize what he just admitted to? Of course, he did. This was a man that rarely spoke. It was something she took for granted, something she rarely gave a thought to but early in his career, many thought Brayden dumb.
She kissed his chest in gratitude.
“Remember when you complimented Randall’s hair?” she said to inject levity into the suddenly solemn atmosphere.
“You were pissed.”
“Pissed? I wanted to scratch his eyes out.”
Brayden smiled. “Dude.”
“You used to call me dude then.”
“Do you sound wistful? You actually sound wistful,” he confirmed. “Damn, other girls would prefer — what would they prefer? Babe, honey, sweetheart--”
“I want dude,” Ava returned her voice petulant.
“I like babe,” Brayden replied.
She pinched his side. He sputtered. “You fiend.”
“Caught you, didn’t I?”
He rolled them over until he was on top. Ava gladly spread her legs. He braced his arms on either side of her head and kissed her. It was slow and sweet and just what she needed. He slanted his head one way and licked into her mouth, gently sucking her tongue into the warm cavern of his lips. Ava wrapped her arms around him and shivered. Sensations spread like wildfire from her lips to center in the heart of her.
He drew back to let them get in much needed oxygen before delving back in. When he nipped at her lips and jaw, Ava moaned deeply. This was what she wanted forever, to spend her life in the cradle of his arms, sure of his love. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, a silent demand for him to go deeper. When he didn’t, Ava pushed her right hand between their bodies and caught his heavy member in her grip. It was both familiar and foreign to have him in her hands. It had been too long, and she wanted him too much for this slow and steady race he seemed determined to run.
Experimentally, she stroked from top to tip. Brayden dragged his lips from hers, groaning deeply.
“Stop,” he hissed. “I want to savor it.”
“It isn’t our last.” Ava stopped. He breathed a sigh only to hiss loudly when she shoved his pants down to hold his hot, powerful penis in hand. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re not going anywhere.”
She paused with her hand still wrapped around his pulsing member and searched his face. If it were possible, she would bottle this moment and keep it close forever. The feeling of being wanted by this man more powerful than any force in the universe.
“Brayden?”
With a grunt, he pulled out of her arms and lurched to the dresser. Ava’s heart sank when he took out two condoms, double wrapping before descending on her. She soon forgot to be angry when he turned her over, hiking her ass up to probe at the heat of her. Face buried in the sheets, ass up in the air, Ava should have felt ridiculous, but she never felt more sexy. Especially when he ran a hand over the globe of her buttocks before reaching downward, pushing two fingers inside her.
“I’m ready,” Ava moaned.
He pushed into her then. It had been too long, and he was too big so the fit was tight it hurt a little. Ava turned her face to the side and breathed in before widening her thighs so he could get more leverage.
Brayden braced a heavy hand between her shoulder blades, pushing her down and forcing her ass higher. With the other hand, he reached for her clitoris, teasing a response out of her with talented fingers. Ava cried out, wet heat gushing out of her in an embarrassing tide.
“Jesus,” Brayden hissed, pushing all the way in.
Catching her hips between his hands, he chased completion, thrusting in and out of her like a man possessed. Ava pressed her face into the sheets to muffle her cries and just took it. He pulled her forward by the shoulders. With her back plastered to his front, the angle was different.
On his next thrust, Ava saw stars, floating in the air for what seemed like an eternity with the force of her orgasm. His penis pulsed inside her as he came. Ava closed her eyes, afraid he would sense her disappointment. Had she really hoped for more with Brayden?
It surprised her he never questioned how Max was conceived given his obsession with wrapping up twice. Ava listened to him dispose off the condom. He returned with a washcloth, pressing the cold towel against the heart of her. It took everything Ava had not to snap at him. There wasn’t much to clean since he already came in his double condom.
When he pulled her into his arms and kissed her shoulders, tears filled her eyes. How could she remain angry when he did that?
“All right?” he asked softly.
Ava nodded.
He switched off the bedside lamp and plunged the room into darkness.
∞∞∞
Ava blinked her eyes open. She sat up in bed, shielding her eyes from the sun rays. Someone bustled into the room. Gladys.
“I’m sorry, I should have gotten the curtains.”
She adjusted the blinds, so the light no longer poured in. Max turned from where he was tucked into the baby carrier in Gladys front to regard her with smiles and waving arms. “Missed me, huh?”
Ava kissed his forehead just as a shout erupted up the stairs. “That’s what woke me, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s madness down there.”
“What are they doing?”
Gladys widened her eyes. “What else would a group of men cooped up indoors for too long have in common?”
Ava shook her head, struggling not to laugh at Gladys’ expression. “I take it the Sheriff is somehow in the middle of this?”
“All the men, including Brayden. Now that was the shocker.”
Catching one of Max’s arms, Ava leaned close. “Should we go watch Daddy?”
The living room was a mess. The beautifully appointed living room was no more as they pushed the chairs back to create more space to play football. Ava sat on the bottom stairs to watch grown men make fools of themselves. They used what looked like mashed up papers to create a football they kicked around.
Children as young as three and adults as old as the Sheriff, pursued the ball to score a goal into their makeshift net.
Eric’s daughter kicked the ball at the opposite goal and scored. Everyone laughed as she ran screaming to her team mates which included Brayden. Ava tensed, expecting Brayden to reject the ecstatic girl. But he caught her in his arms and swung her around before the rest of their team descended on them.
Gladys squeezed her hand. “Never say never.”
“Why are we here whe
n we can join them? Come on.”
They tucked Max into his crib and joined the fray. The play ended when Jack kicked their makeshift ball high into the air. It crossed the goal line and straight into Max’s crib. The ball smashed into the papery bits they made it from.
Jack smiled sheepishly. “I think I ruined our game — Max no.”
Ava turned in time to see Max bringing the piece of the ball into his mouth. She ran over, but Brayden who was closer reached out and pulled it off his hand.
Father smiled at son. “Tasty, huh?”
“Thank God you were here,” Ava said, striving for nonchalance.
Brayden frowned. “What if he’s trying to tell us something?”
“Like what?”
“What if in an alternate universe, humans lived on paper?”
Ava narrowed her eyes and yelled at the kids. “What do you say we get Brayden to live on paper too?”
The kids yelled their approval and Brayden took off. They spent the afternoon trying to shove paper down his throat.
Round eight
Chapter twenty-six
“You know he never wanted the fight? Said he won’t fight a brother.” Brayden shook his head. “But Isaac kept pushing until Ryan gave in.”
“I’m sorry,” Ava whispered.
“It was so difficult to keep up the pretend hate that I had to avoid talking about him completely.”
“And people thought you were just dodging a fight.”
Brayden clenched his fists. “The second Ryan fell…. I can still feel the pain in my fingers after throwing the punch, the way his eyes rolled back. I thought it was just a knockout. But he won our last sparring session.”
“You spar with Ryan? The fans would have gone crazy for that.”
“Hearing he was your brother floored me, how did that happen?”
“My mother took him away to live with our father. He was twelve and I seven. I cried all day when I heard he left and mama never corrected me. We met again during a press conference, when I said my name he just--”
“Didn’t you know who he was?”
“I did but I was angry. I thought he left me while he lived the good life. I wasted so much time angry with him, I never did enjoy his company. And I’m still making the same mistakes.” Ava slowed as the realization hit her. “I’m afraid they’ll leave like Ryan and mama, I’ve kept my distance from them.”
The next few days they spent helping their guests move back into their homes. Eric’s was the last. Eric’s daughter, Penny threw her arms around Brayden in a hug. “Thank you and tell Max I will come see him when I have new clothes.”
Brayden slowly rested a hand against her back. When he looked up, he found Missy watching with tears in her eyes.
“She’s been trying to make her dad take her shopping,” Missy said.
Penny pouted. “But all our clothes are bad, mom.”
“Go, I need to talk to Brayden.”
Penny waved. “Bye, Brayden.”
Stunned, Brayden waved back. A year ago, when he moved back these same people held a meeting to force him out of town.
Missy rested a hand against his arm. “You’re not your father and I’m glad we got--”
He stepped back, causing her hand to fall away. “I’m exactly like him, the only difference is I have Ava.”
“And Max don’t forget. You’re not him.”
“She’s right,” Ava switched the bedside light on to see him better. With her hair falling across her face down to his chest, it enclosed them in their own private heaven as she leaned over him. “You’re the best man I know.”
“Not your ugly father?” He teased.
“I‘m serious, Brayden,” Ava poked at his chest with her forefinger to get his attention. “You’re the father of my son, the love of my life and a beacon to many. Whoever your father was, whatever he did, you’re not him.”
She kissed him, sucking his tongue into her mouth. Ava curled her hand into his hair and deepened the kiss, a rush of emotion flooding her for the pain he endured. With a soft cry, she pulled away to rest her forehead against his chin.
“Ava, Ava,” he whispered into her hair.
“I love you with all my heart, Brayden.”
His arms around her tightened momentarily, but he didn’t reply. He lifted her over his head to straddle his chest. “Pregnancy made you curvier.”
She paused. “You don’t like it?”
“If I say ‘yes’ what are you going to do? I like you for more than your body?”
“Yeah?” Ava breathed, the blood cells in her veins singing with expectation as he forced his hand under her skirts. He curled a long finger into the crotch of her panties. Ava pressed her hand against the headboard for leverage and gasped when he brushed against her mound.
“Curvier or thinner, you’re still my woman.”
“Yes,” she hissed.
He tore the panties off her and she cried out as the ends bit into her skin. His palms around her bare buttocks was decadent, but more so, when he tipped her forward, until his breath brushed against her heated center.
Ava gushed out wet heat. Biting her lips in embarrassment when it lubricated the way, coating her inner thighs as Brayden drew her forward. Was he going to think she was a hussy for responding the way she did? He called her his woman.
“Stop thinking.”
“I can’t- oh.”
Her head fell back when his cool mouth laved through her, fanning the flames of her hunger. He caught the nob at the centre of her and began to suck. Ava balanced on the ball of her feet and began to ride his talented mouth shamelessly.
As her desire reached a crescendo, hard fingers wrapped around her nipples and tightened to the point of pain. Ava screamed, giving herself over to his will. When she floated back to earth, she found him watching her with an odd expression on his face.
“What?” she gasped.
“Nothing.” He kissed her softy. “Nothing.”
She spent the evening working on the articles covering the pain of families who lost someone to the rigors of sports. Ava pushed back her laptop and rubbed her eyes. Placing her hand on Max’s chest, she took a second to feel the breath going in and out of his small lungs.
“I know that face by now,” Brayden said, unbuttoning his shirt as he entered the room. He went to the bathroom and returned with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
Ava quickly reached for Max intending to take him back to their room. But Brayden’s hand on her back stopped her.
“Leave him here.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” Ava asked, surprised.
“Isn’t he going to wake when you lift him?”
Max would rouse but he would just as easily go back to sleep. Ava nodded.
He pointed at her littered work space. “What’s going on?”
“Working on something.” She pulled at the end of the towel. Eyes glued at the hard, almost angry dick aimed in her direction, a sigh fell from Ava’s lips. “Yeah, yeah.”
“You aren’t even listening,” Brayden laughed when she pushed him to the bed. “Remember what happened the last time I told you to post something?”
Ava got on her knees before him. She placed her palm flat on his huge thighs and pushed them apart. “You forget, I’m my own boss now.”
“Are you now?”
“Yes,” Ava whispered and sucked the end of his dick into her mouth. She caught his balls between her fingers, rolling them as she swallowed him half way, pulling out to take long sucks at the end.
Brayden panted harshly. “This is so — Max is right here — dammit.”
She sucked hard on the end and he came in her mouth.
Ava used the towel to wipe her mouth clean. Climbing his huge body like a tree, she looked down into his eyes. With his hand flung above his head, his chest rising and falling like he ran a marathon, Brayden looked the picture of satisfaction.
“You were saying?”
“Our son is right here and--�
��
She kissed him, grateful for the progress he was making with Max. Progress she was sure he wasn’t even aware of.
His fingers trailed up her thigh and — someone knocked. Brayden paused.
“Janet and Hannah are here to see you, Bray.”