Reflection (Game On Trilogy #2)

by Lisa Sommers

  “Sure, honey. Call me when you wake up. Maybe we can do lunch or something.”

  Derek releases me from his embrace and I wrap my hand in the crook of Alli’s arm. “Let me walk you out.”

  Chapter 16

  Derek

  I can’t even begin to imagine what Chelsea has gone through. She has had more than her fair share of misfortune, so I pray that she allows me to be there for her.

  I’m watching her sleep in my bed at the moment and she looks like an angel.

  After Alli left, I think all the talking and reminiscing exhausted her. She asked to lie down for just a couple of minutes and before I knew it, she was out like a light.

  It’s been three hours now.

  Shane called shortly after Chelsea fell asleep and explained that he spoke with our team doctor about my hand and that it sounds like I most likely have a couple of broken knuckles. He also gave him the short version of what is going on with Chelsea and I. Luckily, Shane is a good bullshitter, because the doctor normally wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if I had personal issues. If I don’t see him personally, then he won’t document my injury. Then Cal called me and after telling me off, told me to keep icing my hand. I don’t want to start anything more than I already have with him so I just told him I will.

  “Derek!” Oh shit, Chelsea.

  I leap out of my chair and am immediately by her side. “Baby, what’s wrong?” I hold the back of my fingers against her rosy cheeks. “I’m right here, babe.” I reach for a glass of water on the nightstand. “Here take a little sip.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She leans into my hand.

  “It’s ok. Can I get you something? You must be hungry.” I begin to get up but Chelsea grabs ahold of my arm.

  “No, don’t go. Please. I’m not hungry.”

  I sit back down next to her and tuck the sheet in around her. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman.

  “Derek?”

  Her voice is so fragile. I’m not used to seeing her like this. My heart literally breaks for her. If I could protect her from everything bad in this world I would. “Yes, babe.”

  She reaches out to run her delicate fingers across my jaw. Her gaze follows her touch and my own eyes trace the lines along her pretty pink lips. Her tongue slips out and wets her lips and it makes my heart skip a beat. She is the sexiest woman alive and she doesn’t even try to be.

  Grabbing my chin between her thumb and forefinger, she pulls me toward her. Once our lips come in contact, she brushes feather-like kisses against me, making everything in me breakdown.

  “You don’t have to do this for me.” She whispers against my mouth.

  We continue to kiss and I reach my hand up to run it through her hair. I move my mouth so that it trails the sensitive skin on her neck. Chelsea leans her head back on the pillows, giving me better access to her throat. Which I just so happen to know that she loves when I kiss her there. “Would you let me if I ask nicely?” I continue my descent to the other side of her neck and along her collarbone.

  Chelsea releases a sexy moan when I lightly bite her shoulder. “On one condition.”

  I slowly slide the sheet down, uncovering her chest as my tongue glides along the ridge of her breast. I pull her nipple into my mouth and mumble, “Just tell me what and I’ll do it.”

  I settle myself on the bed so that I am lying mostly on the bed and partially on one side of her body. Chelsea brings her leg up from under the sheet and wraps it around my leg. “Tell me what you said to me in the hospital.”

  What did I say in the hospital? I stop briefly as my mouth makes it way down to her belly. I lick up the sweetness of her sinfully hot body. She truly is the most beautiful creature on this Earth. I just wish I knew what I said to her at the hospital. I look up to see Chelsea looking down at me.

  “Do you remember what you said to me?” She asks.

  I know one thing that I said, but I thought for sure it was going to freak her out. I never told another woman before that I loved her and the moment I found the one, she wanted nothing to do with me. So I thought.

  She grabs both of my cheeks and pulls me up to her so that our faces are mere inches apart. “Tell me.”

  Here it goes. God strike me with lightning if I say the wrong thing and Chelsea goes running out my door. “I love you.” I say, searching her face for any indication she is ready to bolt. I see nothing.

  “I will stay with you.” She whispers.

  “You will?” I said the right words!

  “I will.” Music to my fucking ears.

  “I love you.” I repeat the words. If they worked once, they should work again, right?

  “I love you, too.” She whispers back.

  Holy fucking hell. “You do?” I search her eyes to see if she is yanking my chain, but I see nothing but honesty.

  “I do.” Now that is music to my ears.

  I wonder what she’ll do if I say it again. “I love you.”

  Chelsea smiles before she crashes her lips to mine. The kiss is rough and exactly how it should be. All consuming and full of need. She parts her lips and allows me to enter.

  Life just doesn’t get better than this.

  “Can we take this off?” Chelsea tugs on my t-shirt.

  “Anything you want, baby.” I pull myself up until I am on my knees.

  Chelsea slides up on the bed until she is also on her knees. Besides, her panties, she is completely naked. She’s perfect. “May I?” She points to my shirt.

  I raise my arms in answer. She reaches out and tucks her hands under my shirt and the warmth of her touch on my skin feels amazing. She moves so slow and so sweet like she is savoring every moment in time. She finally slides my shirt up and over my head and lets it fall to the floor. She grazes her fingertips over my chest, leans forward and places her lips on the center of my chest. Pulling back slightly, she replaces her lips with the palm of her hand.

  Chelsea looks up into my eyes and if silence could speak, it would say a thousand words. Her gaze is so full of emotion and meaning and love and even sadness. Her expression exudes so much joy and regret. There is so much going on right now in Chelsea’s head that I just want to jump in it and reassure her that everything will be ok. “Thank you,” she says, her eyes never leaving mine.

  I reach out and trail my hand down her cheek. “For what, baby?”

  “For understanding. For not giving up on me. For showing me that it’s possible for me to be happy again.”

  I have never cried over a woman before, but seeing Chelsea going through all these emotions makes me want to. She is by far a better person than I will ever be. She makes me want to be a better man. She leaves my soul wanting to be rescued and the only person able to save me is her.

  “Oh baby, you have given me all that and more. I am nothing without you. Everything I have, everything I do … none of it means anything if I don’t have you in my life.”

  Chelsea drops her gaze and the sadness reappears. I lift her chin so that she has to look into my eyes. “I’m scared.” She whispers.

  And there goes another crack to my heart. “I know, baby.” I pull her to me and hold her tight. “I know.”

  “If I lose you I don’t know what I’d do.” She cries.

  “Stop it. You can’t think like that, baby. And trust me when I tell you, I wouldn’t ever be able to move on without you either. You own every part of me. Heart and soul. There is no one that will ever fill me like you do.”

  “I love you so much.” I feel her body shake against mine.

  “Come here,” I move so that I am able to pull the sheet the rest of the way down. “Let’s rest.” I lay down on my side first and then reach out for Chelsea, pulling her down in front of me. Reaching for the covers, I pull them up over our bodies. With her back to my front, I stroke the palm of my hand up and down her arm. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t we get some rest and then we can start the rest of our lives tomorrow.”

  �
��I like that idea.” She whispers.

  Chapter 17

  Chelsea

  Last night was the perfect end to a long seven years. I have hope now. Something I haven’t felt for a very long time. I roll over to see the other side of the bed empty. Glancing at the clock, I am shocked to see what time it is. Eleven o’clock.

  I quietly get out of bed and for the first time in like forever I don’t have the urge to run. I look around the room and notice my clothes are folded neatly on a chair, however, I reach for one of Derek’s t-shirts that is laying on top of his dresser. After slipping it over my head I patter barefoot over to the bathroom and find all my toiletries neatly laid out on the counter. I look to the large bathtub and notice my favorite bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner sitting next to it. It brings a smile to face. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.

  After brushing my teeth and finger-combing my hair to make it look somewhat presentable, I make my way downstairs in search of Derek.

  Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I hear him talking. I don’t hear anyone else though. I make my way to the kitchen in search of some coffee when I see Derek standing in front of the wall of windows in the living room.

  “Seriously, you can’t wait another month or two?” He says into the receiver.

  I reach for a mug from the cabinet trying not to disturb him.

  “Fine, but I swear to you if you do anything to scare her off, I will disown the both of you.”

  He must be talking about me. I open the refrigerator to get the coffee creamer when Derek must hear me. He turns around and smiles at me.

  “Yeah, sure. I’ll call you this afternoon.” He says before ending his call. “Hey, sleepy head.” He makes his way over to me and tosses his phone on the counter as he does. He gives me a chaste kiss on the lips then pulls away all too soon. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. I can’t believe I slept in this late though. You should have woken me.”

  “No way,” he says as he holds his arms up in the air. “Alli told me you are not to be reckoned with before you get coffee in you.”

  Smiling, I tell him. “She must like you.”

  “Oh yeah?” Curiosity piquing his interest.

  “Yeah. There was this one time she sent this guy over to ask me something before I had coffee. Needless to say, we never seen him again.”

  Derek steps closer and wraps his arms around me. “Hurry and take a sip of that coffee, because I want to do more than just talk to you.”

  I smile at his comment before blowing on my hot coffee and then taking a big sip.

  Pulling me close, he dips his head so that his lips come in contact with my neck. “By the way, you look sexy as hell in my t-shirt.” He whispers in my ear.

  “You think so?” I tease as I take another sip of coffee.

  “I do.” He continues trailing lips down to my collarbone, licking ever-so-lightly, sending chills over my whole body.

  “Mmm, baby,” he growls against my skin. He reaches for my coffee mug and sets it on the counter.

  “You’re a brave man.” I tease.

  Tucking his hands under my ass, he lifts me, making me squeal. Placing me on the counter, he spreads my legs and stands in between them. “I’ll take my chances.” He slides his hands underneath his shirt that I’m wearing. “I’d take any chance I can get to be near you.”

  “You’re lucky I love you.” It feels good to say those words.

  His gaze moves to mine and says, “You have no idea. I am the luckiest guy on Earth right now.”

  Derek continues to let his hands roam under the shirt I am wearing. Reaching my chest, he cups his hands over each mound and kneads gently. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  Leaning back on my hands, I let him have his way with me. He pinches my nipples between his thumb and forefinger and twists, making me moan in pleasure. “Ahh, babe. That feels so good. Don’t stop.”

  “Never.” Derek lowers his head bites my left nipple through his t-shirt, making me moan louder.

  I wiggle my butt, trying to move closer to the edge of the counter. I bring my arms up and wrap my hands around his neck, tugging the hair on the back of his head as I do. Lifting my legs, I wrap them around his waist and lock my ankles behind his back.

  “Mmm, baby. You turn me on so much.” Keeping me in place, he wraps his arms around me and carries me away from the kitchen.

  “Where are you taking me?” I ask, knowing full well where he is taking me.

  “Bedroom,” he mutters against my neck.

  “Have I ever told you that I love whenever you do this whole caveman thing?” I tease.

  “You have mentioned it a time or two.”

  Once we get upstairs and into his bedroom, he keeps me attached to the front of him as he leans down over the bed and crawls us both up until we are in the center.

  “What are you going to do with me know?” I playfully ask.

  “Mmm, wouldn’t you like to know.” I can feel his mouth curve up into a smile on my sensitive skin.

  “Do what you want with me, babe. I am all yours.” I tell him, because in the end, I am all his.

  “God, I love you.” He tells me right before he spends the next hour worshiping every part of me.

  I am taking a shower when Derek pops his head in the bathroom and says, “By the way, I forgot to tell you. My sisters are coming over this evening. They want to meet you.

  “What?” He has got to be kidding me. They don’t even live here. “I thought they lived in Atlanta?”

  Derek holds out a white fluffy towel for me as I step out of the shower. “They do. But, once I told them I found my soulmate, they didn’t believe me.”

  Did he just call me his soulmate? “I didn’t think many people believed in soulmates.”

  Wrapping me in the soft towel, he picks me up and places me on the bathroom counter. “I don’t know how else to describe what you mean to me.”

  His comment brings tears to my eyes. I am so lucky to have him.

  “Baby, like I told you last night. You own my heart and soul. You are everything that I never knew I needed. I’ve known it for months. I just had to convince you of it.”

  I pushed him away so many times, but in my heart I knew all along. I knew he was the one I needed. “I was just scared is all.”

  “I get that now and I’m sorry that I pushed you too far at times. I just didn’t know how to fight for a girl that didn’t want me back.”

  “I’m glad you did. Look where we are now.”

  “Yeah, and we better get you dressed before my sisters get here. Alli will be here too.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think being naked would be the best first meeting. Although, Summer must already think I am a basket case.”

  “Not at all, honey. After she explained to me that you were the person she met outside of that bar, we started putting the pieces together. It all made sense why you left. And, I will never let them live it down.”

  “No you will not. It was not their fault. They didn’t know I was coming.”

  “Yeah, well, just you wait. When they get here you’ll understand what I have to deal with.” He warns.

  Summer and Sonny are about to arrive and I can’t be more nervous. Although, with Alli here it should make it easier since she now knows them.

  Derek and I are making a pitcher of margarita’s when we hear a knock on the door.

  He grips my shoulders and says, “You ready, baby?”

  “Don’t say it like that. How bad can it be?”

  “Just remember I forewarned you. Just let me know if they annoy you too much.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  Derek grabs my hand and leads us both to the front door. He swings it open and there we see three young women. I’m not sure who the third one is, but she looks familiar. It’s clear that the other two are twins.

  Summer and Sonny stroll right past Derek and make a beeline straight to me. “We can see why he fell in love with you.” Son
ny abruptly says.

  It makes me blush. I look over to see the third girl say loud and clear, “Hey, lover boy!”

  “Jenny,” he grumbles.

  “Hey, I’m not drunk yet.” She walks over to me and gives me a big hug. “Hi, I’m Kelly.” She introduces herself to me. Leaning in close, she says, “I was just joking with him. He’s not my lover boy.”

  “Get away from her,” Summer warns. “Ignore her. She’s our friend. She really is normal.” We both look back to see Kelly with a margarita glass already in hand. “Ok, maybe I spoke too soon, but she’s harmless.”

  I reach my hand out to Summer. “I guess we kind of already met.” I’m embarrassed about our first meeting.

  “Yeah, and I’m sorry about what happened the other night. Sometimes we just get all carried away when we see our brother. We don’t get to see him all that often.”

  Sonny links her arm with Derek’s and it makes me smile. I love seeing him like this. You can tell he is a protective brother. “But, he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore.”

  “What do you mean?” He asks.

  Kelly, or is it Jenny, raises her glass in the air and says, “We’re moving to San Diego!”

  Derek’s eyebrows shoot up in mock horror. “Excuse me?”

  “Damn it, Jenny! We were going to break the news over dinner.” Summer scolds her friend.

  “You’re moving here?” Derek inquires.

  Sonny looks up into her brother’s eye’s. “Umm, yeah. Surprise!”

  She leads him to his kitchen and Summer loops her arm with mine and we follow suit.

  Derek turns his head and looks back at me. “I warned you.”

  I laugh at his comment. This ought to be an interesting night.

  Chapter 18

  Derek

  The night has progressed just as I’d imagined it would. What it all boils down to is, my sisters are crazy. Maybe not as insane as Kelly, but without a doubt they do top the charts on the crazy scale.

  “I like them,” Chelsea walks up behind me and runs her hands up and over my shoulder blades, back down and around until they rest against my stomach.