Hang Em' Up: A Bad Boy Sports Pregnancy Romance

by Ashley Stewart

  “Oh, is that what you think?” She said as his arms pulled her closer.

  Nate put his fingers to her chin and tilted her head to him. His lips melted into hers as he kissed her passionately. The air was spinning around them, but they worried about nothing, nothing but each other’s mouths, tasting the arousal from one another’s tongues.

  “Maybe we should just go home.” He teased.

  Allison eyed his hazel stare. She wanted him right away, if she had her way she would have taken him right there, on the Ferris wheel, but instead she waited until they could get off and then rushed him to the car.

  “Take me home.” She told him.

  “Anything you want.” He kissed her one more time before they drove away from the fair.

  The drive home seemed like an eternity as each mile stood in the way of her pleasure. She wanted to get him into bed as soon as possible so she could feel his skin on hers and taste the passion in his tongue. Every ounce of her was aching for his warmth and each second was torture as they rode in the car, making small talk until they could fall into each other’s arms.

  Finally they were almost there, except there was someone standing in the road up ahead, flagging them down. The man was tall and built strong. His dark hair was wild and grown to his shoulders. He might have been half-handsome if he wasn’t standing in the road like a madman.

  “What is going on?” Allison asked as Nate slowed the car down to a stop.

  As he opened the door, he ordered her to, “Stay here.”

  “No.” She grabbed his hand. “That man could be dangerous. Please, let’s just go.”

  “He’s my brother.” He said as she let go of him. “We are safe. Just wait here.”

  Allison watched Nate get out and couldn’t help but shake her head. All she wanted to do was get into bed with this man, and that sounded horrible to her, but as she waited for him her mind and heart were totally consumed with this gorgeous man. She finally thought that maybe, just maybe she might be falling for him and that to her was dangerous, not because of what he was, but because of what she was.

  Chapter 8

  “Why the hell are you standing here flagging me down like some crazed maniac?” Nate asked his brother as he stormed towards him. “You are supposed to be keeping a low profile, not drawing more attention to yourself.”

  “I had no choice.” Gavin said. “You need to see this.”

  His brother led him to the front of his own truck where his other brother Zander and cousin Brett were standing. The two men had their backs to them and were looking down at something lying on the ground. As they approached they looked up at him and he could see the distress in their faces.

  “What is it?” Nate asked.

  “It’s Sarah.” Gavin said. “She’s dead.”

  Nate pushed through the men and saw his old friend’s lifeless body, bloody on the ground. Her neck had been torn open by a wolf. Sarah was a werewolf herself, but she was not a great fighter. He had grown up with her, and they had always been good friends. Seeing her dead on the ground not only broke his heart but it angered him to the core. He knew who had done this and he would revenge her.

  “She was lying in the road for anyone to find.” Zander told him. “We just happened to come across her first.”

  “This is your fault!” Nate grabbed Brett and threw him up against the truck. “You called the Black Bloods, didn’t you? You told them about Sarah and how she had secretly helped Allison get away from their pack.”

  “No, no I didn’t.” Brett pushed back, but Nate’s strength and anger were too much for him, he couldn’t escape his grip.

  “You are lying. You are a liar.” Nate slammed him again.

  “I promise you. I didn’t tell them, I didn’t tell anybody.” Brett said.

  “That’s enough.” Gavin said. “He is telling the truth. He was Sarah’s friend too, we all were. Let him go brother.”

  Nate growled as he held tight onto his cousin’s shoulders. His hands were shaking and he fought from ripping him to shreds right there.

  “I didn’t have anything to do with this Nate.” Brett looked him directly in the eyes.

  “Fine.” Nate let go him and stepped back. He gathered his composure and took a deep breath. “Put her in the truck and take her home. One of you call our father. She was a part of his pack and it is against the rules to murder another wolf without fair reason. The Red Moon pack will need to decide how to handle the situation. She didn’t have any family since her parents passed away.” He cleared his throat when his voice broke. “But she deserves a proper burial. I will make sure she gets one.”

  “Where are you going?” Zander asked him.

  “I need to protect Allison.” Nate looked back over the truck and saw her looking clueless at them. “She has no idea what she has gotten herself into.”

  “Brother, you know I have your back no matter what, but is all this necessary for some human girl that we do not know. Sarah is dead and we are all going to be on the Black Blood’s kill-list if we continue to stay involved with this human.” Zander put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “We may be in over our heads.”

  “I am not afraid of any Black Blood. They are cowards and weak. Sarah was not even a fighter. She never harmed anyone her whole life. She was just trying to help a friend of hers who had unknowingly pissed off a pack. If they want to come for her, then I will kill them one by one, and if you do not want to get involved then don’t. I will fight alone.” Nate watched Gavin and Brett pick up his dead friend’s corpse. He squeezed his fist tight, wishing he could hit someone.

  “No, I will fight beside you. I just hope that she is worth all this.” Zander looked over at Allison.

  “She is worth more than this.” Nate nodded at his brother. “Call Dad. He will know what to do about Sarah.”

  Nate walked back to the car where Allison was waiting anxiously.

  “Is everything alright? Are you okay? You looked like you were fighting with that guy.” Allison looked him over as though he might have marks or bruises.

  “I’m fine.” Nate started the car and put it in drive. “It was just my cousin Brett I was arguing with, and the other two were my brothers. They can be a pain, but everything is fine now. They just needed my help with the truck. We’re good.”

  He turned up ahead and went slowly down her driveway. When he had bought his house seven years ago, this property had come with it. He’d thought about tearing the house down and extending his farm onto the land, but he’d never got around to it. He furnished it in the hope that his brothers would get their lives together and move in one day, but they seemed happy just bouncing back and forth from his house to their dad’s. The house had sat vacant for all those years. Now that Allison was in it, it seemed more like her home than his.

  “Are you coming up?” She asked as he parked in front of her porch.

  “Is that what you want?” He looked at her gorgeous body and beautiful face; the idea of her asking him to join her in bed was fascinating. He thought himself lucky enough for it to have happened once, but twice was amazing.

  “Yes, I’d love for you to come up.” Her voice was becoming seductive as it got more raspy and sweet.

  After a few minutes they were upstairs in the bedroom and she was undressing him. Her tongue was on his neck, circling his skin as her hands explored his body. He tried to get into the moment, he was certainly into her, but he couldn’t get his dear friend off of his mind. Sarah was dead. She had been savagely killed and he had seen her body only minutes before. How could he make love to Allison with such a terrible thing on his mind?

  “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” He stopped her.

  “What is it?” Her innocent lips asked. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, it’s not you. I just… I just have a lot on my mind right now.” His hands dropped away from her body as he stepped back.

  “Is it because of that woman at the fair, Roxy?” Allison asked. She really had no clu
e about the evil going on around her.

  “No, well kind of, but not because if what you think.” He told her.

  “Maybe you should just go?” She grabbed his shirt and handed it to him.

  “I, I...” He couldn’t go. There were lunatic werewolves on the loose blood lusting for Allison, but he couldn’t say that, could he? “There is more to it but I just don’t want to put you in danger.”

  “Seems like I am already in danger. There was a werewolf in my backyard and he tried to attack me. Don’t you think that I should know everything so I can be prepared for what comes my way?” She asked. “Don’t I deserve to know the truth?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Listen, I have my own secrets that I am hiding, so I know what it is like.”

  “Your secrets aren’t as life-threatening as mine.” He walked to the window and looked out. There was nobody in his field of vision, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. It was hot so he opened the window for some fresh air. The wind blew in and the smell upon his nose was all too familiar.

  “I killed my husband.” She blurted out and then exhaled loudly as though she had been holding that in for years.

  “I know.” Nate turned to face her.

  “You know? How could you know that?”

  “Because he was my cousin.” Nate watched her face go pale as she processed his words.

  “Wha… What?” Her breath was heavy as she shook her head in denial. “You are Jimmy’s cousin?”

  “Yes, and he was a miserable prick who deserved what he got.” Nate took her by the hand. “And I will fill you in on everything else but you need to come with me now.”

  “Wait, why?” She pulled her hand from him. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Yes you are.” He grabbed her arm. “Because there are already two wolves outside watching us and more are coming for you. We need to go to my house so my brothers and cousin Brett can help before it’s too late.”

  “Not until you tell me what is going on.” She yanked her arm from him but this time he held on tighter and she couldn’t escape his grip.

  “They will kill you.” His words were stern and cold. “And it won’t be quick because they love the thrill of it. They will start with one bite, just to wound you and watch you cry. Then they will break a bone and laugh as you beg them to stop. After they are tired of your screams they will rip your throat open and devour you. It’s what they do Allison. So you can come with me and have a chance at survival, or they can have it their way and tear you to shreds slowly and painfully.”

  “Okay.” She whispered. “I’ll go with you.”

  He took her small hand in his and led her down the stairs. Roxy and her brother Seth were outside hiding. Their scents were strong in the wind. He wasn’t sure if they would try to attack him now or wait for the rest of their pack, but he wasn’t going to stay around and find out.

  “Straight to the car.” He told Allison as he opened the door to the house.

  “Tiny.” She looked at him, wanting to bring her dog.

  “Fine, come on Tiny.” The dog ran out behind them and followed them closely to the car.

  Allison made it there fine and was inside but when before Tiny could get in with her, the dog stopped and began growling at the bushes nearby. When Nate tried to grab the big dog, it ran past him and barked hysterically at the heavily bushed area.

  “Tiny!” Allison called out as she began to get back out of the car.

  “No, I will get him. Lock the doors!” He told her.

  The dog hadn’t run far, but as he got closer he could feel an attack coming. His sixth sense kicked in and he quickly dropped to the ground just in time to avoid Seth, who attempted to jump on him from behind. Seth was in wolf form and there was no way he would win the battle unless he also changed. Nate quickly started turning, but Seth took the opportunity to attack him during his changing. When fully turned into his werewolf form, Seth was already over the top of him, trying to get to his throat. Nate fought back and the two wolves went at it. The last time they had fought, seven years before, Nate had bit Seth’s ear off during the match. Seth had vowed to get revenge on him, but his pack leader had forbid him to do so. Now, as the two wolves savagely fought, Seth was doing his best to get his vengeance, but just as all these years ago, he was no match for Nate. Nate was stronger, fiercer, and wiser. He knew every move the weaker wolf was going to make and he counteracted them with his own. His teeth sank deep into Seth’s throat and he could taste his blood as the wolf pushed back one last time. Nate’s bite was fatal and he could see that Seth would be dead in a minute or so.

  “No!” He heard Roxy scream.

  Nate turned back to human form and stood over his defeated opponent. Roxy rushed to her brother’s side and held his face in her lap.

  “You killed him!” She yelled at Nate. “You killed my brother!”

  “You did this.” He told her. “You killed Sarah and you attacked me. And for what? Some leader who thinks selfishly and gives ruthless orders with no reasoning. Just stop this Roxy. This didn’t have to happen. I didn’t want to kill him and I don’t want to hurt you, but I will not back down.”

  “My brother.” She whispered as she held him in her arms. Nate reached for her shoulder to offer some kind of comfort, but she pushed his hand away. “Don’t touch me you son of a bitch. I am going to kill you for this. Better yet, I will rip that little girlfriend of yours apart piece by piece. She’s going to pay for this.”

  “I don’t want to kill you Roxy. Now, I’m going to walk away and leave. Do not follow us. Do not try to fight me. You understand me? I don’t want to hurt you, you know that.”

  He backed away, expecting a fight, but she didn’t give him one. Instead, she just rocked her brother’s lifeless wolf body and stared at Nate. “I’m sorry.” Nate told her, before he jumped in the car and sped off with Allison.

  Chapter 9

  Allison trembled as she watched Nate run back to the car and jump in beside her. He was naked and covered in blood. Some of it was his own, most was not.

  “What just happened?” Allison asked as she stared at the bloody man beside her.

  “That is why I told you that werewolves are dangerous.” He turned out of her driveway but his was just up ahead so they were not on the road long.

  “Roxy is a werewolf too?” Her voice was shaky, but she didn’t care. She was terrified.

  “Yes and the other one was her brother Seth.” Nate’s voice was deep, like he was still worked up from the fight.

  “And you killed him?” Allison was doing her best to keep up with everything going on around her.

  “Yes.”

  The fight had been a lot like the first one she had seen Nate fight, when the wolf had attacked her. It was a quick and brutal battle, with them always going for each other’s throats, which she assumed meant that they intended to kill, not just wound. When Nate had been fighting Seth she was horrified, terrified that he would be killed right in front of her and here she was helpless in the car. These wolves were lethal and she was so weak and fragile. What could she have even done to help? It would have been devastating to watch Nate die there in front of her. Luckily he had been the one to win. Unfortunately for Roxy, Seth hadn’t been so lucky. That was hard to watch even though she knew that they would kill her as soon as they got a chance. Still, seeing Roxy hold her brother in her arms and cry was a sad sight.

  “I know that you had to that.” Allison said as she put her hand on top of Nate’s. “You did what had to be done.” Nate was looking so remorseful that she felt sorry for putting him in this position, so she tried to reassure him.

  “Unfortunately, I am not new to this.” Nate said as he turned into his driveway. “I have had to fight and kill before, but it’s never easy to live with.”

  “Is this time my fault?” Allison asked. “You said they are after me.”

  “This is not your fault. It’s not my fault. It’s not even Rox
y or Seth’s fault. It is their pack leader’s fault because he is the one calling the shots. They are just loyal pack members obeying his orders.” He parked the car in front of his house. “Don’t blame yourself Allison.”

  She watched as he jumped out of the car and came to her side. He opened the door and led her in.

  “I forgot about Tiny.” Allison said. “He took off somewhere.”

  “He will find his way home. We can’t go looking for him yet, but I saw him run off safely.”

  Allison wanted to go find her dog but even on a good day she never could catch up with him. Hopefully Nate was right and the dog would wander over to his house. Nate took her by the hand and inside. His house was huge. It was a large cabin with beautiful woodwork and lots of character. She wondered what he did for a living. She knew he farmed, but this place must have cost a fortune. It was hardly something she needed to know that second though, being so focused on other things. Like the three men sitting at the kitchen table in front of her. They were staring at her like she was a ghost, even though she should be the frightened one. They were all three tall, large, intimidating looking men. She recognized them as the men from the road earlier, his brothers and cousin.

  “What the hell happened to you Nate?” One of them asked.

  “Seth. He’s dead now.” Was all that Nate said. The men shrugged like it wasn’t so shocking. “Roxy is out there and I am sure more of the Black Blood are on their way.”

  “And you are talking about all of this in front of her?” The same man asked as he pointed at Allison.

  “She knows. They left me no choice. They have attacked as wolves twice in front of her. But she doesn’t know everything so we are going to tell her right now. She deserves to know the truth.” Nate motioned for her to come forward. “This is Allison. Allison, these are my brothers Gavin and Zander, and my cousin Brett.”

  Allison smiled nervously at the men. Gavin was the man from the road earlier, she recognized his long brown hair. Zander looked a lot like Gavin and Nate, except that he had short black hair. His cousin Brett had blonde hair and was not as tall as the other three, but he looked as big and capable. One thing they all had in common was the hazel eyes.