Sports Romance: Feeling The Heat

by Michelle Roberts

  “Good idea, mom.”

  Isa vanished once again vanished in the back, leaving them on their own. A comfortable silence elapsed for a while until Robin finally asked her what she was doing back here so early in the year.

  They took a seat on the sofa and made themselves comfortable. He spread his arms in the armrest and played with her curls.

  “I feel stuffy back home. I need to clear my head about things.”

  “Is this about the same guy you left me for?”

  She looked at him.

  “I knew that you’re really not into me, Ki. I’m the one forceful about us and I haven’t said my sorry.”

  “It should be me who should apology,” she hung her head in regret.

  Robin tipped her chin up, making her look at him in the eyes.

  Robin was what you call a guy next door. He had this shaggy blond hair that kept falling in his eyes, dazzling smile and laid back attitude. It was one of the traits she entertained their relationship thinking that she could find the connection she had with King. What she discovered was a friend she needed during that time and she was grateful Robin stuck with her.

  Someone cleared their throat at the same time Isa said, “Hi, can I help you?”

  Both of them looked up, finding a piercing look from King.

  Kiara froze, her heart beating loudly in her ears.

  Robin looked at her then he got it.

  “If you’re going to cause trouble, I’ll ask you now nicely to leave, young man.” Isa’s stern voice cut through her panicking mind.

  “I’m not leaving without Kiara, ma’am.”

  Kiara finally tampered down her fear and stood up.

  “I’m not coming with you, King. I’m working.”

  Robin stood beside her, “I’m not letting her go home with an insensible man like you.”

  The look King gave Robin was chilling. Both men are physically fit but from the stormy look from King, he might do something he’d regret later. He wasn’t exactly a hot-headed man, he always observed in silence.

  The last thing Kiara needed was for the two to butt head in Isa’s store.

  “Go back home, King. Stop getting in my business!”

  He looked at her, searching her eyes. She was ashamed to say that she was crying and in front of them.

  She turned her back to him and ran off the back, cursing herself for being this weak.

  “You never do anything right, dude. Just leave her be.”

  *

  Later that day, Robin offered to drop her off which she was both thankful and shy to accept.

  “Let me know if that brooding guy gives you a a headache, I have my number on your speed dial.”

  “Thanks, I’ll be sure to do that.”

  Isa squeezed her hand and offered her a smile.

  “Let’s go, Ki.”

  It was already dark outside and the sky was dusted with glittering stars and a half moon that lit the town. The breeze was slightly chilly. She tried to warm herself by rubbing her hands on her arms, Robin noticed.

  “Here.” He secured his jacket which was a lot bigger than her frame around her shoulder.

  The ride to her apartment was peaceful until they came to a stop in the parking lot. Robin opened the door for her and offered to escort her upstairs.

  “I’ll be alright.”

  He looked torn.

  She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Really, I’ll be alright.”

  “I can stand guard in case he drops by.”

  “That wouldn’t be necessary. I’ll deal with him.”

  Finally, Robin agreed.

  “Don’t blame me if I call for bodyguard tonight.”

  “Have faith in me, Robin. King wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”

  Robin looked at her and nodded.

  Wordlessly, he got to his beat up on the car and drove off.

  With a deep breath, she quickly closed the distance between her and her apartment. She knew what was coming, she could feel it in the pit of her stomach.

  Just as she suspected, the door was open.

  It was dark inside but that didn’t deceive her from believing that King was inside. She flicked on the light and right away, her eyes zeroed in on the man sitting on her sofa cuddling his head in his hands.

  She closed the door behind her, steeling herself.

  “I want you to get out, King. This is going too far.”

  He looked up. “Why didn’t you tell at least your brother that you’re leaving?”

  “I need to think.”

  “About what?”

  “That’s none of your business, King. Now, please go out and leave me be.”

  “Your brother’s worried.”

  “Why isn’t he here himself if he’s so worried about me? Why does it have to be you who’s here?”

  He shot to his feet, his long legs clad in jeans, socked feet and button down shirt made him looked out of place in her small apartment. He made everything seemed cramped, shabby with his style. It didn’t help that his hair was ruffled like he had been running his hands through it.

  “I convinced him to leave it up to me.”

  “Well now you know that I’m here, why don’t you fly back home?”

  “Could you stop pushing me away and tell me what’s going on? You’re never like this, sunshine.”

  The moment his cologne reached my senses I was clutching onto his shoulder and pouring my guts out.

  A moment later, she was still heaving but not as much anymore.

  “Kiara…”

  “Don’t. Just don’t,” her voice came out hard as a steel.

  He pulled her at arms-length, still supporting her weight. He looked ashen.

  “Are you pregnant?”

  Her eyes closed. Hearing him say it made it more real for her. Little did he know that he was the father.

  Chapter Four

  When she woke up the next morning she was in her bed wearing her pajamas. She didn’t think too hard how she got in her clothing now and if she did she’d go crazy.

  There was no trace of King anywhere in the house.

  “Maybe he already takes my word,” she mumbled to herself, feeling heavy-hearted. After pushing him all day yesterday, he realized that he should leave now in case he got tied up taking care of her.

  Angry with herself for hoping so much from him, Kiara lazily got out of bed. She found a sticky on note in the fridge with a cursive writing.

  Have a look in the microwave.

  -K

  She smiled sadly, “So typical of you to boss me around.” Nevertheless, she appreciated the gesture. He just didn’t leave without a word and she wasn’t sure whether that was good for her heart or not. Had he left so cold heartedly she would have dealt with herself eventually.

  Now left alone by herself again, her apartment seemed so quiet, not that she wasn’t use to the quietness. It was just, King brought this enigmatic power with him, leaving her in gloom.

  *

  She spent her day hanging out with Robin and in the shop then they each bought ice-cream. Hers was chocolate with marshmallow toppings while Robin’s strawberry. When it was time to go home, she was faced with the darkness of her apartment.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

  Robin looked handsome in his bad boy look, leather jacket and all. However, his baby face said otherwise.

  “Your mom needs you more, Rob. I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl now.”

  “While I don’t belittle your ability, you can never be too sure in this city.” His eyes flickered in her apartment.

  Kiara knew that he meant more than he was letting on. “I’ve lived here for so long, you can’t be worrying about me now.”

  Knowing that he wasn’t going anywhere, Robin gave up.

  “I’m really going to be okay, Robin. King already went home early this morning.”

  His eyes narrowed, “Did he come by to your house last night?”

  “He did whic
h I’m thankful for. I… um had a stomach flu last night.” She couldn’t tell him that she was pregnant, she wasn’t ready yet and it would only complicate things more than it already was.

  He searched her eyes and she showed nothing there that he could hold against King. Finally, he nodded.

  “Do I see you again tomorrow?”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I’m not making a move or anything. I just really want to us to catch up with each other again.”

  Kiara couldn’t help it, she laughed at his blushing face.

  “I know you’re not making a move, silly,” she finally said after a while.

  Robin looked down at his shoes, uncomfortable all of a sudden.

  Kiara didn’t want to entertain whatever feelings he had for her still, it would be selfish of her if she did that.

  Walking over to him, she gave him a bear hug which he returned, lifting her off the ground slightly.

  “I’ll see you then tomorrow?” he pulled away.

  “I might be working tomorrow, though.”

  He frowned, “But you’re working in the shop as well.”

  “We both know that I’m not.”

  “You’re always welcome there, you know that.”

  “I know. But I want to earn the money working for it not for free as much as I appreciate it.”

  “You’re just as stubborn as you’ve been.”

  She laughed.

  “Alright, I’ll be on my way then.”

  Kiara watched him get inside safely until his lights faded in the dark. With a deep sigh, she went back inside her apartment, flicking on the light like she did yesterday. She was met with cold unfeeling night letting her know just as how alone she was.

  *

  A loud banging on her door woke her up, her heart beating erratically.

  “Kiara, open the door!”

  “King?”

  Without thinking coherently, she bolted to the door not bothering to look in the peeking hole. A drunk King stared at her, his eyes bloodshot. The smell of whiskey was strong in him making her a little weary of him.

  “What on earth are—“

  He started pushing her inside, cutting her off.

  “King? What the hell are you—“

  He pulled her flushed in his body and kissed her. Her thoughts fled from her mind, melting her like a hapless woman in love which she was.

  His tongue pushed to the seam of her lips which she granted entry once more. Kiara wasn’t thinking anymore the same reason why she was in her position right now.

  King would always get a hold of her and she would always give in to him.

  When he lifted her up, his hands in her ass, Kiara was shaking from anticipation. He kicked her door shut and laid her gently in the bed. From there, he quickly stripped them. She would never be accustomed to his size.

  She looked away.

  He positioned himself between her legs, his hands on either side of her. “I will make love to you, make you mine.”

  When she looked at him, she saw the raw hunger in there. He was acting so out of character. Kiara never knew him as a brooding man with a Neanderthal attitude. He was always the cool one, the level-headed.

  “You’re drunk, King. You probably won’t remember this tomorrow.”

  “Like I did that night.”

  Her eyes widened in surprised but before she could say anything, he smoothly glided himself inside her. Once again, the better judgment of her flew out the window. He hefted her legs around his waist, reaching for her other breast.

  Slowly, he made love to her, something she never imagined he would share with her.

  He brushed his whiskered cheek in her neck, showering her with kisses.

  “Fuck, you’re so tight, sunshine.”

  He continued whispering dark things in her ears, throwing her off the edge. Her body convulsed with spasm, her cries went on and on until she was hoarse and he emptied himself inside her. He flipped on his back, taking her with him.

  Kiara lay on top of him sweaty and breathing raggedly. His heart was beating wildly where her ear was lying and her hands were splayed in his chest.

  His hand was holding her in the waist while the other was playing with her hair. He was quiet and she didn’t know what to say or how to open up the truth.

  “Sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  Even though she wanted to fight the dizziness, she couldn’t. She was too exhausted to fight the heaviness of her eyelids, too comfortable in his arms.

  She woke up a couple of times with him just looking at her but she eventually dozed off. When she woke up the second time, it was five in the morning.

  “I was hoping you would wake up,” his breath was hot in her ears.

  She was burrowing deep in his arms with her back to him. But now his hand was nowhere near her midsection anymore.

  He was rolling her beaded nipple in his fingers, his hard on was pressing in the small of her back.

  “Did you even sleep?”

  “I did for an hour.”

  She turned around. “You should’ve woke me up.”

  “I might’ve had if I didn’t love watching you sleep.”

  She blushed, “I’m not snoring, am I?”

  The laughter in his eyes told her otherwise.

  Kiara buried her face in his chest, embarrassed. Not to mention that she enjoyed the smell of aftershave and soap.

  “I’ve seen you grow up, the last thing you should be feeling is embarrassed.”

  “But I’m not that little girl anymore and stop treating me like it.”

  He tipped her chin up, making her look at him.

  “What we just did, is that treating you like a little girl?”

  “And how are you feeling about us?”

  “I want to do it again until you’re all mine, not some College boy.”

  “His name’s Robin.”

  “I don’t care about him, I care about this,” he cupped her mound, making her moan.

  She didn’t complain when he positioned himself again in her entrance not that she didn’t want it.

  *

  When she woke up for the third time, King wasn’t in the bed anymore but there was a note on her nightstand.

  Come out

  With a quick trip to the bathroom, she came out and found him behind the stove. The smell of bacon and egg wafted in her nose.

  Kiara just stood back and watched as he moved with ease. There was something serene about the way he looked when he was deep in thoughts.

  Somehow, she felt that this morning was different, they were back to reality. But this time, he knew everything there was to know about them.

  “Don’t you think it’s rude to stare?”

  With a deep breath, she finally made her way in the kitchen which wasn’t that far since she was on a budget. She was only wearing his shirt with her hair in a messy bun.

  She took a seat, watching him silently as he wove around the kitchen.

  It was tense for a while until he asked, “How are you feeling?”

  His blue eyes never failed to make her squirm.

  “I’m alright, King. I’m not gonna break from all the activity we did.”

  They eat in silence and washed the plate like a team. After a while, she couldn’t bear the silence anymore.

  “Look, if you’re just going to act like a sorry peace—“

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he snapped. King turned to her with an unreadable look on his face.

  She stared off the wall behind him, anywhere but to his piercing eyes that could read through her soul.

  “I’m not the kind to get in the way between you and Kimberly, King. You were heartbroken, vulnerable. I didn’t want to add up to your problem,” she looked at him. “I never want to be the little girl you saw grow up who still now needing your help because I can’t stand on my own two feet.”

  “That wasn’t the case here, Kiara. I—I got you pregnant. Fuck, I don’t even know how rough I’ve been t
o you that night,” he pulled at his hair, looking like a lost boy.

  King’s parents were never good to him that was why he was always at home. He was the guy she grew up with, always seeking her parents’ approval. Unconsciously, she fell for the boy who looked lost, sad. She remembered thinking to herself, I will make that sadness vanish but in the end, she burned along with him.

  She looked at her hands, twiddling. “It was my fault; I should’ve stopped you but I didn’t. That is because I’ve been in love with you for so long, King. The only way I know to get close to you was that night.”

  “That doesn’t excuse my behavior, sunshine.”

  He never called her sunshine unless…

  “King?”

  He crossed the space between them, pulling her close to him. “Next time, don’t lie to me, Kiara no matter how bad it is.”

  “I never meant to lie. I was going to tell you eventually.”

  “And when is that? When you give birth to our kid and suffer all on your own.”

  “I have enough savings…”

  He sighed. “You’re so stubborn.”

  “You’re treating me like a kid again.”

  “If I eat you now, would that count as treating you like a kid?”

  “Don’t be creepy.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Maybe.”

  Chapter Five

  The two of them decided to stay for a while in the city before facing the storm ahead of them. Their days was spent going to early market, to cooking and walking to the garden. Then their nights were spent hot and sweaty in the bed.

  To say that she was happy was the understatement of the year.

  “He didn’t force you into this?” Robin said. They were huddled in the corner while King was busy chatting with Isa. It was their last day before they have to head back home.

  “Your brother’s going to think that I kidnap you,” King had said one night after a passionate love making.

  “Do you think me to be pushed around?”

  “If you don’t look so happy, I would have said otherwise.”

  She smiled, “Thanks for your support, Rob. It means so much than I could say.”

  “When you say things like that, it makes me think twice about Hailey.”

  Kiara beamed at him. “Why didn’t introduce her to me?”