A Daddy for Mother's Day

by Natalie Knight

Even after all of the confetti, the interviews, and the countless congratulations, riding up the elevator with Izzie’s hand in mine and a sleepy Liam by my side is the best feeling in the world.

  I look over at Liam and his friend—they can barely keep their eyes open. I don’t blame them. It’s after two in the morning.

  Any chance I got to be near Izzie and Liam with all the celebrating going on, Liam would tell me how happy he was, and what a good time he was having. That made all of the celebrating even sweeter. To know that Liam, my son, was having a good time.

  The elevator dings onto our floor. We all exit, some of us slower than others.

  “Why don’t I take the boys to our room,” Alex says, stifling a yawn.

  “You don’t mind?” Izzie asks.

  “Please, like it’s going to be a lot of work putting them to bed,” Alex says. “See you two in the morning,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “And congrats, Champ,” she says with a fake punch to my arm. “You did great out there.”

  “Thanks, Alex,” I say, “for everything.”

  I see Izzie silently mouth thank you to Alex as we leave her with the boys in front of her and Izzie’s room.

  I squeeze Izzie’s hand as we walk down the hall to my suite.

  I swipe the key card and push the door open, letting Izzie go in first. As I flick the light switch on, I think about how much my life has changed in the short time that she and Liam have been in it.

  Gone are the days of drunken debauchery, of celebrating all night long with no thought of the consequences I would face the next day.

  The change is definitely for the better.

  And that’s exactly what I intend to show Izzie tonight.

  By the gasp I hear escape Izzie’s perfectly cute mouth, I can tell that the hotel staff fulfilled all of my requests.

  Moving to stand beside Izzie, I look at the table set for two with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries in front of the large windows that look out over the Manhattan skyline.

  This used to be my city. I loved the energy you would feel just walking the streets. There was always something going on, some party, some event, to fill my nights.

  Now, I wouldn’t trade anything for what I have in San Antonio. All the nightlife has been replaced with something far more real—a life.

  A life I’ve built there, full of laughter and love. A life with Izzie and Liam.

  I go over to the table, open the champagne that’s been chilling, and pour it into two glasses. I hand a flute to Izzie and prepare to bare my soul to her.

  “Izzie,” I begin, “as great as this night was, being able to share it with you and Liam made it even better.”

  “I’m so happy you wanted to share it with us,” she says.

  I guide her over to the couch, and as we sit, I say, “Of course I wanted to share this night with you. Izzie, I want to share every night and every day with you.”

  I reach into my pocket for the ring box.

  “I meant what I said on the field tonight,” I say as I open the box to reveal a three-stone ring. One stone for each member of our family—Izzie, Liam, and I. “I just didn’t have a place to store this ring on my uniform.”

  Izzie laughs through her tears. She can’t keep her eyes off the ring, which I take to mean that I did a good job picking it out. Or, Alex did a good job picking it out for me.

  “I just can’t believe this is really happening,” Izzie says.

  “Why not?”

  Izzie looks me in my eyes, her blue eyes filled with tears, and says, “Because I was beginning to think that I didn’t deserve happiness for myself. My whole life has revolved around sacrifice. First for Lucy, then Gigi and Pappy, and of course, for Liam.”

  I take the ring out of the box and slide it on her finger. I take her hands in mine.

  “You’re not alone anymore. We’re a team now. We’ll lean on each other because that’s what teams do. You’re the one who taught me that. You also taught me to stand up for the ones you love. I told management that I wouldn’t re-sign unless they gave you your job back.”

  “I have my job back?” she asks, her eyes wide in anticipation.

  “Of course. We’re not a team if we’re not together.”

  “Thank you, Brady,” she says, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank you for making me the happiest girl in the world.”

  “Oh, I should be thanking you,” I say. “In fact, that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

  Taking her face in my hands, I rub my thumb across her bottom lip. As she opens her mouth to me, I cover it with my own, joining together in a kiss that conveys all the love I feel for her.

  Without breaking our connection, I let my left hand roam down, cupping her breast. With a sigh, Izzie relaxes into the couch, pulling me with her.

  I move my right hand to that curve in her lower back that always turns me on when I catch a glimpse of it, while my other hand untucks her shirt from her pants.

  My cock is starting to strain against the weight of my jeans. I ache to release it from its confines, but I know that it’ll be worth the wait.

  Unbuttoning Izzie’s blouse, I’m finally able to reach her tits in all of their glory. Izzie pulls at my own shirt, and we’ve quickly discarded all clothes from the waist up.

  Her soft hands are working their way from my chest down to my waist, and I don’t want them to ever stop. With no fabric in my way, I dive into her chest, capturing a firm nipple in my mouth.

  “Oh,” Izzie moans with an intake of breath.

  I deliver a series of kisses to her neck while my hand kneads her firm tit.

  Standing up, I take Izzie’s hand and lead her to the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed facing me, Izzie gives me a small, sly smile and quickly undoes my belt buckle and zipper.

  She reaches into my pants to release my throbbing cock, and this time, I’m the one unable to breathe.

  “God, you’re gorgeous,” I say at the top of her head, as she dips down and takes the head of my cock in her mouth. Licking the pre-cum off the head, Izzie begins to take me in her mouth, an inch at a time.

  I run my hands through her hair, reveling in the otherworldly feel of her mouth, moving up and down on all twelve inches of my cock.

  Someone doesn’t have gag reflex.

  It’s a feeling I never want to end, but I think I can’t go one more minute without plunging my cock deep into her pussy.

  My aching for her warm, wet paradise can take it no longer.

  I grab her by the shoulders and toss her gently onto the bed. She reaches out her arms to me, and I pull my pants and boxers all the way off and join her. The feel of her skin pressed against mine and our mouths joined in a never-ending kiss is a feeling I never want to end.

  Izzie’s pants are removed just as quickly as mine were, and I waste no time running my hands down her flat torso to her pussy. While she strokes my cock, I use my fingers to separate her pussy lips. Finding her clit, I massage it between my two fingers, until she cries out with pleasure.

  “Fuck, I love how wet you are,” I say as I plunge a finger into the warmth between her legs.

  Gasping with pleasure, Izzie responds, “You make me wet. Only you.” As if she couldn’t get any sexier.

  With a moan, I remove my hand and nudge her legs open wider with my knees. With her legs straddling mine, I ease my cock into her sopping-wet pussy slowly. Izzie is looking at me with such love, and I return it back to her.

  I enter her slowly because her pussy is tight, but my cock fits in like it was made for it. Once she opens up to me and my cock fills her all the way to my balls, I have to stop for a second to catch my breath.

  Not realizing the power that she has over me, Izzie wraps her arms and legs around me, pulling me in even deeper than I thought possible. The sensation of her softest tissue around my rock-hard cock is better than winning any game, better than winning a Super Bowl even.

  As I slowly begin to move my cock in and out of h
er, letting the suction of her pussy push me close to the edge without going over it, Izzie starts moving her hips in time with mine.

  “Ohhh,” Izzie moans as our hips meet, plunging my cock deep inside her. As I pick up the tempo, I pull her leg even higher.

  For a newbie, Izzie has tons of natural talent. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives cultivating that talent.

  Finding her clit, slick with both of our juices, I rub it until keening sounds start flowing out of Izzie’s passion-swollen lips. I grab the headboard with one hand for leverage, with the other wrapped firmly around Izzie’s waist.

  “Don’t stop,” Izzie says as our hips reach a furious pace.

  “Never,” I answer.

  I feel my cock start to twitch, and I plunge myself in and out of her pussy a few more times until I can’t hold back one more second.

  Plunging deeper, I release my man juice into her, and I feel her pussy begin to contract. Her pussy squeezes every last bit of cum I have in me, at once draining me of life while also making me feel more alive than ever before.

  I collapse on her, careful not to rest all of my weight on her delicate frame. Catching my breath, I kiss her neck, cheeks, forehead, before making my way back to her waiting mouth.

  Rolling over to the other side of the bed, I take Izzie with me. She’s nestled in my arms, her head on my chest, both of us still panting.

  “Mmm,” Izzie says into my chest. “I could stay here forever.”

  “I hope so,” I answer, kissing the top of her head. “Because I don’t intend to ever let you go.”

  Chapter 36

  Brady

  While riding on the plane with the crew, everyone’s still buzzing with energy from the win.

  But all I can think about is Izzie and that mind-blowing sex we had before I left.

  God, I can still feel her soft skin on my fingertips. Her arousing smell all over my clothes.

  I can’t wait until I can get back and see her and Liam again. It’ll be just like old times again.

  As I look out the window daydreaming, my teammate James suddenly plops down into the seat next to me.

  “Wake up, Brady!” He smacks me on the back of the neck. “Stop daydreaming and come party with us.”

  “Nah,” I shrug his hand off. “You know I don’t really drink much anymore.”

  “Why not? No one here is gonna tattle on you.”

  “No, it’s not about that.” I sigh and look at my watch. “I have somewhere important to be in about an hour.”

  When Izzie and I parted ways, she and Liam left on a separate plane while I flew back with the team.

  My plane lands a little early before hers, so my plan is to surprise her and Liam at the airport as soon as they land. However, the timing is tight, and I’m a little worried if I can even pull the whole thing off.

  “Where do you have to be?” James asks with his usual nosiness. “Izzie’s sheets?”

  I whack him in the stomach. “Come on, knock it out. You’re not allowed to daydream about Izzie like that.”

  As I turn back to the window, Sean suddenly pops up from behind us.

  “Are we talking about Izzie?”

  Ugh, not again. I swear, these dudes loves to gossip more than those crazy broads on The Real Housewives.

  “Yeah,” James answers for me. “He’s gonna meet her at the airport, which is why he can’t drink.”

  Sean looks at me, his eyes wide with appreciation. “Well, well, well,” he says to me. “Look at you being all Mr. Perfect. This Izzie has really changed you. And that proposal? It touched my heart. For real.”

  James puts his arms around me jokingly. “Our little Brady is growing up right before our eyes!”

  “Hey, knock it off.” I playfully toss his arm off. “For now on, my physical affections are for one person and one person only.”

  “Don’t tell Coach McGoy that,” James snorted. “He’s gonna pat your ass after every game regardless if you want it or not.”

  We all erupt into scattered snickering, trying not to be too loud and wake up Coach.

  “Attention, passengers,” the flight attendant’s voice interrupts. “We’ll be landing in San Antonio in thirty minutes.”

  I take a deep breath. This is it.

  When I step off this plane, I’m going to be a whole new Brady.

  A family man. A person with a purpose, a wife, and a son.

  Forty-five minutes later, I’m at baggage claim waiting for Izzie. I’ve already said goodbye to the team, and now, all there is to do is wait.

  I’m surprised at how nervous I am.

  This is it. I can no longer go back to that crazy Brady who only cared about partying and hookers. I now have a son, and I fully commit to the responsibility of making sure he grows up knowing he has a father who loves him.

  As I wait, I get a text from Izzie:

  Just landed! Will meet you at the house soon?

  Sure thing. Will see you there. I love you, I text back.

  I open my suitcase and pull out the present I got for Liam and a single rose for Izzie that I purchased earlier at a different airport.

  After waiting for about thirty minutes, I see a tiny blonde head emerge amongst the crowd of faces.

  It’s her! You can’t forget that face. That beautiful fucking face.

  I start waving my arms wildly so that she can see me.

  As she and Liam get closer to me, Liam spots me first.

  His eyes are electric with surprise as he sprints out to me.

  “Brady!” He runs into my arms.

  “Yo, Liam! My man!” I pick him up in my arms and swing him around.

  My son. This is my son. And in a weird way, I think deep inside I’ve known along.

  As he clings to me like velcro, I see Izzie over his shoulder, who runs out to me with her eyes swelling with tears.

  I place Liam down and walk over to Izzie, grabbing her by the waist and kissing her on her soft lips.

  Time stops.

  I can stay in this moment forever with her. My future wife.

  She pulls away first, looking around as if she’s a tad embarrassed.

  Ever since the tabloids ran that story about us, she’s been feeling extra paranoid about the attention she’s getting. I, frankly, think her reaction is kind of adorable. The flush in her cheeks is so cute, I can’t stand it.

  I lean in and kiss her on the cheek to let her know that it’s okay.

  We can continue this kiss later, of course.

  “Brady,” she says, taking the rose from my hand, “you didn’t tell me you were going to meet us here.”

  “Well, duh,” I shrug with a chuckle. “Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a surprise. You were surprised, right?”

  A grin slowly spreads across her face as she shyly nods her head.

  “Very.”

  I hand the present to Liam. “I got you something too, little dude.”

  He rips the present open like a savage. It’s the Super Bowl football, all autographed by the entire team. Liam looks like he’s about to faint.

  “Oh Brady,” Izzie gasps. “You didn’t have to.”

  “It’s no biggie.” I pat Liam on the shoulder. “After all, I’ll do anything for my family.”

  “Thank you so much, Brady!” Liam grasps the football like it’s a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

  Hey, I don’t blame him. He’s a very lucky kid.

  “Hey, buddy,” I kneel down so that I can see eye-to-eye with him. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. But that all changes starting today, okay?”

  I look up at Izzie who looks away from me, ashamed.

  “Now that you’re in my life, I promise to be the best dad you could ever have. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better son than you, Liam.”

  Now it’s Liam’s turn to cry. His little face contorts into a frown as he collapses into my shoulder.

  I embrace him as I look up at Izzie. She’s crying, too. We’re
all crying.

  Liam pulls away from me and quickly starts wiping away his tears. At his age, he probably thinks crying in an airport is embarrassing.

  “Where are we all going for the wedding?” he suddenly asks.

  I look up at Izzie with a questionable look.

  She shrugs at me. Kids, ya know? her face says.

  “I mean, I don’t know, Liam,” I say slowly. “Where do you think we should have our wedding?”

  “Legoland!” Liam jumps up with his arms in the air. “Have you ever been there? It’s so cool! They have a massive Lego tower where you guys can get married in front of. It’d be so awesome!”

  Izzie breaks out in laughter. I guess the image of the both of us getting hitched in front of a bunch of colored blocks at some amusement park is rather funny.

  “Uh, I’m not so sure about that,” I tell him. I rustle Liam’s hair, messing it up. Damn, he’s got perfect hair just like me.

  “Then what about Disneyland?” Liam suggests. “Disneyland would be perfect! It’s the most magical place on Earth.”

  Izzie shakes her head and giggles.

  “Let’s let your mom plan the wedding,” I tell him. “Something tells me she might have a few ideas already.”

  I stand up and move closer to Izzie, pulling her and Liam in close. We all look at each other, our eyes filled with so much hope and love.

  “I guess we’re all officially a family now,” she says.

  “Yeah,” I give her another kiss. “And it’s about damn time.”

  Chapter 37

  Izzie

  Little hands grip my foot tightly, alarming me just enough that I emerge from a long, restful slumber. I crane my neck and toss my arms high into the air, stretching good and hard.

  “Happy Mother’s Day!” my boys say in unison.

  A huge smile rests on my face as I turn my head to see Brady carrying a tray, complete with a flower-shaped pancake, orange juice, fresh strawberries, and two daisies in a small vase.

  “Happy Mother’s Day, beautiful,” Brady says to me with a grin matching my own.

  “Thank you, boys. This looks so excellent! Who made what?” I ask, eager to hear about their morning.

  Peering over at my alarm clock, I see that it’s a little after ten in the morning. Gosh, they really spoiled me today! I’m so used to waking up at eight that I’m not even sure how I slept in.