by Amy Brent
“I came to see if you have gotten over yourself and are ready to talk about us?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
He was once more reminded of why things had fallen apart. She was a viper, and a hateful one at that. She smiled at him moved in front of him, running her hands up his chest making him sick.
“No Rachel, there is no “us” I told you that when I found you in bed with my friend. I’ve already got the paperwork ready, just sign the damn thing already.”
“Rafe, don’t be ridiculous, what would you do without me. Not to mention there is all the money to think of.”
He hated her, and everything she stood for. Marrying her had been a fool's move and he had regretted it almost instantly. She had painted a picture of a happy home, all the while spending his savings and then borrowing more money from a shark in uptown. Charging it to him of course.”
He was paying it back, but it was taking forever, and what he really wanted to was to be rid of the entire situation.
“I’m paying Louie back Rachel; I don’t have to be married to you to do it.”
“That’s true Rafey, but I take him the money, keeping you safe. If you don’t have me then they will know who got the money in the first place.”
“I don’t care anymore, Rachel, just tell them.” He was serious and he waited, watching the expression on her face change as she finally started to believe him.
“You don’t mean that, Rafe.” She swallowed hard.
“Yes, I do, besides, I never saw any of that money, it was you’re doing not mine. I’m paying it off because somewhere along the twisted path you and I have been on I loved you once.”
“You love me now Rafe, I know you do.” She moved to touch him one more and he grabbed her wrists before she had a chance to take it any further.
“No Rachel, I don’t. Go home.” I love someone else. He felt it but wouldn’t hurt her unnecessarily.
When she was gone, he thought hard about why may happen when she did tell them where he was. She wasn’t lying when she said she was keeping him safe, in fact, she had likely kept him alive. Now, however, he wanted more… and wanted it with someone else. He felt something stir deep down as he thought of Lacey, and the look on her face when Alice said his wife was there. She had been hurt there was no masking that.
Without looking he heard the slam of the front door as she left, followed closely by the squeal of tires as she flew out of the driveway and down the street. It was complicated but he had faith, it would all work itself out, and he would take the next big step… talking to Lacey. He made his way downstairs, carefully glancing around the room until he heard a shuffle from the kitchen. He made his way inside, knowing that regardless of who he would find there… he would face the music.
Alice was sitting at the bar, glass in hand, waiting for him. “Come on in Rafe, come eat with me.”
It was more of a request and less of a question. He moved into the room slowly, waiting for her reaction. Even at 17 he knew better than to push his luck with his step-mother. He settled into the chair across from her.
“I’m sorry Alice, about Rachel. It’s not what you think… not even close.”
“I’m less concerned about Rachel than I am about Lacey, Rafe. How could you let things get out of control?
He sighed loudly. “I don’t know how any of this happened Alice. I never meant to…” He trailed off.
“Well, you did, and now she is as much a mess as you are.” She sipped from her glass looking out the window. “I thought your relationship was more brother and sister, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by all of this Rafe.”
“Trust me, I am just as surprised as you are. “He glanced around the room. “Where is she anyway?”
“Lacey needs some time Rafe, time to figure out who she is, what she wants or something like that.”
“What do you mean she needs some time, where is she? I have been trying to get her to talk to me for a week and nothing.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Rafe, I know Lacey more than anyone. She has feelings for you, that much is obvious, but she needs to figure out what she wants and take a break from it. Give her some time.”
He leaned back in his chair in frustration.
As the weekend went on he knew he would have to go home, and start his new contract. It wasn’t far, only a 4-hour drive, but it was far enough to make it hard to leave. Alice walked him out the morning he was leaving and he hugged her tightly, once more thankful that she had been a part of his life.
The days flew by and week after week he couldn’t seem to think about anything else but Lacey. He called Alice who reassured him that Lacey was fine, but it did nothing to comfort him… or to make him feel better about his situation. He wanted her… even now he thought about how beautiful she had been that day.
He glanced down at the work on his table and swore, knowing he was getting nowhere. He had to see her… to find her and set the record straight about so many things. He crumbled the forms in front of him, throwing them into the basket at the end of his desk. Tomorrow was Friday, he would just drive to wherever she was… if Alice would tell him. At least he would know where he stood once and for all.
* * *
Lacey
The tears were rolling freely as she sat up thinking about what she would do. There was no secret that she was scared about what life had in store for her, in fact she had spent the last few days doing her best to formulate a plan.
She hated herself for missing him, but she knew she would have to see him sooner or later, and they would talk. She closed her eyes, thinking once more about how he had touched her and loved her. He made her feel special in so many ways that she was missing him more and more each day…. Especially now.
She looked out the long window of the cabin she had been in for three weeks now. Her “couple of days” had quickly become something bigger, and though she could work from home, she knew she would have to go back eventually. She heard the phone vibrating, though she knew it was him again. She would give him credit for being persistent.
Nothing would go the way she wanted to, no matter how many different ways she tried to piece it out, she was always left alone in the end. He was married, and Rachel had been more than passingly pretty. She could have stepped out on a runaway wearing rags. That was who Rafe was married too…that’s who Rafe loved.
Part of her didn’t even want to talk to him, to tell him everything. Instead, she wanted to hide away in this cabin where no one could find her… or hurt her. She moved down the long hall to shower, something that always made her feel better. At least then she could relax a little. She let the heat wash over her and soon wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel which helped drastically.
She walked out of the shower and back down the long hall where she found him.
He was waiting for her, pensive and on edge. She could see it in the way he sat on the edge of the couch, his fingertips tapping the leather of the couch. He glanced up then, seeing her and he stood, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“What are you doing here, Rafe, you scared me to death.” She stood there, folding her arms across her chest.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you Lacey, I could have called you… but you would have to respond to me in order for that to happen.” He watched her, his eyes scanning the length of her.
She felt the heat of a blush rush through her at his words, true as they were. “What do you want Rafe?”
He sighed. “I want to talk to you Lacey, I want to have a conversation that is real and honest. I want to talk to you and not have to worry about you running from me again.”
She moved over to the couch across from him, settling in. Finally, she looked up at him. “Ok Rafe, talk to me then.”
He frowned for a moment, then sat back down into the couch. He let his eyes look her over again. “First of all, are you ok? I mean I can see your alive and well, but it’s been weeks.”
No, I’m not ok.
“I’m fine Rafe. I just needed some time away things have been stressful lately at work and stuff.”
“I want to talk to you about Rachel. “He held up a hand as she tried to speak. “For me Lacey, please let me talk.”
She swallowed hard, bracing herself for what was to come. He would tell her everything she didn’t want to hear, and her heart would break even more. She felt her body tense up, and she hung on every word.
“Rachel was everything to me for a very long time. She was smart and funny and she made me believe she was going to be there for me no matter what. I trusted her in that.”
“Rafe I can’t.”
“But she had more than just one side to her and there was something ugly there too.” He continued on.
“Stop it Rafe I… I can’t.” She stood then, leaving him there and making her way into the room where she slept, shutting the door behind her.
He was with her in an instant, hugging her close, making her feel protected and safe. Both things she hadn’t felt in a long time. He moved to her chin, lifting it up just enough for his mouth to claim hers, sealing their lips with a deep kiss. She felt the tears in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, knowing that she would give in to him, and to let him love her even if it was goodbye.
She moved frantically as he kissed her deeper and longer, making quick work of the clothing between them. She wanted to feel all of him against her skin, wanted the heat of him to brandish her. She moved back then, leaning on her elbows her full breasts jutting upward in the air for him to feast on. He suckled on each crested peak hard, bring them both to a full peak, one hand carefully tugging on them and tweaking them between his fingers. He looked at her as he lapped at them flicking his tongue in new circular patterns on them as he freed his now swollen member from his clothes.
She watched, feeling him tease her skin with the velvety smoothness until he pushed her breasts together, and he slid the length of his between the luscious mounds, pumping slowly. Glancing down, she watched as the glistening tip appeared before her and without hesitation she slipped her pink tongue out licking the head momentarily with each stroke.
He groaned, looking down at her and she soon found herself rolled over on her stomach, waiting for his next move. She felt his fingers run down the length of her back, softly and gently caressing her until he pulled up on both legs, bringing her into an all fours position. She felt the heat rush to her face, embarrassed as she sat there exposed to him. She watched him move around behind her, his fingers slipping down until he found the entryway to her womanhood. He slid between her lips, pushing until he moved his hands, causing gasps from her as he moved his hand back and forth causing a tremendous about of pleasure in her body to enjoy.
Soon she gasped loudly as she felt the wet heat of his tongue there, his mouth moving on her feasting from her love. He intensified his play causing her to moan out in ecstasy as he kissed and pushed there. He stood then, the heat of his mouth, leaving her panting and wanting more. He moved behind her, grabbing her hips and impaled her with the length of him, pushing into her until he was all the way in. She gasped as she took him, soon finding her back arched and her knees spread wide apart from each other. He grabbed her hips, using them to slide her off and back on the length of him in slow, deliberate strokes, each one causing a new whimper of delight from her.
As he moved she felt him growing even bigger inside her, her cries, obviously making him more and more excited. He moved to reach under them, cupping the heavy swaying breasts as they bounced back and forth with his movements. She moaned as he rubbed the peaks of each one, causing a cry out as he began to move harder and faster then. He pummeled her from behind. His every stroke causing her to cry out. She heard him too, loudly crying out as she tightened down on him, moving with him to climb that peak to release.
He grabbed her hips once more slipping in deep and all the way back out, teasing her and watching her moan angrily at him and his teasing ways. She glared at him and he pushed her down flat on the bed. He was practically laying on her as he moved up and impaled her once more, the sensation a new one as she felt him filling her and using her to find release. The sounds of their slapping skin was the only consistent noise in the room as she felt her as lift up slightly with each thrust.
He pumped into her hard now, harder than ever before and she felt her orgasm coming quicker and quicker. She moaned out his name as she announced her orgasm to him, which only pushed him over the edge as well, their cries mingling together in the night air.
She felt him move to lay beside her, but she couldn’t talk or move for that matter. They made eye contact for a split second before she closed her eyes to focus on her breathing, and feel the air as it circulated around her skin, helping her to calm down.
She hurt all over, but it was a good hurt as she blinked a few times trying her best to clear her eyes and take in the room around her. At some point she had been resting and simply fallen asleep from exhaustion. She felt the space next to her, but he was gone, and she felt the tears spring to her eyes once more, causing her to bite her lip in frustration. She sat up carefully, grabbing her towel once more that she had been wrapped in, carefully tying the belt at her waist before walking down the long hall and back towards the kitchen.
She squashed the tiny hope she had been forming when she instantly took in the room around her. He was gone… there was no doubt about that. She padded her way to the fridge to get a drink and that’s when she saw the note on the countertop.
Lacey, going out for groceries, be back in 30 min or so. Need to finish what we started.
* * *
She felt her heart beat fast reading his words. He was gone… but he was coming back. She knew he wanted to tell her things… things about Rachel. She settled into the overstuffed chair and waited. She took a deep breath, smiling to herself and the new found confidence she was showing. She had to share some things of her own.
True to his word he came back and this time she heard the rumble of his bike. She waited for him to come in, more determined now than ever to tell him the truth. He walked in his face a smile and sat down across from her after sitting the bag on the counter.
“I don’t want to drag this out Lacey so I am just going to tell you everything quickly… then maybe we can go on with our night, is that ok?”
She nodded at him, bracing herself once more.
“Last time I started with the unimportant stuff so this time I’m going to try something a little different. I love you Lacey, I came home to say goodbye to dad and what I found was this incredible woman who I have known and loved my whole life. I love you differently now, but the foundation is still there and the goodness in you is there just as it always has been. Rachel cheated lied and stole money, likely trying to get me shot at as we speak but I don’t care about any of that anymore. I just want to be with you, settle down and have something good.”
She felt the tears fall freely as he spoke.
“What we share, that is something amazing that most people don’t find in their lives. In fact, it’s so good that I had to question if I was losing my mind or just remembering how you felt in my mind blowing it out of proportion. But I wasn’t, this between us is a good thing… a right thing. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Lacey.”
She smiled at him as he finished. She wiped the tears that ran down from her eyes.
He moved to hold her hands in his, wiping at the tears himself. “What do you have to tell me Lacey, whatever it is we will be ok?”
She smiled into his eyes, slowly moving his hand over to her stomach. “You were right, Rafe, what we share is special because form the very first moment we shared together we created something even more beautiful than just “us”, we created a life.”
He looked up at her, his eyes widening as he took it all in. “Oh my... are you serious Lacey?”
She nodded happily as he wrapped his arms around her, dropping kisses on her stomach. She knew then she would never have to worry
again about her size, or about being pushed around by anyone. She was one of the lucky ones, she had found real love. It was good and true and she knew she would hold on to that for as long as she was alive.
The months passed quickly and the two of them found themselves enjoying a new life together. As her stomach grew, she would glance at the man who would soon be her husband and she would think about the extra room in the house where they enjoyed each other so very much. There is something new around every corner, and she knew they were just getting started on exploring as much of that as they could. She caught his eye and he gave her a wink, no doubt remembering the way he had made love to her that afternoon. She was a lucky woman, and she knew there was no doubt about what was to come.
PREGNANT BY THE BALLER
* * *
Jessie
* * *
Jessie Randolph liked to get his way. More importantly, he liked that other people knew it, and would be accommodating. Even now, tipping back a beer in the field by Havertown, he scanned the crowd for something, or someone exciting.
Maybe he was getting older, and things didn’t excite him as much as they used to. At 28 he was getting to the point where his football career was at its peak, but he was also getting more and more banged up every game they played. He had been given the gift of insight and he used that to his advantage. He nodded his head at a few girls that passed by him, both laughing to each other. He could vaguely recall having sex with one of them… or was it both? He wasn’t really sure. It didn’t matter, with his blonde hair and blue eyes he never had a hard time finding a willing and warm woman to keep him company.
Perhaps that was the issue, things were too predictable. He used to love these after game parties. The team would get family and friends together, and along came the typical bunch of girls who just wanted to say they had slept with a football player. There was no game, no challenge anymore. One thing was certain, he wanted to find more than just this.