by Amy Brent
There was a game the next day and Declan felt really amped up from the emotions running through his body. He took full advantage of his size and position to tackle as much as he could and Rory shot him a look when they took a break together. “Settle down. What’s with you?” Rory asked as Declan took a swig of water and watched the game continue.
“I talked to Britt last night. We’re going out tonight.” Declan told him as Rory raised his eyebrows. “I can’t wait forever so I am going to date around a bit. Nothing serious for a really long time, though.”
He glanced up into the seats to see the pretty brunette watching the game as she waved at him. Declan smiled back at her before he ducked into the locker room to shower and change to head back home. They were going to dinner in a few hours and he figured that he’d put some effort in.
The guys parted at their cars as Declan took a quick look around to see if Brittany was waiting for him anywhere. She must have gone home to spend what he figured was a few hours getting ready based on what he knew about her, as well as how good she looked at work. Declan said goodbye to the guys after they talked to some fans. He got into his car and drove home slowly to park in the driveway. He hadn’t replaced the SUV and the check was sitting in the bank until he was ready to face things. Declan got out and walked up to his door lost in thought as he started to unlock his door. Someone cleared their throat and he jumped as he glanced over to the left to see someone sitting in the chairs that surrounded his fire pit. “Deck?” Her voice broke through his thoughts as he dropped his bag to the ground and stepped forward.
“Mallory?” Her hair was longer and in loose curls as he peered through the shadows to see her face. “What are you doing here?”
“I…I needed some time. Everything hit me so hard and I felt like I lost our baby and I felt so guilty. I couldn’t face that.” He moved to sit down in front of her and stared into her beautiful face. “I didn’t want to be reminded of what happened and I didn’t want to be a burden to you.”
“A burden? You are my fiancée and you were having my baby.” Declan said in a broken voice as he moved his hands forward to touch her face. He stroked her cheek and felt the dampness on her skin as he blinked. “I wanted nothing more than to take care of you. I’ve been so fucking lost without you.”
“I was lost without you. I wanted to be with Mary and Rayna and just find myself again. It’s a habit since they’ve been there for a while now and I couldn’t imagine that you would still want me. I knew they’d push me into getting help and wouldn’t let me slip away…somewhere deep down. You know how scared I was about us and after the accident and losing Lindsay, I thought we’d lost everything that we had.” Tears were sliding down her cheeks in rapid succession now and he scooted closer to pull her into his arms. “I went to therapy. I talked to this great woman about all of these feelings and I cried so much. I got so much out dating way back to my parents and all of that. It was so painful but it felt good to just let it go.” She slipped her arms around his neck and her hand found the band that was holding his hair up as she tugged it down. “You feel so good. I missed your arms, your lips. I missed all of you.”
“Are you here to…be with me again?” Any thoughts about his date faded from his mind as he pulled away to look at her in the light of the front porch as it turned on automatically. “Mallory?”
“I need you. I don’t know where we’re going to start or even finish but I need you so much.” Mallory told him tearfully as she leaned closer. “I want to try again.”
“Yes. I do as well.” Declan saw the night with Brittany flash through his mind as he moved closer to her and the guilt washed over him in waves. “I love you, Mal.”
Their lips met eagerly and he parted her lips as he enjoyed the sweet taste of her mouth. “Oh, Deck. I missed you.” Mallory murmured between kisses and she moved closer to him and gripped his body. “I love you so much.”
He pulled her over him securely as she wrapped her body around his eagerly and Declan asked silently why this was happening now. He would have never gone home with Brittany and the date passed through his mind as he told himself to be decent enough to cancel it. “I want you so bad…can you be with me?” Declan asked as she took a deep breath and stared at him. “I know that you were supposed to take a break. I don’t have to but I have thought about you constantly.”
“It’s fine physically. I am still scared that I’m not good enough for you…that I failed you. I know that’s wrong but I can’t hide from that anymore.” Mallory replied as she pressed her forehead against his. “Yes. I want it all.”
They kissed for several moments before they made their way towards the door. Declan unlocked it and brought all of his things in as she watched with a nervous smile inside the living room. Declan closed the door and moved over to kiss her again hard as she moaned. “I need to tell you something before we do this. I have to handle something.” Declan pulled away and then kissed her again before he slipped his phone from his pocket. “I actually had a date tonight but I didn’t want it. I was forcing myself to move on and I can’t be an asshole and just stand her up.”
“A date.” Mallory paled and he dialed Brittany’s number slowly as he watched the pain cross her face. She answered in a cheerful voice and he took a deep breath before he told her that he had to cancel tonight. Declan was honest enough to tell her that there was no chance of anything happening again between them and he hung up as he stared at Mallory. “Who was that?”
“The waitress from the restaurant that night.” Declan told her as she thought for a moment and frowned. “It was nothing other than my trying to forget you. I know that I never could but I had been waiting for months and it was looking so hopeless. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You slept with her?” Mallory asked as he moved forward to kiss her gently.
“Very recently but it wasn’t anything close to what we have. I was just lonely and drunk, to be honest.” Declan told her as tears filled her eyes. “I love you. I am here with you and there’s nowhere that I’d rather be. Please forgive me…I felt terrible afterward.”
“I pushed you away, Deck. I am hurt by that but it’s on me. I can forget about it soon.” Mallory told him as a smile crossed his face. They kissed as they slipped into each other’s arms and towards the bedroom in a silent agreement. They fell onto the bed and moved around each other and over each other as they slowly stripped off their clothes. Declan discovered that she still wore her ring with the hope that they could continue on their path and he made love to her wearing only the diamond as he professed his love to her.
They got to know each other again over the next few months. They cried over the loss of their baby and what their life was to become. Sometimes she screamed at him for sleeping with someone else when her insecurities hit her hard. Other times he lashed out at her for pushing him away to begin with.
They moved on into a stronger relationship than before and three months later Declan asked her to become his wife all over again over dinner.
* * *
EPILOGUE
* * *
One year later, Mallory stood with her father in her heart as well as Rayna’s in blood amid looked down the aisle to see Declan waiting for her. They were at a beach that they’d both come to love over the last few months and just a few family and friends were gathered together to watch them finally start their life together. The time back together had been hard and even painful at moments but they loved each other deeply and knew that they couldn’t live without each other.
They hadn’t announced it to anyone yet but they were also expecting again. She was just three months along and the couple was quietly rejoicing about it before they told anyone. Besides, they wanted today to be about the wedding.
She smiled happily as the music started and watched Rayna walk down the sand before her, over the pale pink petals that were sprinkled over the soft surface. They’d been through hell but now she was going to have everything with De clan a
gain. She stepped forward and met his eyes as she walked, steady and easily.
* * *
The End
* * *
THE SECRET BABY DADDY
* * *
CHAPTER 1
* * *
Colton sent a text before he set his phone on the table and glanced across the bar as one beside his started vibrating and lighting up. Trey was busy talking in a group of guys and girls with the minority being male and Colton frowned as he looked back down at the phone.
Trey had a hot girlfriend, even if she was a bit on the heavier side. Colton had no real problem with that, and his list of conquests included all shapes and sizes. Colton had noticed more and more that the goalie of their successful hockey team didn’t seem to boast about his relationship too much, particularly lately. Not that he ever had, come to think of it. Amy was more of a bookworm than a sports fan as far as Colton could tell from when he’d seen her around the school. She had the hot librarian glasses to complete her look that seemed to be mainly conservative, apart from her bright green eyes and mocha skin to compliment them. From what he’d heard, she was studying literature and was something of a writer. Colton didn’t know her, and he saw that the phone screen had gone dark again when he looked down.
He sipped his beer and shook his head as he wondered why the hell he even cared. Colton was the main defender of the team, big and brawny with a reputation that preceded him to every game. He knew that he had the looks to go with his title around school with chestnut hair that was just wavy enough never to stay straight and intense blue eyes that had seduced many a student in his time. He was graduating in just another year and had scouts set up to come from all over to see him play. Colton was born and raised here in Colorado, and he’d like to stay here, though he wasn’t stupid enough to turn down any other opportunities. He planned on helping his mom and step dad out no matter where he played since Jack had been hurt at work when he got rammed into a trailer by a couple of huge bulls at work. Colton’s mom, Helen, just worked at a scrapbooking shop and being that she was coming up on forty-five, Colton didn’t want her getting a second job or even a harder job. She deserved that since she had put away every penny from his father’s life insurance policy for her son after the heart attack fifteen years ago. Helen had worked the job at the store as well as sewing custom dresses from her living room while Colton slept to support them and keep a house in a mediocre neighborhood where they would both be safe.
The guys came back over with a few girls tagging along, and Colton stood so he could take a piss before ordering another beer. They had killed tonight at their game and had the following day off. That was cause for celebration among a group of young college guys that got up early most every day to practice. The group slid into the corner table-the largest in the room-and the drinks and laughter were flowing as Colton took his last swig. He saw something light up on the table again and reached around to feel his empty pocket. “Yo Brent! Hand me my phone?”
A pretty Blonde was the one to hand him the newest Galaxy with an inviting smile as he took it from her. Shit, she looked familiar. Had he already fucked her? He thanked her as he grabbed it and shoved it into his pocket as he noticed Trey’s phone going again as well as his teammate swiping the screen to ignore it as the redhead beside him scooted closer to him.
Well, shit. Colton knew that his father had cheated on his mother once before he died since he overheard them fighting about it. He hated him deep inside but respected his mom’s choice to let him stay. Colton would never do that in a legit relationship and he kind of resented men that did. Colton was honest when he told his flings that it was all they were ever going to be. He didn’t do love and forever, at least not yet. He was riding the wave of being a great hockey player and enjoying the perks right now.
Some of the other guys on the team should do the same.
Colton set his beer down on the edge of the table before turning to head to the bathroom. He pushed the door open and looked around to see how crowded it was. As he took his place near the urinal and loosened his slacks enough to release his cock from their confines, he felt his phone vibrate.
It was Jasmine. He had met her at a frat party a few months ago, and they hooked up regularly and were talking about it tonight. They both knew that it was casual and would never be more so it was perfect. She was also one of the hottest girls that he’d ever seen with her dark brown eyes and Blonde hair along with that perfect body, all tits and ass with an open nature in the bedroom.
Colton finished and washed his hands in the sink as he thanked the guys that were congratulating him on the win. When he left the bathroom, all he could see was the girl from the table that had handed him his phone staring right at him. She smiled as he approached her with a curious grin on his face. “What’s your name?”
“Kenna,” she replied as he looked over her body with a thoughtful gaze. She was pretty with a girl next door look; blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair, and a tight yoga body. Was she willing to be a little adventurous tonight?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kenna. I was going to head out and visit a friend for a while. Would you like to come along? I think that you’d get on well with Jasmine,” he suggestively nudged her as her eyes widened for a fleeting moment.
“Sure.” Hook, line and sinker. They all wanted a story about him. Colton smiled and nodded before he leaned his face down to kiss her for good measure. Her moan told him everything that he needed to know. On the way to catch a ride with umber, Colton sent Jasmine a text telling her that he was bringing a friend.
Colton hadn’t missed Trey leaving at the same time with the redhead.
* * *
CHAPTER 2
* * *
Colton woke up in a mess of arms and legs the following morning with a grin. He gently dangled himself from the girls and used the bathroom as he glanced into the trash can to see the tied off condoms that he’d tossed throughout the night. Pregnancy was something he was avoiding with absolution. Colton was too fucking young, and he had a future ahead of him. He grabbed a tissue and took the collection from the trash with his cloth covered hand to get it out of the house and into another garbage can. Women were crazy, in particular, the easy ones that slept with him any chance they could get.
He was lucky that Jasmine’s parents paid for her apartment just off campus. That had a lot to do with her repeat status. He could have an apartment, but Coach felt that the team living amongst the students was somehow inspiring to them. At least most of the guys had a single to themselves, including Colton.
He dressed and gathered all of his things before he looked in on the still sleeping girls. They seemed to like each other a lot last night, and he was jerking as much as he was fucking one of them with their obvious attraction to one another. He grinned as the memories played through his mind. He might have another regular. He left the apartment and secured the door before pulling it closed with a soft tug. Colton didn’t like morning goodbyes.
He got a ride to his dorm since he’d ridden with another player and unlocked the door before resting against the soft seats. He had wanted his big bed and some quiet before he went to work out later. Colton was inside of the building, and he grabbed water from one of the machines before he saw her. Amy was holding a cup of coffee with her loose curls piled on her head in what girls termed as a messy bun while she walked down the hallway. Colton knew that she lived in here but never thought much about it before now. His eyes roved over her cotton clad legs with their thick thighs and juicy ass hungrily as he realized that he was ogling a teammate’s girl. That was against some unspoken code, but fuck was she worth it for this moment. She turned right and continued walking out of sight as he took his water from the machine and turned it in his hands as he walked to his room at the end of the hall she’d initially been in.
The school had to be stupid to put them up in coed dorms.
Colton napped for the rest of the morning in his dark room with his phone shut down for so
me peace. It was dead this morning after he’d gotten his ride, so it needed charging. Once he felt relatively rested, Colton found a few guys that were looking to head to the gym and he showered in his bathroom. Another perk.
Colton headed out of the front door and made his way to the team gym. He walked up to the system one of the guys had set up for them and plugged his phone into the dock to play some Alice in Chains over the speakers. The guys cheered, and Colton dropped his bag and looked around with a grin. He worked his torso, legs and arms methodically as he listened to the brotherhood of the team fill the room. Colton would miss this. Every player wanted to be a pro, but he didn’t think that the NHL could feel quite like this.
They all grabbed some lunch after the intensive workout at a pub around the corner. Colton noticed Trey and Amy sitting at a table in the corner, and he let his eyes take in the way her hair was falling around her shoulders as well as the angry way her full lips set in a scowl. Trey seemed to be doing most of the talking along with a lot of hand gestures, which was never a good sign. Colton moved his eyes back to Amy as she turned her face to meet his gaze with a challenge in her eyes-her gorgeous eyes.
Well, shit. Colton turned and faced the guys quickly as he felt the reprimanding in her mind burn his skin. They ordered and talked about practice the next day as a few other guys joined them, including Trey after finishing whatever was happening at that table. “How did that go?” Randy asked Trey as he shrugged and sipped the water that the pretty waitress set down before him. His dark skin seemed to attract all of the girls and Colton marveled that he was still going after that mess at the table.