“Noah!” I screeched. He was there with me after all these years. He didn’t hesitate in wrapping his arms around me. I felt a tear escape my eye as I grabbed on to him for dear life.
I didn’t even notice if Dad was still in the lobby. The gold chandeliers and tiled floor felt invisible, as there was only one thing that I could see right now. The love of my life, standing in front of me, like he had last year.
“I’ve missed you so much. ” he whispered in my ear. I pushed him away and looked into his eyes and saw that he was crying too. I couldn’t believe it. I had been selfish all this time. I had thought that it was best that we kept our distance, butthe answer was right in front of me. The only person I had benefited was me, and no one else.
“Come.” He grabbed my hand and didn’t wait for permission as he dragged me to the elevator. I wanted to ask him where we were going, but it was obvious he just wanted us to be alone. I scanned the lobby and realized that Dad had left. He probably saw Noah and didn’t want to interrupt.
I felt scared as the elevator doors opened. Then, as we entered and they closed again, Noah pressed his lips against mine. I responded with the same urgency, ignoring the doorman who was standing in the elevator as we entered.
Our worlds were completely different. We were brought up the same as kids, but he had ventured into a world that I could never afford. Not only that, but he used to be my stepbrother. The fact that he used to be for a short time made me feel comfortable with what I was about to say and do. Before it felt too close for comfort, but seeing him in front of me just made me want him even more.
***
My hands went up and down his hair as I took in his musk. Feeling the softness of his skin while his tongue enveloped mine, and I gasped as his hands ran up and down my body. The bell rang and he lifted me up and out of the elevator. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he led me into the unknown.
My eyes were shut and I held on to him knowing that he would safely guide me in his arms.
“I missed you so much. Why did you not keep in contact?” he asked between his kisses. As he stopped, I opened my eyes to see that we were in the bedroom.
“You’re all I’ve thought about for months.”
He hungrily placed me on the bed as if I was a delicate flower, then he continued to kiss me as he had a few seconds ago. He never waited for a response. It was clear that we’d missed and wanted each other. I thought about our last time and how inexperienced we had been then; I wondered if it was still the case. As his fingers traced their way to my straps, it was obvious that I was the only naïve one. He was experienced and had so much to teach me.
He paused before he took off my bra, exposing my breasts. “Did you miss me? You haven’t said a word.”
I nodded and then I forced my tongue into his slightly opened mouth.
“Hmm,” he moaned as I moved so that he could unclasp my bra. I took off his shirt to reveal the six-pack of a man that I once knew. I loved the fact that we both felt the same about each other after all these months.
“I love you,” I purred into his ears as his tongue started to explore my body. He sucked gently on my nipples as he moved the rest of my dress below my waist. I was within seconds of only wearing my thong.
“You’ve put on weight. Your body is perfect,” he said as he started kissing my stomach, his hands making their way in between my thighs. I had been too skinny when I was younger. Always obsessing over my body. I didn’t eat too much when I was pregnant, but I did keep an eye on what I ate and gave myself the odd treat.
He moved his head in between my legs. He pulled off my panties and then he started to suck my pussy. He gently bit on my clit and I screamed as he did it. No man had ever been down there except him.
Then again, he was the only man that I had ever had sex with
“Oh, Noah, I’ve missed you so much.” I moaned as his tongue flicked in and out of my cunt. His fingers gently stroked the sides of my legs, which sent me over the edge. I knew I was coming, but I was shocked at how quickly I was responding to his touch.
“Don’t stop…” I purred as I started to shake and the orgasm became my reality. It felt so good that I lifted up his head and wanted his tongue in my mouth. I wanted to taste myself and him at the same time. I felt his dick trapped in his pants and I wanted to release it like I had over one year ago. I needed him inside of me. The only thing I could think to say was, “Fuck me.”
He stopped and looked at me for a brief second and said, “With pleasure.”
We wrestled and undid his trousers and then his fat cock was mine as I lifted my legs up in the air and he pulsed inside of me.
“Oh my,” I breathed out, as if the world stood still at that precise moment in time.
How did I think that this was wrong? Everything about it felt so right, I thought to myself as I gripped his butt and rocked him harder inside of me. I wanted him to fuck me as I had dreamed about every night, touching myself, imagining it was him. Here he was, with his dark hair and green eyes, satisfying me in more ways than I had ever imagined.
Then, he started to thrust deep inside of me. We were no longer just making love, he was fucking me. The pace picked up as he started moaning harder and breathing like he was running out of time on the pitch.
“Don’t stop!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping that the afternoon would never end.
“I’m not letting you go,” he said as he held my hand tightly and looked deep into my eyes. I held his gaze until I climaxed within a few deep thrusts and I hoped that he meant every word of it. I had something to tell him, but it could wait until after the wedding. What I had to say would change everything, and I needed to be prepared for that outcome.
Chapter Twenty Four
We were in bed touching each other, relaxed in the knowledge that we felt the same way about each other. I didn’t want this to end. He told me about college and I listened attentively.
I knew I needed to tell him the truth. In hindsight, looking back, it made no sense, but it just didn’t feel that way at the time. If anything, it made complete sense at the time.
“So, tell me about yourself? I have been going on about me and my sporting career. How many houses have you sold since high school?”
Wow, now the awkwardness started. I was hoping to avoid speaking about me altogether. My life was completely boring, and the only thing that he would want to know was the reason why. How could someone be so passionate about selling houses and not want to do it anymore? He wouldn’t understand, and I wasn’t in the right position to explain it to him. Being in bed, being wrapped up in his arms, I was getting lost in the moment. The moment I thought would never, ever happen again in my life.
There was a loud knock at the door.
“Ignore it.” Noah looked up and said, “I still have time before the wedding.”
The wedding. Holy crap, that was why we were here.
The knock turned into a thump as my dad started shouting, “Ava, I know you’re in there. It’s Nathan, he’s sick. We need to go back home.”
I jumped up immediately. Here I was enjoying being in Noah’s arms and Nathan wasn’t well. Guilt washed over my body as I grabbed my dress and quickly put it on. Quickly my real responsibilities in life became my reality.
Noah watched me and in his confusion he grabbed my arm and said, “Who is Nathan?”
I thought about my response for a brief second and then I responded, “Our son.”
Noah released my arm and then I heard him repeat my words. “Our son.” I couldn’t deal with his confusion or explain to him about what had happened, and why I had kept it a secret for so long. I knew that I shouldn’t have come. He was a baby, only three months old. I had expressed enough milk for him for while I was away, but I really shouldn’t have left him. Not with Grandma and Grandpa, that was too much responsibility. Besides, I was going to tell Noah, just not like this. Not today. After the wedding. That was my plan. One that I had wanted to hold on to, unti
l now.
Chapter Twenty Five
I stared at him for a brief second, taking in the hurt that flashed through his eyes. Shit, I had psyched myself up to tell him. I would sit down and explain about him being the all-star player. It made sense to keep the secret. I mean, if I had told him, he probably would have done something silly like give up his career to look after me and the baby. Keeping it a secret felt like the best choice, the only option. Besides, it was weeks before I officially knew.
The past flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning, and I ignored Noah sobbing on the bed. My son was sick, and that was all that was on my mind. His feelings and our talk had to wait. I shut the door behind me in silence. Dad stood with his phone in his hand, nodding and heading towards the elevator.
I pushed the button, only to discover I had left my purse. I couldn't go back in the room, but Nathanwas sick and I needed my ID to go back home. I thought about going downstairs and then sending Dad into the room to grab it, butI needed him to get off the phone to explain it all.
"Did you tell him?" Dad questioned as we entered the elevator. I hadn’t noticed when he finished because he never spoke. He’d just simply nodded whenever someone said something on the phone. I could tell from the high-pitched shriek that he was talking to Grandma. My hair, which had been beautifully done by his girlfriend this morning before we took our flight, was now a bird’s nest. I managed to find a pin and tie it up into a bun as we stood by the doors.
“No, you did,” I replied as I pressed for us to go downstairs and out of the hotel.
“Oh,” he breathed out. I was unclear if he was feeling guilty or if the meaning of his actions just occurred to him. He could have simply said “Ava, we need to go, something has happened.” Or maybe just “Ava” and then waited to tell me what the issue was. I shook my head as I realized that what I wanted Dad to keep a secret was not fair on anyone.
“Ava, it was a false alarm,” he blurted out as I stood as if I was frozen in time. I didn’t know what to do or say anymore, but his words they brought comfort.
A sigh of relief entered my mind as I listened to his explanation. Baby boy was okay and Grandma had just panicked, the same way she did every time I used to have a cut on my finger as a kid.
As we reached the lobby, I grabbed Dad’s phone and called Grandpa. He was reassuring. “All this fuss about nothing. The boy is fine. Stay, enjoy yourself, and I am going to have strong words with Grandma.” I knew what he was doing, avoiding me sweet-talking him into giving me a reason to leave. Preventing me from finding an excuse to leave.
I didn’t go back to the room. I couldn’t face Noah alone. Not yet. I had been through a wave of emotions and him finding out like that wasn’t right. What I had done was wrong, he deserved better then that, I just had to be in the right frame of mind for him to forgive me.
***
The wedding party stood on the stairs by the entrance to the hall, on their way to the wedding. The flower girls were all excited and so was the bride. I rushed over to Mia like a gust of wind.
“You look beautiful!” I said, wiping the tears that were still sitting around my eyes-they were unclear what to do, as the last couple of hours had been so emotional. They couldn’t fall, because I had nothing to be scared about. Nathan was fine and I was staying for the wedding. They couldn’t go back in, because at the back of my mind I knew that one way or another I had to face Noah, and that alone made me want to cry, but I was trying to ignore it. The more I tried, the more I wanted to cry.
Mia’s dress was pure white, and she had white rose petals perfectly scattered to the right side of her head where her hair was tied. Her makeup was simple, but with her pale skin, she glowed, and her bright red lipstick made her lips shine. The young tomboy, who used to tease me about my crush on Noah, was replaced by a beautiful swan. Mia was a stunning bride. I could see her excitement at her wedding, and everyone was complimenting her on her dress.
“Ava, you okay?” she asked, with a look of concern in her eyes. It almost felt as if time stood still.
I didn't know what to say. I adjusted my dress and thought about her big day. The reason we came, the reason I had to face Noah, the reason I needed to pull myself together. I nodded as she gave me a big hug and ushered me into the reception.
“Go take your place.”
The bridesmaids and the flower girl continued fussing as they had before. Dad held on to my shoulder and guided me to the reception. The hall was beautifully decorated. There was a violinist playing at the front, and beautiful white and pink roses were strapped to the top of the chairs along the aisle leading to the altar. A priest waited with the groom. I politely nodded as I passed the guests, trying to avoid all eye contact. I felt out of place. When we arrived, I’d felt radiant;my hair had been perfectly arranged, and my pink silk dress matched my heels and the purse that I had left in Noah’s room. Now, I had spent maybe an hour having sex with Noah, my panties no longer were fresh, and my hair was far from perfect. Dad sensed my awkwardness and as we sat down he said, “You look beautiful.”
Then, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. I relaxed and the music changed to announce the arrival of the bride. It was a welcome distraction from the one that kept flashing before my eyes. Noah’s disappointment and hurt at knowing that I’d had his baby and the question, ‘Were you ever going to tell me if there wasn’t a wedding?’
My reply would have been, ‘I don’t know.’
I knew that was the wrong answer. But I thought that seeing as we were being honest with each other, I needed to be honest. He deserved that much.
Chapter Twenty Six
We sat in our row as the crowd followed the couple and were led to the reception area. It was then that I looked up and saw who was standing at the edge of our row. It was Noah. He paused a moment and then he said, “You and me, we need to talk. Now!”
Dad stood up to say something, but the fire in Noah’s eyes told him otherwise. He took my hand and led me to a reception room. I knew that I wasn’t the one in control of our talk, he was, and it made me feel so scared.The room appeared to get dark as they all started to leave.
It was just us, alone in the room. As he walked up to the door to shut it, he announced to one of the maids who was going to enter to start clearing it, “Don’t let anyone in here until I am ready to leave.” I wanted to run out of the room, but my legs wouldn’t move as he sat beside me and demanded, “I want to know, right now,why did you keep our son away from me?”
“Noah, what was I supposed to do?” I said, trying to hold back the tears, but they were dropping like a monsoon. I was pathetically explaining myself and failing miserably.
“You were in college. Your mom said that you lost your first game because of me. How did you think that made me feel?”
He held on to my hands, and I had never seen him so angry, “You talk to me. You don’t send me fucked up messages and then expect me to respond.”
I shook my head, “Why were my messages fucked up? I wanted you with me. I wanted you to fight for me.”
He choked, “Fight. I told you that we would speak after the game. What do you do? Send me a message to your new man by accident right before the game.”
I was completely lost. What was he going on about?
“Kevin baby, meet you after seeing my bro play or something like that. I just kept looking at it each and every night thinking that it was all some kind of fucked up scheme.” He dropped my arms and paced the room.
“Michelle,” I whispered. She had gone to such desperate measures to keep us apart.
“Mom, I can’t believe that she would stoop so low. That poor girl, Stacey. I even went out with her just to get you out of my fucking mind. Made her life miserable and mine too. I don’t do rebound well…” Then he stopped as if he had just thought of something. “Is Nathan mine?”
I felt insulted. Cheap. The same way that Michelle used to make me feel.
“I never sent you that text. He’s yours. I came
here to tell you, not for you to find out.” I sat slumped on the chair, feeling like such a fool. All this time Michelle had been playing us. She led me right into her trap and I fell for it.
He laughed, “I never believed it. I wanted to talk to you about it. Until I saw your email, text…”
It was all so clear now, it had been so easy for Michelle to trick me. But that didn’t take away the fact that I had let my best friend down. I startedpacing up and down, avoiding his eyes. I couldfeel the fury coming from him as he sat with his fists closed, slowly moving them up and down on his knees.
“You had no right,” he said as he made his way towards me. As much as I had to stay focused, the only thing I could think to do to calm the situation was to kiss him.
I raised myself, and he bent down slightly and welcomed my lips. I sighed as, for the first time since he’d found out, I felt he was calming down. He lifted me up to bring me to his level, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
The wedding party weretaking photos. He should have been involved, but how could he when he’d had such a shock to the system;finding out about a son that he never knew existed, plus his love coming back and welcoming him with open arms after a year of shutting him out.
I hated myself for doing it, but at the time it had been the right thing to do. Dad had asked once in a while if I had changed my mind, but the more I followed Noah’s career, the more I was sure that I shouldn’t tell him.
I’d made the wrong choice.
He gently lowered me down and whispered, “You should have told me.”
No more excuses.
There was no justification.
The only thing that I could say at that precious moment, escaped my lips in a heartbeat. “You’re right. Sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The Quarterback's Baby: A Secret Baby Sports Romance Page 7