by Ash, Nikki
“I told you I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” Her hand lands on my thigh and she squeezes.
“Don’t touch me,” I tell her, removing her hand from my body.
“Oh, c’mon, Landon,” she purrs. “Let me help you forget about Harper.”
“Isn’t she like your best friend?” Hell, from what I remember, she was her only friend. Nobody but Harper could ever stand to be around Melissa long enough to be anything more than acquaintances with her.
Melissa shrugs. “She has Richie now. I’m just trying to be there for you.”
“Hey, Landon,” someone calls out. I look over and see Cohen, my old teammate and friend from high school, standing by the pool table.
“What’s up?” I say, walking over to him, hoping Melissa will get the hint and go away.
“Chilling, man. Doing the college thing.” We fist bump and then bro hug.
“Nice.”
“I heard you got moved up to the Majors,” he says. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
“So, what brings you back to town?”
The image of Harper standing on her doorstep, holding her tiny but visible baby bump, with her engagement ring glinting in the light, pops into my head.
“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head. “Just passing through.”
“Wanna play a game of pool?”
“Sure.”
While we play a game of eight ball, Melissa hangs around, flirting with me and Cohen. At first, I ignore her, but the more she rubs on me, the more I find myself wanting her—needing her to help me escape, forget about Harper and the fact that our entire future is destroyed. When Cohen sinks the eight ball in and says he’s going to call it a night, we say goodbye, leaving just Melissa and me.
“How are you doing?” she purrs into my ear. My body shivers at her words. I don’t like this girl, can barely stand her, but for some crazy fucking reason I find myself pushing her against the wall, trailing my lips down the side of her neck.
“How about we take this somewhere private?” she suggests, and I nod my okay.
She grabs my hand and we head out to the parking lot.
“Your place,” she says, when we get to my car.
I hit the key fob and the doors unlock. As I’m folding into my seat, a weird feeling comes over me. I only had three shots, and that was a good hour ago, so I know I’m not drunk…
Before I can give it a second thought, Melissa leans over and pulls my face toward her, kissing me hard. Her lips are harder than Harper’s, less fleshy, and she kisses sloppier. My heart falls into my stomach. All I want is Harper.
“Stop,” I say against Melissa’s lips.
“What?” she asks, confused.
“I can’t do this.” I shake my head, and she scoffs.
“Why not? It’s not like Harper is waiting for you. She moved on.”
“Yeah, but I still can’t do this.”
“Landon,” she whines, “don’t be like that.” Her fingers graze my dick over my pants and I grab her hand to stop her.
“I said no.”
“Whatever.” She huffs. “Can you at least take me home?”
“Yeah.” I put the car in drive and head out of the parking lot and onto Main Street. Melissa only lives a couple miles from here, so I’ll have her dropped off in a few minutes.
I pull up to a red light, and while I wait for it to change, she tries change my mind, but I stick to my answer: no.
The light turns green and I take off. I don’t see the truck coming (I’ll learn later he was making an illegal right turn at the same time I was changing lanes). Our vehicles collide, and because Melissa isn’t in her seat belt, she flies through the window. The cops and ambulance are called, and we’re both brought to the hospital. She dies on the way, and I live. I’m given a breathalyzer test and I’m just under the legal limit, so they can’t charge me with anything.
That is until they do bloodwork and it shows I have traces of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine in my system—also known as MDMA—which is found in a drug called Molly.
I’m charged with vehicular manslaughter. I insist I haven’t done any drugs and ask for an attorney. Thankfully, Henry Burger, one of the best attorneys money can buy, insists on the bar pulling up their security footage, where it shows that while I was on the phone, my shot was delivered and Melissa slipped a pill into it.
I knew I felt off. I knew something was wrong. I never should’ve gotten behind the fucking wheel. I knew I hadn’t drunk enough to be drunk, but I still knew something wasn’t right. Melissa is dead, and even though they’ve dropped the charges, I’m going to have to live with this for the rest of my life.
Because I’m wrapped up in the charges and clearing myself, I’m not able to make it to see my dad. He has a second stroke, one they weren’t expecting, and this time they’re not able to save him. He dies and I never even got to say goodbye.
One decision.
One choice.
That’s all it takes for your entire life to change.
“Oh my God!” Harper brings her hands up to her mouth. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. “How did I not know all this happened?”
“Melissa’s parents were embarrassed by what she did. They didn’t want her actions to tarnish their family’s reputation, so they asked for the files to be sealed. She wasn’t eighteen yet, so they could do that. I could’ve sued just to have it on record that she was guilty, but I was just beginning my baseball career, and my attorney felt it was best to let it go so my reputation wasn’t fucked before I even got started. We all signed a contract stating the details of Melissa’s death would be kept a secret. The only people who have access to the files is the hospital.”
I glare over at Richie, who is looking like he swallowed something sour. “My guess is, Richie, using his title, requested the files to be sent over.”
“It stated she had semen in her,” he says, challenging me.
“That’s true, and the security footage showed she had fucked some guy outside in the back just minutes before I walked into the bar. They had just walked back inside, and the minute she saw me, she dropped him.”
“Richard, you need to go,” Harper says, standing. “What you did is wrong on so many levels. I could understand if you really thought Landon was a threat and you were doing it to protect me and the kids, but we both know that isn’t the case.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m only going to say this once. We’re over. We’re never getting back together. I suggest you take all that energy you’re using on trying to destroy Landon and get back together with me and focus it on saving your relationship with your children before it’s too late.”
She walks to the door and swings it open. “Goodbye, Richard.”
I can tell he wants to argue, but before he can say anything, I add, “And don’t worry about your job. While I would love nothing more than to fuck you over, I wouldn’t do that to Harper and your kids. But from here on out, I suggest you mind your own business.”
Richard storms out the door, and Harper slams it shut behind him, leaving only the two of us. When she turns around, she says, “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” I would never hold her responsible for the shit he tried to pull.
“Actually, I do,” she says, walking over to me and taking my hands in hers. “I pushed you away yesterday.”
“It’s okay, Harp.” I lean down and kiss her sweet lips. “But next time, please don’t turn to Richie. Seeing you in his arms fucking hurt.”
“No, I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that,” she says, shaking her head. “When he showed up and told me about Melissa, I freaked out and got dizzy. I blacked out and he caught me. I was only in his arms because he put me in them while I was out of it. You walked through the door as I was telling him to put me down.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Good,” I tell her, reeling her into my arms. “The only arms you belong in are mine.”
“Landon, there
’s something you should know…”
I want to ask if she’s referring to her being pregnant, but I don’t say anything, letting her guide the conversation.
She pulls me to sit on the couch. “You aren’t the only one Melissa drugged.” She frowns. “The night I slept with Richard, she had slipped me a half a pill. She claimed she only did it to get me to loosen up. The weeks leading up to the party, I was missing you like crazy, crying and moping around. She said she wanted me to have a good time. When I slept with him, I wasn’t completely in my right stand of mind.”
“Jesus, Harp.” I pull her into my lap. “I’m so sorry, baby.” I nuzzle my face into her neck.
“I’m just so glad we found our way back to each other,” she says. “I love you, Landon.”
I didn’t plan to do this now, but suddenly I find myself lifting Harper off me and setting her on the couch. I drop to the ground, popping one knee up, and reach into my pocket. I’ve been carrying this ring with me everywhere, waiting for the perfect moment to propose, and while this probably isn’t the most romantic way, I’ll make it up to her. But right now, I just need to make her mine.
When I pull the ring out, Harper’s eyes light up in excitement and shock. “Landon,” she breathes.
“Harper, thirteen years ago, after you captured my heart and soul and became my best friend, I asked you to be my girlfriend and you said yes. You were my first and only girlfriend. You were the first and only woman I made love to. You were the first and only woman I said I love you to.”
Tears prick her eyes and I reach up to wipe them away.
“Fate was a bitch back then and took you away from me, but I can’t hate her, because she not only gave you two amazing kids, but twelve years later, she brought us back together.”
Harper nods in agreement, the tears falling harder.
“You’ve had all my firsts and onlys, and now I am asking you to give me another one. Harper Peters, will you marry me and become my first and only wife?”
“Yes!” She throws herself into my arms. “Yes, I will marry you.” And then she whispers the second best news—after her agreeing to be my wife. “And I have another first to give you. I’m pregnant, Landon.”
She pulls back and nibbles on her bottom lip, waiting to see my reaction, and I realize now this was why she pushed me away yesterday. She was afraid to tell me she’s pregnant.
“You realize you just made me the happiest man on earth, right?” I cup her face with my hands and kiss her.
“You’re okay with it?” she asks, her voice cracking slightly. “I was on birth control and I missed my appointment and then I was supposed to reschedule…”
“Hey,” I say, covering her lips with two of my fingers. “I am so beyond okay with it. It’s just fate having our backs once again.” I shoot her a wink and she sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief.
“Were you afraid I’d be upset?”
She chews on her bottom lip for several seconds. “I was afraid you would feel trapped, like I did when I got pregnant. I hated feeling like my choices were taken from me, and I would never want you to feel like that. You trusted me to be on birth control…”
“Harper,” I say, pulling her into my lap on the floor. “I love you. You getting pregnant isn’t trapping me, it’s a beautiful blessing.”
She nods. “I hate that you’ve given me so many more of your firsts than I’ve given you.”
Grabbing her left hand, I push the engagement ring I’m still holding onto her finger. “It doesn’t matter, Harper, because you’re giving me all your lasts.”
With tear-filled eyes, Harper eyes the ring. “This is…”
“The ring you showed Ella in the jewelry magazine,” I say, finishing her thought. “Yeah, she and Hunter came with me to pick out the ring while you were away. She had ripped the page out and said you loved it.”
“It’s so beautiful,” she says. “I can’t believe you bought it.”
“A beautiful woman deserves a beautiful ring.”
We’re quiet for a few moments, and I wonder if I should tell her I already knew she was pregnant. I didn’t say anything right away, afraid she would think I was only proposing because of her being pregnant, but now she knows I bought the ring before she found out she was pregnant. I decide to go with honesty, not wanting to start our engagement off on a lie.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?” she asks nervously.
“I saw the vitamins yesterday.”
Her eyes go wide. “You knew I was pregnant?”
“I suspected.”
She glances at her ring. “But you bought this while I was at the spa.”
“I did. I was planning to propose with the kids around. They were upset they weren’t part of Richie’s engagements and weddings, so I wanted to include them. Which means”—I take her finger and pull the ring back off—“we’re going to have to do this all over again with the kids in the room.”
Harper snort-laughs. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly. Ella made it very clear she had to be in a pink dress to match your pink diamond. And there’s no way I’m disappointing her. She’ll bust out her puppy dog eyes and sad little frown, and I can’t handle that shit. So, yeah, after we go get the kids, I’ll have to do this again, and you’ll need to act surprised.”
“You’re such a good man,” Harper says, kissing me. “And you’re going to make a wonderful father and stepfather.” She smiles at me. “For years, I thought I was destined to live a life without love or affection or emotion. Sure, my kids love me, and I love them more than this entire world, but it’s not the same. I used to close my eyes and remember what it felt like for you to hold me in your arms and make love to me. I honestly thought I would never find what we had again. I had given up…”
“That’s why we’re perfect for each other,” I say with a grin. “There’s a reason they call me a Clutch Player…” I waggle my eyebrows playfully. “Just when you think all hope is lost, I swoop in and change up the game. Never give up, baby. Not on me. Not on us. I’ll always be your Clutch Player.”
Epilogue
Landon
Five Years Later
Harper’s soft, sweet lips pepper kisses along my stubbled jaw, down my neck, and across my collarbone, as her feminine hand runs down my chest and abs and then dips into my briefs. She finds my semi-hard dick and wraps her perfect fingers around the shaft. While stroking it up and down, she uses her other hand to push my briefs down my legs.
“I know you’re awake,” she whispers into my ear. “Your dick is twitching, and your eyelids are fluttering.”
I chuckle at her words, knowing she’s right. Until a few minutes ago, I was asleep. But then my very pregnant, very horny wife started touching me, and I was woken from my slumber—and what a perfect way to wake up.
Enjoying her touch, my eyes remain closed, as I feel her shift on the bed and spread my legs slightly so she can kneel between them. Her wet tongue glides up my dick, beginning at the root and ending at the tip. She swirls it around the head before her warm mouth takes me all the way in.
“Fuck,” I groan.
Her hand lands on my mouth. “Shh… If they hear you, they’ll know we’re awake.”
I chuckle softly, then dart my tongue out to wet her fingers. She giggles then goes back to teasing my cock with her mouth and hands. Stroking and licking and sucking, she works me up until I’m about ready to burst.
“Nuh-uh,” she says, removing her mouth and hands from my body. My eyes snap open, annoyed as hell that she just took away my pleasure. Her eyes sparkle with mischief and lust as she climbs onto my body and guides me into her. The farther she takes me into her tight little pussy, the louder she moans. Her eyes roll back in her head slightly, and her hands find their place on my chest, as she gets comfortable. Harper’s favorite position this pregnancy has been with her on top, but as her belly grows with our son in there, she’s finding it harder to get comfort
able.
I glance at her protruding belly and briefly wonder how many more times I can convince her to get pregnant. It’s been five years since she found out she was pregnant with our son Noah, and since then, I’ve managed to convince her to let me knock her up two more times. Noah is four and Brady is two, and this little guy in her belly is due in the next couple weeks. She swears this is her last time—five kids is apparently enough—and she’s even threatening to get her tubes tied.
“Don’t you give me that look,” she says with a glare. “When this baby comes out, it’s game over.”
I pout, and she shakes her head. “I’m serious, Landon Maxwell.” Her fingernails dig into my chest as she rises and falls on my cock. “We’re not trying to create our own damn baseball team.”
My hands grip her hips as I lift my head slightly, taking her pert nipple into my mouth to suck on it. I release it to give the other one the same attention, and Harper moans.
“Landon,” she breathes. “I’m so close.”
I let go of her other nipple, so I can watch her as she rocks her hips from side to side and up and down, chasing her orgasm. When her head goes back and her eyes close once again, I know she’s found it. There’s nothing more beautiful in this world than watching my naked, pregnant, gorgeous fucking wife come on my dick. Knowing she’s found her release, I let myself come as well.
Harper’s eyes open, just barely, and she smiles a sexy, satiated smile. Her hair is messy from sleep, and her cheeks are flush. And I know without a doubt I’m the luckiest guy in this world.
“That was so good,” she says breathily. “Thank you.”
I snort out a laugh as she lifts off me and crawls off the bed. “You’re welcome!” I call out as she waddles her sexy ass to the bathroom. She giggles, closing the door.
I glance at my cell phone and see it’s only five in the morning. Fucking horny ass woman. I should probably go back to sleep since Noah and Brady are still sleeping, but now that I’m up, I know it’s not going to happen—especially with what today is: draft day for the MLB.
After joining Harper in the shower, where she insists I take her again, we get dressed for the day. The house is quiet at this time of the morning. Harper loves to get up early so we can have our morning coffee together and talk in peace. It’s become part of our daily routine and I love it. We talk about everything and nothing, enjoying each other before the kids are up and the house becomes a zoo.