Page 15 of Rushing Her: Seattle, Westerners (Gridiron Warriors #2)

Brayden

I t’s been two days since I last heard from Alexandra.

Forty-eight hours, I’ve paced around and worked out.

My coaches are upset at my lack of focus, but I can’t get Mark’s words out of my head.

He was right, and I try not to wonder if my girl has found someone else to work out her sorrows with, like I did.

Making it worse, that woman went back to the gossip rags and told them that that night wasn’t the first time we’d slept together.

That we’d been together for almost a year, and she was pregnant.

She reports that she is coming out because I told her I wanted nothing to do with her or the baby she claims to be carrying.

Honestly, if this woman had confronted me personally, saying she was pregnant, I would have told her that because I know I haven’t slept with any woman but Alexandra in over three years.

The owner has benched me until we figure out what to do. I’m pissed because our first home opener is Thursday.

I’m also in Portland because Mildred Winters called to tell me that Coach took a turn for the worse.

I’m here, but I don’t like it, yet I find myself walking up to the front door that I entered a couple of weeks ago, before everything I thought was true became a lie.

The man whom I looked at as a second father destroyed my relationship with the woman I love.

My phone pings, and I look down to see the text from my brother.

Brent

Yo kid thought you had a plan and a woman to impress. This isn’t how you do it.

Me

I didn’t do it. They are all lies. I was a born-again virgin when I got with Alex a couple weeks ago. Been over three years since I was with another woman.

Brent

Fix this or you’ll lose her.

Me

Duh asshole. How are the parents?

Brent

Good. Love you kiddo

Me

Love you too

Mildred ushers me in, and I step through the door, feeling the change in the house already. Cold, sterile, sickly smelling. She leads me to a bedroom on the main floor that was Coach’s office before. A hospital bed now takes up the space with medical equipment surrounding it.

“Dang, Coach, this doesn’t look good.” I walk over and take a seat.

He coughs and turns to me. “It’s metastasized to my lungs and stomach. I’m not going to beat this one.”

“There’s always a chance for a W.” I repeat the line he would always tell us.

“Not this time. I have something for you.” He hands me another file folder.

Opening it up, it contains a picture of Alexandra, with an address on the back. She’s standing on the beach, looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

“Go get her, and don’t let her go again. This is the only time I can actually help. I called in a favor after seeing the news reports. Alexandra’s father works with a former supporter; he’s got a beach cabin.”

“Thank you.” I reach out and take his hand. “I wish I could say that I forgive you, but I can’t yet. I realize I don’t have much time left.”

“It’s okay, kid. You win another ring and get one on her finger. Then I know I won’t be in hell forever.”

His wife sobs from the doorway, and I squeeze his hand before standing and hugging her.

I walk out the door, not wanting to consider that this will probably be the last time I see that man. He deserves so much more than dying in pain like he will.

W ithin an hour and a half, I’m pulling into the driveway of an enormous house suspended above the water.

It’s beautiful, but the ocean view is even better, and just like in the picture, standing alone on the beach is my girl.

She has on leggings and a long sweater, which is wrapped around her body.

I bypass her parents and walk right out to her, but Alexandra doesn’t turn around when I get close.

“I needed time to decide if this was the life I wanted. It has nothing to do with our previous breakup. I don’t regret being with you ever.

It killed me to break both our hearts,” she says, turning slowly as her long, burnished-red hair wafts in the wind.

Her beautiful eyes glow the color of the ocean behind her.

Stepping in closer, I brush a hand down her face. “I would change so much. I was an asshole and should’ve come after you back then. I should’ve demanded to know the truth.”

She slowly closes her eyes, and a soft smile graces her lips before she quips, “Yeah, Mindy was a mistake.” I don’t deny that .

“I didn’t sleep with this woman, and before getting together with you at the retirement dinner, I hadn’t been with another woman in over three years.”

She opens her eyes, and something fires in them. Mischief, maybe? “So, I took your virginity again?”

I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Yeah, but I soaked you in my baby batter.” She laughs, and it releases something in my chest that’s been clenched tight since she shut me out.

“As I said before, I need time to consider if this is the life I want for our children. They must be my priority now and forever.”

“Children? So, you’re pregnant.” I pull back as the words choke in my throat. My heart beats rapidly as the realization of what she’s said sets in.

“Three,” she smirks as tears roll down her face.

“Fuck, three.” I drop to my knees and open the sweater that’s secured tightly around her.

She’s wearing a tank top underneath, and I kiss her stomach where our children are nestled, safe and sound.

“I swear I’ll always protect you and these babies.

I promise to walk away from this life if that’s what you want.

” Her hands glide into my hair and tilt my face toward her.

“I’d never ask that of you; we just need to be safer. Also, I found the proof that it’s not you and have contacted your team owner. We know each other. She is setting up a press conference on Tuesday so you can play in Thursday’s game.”

I quickly stand and bundle her into my arms as I kiss her desperately. When we finally pull apart, the words just flow. “Marry me?”

“No,” she snickers. “Not yet. We need to date and get to know each other again.”

“Alexandra, we know each other. Years ago, it was clear that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m not taking no for an answer. Before these babies arrive, you will have my name.”

Alexandra

H and in hand, we stroll back toward the cabin. My parents step out onto the deck with their bags.

“We know you kids need time to talk, so we are heading back early.”

“Mark, you and Joanne don’t need to leave.” Brayden reaches out and shakes my father’s hand before he leans in to kiss my mom’s cheek.

“You just make sure you don’t hurt her again, and I won’t have to hurt you,” my father threatens as he carries the bags to their car.

“Darling, if you need us, just call. I left dinner cooking on the stove for you.”

“Mom, you don’t have to leave.”

She looks Brayden up and down while saying, “Yes, we do. You need time to become a couple,” then turns to me and rubs my flat tummy. “Love you, baby.”

They guessed about the pregnancy. I didn’t deny it, but I didn’t reveal that it was multiple babies. We will soon, but right now that’s our secret.

Brayden and I watch them pull out before we step into the house. I take a seat on the expansive sectional sofa, which faces all the windows, and behold the vista of the ocean. A television is mounted above the fireplace, but I prefer the outside scenery better.

Curling my feet up under my hip, I sit to the side, while Brayden joins me on the sofa.

“They know about the babies?” he asks.

“No. They only know I’m pregnant but not how many. You found that out first, which is only proper. I didn’t want to hide from you, but I needed to sort things out.”

“I get that. It’s a lot to process. Not only are we going to be parents, but to triplets. I’ll research the best doctors in Seattle to care for you and the babies.”

I chuckle because this is typical of Brayden taking control of everything.

“I already have the best. She’s highly recommended, and I don’t want to change again. Hold on a moment.”

I make my way up to my room, but it’s empty. Ugh, my parents. Returning downstairs, I find my belongings have been placed on the floor in their bedroom. In my laptop bag, I gather the ultrasound images that Dr. Grands captured during my office visit.

“Here.”

Brayden chokes up when he looks closely at the picture.

Emotions flit across his face, and in that moment, I realize he hasn’t had the time I have to come to terms with us not only becoming parents, but parents to three babies.

I push him back onto the sofa and straddle his lap.

He holds me as he looks at the pictures. They are each lettered A, B, and C.

“Are they good right now?”

“The doctor said that everything looked good. She wants me to come back next week to review all the blood tests she took on Thursday. She also said that we won’t be able to find out their sexes until at least fourteen weeks.”

“What about you?” My heart thumps at his question. He’s worried about me.

“I have a lot of nausea, so eating has been harder, but we are trying things naturally first. She said I’ll progress faster and show quicker.”

“I want you to move in with me, please.”

It only takes me a moment to decide. “Okay.”

“That was easy.”

“It makes sense. If I need someone, you’ll typically be around, unless you are on the road, of course. It’s the smart thing to do.”

“I have a housekeeper who comes in weekly, and she can stay when I’m on the road. I can also hire a nurse for you when you get closer to the due date.”

“That was one thing Dr. Grands wanted me to understand. I won’t have a typical-length pregnancy. I could deliver as early as thirty-four weeks. She wants us to push toward that date for now, but if we can go longer, she’ll be happier.”

“We can do that. I’m here however you need me.”

“All this being said, Brayden, we need to discuss handling this stalker. I won’t raise our kids in fear of her.”

“We work together to solve this. With you having seen her, as well as Dr. Jarvis and her nurse, we should be able to have an accurate composite of her drawn up.”

“You saw her, too.”

“Yeah. I’ll never forget that face. My attorney is looking for someone to sketch my image of her.”

“We can do this, but you need to talk to me about everything. You also need to include me in the decisions.”

“I’ll try, but I just want to protect you, so you don’t have to worry.”

I lean up and kiss him on his bearded chin, and he sets the pictures he’s been staring at this whole time to the side.

“Lexi, I was so worried. I don’t want to experience a world without you in it.”

He pulls my head to his and kisses me long and deep.

Our desire quickly turns desperate, and I withdraw, pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it to the side of us.

He flexes his sexy chest and eight-pack as I drag my nails down from his pierced nipples to his belly button and lean forward to peck right over his heart.

“You’ll never have to find out what it’s like to live without me. I’ll always be here with you.” I drag my tongue down as I slide off his lap and kneel between his spread legs. “I’ve been wanting to do this for so long.”

I unbuckle his belt and slide the zipper down.

His abs flex as my hand sinks into the opening and carefully removes his cock from his boxers.

He groans as I fist him and pump gently, dragging my hand up and down his cock.

A bead of pre-cum slips from the head, and I dive on it, licking it up and moaning at his flavor on my tongue again.

Inching my mouth down his length, I use my hand to pump the part that doesn’t fit in my mouth.

He grips my hair, not forcing me to take more than I have, and holds onto me like he can’t control himself.

I start bobbing faster, taking him deeper until I need to swallow to glide him farther down my throat.

“Fuck, Lexi, that’s so hot. I forgot how mind-blowing your mouth was.” He flexes his hips, and this time, I gag slightly but continue taking him as far as I can. “I’m fucking coming; suck it all down.”

He combusts, and I swallow until it becomes too much, having to pull back. I lick him clean, though, and when I reposition onto my haunches, his head is pitched back, and he’s breathing heavily.

“I’m ready for a shower,” I say.

Getting to my feet, I step into the kitchen first and check that the burner is turned off on the stew my mom was making before entering the spacious bathroom off the main bedroom. As I turn on the water and strip, Brayden is there to help me out of my clothes, and we climb into the shower together.

“When we get home, I’m going to fuck you on the bench in my shower.

” He envelops me in his arms and rubs my belly for a moment, then his hands slide down my body, and his lengthy fingers part my folds.

A finger grazes my clit, and I lean back into him, moaning and rolling my head against his shoulder throughout the torture.

My need for him is so strong, and I’m about to tell him that, but he presses me forward and bends me at the waist. “Hands on the wall, Lexi.” I follow his command, but he smacks my butt cheek, and I cry out as my clit throbs harder.

“That’s for ignoring my phone calls.” He swats me again on the other cheek.

“That’s for running from me.” Another smack, the sound ricocheting off the walls.

“That’s for turning off your phone so I couldn’t track you.

” Then his cock presses against my entrance.

“Whose pussy is this?” he asks, and I look over my shoulder and smirk at him, jolting back, but he reaches around my body and slaps my clit.

The intensity elicits a scream from me, and he slams into my body, then pauses.

“Shit, can we do this rough, or should I be gentle?”

I glance back over my shoulder and say, “You’d better fuck me like you want, or I’ll jump on and ride you into the ground.”

Another butt slap from him, and a “Don’t cuss”, then he thrusts in deep. My body amps up, and he leans over me, gripping my boobs as he continues to pummel within my body. The feelings overwhelm me, given the sensitivity of my breasts, and I come hard and long.

“Yeah, Lexi baby, just like that. Milk my cock into your already-bred pussy.”

I scream as my climax grows, and when he comes with me, my eyes cross and my hands slip from the wall. He catches me against his chest, and I don’t remember the rest. However, a few moments later, I register the soft bed and warm blankets covering me, and I drift off.