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15

Hendrix

Hey, man, got time to give me some advice?

Jack

Did you wake up with sticky stuff in your bed again?

I chuckle, remembering my confusion after my first wet dream.

Nah, I got that part figured out.

Any time I was worried or didn’t know what to do or my body changed, my big brother Jack was there to reassure me.

Mama gave Dylan to Zane after she was born, and he took her under his wing. I went to Jack.

He wasn’t on my back all the time like Garrett, pantsing me or putting monster masks in the refrigerator. Jack taught me to throw a perfect spiral. He carried me up to my bed when I’d fall asleep on the couch hugging a football.

He was the golden boy, star quarterback. He was seven years older than me, but he’d still stop and scoop me onto his shoulders after a winning play. He’d give me his jersey and let me tag along with him. He made me feel like one of the guys.

Poopy diapers—I can’t get past the smell. I feed her, bathe her, put her to bed… She even stops crying when I hold her, but I can’t do it. I don’t want to let Raven down.

Jack

When I was in Houston, a pediatric nurse gave me this.

He sends me a link, and I read the title. StinkBalm.

Jack

Swipe it on your upper lip, and you won’t smell a thing. It looks like chapstick, so no one will ever know. You should be able to get it at any drugstore. In the meantime, try Vaporub.

Damn, bro. Does Garrett know about this?

Jack

Nope.

How come?

Jack

He never asked.

I huff a laugh at his reply, feeling like one of the guys again.

Thanks.

Jack

You okay? It’s a big change going from single guy to dad.

It’s true. I’ve never made my feelings a secret, but I couldn’t run away from Haddy. It’s not who I am. Not to mention all three of my brothers would’ve kicked my ass if I tried, and don’t even get me started on Dylan.

Haddy’s the best. She’s cute and smart and curious and funny. I want her to like me, and I want to be part of her life.

Jack

But ?

I don’t know how to answer him. I still want my legacy. I still love the game. I still want to play until I’m too old to run. What’s it going to take to make that stop?

It’s a lot.

Jack

And Raven?

It’s complicated.

He doesn’t reply, but I can hear my big brother’s low chuckle from two thousand miles away. If I were in Newhope, he’d see it all over my face. I’m trying to follow her rules, but everything about this situation is messing with my head.

Raven is the smart, beautiful woman of my dreams, and she’s here in my house with my perfect baby girl. She’s also a fucking goddess with her shiny hair and sexy curves and quick smile and those damn red toenails.

I want to spend every minute with her.

Every minute I’m not on the field, of course.

I love that she has dreams and goals, too. I love that she’s not looking for me to make her life complete. She doesn’t want to be a WAG and nothing more. It’s the main reason I’m doing all I can to help her.

I’ve heard too many stories about women giving up their dreams for their husbands’ jobs or because they had babies. A few times I wondered if my own mom did that, as much as she loved us.

It’s not fair, and I would never ask Raven to do that.

At the same time, doing all I can to help her gets us closer to saying goodbye, and I don’t want that either.

What would it be like if she decided to stay here full-time with Haddy? What would it be like to wake up every morning with them in my house, singing songs about Baltimore and making blueberry pancakes?

I’m smiling like a dope, and Tyler busts me on it .

“What’s the deal with you and Baby Mama? You tapping that or is it a just friends type of sitch?”

His question pisses me off. “Why you asking?”

“Because a woman that fine should not be a free agent.”

“She’s not a free agent. We’re together, so back off.”

He holds up both hands, laughter twinkling in his dark eyes. “I feel you. Just asking.”

My phone buzzes, and I think it might be my brother. Instead it’s a video of Haddy laughing and playing with a squeaky toy followed by a photo of her napping in one of those cribs. The attached text from Sherri says she’s having a great day, and my chest relaxes.

I quickly forward the message to Raven.

Just got this—looks like she’s having fun.

Raven

She’s so happy! I’m so relieved…

Tell me about it. What did you think of KCLA?

Raven

Interesting… I took the internship (thumbs up emoji)

Congrats–can’t wait to hear all about it! Ready for pickup?

Raven

OMW

I watch the video of Haddy laughing and squealing at the squeaky toy one more time, and warmth spreads through my stomach. I’ve only seen her that happy when she found my thinking football and tried to roll over it.

It was a proud moment for me. Then she put her mouth on it and probably got every germ in the world, and Raven fussed at me.

I’ll have to ask Sherri the name of that toy.

“So is interesting good or bad?” I’m giving Haddy her dinner while Raven unpacks our just-delivered grocery order and tells me about her day.

As soon as we got home, she changed out of her jeans and sweater into another pair of shorts that showed off her legs and hugged her ass.

She matched them with a beige, long-sleeved sweater that’s loose around her waist and falls off one shoulder. It’s thin, revealing a black jog bra underneath with a zipper down the front. It gives me all kinds of dirty thoughts.

“It’s a really small station.” She rises onto her bare tiptoes to put a box of crackers away, and I stop, mid-bite to watch her calves flex, that shirt rise higher on her back.

“Yeah…”

Dropping down again, she turns, and I quickly resume feeding our daughter. I pop a spoonful of cereal into Haddy’s little bird mouth, and her blue eyes track me like she knows I’m not paying attention to feeding her.

“I mean, you warned me it was small, but I didn’t expect it to be that small right here in the middle of LA.” She walks over to smooth Haddy’s hair back and plant a kiss on the top of her baby head.

Haddy fusses, wiping at her with her hand and opening her mouth for more dinner.

Raven’s wide eyes meet mine, and she laughs. “Excuse me, Miss!”

“She’s tired. We had a busy day, didn’t we, Hads?”

Raven’s expression warms as she trades me the empty bowl of cereal for a jar of baby carrots.

“I really liked Star, though,” she continues. “She seems like a good manager.”

“She’s cool.” I nod, giving Haddy a bite of carrots, which she proceeds to spray all over me while motorboating her lips. “Gah… would you hand me a towel?”

Raven snickers before handing me a damp cloth. “She said a lot of nice things about you. How you always talk to their reporters on the field when some of the other guys don’t.”

“She’s the manager now? I guess their budget’s gotten bigger. It used to be her out on the field with the microphone.”

“Mm-hm.” Raven stands over us, watching my face like she’s looking for something.

“What?” I frown up at her.

“Nothing… I was just curious.”

I try giving Haddy another bite and she spits it all over me again. “I think she’s done.”

Standing, I blot Haddy’s mouth with the cloth then examine my T-shirt and arms, covered in tiny orange specks. Raven takes the jar from me, but I catch her wrist.

“Hey.” I step a little closer, lowering my tone. “Curious about what?”

Her lips twist, and she blinks down to my large hand. “Just wondering if she was a past one-date girl.”

Leaning my face to her ear, I whisper, “You’re not jealous, are you, Pink?”

“Pink?” Her eyebrow arches.

“Like the tips of your ears.” She tries to pull her hand away, but I hold her. “Are you?”

Her breath quickens, and my dick perks up. “Of course not.”

“Good.” Releasing her hand, I step back, sliding my eyes over her sexy body. “I think you know she’s not my type.”

Her tongue wets her bottom lip, and she turns, carrying the jar to the refrigerator. I’m pretty sure I catch the hint of a grin on her lips, which makes me smile. Watching her body moving around this kitchen in that outfit has me pent up.

“I need a shower after my carrot spray.”

“Go ahead.” She waves. “I’ll take care of her.”

“I won’t be long. ”

Leaving the kitchen, I look down at the semi in my pants. I’m going to need a lot of focus on football if I’m going to go until December in this house with her constantly driving me crazy.

Stepping into the glass shower stall, I flick on the water before walking over to grab a bottle of bath oil. I don’t really use the stuff, but it helps in emergencies.

As the water heats up, I toss my gym clothes into the hamper. Raven’s full lips and that zipper on her bra cross my mind, and heat surges in my veins. I step under the spray, and my cock is hard and bobbing.

I put a bit of the oil on my palm and lean forward, my forehead against my fist as the warm water coats my back. My eyes close, and I grip my cock, filtering through my favorite memories from that night almost two years ago.

Raven is on my lap, her long hair sweeping around us in thick, silky waves. Her full lips part, and she moans as I fuck her hard and fast.

“Uh,” my lips part as the first surge of orgasm races to my pelvis.

Her hands shoot forward to grab the headboard, and her hips rock back and forth over my hips, pulling me deeper into her hot, slippery depths. Her breasts sway in my face, and my hand pumps faster.

“Fuck…” I’m lost in the memory.

My hips drive forward with another low groan, and I imagine it’s her and not my hand stroking my need.

She was mesmerizing all around me. I lifted her breasts, sucking one pointed nipple into my mouth before moving to devour the other. Reaching down, she cupped my face in her hands and kissed me so hungrily.

Our tongues curled. Our lips pulled each other’s.

“Raven…” I groan, remembering that moment so distinctly.

Was it then she bewitched me? It was so easy to fall, I didn’t even try to fight it .

My chin lifts as the orgasm races up my thighs. It’s so good. Being with her was so good. I’m right on the edge when my lids part. My blurred vision clears, and I see a face at the door.

Beautiful amber eyes watch me, and I turn to face her, letting her see what I’m doing. Feral need makes me want her to know why.

“Come in.” It’s just above a growl, and she doesn’t move.

Fever is in my brain, and I don’t consider how I look or sound. She did this to me.

“I said come in here.” My jaw is clenched.

I move my hand slower over my erection, sliding my thumb over the precum seeping from the tip, doing my best to slow things down.

Her lips move, but I can’t hear her over the noise of the shower. It seems like an apology, but her face is flushed. Her eyes are heated, and she’s breathing fast. Her sexy tits rise and fall, bound by that fucking bra.

“Unzip your bra and let me see you.” Her eyes flare, but I’m on the edge. “You won’t let me touch you. At least let me see what I had.”

She inhales slowly, but she leans her back against the wall just outside the glass partition. Reading her lips, I watch them form my name.

“Do it.” I’m desperate with need.

Dropping her chin, she puts her hand under her thin sweater. I can’t breathe. A knot is in my throat as I watch her lower that zipper.

The thick material falls away fast and her full breasts rush out pressing taut nipples against the loose weave.

“Fuck…” My fist tightens around my dick, giving it a pull.

Her dark areoles are visible through the fabric, and my elbow collapses.

My head falls against my forearm as I groan. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

Water is in my hair and it flows into my eyes. My hand pumps my throbbing cock, and I ache with the need to finish this.

My thighs tremble as I watch her hand move inside her shorts. Her eyes are on my dick in my hand, and I move it agonizingly slowly, doing my best to make it last.

But I was on the edge of the cliff when I saw her, and now…

“If I could, I’d put both my hands on those tits and pull them into my mouth.” My hand tugs slowly. “I’d kiss them, suck your nipples between my teeth… I’d consume them until you cried out for more.”

Her hand moves faster between her legs, and her lips part.

“I’d lay you back on my bed and spread your thighs apart so I could feast on your pretty pussy.” The first jets of orgasm escape my cock, and I exhale a groan. “God, it’s so good. You’re so beautiful. I’d eat your pussy so good. I wouldn’t stop until your legs shook, until my face was covered with your come.”

Her chest jerks, and she bends forward slightly.

“Do you remember how it feels to have my face between your thighs?” My eyes hold hers, and they squeeze shut as she nods. “Remember how good it felt when I made you come?”

I watch her lips form the words, Oh, God, yes .

“Then I’d put you on your stomach, and I’d take that ass.” Her lips part, and I hear her moan. “Do you remember how you loved it?”

Yes…

“I remember all of it.” My jaw is clenched. “This is what you do to me, Pink. Do you see this?” I’m desperate as I start to come, dropping my head back with a shattered groan. “Fuck… I could have any woman in LA, but all I want is my wife.”

Her knees bend, and she shakes as she finishes with me. I milk my cock as the rest of my orgasm spills onto the stone tile of the shower and washes down the drain.

My head is against my forearm, and for several moments I hold, shuddering as the intensity of what just happened recedes.

When I lift my head to look, she’s gone.