Beyond the Game: A Surprise Pregnancy Sports Romance (Chicago Red Tails Book 3)
Beyond the Game: Chapter 1

May

“I think I’m in a someone-needs-to-fuck-me-out-of-this-mood kind of mood.”

Hawken nearly spits out his beer. “Don’t look at me, man. You know I love you, Dex, but I don’t love you enough for that.”

I turn to him, dismayed. “You mean to tell me you wouldn’t fuck me if my life literally depended on it?”

His brows raise. “Does it?”

“No.”

“Then no. I might consider it if, and only if, we were literally the last two human beings on this earth, but other than that, my dick paddles for the pretty pink canoe.”

“Thanks, I guess.” I roll my eyes.

“Why the hell are you in a mood, man? We’re in fucking Key West. We’ve just spent the day at the beach and finished a wedding rehearsal. Our teammate is marrying the love of his life and we’re sitting here enjoying paradise while drinking. What could be better than that?”

“Pussy,” I state. “Petting pussy. Eating pussy. Fucking pussy. I’m good at two things in this world. Hockey and sex. And right now, I don’t have either of those two things.”

“Aww, are you fuckstrated, big brother?” Rory steps up to the bar, overhearing Hawk and I talking. I almost laugh at her made-up word, but I don’t because she’s right.

“Hell, yes. I’m fuckstrated. I came here for the sun, the sand, and the sex.”

“Okay, so what’s the problem?” Hawk asks, taking another sip of his beer.

“Nobody knows who I am down here.”

Rory frowns. “And that’s bad because…?”

“After games, the bunnies come out to play. They just want to fuck a hockey player to say they fucked a hockey player so it’s easy picking. But not one person has recognized me since we arrived in Florida. It’s a little annoying.”

Rory laughs. “You pitiful thing. I’m sure you’ll replace some willing piece of ass eventually. You might just have to work for it this time.” I give her an annoyed stare and her eyes grow huge, a smile widening across her face. “I know. The nerve of these Florida women, right?”

“Ugh. You’re so annoying. Why did you come down here again?”

She smirks. “To help plan the best beach wedding I have ever seen. You must admit, the rehearsal was outstanding. And tomorrow Charlee will look like a fucking goddess.”

I sip my beer and nod in agreement. “I have no doubt.”

It will be a beautiful wedding and really, I couldn’t be happier for Milo and Charlee.

Rory pinches my cheek the way our grandmother would after not seeing us for long stretches of time. “And yes, Dexter. You’ll make the cutest flower girl ever.”

“Damn right he will.” Hawk laughs, clinking his beer bottle with mine. “I bet those petals aren’t easy to toss on a windy beach.”

“You can say that again. I’ll have to stretch for the job and everything.”

“Well, if anyone deserves to get laid tonight, it’s you, big brother. Do you need some help? I could pick out a couple hot ladies for you. There are a few sitting by the pool right now.”

“Get outta here.” I shove her teasingly, but Hawk catches her before she falls backwards. “I don’t need a wing-sister. I can catch tail all by myself.”

“Good.” She straightens up. “Hawk, I need a partner for pool. Will you help me kick Colby and Carissa’s asses?”

“What?” I perk up. “Why wouldn’t you ask me? I’m your fucking brother. We’re blood.”

“Because you’re way too fuckstrated. Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “Go get laid. You’ll feel better.” She gestures toward a small group of women dancing by the pool. “Seriously, if I were you, I would opt for one of those.” She pats my shoulder with excitement spread across her face. “Oooh and you should totally use your old pick-up line from high school. You know that transformer one!”

“Shut up, Rory. We don’t talk about the transformer pick-up line anymore.”

“Oooh,” Hawken laughs. “This is one I haven’t heard! What’s the transformer pick-up line?”

She waves him off. “Something about being Optimus Fine.”

She laughs and Hawken cackles as I rub my forehead, my annoyance for my sister growing by the second.

“Oh, fuck, please use that one, Dex. Let me know how it goes.”

“Come on,” Rory says to Hawk as she steals him away. “We have a game of pool to win. Catch you later, Sexy Dexy.” She winks and laughs as the two of them walk away.

“Do NOT call me Sexy Dexy!”

She cackles even louder as they round the patio to the bar. Shaking my head in laughter, I finish off my beer and am about to order another when a woman steps up to the bar next to me. She orders a sex on the beach and a Long Island iced tea and then turns to me.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” I give her my best smolder, but she giggles in response.

“Yeah, that won’t work too well on me big guy. I like to lick pussy too.” Her smile and wink make me laugh out loud.

“Fuck, nobody has ever said that to me before.”

“I mean, don’t get me wrong. It’s a sexy smolder for sure. And it would work on my friend over there if you’re interested.” She gestures to a woman lounging by the pool in a black bikini, her golden hair piled creatively on top of her head. I can’t make out her exact features from here but at first glance, she doesn’t appear to be a troll.

I cock my head. “Are you trying to set me up with your friend?”

She shrugs. “Depends.”

Well, this is interesting.

“On?”

“Are you a nice guy?”

“Uh, I’m literally the nicest guy. Like, ever.”

She smirks. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Ugh, okay. In all honesty, my buddy, Milo, is the nicest guy ever, but he’s gettin’ hitched tomorrow so he’s off the market. If you’ll allow me to be nice guy by proxy…”

That makes her laugh. “Alright, so you’re a nice guy. We’ll go with that. Is nice guy single?”

“Fuck yeah. Nice guy doesn’t commit. He’s nice to everyone.”

“You good in bed? Or are you just, you know, average?”

I laugh at her question. “Uh, I’m more than good. Trust me.”

“You know that’s what they all say, right?”

“And you know there isn’t a guy on this earth who is willing to admit he’s just average, right?”

“Fair point.” She laughs again and raises her glass to clink with my empty beer bottle. “Look, I invited my friend to Florida with me to celebrate her divorce from a nasty ass piece of cheating shit.”

Narrowing my eyes, I stare down the woman who is now double fisting the drinks she ordered. “So, you want me to pity fuck her? Is that what you’re asking me?”

“Uh, no.” She scoffs. “She doesn’t need nor want anyone’s pity. She’s happy to be moving onward and upward. I’m merely suggesting you hit on her. Make her feel sexy. Maybe boost her confidence a little before she starts her life over again. It’s always nice to go on vacation and feel noticed, right?”

She’s not wrong.

Wasn’t I just saying something like that?

“And hey, if things work out and you both get to experience a little non-committal play time, what’s the harm in that?”

She slides the sex on the beach over to me. “This is hers. I’m going back to our room to shower and pack. It was nice meeting you, nice guy who is supposedly good in bed.”

“Yeah.” I nod, watching her walk away from the pool area and back toward the elevators. “Nice to meet you too…”

My eyes shift to where the woman’s friend was sitting by the pool, but she’s not there now. I spy a girl in a black bikini headed toward the very bar I’m sitting at and holy fucking shit, I am one lucky son of a bitch.

Tendrils of her hair fly around her face in the wind off the beach. Her skin kissed by several days in the sun. She’s not one of those stick-thin barbie doll types. On the contrary, this woman has curves in all the right places for a man like me, and she walks with confidence, which I love to see.

I’m merely suggesting you hit on her. Make her feel sexy.

Maybe boost her confidence a little before she starts her life over again.

Seems easy enough.

I guess it’s now or never.

Just as she makes it to the bar, I meet her and blurt out, “If you were a transformer, you would be Optimus Fine.”

What.

The.

Fuck.

Did.

I.

Just.

Do.

Oh my God!

Did I seriously just throw her the Transformers pick up line?

Fucking Rory!

My feet planted firmly in place, my body goes rigid and I swear my dick just shriveled up and died of disappointment. This is the end of my life. Tomorrow’s headline will read Twenty-nine-year-old man dies of dick disappointment when using Transformers pick-up line on hot chick.

Fuck me.

Blondie laughs as my cheeks redden. She places her hand on her hip and tilts her head. “So, what if I prefer Bumblebee?”

I shake my head, still horribly embarrassed. “I am so sorry. I want to say I don’t know where that even came from except it’s totally my sister’s fault and I swear I’m usually a whole lot smoother than this. I’m slightly mortified right now.”

She laughs again and my chest lightens. “Don’t be. You got my attention, didn’t you?”

“Uh, yeah.” I chuckle to myself. “I guess I did.” I slide her drink toward her. “Look, I don’t ever recommend taking a drink from a strange guy, but your friend just ordered this for you and then said she was heading to her room to shower and pack. She asked me to give this to you. I promise I’m a nice guy.”

“You’re safe ma’am,” the bartender adds. “I made the drink and I’ve been right here the whole time.”

She reads the guy’s nametag. “Thank you, Barry.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.”

“See? Told you. I’m a nice guy.” I gesture to Barry the bartender for another beer and notice the pretty woman’s eyes floating up my body, taking note of the tattoos on my chest and shoulder. I don’t miss the few seconds her gaze lingers on my lower abs either.

Yep. Check me out baby.

“So, my roommate left me, huh?”

“Looks that way, yeah. She said you wanted to soak up the last of the sun before you leave tomorrow.”

“She’s right. I wanted to watch the sunset.”

“They’re definitely beautiful here. What’s your name?

“Uh…” Her eyes narrow as she glances at me. All of me. “My name is Amanda.”

I cock my head. “Is that your real name, Amanda?”

She nods. “Sure. Amanda Hugginkis. That’s me.”

Cute. So, we’re doing the fake name thing? Alright, I’ll play.

I huff out a laugh. “Well Amanda Hugginkis, it’s nice to meet you. I’m uh…Ben. Ben Dover.”

She grins back at me. “Nice to meet you, Ben. Care to join me in a sunset viewing?”

I clink my bottle with her glass. “Sure.”

I follow her out to the beachside patio where she steps into one of the several open hot tubs. I step in behind her and take her hand so she doesn’t slip. She sits along the edge where we can see the ocean and admire the colorful canvas the sun is creating for us right in front of our eyes, and I maneuver myself next to her.

“So, where are you from?” I ask, trying to make small talk.

“Michigan.”

“That’s quite a distance from Key West.”

She nods. “Damn right it is.”

“Uh oh.” I chuckle. “Something about that response doesn’t sound good.”

“Nope, it’s all good now.” She shakes her head.

“Oh, okay. Good. Are you here for a reason?” I already know the answer but she doesn’t know I know.

She returns my question. “Are you?”

“Uh, yeah. I am. My buddy’s getting married tomorrow. We’re down here on a group vacation.”

“Ah. Well, you might want to avoid me then.”

As if.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I’m here celebrating my divorce.”

“Celebrating, huh? So, this is a divorce you’re happy about?”

She nods emphatically. “Fuck, yeah. Now. He’s nothing but a lying, cheating, piece of shit.”

“Cheater? Ugh what a fucking twat monster. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“No, twat Monster would be my best friend who was fucking him in our bed when I walked in on them.”

“Oh shit!”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. What did you do?”

“What could I do? He tried to tell me it didn’t mean anything, which pissed her off, and she tried to apologize out the ass but it was too late. I told them both to burn in Hell.”

I raise my hand next to her, signaling my high-five. “Fuck yeah, you did! Good for you, Amanda.”

She slaps my hand with a smile. “Is it bad that I don’t feel the least bit of remorse for the way I left things with him?”

“I can’t even say that depends because no fucking way should you feel bad. But just for shits and giggles, how did you leave things? I mean other than telling them to burn in Hell?”

A proud grin plays on her face. “When he went to work the next day, I threw every one of his belongings outside on his front lawn, flushed the house keys, and moved out.”

“Oh shit. That’s savage. Way to go tiger!” I shake my head. “Nothing wrong with that at all. Cheers to doing what you needed to do.”

“Thank you. It happened months ago. The divorce only just became official, thank God. It’s good to finally feel free.”

“I can imagine.”

“Ever been married, Ben?” she asks.

“Hell no.”

Her brows raise. “Oooh. Touchy subject, huh?”

“Nah.” I shrug. “Just not sure I’m marriage material.”

“Meaning you don’t want to commit.”

I tip my beer to my lips. “Somethin’ like that.” Wanting to get the subject off me, I throw more questions her way.

“What do you do?”

“I’m an elementary school teacher. I actually just interviewed for a new position teaching first grade in a new town.”

“So new freedom, new job, new life, huh?”

She swallows a sip of her drink. “That’s the plan.”

“And this trip is for celebrating all that?”

She tips her drink back and swallows. “Yep.”

“Good for you. Have you done anything fun since you got here?”

“Yeah, of course. We snorkeled, we shopped, we spent time on the beach. I read a couple books, we danced our hearts out at a few clubs and now here I am, watching the sunset on my last night here.”

“Excellent,” I tell her. “Sounds like you knew exactly what you needed and went for it.”

She looks out at the ocean. “Yeah, I guess.”

Her demeanor changes slightly. She doesn’t make eye contact, but continues to sip her drink, staring out at the water.

“If you’ve had such a momentous week, why don’t you look happy? Is it because you’re heading home tomorrow?”

“That’s part of it, sure.”

“What’s the other part? Can I ask?”

Her cheeks redden and she shakes her head. I think she’s embarrassed. “It’s stupid. You’ll just laugh at me…or think I’m weird.”

I lift a few fingers. “Scouts honor. I won’t laugh.”

“Were you actually a boy scout?”

“Nope,” I chuckle. “But I promise I won’t laugh. Consider me a stranger you can tell anything to. Because after tonight you won’t see me ever again so what does it matter?”

“True.”

“See? I’m all ears. Tell me your regrets.” I lean back against the hot tub, my arms outstretched, enjoying the view of both the setting sun on the beach and the pretty woman sitting here with me.

She gazes out at the ocean one more time and then we tip our glasses drinking back quite a bit. My brows rise as I watch her drink down the colorful liquid. Her swallow is impressive and suddenly I’m imagining her swallowing something else.

“I regret coming here and not hooking up with someone.”

Is this some sort of joke?

Did Rory put her up to this?

“Ahh, so is this your pick-up schtick?”

“What?”

“You know.” I wink. “Tell the sexy new guy you’re starting life over and regret not hooking up with someone to really…you know, celebrate? Amanda Hugginkis needs a man to hug and kiss?”

She turns and looks me straight in the eye, a serious expression on her face, and mutters, “Who said you were sexy?”

“Oooh! Ouch!” I throw my hand over my heart. “You wound me!”

She’s laughing though so if this really is some sort of pick-up experience, she got me good.

“I’m sorry,” she giggles. “But you kind of walked right into that one, but also, oh, my God! I swear this isn’t that.” She lays a hand over her face, mildly embarrassed. “God I probably do sound like a desperate little fuck, don’t I? Ugh I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that at all. I just…” She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I had this fantasy that I would come to the Keys and meet someone who would like…rearrange my guts if you know what I mean.”

“Do they sell those somewhere around here? Gut rearrangers?”

She laughs. “You know what I mean.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” I try to control my reaction because fuck yes, I know what she means.

She lifts her face to the sky as she breathes in the sea air. “I was hoping for this…” She rests a hand on her chest, drawing my eye to her two beautiful breasts clad in small pieces of black material. A man could most definitely get lost between those babies. “Soul destroying orgasm like I’ve never experienced before. A reward for leaving my lying, cheating husband, you know? A night of epic sex and everlasting memories that he could never provide to take home with me. Something positive to think about instead of how Mr. Douche ruined my life.”

Holy fuck.

Did her lesbian friend really exist back there at the bar or was she some sort of guardian angel?

Suddenly my mouth is dry and I’m replaceing it hard to swallow.

“He didn’t ruin your life.”

“No?”

I shake my head. “If things wouldn’t have happened the way they did, you wouldn’t be sitting here with me right now. In fact, what’s his address? I think I need to send him a thank you note.”

She laughs heartily. “For what?”

Fuck this.

Whatever this is.

Whatever her intentions are or were.

I’m going for it.

“For giving me the opportunity to show the woman who once loved him what an epic mistake he made. For giving me the opportunity to show the woman he once loved what a night of passionate sex is supposed to feel like. How much her beautiful body deserves to be pleasured.” I lean in a little closer and murmur to her, “What it feels like to orgasm so much and so hard that she forgets her damn name.”

The small gasp and heavy sigh that comes from her mouth in response has my dick so hard I could bend her over this hot tub and rearrange her guts right the fuck now.

“You might not know this about me, Amanda, but rearranging guts is sort of my specialty.”

Her face reddens and she shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend you’re coming on to me. It’s sweet of you though.” As the sun has finally set, she stands, turning toward the beach and picking up her glass. “I should probably go. I need to pack.”

What?

No!

She can’t go!

I stand quietly behind her and thank the Gods it’s dusk enough to not be noticed by copious amounts of people. “Amanda?”

“Yeah?”

I wrap a hand around her waist and pull her against my chest, my hand resting on the warmed skin of her abdomen. “Who said anything about pretending?”

“Ben…” She breathes.

“I happen to think you’re a goddamn knockout, and I would be honored to make every single one of your fantasies come true before this night is over.”

She turns her head enough to try to see my face behind her. “What are you saying exactly?”

“I’m saying, you want a night of epic sex. Soul destroying orgasms and memories you won’t soon forget. I can give that to you.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“You shouldn’t.” I kiss the side of her neck. “But I promise you I’m not a creep. I’m just a guy who knows how to treat a woman in bed. If I wanted to pull one over on you, I would’ve done it already with your drink, remember?”

She contemplates my reasoning for a moment and then turns her head back to the ocean. “Anything I want?”

“You name it, Sweetheart.”

“I don’t want gentle.”

I tug her against me a little harder. “Good. I’m anything but.”

“I want you to press me up against the wall and…”

“And what, Amanda?” I murmur into her ear. “Finger you until you can’t stand anymore? Get on my knees and lick your sweet pussy until you’re shaking? Or simply lower you onto my dick and drive into you until you’re literally screaming.”

“Oh, my God. All of it. That sounds…wonderful.”

I reach for her other hand and bring it behind her, placing it over my hardened cock. She palms me, her gasp not taking me by surprise. It’s not the first time a woman has reacted this way.

“Holy shit, you’re pierced?”

She turns and looks down at my crotch currently covered by my swim trunks. I merely smirk and smooth my thumb over her cheek. “Only one way to replace out. Tell me you want this and I’ll make it a night you won’t soon forget.”

“I’m all yours.”

“You’re not mine, Sweetheart. But I’ll absolutely ruin you for any man who comes after me.” I offer her my hand. “Let’s go.”