The Way We Play (Bradford Boys #2)

Chapter 25

25

Zane

R ain falls outside the screened windows, and Rachel’s soft body is above me in the bed. Reaching up, I hold her cheeks, pulling her face to mine as her hot pussy slides up and down my rigid cock.

“I love you,” I whisper, moving my lips along the top of her cheek.

“I love you.” Her soft voice meets my ears just ahead of her lips.

It’s a release unlike any I’ve ever known. It’s freedom and decadence. The first time, it was like being set free from a trap. Now it’s like chains falling away. She’s always been mine. We only had to find each other.

Her journey has led her to me. Our paths have come together, and it’s coming out of the darkness. She’s my light guiding me home. She’s my companion, holding my hand in the dark.

I’ll walk through fire to have her body, and I’ll storm the gates of hell to keep her safe.

Her fingers thread in my hair, and my hands move over her shoulders, pulling her to my chest. We kiss and kiss, lips chasing and pulling.

I drag my teeth along the top of her shoulder, and her lips trace the side of my neck. Her tongue touches my skin, and I return to kiss her once more. I can’t get enough of touching her, holding her, inhaling her honeysuckle scent, tasting the fresh water I made her drink mixed with salt and sex.

“Oh, God, I’m coming.” Her hips move faster, and she grips the top of my shoulders.

Her back arches, and she grinds in a way that erases my mind. Her insides grip and pull my cock, and I exhale a deep groan. I’m not far behind her.

Rolling us to the side, I move my hand between us to massage her clit. One pass over that rigid bud and she jumps, wailing loudly as her body trembles. I’m inside her, the flex of her muscles is all around me, and my cock thickens. My ass tightens, and my balls tingle as I release, thrusting hard before holding, coming deep inside her hot body.

We’re breathing fast, still kissing. It’s a hunger made ravenous by our separation, reinforced by the promise of always being together.

My forehead rests against hers, and we pant, kissing lightly a few more times before I fall back on the bed and she cuddles against my body. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been properly laid.” Her cheek is on my chest, and I chuckle, threading my fingers through her damp hair.

She exhales a soft, contented noise that makes me smile. “What are you thinking about?”

Her head lifts and pretty green eyes meet mine. “All you’ve ever done is help me. You fix things, Miss Gina’s house, those kids at equine therapy…”

“They’re not broken.”

“No, but you help them fix what hurts. ”

I think about this and nod with assent. “Okay, but why are you saying this?”

Her eyes drift from mine to my chest, where she traces her finger in a circle over my heart. “To thank you.”

Cupping her hand in mine, I lift it to my cheek. “You don’t have to thank me.”

She blinks up to her hand in mine. “I used to be so worried all the time. I was afraid of what might happen, and whether I could handle it on my own. What would happen if I couldn’t?”

My brow lowers, and I lift her hand again, kissing her wrist. “I never want you to be afraid of that. You’re not alone.”

A smile lifts her cheeks, and her eyes meet mine again. “I haven’t been afraid once since I met you. Every day, since that first time we were here together in this bed, I’ve only felt found and safe and home.”

Pride warms my chest, and I’ve given up fighting that stubborn sense of ownership taking root in my heart when it comes to her.

“I wonder what changed,” I tease, and a puff of air escapes her lips.

She rises higher, kissing my lips, and when she slides down again, her eyes close. The temperature is falling, but we’re warm in bed together. I think she’s asleep when she speaks again.

“In Japan they have a technique where they use 14-karat gold to repair broken pottery.” Her finger traces my chest again. “They melt the gold and use it to create something new and even more valuable. It’s called Kintsugi . It means ‘golden seams.’ Isn’t that beautiful?”

“Jack reminded me today when bones break they heal back stronger.”

Her head lifts, and she rests her chin on her hand looking into my eyes. “Stronger, like gold.”

Leaning down, I press my lips to hers once more. Gold, like the start of a new day. The bright sunlight after being so long in darkness.

“Remind me never to make grape moonshine ever again.” Allie sits on the other side of Rachel, holding her glass of iced tea to her cheek.

“You were so sweet to make me a special drink for my first girls’ night.” Rachel rests her head on her friend’s shoulder. “Don’t ever do it again.”

I chuckle, putting my arm around my girl and pulling her to me. “Eat something. It’ll make you feel better.”

The rain stopped overnight, but as predicted, the temperature dropped. We’re all dressed in sweaters and jeans for the big day.

Gathering at Cooters & Shooters has become our Thanksgiving Day family tradition. It’s all decked out for the holiday, and we know to be here at noon.

Once everyone arrives for lunch, we gather for a family prayer led by Jack, then break into serving lines to sample the varieties of turkey Thomas and Jack made—oven baked, fried, and smoked. Dylan made the side dishes, dressing, spicy and non-spicy mac and cheese, fruit salad, cranberry dressing, green bean casserole, corn, and rolls.

As we make our plates, we drift out to the long table situated in the middle of the dining room with Jack at one end and Thomas at the other.

Family and friends filter out of the kitchen and join us as they make their plates.

Allie stabs her scoop of cornbread dressing. “It tastes so good. I just wish the restaurant would stop rocking.”

“Oof, I hate that feeling.” Logan sits across from us, holding a heaping helping of smoked turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls, corn, and cheesy pasta.

“Is anything left in the kitchen?” Allie teases, and he tosses a grape at her .

“Not grapes! They’re Satan’s tiny hand grenades.”

“I love grapes,” Rachel argues. “It’s not their fault you nuclearized them.”

“Is that a word?” Dylan joins us with a plate piled high with cornbread dressing. “I can’t believe I made it out of bed this morning. Whose idea was it to have girls’ night on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?”

“I think it was yours.” Rachel rests her head on my shoulder, and I kiss it.

“That’s all you’re having?” I glance at my little sister’s plate.

“It’s the only thing that doesn’t make me feel woozy.”

Logan has already finished off half his serving. “We should play a friendly game of football after lunch. Let you sweat out all those toxins.”

The girls make horrified faces, and my stomach twists with panic. As soon as it hits, I remind myself of what Jack said at the barn. Distorted thinking. Change your mindset . Here goes: Just because we play football as a family on Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean something bad will happen.

“I’m down,” I say, and Dylan’s eyes flicker to mine.

“Really?”

“Sure. Logan’s right. Exercise will make you feel better.”

“I think it’ll make me urp,” Allie groans.

“Don’t say that word or I will!” Rachel puts a hand over her face.

“Here.” I tear off a piece of bread and hand it to her.

She slips it into her mouth, and when I look up three pairs of eyes are watching us. “What?”

“Y’all are so cuuute!” Dylan cries, leaning hard on her elbow and taking a tiny bite of dressing. Her brown eyes are warm as she watches me. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen that smile. I love it.”

“It’s been too long since I felt like smiling.” I rub my hand up and down Rachel’s back, and she lifts her chin to kiss my neck.

“Where’s Eddie?” Allie asks, leaning her head on her hand .

“Glued to the pool.” Dylan nods in the direction of the tables where my brother and Benji are hanging out with Austin. “I made him a plate of turkey and dressing right when we got here, so he’s been fed.”

“Thanks, Dee. It was sweet of Austin to pick up Benji.” Rachel sits up, taking another bite of turkey. “I’m actually starting to feel a little better.”

“The water helped,” I say, patting her back.

“I’m sure the exercise didn’t hurt.” Dylan teases. “Did you swallow some of the other white meat last night, Rach?”

“Oh my God,” Rachel leans forward with a snort.

“Good one.” Allie points at her.

“Dylan.” My eyes level on hers. “Spare me.”

“Sorry, Grandpaw.” She holds up her hands, and the three of them laugh more.

As much as I don’t want to talk about my sex life with my little sister, I really like her and Rachel being so close. It bonds us tighter, making us feel more like a foregone conclusion.

“How’s the turkey?” Jack walks in carrying two plates of food, followed closely by Kimmie waving a stuffed green turtle over her head.

“Look, Uncle Zee! Uncle Grizz sent me a green cooter!” She waves it, jumping around in a circle before running to the other end of the table. “Look, Baba, it’s a river cooter!”

“That’s right.” Thomas leans back grinning and patting her little back. “Do you know why they call it a cooter, Kimmie Joy?”

“Because it’s funny?” Her eyes are wide.

“ Kuta is the word for turtle in Mali and Senegal.”

“You’re kidding.” I turn to Thomas. “I thought some old redneck made that up.”

“Nope.” Thomas smiles. “They just mispronounced it.”

“I have to show Aussie and Eddie and Ben!” She starts for the pool area, but her dad stops her.

“After you eat.” Jack’s voice is firm, and her path makes an arc back to where her dad is sitting .

She climbs into his lap, and stabs a forkful of dressing. “Mm! Good dressing, Aunt Deedee!” Then she stabs a forkful of turkey. “Mm, good turkey, Daddy! Thank you!”

She kisses his cheek and hops off his lap, running for the pool area. His brow wrinkles, and Dylan leans forward to console him.

“At least she said thank you!”

Jack digs in, and we lean back chatting and talking about the things we’re thankful for this year. With family, food, and good health out of the way, Dylan is thankful for her ballet classes. Logan is thankful for the radio station being such a hit. I have to agree.

When we sat around this time last year shooting the shit about football, I didn’t really believe him when he said we had a hit show on our hands. Fast-forward a year, and it’s not just a radio show, it’s a YouTube channel with almost a million followers already.

“I’m thankful for finding all of you.” Rachel looks around the table at the warm, smiling faces, before elbowing me in the side. “I’m especially thankful for this grumpy guy who has done so much for me and Eddie.”

“I’m thankful for you reminding me how to smile again.”

“And on that note, where’s the cleanup crew?”

Everyone except Jack, Thomas, and Dylan hops up and starts collecting plates. The girls pack up the leftovers, while Logan and I load the big dishwasher. With so many hands, we’re done pretty fast.

“Ready for a friendly game before dessert?” Logan has a football in his hand, and he tosses it in the air.

“You’ll have to teach me how to throw a football first,” Rachel laughs, shaking her head.

“I’ll teach you to throw a ball.” I reach out, catching her around the waist, and pulling her to my side.

My insides are churning, but I’m taking it slow, breathing, changing my mindset .

“I’ll get Austin.” Allie walks into the dining room. “Do you think Eddie will want to play?”

“Ask him.” Rachel calls, then looks up at me smiling. “You’ll have to teach him to throw a football as well.”

“I wonder if Eddie Nashville would like to learn football?” I hook my thumb in the belt loop on her jeans.

“You’ll have to ask him.”

“We’re ready!” Allie’s back with Austin and the boys.

We walk as a group down the wide path along the bay to the park. Several people are out walking as well after the big meal, and we speak to old friends as we pass. Logan’s tossing the ball, and Austin grabbed one as well, which draws attention.

Folks wander up to the field where we do a little warm up before diving into teams. I pull Rachel to the side to show her how to throw a ball. Austin waits on the other side of the field.

“Spread your fingers out.” I hold her small hand. “Put your index finger closest to the point and your middle finger on the first lace…”

I show her how to pull back, shift her weight on her feet, and add a little flick of the wrist as if dunking a basketball, which she points out she also doesn’t know how to do.

Her first throw goes straight to the ground, bounces wildly, which makes her yelp and duck, and then rolls off the field.

“I don’t think that was right.” She looks up at me, and it takes all my strength not to laugh.

Austin is across the field holding his hand over his mouth and bending at the waist.

Eddie stands beside her frowning. “I don’t think you lifted your elbow properly.”

“I’m never going to get it.” She wilts, but I’m not letting her give up.

“Come on. It just takes practice.”

We do it a few more times, and she manages to keep it off the ground, although it’s wobbling wildly.

“That’s good!” I encourage her, and she cuts her eyes at me. I clarify, “It’s good enough for whatever we’re doing out here. You don't have to throw it. Just block and run.”

Rachel balances one foot on the ball, putting her hands on my waist and grinning into my face before kissing my lips. “Patience is one of your best qualities.”

My hands are on her waist, and I grin down at her adorable face. “I’m not feeling very patient right now. I’m ready to wrap up this friendly game and get you alone.”

“I wish I’d been a cheerleader at the high school where you played.”

My voice lowers. “You definitely wouldn’t have been a virgin at thirty.”

“If you two are done, we’re lining up.” Logan jogs over to where we’re canoodling.

I give her another quick kiss before lifting her off the ball and jogging with her to the line of scrimmage.

Allie’s not playing. Eddie and Ben decide to watch as well, so it’s Logan, Dylan, and Austin versus Jack, Rachel, and me. Allie says she’ll be the referee slash cheerleader for all, and when we line up, I’m right across from Logan.

“I miss Grizz wisecracking at the lineup.” Logan grins. “The brother’s chat is going to love hearing about this.”

Austin has fallen back, and he counts down to make the snap. We all break, running in different directions. Rachel drives forward to force the pass. I’m on Logan, who I know Austin is looking to be his receiver. I’ve got him covered too well, so he has to throw it to Dylan, where Jack easily intercepts by plucking it out of the air over her head.

“No fair!” Dylan shoves him, and I start to laugh.

Some things never change.

We all line up ready to go again, and this time it’s our ball. Jack is quarterback, and I’m down the field, guarded by Logan. Austin covers Rachel, and Dylan runs at Jack. He puts out a hand, holding her back, and her arms flail as she tries to grab him .

She makes a quick, ballerina twirl, and he’s forced to pass it to Rachel. Her eyes widen when she sees the ball headed her way.

“I’ve got it!” She yells, but my stomach pitches when I see Austin running at her hard.

She jumps, completing the pass, but as she’s coming down, he grabs her around the waist, bringing her to the ground. He hops up at once, but Rachel doesn’t. She’s still lying on the ground not moving. Her arms and legs are spread, and she’s gazing blankly at the blue sky as if she’s dead.

My knees weaken, and a lead weight smacks me right in the chest.

“No!” I strain, breaking into a run.

Pumping my legs, I cross the park in record time. It’s a speed I can’t do anymore, and the pain radiates through my back, down my legs. I don’t even feel it. I have to get to where she’s lying. My vision tunnels as black closes in around me.

It’s happening again, just like I knew it would.

She’s hurt.

She’s broken.

She’s not getting up.

I won’t get through this if she doesn’t get up.

The words swirl in my brain, and I fumble to find my phone to dial 9-1-1. We need help—now. I can’t lose her this way. I can’t lose another person.

“Rachel…” Her name slips from my mouth like a prayer, when she suddenly sits up smiling broadly.

“I can’t believe I caught that ball!” She laughs, looking down at her arms. “It kind of stings, though.”

Looking up, her eyes meet mine, and they widen in shock. “Zane? Are you okay?”

I slide to the ground beside her like a runner stealing home, pulling her into my arms. I’m breathing so fast. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay!” Her voice is breathless, and she reaches up to place her palms on my cheeks. “I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”

“I thought you were injured.” I can’t seem to catch my breath. Bending my knee, I rest my forehead on the back of my hand and groan, “You didn’t get up.”

“I’m so sorry.” She moves to her knees, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “I’m so sorry, I was playing. I was being dramatic. I didn’t think?—”

“Hey, bro, you all right?” Jack is beside me, leaning down to grip my shoulder.

I lift my chin and meet his eyes, nodding, but I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. “I’m okay. Rachel’s not hurt.”

“That was some completion.” Pride is in Jack’s voice, but I’m a wreck.

“Everything okay, Rach?” Dylan yells from the other end of the park.

“I’m okay!” Rachel yells to her, then she turns to me again, her pretty eyes round with worry. “I’m so sorry, baby, I didn’t even think how that would look.”

“No, don’t.” I pull her into a hug. “You were having fun. I overreacted.”

“Look at me.” She puts her hand on my cheek. “It won’t happen again. I love you.”

Forcing a smile, I exhale, helping her up as I stand. “Let’s finish this game. We’re going to win this.”

It’s a promise to her and to myself.