Draft pick season i, p.15
Draft Pick Season I, page 15
“Of course, your mama called me over and we watched it together. I don’t see why they’re making such a big deal about it. You were defendin’ a lady’s honor just like you were raised.”
“I don’t either Pops. I was hoping things would die down. It’s causing unwelcome attention.”
“Oh yeah?”
It was the moment of truth. Carver had to give up the rest even if his gut was saying his father already knew why he went caveman in the restaurant.
“Yeah…Pops, did you recognize the woman in the video?”
“If my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, and your mama was positive they weren’t, wasn’t she your college girlfriend’s roommate? Bit?”
“Alyssa.” Carver corrected with an unexpected bite in his voice.
“Alyssa? I could’ve sworn you always called her Bit?”
“I did and I still do, but her name is Alyssa.”
“Mhm. Oh…Ok, son. I get it. Anyway, that was her wasn’t it? She was the reason you nearly choked a man out in a crowded restaurant.”
So tired of people blowing things out of proportion, Carver didn’t even correct his father’s statement about choking Torrence.
“Yeah, Pops. Alyssa was the woman in the video.”
“Well, you know Jessie wouldn’t have come if it was just that. She was saying the press is hounding that young lady and to top it off, that girl who was supposed to be her friend is making those Ticky Tockies sayin’ some pretty shitty things about the both of you.”
Uncrossing his legs, Carver bolted upright in the chair. Fuck! They get one situation under control and another rears his head. He didn’t need to hear the name to know his dad was talking about Mary Beth. Even if he did get the name of the app wrong, Carver got the gist.
There was no way Alyssa knew. Hell, he was on social media more than her and he hadn’t seen them. He wouldn’t have though. He followed very few accounts and rarely posted. Rant videos from bitter ex-girlfriends wouldn’t come up in his feed without him being tagged. He really needed to hire a social media manager to shut some of this shit down.
“Things like what?”
“I don’t remember all of it, but she said somethin’ about Alyssa just trying to get attention and that she always had a thing for you. She claims Bit, I mean Alyssa, made a play for you but she shut it down. Then some stuff about the two of you sneaking around behind her back.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!! Mary Beth should count herself lucky he didn’t believe in hitting women. He would, however, find a way to shut her up and make her regret speaking their names from her selfish mouth.
“I know you didn’t believe any of that, Pops.”
“Of course not. I didn’t raise you to sneak around. Besides, I may not have spent a lot of time with her, but what I remember of Alyssa is that she was a loyal friend. Even when Mary Sue was being a brat, she still supported her. If you ask me, Alyssa was Mary Ellen’s friend, but that girl was only her own friend. Your mama says the same. You know she never like Mary Kate anyway. Said she was more in love with the idea of being an NFL wife than she was with you.”
In the past, Carver might have corrected his father when he got Mary Beth’s name wrong, but he couldn’t care less now. In what he knew was a bid for relevance, she’d gone on social media trying to ruin Bit’s reputation. That shit absolutely wouldn’t fly.
“I know. I figured that out when she blew up on me because I didn’t get down on one knee at graduation.”
“You dodged a bullet the size of an eighteen-wheeler with that one, son.”
“Facts…” After a brief pause, his father spoke again.
“What do you plan to do?”
“About what?”
Carver’s mind was already on who he could call to get this under control and how he could shield Alyssa from it. She had enough to deal with without her former friend using her name clout chasing.
“Son…Don’t play dumb with me. How are you gonna to shut this down?”
“I’m already working on getting a social media manager. I’ll take care of it.”
“What are you gonna to do about your woman?”
“My woman?”
“Carver Wyatt Jamieson, I’ve known you since before you drew breath on this earth. We normally talk every other day, yet I haven’t spoken to you since the day before your flight to Vegas.
It didn’t take much for me to put it together, especially after I saw the way you wrapped your arm around her in that restaurant. That combined with the way you looked at her in college when you thought no one was paying attention, your mama and I came to the same conclusion. You were staking your claim. It took you long enough.”
Carver bristled under his dad’s words, but didn’t rebut them. Yet another person who thought he dragged his feet on going after his woman. It didn’t matter. They were together now. Despite the time gap, he still felt like following his mother’s advice was the right move. Had they come together sooner, he would’ve come on much too strong.
That thought made him chuckle seeing as how it wasn’t like he was easing them into a relationship now. The difference was Bit. She was much more confident than she was ten years ago. She also had no problems standing up to him. Depending on the subject matter, he found that personality trait sexy as fuck.
“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”
“Why would you even try, son?”
“I don’t know, Pops. It’s…things are still new, and all the attention isn’t making it easy for us to simply be a couple and do things couples do getting to know each other and finding out how they fit together. You know?”
“I get what you’re saying. Given your job has you in the media cross-hairs, you’re gonna have to do something to protect your family. And by family, I’m not talking about me and your mama. I have things under control down here.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat at his father alluding to Alyssa being his family, Carver nodded as though his dad could actually see him. Finding his voice, he eventually vocalized his thoughts.
“I know, Pops. I called Jasper. She has her own team for now.”
“For now?”
Craning his neck to look out into the hallway, Carver listened intently to make sure Alyssa wasn’t nearby before speaking again.
“The only way I could get her to agree to the security team was to say it was for a limited time.”
“She sounds as stubborn as your mama.”
“I didn’t say that. You did.”
“I’m not sayin’ anything about my loving wife that I wouldn’t say to her face. She’s got a stubborn, independent streak the size of Texas. If your little lady is half as bad, you’re in for a ride.”
“Tell me about it. Getting her on board with there being an us took some doing, then the internet craziness started. Since Jessie was over there telling everyone’s business, did she tell you about the paparazzi ambushing Bit earlier this week?”
“What? Naw. She didn’t say anything about that.”
Carver spent the next half hour relaying to his dad all the happenings over the past week—including a partial disclosure of Alyssa’s issues with her co-workers. The colorful words coming from the other side of the phone were enough to assure Carver that his father felt much the same as he did regarding the situation.
As they were winding down, Carver glimpsed Alyssa walk past the doorway. Quickly ending the call, he slipped the device into his pocket and followed her into the kitchen. When he crossed the threshold into the room, he found her standing in the center of the space staring blankly.
“Bit?”
“Oh!” She exclaimed. Whirling around, she pressed one hand to her chest.
Rubbing her arms comfortingly Carver peered into her eyes. “You okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Relocating her hand from her chest to his, she stroked him absently. “It’s okay. I walked in here, then forgot what I came looking for. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Drawing her closer into the circle of his arms, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “No worries, baby. Just as long as you’re okay.”
Her arms slid around his waist and she laid her head on his chest. “I’m okay. I remember why I came in here now. I’m thirsty, but I didn’t want water. I was debating on making tea then I went down the rabbit hole of thinking about dinner which led me to the last time I bought groceries. From there, I went to my to-do lists and before I knew it, I was staring into space trying to organize my life.”
Carver could only laugh at her explanation. It wasn’t the first time and probably wouldn’t be the last that her thoughts led her down a path that made her forget what she was doing to begin with.
It was something he was happy to see hadn’t changed about her since college. It used to happen in the midst of conversation. She seemed to internalize it more these days, but he could see the effort to remain on topic sometimes when they were discussing mundane things.
“So, do you want tea? I can put the kettle on for you and you can go back to your office.”
“No, thank you. I’m done for the day. Besides, I don’t want warm tea. I want sweet tea and I think I’m out of the good tea bags.”
“The good tea bags?”
“Yeah… The ones in the yellow box.”
“The yella box? As in Lipton? Woman, that’s blasphemy. You like British tea over the perfect blend from Louisiana right here in the U S of A?”
“I’ll drink the Louisiana tea, but I prefer the British tea, as you call it. Either way, I’m sure all I have are the herbal teas that I drink hot.”
Pulling out of his arms, she walked to the cabinet to the right of the stove. Opening the door, she reached inside removing a tin cannister. When she tipped the cannister in his direction, one look confirmed her original statement. It was empty. The ensuing pout on her face had him pulling out his cellphone ready to place a Food King order to have her tea delivered within the hour.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m gonna put in an order to get you some tea.”
“What? It’s not that serious. I’ll add it to my grocery list and pick it up in the morning.”
“Give me your list and I’ll order everything now.”
The glint in her eyes should’ve been a clue, but he didn’t catch on.
“It’s fine, Carver. I can get everything myself when I go to the store.” Putting the empty cannister back into the cabinet, she closed the door and turned to walk away.
Snagging her around the waist as she attempted to pass him, he pressed his front to her back. He didn’t receive any pushback, but she didn’t melt into him the way he wanted.
“I know you can get things for yourself, but I can also get things for you. So, why don’t you give me your list and that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about?”
Turning in his arms she looked up at him for a few beats before speaking. “I appreciate everything you’re doing, but you don’t have to bubble-wrap me. Going to get my own groceries isn’t a hardship.”
“I’m aware, but I seem to remember someone sayin’ she didn’t want a bodyguard following her around the store while she does her grocery shopping. I was just tryin’ to help.”
Her brow creased and her eyelids dropped into a squint. “They’re seriously going to follow me around the grocery store?”
“Bit…baby. What is it you think I hired them to do? Walk you to the door and wait for you outside? Whenever you set foot out of your front door, they go where you go.”
“Everywhere?”
“Everywhere, Baby. Shopping, work, gym…Hell if you go into the public restroom, there will be someone to sweep it first. That’s why there’s a woman on the team.”
He saw the retreat before she started shaking her head.
“No. That’s too much. There hasn’t even been one attempt to even say anything to me since Monday at the restaurant.”
Blowing out an exasperated breath, Carver walked them to the island and pulled out a chair. Taking a seat, he tugged her between his legs.
“Bit…We’re not doing this again. You can’t keep trying to back out every time things get slightly inconvenient. You agreed. You understand why we need to take these precautions. I’m not gonna keep hashing this out over and over again.”
Fiery dark amber met his gaze, but her lips were clamped firmly shut. That was fine. So long as the message sank in, he’d deal with a little resentment.
“I don’t like it.”
“Understood, but it’s how things are right now. I won’t compromise your safety.”
Unwilling to allow her to stew in her anger, he threaded the fingers of one hand into her hair while he used the other to clamp onto her ample bottom drawing her closer into the vee of his legs. Meeting her halfway, he placed gentle kisses on her lips before licking the seam requesting entrance.
The tension in his shoulders released when Alyssa opened just enough to allow him entry. Taking full advantage, he swept his tongue inside, relishing in her yielding to him. One kiss turned into two which led to Carver stripping her leggings off, bending her over the island and lining himself up behind her.
Despite ending almost every day of the past week buried inside her heat, his cock was hard with very little provocation. It stood out ramrod straight straining toward her glistening folds and the treasure which lay beyond.
Just as he went to slip inside her velvet walls, she placed a hand out to stop him. “Wait. Not here. What about the guys?”
“Here is fine, Baby. Don’t worry. They’re not coming in unless I call them.”
“Carver…” Alyssa borderline whined his name as she unconsciously rocked her hips back. Her body wasn’t in agreement with her words and Carver had every intention of giving her body what they both wanted.
Ending her weak protest with a searing kiss, he guided her back into position and sank his length inside her channel to the hilt. Groaning at the way her pussy gripped his dick, he held still with his hands holding her hips to halt her backwards undulations.
“Mmm…Carver…Please move, Baby.” His Bit was working her Kegels on his sensitive cock since he’d stopped the motion of her hips.
“Fuck, Bit baby!”
Carver barely recognized his own voice when the words flew from his mouth. If she kept that up, he’d come before he took her to nirvana. He couldn’t have that. Lifting his left hand, he brought it down on one cheek with a sharp smack. The responding clenching of her walls on his rigid shaft felt so good his balls tightened and he had to close his eyes to regain his composure.
Without his consent, his hips began a shallow sawing motion. Dropping his head forward, he lifted his lids. Anytime they were together, he couldn’t resist watching his lightly tanned cock delving into her dark folds to pierce her bright pink pussy. As much as it heightened his arousal, it was also what made him grit his teeth as he concentrated on not cumming until she got hers.
This time would be quick. He knew it when they started. He’d had an undeniable desire to reassure himself of their connection after their little dust-up. Her response to his touch and kisses was all the incentive he needed to keep going.
Snaking his arms around her, he lifted her shirt to latch onto her breast with one hand while he used the other to worry the little bundle of nerves. His hips never stopped moving, driving his thickness into her heat as his fingers caused havoc to her other senses stimulating her breast and clit.
A well-executed swiveling thrust of his hips, merged with the movement of his digits, brought his woman to orgasm. Her combination wail and moan bounced off the walls bringing a cocky grin to his lips.
“That’s it, Baby. Cum all over my cock.”
Carver’s self-satisfied smile was short lived as the spasming of her walls pulled him over the edge with her. His sac released and his essence shot down his shaft into Alyssa’s clasping channel. Jerking intermittently, he emptied himself into her all the while holding her body tight to his to keep them connected.
As he felt himself soften, he stood up straight tugging her upright. He rained gentle kisses along her shoulders unable to stop himself from putting his mouth on her.
“Mmm…Now we can go upstairs. I guess you win. We’ll go grocery shopping in the morning.”
Her lazy agreement was enough for him. She’d probably protest in the morning, but at the moment, he’d fucked the fight out of her. He counted it as a win. Placing her discarded leggings in her hands, he swung her into his arms and headed toward the stairs. They’d figure out dinner later.
Chapter Fifteen
SHUT YO MOUTH
Alyssa rolled over and stretched in the bed trying to get the stiffness from her limbs. Carver’s distraction tactics were blatant, but she fell for it anyway. She’d probably keep falling for it as long as he continued to deliver the levels of pleasure that he was dishing out.
Following their kitchen activities, they eventually came up for air to eat. Then, they spent the evening cuddled in bed watching episodes of her favorite Sci-Fi show on a streaming service. He had no clue what was going on, but he watched with her anyway.
This morning, he’d awakened her with kisses to her lower lips as he dispensed morning greetings to his best girl. Why he insisted on referring to her vagina by that nickname, she didn’t know. So long as an orgasm was her wake-up call, she wouldn’t complain.
The fact that she had free range of motion alerted Alyssa to Carver no longer being beside her in the bed. She vaguely recalled him mentioning something earlier about a workout or run while she drifted back into dreamland. Levering herself off the bed, she trudged into the bathroom to start her day.
After revitalizing herself under a warm shower and slathering moisturizer on her body, she stood in front of the sink brushing her teeth. Her eyes landed on the organized chaos that was the countertop. In one corner, near the outlet was an electric toothbrush on its charging station. Carver’s toothbrush. Her gaze roamed over the space taking in the personal items that had migrated from his overnight bag.
