Jocked Up: Sports Romance (A Secret Baby Second Chance Romance) Read online

  He opened the door to Eduardo’s apartment and took a minute to assess the situation. There was a goon out on the roof, his back to the glass doors and Eduardo was on the couch with a different blonde than last time. Axel wondered what Eduardo’s wife thought about the revolving blondes. Axel stepped into the living room.

  “Better send her to the back,” Axel said indicating the blonde, “I’ve got news.”

  Eduardo jerked his head in surprised and sent the girl away.

  “What’s up?” He asked.

  Axel stepped forward and grabbed Eduardo’s dominant hand, breaking his fingers. Then he twisted that arm up behind Eduardo’s back and held there with the lightest of pressures on the broken digits.

  “Push the panic button,” Axel said.

  “Are you crazy, the boys will kill you.” Eduardo’s voice was two registers higher than normal.

  “Only if they kill you first. Push the button.” Axel applied the tiniest pressure to Eduardo’s broken fingers and Eduardo quickly reached under the table and pushed the button.

  The building erupted in the noise of men in heavy boots running up the stairs. As the first man burst into the room, he stopped frozen at the sight of Axel with a gun to Eduardo’s head. As more and more men arrived they pushed into the room; the front line of men being pushed closer and closer. It would’ve been humorous if Axel hadn’t known that this was freedom or death. If he got it wrong, he wouldn’t live to walk out of this room.

  When the noise in the stairwells stopped, Axel performed a mental count and calculated that everyone was here. He spoke.

  “Does everyone see this?” He asked in a voice so low they had to strain to hear him. Axel indicated the gun that he held to their bosses head.

  The men nodded.

  “Does anyone dispute that I’m now the Lord of this house?” Again his voice was low.

  There was a mass headshaking this time.

  “Good. I want you to know that as is my right, I am disbanding this community. Should I see any of your faces ever again, I will shoot you on sight and without question.”

  Again they nodded. At that moment, the entire Police Department plus at least two more from the surrounding areas, burst in through the stairwells, the roof, the windows and even the elevator shaft.

  It was fall before Axel went looking for Julie, even though he knew she was nearby. He had completed his transformation, including having the worst of his tattoos removed. But not all of them, a man had to have some autonomy. He spotted Julie walking from class, freshman seminar he guessed and fell into step beside her.

  Julie looked at him and smiled her polite smile, the one she reserved for strangers. He had to choke back laughter when she did a double take and stood stock still on the path.

  “Axel?” She looked both pleased and frightened.

  “Professor Kehoe to you.” He said sternly.

  “What? Professor?” She looked around and sat on a nearby bench. “Are you really professor here?” She asked.

  “Adjunct professor of criminal studies, law enforcement and prison culture,” he said. “For a start.”

  “I didn’t know you were qualified,” she said, still somewhat dazed.

  “Back before I fell in with the wrong crowd,” Axel said. “I’m not as uncultured as you might think.”

  “I never thought you were uncultured,” she said. “You are a very cultured criminal.”

  “Cultured ex-criminal,” he said pointedly.

  “Really? Ex-criminal?”

  “Yes.” And he held out his hand to her. “Why don’t you come back to my place and I’ll show you just how reformed I am.”

  He pulled her to her feet and she threw her arms around him. When they broke apart, he walked her the three blocks to his apartment. There was so much heat between them, they could barely get through the door. He pushed her up against the wall and kissed her with all the gentleness of a werewolf at the full moon. She pushed him away.

  “I tried to find you,” she said. “I wanted to tell you that I loved you, but I couldn’t live a life of crime.” She sounded sad and Axel couldn’t bear it.

  “There will be none of that,” he said. He pulled her through the living room and into his bedroom, which was dominated by a king-sized bed. She got the better of him, twirled him around and pushed him backwards onto the bed, climbing on top of him. She sat on his stomach grinning down at him.

  “None of what?” She asked.

  “None of any of it,” he said. “No crime, no sadness, no lowlifes, no prison.”

  “Good,” she said. “I won’t tolerate any of that. In fact, I think I must punish you for the crimes of the past.” She bent down and kissed him full on the lips.

  Axel reached up to pull her flat against him, but she batted his hands way.

  “You are forgetting this is your punishment,” she said. “Lay still.”

  She unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it aside to run her fingertips over the hair on his chest. She felt him harden against her ass and liked the feeling of power over him. She licked his nipples until he writhed and bucked against her, his breath ragged.

  “Stay,” she said, standing above him to shimmy out of her silk panties. He groaned as she danced overtop him until she took pity and leaned down to slide down his zipper. The movement brought her vagina inches from his face and she gasped as he slid his tongue between her labia. He sucked her clit and it was her turn to moan and writhe. The she slid his erection into her mouth and the tables were turned yet again.

  She left off torturing him to sit up and say, “Enough of this,” and she turned and lowered the warmth of her vagina over his penis. She rocked her pelvis over him, moaning and gasping until he could take it no longer and bucked into her until they came together.

  Julie slid down next to Axel; resting her head on his chest and he pulled her close.

  “Why did you decide to give up your life of crime?” she asked. “It had to be more lucrative than teaching community college students.”

  “I had my reasons,” he said softly.

  She smacked him on the shoulder.

  “Yes, and I’m asking what they are,” she said.

  “Babe,” he said. “It was because I knew you wouldn’t have me unless I went straight. So I had to.”

  “Too right,” she said crossly, smacking him sharply on the chest. “Don’t you forget it.”

  But Axel could see her face in the reflection of the dresser mirror. Julie was smiling, she was his forever.

  THE END

  Wanted by the Biker

  Romantic Comedy

  Chapter One

  He looked like trouble the moment he walked through the doors of my small antiques shop. He had tattoos that covered both arms and a look on his face that said he had seen the world and was bored of it. Something about his body language just screamed gritty, dangerous, and unfortunately, I found it undeniably sexy.

  And then he smiled at me and for that one moment I felt that I was gifted with a beautiful rare view. If I had thought he was trouble before, it was clear that he was going to be my downfall now. I couldn’t resist a beautiful smile. As he came closer to my desk, I admired the way he walked. His strides were confident and easy, as if he had all the time in the world. He gave off this sense of untouchability as if he were beyond reproach, above the law. His demeanor was almost royal, deity like and I felt that if I had been around to meet Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar in the flesh, this is what it would have felt like. He radiated strength, importance and sheer masculinity. He carried himself as if he owned the world and he knew it. And I didn’t even know this man’s name, but if he were in the business of conquering small nations or small women, I was interested in being his next conquest.

  “Hi, I’m looking for the owner of the apartment for rent on West Hills. The sign said to come to this address for more information.” His voice was deep and his accent sounded foreign, European somehow. Maybe British or Irish? Strange. I wouldn’t have
thought he was anything but American and it was unusual to get foreigners in our small town since it was so far off the beaten path. I let my eyes travel over him before answering. I blatantly looked him up and down, letting my eyes roam over his muscular thighs encased in loose fitting jeans. He wore a plain black t-shirt and it was snug, leaving me free to gawk at his strong biceps, wide shoulders and perfectly flat stomach which I was sure would showcase perfect abs if I were able to actually get him out of his shirt.

  Behave yourself, Angelica.

  “What’s your name? I’m Angelica Fields, by the way,” I said to the attractive stranger. I was immediately curious. He didn’t seem like the type who would want to be cooped up in a little two-bedroom garage apartment.

  “Nice to meet you Angelica, I’m Lee. Lee Keating.”

  “Well, Mr. Keating, you’re in luck because I’m your girl.”

  His lips tilted up to form a smile that reached his light brown eyes which seemed to darken as he looked at me, “My girl, huh?”

  “I could be a lot of things and maybe if you played your cards right…who knows?” I gave a carefree shrug and leaned over just a little bit towards him and smiled. I loved to flirt. His gaze traveled down my body and he briefly let his eyes linger on my exposed cleavage that I had deliberately put on display by leaning closer to him.

  He licked his lips and slowly brought his eyes back to mine, “Is that right?”

  I just as unhurriedly righted myself and placed a hand on my hip, “Well, I’m the owner, but I’m also available for other things, depending on my mood.”

  He laughed, “And what type of mood are you in now?” This time he leaned on the desk, bringing his body closer to me. And I could smell his cologne or was it aftershave? I didn’t know. He had a beard so I doubt that he shaved, but his beard was well manicured, making him look like a rock star instead of a hobo. But anyway, he smelled heavenly, like a man should. The motion of him leaning forward towards me, made his hair fall across his shoulders and I realized that his hair was long and wavy. I envied it. My hair was fine and blonde and I kept it cut into a bob, given that it didn’t have much body for anything else. My fingers itched to touch his hair, but I controlled the urge at the last moment and went to answer him when a voice came from the other side of him.

  “Seriously, Lee? You’re in here flirting, while I’m stuck in the hot car dying. Seriously?” The whiny voice came from a teenager, not more than fourteen years old. She was the splitting image of Lee but just short and female. She had the light brown eyes and the wavy jet black hair and from the look of her face, she also had the same sense of confidence. And she gave me an appraising look and then dismissively looked away.

  “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?” Lee questioned, a sigh in his voice.

  “So you want me to go back to the car and die? Because I’m pretty sure I might have suffered a heatstroke if I hadn’t gotten out.” Gosh, she was sassy.

  “I’ve been in here what? All of sixty seconds. Have some patience, Avani. I’m pretty sure you weren’t knocking on death’s door.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I know that you’re already driving me crazy and it’s still morning. You need to chill kid. Go look at something. I’m doing business here.”

  She made a rude sound with her mouth, but then disappeared to go study a shelf full of figurines. I eyed her, hoping she wouldn’t break anything.

  “Cute kid,” I said, attempting to keep my voice light.

  “You don’t lie well.” He remarked again smiling.

  “You’re right,” I conceded and laughed. “Is she your daughter?”

  “God no!” The kid said loudly and then quickly turned away when Lee shot her a warning glance.

  “She’s my sister. Drives me crazy.”

  “The feeling’s mutual.” Avani said with a bright smile. I had to admit, her sass was starting to grow on me.

  “She’s funny.”

  “When she wants to be,” Lee said, “but back to our discussion…”

  “Yeah, well I’m the owner. My grandparents actually are the owners, but they live elsewhere, so I’m in charge of renting it out for them. It’s nine hundred a month, plus utilities and water. I’ll take one month deposit. And your credit history better be pretty impressive.”

  “It’s not,” he said bluntly, “But I’ll give you first and last month rent as a deposit.

  “That works for me. You want to see the place?”

  “Right now? Aren’t you busy?” He said looking around.

  “Everyone in here is a regular. They can watch the shop while I’m gone.” I approached a pair of older women who were sitting at an antique table watching the action between me and Lee play out while sipping tea.

  “Hey ladies, can you watch the shop for me? I’m just going to take this kind gentleman out to see the property.”

  They nodded eagerly, sneaking glances of Lee under lowered eyelids, “Sure. Not a problem, dear,” Mrs. Averly, said. I’d known her my entire life. She had been my grade school teacher from kindergarten to fifth grade. “He’s a cutie,” she added and winked at me.

  “I think he heard you,” I said looking back at Lee, who was trying to hide a smile.

  “Oh good, I wanted him to,” Mrs. Averly then giggled and her long-time friend, Mrs. Kasenow joined in. I shook my head. Those two were incorrigible. I dropped the keys to the shop in Mrs. Averly’s hand and told her I would be back in about an hour.

  I gestured for Lee to follow me and as he did, Avani came running up behind us.

  “You have some cool things in you shop. Even though they’re seriously old, they’re pretty cool.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I said not sure how to respond. “I guess you’re into stuff like Xboxes and PlayStation, huh?”

  She gave me a look as if she were offended, “I’m not a gamer. I would rather write or something.”

  “You write?” I asked as I paused at their car.

  She shrugged her shoulders, finally showing a hint of self-doubt, “Just blogs.” She admitted not meeting my eyes, “That apartment does have Wi-Fi, right?”

  “I’m sure it has Wi-Fi,” Lee said gesturing for Avani to get in the car. She rolled her eyes at him, smiled at me and slid in. He closed the door behind her and said, “Do you have siblings?”

  “I wish.”

  “Do you want one? Let’s say about fourteen years old and talks a lot of smack.”

  “Umm…I think I’ll pass.” Even though his words might have sounded harsh, he said them with a smile on his face and looked at his sister warmly, who was staring at us through the window making mock kissing sounds.

  Lee laughed and shook his head, “I’ll meet you at the apartment.”

  “Sure thing,” I said as he climbed into the car and drove away. I was intrigued as I headed to my own car. What was this dude who looked like an outlaw doing taking care of his little sister? Clearly, there was more to Lee Keating than what met the eye.

  Chapter Two

  I ended up renting the apartment to Lee. He asked to sign a lease just seconds after I finished giving him the full tour of the garage apartment that sat behind my own home. I didn’t know how I actually felt about being attracted to a tenant, but it was my job to lease the apartment and so that’s what I did.

  As he promised, he paid me first and last month’s rent and signed a year-long lease. I didn’t ask if his little sister was going to live with him as I assumed she was just visiting. Either way, I didn’t feel that it was any of my business and the garage apartment was two rooms, so even if she stayed, it wasn’t as if he didn’t have the extra room.

  It had been about a week or two since I had rented the apartment to Lee when he knocked on my door one morning. I had just gotten in from my daily run and wasn’t expecting someone, so I was a little taken aback when I looked out of the peephole and saw Lee standing there.

  I immediately opened the door, “Hi,” I smiled warmly at him, “Is ever
ything okay with the apartment?”

  He didn’t answer immediately as he was distracted by my long legs clearly on display given the very brief running shorts I had on. Frankly, if I were to bend down and pick anything up, the shorts would err on the side of indecent. I liked Lee’s attention and welcomed it. His eyes seemed to burn a slow trail from my legs up my flat belly that was uncovered given that I was only wearing a cropped top and then he gave my breasts a cursory glance. I didn’t think the sports bra I was wearing did my breasts any justice, but frankly, Lee didn’t seem to care.

  I cleared my throat to get his attention and he looked up at me, clearly a little embarrassed having gotten caught checking me out.

  “Do you run every morning?”

  “Yep. I like to keep in shape. I was in the military for a while so it’s ingrained in me.”

  He looked surprised, “I was in the military too.”

  “Really? Here in the U.S.?”

  He seemed surprised by my question, “Oh, it’s the accent. I grew up in Ireland, but my Mom moved here when I was about fourteen. I’m a U.S. citizen now.”

  “I’m sorry, I just figured…”

  “No need to apologize. I didn’t know my accent was still so detectable. So what branch were you in?”

  “Navy. You?”

  “Army.” He said looking at me with a renewed sense of respect.

  “Surprised that I’m not just a pretty face?” I said succinctly, turning away from him and leaving the door open for him to follow.

  He hesitated saying, “Can I come in?” I nodded and helped myself to a drink of water before turning around and speaking to him.

  “You want some?” I asked leaning back against the counter while his eyes scanned the interior of my home.

  “No, I’m good. Nice house, though.”

  I turned to place the glass in the sink. “Thanks. I inherited it from my grandparents.”

  “Oh really?”

  “They moved to a small senior living apartment complex in the city. Strangely enough, small town living just didn’t seem all that interesting to them after having spent so long here. But my grandparents always were the cultured type, so being able to go see a play or an opera without having to drive an hour to the nearest big city appealed to them.”