Hail Mary (Red Zone Rivals, #4)

by Kandi Steiner

“Focus, baby,” I told her with another flick of my tongue. “Can you come for me again tonight?”

“That’s it,” I praised her. “Find it. I want these legs shaking for me. I want to hear you scream.”

“Good girl,” I breathed against her, pressing a light kiss to her clit that made her shake again.

“Not yet, mi alma,” I said, sweeping her hair from her face. “I want to fuck that sweet mouth.”

“Hang your head off more,” I told her, using my hands in her hair as a guide. “Arch for me, baby. Open your throat.”

“I want to see my cock stretching your throat,” I told her, still moving slow and easy. “I’m going to fuck you deeper, baby, and I want you to take it. Hold me deep as long as you can.”

“Mi amor, mi cariño, mi cielo,” I whispered against her neck between soft kisses. “I love you.” “I love you,” she whispered back. And in the quiet dark of that hotel room, I silently promised to never hurt her again, to never put her second to anything, to never let her push me away even when her defensive instinct told her to. I promised to do everything in my power to always make her stay, even when things got rough. Mary Silver was finally mine. It was the sweetest win of my life.

We still lost it when the doors opened at the back of the garden and she walked through them holding Coach Lee’s arm. The fact that he was crying might have been what made me lose it more than anything.

Sniffing back my tears, I glanced at where he was waiting for her, and immediately wished I hadn’t. Because one look at him completely falling apart at the sight of his almost-wife made me cry again, too.

Coach Lee gave his daughter’s hand to Holden, who stared at her like every dream he’d ever had was coming true in that moment, and the ceremony began.

But while Clay, Kyle, Braden, and Leo had signed contracts with fat signing bonuses, Zeke had withdrawn himself completely.

“There’s my girl.”

“You in this fucking dress, Stig,” he mused, shaking his head. “Remind me to keep you away from all roads. We don’t need a car pile-up to ruin the wedding day.” “Shut up,” I said swatting at him. “No chance. Unless you think of a creative way to make me,” he added with an arch of his brow. “Sitting on my face might work.”

And as for me? I was busy renovating. Because Leo did, in fact, buy me my first tattoo shop with his signing bonus.

“Psh, I know what will make her feel better,” Clay argued, putting his arm around Giana. “A trip to the bookstore tomorrow. I saw you eyeing that little one downtown when we were on our way to the hotel.” Giana smiled up at him through bleary eyes. “You know the way to my heart.” “I think Clay only pretends like he does it for you when we all know what the kinky bastard really wants is more highlighted pages to re-enact,” Zeke said with a smirk.

“Well,” Giana said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “There is one trope we haven’t tried yet.” “If you’re referring to the reverse harem shit, I’ve already told you — I don’t share.” Clay looked almost murderous with that comment, which made us all laugh. “No,” Giana said with a laugh of her own. “Um… I was thinking more… accidental pregnancy.” Clay laughed, kissing her temple. “Yeah. Sure.” But the rest of us were frozen still. Because Giana did not look like she was joking.

“Wait…” Clay swallowed, his eyes snapping back to hers. “You’re… You’re really…” “Yes,” she whispered. I clamped a hand over my mouth, tears springing to my eyes as Julep let out a little squeal. But no one moved, not as we waited for it all to sink in for Clay. He blinked — once, twice — and then, he shoved back from the table, his chair grinding against the floor as he fell to his knees. He wrapped Giana in his arms, burying his head in her chest as his shoulders shook.

“I’m going to be a dad,” he breathed a question up at Giana. When she nodded, he broke entirely,

“What’s on your mind, mi amor?” he asked, his words low and sultry in my ear. “Forever,” I answered softly. Leo pulled back on a smile. “With me?” “And Palico.” “Of course,” he said, but his smile leveled out as his eyes searched mine. “I can see it.” “Me, too.”

“Let me put a baby in you.”

A laugh bubbled out of me as I realized the most hilarious, beautiful truth. I had everything I’d ever wanted. All because I begged my parents to buy me Halo.