Hang Em' Up: A Bad Boy Sports Pregnancy Romance Read online

  “That is my status until the day I day become and Elder, Joan. Today is not that day.”

  More whispers ran through the room and the old white-haired woman that he had directed his comment to sat back in her chair. Conrad understood what had to happen and he waited, his muscles drawn tight. He was poised to get attacked. He just didn’t know from what direction it would come. It came from the one direction he had turned his back to, simply because he thought they wouldn’t stoop so low when it actually came down to it. They did, and everything changed.

  Conrad saw the dark blur from the corner of his eye just seconds before he felt sharp teeth on his shoulder. His blood boiled, and the dark-haired man changed against the pain. He pushed Drake’s shifted form back with one arm, dominating him as he always had. The only time he had ever won a fight between the two men, was once when he had started it while he was sleeping. Even then, if the older man hadn’t taken off, they both knew Conrad would overtake him. He was not an Alpha for a reason. The small advantage that he was afforded with his sneak attack quickly evaporated when Conrad turned around, changed and pissed. The cowardly man made a noise of submission, but Conrad still wanted to end the struggle.

  The irrational thoughts passed and he let him leave the room in dishonor. Conrad’s dark eyes swept the room, waiting as an invitation for any others that may want to test the dominance that he had earned. No one else stepped forward, and he soon stood in the lower circular platform in tattered clothes. His annoyance was still there, and though blood ran down his arm, he still held each and every person’s gaze for a time.

  “That human will be your new queen, so from this moment, you will all treat her as such. And while I will always respect the opinion of the council, I will no longer come to your beck and call for a meeting about my love life. That will not be spoken of again. It is a new day, and we will adapt.”

  There was a silence in the small room. Conrad was already in the bedroom with Ashlea, in his mind, and his irritation was becoming more apparent the longer he stood there. The elders would not meet his gaze, so there was no way for him to judge the feelings in the room. He really didn’t care, and the very thought of it was liberating. To refuse the elders was unheard of, but so was a second born becoming Alpha. It was never heard of before Conrad took over. His surprising rise to the top made him feel less of a sense of attachment to the title. Conrad was a bear in love, and he did not want to waste any more time on quibbling about it.

  “Well if you have anything else of real concern to talk about, I am here and ready to hear them.”

  Again, no one said a word, and Conrad’s patience was gone.

  “I see. Well I have some important matters to attend to.”

  Conrad turned on his heels and left the room, leaving many gaping faces behind him. Things were just going to have to change, he thought to himself. His steps moved faster when he thought of Ashlea waiting for him in his bed. He forgot all about the holes in his shoulder that were slowly healing on their own.

  Chapter 8

  Conrad got back to the room and his hands were actually shaking when he started to slowly open the door. The lights were dim as the sun had gone down outside the window. He considered turning on some lights on to see her better, but he was unmoving on his feet in front of her. Ashlea had not moved, but to turn towards him as she slept curled slightly on her side. She was still just as naked as he left her, though she was sleeping, instead of waiting.

  The small cast of light from the sunset lit up her hip and the red curls in between her legs. Conrad was still unable to move, though his own length pushed out and hardened. He wished she was positioned differently, turned towards him so he could see her in all her glory. He wanted to know if she was ready for him still. Cursing himself in the darkness he pulled off what was left of his clothes after the change.

  His feet finally started to listen to his brain and move. The slight pain in his shoulder was dull and screamed a little when he hovered over her body as he climbed on. Not touching, his body covered hers, and then his length pressed where he was when he had left. Straddling her and then pushing one thigh a little higher, his cock throbbed against her.

  “Ashlea.”

  “Please just do it,” she murmured sleepily, “I have been waiting.”

  “If I do, you are mine forever. You will belong to me.”

  She pushed back against him until his cockhead pushed into her opening. They both gasped with the added heat, and Ashlea looked back to see his face. “I don’t belong to anyone,” She said, frowning, no longer asleep.

  Conrad’s head came up, and his dark eyes met hers. His teeth were gritted to hold himself back from what he needed. He was trying to impress upon her the gravity of her choice, but her tight wetness engulfing his member was making him forget the right way of doing things. He was forgetting that it was in fact a life-long commitment to them both, though he had already made his in his heart. Ashlea did not understand that, though Conrad was unable to explain it to her. He still had a hidden fear that she would reject him and instead of taking the chance, he just started to add pressure.

  Her head fell back and her eyes closed as his long length filled her up. It was more than she could handle, and before he was halfway in, she was pushing back against his hips. Conrad jerked inside and made her moan. He stalled and waited for her to move against him, begging for more with her body when her mouth was unable to. Conrad pressed deeper, moving slower as to not hurt her. Several inches sunk in before he was stopped again by the feel of her palm on his chest.

  Conrad pulled out while her insides clenched him tightly, unwilling to release him all the way. His hands cupped her, pulling her closer as he drove in, deeper than before. She made a low moaning sound that threatened to drive him over the brink. He was still unable to fully bury himself, the position giving her room to move back. After several tries, he surged forward and finally hit her bottom.

  Ashlea moved her leg as he pulled back, facing him with dark green eyes. The new position opened her up for a deeper knowledge and the advantage of kissing. His lips were insistent on hers, much like the thickness inside of her. Her arms and legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer and harder against her. It was then that he started to move slowly again, taking her breath away with each thrust forward.

  “Conrad.”

  His name was soft on her lips, as his mouth teased her front. He pushed deeper, then, his blunt head crashing against her womb and pushing her over the precipice. Her body trembled as her moans got louder. Even if everyone could hear her, Conrad was not able to stop his hips from pounding forward. He shook off her arms and sat back on his knees, dragging her body closer with a tight grip on her upper thighs. The man’s control was shredding away with every noise out of her mouth.

  Conrad tried to push back his animal side, but the harder he pumped, the more it came out. He left her begging for his own release. Her nails scratched his upper arms as another painful convulsion took over. It was just too much, and she moved away, his cock searching for her silken folds once more.

  “Wait. I need a minute. What happened to your arm?”

  “Nothing.”

  Her body heaved below him, her legs closing as she moved back away from him. He tried to advance, to kiss her, but she was not having any of it. Maybe it was the excitement from the day, but her body was still quivering as she watched his dark eyes on her. He was hard to say no to.

  Conrad moved closer, his lips touching hers. He moved slowly, trying to convince her to let him continue. His sticky length slid against her abdomen, as his tongue drew hers out to the slow pace that he set. She was soon making soft sounds and her hips were rising up to meet him. Conrad’s hands touched her curved side, before trailing down to her wet heat that he so desperately needed to get back into. Ashlea moaned, wanting more, but unsure if she could handle anymore.

  “Lay down Conrad.”

  She had pushed away to give him room, and when he laid down next to her, she
climbed on top. She needed to control him, or he would overwhelm her again. Their eyes met as she positioned herself exactly where he needed to be. Ashlea looked down and her eyes fluttered closed as she started to lower herself down onto his length. He was large and throbbing, his hips trying to thrust. She shook her head and pulled him almost out before he got the picture and stopped moving, giving her the control.

  Ashlea was usually shy, and riding a man was not something that she often did. While she hid during half of her sexual encounters, with Conrad, she wanted him to see all of her. More importantly, she wanted to see the desire in his eyes while he did it. Save for a few grunts, Conrad was pretty quiet and tame, but oh, the way his eyes looked at her was somehow more erotic. His need took over her own. She settled on top of him and waited, clenching him tightly.

  Conrad’s teeth clamped shut and he looked up at the woman, his whole being transfixed. He waited for her to move, but she did not. His own desperation was felt as she waited with her palms flat against his chest to hold herself up. When she finally started to move, it was at a painfully slow pace. Each move up took him slowly out of her hot folds and each press down pushed him as deep as he could go. The man was fighting his urges to take her and slam inside of her from below.

  “Please Ashlea, I need more than this, more of you.”

  His hands settled on her hips, waiting for her permission to do what he wanted. Conrad was not used to having to ask or to wait, but she was worth it. And if she wanted to go slow, he would take the slow torture as well as he could.

  “Deeper please, I need to go deeper.”

  Her eyes opened and she looked down at him. His hands cupped her breasts, fondling the sensitive tips as another wave of pleasure rushed through Ashlea, leaving her still and shaking on top of him. Her body collapsed on his chest and she was left struggling for breath, her mouth searching his out as she moaned. Her fluid rushed around his cock, driving him mad.

  “Please, Ashlea.”

  She pulled her lips off of him and looked down to where their bodies met. His cock was buried deep and she could feel him twitching inside of her. She put her lips to his ear and whispered gently in his ear.

  “Fuck me nice and hard Conrad. I want to feel your hot cum inside of me. Fill me with your seed.”

  Her words were said so gently, but the effect was no less damaging to his senses. He was shocked to hear such words out of her mouth, and the way she tightened around his velveteen shaft. She urged him on, “Now.”

  He slammed deeper as his hands held her waist down on him, his hips pushing up into her tightness. Her head fell back and her red hair tickled the front of his thighs as she swallowed him up. His eyes could not leave her bouncing tits, pushing her back forward to take in her luscious chest. Taking his teeth, he nibbled on the one bouncing in his face, tantalizing his senses with her need.

  “Harder Conrad, so close. Oh my God.”

  He felt her squirting orgasm, but his heart pounded too loudly in his chest to hear her words. His whole being was concentrated on her and her pleasure, but then his own was unable to deny. Conrad slammed inside one last time, while he held her down on him. His cock started to grow as he pumped her full of his seed. He struggled to contain himself as her insides contracted, suffocating him. Ashlea trembled and milked him dry, finally collapsing on his chest. His heart pounded in her ear as they stayed connected.

  When she finally pulled off of him, they both uttered a loud sigh. Ashlea had never had such a perfect experience, and she lied next to him on her back.

  “Wow.”

  “I am glad you enjoyed yourself, he murmured. “Forever is a long time, but I can do that every day for the rest of our lives.”

  Ashlea giggled, liking the way he spoke about them like it would be centuries. She knew it would not last; it was too perfect. Her hand went to his cheek, touching him softly. An image of him in beast mode filled her head and the very thought made her want more. The very idea that there was something so powerful just below his gentle facade made her wet. It all seemed so dangerous and exciting. She almost climbed back on top of him, but Ashlea had no energy for those kinds of antics.

  “Nothing is forever, Conrad,” She said gently, her eyes falling.

  Conrad went to his side and stared down at her. His eyes were disconcerting, and she looked away as they were too much to hold the gaze of. He did not like her answer, and she did not want to see his displeasure.

  “I told you, you are mine now. I was not joking. This is your home, and you are my mate.”

  His words sunk in, and her eyes flicked back up to regard him cautiously. “What do you mean, ‘this is my home?’ And your mate? I think you are confused. Sex is not marriage.”

  “For me, it is.”

  His hand touched her side gently, with only the barest hint of a touch from his fingertips. Goosebumps fell across her skin. A shiver ran to her center, making it harder to remember what they were arguing about. She could feel his possession when he touched her, and she knew in her heart that the words that he said were true, but it was a lot to accept. Having always been independent, pure submission was not something she was ready for.

  “We can’t, Conrad. I have dreams, I am not ready to get married.”

  “Mates are stronger than your form of marriage. You are marked forever for me. Until I die, you are mine. That is how it will always be. You are already full with my children. Surely you will not cast me aside so quickly. You are my mate, whether you like it or not.”

  His words were one gentle, while his hand had roughly pushed her onto her back. The action made her feel vulnerable to his touch, knowing that her power to stop his touch was waning. She didn’t want to stop him, though. All she wanted to do was feel his magical hands on her flesh. The argument died on her lips as his hand teased her exposed front.

  “Open for me and accept that you belong to me Ashlea.”

  She shook her head no, still refusing to admit that she was his in all aspects. His hand moved off of her and she whimpered slightly with the loss of his touch.

  “I want you, Conrad,” she said, her voice strained. “And I don’t want to leave. But, there are also other things that I want. Can’t you understand that?” she asked, brows furrowing as she peered up at him.

  “I’ve been working at that diner for what feels like forever, barely scraping by, because I have dreams, hopes.”

  “And how well has that gone for you?” he asked, suddenly harsh. She glared at him, and he cursed himself.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his own voice barely contained. “I am…not in the best state of mind right now. I didn’t mean to sound so cruel. I only meant that…perhaps I could help.”

  She sighed, looking away. “I want to do this on my own.”

  Conrad nearly growled, but he contained himself, just barely. “What is it that you want so badly? If you want it so much, why can’t you accept help when it’s offered?”

  She turned back to look at him. The room was still dark, but she could see his eyes. More, she could see the way he looked at her. Like she was beautiful. Desirable. Sexy, even. If he could see that in her, why couldn’t anyone else?

  “I want to be a singer,” she replied, looking down. “And I don’t want to be ‘that girl who only got signed on because of her rich boyfriend.’ I want someone to sign me because I’m worth it. Because I’m talented. Because I’m…the whole package,” she said, sighing.

  Conrad observed her, the way she looked at herself, the subtle sarcasm in her words. “You are the whole package, Ashlea,” he said softly. “And whoever says otherwise, they’re all fools. You just haven’t been going to the right people. Just…let me help you,” he said, finding it odd that he should be pleading with his mate for anything—how did things get so turned around? He shook his head. “I won’t say a word, I won’t pay anyone off. But just let me put you in touch with a couple agencies, at the very least. Ashlea…” he trailed off. “I need you to stay with me,” he said finall
y, his voice firm. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. If that means helping you pursue your dreams, then that’s what I’ll do.”

  Ashlea stared at him for a long moment. She couldn’t deny she wanted this…to stay here, with him, forever. To be his. And if he could help her…well, as long as she really did get the gig because of her own talent, it didn’t really matter if he was the one who set up the meeting. She’d been searching for a way, anyway, to stay here and live out her dream—and it had just been practically handed to her.

  “Yes,” she said, licking her lips. Her own hand went to where he had left off, her eyes closing with the touch. She ignored him as her hand flew on her clit, almost finishing. He stopped her hand by laying his own over hers. His large hand moved over her, adding pressure and speed to her own ministrations. She was ready to explode before he moved his hand away, waiting for her to catch her breath. Ashlea was being driven mad and he pulled back just before she was able to blast his hand with her excitement. She whimpered, begging him to finish her. Her legs were wide open as he had asked, but she had not done what else he wanted from her. And now, all she could think about was her release. She would have promised him a star if he would just let her come. Her fingers were just not what she needed.

  “Please, Conrad.”

  “Tell me who you belong to, and I will do as you want.”

  Her stubbornness wore out quicker than her desire, and her large green eyes met his. She nodded her head tentatively and before she could say anything else, she was face down and screaming into the pillow with the one deep thrust she needed. He stayed like that for several moments until she stilled underneath him, the convulsions less. He ripped out in one swift pull and grinned down at her. Conrad knew she was in need of rest and he was honorable enough to give it to her.