16. Layla

I"m sitting at my desk, surrounded by screens and cables, lost in the labyrinth of video editing. The soft glow of the monitors casts a warm ambiance in the room, and the rhythmic clicking of the mouse fills the air. It"s a familiar scene, one where time seems to bend as I dive into the world of storytelling through visuals.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door jolts me from my creative trance. I glance at the clock. Who could here now? With a sigh, I push back my chair and make my way to the front door.

Opening the door, I find Randy standing on the other side, his expression somber. My brow furrows in confusion. "Randy? What are you doing here?"

He hesitates for a moment before speaking, his voice tense. "Layla, we need to talk. Can I come in?"

I shake my head, my mind racing with a million questions.

"You can say whatever you have to say out here."

I shut the door and walk out on the porch with him.

"I need to come clean about something," he says, his eyes locked on mine. "Something I should have told you a long time ago."

"Go on," I urge, bracing myself for the bombshell I'm ready for him to drop.

Randy shifts uncomfortably, his gaze falling to the floor. "I"m Breckin"s father," he confesses quietly. "I should have told you sooner, but I wasn"t sure if I wanted to be a dad."

I feel a wave of disbelief washes over me, followed by a surge of anger. "You"re Breckin"s father?" I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, I am. And I"m sorry for keeping it from you."

"Why wouldn"t you have told me sooner if it were true?" I demand, struggling to maintain my composure.

Randy rubs a hand over his face, his shoulders slumping. "I wasn"t sure if I wanted to be tied to you forever," he admits, his voice raw with emotion. "I was scared, Layla. Scared of the responsibility, scared of what it would mean for us."

I take a deep breath, trying to process everything he"s just revealed. "I need you to do a DNA test," I say finally, my tone firm. "Then we"ll talk."

"Of course," he agrees, stepping forward to embrace me.

I take a step back, holding up a hand to stop him. "No," I say firmly. "I"m engaged, Randy. This changes nothing between us. We"ll talk when the results come back positive."

"I understand," he murmurs, his voice barely audible. "I should have…"

I shake my hand. "We've been together for the last year… before that, you've been around me since the accident. This is not right. You should have told me if you thought you were his father. Do you have any idea what this will do to Breckin?"

"I wasn't thinking of anyone but myself. I'm sorry that I was so selfish."

"That's an understatement," I snap as I walk back inside the house.

I slam the door behind me and then lean against it.

How dare he be so manipulative.

I want to scream and shake him.

I'm grateful that Brock warned me about this already. I'm grateful Brock already took the DNA test. If this were two months ago, I would have believed Randy and accepted him back in my life forever.

That's not what I want. I want nothing to do with Randy.

Randy stopped by. I told him to take a DNA test and then left him on my porch

Are you okay?

I'm irritated

Understandable. Tierney is not pregnant. She and my mom were having margarita night last night

What do we do?

Let's sit back and watch what they do. We don't need to react, that's what they want

Okay. I'm going to get back to work and not let him distract me

Eric is taking Breckin tonight, right?

Yeah

Good, I'll be over at seven tonight to pick you up. I'm cooking dinner for you

I would like that

I put my phone down and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

My eyes are bright and shining, there's a big smile on my face. Brock makes me happy. My heart feels free and light.

I go back to my office and continue working.

***

There's a knock on my door at seven.

Brock.

I go to the door and open it. He's on the other side looking at a passing car. When he turns to me his face lights up.

"You look beautiful," he breathes.

"Thanks."

I do a little spin as I show off my little black dress and grey sweater. He steps forward and pulls me into a hot, steamy kiss.

"I missed you."

"We should go before we don't leave my house at all," I tease.

"You're right," he laughs.

He reaches down and laces his fingers in mine before leading me out the door. I stop and lock the door behind me and then let him lead me to his car.

"Tonight is about us and no one else," Brock says as he climbs in the car.

"I like that."

"Good," he smiles back at me.

He starts the car and pulls out of my driveway before he holds my hand again. I like the touching. I like that he does that.

"Will you be at Breckin"s game tomorrow?"

"I wouldn"t miss it."

"Good, he was asking."

"Eric texted me as much."

"He did?"

"Yeah," he laughs. "I was shocked by it too."

"Maybe he"s coming around to the idea."

"He will, if he isn"t already."

"What"s for dinner?"

"You"ll see."

He looks over at me with a mischievous grin. His eyes are practically dancing. He"s so handsome.

I sigh inwardly as I smile back at him.

"I"ll trust you, I guess."

He pulls my hand up and kisses it, leaving it by his face as he drives.

I would have never pegged this man for a romantic or someone who enjoys physical affection as much as I do.

"I"m glad."

We arrive at his Airbnb ten minutes later. He makes a gesture for me to stop when I reach up to open my door. He gets out, hurries around the car to open my door for me.

Such a gentleman.

I grin stupidly back at him as he helps me out of the car. He brushes his lips against mine before reaching down for my hand. He leads me into the house and straight into the dining room where he pulls a chair out for me.

"Sit, I"ll be right back."

"I can help."

"No, sit," he laughs.

He walks into the kitchen and comes back a few minutes later with two plates of food. He sets one down in front of me before he picks up a bottle of wine. He pours two glasses for us both and then lights the candles on the table. He shuts off the lights in the dining room before he sits down across from me.

"This is amazing," I breathe. "Did you cook this?"

"I did," he laughs.

The meal is a gorgeous chicken parmesan with fettuccine noodles. The way it"s plated looks more like it came from an expensive restaurant.

"Do you have culinary experience?"

"No, but I get bored in the off-season and watch a lot of cooking shows when I"m trying to spice up my healthy meals."

"You retain well. It looks and smells amazing."

"Well try it and see what you think."

I cut a piece of the chicken and noodles and take a bite. The flavors dance on my tongue.

"This is so good," I sigh.

He chuckles, grinning proudly. "I"m glad."

As we continue to enjoy the delicious meal, Brock leans back in his chair, watching me with a soft smile. I can feel the warmth of his gaze on me, and it sends a shiver down my spine. The flickering candlelight casts a romantic glow over the room, creating an intimate atmosphere that makes my heart race.

After we finish our meal, Brock stands up and extends his hand towards me. "Care for a dance?"

I giggle at his sudden suggestion. "But there"s no music."

He simply shrugs and takes a step closer, wrapping one arm around my waist while holding my hand with his other. Slowly, he begins to sway to an invisible melody, leading me in a gentle dance around the room.

He begins humming, quietly singing the words to "Yellow" by Coldplay. I gasp as the words filter in and a memory of Brock kissing me on the beach flashes before my eyes.

I rest my head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. In that moment, nothing else in the world exists except for the two of us, caught up in this simple yet profound intimacy.

As the dance comes to an end, Brock leans down and places a tender kiss on my forehead. "Thank you for tonight," he whispers. The sincerity in his voice sends a wave of warmth through me, and I find myself smiling up at him.

"No, thank you," I reply, my heart overflowing with gratitude for this unexpected and magical evening we"ve shared. "That song you were humming…"

"Was playing on your phone when I kissed you on the beach."

I nod slowly and let out a long breath. "It's nice."

"Every time I hear it, I think of you."

He gazes into my eyes, his expression filled with an unspoken emotion that leaves me breathless. Without another word, he takes my hand and leads me to the couch, where we settle comfortably next to each other.

The crackling of the fireplace fills the room with a soothing ambiance as we sit in comfortable silence, lost in our own thoughts yet connected by an invisible thread that draws us closer together.

"Do you want to watch a movie?"

"I"d love to."

"You know, I'm so impressed with how you show up for Breckin and…everyone around you. You're a single mom, you're a successful business owner, and you just pour so much love into everyone around you."

Whoa. How do I respond to that?

"Thank you," I murmur embarrassedly.

"You're a remarkable woman. I saw Dalton the other day. He told me about how you paid all the outstanding school lunch balances at Breckin's school."

"No one was supposed to know about that."

"To be fair, he told me not to tell anyone," he chuckles. "Dalton had a lot of nice things to say about you and what you do for the community."

"Let's watch the movie," I deflect.

"I also believe in giving back."

"Yes. I have tried to instill that value in Breck. I believe it"s important for him to learn, since his early age, that we have so much to be grateful for that we can express that by sharing some of our blessings."

"I couldn"t agree with you more."

"I volunteer at the Children's Hospital in Boston. Breck and I go in and drop off toys, and just visit with people sometimes. Eric got me started doing it."

"That's incredible. Thank you for teaching that to my son."

We settle on a movie, and he tugs me into him so that we"re snuggling on the couch together. My heart is so happy. I feel safe and calm right here.

As the movie plays in the background, I can feel Brock"s steady heartbeat against my back, his arms wrapped protectively around me. The soft glow of the fire casts flickering shadows across the room, creating a cocoon of warmth and intimacy around us.

I steal a glance at Brock"s profile, his features bathed in the gentle light. There"s a sense of peace and contentment in his expression, a far cry from the pressures of his usual high-profile life as a professional athlete.

I wish I remember the first time we met. Our first time together.

I hate that I"ve lost so much time with him. I can"t think about that though, we"re here now. That"s all that matters.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost jump when I feel Brock press a soft kiss to the top of my head. His touch is tender and full of unspoken affection, melting away any lingering doubts or fears in my heart.

"I"m really glad you"re here," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.

I turn in his arms to face him, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "I"m glad I"m here, too," I reply.

In that moment, with the crackling fire and the quiet intimacy surrounding us, everything feels right. Like all the pieces of the puzzle have finally fallen into place.

"I don"t want this night to end," he confesses, his voice laced with vulnerability.

"Then let"s make it last a little longer," I suggest, a sudden boldness taking hold of me.

Without another word, Brock"s lips meet mine in a tender kiss, filled with all the unspoken words and emotions that have been swirling between us all night.

I slide over so that I"m sitting in his lap, straddling him. His hands run up and down my back as our kisses become more urgent, and hungrier.

He deepens the kiss, his hands sliding up to cup my face as if he"s savoring the moment. I can feel the heat between us, a magnetic pull that neither of us can resist.

I rock against him, the bulge in his pants is straining to be released and I want nothing more than to feel him inside me. I reach down and unbuckle his pants. His hands begin sliding my sweater down my shoulders.

As I get the belt undone, I unbutton and unzip his pants before I pull his hard shaft out of his pants. He tugs at the hem of my dress.

I move away, standing in front of him as I gaze into his eyes. I pull my dress up over my head slowly, revealing the red lace bra and panties underneath.

He sucks in a breath as I begin removing them both. He shucks his pants and pulls off his shirt before I drop to my knees in front of him.

Wrapping my hand around his thick shaft, I start to stroke it slowly, teasing him with my soft, warm touches. He groans softly, his hands landing gently on my shoulders.

"Baby, please don"t tease me like that," he whispers hoarsely.

I look up at him, a wicked smile on my lips. "Does this feel good?" I ask, continuing to stroke him.

He nods eagerly, shaking slightly. "Oh yes, so good," he breathes.

I continue to stroke him, increasing the pace slightly as I lean forward to lick the head of his cock. He moans loudly, his hands tightening on my shoulders.

I look up at him, my eyes locked onto him as I take him into my mouth, sucking gently and swirling my tongue around the sensitive skin. He tugs on my hair, guiding me deeper, and I take him deeper, my throat constricting around him.

He groans loudly, his hips bucking slightly as I continue to suck and stroke him. He"s close now, his breathing becoming ragged and his grip on my shoulders growing tight.

"I"m going to cum," he growls, warning me.

I pull back slightly, taking only the tip of his cock into my mouth as I reach down to cup his balls in my hand, gently massaging them. His hips buck wildly, spurting hot, salty cum into my waiting mouth as he cries out my name.

I swallow quickly, not wanting to waste a drop of his precious release as I savor the taste of him. He collapses back onto the couch, panting heavily as he tries to catch his breath.

"God, you"re incredible," he breathes, a look of amazement on his face.

"I"m just getting started," I wink at him, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

I climb back onto his lap, his erection still hard and twitching against my core. I grind against him, feeling his cock pulse against me, wanting more of him.

He groans, his hands digging into my hips as he rock against me, our bodies moving in sync. "I need you so bad," he whispers, his breath hot against my ear.

"Then take me," I whisper back, my voice thick with desire.

He lifts me up, sets me on the couch, and positions himself between my legs. He lines up the tip of his cock with my entrance, and with one powerful thrust, he plunges deep inside me, filling me completely.

I cry out in pleasure, my hands digging into his shoulders as I feel him stretch me open. He pulls back slightly, then thrusts forward again, his hips moving in a rhythm that"s both controlled and wild.

His eyes are locked onto mine, his expression a mix of lust and tenderness as he pumps into me. I meet his gaze, our eyes locked as I feel him claiming me, possessing me.

I wriggle my hips, trying to meet his thrusts, but he holds me firmly in place, controlling the pace. I whimper, my body craving more, wanting to feel him deeper inside me.

He responds by increasing the pace, his thrusts becoming faster and harder. I can feel his dick sliding in and out of me, creating a wet, slapping sound with each movement.

He reaches down and cups my breasts, tweaking my nipples roughly as he increases the pace even more. I cry out his name, my body tensing up as an orgasm builds within me.

"Oh god, Brock," I moan, "I"m close."

He smirks, his eyes never leaving mine. "Good. Let"s see how you handle this."

He picks up the pace even more, sliding in and out of me so fast that my mind is foggy with pleasure. My body is writhing beneath him, my climax building higher and higher.

Just as I"m about to explode, I feel his cock twitch inside me, and I know that he"s about to cum too. I cry out his name again, my orgasm crashing over me like a tidal wave.

His hips stutter and jerk, each thrust more forceful than the last as he pumps into me, filling me with his cum. I can feel the warmth flood my insides, and I know that we"re connected in a way that transcends mere sex.

Finally, the waves of pleasure subside, and we collapse onto the couch, our bodies still joined. I rest my head on his shoulder, my heart pounding in my chest.

"That was amazing," I murmur, my voice thick with emotion.

"I think that"s an understatement," he says, laughter in his voice.

We stay like that for a while, just enjoying the warmth and intimacy that surrounds us.

I don"t want this to end.