Chapter Twenty-Two

Atlas

I toss my phone down on the couch next to me. We are doing this. Finally, we are going to talk everything out and move forward. Hopefully, together. Winning the game today didn't fill me with as much excitement and joy as I thought it would. I have wanted to make it to the World Series for as long as I can remember, but it doesn't feel the way I thought it would.

I would have felt more had my girls been at my game, knowing they were close, and seeing me hit another milestone that I have worked so hard for. It would have meant more, if they were with me.

I felt the change in myself and how I felt when Indya messaged me and said that she watched the game. The thrill that our team, Riverside Legends, are going to the World Series, hits me, as soon as I saw that she was, in fact, with me.

I hope they saw my signals to them when I was up to bat. I knew Riviera, the pitcher, was going to try and walk me. They would rather have the bases loaded, than have someone hit hard and guarantee the three runs. If he would have walked me, there was a chance one of the three of us would get the third out, giving the opposing team the win. Not on my watch.

I call down to security, letting them know they can send Indya up when she gets here. No one is at reception this late at night, just the security guards. I want to make sure she has no trouble getting to me when she does arrive.

Forty minutes later, I hear the elevator making its appearance. My heart is beating so hard in my chest, I don't think I have ever been this nervous to see her. I am excited too, and happy she agreed for us to talk about everything, but fuck, I am nervous as hell.

"Hey," Indya says quietly as she steps off the elevator opening into my condo. Fuck, she is beautiful.

"Hey. You didn't have any trouble getting up here, did you? I called down and told them I was expecting you," I respond nervously. I can feel my hands trembling.

"No, they were complete gentlemen and even scanned the card to bring me up without stopping," she laughs as though the concept is ridiculous, which it kind of is.

I nod my head, glad they treated her well downstairs. I hold my arm out toward the living room inviting her into my home. She has been here plenty of times, but I don't think any of those times were as awkward as this.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" I ask, needing something to do before we dive into this mess caused by people on the outside of our relationship.

She shakes her head no, so I go and grab a couple bottles of water from my refrigerator, one for myself and one for her if she changes her mind. Once I return to the living room, I set the water bottles down on the table and I sit beside her, making sure not to be too close, but also not too far. I don't want her to be uncomfortable, but I need to be near her.

"Which one of us is starting? Do you want to say or tell me what all happened from your side, or do you want me to go first and let you know everything I found out after you texted me?" I ask Indya, wanting to just jump into so we can get this conversation out of the way.

"You can go ahead, maybe what you say will clear up a lot of things I am still confused about. I will hold any questions I have until you are completely finished, this way, nothing gets missed and we don't get sidetracked. Does that sound good?" Indya decides. She is rubbing her arms, so I know she is feeling the nerves, just as I am.

"Alright, I will start at the moment I got your text. But first I want to tell you I am sorry for all of this. Even if it was mostly other people who are to blame, I am sorry you had to be a part of it," I say in an exhale. I feel better knowing I have apologized to her, even if I did nothing wrong.

She nods her head, accepting my apology, so then I jump right into it.

"I was crushed when you messaged me. I had no clue what I had done and why you were saying you wanted me to be happy with Mallory of all people. Even though you told me not to text or call, I did, but you must have blocked my number right after you sent the message, because as soon as I read it, I tried. About a month or so goes by and Simms and I are working out in the gym at the clubhouse, when he asks about it. He kept saying it didn't make sense and you would have had a good reason to break up with me. He was right. He found the article that was published and when I read it, I went straight to the magazine where that douche, James, worked. He pretty much told me what I already knew, but I need confirmation.

"After him, I told Mallory if she pulled anything like that again, I would get a restraining order against her. Well, she didn't listen, so the restraining order is in place and she was served with those papers. I recently found out her parents made her go to the East Coast and manage some of the hotels and restaurants near Boston. They were at her house when the officer served her. They were so embarrassed she was acting this way, they had her packed up and moved two days later."

I laugh shaking my head, just imagining Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore's faces when the officer handed Mallory that envelope that held the restraining order. That would have made my entire fucking year.

"I'm getting ahead of myself, so just know, she is out of the picture. The article was written by my mother and sent in to be published and the picture was from Mallory. The photograph you saw online, was from right after I was drafted to the Legends. It was years ago when it was taken." I really hope she is believing me on this, because I don't know how much more I can deal with the pain of her not being in my life.

"Then I took my mom out to lunch when she got back from a trip she took. Telling her the same thing I pretty much have told her time and time again. Stay out of my business or be removed from my life. I gave her a chance to come clean about everything, but she didn't take it." This still hurts, she is my mother. I have always been honest with her and I never understood why she couldn't give me the same in return.

"When I got back to my place after lunch with my mother, Amara was in the lobby waiting on me. And let me tell you, she did not hold back, I tell her, making sure she doesn't think her best friend has left her side."

"That makes a lot more sense as to why Amara has been acting weird the last few weeks. I thought she was seeing someone and didn't want to tell me, either because it was that fuck face Trevor, or someone on the team I feel a little silly about it really. She was just trying to hide the fact that she confronted you even though I told her not to." She laughs, her head shaking, like she can't believe that it was nothing that romantic or dramatic.

"God, I missed that sound," I whisper, the words slipping from my mouth, unintentionally. "Sorry, I will continue with my story."

"Amara is the one who informed me that apparently, I was getting married and had an engagement party coming up. I was shocked. I had no clue about any of that. I was so angry when she told me my mom hand delivered it to you herself, especially since I had just spoken to her and given her the chance to tell me herself and she didn't. As soon as she finished telling me every detail, I went straight to my parents' house. My mom and Mallory were in the library looking through a wedding binder. That was when I told Mallory to get out, and to be expecting the restraining order. I called my lawyer and told him to have it filed and to her before dinner time." I found out she got it two hours later which filled me with joy.

"My mom acted like nothing was wrong, she didn't try to deny anything. So, I told her she no longer had a position in my life as my mother and left," I say fervently, I love my mom, and even though she acts the way she does, she is still my mother. So, when I cut her out of my life, and she didn't respond, it hurt—deeply.

"I'm sorry she hurt you that way, Atlas. No mother should ever not try to fight to keep you, ever. I don't think I would be able to live with myself if those words were spoken to me by Haven. I would have done anything and everything to get her back in my life," Indya tells me, sitting closer so she can rub comforting circles on my back.

"It's fine, Indy. She will realize her choices when she attempts to contact me and is unable to. I don't think she believes I would do that to her, I have given her so many chances over the years. This was too much, she went too far over the line, when I lost you and Haven. I will be fine, I promise," I say, hoping what I am telling her is truthful.

"I guess, it's my turn. I don't really have any questions for you about the whole ordeal. My side of the story is much shorter, I am afraid. My sisters showed me the article that is when I messaged you. You're right in your assumption, I blocked your number as soon as I hit send and it was delivered. I didn't want to hear excuses as to why you never mentioned it or tell me you were back with Mallory yourself. About a week or so after Amara caught Haven on the phone with you, she changed into a completely different person. She told me she hated me and wished she had a dad so she could live with him. That broke me. I was already broken from what I thought you had done, but when my baby signed those words to me with so much hatred and anger on her little face, it shattered all my broken pieces. We dealt with that, slowly but surely, she is coming back to me. I think her talking to Zander helps her feel close to you as well as him.

"Then months pass, I am still heartbroken during all of this time. Haven is still broken hearted but getting better every day. Your mom shows up and tells me that since I didn't get to enjoy the gala, she wanted me to enjoy this event. She didn't mention what it was or who it was for, she just handed me the envelope and pretty much ran from my apartment. When I opened it, reading the words, well, what was beginning to heal, shattered again, apparently, I passed out. Then when I woke up after sleeping for most of the day, Amara told me she came here with Haven and what they saw. Once again, my baby was heartbroken. But we are healing, slowly but surely," she says taking a deep breath.

"We have watched every game that has been televised. So even though we aren't together, doesn't mean we weren't thinking of you and wishing you luck on every catch, every throw, every hit, and every run you made. It doesn't mean we don't still care about you, Atlas. I want to show you something if that is okay. This is the outfit Haven wore for today's game; I told her you were nervous that morning because this is where you lost last year. I about lost it when she came out of her room, head held high, not giving two fucks who had something to say about what she is wearing that day," she laughs, but the pride in her eyes tell me everything I need to know.

She flips through her phone, then hands it to me. There is my princess, wearing baseball leggings, my jersey, her princess crown, and a tutu. It looks like there are charms all over the tutu, but I can't make out what they are, even when I zoom in.

"What is on her tutu?" I ask, because it is going to drive me crazy if I don't have every detail of this photo ingrained into my memory bank.

"They're baseball charms, little bats and little gloves, or mitts whatever you want to call them. She added those herself, with the help of her uncle Silas, which I discovered after the game," she laughs shaking her head at their antics.

"Um, do you think, uh, I could have a copy of this?" I ask nervously.

She snatches her phone, and then my phone vibrates next to me.

"Of course, she would love knowing you got to see her in her game day uniform as she now calls it. After you guys won, she came up to me and said she will be wearing that exact outfit for the World Series, it is her good luck charm," she is laughing again, shaking her head, like she can't believe some of the things her daughter comes up with.

"Thank you. She looks great. She looks like she has grown since I last saw her, she even looks older," I say solemnly, sad I have missed moments with her.

"I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to explain. I panicked, and I was already too deep in with you, so was Haven. I was scared that if it was true and I ignored it or let you off with a warning, I would end up in a relationship like some of the foster families had when I was growing up. I am sorry, so sorry, Atlas. Please forgive me?" A tear falls from her eyes, and I catch it with my thumb.

"There is nothing for you to be sorry for, Indy. We are good, I promise. I will even pinky swear on if you want. I have been a mess without you and Haven in my life. I would get jealous when we were on the road and Zander would get calls from Haven. I knew exactly when he would get them, he always went to the bathroom to take them. I could still hear his voice, and yours when you were telling him what Haven was saying. I know it wasn't his fault for being allowed contact with her, but I wanted that too. I loved her first, and he ended up getting more of her time when I got nothing. It hurt something fierce," I say thinking back to every time Zander got a call and then raced to the bathroom.

We sit there for a moment, not speaking, not moving, just thinking. Thinking about everything that was said and everything that was done.

"I forgot to ask you and if you don't want to tell me, that's okay too. Has David tried to reach out to you since you called him that night? Have you gotten any letter from the courts or anything?" I ask, curious what happened after I left her apartment that night.

"No, nothing. Which I find strange, because he is not one to give up on something like that. Sonya is the same way, so I am not sure. I try not to think about it because I don't want my luck to change in that aspect. So as of now, I just pretend that the phone conversation never happened," she says, the relief in her voice clear.

I know Silas had something to do with the reason his father hasn't made any moves. After I told him about the call he was pissed. I don't know what happened afterward, but I have a gut feeling Silas had something to do with it.

"I am going to say this, but it stays between us. The only reason I say that is because I don't have all the facts, I am just going by what my gut is telling me," I say to her, as I turn my entire body toward her, our knees touching.

She looks scared of what I am about to say, but agrees anyway.

"I told Silas about the phone call. I was on my way to meet him to talk about getting together to come up with a plan for bringing you back into my life. He was so angry, I could see the anger coming from his eyes. I think he may have spoken to his parents, and that is why they haven't made any more moves," I explain, giving her what I think happened.

She stays quiet for a while, so again, we sit in silence. There is no longer any awkwardness or tension in the air, just the electrical current flowing from her body to mine. This tells me that our connection is still there, what we had was real. I am determined now more than ever to keep her with me by my side for the rest of my life. I figure it is time to put it all out there, no matter the results. My favorite baseball quote of all time is by Babe Ruth, Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

"Can you give me another chance, Indya?" There I said it, it is out there, clear as day, no confusion.

"On one condition, Atlas," she whispers as she leans closer to me.

"Anything. I will do any-fucking-thing to get you back," I whisper back, leaning in closer to her.

"Kiss me."

That was the only thing I need to hear from her gorgeous lips. I kiss her hard, with urgency. Our tongues are tangled and our teeth clashing together, it is messy, but so fucking great.

We are both breathing hard, hands all over each other. I am hard as steel, my cock trying to fight its way through my shorts. Her soft moans and gasps make me even harder, to the point it is becoming painful.

"Take me to your room, Atlas," Indya moans.

I don't ask any questions—I just do as she asks. I grab her ass as she locks her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, lifting her as I stand. My lips never leaving her body, as I kiss down her neck, she grinds her pussy against me, I can feel her heat through all the layers we both have on.

When I get to my room, I don't slow to close the door or turn on the light, I take her straight to my bed. Tossing her down, she bounces up, giggling at the action. I rip my shirt off and her eyes heat, her light blue eyes look darker than ever, they remind me of a stormy sky.

She starts to undress but I stop her.

"Let me. I want to unwrap you like the gift you are, Indya." My voice is deep and husky, I am so turned on right now, I am afraid if I see her tits, I will blow my load where I stand.

She leans back watching me watch her. I remove my shorts leaving on the black boxer briefs, I adjust my cock, squeezing the base to take the edge off.

Indya's eyes glow, she licks her lips, sitting up and crawling to the edge of the bed where I am standing.

"I want to taste you," she says, her voice hoarse, like she has used it too much and is on the verge of losing it completely.

"As much as I want you to wrap your beautiful mouth around my cock and suck it, I wouldn't last long enough. However, I will be taking a rain check on that, and I will be cashing in soon," I groan, just imagining the way she looks on her knees, beautiful eyes looking up at me, while she tries to swallow my cock.

She goes back to her position on the bed, waiting for me, I can tell she is getting impatient. Her hands begin to caress her body over her clothes as I stand there and watch. When her hand passes over her breasts and she squeezes them tight, making her moan and arch her back from the bed, my hand goes back to my cock.

I continue to watch her rub her entire body, but when she gets close to that aching spot between her legs, I stop her.

"Only I get to make you come, Indy," I tell her. Her hands drop to her sides, the frustration and agony in her eyes. Now, I begin my crawl towards her.

I go to sit my back against the headboard, grabbing her and sitting her on my lap. We both groan, my cock is nestled right between the lips of her pussy, putting pressure on her clit. She starts to move, finding the friction will get her where she wants to be, but I grab her hips, pressing her down tightly, so she is unable to move. The pressure of her wet heat makes my cock twitch, ready to be wrapped up in her silky, wet, tight pussy. But not yet, I am taking my time with her tonight. Making up for all the time we have lost.

She told me Haven was covered and she didn't need to rush home, so I plan to make every minute she is here count. "Don't move," I command, gripping her hips. "If you move, I will stop, understand?" She nods, her eyes darkening even more, fuck, I missed her.

I release her hips, rubbing her thighs and moving my way up her body as she sits perfectly still on my lap. When I get to her neck, I squeeze, just a little, making her eyes flare, then I cup her face with both of my hands.

"You know I love you, right? I would never do anything to bring you or Haven harm. You both are embedded into my soul, I am nothing without either of you," I whisper against her lips.

"I know you wouldn't. I love you. More than anything. So much it scares me sometimes," Indya says, voice shaking.

"Do you trust me?" I ask.

She nods her head again, slightly moving, which causes friction and pressure right at the tip of my cock, making me groan.

"Can I tie you to my bed, so I can have my way with your body?"

This time she hesitates, I flex my hips, pressing into her, I get a moan and a yes. I lift her from my lap and go to the closet to get a couple ties, then set about tying her hands to my headboard. I keep them loose enough, so she can get out if she wants, and I let her know that, to ease her mind.

"I have never done this before, but the thought of you being tied to my bed, drives me fucking insane," I say as I finish tying the last knot.

She is pressing her thighs together trying to get the friction her body is craving. I place a kiss on her head and work my way down her neck and chest. When I get to the edge of her shirt, I lift, pushing it towards her face, making sure to kiss, lick, and suck my way up as well.

I take the shirt and cover her eyes with it, which makes her stiffen. I uncover them and whisper to her, "Just for a little bit, okay. I want to eat your pussy while you are blindfolded so all you do is feel. I will remove the shirt from your eyes when I have had my fill, because I am not going to sink inside you without looking into yours."

"Oh," she whispers, eyes widen, her pulse beats rapidly in her neck, so I place the shirt back over her eyes, starting my journey downward.

I kiss her lips once more, then work my way to her neck and chest. When I get to her chest, I lick between her breasts, then work one with my thumb and forefinger, pinching and rolling, and lick, kiss and suck the other. I cover her entire breast with my mouth and suck, hard, making a popping sound when I pull my head back releasing her. Then I go back to work on her nipple, gently nibbling it before increasing the pressure and flicking it with my tongue.

Once I feel this tit has had enough and it is nice and hard for me, I switch to the other, bringing my hand up to keep working the one I just had my mouth on. The sounds that are coming from Indya, are sexy as hell. She grinds against me, trying to find her release, but every time I think she is close, I lift my body away from hers.

I continue my journey down her stomach, gripping her pants and underwear and pulling them down her legs together, again, kissing her skin as it appears to me. Once her clothing passes over her petite feet, I kiss their arches, moving my way up her legs. Once I get to her inner thighs, I press my palms against them, spreading her wide open for me.

Spending some time nipping each of her inner thighs, I raise my head to look at her, even though she can't see me, I know she can feel my heated gaze on her.

"Are you ready for me, Indy? Are you ready to be mine again, forever?"

"Y-yes, please, Atlas, I need to come," she begs, she may erupt with just one lick.

I don't reply to her response, I just dive right in. My mouth covers her entire bare pussy, I suck in while making sure my tongue touches and tastes every inch of her. Once I am satisfied my tongue I touched every surface of her pussy, I stiffen my tongue and fuck her, all while the suction I have on her is still connected.

"Oh my god!" she screams as her thighs clamp around my head, muffling the sound of her pleasure.

I release the suction I had and remove my tongue from her heat, replacing it with two fingers, slowly rubbing the soft tissue just inside. I continue to lick and nibble her lower lips, waiting for her to come down from her ecstasy. Once she is back flat on the bed, and her moans have softened, I latch on to her clit, sucking hard, biting just enough for her to feel the pressure, and flicking her little nub with my tongue while I have it clamped between my teeth. I start pounding my fingers into her, making sure to bend them just right to ensure it hits her G-spot every time.

"At-at-Atlas," she whimpers, pleasure taking over her, once again.

I remove my briefs one handed, my other hand is still moving in and out of her, prolonging her orgasm. My briefs join the other discarded clothing on my floor, I ease my fingers from her, bringing them to my mouth. I groan. Jesus, she tastes like mine. I begin to make the journey up her body, sliding my tongue along the way.

I reach up to remove her shirt and untie her hands, because let's face it, when I am inside her, I want her hands all over me. "Are you okay?"

"Jesus, Atlas, I am fucking fabulous. Now get inside me, before I explode," she says, breathless. I just grin and nudge the head of my cock at her entrance.

"You want me to go in slow, or fast?" I ask her. Hoping she wants me to go fast and hard.

"Fast. And hard," she smirks, she knew I was thinking the same thing. We can go slow and steady in round two, right now we both just want to feel this connection.

I rub her clit with my fingers, making sure she is relaxed and wet enough to take me without hurting her. Two seconds before I slam into her, she yells, "Now!"

My hips meet her thighs, and I pause, giving her just a moment to adjust. I stretched one leg over my shoulder and press the other to the mattress. The angle makes it feel as though I am deeper than when I first entered her. God, she feels amazing.

I begin to make long strokes out, only to slam back into her. Her cries of pleasure urge me on, becoming my pleasure. I can already feel the base of my spine tingling, so I pause to change positions, pulling out of her. I flip her on her stomach, pulling her hips toward me, her ass in the air, while I press her shoulder down into the mattress.

I slam back into her, and she cries out, the sound freezes me. Then she starts swirling her hips, relieving me of the tension in my body and continuing my attack on her tight wet pussy once again. My hands spread her ass cheeks, showing me her forbidden hole, my thumbs move close to the hole entrance but not entering. I pull her cheeks apart further, stretching the hole from the outside, and suddenly I feel a warm gush covering my pelvis, balls, thighs and part of my stomach.

My girl is a squirter, fuck yeah! I am celebrating in my head when the tingling sensation is back and stronger than ever. But I don't want to come like this, I want our eyes to be connected.

I pull out once more, flipping her over then pulling her on top of me. "Ride me hard, Indy."

She positions me at her entrance and slides down my cock so slowly I almost die. Once she is settled, the fluttering of her walls make my dick twitch, bringing a smirk to Indya's face.

She leans forward and kisses my lips gently, still not moving. "Are you ready for me?" she asks, her voice is deep and warm, wrapping itself around my entire being.

"I have been ready and waiting for you my entire life, baby. Take what you need, take what you want, give me your all, and I will give you mine in return," I whisper in her ear.

That must have done it because she rides me hard, twisting and swirling her hips, adding a bounce here in there. She feels so good, I never want this to end.

"Come with me, Atlas. Fill me up, please," she moans as she braces one hand on my chest and the other on my thigh.

Suddenly, I feel her tighten around me, so tight I may lose consciousness, triggering my own orgasm. The first spurt of come I give her, makes the stars dance in multiple colors behind my eyes.

She slows her movements, until they have stopped completely. We are both breathing hard and covered in sweat, I kiss her forehead and whisper, "I love you, Indya."

Before my eyes close and darkness finds me, I hear her whisper back, "I love you, Atlas."