Whoa! I Married the Pitcher: a BBW romance & Passport 2 Love collaboration (Wedded Curves Book 3) Read online

“I met Gavin at their wedding, and we got married right away.”

  “Oh, wow. And here I was, thinking Bryce’s and my Vegas wedding was sudden. We didn’t even think about it. We just saw the sign, said I do, then I thought, whoa, I just married the pitcher of the Washington Nationals.”

  “That’s romantic." Jolene smiles. “Gavin and I got married in the local bakery when I was buying profiteroles. He’s made me super happy ever since,” she says with a sigh as I lift a forkful of pie to my lips. “I made the pie.” She watches me eat with a proud smile on her face.

  “It’s delicious.”

  “Isn’t it just?” Marnie says. “Jolene makes the best pie you’ve ever tasted.”

  “You could open your own bakery,” I say.

  “Oh, no. I only bake for fun. I don’t want money for it.” Jolene smiles, and I’m caught thinking that she’s such a beam of positivity, everything about her makes me feel a little lighter. I haven’t done a lot of relaxing ever since I found out about my pregnancy, but for the first time in a long time, I feel the tension leave my shoulders. I also feel a heat flow between my legs.

  “Oh, my god.” Pushing back, I look down to see fluid splashing onto the floor. “Oh, my god.”

  “Your water broke,” Jolene says, hopping off her chair and calling out to the guys who are still outside. “Skyla’s water just broke!”

  “Oh, god. What do I do? What do I do? I’m not due for—” Rapid breaths move in and out of my lungs, making it harder to think. “It’s too soon.”

  “Babies like to come in their own time, sweetheart.” Marnie says, coming to my side. “But it’s OK, we’ll get you to a hospital, and everything will be fine.”

  “No!” I yell, just as a contraction hits me, sending me to my knees. “No. I can’t go to a hospital. He’ll find me. I know he will.” Marnie drops to the floor with me, her hand on my back as I moan in pain.

  “It’s OK. We’re here to help you.”

  It’s then that Bryce comes barreling through the door, his feet skidding on the floorboards in his haste. “Skyla.”

  “The baby’s coming,” I cry, my stomach tightening before the intense pain of a contraction radiates through me. “I don’t think it’s Braxton Hicks anymore.” I’m grunting and swaying on all fours like some wild animal.

  “I’m here, sugar. I’m here.” Bryce slides on the floor so he’s in front of me, and I wrap my arms around him and just cry. This hurts so damn much. “You’re doing great, baby, just breathe. You’re so strong, so strong.” He kisses my head and strokes my back, his presence so soothing to me.

  “It hurts.”

  “I know. But we’ll get to meet our baby girl at the end of it. We’ll be a family.”

  I nod. It’s pretty much all I can do at this stage. Everyone is talking at once. There’re instructions being thrown back and forth, towels and hot water sought, al while I start screaming because it feels like everything inside me is in the process of trying to get out.

  “It’s too much!” I’m overwhelmed and slump against Bryce, the pain so intense that I can’t make my muscles move anymore.

  “I don’t think we have much time here,” Marnie says as Bryce helps me move so my back is against his chest, my knees up. “Lift her bottom. I’ll get these towels under her.”

  Bryce does as she asks, and between him, Marnie and Jolene, they get me ready to give birth when the pain I’m in stops me from doing it myself. No one tells you it will feel like this. No one. I doubt there’d be as many babies in this world if we understood the extent of this.

  “You’re doing great, sugar,” Bryce says, pressing soft kisses into my sweat-soaked hair.

  “I can see the head,” Marnie calls out.

  “It says to resist the urge to push so you don’t tear,” Jolene says, reading from a phone.

  “I can’t help it,” I grunt.

  “You have to pant,” she says, demonstrating for me. I try to mimic her. Everyone else does too. We’re all crowded on the kitchen floor, panting in unison. If I wasn’t in so much pain, I’d think it was hilarious.

  “Argh!” I grunt and growl, my body pushing of its own accord. Everything is hurting or burning, until suddenly it isn’t, and I hear a cry.

  “Welcome to the world, baby girl.” Marnie beams as she wraps our bawling babe in a towel and places her on my stomach.

  “You did it, sugar. Look at her. Look at our girl,” Bryce whispers, kissing me over and over, tears in his eyes as he helps me cradle our precious bundle.

  “She’s perfect,” I whisper, exhausted but also deliriously happy. “Our little bundle of hope.”

  “Is that what you’re naming her?” Jolene asks, grinning from ear to ear with Marnie as they both look on.

  I look up at Bryce who presses a soft kiss on my forehead. “Hope,” I say.

  “I think it fits,” he says, his eyes so filled with love it makes my heart double in size. There’s something really special about seeing a big strong guy wearing his emotions on his sleeve.

  “Hey there, little Hope,” Marnie says, touching her lightly before she stands and both she and Jolene leave the room to give us a moment to ourselves.

  “We’re parents,” I muse, tracing my fingertips over the soft swell of Hope’s baby cheeks. She has a shock of dark hair and a tiny button nose.

  “Yeah, we are. You’ve made me so incredibly happy, Skyla,” Bryce murmurs before he presses his lips to mine and kisses me with gentle emotion. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” I return, just as Hope grizzles. “Oh, and you too, little one. Mommy and Daddy love you more than anything.” I never imagined myself as a mother until Bryce claimed me as his. I’d barely even showed an interest in boys let alone motherhood. But something about being in his arms had me longing for the whole shebang—marriage, kids, the works. If only gaining those things was the happily ever after I so desperately need.

  As in love with Bryce and Hope as I am, our moment is also clouded with a feeling of vulnerability. And until I’m sure Malcolm will never darken my doorstep again, I’ll never be at peace. I just hope Danny is the solution Bryce seems to think he is. I want to be free again.

  Bryce

  “How is she?” Danny takes a seat next to me in the living room where I’m cradling a sleeping Hope in my arms, her tiny fingers wrapped tight around my index finger.

  “Baby’s great,” I say, waggling my finger lightly as she makes sleepy snuffling sounds. “Mom’s resting.”

  “Takes a lot out of them. I think Marnie and Jolene are freaking out about having to go through the same thing themselves soon.”

  “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to come in here and mess up your life like that. We thought we still had time.”

  He holds up his hand. “It’s no bother, I assure you. I’m glad you came to me, I’m even more glad that you made it here in time. Twenty minutes later and you would have been having that baby on the side of the road.”

  “Believe me, I’m aware.” I blow my breath out in a burst. “Fucking scary shit, huh?” I laugh a little as I turn and meet his eyes. He’s smiling and looking down at his little niece. “You wanna hold her?”

  “Oh, she’s sleeping.”

  “I doubt she’ll mind. Here, Uncle Danny. Meet your niece, Hope.” I stand and gently lower her into his big arms, and he cradles her like she’s made of glass, grinning like a Cheshire cat. I’m a big guy compared to most, but I’m tall and lean where Danny is just plain ole big. Hope looks even smaller in his arms than she does in mine.

  “She’s beautiful, Bryce.”

  “Like her mom.” I smile, feeling all gooey inside for my girls.

  “About Skyla,” he starts, looking up to meet my eyes. “I’ve gotta ask, how old is she?”

  My spine stiffens, the smile falling from my lips. “You’re gonna judge me for it.”

  “As long as she was legal when you started, I’ve got no issue. I’m only asking because if I’m helping you take t
his guy down, I need all the details so I’m not blindsided—you know I’m gonna find out, anyway.”

  I let out a frustrated exhale as I sit beside him. “She’s nineteen. We started when she was eighteen. Age of consent in DC is sixteen. You happy with that timeline?”

  He nods. “I’m sorry I had to ask.”

  “Don’t sweat it. I feel like a cradle snatcher as it is.”

  “There’re only ten years between you. Marnie is twenty-seven to my forty-two—that’s fifteen.”

  “Yeah, but Skyla is barely out of high school. She should be in college, but instead she’s on the run with me.”

  “He’s really that bad, huh?”

  “He’s worse. I don’t even want to tell you what he did to try to stop this little one from coming along.” I reach out and take Hope back from Danny’s arms, brushing my fingers along her hairline. It hurts my heart to think someone is so desperate for riches they’d try to steal a man’s family away.

  “I get it. But you know you have to, right? I need everything you’ve got on this guy.”

  I nod slowly. “I know. But not tonight, OK? Can we just…I don’t know, enjoy the quiet?”

  “Of course. You can enjoy the quiet for as long as you like. We’ve got plenty of space, and traveling with a newborn isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Does anyone know you’re here?”

  I shake my head. “No one. I only knew about this place because Mom likes to send me email updates about everything you’re doing.”

  “She loves her emails.” Danny chuckles.

  “That she does.”

  “Well—” he pats my leg as he stands with an old man grunt. He’s thirteen years older than me, but to look at him, you’d think he was in his early thirties. He’s probably fitter than I am, and sport is my life. “—I’ll leave you to spend some quality time with your daughter. And don’t stress about taking up space or getting in the way. It’s safe here. Stay.”

  “Thank you,” I say, a lump forming in my throat as I think about all the shitty things I’ve said to him over the years. I was always so jealous of how proud Mom and Dad were of him. It’s taken until now for me to realize it was never a competition. They were proud of us both.

  “Danny,” I say, stopping him before he leaves the room. He stops at the doorway and places a hand against the frame as he turns back to face me. “I’m sorry—for the way I’ve behaved in the past. You didn’t deserve it.”

  Flashing me a small smile, he gives me a single nod. “I appreciate that, brother. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me too.”

  As he leaves me sitting alone in the room, I lean my head back against the overstuffed couch, letting my body relax for the first time in months. Safe. That’s exactly what Skyla and I need. I’ve never been one to accept the help of others, but for once in my life, I think I just might take my brother up on his offer.

  Skyla

  A rooster crows in the distance, and I open my eyes, realizing I’ve just had my first night of uninterrupted sleep in three months. I pick up the baby monitor, watching the tiny screen showing Hope still sleeping peacefully, her little thumb in her mouth.

  I lie back on the bed with a contented sigh. There was a while there when I thought that I’d never sleep more than a few hours again. But here I am, rested and refreshed. I feel like a new woman. In fact…

  “Baby,” I whisper, rolling closer to Bryce, my hand sliding underneath his cotton T, fingers tracing lightly over his ripped abs. Even though he hasn’t been on the pitch for months, he hasn’t missed a beat with his training. He’s fit, and he’s strong. And when we finally get our team back, he’ll be ready and raring to take the mound again. We’re just waiting for Danny’s contacts to find the chink in Malcolm’s armor—easier said than done.

  But when all is said and done, there are worse places to be than in Oakwood Falls with the love of my life. If for some reason, we never manage to stop Malcolm’s manipulations, then there’s always the option of living in the mountains like Gavin and Jolene do. I think Bryce would make a pretty hot looking mountain man. He could grow a beard, and I could sit and watch him chop firewood.

  Bryce’s stomach sucks in as he inhales sharply, twisting toward me as a smile curves his lips. “Morning, sugar,” he whispers before looking into my eyes with sleep love, sliding his hand into the back of my hair and pulling me against him, devouring my mouth with his hungry devotion.

  I remember when we were first together. He was the first man I’d ever given myself to, and the logistics of feeding that early lustful hunger when we were often under surveillance were difficult to navigate. It was exciting despite the risk, exhilarating even. But I much prefer what we have now—an easy, all-consuming love that is better than anything I could have dreamed up for myself.

  When Malcolm was controlling my life, I spent a lot of time reading books and watching movies, imagining a world where I could be free and happy again. I wanted a knight in shining armor to come and sweep me off my feet. What I got was a knight in a baseball uniform. He swept me off my feet and made me feel like I was the most important person in his world. He taught me to love myself again, and for that, I will be forever devoted to him. He owns my soul.

  I moan softly as Bryce’s hands move down to my ass, cupping my cheeks and pulling me against his hard length. I love the way he makes me feel. I love the way my body ignites whenever he touches me. I’ve read that most women aren’t satisfied with their sex life, which tells me that I’m a very lucky woman indeed. Bryce does things to my body I didn’t even know were possible. And each time, he makes sure I come at least twice before he even considers his own release. Now, that’s chivalry if ever I saw it.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispers, rolling us until he’s holding himself above me, his mouth pressing soft kissing against my neck and chest. “I love that you have curves again.”

  That’s another thing I’ve noticed. Ever since I’ve been away from Malcolm, my health has improved, and I’ve put on weight again. It’s not like I’m eating anything over the top, or that I’m not active enough—quite the contrary. I’m a naturally curvy woman, just like my mom was. It wasn’t until after she was gone that my weight kept falling off. Sure, Malcolm had me on a strict diet, but it was more than that. I struggled to eat when I lived with him. I don’t know if it was depression or if some other factors were at play. But I’m definitely feeling so much more like myself after three months living on Danny and Marnie’s farm.

  “I love that you love my curves,” I say, giggling a little as he moves down my body, lifts my nightdress, and removes my panties. He lets out a growl when he finds my pussy glistening ready for him. He makes me feel so sexy and wanted.

  “Mine.”

  I can’t help but laugh as he dives between my legs with a growl. My fingers go into his dark hair, then my laugh turns into moans as his tongue sweeps along my seam and focuses on my clit. With a newborn to care for, these moments have been few and far between, so it doesn’t take long before I’m keening, his fingers pushing into my depths undoing me quickly.

  Not one to let an orgasm end so soon, Bryce latches on, massaging my depths as his tongue swirls and his mouth sucks, drawing out the ecstasy until it doubles back and coils, sending me over the edge again with a cry and a moan. “Oh, god. Bryce!”

  “You come like a dream,” he rasps, his fingers moving in my depths to bring me back down as he presses soft kisses along the insides of my thighs.

  “You have magic fingers,” I say, offering a lazy smile as he sits up and pulls his shirt over his head before shucking off his boxers.

  “I have a magic dick too. Wanna try it?” he teases, pulling me up so I’m sitting with him, lowering myself onto his ramrod-straight cock. My walls stretch, and my mouth falls open. I don’t know if I’ll ever be used to the size of him, but the blissful push and pull of my insides tells me that I don’t think I ever want to get used to him. I want it to feel this snug all of the tim
e.

  “I love you so much,” I gasp, my mouth tangled with his, hands in his hair as we move together in the center of the bed. I drop my head back, and his mouth trails fire along my neck, his teeth grating over my chin, nipping and sucking. I’m so close.

  “I love you too, sugar. So fucking much.” It’s then that his hands move to my hips, and he holds me to him, grinding his hips up and back and forth, catapulting me into bliss for the third time as his need pulses and releases inside me. “Holy shit. You feel like fucking heaven.”

  “Oh, Bryce!”

  “Fuck.”

  Our bodies shake and quiver, caught in our combined joy as we kiss and touch, making the most of our quiet morning alone.

  We’re barely a moment past our finish line when the monitor activates, signaling a hungry baby. “No rest for the wicked,” I joke, running my fingers down the side of Bryce’s stubbled jaw. He presses a quick kiss against my lips and inhales deeply.

  “There isn’t a single thing wicked about you, sugar. Why don’t you take a long hot shower and I’ll get Hope up? There’s milk in the fridge, right?”

  “There is.” I press my lips to his again. “Have I told you just how much I love you lately?”

  He grins and tilts his head to the side. “I have a vague memory, but I like hearing the words.” With a final lip lock, he climbs out of bed and pulls his clothing back on, winking at me as he leaves the room to get our daughter. I stay in bed long enough to watch him collect her over the monitor, loving the way the big tough baseball star uses a baby voice with our three-month-old. It melts my heart. I have the most wonderful husband on earth.

  Bryce

  “Hey there, big brother,” I say as I enter the kitchen, finding him flipping pancakes at the stove. “Smells good.” I bounce Hope gently in my arm as I pull the expressed milk from the fridge and drop it into the warmer. I’ve already given her a diaper change, and she smells like powder and that special scent that only babies seem to have. I could breathe it in all day.