“Hey, Rocky, why are you crying?” The sweet voice interrupted his chaotic thoughts.
Axel reached out a hand to wipe his cheeks with his little fingers.
To Rocky, it was the most innocent of acts, but it touched him to the core. The realization that he is a father runs deep.
For years, he felt cheated and disappointed that Leigh did not turn out pregnant, and now this? It was like being sucker-punched. He could feel warmth spreading through his body. The feeling was glorious, intoxicating even. He could not define exactly what the feeling was because it was a cacophony of emotions - but he was joyous knowing his union with Leigh produced a child!
He wanted to shout! He could feel his chest expanding in pride.
This mature, cheeky child was his son!
“My son!”
An elated Rocky wrapped Axel&rsq
Adam punched the wall in his frustration.He ran after Sam right after he saw her running away, leaving the courtside seat he had reserved for them, but his teammates held him back. “What is wrong with you, Fowler? Concentrate on the game, not on anything else!” his coach barked at him, irritated at his lack of attention to the game.He fought with the teammates holding him back. "Do not be stubborn. The team needs you." His coach's words brought him back to his senses.He stopped struggling, and his teammates let him go. Once free, he immediately retreated to the bleachers to call Sam, disappointed when he heard Kade answer her phone.He gritted his teeth in suppressed anger.“What are you doing with Sam?” He could not help the jealousy from oozing out of his voice.In his mind, he could very well picture Kade’s mocking face, addi
Leigh draws out a deep breath before meeting Rocky’s gaze challengingly.Rocky was sitting on his chair, hands laced under his head while he looked at her with that same intense smoky gaze that had her insides turn into mush.Another minute of being around him, and she would have been a puddle in his eyes.She knew all it took was one stare for her to submit to everything he would have demanded of her. That was how weak she goes where Rocky is concerned. He could toss her around without her batting an eyelash.“Fine. You win. Spend time with your son. Be his father.” She said, giving up.
When their food arrived, Axel quickly stuffed his mouth, alternating between taking a big bite out of his burger and munching on fries, then taking a slurp of his shakes.Rocky watched his son devour his food, amazed at his enormous appetite.“For such a small kid, you sure gobble a lot of food.” He commented before wiping the corners of his son’s mouth with a tissue.Axel did not complain. He continued eating, unaware of the awed expression he was getting from his adult companion.Rocky gave up all pretense of eating and just watched his son, fascinated with every move he made.Leigh, on the other hand, concentrated on her food. She did not know how to make small talk. They were seated across from each other, and their table was filled with food, but no one was eating except Axel. Rocky's attention was all on Axel, giving Leigh a wide berth to study Rocky.She watched the father and son
Leigh feels torn. Half her mind listened to Adam talk and explain while the other half kept tabs on the father and son, who looked like they were having a very serious conversation not too far away.She wondered what they were talking about.“Have you heard from Sam?” She heard Adam say.Reluctantly, Leigh pulled her eyes and attention away from Rocky and their son to address Adam’s concern.“No.’ She said before turning her attention back to the two.“They seemed pretty tight,” Adam said again.“Hmm?” S
After they dropped off Kade, Leigh’s phone rang.Even busy driving, Rocky glanced at her monitor to check her caller ID. His hands on the steering wheel tightened when he saw Adam Fowler’s name. He was reminded of his earlier conversation with his son and considered the man as his rival in love.Even in Baybridge, Fowler proved to be his nemesis for Leigh’s affection. Back then, he felt that Adam could not match up with him because of the agreement. But after their divorce and up to now, he thinks of Adam as a strong competitor to Leigh’s affections.Every time he thinks about the five years Leigh was away, he could not help, but think that Adam has slowly and neatly maneuvered his way to her life, leaving him a mile behind.He grabbed her phone and took it away. “Give me my phone back.” Rocky noted the tone in her voice. Leigh was dead serious. He st
“Wake up, mommy! Wake up!” Leigh stirred, feeling her world-shaking violently as Axel's excited voice penetrated her cloudy brain. "Hmmmn." She moaned in protest, not wanting to wake up, but the persistent shaking would not let her. Drawing a deep breath, she opened one eye and asked Axel whom she saw busy jumping up and down her bed. The movement made her feel nauseous. “What time is it Axel?” Her voice sounded hoarse, her sleep-deprived brain not yet fully working compared to her very energetic son. Axel's worked up as he continued jumping in her bed like it was a trampoline. He was looking down at her as if checking if she was already awake, his breath coming in short pants. "It’s still early, mommy, but there is a surprise waiting for you downstairs.” Leigh could not stand the shaking any longer and had to stop Axel as she could feel telltale signs of a massive headache coming. “What’s the surprise? Did grandma and grandpa arrive from their long trip?”Axel shook he
“Rocky!” Leigh cried in surprise, but Rocky would not heed. He continued to maraud her mouth, ravaging her while his hands roamed around her body, gliding his hand through the cotton fabric of her night dress. It was the most demure piece of clothing, but his imagination was running wild. He was thinking about the secrets the material hides, and he is slowly going berserk with want. Instantaneous response jabbed his lower abdomen. The knowledge alarmed him. He reluctantly tore his mouth away, much to Leigh’s disappointment.“Why did you stop?” She asked, clearly dumbfounded at his restraint. Back then, Rocky could not wait to get his hands on her. He had an enormous desire for her. Leigh felt disappointment coursing through her chest. Is she undesirable to Rocky now? She bit her lip, pressing her legs together to keep herself from grinding on him unabashedly, inviting him to continue his sensual touch.“It is broad daylight.” Leigh turned her back away from him to walk i
“What’s wrong?” Axel asked when he walked to them, a maid in tow. The maid is pushing a covered cart, presumably with the food he ordered for their breakfast. By this time, Rocky and Leigh had become silent, but the warm feeling between them had never dissipated. “What do you mean what is wrong?” Rocky shifted his gaze from Leigh to their son to ask. “You both had this funny look on your faces like you did something bad. What happened? Did you fight or what?” Axel’s eyes narrowed, looking at them suspiciously. “You can not fight, you know. Mommy and daddy are not supposed to get mad at each other.” Axel huffed with his cute little face forming a frown. Rocky threw his head back to laugh. His precocious son was at it again, trying to act like the grown-up in the family. Rocky bent at the waist and placed his hands on his back to lean and meet Axel’s upturned face. “We are not fighting.” He denied the accusation, but his son regards him dubiously. He cast a glance L