Kane (Face-Off 2)

He gives me a cocky but sexy-as-fuck smirk, the kind that goes right to my core and makes me want him to fuck me again. I can never get enough of Tyler. He’s sexy and fun, passionate and caring, the mental attraction more present than the physical. We connected on a different level the day he first spoke of his son and ex girlfriend. It was hard for him to open up to me, and I respected him so much more for being so real and honest, despite already knowing the truth.

“You need another story to write about me. Is that it?” He’s joking, but in all honesty, I do need another story to push my paper to the point where I can afford to pay the monthly overhead.

“No, I’m sure I’ll find something newsworthy to report. There has to be a scandalous baseball player out there with secrets of his own.”

“I don’t know how you do it, babe,” he mutters, taking my hand in his. “Do you need anything from me?”

Confused, I narrow my eyes at him. “Like what? I don’t see how you can help me with my paper.”

He shrugs, nonchalant, and leans back on his elbows, still naked and looking like perfection. “If you need money or connections, you know I have plenty of both.”

“You’re sweet, Tyler. Thanks for the offer, but I have to do this myself if that makes sense.”

He dips his head lower. “Perfect sense.”

While I could use some cash to stay afloat, I’d resort to selling off my Chanel collection before I borrowed a single cent. I have too much pri

de to ask my boyfriend for money. And my father would keel over if a Lockwood accepted a handout.

Even when his company was in the process of crumbling, he refused to borrow funds from colleagues and investors who could have helped him buy back his majority stake in Sentry Publications. Looking back on his decision, it was a stupid one, a mistake I bet he will always regret. I have a few months of rent payments stashed away for a raining day, my security blanket that I am hoping I will not have to touch.

“You know if you need anything all you have to do is ask.” Tyler pushes himself up from the mattress to wrap his arms around my stomach, leaning back against a stack of pillows as he cradles my head against his chest. “I could lay here just like this all day with you.” His voice is soft and sensual. “How do you feel about children?”

His words take me by surprise, but I’m too afraid to glance up at him, so I keep my eyes pointed toward the ceiling. “What do you mean? Are you asking if I want to have kids?”

“No…yes…I guess what I’m trying to ask is if you’re okay with having Blake in your life. He’s part of my life, and you’re becoming a big part of it as well, so I want to…no, I need to make sure you are okay with children.”

“Yes, of course, I am okay with Blake. I want children. Just because I don’t have any yet doesn’t mean anything, you know.”

“Good.” He runs his hands down my sides, the heat from his touch spreading like wildfire throughout my body. All I can think about is having him inside me again, the physical torture of this simple gesture causing my legs to tremble. That is, until he speaks again, his words taking me by surprise. “I was hoping you would come with me this weekend to see him.”

“To see Blake?” I have no idea what else to say because we have only been together for about six weeks and he wants me to meet his son.

This situation between his ex girlfriend and his parents is rather strange, and while I don’t understand it or what caused the ripple effect in his relationship with them, because I did not want to pry, I am somewhat curious. For a few seconds, I have a mental freak out when I realize meeting Blake also means meeting his parents, and I know how big of a step this is for Tyler.

“Yes, I want you to meet him, but if this whole situation bothers you, I understand.” His change in tone confuses me even more as if he’s afraid I am not on the same level as he is in our relationship. Whether he knows it, he already has me.

“It’s not something I expect everyone to get, which is why I don’t tell anyone about Blake.”

“I care for you, Tyler.” I smile against his skin, and he brushes the hair off my face to lean down and kisses my cheek. “And I would love to meet Blake and your parents.”

“Payton will be there. Is that an issue for you?”

I shake my head. “No, I can handle your ex girlfriend, and it’s not like she still has a crush on you. She’s moved on with a family of her own.”

“You’re the first girl to meet my parents other than Payton, and we both know how that turned out.” I can tell he’s excited but nervous.

I would be kidding myself if I didn’t admit that I am thrilled about him taking our relationship to the next level. But I am also scared. What if his parents don’t like me? What if his son doesn’t like me? Their opinions matter most to him, despite having a distant and closed off relationship with his parents and his son not even knowing he’s his flesh and blood. I feel for him, wish I could do something, anything to take away his pain.

I see the sadness behind his eyes, hear the anguish in his voice. He deserves a chance at a normal life. Maybe I can give that to him.

“Blake is important to me.” He grins as she speaks about his son though I can hear the tension in his voice as he continues. “Even though he calls Steve Dad he will always be my son. You already know that if I could go back in time and undo what I did, I would have Blake with me right now. But there are no do overs in life, and the decisions I have made are final. There’s no stoppage of play, no face-off to start over fresh. If you’re going to be part of my life, you need to be okay with the fact I have an extended family. They may not be my family in the conventional sense, but it’s the one I have.”

“Tyler, I can’t wait to meet them.” I smile so wide my jaw hurts. “It means a lot to me that you want to share this with me. I know how important your visits with Blake are to you.”

“You’re important to me, Ken.” He brushes a sweat-matted strand of hair from my face, staring at me as if he’s looking into my soul, his gaze piercing and intense. “I want to do this with you. You’re part of my line now, and I need us to be on the same page when it comes to this unconventional team.”

“I’m digging the sports references,” I say, with a chuckle, “but I am the captain of our team.”