Linked By Fate

Chapter 11

The last three months have been insane. Since the incident, a lot has happened. Julie was sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary along with her accomplices. Riley and I have grown even closer and found a great friend in Oliver (Officer Lang). Having regulated heat cycles made it possible for me to return to school full time. Things are looking up.

We're currently on a three-game road trip. Riley is currently sleeping with his head on my shoulder while I talk with Xander and Alex, who are sitting across from us. "It doesn't matter how much rest he gets the night before, he always falls asleep as soon as we hit the road, unless he's the one driving." I say, looking down at his handsome face.

A chuckle comes from Xander. "He's been fighting off guys left and right the past few months. Your new physical attributes have caused quite a lot of trouble for your alpha. Its funny watching him go crazy when he notices someone checking you out, as he should. Cooper, you are drool worthy."

Kicking his foot, I laughed. "Shush you. I don't need you adding fuel to the fire. It's bad enough poor Gibson gets growled at by Riley every time we have a training session together. You two were the ones who convinced him that I should stop wearing baggy clothes, to show off what I had. This is all your fault. Wait, just wait. The time for payback is coming."

Our s****l energy has been off the charts since the day of the incident. We are only twenty years old, so I wished to wait for us to start a family after we graduated. That's what I wanted, but I found out two weeks ago at my doctor's appointment, that I was pregnant, around three months. Oliver went with me since it was my first visit to see a beast-human doctor, plus Riley had an appointment with Coach that he could not miss. Though I did not tell Oliver the results of my visit, he knew something was up due to my silence. I like that he did not force me to talk or bombard me with endless questions. Truth is, I'm scared. It scares me to tell Riley because we've never talked about kids or what we wanted for the future since we mated. Birth control slipped my mind once we mated. Being a virgin till the night we mated, I never had to worry about it.

"Cooper? Hey, are you alright? You kind of spaced out for a minute." Alex was waving his hand back and forth in front of my face. This has been happening a lot.

The concerned looks on my friends' faces make me feel bad. It's on the tip of my tongue to tell them, but I need to tell my mate first before I tell anyone else. "Yeah, I'm alright. It's just that it's almost Christmas and I've yet to decide what to get Riley. Our first Christmas as mates is supposed to be a big deal, so I don't want to disappoint him." At that moment, it seemed like the little one in my stomach decided that it wanted to make a request because I suddenly grew nauseous and light-headed.

Riley, jerks up from his nap to stare at my face. "What was that just now? Sweetheart, are you alright? What's wrong?" The mate-bond is not being my friend right now.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just felt light-headed for a moment there. I've been burning the candle late the past week or so due to the new training updates, plus all the testing we've been having. My appetite has been non-existent, so I've been pushing fluids and fruit." From his expression, I could tell that he was not buying my story. This is not the place or the time to have this conversation. "Don't look at me like that, baby. It's all good." Leaning over, I kissed him lightly on the lips.

A gagging sound has us turning to look at our friends and a few other teammates. It's Gibson who speaks up. "It doesn't matter how long you guys have been mated, it's so sickenly sweet to see you guys all lovey-dovey like this. Makes a single guy lonely."

"Hey, if you had not turned down that pretty blond that confessed to you Monday after school, you wouldn't be lonely now." Alex pointed out as some of the guys looked at Gibson like he had lost his mind.

"Look, just because you're easy doesn't mean that I am. I have standards, don't you know?" He looks at me, and I wink at him. Something passes between us that no one else can see. Or, that's what I thought until I looked at Riley who was staring me down.

Sighing, I lay my head on his shoulder. Glancing up at him, I spoke frankly to him. "It's his story to tell to you when he's ready, so don't ask me any questions please. Trust me when I say that the only man for me, the only body I want pressed against mine, is you."

Not saying a word, he squeezes me tightly instead. We don't need words with the mate bond between us.

The rest of the ride was spent joking and relaxing. Letting the game come to the forefront of our minds, and the job we had ahead of us. The team has only lost one game this season, which was against the team we are playing tonight. We're looking for redemption. Coach and I have put them through the ringer and back during practice. Every player is in the best shape they can be. The intense drills I planned out were some of my best work ever. It makes me proud that I can help them the way I have.

Pulling on my earbuds, I started singing, "You Put A Move On My Heart" by Tamia. Whenever I hear this song, I think of the man next to me. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel everyone on the bus looking at me. This is the first time anyone has heard me sing before. That goes for Riley, too.

When the song ends, I open my eyes as everyone starts clapping and whistling. I had totally forgotten I was on the bus headed to a game. Burying my face in Riley's chest, I tried hard to hide the blush that had for sure spread across my light-skinned face. "When we reach the hotel, I plan to show just how much that song affected me, sweetheart," Riley's voice said inside my head.

That's another thing that has changed between us: we can communicate telepathically. Several times I have to remember to block our link so he doesn't hear things he's not supposed to, like about my pregnancy.

"No you're not. Now is not the time to change your pregame routine. It can wait until tonight. It's not like I'm going anywhere." I replied as I pulled myself away from him.

"Cooper, those are some pipes you have on you. What other hidden talents do you have?" Xander questioned. "If I told you, then they wouldn't be hidden talents then would they?" I countered, which earned me a pinch on my leg. He had quick reflexes.

Coach addresses us when we pull up to the front of the hotel. "Let's act like the respectable team that we are. No drinking or roughhousing during our stay here. Eat, rest, do your routines that you normally do on game days. We've got a big job tonight. I need you all at your best."

Stepping off the bus, we pulled our bags and my portable massage table from the carriage department underneath the side of the bus. Heading inside the hotel, I walked to the front desk to retrieve the keycards for the team. It doesn't escape me that the hostess is checking out my mate, who is talking with our friends by the elevator doors.

She looks at me and whispers, "You are lucky to be in the company of such a group of hot guys. Maybe we could meet up when I get off and I could possible hook up with the hottie in the black and blue hoodie. He knows he is fine. Is he single?"

"No, he has a girlfriend," I said smoothly as I signed for the keycards.

"Well, if she isn't here, then he's free to play a little. Being an alpha, he's bound to be one of those that plays around. With looks like that, how can he not? I want to take him for a spin or two." If she had any idea how fast I could rip her throat out, she would not be talking to me so freely.

Taking the keycards, I made my way over to where everyone was waiting. As I handed out the keys, the girl cleared stared Riley down. Licking her lips like he was a midnight snack or something. Picking up my bag, Riley carried the massage table for me. We waited for the elevator to come back down.

"Hey," Riley calls to get my attention.

Gazing up into his eyes, I could see exactly what he wanted. Standing on my tiptoes, our lips met in a slow, sensual kiss that had me grabbing hold of his hoodie with my free hand. The audible gasp that was heard had to come from the hostess at the front desk. Our teammates giggled and clapped for us. This has happened before. The first time, I did not take things well. Riley must not have wanted a repeat of those two days that had followed.

"I love you, sweetheart." He murmured against my lips. "I love you, too, Riley."

At that moment, I knew what I wanted to get him for Christmas. It's time to go shopping during this trip. As we stepped onto the elevator, my eyes landed on the hostess, who looked crazy embarrassed. Winking, I giggled as the doors closed, cutting off the view.

Our room has a great view of the city. It's already around three, so we need to eat now so that his food can have enough time to digest before the game at eight. Making sure to place the homemade snackbars in the fridge that was in the room, we dropped our bags on one bed since we'd sleep on the other one.

"Come on, let's get some food in your belly so you can get another light nap before we have to head out later. Pasta, baked chicken, and ginger water." This is his pregame meal for away games. He always takes in a lot of calories in order to have enough to burn off during the game. Plus, I have protein bars for the entire team in my roll-on case. Water is provided by our opponents, so that's good.

Pulling me into a more sensual kiss than what we shared downstairs, he grinds his hard on against me. When it comes to his s****l needs, he never has to say anything to me. I can feel his needs as they are my own. Glancing at my watch, I saw that we had enough time for me to take care of his situation before heading down to the lobby to meet everyone else.

With hooded eyes, he gasps for air as I touch him intimately. "Don't worry babe, I've got you. It's all good." I said as he pushed him back onto the bed. "Try to keep as quiet as you can, okay." It doesn't take long for him to get lost in the feel of my hands.

"You have no idea how much it turns me on to see you fall apart from my touch. Riley, you are so freaking sexy. I want you all the time. It's hard to fight off the desire at times. Let loose for me, baby. c*m for me. c*m all over my hand." I commanded him as I stroked him, bringing him to ecstasy with only my hands.

"Oh, Cooper. I love you. Sweetheart, I love you so much." He moans right before he falls over the edge into a blissful release. I've never made him c*m this hard with my hands. Let me file this away in my pleasure bank for future use.

After cleaning him up and washing my hands, we finally made our way downstairs to the lobby, kissing in the elevator the whole time. I love my mate more than words can express. Thank the Fates, he is mine.