Ballers 2: His Final Play Read online

  “We’ll take the script, Doc,” Ty says while looking at his phone again. “Maybe it’s time you stopped all that other stuff, it works for your clients, but it hasn’t been working for you. I’ll have a trainer come to the house, Babe. Look, I have to go.”

  I sit with my mouth hanging open. This is not the man I married. The Ty I married wanted a baby as much as I did. He wanted to start a family and talked of nothing but our future.

  I let the tears finally fall as I watch my husband get up and leave without so much as kiss or real goodbye. He doesn’t even glance back to see if I’m following him. Wow Ty!

  CHAPTER TWO

  A Bitter Man

  Nico

  I grit my teeth and roll my eyes for the millionth time in the last thirty minutes. If she grazes my cock one more time with her fucking teeth, I swear. As bad as I need this release this isn’t worth it. I refuse to use my own damn hand, so when Cherry called - as she has been doing for the last two months, I didn’t ignore her call.

  I sent a car for her, hoping she could give me a proper sucking. I don’t remember her being this damn clumsy with my cock in her mouth, but I was also able to get hard back then. I think one of those bullets hit something vital to my manhood. I lie in bed at night hard as a fucking rock, needing some relief, but now I have a willing participant and I can’t come to full staff for the life of me.

  It could be my choice of partner. I don’t know what used to attract me to this woman. It could have been the high from winning a game and the beers I consumed after. Whatever it was, it helped her to be a hell of a lot more attractive back then. Her bottle burgundy hair and fake breasts are doing nothing for me now. She could stand to eat a bit too.

  I growl my frustration and throw my arm over my eyes. This silly twit takes it for encouragement and starts to bob up and down my shaft faster. I can’t do this shit any longer. I grab her hair and jerk her off my cock, before she maims me.

  “Oh my God,” I hear gasped and have to squeeze my eyes shut and clench my jaw.

  Since I’ve moved out of my brother and sister in law’s house, my sister-in-law, Valentina, has been making it her business to stop by my apartment to check on me, like I am not a grown ass man. Her unannounced visits are starting to create more and more incidents like this one. I left Uri’s home because Valentina has been overbearing. She is like a mother hen. I know it is partially because she is expecting again and part because she feels guilty, no matter how many times I tell her that none of this is her fault.

  “Valentina, for the millionth time, I gave Uri that key in case of emergencies. Oh, fuck, why do I bother,” I growl. I look to Cherry and point, “You. Out. The car is downstairs waiting.”

  “What… but,” Cherry stammers looking at me and then Valentina.

  “We’re finished. It wasn’t working out anyway,” I say pointedly looking down at my soft dick. I tug the towel I have beneath me over my naked waist.

  “You have turned into such an asshole,” Cherry huffs.

  “Thanks,” I say with a cheeky grin.

  Cherry stands, grabbing her heels and dress, not bothering to stop and put either on, she stomps out of my apartment stark naked. With a groan, I push myself up off the couch to stand, the simple act hurts like a son of a bitch. I roll my eyes again when the sound of my front door slamming meets my ears. I should have thrown her out a half hour ago.

  It is the sound of a muffled giggle that pulls my attention back to Valentina, only to find it is not her giggle. For the first time, I notice Valentina is not alone. She has a sleeping Vita in her arms and standing beside her is the only woman I have gotten a hard on for in months.

  The first thing I hone in on are her eyes. They are almond shaped with extremely thick, dark lashes. It looks like she has on eye makeup, but from the fresh look of the rest of her face, I doubt she does. Her brows are just as dark and thick as her lashes, but well arched to fit her face. The darkness of her lashes and brows stands out against her warm chocolate brown skin.

  Those lips, it is no wonder my cock is at full mast. Now those lips would have no problem bringing me to an end. Her cheeks are full, but compliment her heart shaped face. What really turns me on is the way her hair is pulled away from her face, up into a bun on top her head. It just sets off her eyes.

  Her eyes tell a story of their own right away. She may be laughing at my expense, but there is still sadness in her eyes. The look calls to something in my depths. I feel like for the first time someone may truly understand what I am going through.

  I let my eyes travel lower and my cock twitches against the tent it is making beneath my towel. Now those are curves. She has full breasts that her purple polo shirt does nothing to hide. Her hips and thighs are just the way I like them. Enough to grip and more than enough to cradle all of me.

  “Chi è questo,” I say to Valentina in Italian.

  “My name is Reese, I’m your new PT,” her voice hits me right in the gut. It is soft and sweet. I arch my brow at her understanding of my words, which causes me to look her over once again.

  This time I take in the large diamond ring and band on her left hand. My jaw clenches tight at the thought of any other man having her but me. It is the most absurd feeling I have ever had. I don’t even know this woman.

  My eyes follow her wedding rings as she lifts her hand to touch her neatly combed hair, as if a hair could be out of place. She has no idea how perfect she is. I lick my lips as I have thoughts of grasping her bun and pulling it free.

  I want to see her wild and free beneath me. Hell, she can be on top with those tits in my face anytime. She can’t be more than five-five at best, but those curves are just right. I love that she is so small in comparison to me. Who the hell is her husband? He can’t be worth a damn for such sadness to lurk in her eyes.

  “No,” I say tearing my eyes away to glare at Valentina. “Not her.”

  “What! Nico, I told you Reese is the best and she is a good friend of Pam’s. You promised you would give her a chance, Nico. Five… five different PTs and you fired them all. You couldn’t even get up just now without looking like you were in a shit ton of pain. Please Nico,” Valentina whispers the last part tugging at my heart.

  “I assure you, I am qualified and I have references and recommendations, Mr. Zuko,” Reese says, I look at her and see she is fighting not to look below my waist.

  I have nothing to be ashamed of there, well other than the fact that I currently can’t control my reaction to this woman. For all she knows I could still be having a reaction to what she and Val interrupted.

  I snort as I watch her brown skin flush. It is the prettiest thing I have ever seen. Her chocolate skin looks almost purple with warmth in the cheeks. Her eyes drop for just a second and round with what she sees. I smirk and fold my arms across my chest, trying not to wince at the pull in my shoulder. That will only give Val more ammunition.

  “Donati,” I snarl. I hate that name as much as I hate the man it is attached to. I have never been and never will be a Zuko.

  “Shit,” Reese mutters to herself. Reaching to tug at her little ear with her fingertips, then twisting her diamond studded earring. “I’m so sorry. Valentina told me you would prefer Donati. I’m so sorry.”

  “Ugh, first, Nico could you control that thing or put it away or something,” Valentina growls. “I’m well aware of the good genes in the Donati family. You don’t have to show off.”

  “It’s my apartment, Valentina. You are trespassing,” I snort back.

  “Enough Nico, enough. You are acting like a spoiled brat. I get it. I really do. You can’t play and you may never walk the same. You lost a part of who you are, but this person you are becoming sucks. Reese may not be able to get you back on the field, but she is amazing and is doing us a huge favor, so stop it. She is going to do her best to make you as much of your old self as she can,” Valentina ends her chastisement with a plea in her voice.

  I swallow pass the lump that has formed in my
throat. Her words helping to decrease the tent in my towel. I shift on my feet. Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I turn awkwardly to reach for my crutch.

  I can’t hide the wince on my face this time. I feel pathetic having to use this fucking thing to get from room to room. I start for my bedroom without a word.

  “Really, Nico,” Valentina calls.

  “You asked me to put something on,” I sigh. “Give me a few.”

  ~B~

  Reese

  OH. MY. GOD. That was not a man, that was…. what are the words. I have known Pam and Paige since they babysat me, when they were teenagers. We also rode horses together. All of our horses were boarded at the same riding stable, in Connecticut. We happened to get back in touch recently through some other friends. There may be an age gap, but Pam and I have always clicked. I used to follow her around and ask for help with my horse.

  Recently, we got to talking and she mentioned being friends with Nico Zuko’s sister-in-law. I am not the biggest soccer fan, but Ty watches the sport and I know a little bit about it. I have even worked on a few of Nico’s teammates recently. So I knew of the gorgeous soccer player when she mentioned his name. I jumped at the chance to take this job. It could do wonders for my career.

  I feel like an idiot. Valentina made it perfectly clear not to call him Zuko, and that is the first thing that flies out of my stupid mouth. I just want to crawl into a hole and fade.

  But really, how am I supposed to think straight when his penis, if that is what you can call a thing that big, is tenting the hell out of that towel. I thought I was embarrassed when we walked in to find that woman going down on him. I am surprised she could talk after sucking on that thing.

  Oh my God, that man is gorgeous all over. My husband is pretty hung, but he is still nowhere close to what I just witnessed. Even when he was semi erect as he pulled from that woman’s mouth, he was huge. I flush as I think of the way he stared at me and the way his member rose to attention.

  I don’t know what made me laugh when that woman stomped out of the apartment. It was so unprofessional. I blame it on the stress of this morning’s appointment. I almost called off this appointment. After leaving the doctor’s office, I just wanted to crawl into my bed, pull the covers over my head and cry my heart out.

  At this point, I’m not even sure I want a baby with my husband. Thoughts like that are what made me decide to work today. I have had too much time to think up all types of reasons for Ty’s latest behavior.

  So here I am, I just wasn’t expecting to be standing before a God in his own right. Even favoring his injured leg and his obvious attempt to hide his pain, Nico is one fine man. I know from the chart sent over to me that he is six-six.

  I have seen his brother, Uri and while Valentina’s husband is a sexy man as well, with his dark blonde hair, Nico’s dark brown hair works on a whole new level. In the past, in pictures and on the field, I have seen his hair cut shorter on the sides with the front falling into his eyes, while wet with sweat.

  Today, he looks totally different. His dark hair is a lot longer. One side was pushed behind his ear, while the other side kissed his jaw and cheek. His face is not as clean shaven as I’ve seen in the past. The light stubble works for him though. And those eyes, just wow. They are so blue and so telling. I wanted to bow over from their intensity, as he locked eyes with me. That tiny scar over his right brow only adds to his sex appeal.

  I am married to a pro athlete yet, until today I don’t think I have ever seen a body so toned, defined, and cut. Which is crazy because Nico hasn’t played for over two months now. I want to fan myself, but I think I have embarrassed myself enough as it is.

  “He is hot,” Valentina giggles next to me as I stare off in the direction Nico limped away in. I really think I can help him, if he’ll let me.

  “Oh my God, am I drooling,” I giggle and place a hand to my forehead. “I feel so stupid. The one thing you told me not to do, is the first thing I go and do. I’m so sorry. I must look so unprofessional. Your husband isn’t going to think twice about my business proposal now.”

  Valentina shuffles over to the sofa, but stops before sitting. She frowns at the spot Nico and his friend had been in and opts to sit in one of the accent chairs. I laugh, but follow her lead and take a seat in the other accent chair.

  “Reese please, knowing my husband, he has already found you an office. You had whatever you wanted the moment Pam introduce you as a good friend. Once I took a liking to you, you could have asked for the moon,” Valentina says with a smile.

  “This all means so much to me. I need this. With all I have going on I need to make this work for me. I can’t go to my parents and things are awkward at home right now,” I sigh and look into my lap.

  “Uri doesn’t like Ty. So if you need him to handle him you say the word,” Valentina says.

  I look up to see a serious look on her face. My mouth pops open. Uri has a sinister side to him. You can feel it and see it in his eyes, so Valentina’s words cause me to pause.

  I could tell at dinner when we all got together and brought along our husbands that Ty rubbed, both Nate and Uri the wrong way. I was a bit embarrassed that night. Ty spent more time on his phone, texting and excusing himself to take calls than engaging in conversation with the group.

  Valentina just looks back at me and shrugs.

  “O...kay,” I say and laugh.

  “I’m serious. If I weren’t pregnant I’d do it myself. I consider you a friend, Reese and I am nothing but blunt. Your husband is a dick. Something about him rubs me wrong and if Uri didn’t threaten me to mind my own business, I would have found out what it is by now. Just know, I am here for you when and if you need. And again, Uri will take care of him if you need,” Valentina gives me a pointed look as she finishes her words.

  A shiver runs down my spine. My eyes drop to my lap again as I think of my husband’s behavior this morning. It has taken me so long to see what everyone else seems to see right away with Ty. I just can’t seem to fit the two men together, the one I married verses the man I am now married to.

  “He wasn’t always this way. I don’t even know what is going on with him. Maybe we should start looking at other options for a baby. This has been taking a toll on us,” I think out loud.

  “Reese, this may sound off putting, but have you ever thought that maybe you are being saved from something by not getting pregnant. Yeah, I’m sure it is stressful, but what I saw in your husband is beyond strain from trying to make a baby,” Valentina says gently.

  I feel the anger and frustration well up in me and I lash out, even knowing that Valentina is just trying to be a friend. I am just so tired of hearing the same thing from my mom and dad. It is finally boiling over and Valentina is the only one around for me to let loose on.

  “How dare you,” I growl. “How dare you sit there holding your precious daughter, with your belly swollen with not one, but two more babies and tell me I have failed as a woman because of my husband’s behavior.

  “You have no idea how I feel, Valentina. How hard it is to know that the one time I did conceive, I couldn’t even hold it. I was so close to having my son, just to have him ripped away. No explanations, no resolutions, nothing.

  “Yes, Ty is being an asshole right now, but I don’t think the universe decided to punish me for his behavior,” My chest is heaving and a sob is on the cusp of escaping my lips.

  “I-I didn’t mean it that way, Reese. I’m sorry,” Valentina’s voice trembles with her apology.

  I instantly feel bad. I go to apologize, but a sleepy Vita raises her head looking around groggily. Her eyes lock on something behind me and her little sleepy face lights up.

  “Nic–nic,” she squeals and wiggles in her mother’s arms, trying to get after what she wants.

  It dawns on me that I can feel his presence behind me. I wipe at my tears and slowly turn my head to find Nico, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt staring down at me. His attention is only broken w
hen Vita calls out for him again.

  “Nic-nic,” she whimpers in frustration.

  “My Bella, Vita,” Nico croons the Italian accent he tried to muddle earlier coming out.

  Vita climbs down from Valentina’s lap and toddles her way toward Nico. He makes his way towards the couch, I note the pain that he is trying not to let register in his face. Nico flops down on the couch tossing the crutch that seems to offend him.

  Vita makes it over to him just as he takes a seat. Favoring his left side, he leans over to help her onto his lap. It is so adorable, the way she wraps her little arms around his neck, causing the grump from earlier to melt away. The smile that lights up his face is like no other I have ever seen.

  “Nic-nic,” Vita coos again.

  Nico throws his head back and laughs. “I missed you too, Pretty girl. Uncle Nic-nic wants some ice cream, how about you?”

  “Ice cream, Nic-nic, yay,” Vita squeals. She bats her lashes up at Nico. “Cookie too.”

  Nico’s laugh fills the air once again. He kisses the top of Vita’s dark blonde curls. “Anything for you,” Nico croons and pulls his phone out to send a text.

  “Nico, stop sending Tony on wild goose chases for Vita,” Valentina huffs.

  “Uri and Michael decided I needed a babysitter. Let him earn his keep,” Nico snorts, but returns to the happy smiling Nico as soon as Vita starts to hold her version of a conversation with him.

  Suddenly, it is all too much. Watching this man be so gentle with this sweet little girl, it tears my heart in two. It is exactly how I imagined Ty would be with our children. I need to get out of here. I need some fresh air.

  “Thank you for thinking of me, Valentina. I will call you soon. Mr. Donati, I hope you find what you are looking for in a physical therapist. I can email you some recommendations if you like,” I don’t wait for a response. I leave the apartment faster than Nico’s naked friend.