Love from Left Field (19 page)

“Would you excuse me for a minute?” Cole was definitely on his shit list.

By now Miranda was openly laughing, gasping for air in between trying to speak. “Maybe you should change first. Need some help?”

With one final glare down the dugout, where Cole was doubled over with mirth, Lucas stomped down the tunnel to the small room to get rid of the metal armor and plot his revenge. Miranda followed, her laughter still echoing down the tunnel, even as the game began and the crowd roared.

He slammed the door shut to the small room and began tugging at the laces but his gloves got in the way. He shook his hands, trying to dislodge the gear but they stubbornly clung to him like a second skin. Probably the sweat that was building up inside this thermal suit. No wonder the old guy ditched the job as often as he could. Wearing this could kill a guy his age. Hell, it could kill a guy Lucas’s age, especially in the dead heat of summer.

The door opened and Miranda stepped in the room, wiping the tears from her eyes. She closed the door, little snorts of laughter still erupting occasionally. “Seriously, that was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. Did you have fun?”

“I thought I was helping you out. Instead, I’m ridiculed, the butt of jokes,” he grumbled.

She rose on her toes and took off his helmet, placing a kiss on his mouth, a light peck of affection. “I thought it was brilliant. You were inspired out there. The kids loved it. The fans went crazy. You’ll be on the front page of every Savannah newspaper tomorrow.” She cupped his cheeks and turned his face towards her, kissing him again, soothing his cranky mood. “Thank you, Lucas. You made Opening Day fun again. I owe you.”

He pulled back slightly, gazing down at her. “Really? You owe me?”

She suppressed a grin and donned a serious expression. “Yes, I do. What would you like? A coffee? Breakfast? Dinner?”

He grabbed her and pulled her close, ignoring the clang of the metal, but was careful not to hold too tightly. He leaned close and lowered his head until he could smell the Indian spices from the chai and minty toothpaste on her breath. “All of the above. Dinner, then a little coffee with my dessert, then breakfast in bed. Your bed. Or mine. I’m not picky.”

Her eyes widened then darkened with arousal and excitement. A smile curved her face, a slow, female, flirty smile. “When would you like this payment?”

He released her suddenly and she stumbled slightly on her ridiculous stiletto heels. “As soon as I get out of this contraption and take a long shower. Did Wayne ever shower?”

The sudden change in topic confused her, judging by the furrowing of her brow. “Um, I wouldn’t know. I didn’t spend much time with him, to be honest.”

She began unbuckling his hand guards, then moving on to his shoulders and legs, squatting down to remove the armor from his left leg, while he removed the rest of the armor on his right side. The last of the leg gear fell away, including the pelvic guard and his cock sprang to life, after being restricted. She only had to turn her head slightly and she could take him in her mouth. The thought made him groan and lengthen further. She glanced up at him and licked her lips.

“Miranda.” His voice held a warning but she only studied him for a long moment.

She reached up with one hand and caressed his length under the briefs. His cock jerked as if it had a life of its own and a strangled sound emitted from his suddenly dry lips. She eyed him, a mischievous look on her face, then slipped her hands under the waistband of his briefs, springing him free. She encircled his shaft with one hand, her fingers not quite meeting on the other side, and used her thumb to spread the drop of wetness over the tip.

He choked out a groan, her soft hands feeling like heaven on him. He dared not say anything else, lest she decided to stop, leaving him without satisfaction. And right now, even hearing people in the corridor, he didn’t give a damn about them. He wanted to feel her lips, her mouth, on him, more than he cared about exposure. His hips jerked forward as she continued to explore, and his head fell back against the wall.

“No noise, Mr. Wainright. Or someone might investigate and what would they think?” She chided him lightly.

He gritted his teeth against any sounds, wordlessly begging with his hips. She obliged, wetting her lips then licking the tip ever so gently. She leaned forward and sucked him deep inside in one motion, her cheeks hollowing with suction as she took him to heaven and beyond.

All too soon, he was jerking and crying out, his climax shooting through him as if coming from deep within. She gentled him, with soothing licks and lashes from her tongue. Finally, he stopped, and found himself seated on the bench, Miranda resting her head against his thigh. During his peak, he had tangled his hand in her hair, and the blond waves tumbled about her shoulders and pins littered the floor.

He massaged her scalp, caressing her neck. That was about all the motion he could make. After several long minutes, she pushed to her feet and grabbed a bottle of water from the bench and drank deeply. She handed the remaining half to him and he wordlessly drained the rest.

“Miranda…” he began.

“Shush.” She placed a finger on his lips. “A little preview for tonight. I’ll see you in the owner’s box when you’re ready. Use the employee locker room showers if you want. Through there.”

She pointed to the door behind them. She slipped out to the main corridor quickly, ensuring no one could see inside.

He slumped against the wall, his heartbeat thudding almost out of his chest. Damn, if that was a preview, he wouldn’t survive the night.

*

Later, long after
the game, the employees gathered for the traditional Opening Day celebration on the field with their families. Lucas sipped a beer and watched the festivities, the players mingling with the staff. The mood was light and celebratory since the Knights actually won the game handily, eight to two. First time they’d won an Opening Day game in four years. It was a good start.

“Didn’t know you had it in you, Wainright.” Cole Hammonds clapped him on the back.

Lucas whirled and glared at the other man who was grinning. “Nice trick, Hammonds. Watch your back, because I owe you.”

The words flashed him back to the locker room and Miranda and his blood heated, thoughts of the night to come just under the surface. Cole just watched him, his body loose and relaxed, but his eyes held a glint of something, a hardness that belied his relaxed impression.

“Miranda seemed happy with your performance today.” The words were casual but the eyes glittered sharply.

Lucas reminded himself Cole didn’t get to be general manager of the team without being able to bluff and make deals.

Lucas nodded, not taking his own attention from the other man. “Yup. Opening Day will be memorable, until the next game.”

Cole stepped closer, invading Lucas’s personal space, their hands almost touching. Lucas resisted the urge to step back, refusing to give an inch to this man, another alpha male his same age competing for dominance in the team. Deliberately, Lucas raised his can of beer and drained it, all without taking his eyes off of Cole.

“I know there’s something going on between the two of you. It’s not my place to get in the middle of it but, since her father isn’t around, I feel it’s my place to look out for Miranda. I don’t know if you’re playing a game or being serious, but don’t hurt Miranda.”

“Or what?” Lucas drawled. “I don’t see where Miranda’s personal life, or mine, is any of your damned business. Unless you have a more personal interest in her. In which case, I’d say get over it.”

A muscle in Cole’s jaw jumped and his shoulders tensed. “I assure you, Miranda is no more than a colleague to me, at best a sister. So you’re damned right that I care about what happens to her. I don’t trust you, Wainright. And I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“You’ve been listening to Seamus too much. I’m here to do my job, that’s all. Anything between Miranda and me is completely separate and personal. I appreciate you looking out for her, but I’m telling you to butt out. Got it?”

Lucas slapped the other hand on Cole’s shoulder and pushed past him, suddenly done with socializing and having his motives questioned. Miranda must have seen his scowl because she excused herself from the people she was chatting with and came across the field.

“Is everything okay? Did you and Cole have an argument?”

Lucas willed his muscles to relax but, suddenly, all he wanted to do was sweep her up in his arms and finish what they started so many hours earlier. “I think I’m ready for my payment.”

She flushed, and bit her lower lip, looking around her nervously. “I can’t leave yet. The party is still going strong.”

He gritted his teeth. Now that he could smell her sweet perfume, his body wanted nothing more than to bury itself deep inside her until she was wrung out. He leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“You have two hours. I’ll come to your condo then. Be naked.”

She shivered but nodded. He strode off the field, unable to be social any longer. Two hours. He only had to wait two hours. Damn, it would be the longest one hundred and twenty minutes of his life.

A
knock at
the door startled Miranda. Her hand shook, sloshing wine over her wrist. She sucked the liquid up, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep calming breath and straightened her robe, her skin rubbing against the white silk, exciting her further. As if the two-hour delay wasn’t anticipation enough. Her skin tingled and burned, her nipples like hard little diamonds rubbing against the material until she almost moaned with the sensation. At the second knock, her core swelled and clenched, as if on command for Lucas.

She gripped the back of the chair for a moment, willing her body to calm but that wasn’t happening. She slowly walked to the door and opened it, staying in the shadows of the entranceway. Fortunately, it was Lucas because she hadn’t checked, lust clouding her judgment.

Lucas leaned against the frame, his face tense, a bottle of wine in his hand. His eyes widened when he saw her, then darkened with lust.

“Damn, Miranda.” He groaned, then pushed through the door, shutting it firmly behind him and engaging the lock with a loud snick. “I thought I told you to be naked. A robe, even one as sexy as that one, doesn’t count.”

A shy grin spread across her face, along with a blush. She shrugged out of the robe and let it fall off her shoulders to pool on the floor beneath her. “Is this better?”

He rested the bottle on the end table next to the door and reached for her. “Yes.”

They came together in a rush. He lifted her against the wall and kissed her as if his life depended on it. She twined her arms around his neck and her head fell back as he peppered his way down her throat, to the tops of her creamy breasts, tonguing the tops, then working his way down to take a tip in his mouth, sucking hard.

“Wait.” She gasped. “Not here. Down there.”

He followed where she pointed down a hallway. “One floor? Thank God.”

He carried her down the hall and to a sensual paradise.

*

Miranda stretched and
moaned at the delicious soreness throughout her body. Sex was much better exercise than going to the gym. More fun and she got to stay in bed. Win-win.

She reached out to the other side of the bed. It was rumpled but cool to the touch. When had Lucas left? She suppressed a flash of disappointment. After all, it was nothing more than she had done in Florida. Maybe she deserved it. She lay back against the pillow and closed her eyes. The day after Opening Day was always an off day for the team, but business departments met as usual, though some came in a little later. She had time before she had to be in. One of the perks of being the boss.

A sound from the down the hall caught her attention. She rolled out of bed, yawning, and grabbed her robe. Belting it, she wandered down the hallway and stopped abruptly. Lucas, wearing only his jeans, slung low over his hips, was busy at her stove, opening and closing cabinet doors. The sense of relief almost brought her to her knees.