Sliding Into Second (14 page)

“I thought you were too tired.”

“Tired?” He unzipped his jeans. “I’ll never tire of you.”

“I do love stamina.” She got up to face him. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Pulling his jeans past his waist, he shoved them to his knees as she climbed into his lap. “You’re not even waiting for me to get naked?” He grinned. “That’s fuckin’ hot.”

“I just have this overwhelming need to be near you, touching you, feeling you.” She rocked against him, moving her slick sex up and down his length. “Kiss me.”

“Sage.” He tangled his fingers in the back of her hair, guiding her over his shaft as he kissed her. He hadn’t entered her, but the sensation they created was incredible. Each time she bore down on his cock, his balls strained to release. Grabbing her hips in his hands, he moved her up and then back down, her smooth mound dancing along his hardness. The pre-cum leaking from his tip, mixed with her arousal, made them wet and ready for what was to come.

As he kissed her long and deep, she draped her arms over his shoulders, riding him slow and steady. He slithered his hand between them, pushing inside her heated pussy, wanting to feel her on his fingers. She arched her back, giving in to what he was doing to her.

“Nic.” She clawed at his skin as she clenched around him. “How do you get me to do this every time?” She dropped her head to his shoulder, shaking against him as she came undone. Her receptiveness to his touch had become a new addiction for him. “I’m going to... Oh!” She lifted her arms and pulled her nightgown off, leaving herself naked.

Lowering her to the floor, he removed his jeans and boxers. He covered her body with his, enjoying the warmth of her skin beneath the glow of the crackling fire. As he entered her, he stared into her eyes. She kept her gaze on his, neither of them saying anything as they moved as one.

He took her face between his hands, kissing her tenderly, letting her feel everything he had for her. She spread her legs, allowing him to slide inside her core, sheathing his whole length until he was balls deep. With her legs open, there was nothing holding him back. He pulled all the way out before slipping back in, inch by inch, coating himself in her juices. After a few times, he couldn’t keep a leisurely pace, his hips slammed against her as he used the hardwood floor as leverage. He reached for one of her legs, wrapping it around his waist as he drove into her over and over again.

“Sage, I...” He stopped himself from letting those three words tumble from his lips. The words that would solidify their union. “You have to know, don’t you, love?”

She pressed her lips to his, silencing him from taking the words any further. Seconds later, he was wracked with an extraordinarily hard orgasm. As he released inside her, he said the words he couldn’t say out loud in his head. The ones she refused to hear. Just because she wouldn’t accept them didn’t mean he couldn’t feel them.

* * * *

When Sage opened her eyes and looked up, she found Nic staring at her. She saw the emotion in his eyes. As she caught her breath and came down from her climax, she shivered beneath him. Not because she was cold. She tingled all over from their encounter, but there was more to it. She knew what he was trying to say, he didn’t have to vocalize it. She felt it. Her heart wanted to burst, and for the first time in weeks, she wanted to give in.

“No, I’ll never tire of that.” He kissed her. “Amazing.”

“I think you’re amazing.” She smiled. “In case I haven’t told you lately.”

“I don’t think you have.”

He reached up on the sofa and grabbed the large throw. After settling in next to her, he wrapped them in it, pulling her onto his chest so she was close to him. One of the best parts of having sex with him was the afterglow. His constant need to hold her, cuddle her, and talk had always been special for her.

“Look.” She pointed up to the ceiling. The moon shone through the intricate skylights that were scattered throughout the lower level of the main area of the cottage. The stars twinkled in the dark sky. “Do you know what this reminds me of?”

“Making love in the back of my old truck.” He said it with such certainty. It seemed as though they were connected in many ways.

“How did you know that?”

“Some of my favorite memories are being with you out by the lake.” He held her tighter, kissing the top of her head before interlacing their fingers. “It was quiet and tranquil, just the sounds of nature, the two of us under the stars, and no one to bother us.”

“We’d spend hours there, talking, dreaming about the future. When you left, I used to think about those trips to the lake. Some nights those memories were the only thing that kept me going.”

“Me too,” he whispered. “When I would come back to Boston, I’d drive out there, sit in the back of the truck, and think about you.”

“I drove out there a few times too.” What would she have done if they had crossed paths? Would she have listened to what he had to say back then? “I would sit in my car, wishing I could call you. Hear your voice one more time.”

“I’m sorry, Sage.” His body tensed against hers. “I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t mean to let this many years go by. When you wouldn’t see me or even talk to me, I just figured it was over.”

“It was.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.” He tightened his hold on her. “It was never over for me. I may have pushed us aside and tried to forget, but my heart never allowed that.”

“I know.” She traced over her name on his flesh, just above his heart. “You were always in mine too.”

“What are we doing?”

“Finding our way back,” she whispered. “Just let it happen, okay?”

“Okay.”

Neither of them spoke another word. She’d hurt him. She could feel it. She didn’t mean to, but she had to do this on her terms. If he wanted her to open her heart to him again, he had to let her do it her way. As selfish as that sounded, it was the only way she could lower her guard and be the woman he needed. If their second shot at love was going to work, this was how she had to play it out.

Trust me, Nicky, baby steps.

Chapter 14

Friday night with Sage’s family went well. Nic hadn’t anticipated any problems, but during that dinner in the city, Dr. Millan hadn’t seemed any more impressed than he had when Nic was a kid. It was obvious that even though Nic had accomplished all he had set out to do, he still wasn’t good enough for the doctor’s daughter. He had hoped inviting him into his home and letting him see how he and Sage were getting along with one another would help.

“Nic, you have a spectacular home,” Mrs. Millan said.

“Thank you. I like it. Especially in the off-season when I have time to enjoy it. The spring gets so crazy, and once we get into the summer, I’m hardly ever here.”

“It must make any type of normalcy hard for you,” Dr. Millan interjected. “Being on the road probably makes it difficult to maintain relationships.”

Millan’s comments were not lost on Nic. He knew he was trying to justify what he had said all those years ago in his study.

“When I was younger, I might have agreed with you.” Nic nodded. “But now that I’m older and I know how the life works, it’s all about balance and finding someone who understands the travel schedule.” He smiled at Sage. “Several of my teammates have significant others. It works if you want it to.”

“Nic has a wonderful support system in his team,” Sage said. “They all really take care of one another. I’m looking forward to focusing on that angle when I go to spring training with them. It will make for a great story. I think the fans will totally eat it up.”

“I’m jealous.” Rosalie sipped her wine. “I wish I was going with you.”

“Come back after graduation.” Sage’s voice held hope. “Kingston is a great town. You’ll find something to do here.”

“I think that’s a good idea, Rosie,” Mrs. Millan said. “Then my two girls will be in the same place and not that many miles away from me.”

“I’m sure I could talk to my GM,” Nic offered. “Your degree is going to be in marketing, right? Maybe they could find a spot for you in the organization.”

“That would be cool,” Rosalie said. “Then I’d get to be around all those hunky guys.”

“Of course.” Nic laughed as he shook his head, but he caught a glimpse of Dr. Millan’s disapproval. The old man couldn’t handle another one of his daughters being caught up with a jock.

“I thought you were thinking of doing something abroad with that expensive degree from Yale,” Dr. Millan reminded his daughter. “Don’t tell me you’re going to catch baseball fever too.”

“Daddy, we’re not kids anymore. We get to make our own choices, remember?” Sage said.

Sage took Nic’s hand and squeezed it under the table before placing it in her lap. Her unprovoked advances drove him crazy.

“Pay no attention to your dad,” Mrs. Millan said. “He has a hard time with your love lives.”

No kidding.
Nic knew that better than anyone.

“So, Nic,” Dr. Millan said. “How does your starting lineup look this season? Any shot at another title?”

“Back-to-back series titles is not an easy task,” he said. “We’re looking strong. Paxton will be out most of the season, but Holt Clemson is young and on fire right now.”

“I’ll second that.” Rosalie smiled.

Nic shot Rosie a wicked grin. She hadn’t come back to the cottage until early in the morning the other day. That pool game must have been really good, but she wouldn’t share any details of her night with his wild players. At least not with him. He’d have to grill Sage later.

“What are the stats like for the players?” Dr. Millan asked, ignoring Rosalie’s comment.

Hmm...is the old man reaching out to me?
“I have a program on my tablet I set up a few weeks ago. It’s a hobby of mine.”

“You always did like statistics.” Sage thought for a moment. “I remember all the notes and paper you used to leave all over your parents’ house and in your car. You had a whiteboard in your bedroom with different players each week. You were always scribbling numbers on it.”

“You remember that?”

She nodded as she stared into his eyes. Ever since he spent the night at her cottage, things had shifted between them. She wanted more. He could feel it. Tonight, she had been affectionate in front of her parents, holding his hand and sitting close to him.

“These days I’ve upgraded to a computer program, but I still keep track of every player, including myself.” He looked at Dr. Millan. “Would you like to see my spreadsheets?”

“I would.”

“Rosalie, why don’t you show your parents to the living room? I’ll grab my tablet from the family room.” Nic stood. “We can have coffee in a few minutes.”

“That sounds lovely.” Mrs. Millan got up from her seat. “Let me clear the table for you.”

“That’s not necessary,” Nic said. “I can get it later.”

“No.” Rosalie stood. “I’ll help. We’ll have it cleared in no time.”

“Daddy.” Sage pointed down the hall. “I’ll show you to the living room while Nic gets the stats.”

Nic smiled at her, lingering for a few seconds before Dr. Millan cleared his throat.

“I’ll be back.” Nic felt like that twenty-year-old kid who couldn’t get enough of his gray-eyed beauty. Everything was new and exciting again. A spark had been reinvented between them. They were finally in sync and he’d do everything to keep them that way.

As he walked down the hall, he thought about all the possibilities. Maybe he’d finally get that consent for her hand after all these years. Hell, he’d marry her with or without the good doctor’s blessing. It would be easier if he had it, but this time around, he knew better. Nothing, no one, would ever stand in the way of his happiness with Sage. He’d make up for every tear she cried over their separation. All she had to do was agree to be his.

I’m getting ahead of myself.
He didn’t care. Now that she was back in his life and he was slowly breaking down those high walls she had insisted on putting between them, he would stop at nothing to get her back.

“Hey,” she whispered from the doorway of the family room. “I need a kiss.”

He turned, holding her gaze for a moment before taking in her beauty. She wore a tight, olive green dress that hugged all of her curves just right. Her long, toned legs seemed to go on forever before disappearing under the dress. She had chosen to pull her hair into a high ponytail, slicking back any loose strands so that her face was completely exposed. It was a different look for her, but one that worked. He could see every feature of her prominent face, from her high cheekbones and flawless skin to her full, kissable lips.

Speaking of...

“Do you?” He curled his finger and beckoned for her to come to him. “Let me grant that request of yours.”

She crossed the room in an instant and was in his arms, resting hers on his shoulders as she looked up at him with all of that new hope he had just been thinking about. He gripped her slender hips, molding her into his form as his lips connected with hers. He could taste the sweet wine on her breath as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue inside her mouth and working it against hers. When she whimpered, his cock jumped to attention, alerting him they had to stop. They still had at least an hour before he could take her upstairs and rip that dress off her soft, enticing body.

“Aphrodite, you’ll be the death of me tonight.” He placed a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Don’t get me worked up. Not now.”

“I thought you liked when I got you worked up.”

“There’s a time and a place, and this is not it.” He shook his head, regretting that statement. “Now that I’ve finally gotten your dad to be civil toward me, I’m not about to get caught doing anything inappropriate with you with him in the next room.”

“He likes you.” She pressed her lips to his. “He wouldn’t have come here if he wasn’t willing to accept that we’re together.”

“Does that mean you have?” He caressed her cheek. “Are you willing to admit it?”

“Maybe,” she teased, and now he really couldn’t wait to take her to bed. “I’m falling hard for you, and I don’t know how to make it stop.”

“You don’t have to make it stop.” He kissed her with just as much passion as he had a few seconds ago. He roamed her sides with his hands, working his way to her backside.