Thrown by a Curve (19 page)

“Yes. No. Yes. I don’t know.”

He cocked a brow. “Care to clarify?”

“You were driving me crazy all night.”

“Was I?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, well, you were doing the same to me.”

It was good to know she’d had some effect on him. “I like you touching me.”

“Then let me, Alicia. Lean your seat back. Spread your legs.”

She looked outside. “We’re in the car, Garrett. You’re driving.”

“On a two-lane road. It’s late, and there are hardly any cars. Trust me to protect you.”

She did trust him. Arousal beat a hot pulse between her legs.

“Alicia. Let me touch you.”

“You should focus on the road.”

His lips curved. “I can do both.”

She sucked in a breath. She’d just bet he could. “How about I watch the road for you?”

“You won’t be watching the road. You’ll be concentrating on what I’m doing.”

“Is that a challenge?”

He gave a quick, wicked smile, but to his credit, he kept his eyes on the road.

“Lean your seat back, Alicia.”

She tilted the seat back and spread her legs, chewing her lip the entire time.

“Lift your dress so I can see what you’re wearing underneath.”

She drew her dress up, revealing the hot pink underwear she’d worn to match the pale pink and white sundress she had on.

“Sexy.” And that was the only look he gave her. Eyes on the road, his fingers crept over her thigh and between her legs, causing a shock of pleasure when he cupped her sex. She melted against him, arching toward his searching fingers.

“This makes me hard, Alicia, makes me think about all the things I want to do to you when we get back to the house.”

The outline of his erection was visible against his jeans. “I want to touch you.”

He shook his head. “No. I want to make you come. Just relax.”

She let out a shaky breath and half turned toward him, giving him better access. He took advantage, sliding his hand down into the silk, touching her bare skin.

She moaned and gripped his wrist as he found her clit, then slid his fingers lower, teasing her pussy. She didn’t know if it was being in the car, the idea of this being so public, but she was throbbing, her clit tingling with pulses of need.

“You’re wet, babe,” he said, taking a quick glance at her. The hunger in his eyes undid her as he swirled her moisture over her clit. “I’m going to make you come.”

“Yes,” she said, sliding her hand over his, helping him get her there. She pressed down on his hand and shoved his fingers deeper inside her. “Harder.”

She swallowed, her throat dry as he increased the pressure. She couldn’t control the desire now, and didn’t care who might be watching. She undulated against the most exquisite sensations as she shattered against his hand with a loud cry.

“Oh, yeah,” she heard him say, but she was lost, bucking against his fingers as she came in wild, seemingly endless bursts that left her hot and shaking. It was only after the trembling stopped that Garrett removed his hand.

And when he licked his fingers one by one, she shuddered, hoping they’d be back at the house in a hurry.

“Glad you kept your eyes on the road the whole time,” he teased.

She realized Godzilla could have stepped out of the ocean and onto the road in front of them and she’d have been totally oblivious to it. She smoothed her dress down over her legs. “Okay, I might have been a little distracted.”

He cocked a grin. “Just the way I like you.”

Now it was her turn. She leaned over and laid her hand on his thigh, wanting to make sure his erection didn’t go anywhere. His jaw clenched as he drove the rest of the way back to the house.

By the time he pulled into the driveway, his clamped jaw had worked itself into a decided twitch. She was rather proud of that, because he’d driven her absolutely out of her mind with pleasure, so she felt obliged to return the favor. Her fingers danced over his fully hard cock, and if he hadn’t been driving, she’d have unzipped him and would’ve stroked or sucked him. But she did prefer he pay some attention to the road, so this tease was enough torture for him.

She gave him points for being a very good driver.

He opened her car door and pulled her out, pressing her against the side of the car to fit his lips to hers and grab a handful of her ass.

She was more than ready for him, and when he scooted her across the car to lay her flat on the warm hood, pressing his hot, hard body against her, she was sure he was ready to take her right there, his body surging against hers.

Not that she’d object—much. She flattened her palms against his chest and gave him a little push. “Shouldn’t we take this inside?”

He pressed a kiss against her jaw. “Not sure I can wait that long.”

She loved that he wanted her that much. The feeling was mutual, and if they hadn’t left the porch light on and it wasn’t so brightly lit out here, she might just consider it, because he was rubbing his hard cock against her sex. A few more minutes of that and she’d be ready to explode.

Fortunately, he pulled her up and nearly dragged her to the front door.

They didn’t make it far inside, though, because as soon as he shut the front door, he drew her to the floor, pulling her down on top of him. She landed with her skirt over her hips. Garrett took advantage, slipping his hand into her panties to roam over her bare butt.

“I’ve been wanting to get my hands on your naked ass all night.”

She lifted up, resting her hands on his chest. “We should get into bed so I can touch you.”

He shook his head. “It’s too far into the bedroom. Touch me here.”

“Get undressed.”

He half rose, and within a couple of seconds, his shirt was off, exposing his well-sculpted abs. She splayed her hands across them then leaned over him to press a kiss to his nipples.

He gave her a look. “That’s not where I want your mouth, Alicia.”

“Really.” She kissed his neck. “Here?”

“A little lower.”

She slid her tongue down to his rib cage and moved along his stomach. “How about here?”

“You’re getting a little closer. Keep going.”

When she laid her hand on his cock, he tensed. “Yeah. There. With your mouth.”

She loved that he had no problem telling her what he wanted. And how he wanted it. She popped the button on his pants and slowly drew the zipper down. He kicked off his shoes, and she lifted off him momentarily so he could shove his pants off, freeing his cock for her to grasp in her hands.

He was naked now, and she gloried in just looking at him. She always loved seeing him naked, being able to run her hands over his magnificent body, which she did now, snaking her hands up his abs and over his chest.

“Now you.”

She pulled her sundress over her head, leaving her in her underwear, which she took care of by standing and straddling him. She popped the clasp on her bra, removed it, and cast it aside, then shimmied her panties down her thighs.

Garrett grasped her ankles while she stepped out of her panties and threw them in the pile.

She stood, straddling him and looking down at him. He smiled up at her and took a deep breath. She knew what he was looking at. She’d never been shy about her body, but oh, the way he was looking at her made her blush from her toes to the tips of her hair.

“Now, there’s a beautiful sight. Come sit on me.”

She squatted down and sat on his thighs, grasping his cock with both hands. “Actually, this is a beautiful sight. I love touching you, Garrett. All over.”

He laughed. “I like your hands on me.” He thrust his shaft upward. “When you touch me, it makes my cock throb.”

She twisted her hands around, watching his face go dark. When she leaned forward, her hair spilled around him. He fisted it in his hand, forcing her gaze to his.

“Suck me, Alicia.”

Her pussy clenched at his command, exciting her, dampening her as she moved her lips to his cockhead. She licked her lips, then put her mouth on him, her tongue swirling around the wide head.

“Christ,” he said, surging forward to propel his shaft into her waiting mouth.

She took control then, closing her fist around the base of his shaft and sucking him deeply into her throat. His loud groans told her he enjoyed what she did. She wanted him to come hard, like he’d made her come in the car, so she pressed the roof of her mouth tight against her tongue, sucking as she brought his shaft deeper, cupping his balls, and giving them a squeeze.

“That’s going to make me shoot my come in your mouth, babe,” he said, pumping into her mouth with hard, rapid thrusts.

She held tight to him, squeezing him until he let out a harsh groan and came, spilling onto her tongue. She swallowed and held him while he shuddered and called her name. He held tight to her until he dropped to the floor and relaxed his body. She pressed a soft kiss to his shaft then climbed up his body to lay next to him while he recovered.

“Jesus Christ, I can’t even breathe.” His voice was hoarse.

She smiled and swept her hand over his chest, smoothing away the fine sheen of sweat that had gathered there. “I’ll go get us some water.”

“I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

She got them each a glass of ice water. He had the covers turned down and the fan on, the door to the deck partially open to let the night breeze in. Garrett was on the bed waiting for her, so she handed him the glass, which he downed in about four quick swallows. She climbed onto the bed next to him and cuddled beside him.

“I’m not sure I have the strength to make love to you,” he said.

She grinned. “It’s not necessary. Besides, I think you already did.”

He laid the empty glass on the table and turned to her. “Bullshit. That was foreplay.”

Before she could even blink, he had shifted her under him, his body hot and hard and covering hers. He framed her face in his hands. “I want as much of you as I can get, Alicia.”

There was something he wasn’t saying. Like he wanted her while it was just the two of them, before they headed back to St. Louis, before the season started, before real life intruded and they were torn apart?

She knew what they had was only temporary, and she was living in a fantasy world with him right now. Logically she knew it, anyway. They weren’t going to stay together for so many different reasons, the least of which was both of their careers.

She swept her hand across his jaw, always a turn-on to caress the rough beard there. She shuddered and pushed aside the temporariness of their relationship. For now, he was hers, and she’d have him for as long as she could. And when it came time to walk away, she would. Because her career came first, just like his did. They were both adults, and they could handle this.

She could handle this.

Right now, she only wanted Garrett, only wanted to concentrate on his body moving over hers, inside her, and on the way he made her feel. She sparked so fast with him, and like it or not, she was different when she was with him. He brought out so much passion in her, made her feel so free.

And as he clasped his hand with hers and they went over the edge together, she knew what she’d always known.

He was something amazing. Undeniably special. And he made her feel special.

And she was in love with him.

Which was going to make that whole walking-away-at-the-end-of-all-this thing really damned difficult.

TWENTY-THREE

GARRETT APPROACHED THE TRIP BACK HOME TO ST.
Louis with both excitement and bone-shaking terror.

Spring training had ended, and while he’d gotten in some work with the team and he knew he’d made significant progress, he’d pitched no games. In the back of his mind, he’d thought maybe he’d be strong enough to pitch before the end of spring training.

Alicia had made no promises to him and in fact told him it likely wouldn’t happen, but she’d do her best to get him ready so he could pitch in the regular season.

He’d made a mental note that she hadn’t said she’d have him ready by the start of the season. He refused to remind her that when they very first started working together, she’d told him she’d have him on the mound by the start of the season. He’d considered it a promise at the time.

He’d believed her, and she’d gotten him further along than he’d thought. That was good enough. He considered it a miracle he was this close to pitching again.

But the regular season was about to begin, and that meant it was make-it-or-break-it time for him.

He wanted on the mound in the first series. If he couldn’t be the first game starter, then he wanted in the rotation.

There was no doubt his shoulder was in great shape. His therapy with Alicia had been going well. They’d moved from those small pitching sessions and had begun working him out with the coaches again. He’d started throwing again—regular pitches this time.

Everything felt good. His shoulder was strong, he was getting velocity on his pitches, and every day he felt better and better, like his old self again. Alicia still put him through his grueling therapy sessions, and every day they hurt less and less. Alicia told him it was a day-by-day thing and all a matter of time.

He hoped like hell that wasn’t some standard bullshit spiel she said to all the players in recovery, because he was so goddamn ready to pitch he could taste it.

Today they were on the field working position practice. He was over with the pitchers taking warm-ups, though Alicia was there with him, along with the pitching coach, who was watching his mechanics. As he wound up and threw his curveball into the catcher’s mitt, Bobby Sloane, the pitching coach, frowned.

“Do it again.”

He did. And Bobby frowned. Again.

“One more time,” Bobby said.

After Garrett threw the pitch, Bobby still didn’t look happy. Not that Bobby ever smiled, but if you threw the pitches right, Bobby walked off and terrorized a different pitcher. This time he stayed. “Something’s off with your curve. You’re not hitting the strike zone. Is it your shoulder?”

Garrett rolled his shoulder. “It feels fine.”

“Throw a few sliders.”

He did then some changeups and fastballs, all according to the coach’s directions.

Bobby watched them all, then shook his head. Instead of talking to Garrett, he turned to Alicia. “He’s off, Alicia. I don’t like those pitches just yet. They don’t have the trademark Garrett Scott finesse.”

Alicia stepped beside Bobby and nodded. “I’ll work on him in the treatment room. It’s likely he’s still just a little bit stiff since he hasn’t thrown in so long. Therapy and just working through the pitches will get him back on the mark.”

Bobby walked away and Alicia came over to him. “Are you in any pain?”

“No.”

“You threw a lot of pitches at practice today. How does the arm feel?”

He walked off the mound with her. “Do you have any idea how fucking tired I am of hearing that question? I never want to hear that goddamn question again.”

Her lips lifted. “Well, guess what? It’s not the last time you’re going to hear it. From me or the coaching staff. So deal.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

He was grouchy and he knew it. He’d expected to get on the mound and start throwing pitches the same way he had before he got hurt. It wasn’t looking like that was going to happen, and it pissed him off, which was no reason to take it out on Alicia.

“Hey,” he said, pausing just inside the tunnel leading toward the locker room. “I’m sorry.”

She cocked her head to the side. “For what?”

“For snapping at you.”

She laughed and touched his arm. “This is a big deal for you, Garrett. You’re entitled to be tense about it.”

She understood. Of course she did. Right now she knew him and what he was going through better than anyone. He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Thanks.”

Except a few of the players took that moment to come in from the dugout.

“Whoa, Garrett.” Tommy Maloney, a fellow pitcher, gave Garrett a shove. “Shouldn’t you two get a room or something?”

“I don’t know, Tommy.” Dedrick Coleman crossed his arms, his glove dangling from his fingers. “I’d say we’ve got a pretty good show going on right here. I might want to stay and watch.”

“Fuck off, Deed,” Garrett said, seemingly unconcerned that they’d just been caught making out in the tunnel.

Dedrick laughed, and he and Tommy headed toward the locker room.

“Sorry about that,” Garrett said, turning back to Alicia.

Her eyes were wide with shock. “Oh, God. That’s the worst thing that could have happened.”

Garrett frowned. “What? Oh, the guys? Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you serious? The last thing I need to have happen is for my boss to find out about the . . . about what’s been going on between the two of us.” She took two giant steps back. “That can’t happen again. I’ll meet you inside the therapy room.”

She hurried away, and he wondered what she meant by “that.” Kissing her in public or being with her at all.

Their time together in Florida had been nearly perfect. They’d had a lot of alone time, especially in the house together. He’d been free to touch her, to taste her, to make love to her without anyone around. Yeah, once they’d gotten to the ballpark, it had been professional and hands-off.

Except in the dugout that night . . .

He smiled remembering the way her body had arched when he’d been inside her, the sounds she’d made when she’d come.

He’d like to do it again. Here in this dugout. Or maybe in the bullpen.

His cock tightened, but he pushed aside his own needs. Alicia was pissed. And scared. And all he was thinking about was having sex with her again, getting close to her, touching her.

He needed to respect her boundaries.

He went into the training room and found her, head down in that damn notebook where she charted—whatever the hell she charted about him. He knew her notes were all about him since right now he was the only one she worked with.

She looked up. “Let me loosen up your shoulder. You had a hard workout today.”

“Sure.” He changed, and she put heat on him then loosened him up with a series of stretches that not that long ago caused agony. Now it felt good to have his muscles and tendons stretched. Plus, having Alicia’s hands on him had a whole different meaning than it did back then. He craved her touch, the way her hands slid over his shoulder and down his arm.

And all the while, she didn’t even make eye contact with him, not even when she bent down to push deep into his muscle, when her face was so close to his, if he lifted up even a little bit, their lips would touch.

“Alicia.”

“Yes.”

“You can look at me, you know.”

She gave him a brief glance, but she backed away first. “Am I hurting you?”

“No.” But they weren’t alone in the treatment room, and he knew she was freaked out by what had happened earlier with Dedrick and Tommy. He wasn’t going to be able to talk to her about it now, because there were other athletes and other therapists in here.

Later. They’d talk later.

Except later, after they had both left—and he’d noticed that she’d hightailed it out of there as soon as she’d finished with his therapy—he’d called her and asked if she wanted to come over to his place. She’d told him she was busy with some family stuff and couldn’t see him tonight. And she’d gotten off the phone with him in a hurry.

A cold knot formed in his stomach. Maybe she was being honest, and she really did have family obligations.

Or maybe she was creating distance in more places than just the ballpark.

And to Garrett, that just wasn’t acceptable.

The next day, he tried again. After workouts and therapy, making sure they were alone in the treatment room, he asked her.

“What are your plans for tonight? I thought maybe we could go out for dinner.”

She paused, mid stretch of his arm. “Um . . . what?”

He tilted his head back to look at her. “Dinner. That thing where you get food. I get food. We eat. Talk. You remember that, don’t you?”

“Of course I know dinner. But I can’t. Actually, I was going to talk to you about tonight.”

“You were?”

“Yes. My cousin Jenna’s new music club is opening tonight. The whole family is going to be there. I was wondering if you’d like to come.”

Now it was his turn to pause. He sat up and she stepped back while he swung his legs over the table. “What?”

“I’m inviting you to come with me to my cousin’s club opening.”

He wanted time with her. Alone. Not with her entire family. He didn’t do family. The whole family thing was awkward and uncomfortable, like with his family. “Oh. No thanks.”

She cocked a brow. “Why not?”

“It’s your family. I’d be intruding.”

“It’s not a private thing, Garrett. The club is opening to the public tonight. My family is going to be there to help celebrate. Jenna and Ty—hell, my entire family has worked hard on making this happen. I’d love for you to be there.”

“Yeah, I don’t do the family thing. But thanks for asking.”

She shuttered her feelings behind a blank stare. “Okay. Lie back down so I can finish stretching you.”

He’d hurt her. She’d backed off, he’d pursued, and then when she’d relented and invited him back in, he’d turned her down. What kind of a dick was he, anyway?

Dammit. How could he explain to her how uncomfortable family gatherings were for him? Every time he saw his mother, despite how happy she was with her husband, it reminded him of the pain of his parents’ breakup and how it had shattered him. And his dad? Yeah, that rarely if ever even happened. His dad was off in his own world, his own life with the woman he’d left them all for. His father couldn’t be bothered with his son.

He liked Alicia’s cousin, Gavin, mainly because they’d been teammates before Alicia and he had ever gotten together. And maybe he never thought what was going on with him and Alicia was ever going to be anything more than just a right-now kind of thing. Nothing long-term, and sure as hell nothing that involved interacting with each other’s families.

“Okay, we’re done here. I’ll get the ice pack.”

“Alicia.”

She stopped. “Yes?”

“About this event tonight. Let me explain.”

She offered up a smile that didn’t transform her face like her typical smiles did. “No explanation necessary, Garrett. I’ll be right back with that ice pack.”

Shit. He raked his fingers through his hair. Somehow he’d have to work around this. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but damn if he wanted to thrust himself into the middle of her family tonight.

But after expressing her fear about the two of them being seen together, she’d offered up an olive branch.

And he’d just snapped the branch in two.

Maybe he was an asshole after all.