Ballers with Benefits (Double Play Series Book 3)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “My mama got pregnant with me and Devin in high school. My dad brought her to get an abortion, but when she found out it was twins, she didn't go through with it. She told him that she did, he left to get drafted and he missed eighteen years of our lives. They only reconnected when my dad happened to be coachin’ my brother in rookie ball.”

  “Ahh cue five year old sister, now I get it. Well it all worked out for them.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I'd rather save kids for when I'm married and settled. I don't want to be travelin’, I want to be home.”

  “Understandable. We'll be safe, I promise you.”

  He reaches over and pulls me to stand, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

  “Let's go make some food. I’d say we nailed that workout,” Damon says laughing giving me a wink.

  I shake my head and he bends down in front of me, grabbing my thighs and lifting me in a piggyback. His hands are gripping my ass and I laugh as he takes the stairs two at a time, bouncing me around.

  “Your legs need a rest angel. I'm not done with you yet. I'm gonna fu- Mom?”

  I stop laughing and Damon puts me down on my feet as he turns around to face me, regret written all over his face.

  He wanted to keep these two worlds separate, the girl he fucks and the family life.

  Shit.

  It hurts a little watching his face morph into embarrassment, but I steel myself, putting a smile on and extending my hand.

  “Ms. Johnson, it’s nice to meet ya ma'am. I'm Bella Gavinwood. You raised a great boy here, you should be proud.”

  “H-...Hi there. Nice to meet you too. I'm sorry honey I didn't know you had a guest. I wanted to make sure you weren't pushing yourself too hard with your knee and all.”

  She looks over to me, her eyebrows raised and I feel my cheeks turn pink.

  “Bella is a physical therapist. She was the one working me out in Louisiana. She plays ball for the national team and now she-”

  “I know who she is,” his mother snaps.

  My face turns a bright shade of red and I’m sure she’s referring to my calendar spread. That mixed with my barely there wardrobe, the fact that she caught her son with a handful of my ass and almost saying he was going to fuck me probably puts me pretty high on her ‘not good enough for my son’ list.

  “I should get goin’ Damon. It was nice to meet ya ma'am and I love your paintings, by the way, they're beautiful. I'll get in touch with Damon about buyin’ a couple for my office,” I say smiling.

  I go to walk towards the door and Damon pulls on my wrist.

  “We’re not done, angel,” he says dominance lacing his words.

  I look over to his mother and her eyebrows are raised.

  “We are. I’ll talk to you later.”

  I turn to leave again but Damon’s mother’s voice stops me.

  “I actually should be going,” his mother says quickly. “I'm sorry I barged in here, next time I'll call. Enjoy your night you two and Bella it was lovely to meet you.”

  She turns and walks away without another word.

  “I'm sorry about her. I'll talk to her.”

  “It’s fine. It's not like we're gettin’ married, right? She doesn't have to like who you fuck.”

  Even the words sound harsh coming off my own lips and I flinch at them. I see something flick in Damon's gaze, but it's quickly gone and he nods.

  “Still, just as one human to another, even if we are just fuckin’ around, I still consider you a friend and she didn't have to be so rude. I’m gonna talk to her okay? Let's eat.”

  I nod and grab his hand reveling in this closeness. I don't know what is going to happen while I'm in Mexico or when I get back, so I embrace what we have now.

  “I am gonna miss you by the way,” I say softly.

  He looks over at me with that panty melting smile.

  “Not as much as I'm gonna miss you angel.”

  Chapter 14

  Bella

  “Call as soon as you land. Love you and good luck. Give ‘em that Daniels whoopin’,” my mama says kissing me.

  Despite how many times I’ve traveled to play, her and my dad are always at the tarmac seeing me off. I smile and squeeze her in a tight hug.

  “I know the deal Mama, love you too.”

  “Stay strong out there, good luck and give ‘em that Gavinwood hell. We’ll be streamin’ all the games, so I’ll know if you’re slackin’,” my dad says.

  He smiles and hugs me, gripping me so tight I almost lose oxygen.

  “Daddy, they're just scrimmages and relax, I’m only gone a couple weeks. I’ve been gone longer, and I'm a Daniels and a Gavinwood,” I smirk.

  “I know baby, I’m just gonna miss ya. Who am I gonna go have coffee with down at Mary’s place?” he asks smiling.

  “Is he pregnant?” I ask my mama laughing.

  “Come on Gabe, let our baby go kick some ass. I’ll go have coffee with ya at Mary’s place,” my mama says patting my dad on the back.

  “Bye little mama. Come here and give sissy a hug,” I say to Avery.

  She runs over to me and barrels into my arms. I hear her sniffle and break the hug looking down at her.

  “Hey, we’ll video chat every chance we get. Ya gotta keep cousin Lacey company, make her take you to our place for a sleepover and stuff your faces with all the junk like we do, okay?” I whisper.

  Avery looks up at me with teary eyes and a small smile breaks out on her face.

  “Can we do another one when you get back?” she whispers.

  “Of course little mama, the day I get back!”

  I hug her again and walk towards the plane waving goodbye to everyone. I find my seat next to Amy and put my backpack in the overhead storage compartment, checking my phone one last time before I shut it off.

  Damon: Good luck and have fun! Miss that ass already.

  Bella: I miss you too. I wish you could come with me.

  I wait a couple of minutes until the flight attendants start giving us the spiel about turning off all electronics and wonder why Damon didn’t respond.

  That was too much. He was referring to my body, not me. I made it weird and needy, wishing he could be there with me.

  I always asked Connor to take some vacation days to come and spend time in whatever country I was in and he always declined. Now I know why. A small annoying voice in the back of my head is telling me Damon is the same. The difference is that Damon and I are not in a relationship, he can do whatever he wants, right?

  I shake my head and put my headphones over my ears. I turn on my music and drown out my insecurities, letting all the cards just fall where they may.

  We land in the late afternoon, so by the time we get to our hotel it’s a little before dinner time. We all decide to wash up and eat dinner together in the restaurant downstairs.

  It’s a beautiful hotel, shiny marble white floors, elegant decorations, palm trees lining the walkways down to the beach. It would be such a romantic place to be with Damon and again I have to chastise myself for thinking of him.

  He still hasn’t responded, so after I get out of the shower, I call Lacey on my walk down to the restaurant.

  “Hey,” she answers out of breath.

  “Hey, I landed. Wanna text the whole gang for me? It’s so beautiful here we should make a-” I stop hearing a soft moan on the other end of the line.

  “Oh my God Lacey, are you havin’ sex right now!” I whisper yell.

  “I...I...hold on,” she whispers. “You’re gone for the next couple of weeks, free reign of the apartment, what do you expect?”

  “I hope it’s Nico,” I snap.

  “It is! I’m not done with him yet,” I hear the amusement in her voice and shake my head.

  I hear a smack on the line and roll my eyes.

  “Okay, I gotta go, glad you landed, kick ass, love you, bye,” she says quickly hanging up the phone.

  I laugh and walk down the hall to the restaurant where the rest of the team is sea
ted.

  We opt for small talk, the upcoming games, plans for when we get back home, Amy attempting to get some type of info about Damon out of me. My mind keeps going back to him, my body desperate for a hit of his. Thank God I brought my vibrator.

  After dinner the girls mention going out to a club in town, but I decline for a nice warm fluffy bed and the release I so desperately crave instead.

  I walk to my room quickly, stripping off my clothes the second I shut the door behind me. I reach into the bottom of my luggage, taking out my vibrator and collapse into bed.

  Just thinking about Damon all day has my body wet and ready, wishing desperately for him to be the one to give me this release. I grit my teeth, running the inadequate replacement through my folds, turning it on and feeling the jolt run through my body.

  I slide it inside me, feeling my walls stretch around it, further and further until it’s all the way inside.

  Still not enough, dammit.

  I close my eyes, picturing Damon above me, his hands pushing it in and out of me, watching my face, kissing up and down my ribs, teasing my nipples, ripping the vibrator out and replacing it with him.

  I’m on the edge, the rubber pushing against my clit, teetering on the brink but I can’t get past the hurdle. I squeeze my legs, focusing on the feel, trying to trick my body into thinking it’s him, but it knows. Nothing can replace him.

  I pull the vibrator out of me with a frustrated groan, turning it off and tossing it to the other side of the bed.

  “God dammit,” I mumble.

  I turn on my side, fluffing my pillow and the past week with Damon, plus my softball workout, has left my body starving for relaxation. The need to shut down thankfully overpowers the need between my legs and after checking my phone one more time I fall asleep.

  Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

  Damon

  I put my sunglasses on as I get out of the taxi and look up at the extravagant hotel. I know Bella is staying at the one next door, thanks to Lacey, and I decided to get one out of her space.

  This is a big move, coming to Mexico to surprise her, but after her text yesterday, I felt like it was the right one. I have the weekend off and a couple days in the nice Mexican sun is exactly what the doctor ordered, with a side of Bella. What a fucking combination.

  I grab my luggage from the trunk of the taxi, handing the man some bills and go check in at the front desk. I walk to my room, putting down my suitcase and admire the view.

  There is a big king sized bed and the balcony doors open to a beautiful ocean view with a big white tub. Bella is going to love this. I’m not sure what type of accommodations the girls on the U.S National team get, but hopefully it’s nothing like this and I can blow her mind.

  I check my phone and decide to call Bella, see what her day is like and when I can surprise her. She answers on the first ring and her voice sounds frantic.

  “Hey Damon! What’s up?”

  “Hey angel, how was your flight?”

  “It was good, I crashed last night after dinner, some of the girls went out but I was exhausted. You’ve been wearin’ me out,” she laughs.

  “What’s the matter? You sound a little off?”

  “I just...you never texted back. I thought I messed this up, it was too much or somethin’.”

  I shake my head and smile. I got her right where I want her.

  “Sorry, I had a crazy day. What are your plans?”

  “We had an early morning workout this mornin’, practice in an hour and then I’m kind of free the rest of the day and will probably head down to the beach. Our first scrimmage ain’t for another couple of days, so it’s really just practices and workouts, kind of borin’.”

  Perfect.

  “You know I was thinkin’ about you last night,” she says quietly.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. I may have had a little...fun with a certain object, in your honor.”

  I grit my teeth, letting out a breath through my nostrils.

  “What kind of object?”

  “Does it matter? It got the job done. I should get goin’ though, nice chattin’ with you, big guy.”

  Yep I deserve this, she has no idea though, no fucking idea what’s in store for her tonight.

  “Send me a picture of that sexy body in a bikini later,” I whisper.

  She laughs and moans a little and I grit my teeth.

  “In my bikini or out of my bikini?” she whispers back.

  “Bella….” I warn.

  “I think this is a nude beach actually, Sports Illustrated would have a fit if they found out all the people on this beach were gettin’ a free show.”

  “Angel,” I growl.

  “Bye Dirty Damon, enjoy your day.”

  With that she hangs up the phone and I know she’s punishing me for not answering her sooner. Well she is in for one hell of a treat.

  ---

  I’m sleeping on the lounge chair out on the balcony when I feel my phone buzz on my stomach. I glance down at it and I see it’s a text from Bella.

  I open up the message and her gorgeous face comes into view in big brown sunglasses, her smile taking up her whole face.

  “Here in sunny Mexico, takin’ in the rays in my veryyyyyy skimpy bikini,” she says on the video, moving the camera down so I can get a view of her. I smile and sit up straighter looking out at the beach. “Wish you were here big guy. Enjoy your day!”

  I shut my phone and stand up, leaning over the railing looking for that beautiful girl in her yellow bikini. I spot a group of girls heading into the water and then I see her. I go back into the room, grabbing my towel and room key and head out the door.

  I pull my sunglasses down on my head and walk out towards the beach ready to give my girl the best two days she’s ever had.

  Bella

  I throw my phone back down on the towel and laugh. Amy slaps my shoulder and shakes her head.

  “You’re so bad, you’re gonna give that man a heart attack, you know that?”

  “He makes me crazy, Amy! I never would have sent somethin’ like that to Connor, but he makes me feel so...sexy. I don’t know. Come on let’s go swim.”

  I grab her hand and we jog out to the water with a couple other girls on the team. I dive into a wave and feel the cool rush of the water smack me in the face. The drastic change from a hot and bothered body to the cool ocean, chills me. I’m still frustrated as hell from last night and teasing Damon didn’t help.

  I come up for air and wash the water off my face, slicking my wet hair back. Floating in the clear water puts my body in a state of serenity that I desperately needed.

  “Oh my God look at that piece of meat,” my teammate Gia says.

  “Where?” asks Amy.

  “Right there walking over, he’s putting his towel down now, glasses, tattoos, hint of a five o clock shadow. My God that body.”

  I glance over to where she is pointing and my heart stops. I would recognize that body in the dark.

  “Oh my God,” I whisper.

  “Right?” Gia says.

  Amy must recognize my expression because she looks back at the man and then back at me.

  “There’s no way, is that him?” she asks stunned.

  I nod and slowly get out of the water, walking towards him. He looks up from arranging his towel and his face breaks into a smile.

  “Fancy seeing you here angel,” he says putting his sunglasses on the top of his head.

  I smile and break out in a run, jumping into his arms when I get to him. He catches me, my legs wrapping around his waist, his hands holding me up my by my ass and our lips come together viciously, as if I wasn’t just naked in his bed a couple days ago.

  The craving our bodies have for each other should be terrifying, but it isn’t, it’s exhilarating. Every day with this man opens up new parts of me I never knew existed, hidden behind fear and insecurities and expectations others have put on me. Damon is bringing out a person that I never want to let g
o of.

  I grab the back of his head, running my fingers through his long hair and pull it back, opening his mouth to me further. I drop my lips down onto his stubbled neck and suck on a spot there, pulling a moan from the back of his throat.