by Ashley Munoz
Decker: Thanks for giving me this opportunity
Aubrey: So, I’m going to try to give you the floor so you can tell us why you agreed to do this article. I feel addressing that upfront might hook our audience a bit more.
Decker: The short answer? Love.
My breath caught in my chest as I read on.
Decker: I really hope you keep reading, because the article that’s included with this conversation was written by the woman I love. It originated from a deal we’d made where she was willing to put her feelings on the back burner so I could pursue…well, we’ll get to that.
This couldn’t be…could it? I swiped again, reading further, hating how hope began to inflate my chest. If this wasn’t what I thought it was or if it was fake, I’d deflate and probably just die.
Aubrey: I have to say, this article is one of the best I’ve read in a long time.
Decker: Well, when she reads this, I hope that first, she agrees to be my girlfriend, and second, she understands how talented she is.
Aubrey: Below is the article on the team. It’s informative and spicy, but there are still a few questions I have. I’ll attach them below.
I scanned the page, and the article I’d written was there. How had he gotten it? I’d grabbed it from him…but then again, he’d somehow snuck into my bedroom without security seeing, so maybe he’d found a way to sneak in again. Still, seeing the words I’d written on the screen—it was so incredible.
Knowing what I’d written, my eyes greedily moved past the article until I saw what other questions Aubrey asked.
Aubrey: So, Decker, in the article, there’s a reference to your past with the captain of the Devils—what’s the story there?
Decker: I was supposed to start the season last year as head pitcher. I’d been working and practicing more than I’d ever gone at it before. There were scouts asking about me. They wanted to see how I’d do…but then I lost my dad.
Aubrey: I’m so sorry to hear that.
Decker: Thank you. It was difficult. I was driving three hours back home to help my mom and brother every free chance I had. Meanwhile there were these card games happening, and my captain demanded I attend and help organize them. It got to a point where I just refused to attend them anymore.
Aubrey: Based on what I read in that article, I don’t blame you.
Decker: Well the captain did. He started harassing me, bullying me, getting other team members to join in, but I was grieving my dad, and I didn’t give in to it. Then, during practice one day, he fixed a hit, nailing me in the chest with the ball. After I fell to the ground to catch my breath, he shoved his cleat through my pitching hand.
I hated being reminded of how much he’d lost by Elias’s doing.
Aubrey: After reading the article, I guess there were rumors started about you being the one to do that to him. How did all that start?
Decker: The Devils are like a dysfunctional family—you won’t always like everything about it or everyone in it. Regardless of our loyalty to one another, there were several team members who were in on the captain’s plans to hurt me. They only helped perpetuate his narrative by spreading rumors.
Aubrey: So did you lose your position then?
Decker: I lost the use of my hand for several months. After physical therapy, I could throw again, but nothing like I had in the past. I kept my position on the team, helping with stats and keeping my batting average up…but I wasn’t pitching anymore.
Aubrey: So, this deal you’d started with the writer of the article—it was info you exchanged for what? A chance to get back at the captain?
Decker: Yeah, there was something I needed that she had access to, and I knew she wanted to write the story.
Aubrey: Now, you told me you knew the entire time she wouldn’t be able to actually publish it, is that right? But you fell in love along the way?
Decker: I did, and I won’t give you excuses as to why I did it, but I lost the girl because of it. That’s why I’m doing this, in hopes of getting her back. I just hope she gives me a second chance to prove to her that she’s most important to me. More than revenge, more than home…more than anything.
Aubrey: Wow, that’s really sweet. I understand the writer was told to drop this article, am I right? That’s what piqued our interest in publishing it.
Decker: Yes. The captain intervened and had the team’s lawyers threaten her to drop it.
Aubrey: So how is it you were able to share so much info with us?
Decker: There are rules to the game.
His rough words whispered in my ear that night in the library came rushing back. I frantically searched the text for the answers I craved.
Aubrey: Okay, now I’m curious…what rules?
Decker: As you read in the article, the Devils are more than just a baseball team. Well, it’s all a way to keep the team motivated. So of course, there are rules on how we’re supposed to play. They’re broken down by card.
Rule number one: the ace—Don’t catch any feelings for your base number.
Rule number two: the queen of hearts—Never go past your base number.
Rule number three: the king of spades—Don’t talk about the game outside of the Devils’ team house.
Rule number four: the joker—Don’t ask the same person twice.
Rule number five: a royal flush—Every member on the team, no matter the position, must attend the parties.
Rule number six: the straight—If, at any time, the integrity of the game is challenged or questioned, lawyer up and deny everything.
Rule number seven: the wild card—If you fall in love as a direct result of playing the game, this card trumps all others.
Aubrey: Oh my god, I’m actually getting emotional over this. She’s your…
Decker: She’s my wild card.
Aubrey: What’s to keep other players from selling info and just claiming rule number seven?
Decker: Once you’ve claimed the rule, claiming someone is your wild card, it’s with the understanding that you have to cut all ties with the Devils and any scouts or sponsors who signed you while playing on the team. The article outlines what the benefits are of becoming a Devil, and there are perks that will follow you forever, but if you claim the wild card, that all goes away.
Aubrey: Wow. So that must be hard after being on the team for so long. There must be like a brotherhood that goes with that.
Decker: She’s the only thing that matters to me now.
Aubrey: Well I hope she’s reading this, because Kline Global will be reaching out to her regarding a writing position. This entire thing has been extremely riveting. Thank you for your time, Mr. James.
I set the tablet down in my lap with shaky hands.
Taylor had known. She’d read it…and she knew. I’d ignored his requests to see me and talk to me since that night, but he’d found a way to give me my dream back while also professing his love.
I leaned forward and told my driver we needed to change our route.
Chapter Thirty-One
I wiped the sweat from my brow and tucked the rag into my back pocket. I mowed and laid new bark chips along the outer edge of the yard, hauled fresh slabs of rock over for the retaining wall, and then applied a fresh coat of white paint over the entire thing.
I was trying to stay busy. I needed to stay busy.
I’d moved back home and had even tried sleeping in my childhood bed again. It hadn’t seemed like it would be difficult since I’d done it twice with Mallory, except lying there all night proved I was back to not being able to sleep in the house. It was worse now that the bed was tainted with memories of her. So, I slept outside in a newer camper trailer, courtesy of my Uncle Scotty, or so I assumed. I had mentioned to Kyle that I planned on sleeping in my truck until I could save up for one, and the next day the trailer showed up in the driveway.
My mom had finally given in and allowed me to start updating the interior of the house, as long as I didn’t mention selling, and actually, t
he more I was home, the more I realized I didn’t want to. My dad had built it for my mother when she was pregnant with Kyle. He’d planned out every detail, maxed out five credit cards, and taken out a small loan to finish it. I didn’t want to let it go. At night, when I lay awake, I imagined a life where I had my compass here with me, sleeping next to me every day, guiding me out of that storm that always seemed to swallow me when I entered the house. She’d grow old with me, and I’d never feel lost again.
I blinked, thinking of the previous night’s dinner when both my mother and Kyle had asked me about Mallory, whether she’d called or read the article. The first few times were like tearing away surgical tape over a scar. Each time after was like cutting it open. She hadn’t reached out. I had done the interview weeks ago, it had finally printed and uploaded to their site eight days ago, and it felt safe to assume she was following through with her plan to marry that fuckin’ guy.
I knew Mallory well enough to know she had tried to push me away the last time we were together. Fucking up had been part of our dynamic, and somehow, I’d found the one girl on the planet who seemed to have an infinite amount of patience for how long it took me to get a clue. I knew she realized the truth about Elias, and now with the article, I had truly tried to fix my fuckup regarding our deal…but there had been a look in her eye when I was about to tell her I loved her. It was like she knew she’d hurt me. She knew she couldn’t do this, so she pushed.
I still wasn’t sure what to make of that, but as far as I was concerned, she was mine, always would be. No ring or fake marriage would change that.
Ducking down, I grabbed a pair of hedge clippers and started toward the shed. There was still a decent amount of daylight left, and I needed to clip all the bushes in front.
Once I rounded the tool shack and walked through the small gap between the house and the garage, I heard the sound of tires crunching gravel. I cleared the gap, seeing a shiny black town car come into view.
Setting the clippers against the shed, I grabbed the rag from my pocket once more, wiping my face and hands. Whoever this was seemed rich as fuck. I didn’t want to greet them, sweaty and dirty.
The sun had been out for most of the day, but thankfully it looked as though a swell of clouds might give us a break from the heat. It allowed me to see whoever was exiting that car without having to wince or use my hand as a shield.
The back door of the town car opened a second later, and a head of russet hair popped into view, making my breath hitch.
She bent back down to grab something before standing straight again, then she was explaining something to the driver through the passenger side window. I shifted on my feet, unsure what I was supposed to do while she spoke with him.
A few smiles later, she turned from the car and headed in my direction, wearing a black pencil skirt and matching blazer that seemed more fashionable than functional. Still, it looked cute on her, especially with the loose-fitting white shirt she had underneath.
I wiped my hands again, this time on my jeans, hating how nice she looked in comparison to me. She had on jewelry, her hair was nicely done, and I thought she even had on pearl earrings.
She stepped closer, her high heels wobbling in the gravel, making me skip a step to help keep her balanced. She gripped my forearm right as her ankle twisted to the left.
“Looking every inch the powerful CEO, aren’t we?” I joked, even though the honesty of the words made my gut sink. She’d chosen a path I hadn’t seen coming, something I hadn’t even known was an option for her. It had snuck up and bitten me in the heart. The universe had flipped me the bird and was still laughing.
Mallory dipped her head, tucking glossy strands of hair behind her ear. Having her this close, touching her…it was the worst kind of temptation.
She let me go and hugged a sleek black tablet to her chest.
“Hi.” She smiled, her white teeth bright against her tan skin. She’d gotten some sun, and for whatever reason, the realization that time had passed made my stomach clench.
“Hi,” I replied, not sure how I was still standing.
“So…uh…this…” She looked down at the tablet. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.” Her voice shook as those green eyes slowly met mine.
The article.
“You read it?” I grabbed the rag from my back pocket just so I had something to do with my hands.
I expected if she did end up reading it, she’d just keep ignoring me like she had been for the past few weeks. I had no idea what to expect now. Would she turn me down gently? Go off to New York and marry Jeff?
She dipped her head, keeping her eyes on her feet. Her pink toenails peeked out through the opening of her shoes in a cute way and the heels made her calves look incredible, but it was her eyes I wanted on me. I hated that she kept hiding them from me. She’d come here for a reason; I’d be damned if she backed out of explaining what it was.
I was about to step closer to her, hook that chin with my finger, and force her face up, but her chest heaved and suddenly her head tipped back.
Her eyes were wide and full of…something similar to hope or anticipation.
“I’m in love with you, Decker James. I’ve loved you longer than I probably even know, and we went about all of this the wrong way, but…” She licked her lips, stepping closer. “If this ends with me in your arms and you in mine, I don’t really care about how it started. I just care how it ends.”
Her clothes were so clean, and I didn’t want to get her dirty, but she’d just admitted to loving me. My heart was racing in my chest, a new sweat breaking out on my skin, purely from need and longing. I could have stood there with her and demanded she explain why the fuck it took her so long to choose me, asked her what she had decided about Jeff. We could talk and talk…but Mallory and I were always better with nonverbal communication.
Fuck it.
I reached for her. Cupping her face with my hands, I tangled my fingers into her hair and pulled her against me. Once her lips were within reach, I slammed my mouth to hers.
She mirrored my movement, forcing her free hand to my chest, slanting her head to the side, and sliding her tongue against mine. Letting out a groan, her left arm ran up my chest and around my neck, holding me closer. I splayed my hand over her ass, and suddenly I needed her somewhere much more private.
Walking backward with her, I managed to move us until we were near the camper trailer. I fumbled for the door, finally finding the latch, and I tugged it, bracing my arms on either side of the door while maneuvering us inside. Once I shut us in, we were all teeth and skin.
“Remove this fucking thing,” I commanded, my tongue darting out to suck on the skin along her neck.
She leaned back, forcing us to disconnect, then set the tablet down and began stripping off her tiny black jacket. Her fingers went for my jeans as she began unbuttoning them.
Mine gathered at her back, sliding the zipper of her skirt down until I felt flesh.
I must have growled my approval when I realized she was only wearing a thong, because she began laughing when I snapped it against her ass.
Pushing my jeans down, I ripped my t-shirt over my head then discarded my boots, belatedly realizing I could probably use a shower.
She’d stripped out of her shirt and now her elbow was bent, trying to unclasp her bra from the back. I took a second to appreciate how sexy she looked with her full, gorgeous breasts barely held up by the black cups.
Goddamn, she was a work of art.
My lips descended on their own, my face diving into the cleavage of her chest.
“Keep this on, baby. I want my dick…” I trailed the space with my tongue. “Right fucking here.”
“Decker.” She sighed my name, and just as she was about to get on her knees, I stopped her.
“I need to clean up.” I brushed my thumb over her lips, tugging them down.
She gripped my wrist, shoving my thumb into her mouth, and began to suck. Her skin press
ed into the soft, beige carpet at our feet as she finished getting to her knees.
“I want you, Decker, exactly like this—rough, dirty. I want to taste you, fuck you, have you, and I don’t want to wait.”
“Fucking hell,” I muttered, staring down at her.
Thankfully, the shades were all still shut around the camper, so no one could see us. She pulled my erection free from my boxers, it bobbed between us while her eyes rounded, and her lips parted.
I threaded my hands into her silky hair as she brought her mouth forward and licked from the root of my cock all the way to the tip. She let out a satisfied sound that vibrated down my length. She repeated the process a few more times, keeping those forest green eyes on me.
Her mouth finally took me in, deep and fucking perfect.
I hissed while she moved down and over my girth until she was gagging. She’d ease up, suck, and gag. My head tilted, my eyes going to the paneling along the top of the trailer. It felt so good.
“Fuck, baby.” I started rocking into her mouth a few times, but I was already ready to come down her throat, and I needed this to last longer.
Pulling free from her mouth, I reached down for her hand and walked her back toward the bed. She sat down, watching me with a hooded gaze, eyes still on my bobbing erection. Sliding back, her hands dragged her closer to the headboard of the queen-sized bed. Resting on her elbows, she watched as I threw my boxers behind me and crawled over her. I didn’t stop until I was nearly straddling her chest. I kept my weight off her as I shoved my dick in between her tits and began rocking my hips back and forth.
“So fucking big, baby.” I palmed her breast and moved my cock through her cleavage. Back and forth I went, my precum creating the perfect lubricant to move easily.
“I want to hold them for you,” she said breathily, leaning up to remove her bra.
Once her tits popped free, she grabbed one in the palm of each hand and pushed them together.
I started moving my thickness through her cleavage with renewed vigor. I had visions of white ribbons shooting out along her face and chest, her rubbing it in and sucking it into her pretty little mouth, but fuck…I still needed more.