"The game better not get canceled," Vargas said under his breath.
"Doubt it." I looked up at the blue sky outside the window. I was a California boy and didn't know how tornados worked, but I had been through a few tornado watches and warnings—no tornado yet—and they usually didn't last long. Mostly, I had only seen dark skies and thunderstorms. I could be wrong. I wanted to be wrong because I wouldn't mind the game being canceled, so I could go to Austin's room with a few bottles of wine and see where the day and night took us.
The bus drove to the stadium, and when I exited, I immediately looked for Austin. She was walking away, but it wasn't a bad view at all.
Austin Daniels had an ass that was alluring and perfect. An ass that I wanted to squeeze and bite and slap. An ass that I could stare at all day.
Fuck, I had it bad for her.
The skies started to darken in the seventh inning. Vargas and I had both hit a home run, and we were beating the Oklahoma Cyclones by four runs.
As I walked out on deck, my gaze met Austin's. She sat in the third row a few seats in from the dugout. Just like each time I got up to bat, she smiled. I winked, and then I took a few cuts with the bat.
Butler struck out, and I stepped up to the plate. After getting the go-ahead sign from Coach Rhine at third base, I squared up to the plate. The pitcher got his sign from the catcher behind me, and right on time, I swung, hitting the hardball. I dropped my bat and ran for first base, but as I saw the ball soar over the left field fence, my run turned into a trot.
Rounding third base, I gave a low-five to Coach Rhine and then a high five to Richardson as he stood waiting to take his at bat at home plate. I winked at Austin again as I jogged to the dugout and then told Vargas, "That's two."
"There's still two more innings."
"I know. I plan to hit more." Of course, that depended on if I had more at bats. It all hinged on how well we did and how fast we got to three outs.
I was going to try to hit it over the fence again with my next at bat—of course—because not only did I want the twenty dollars, but I liked showing off in front of Austin.
Chapter Five
Austin
For as long as I could remember, my grandfather had taken me to games at his stadium. I'd seen hundreds of baseball players in my thirty-three years but not once had I actually seen them like I saw Hayden each time he got up to bat during the game.
From the first time he was on deck, I took everything in. The way his hands wrapped around the wooden bat as he lined up his knuckles, to his forearms as they flexed from the grip. The way his ass molded perfectly to his white baseball pants. Even the way he ran or trotted around the bases turned me on. And it wasn't only when he was batting. He commanded the field, gliding from left to right effortlessly wherever the ball was hit and then throwing it at lightning speed to get the out.
It was as though he was made for baseball.
I didn't stick around after the game to ride the bus back to the motel with the team. Instead, I took an Uber, having them stop at a grocery store first so I could get dinner and wine to take back to the room.
The sky had darkened, and rain rolled in again. Thunder rumbled as I ate my pre-made salad and drank my Moscato from the plastic motel cup. I showered and dressed in my pajamas and had no plans other than to watch TV and check work emails while I drank the entire bottle of wine.
After my first cup, I heard a knock on the door, causing my belly to dip instantly. Only one person knew my room number—the person I planned to think about when I got into bed and turned off the lights.
I went to the door, peeked through the peephole, and then opened it. "Hey," I greeted.
Hayden's gaze moved from my eyes and down my body. He licked his lips, and it was then that I remembered I was in a plain yellow tee—no bra—and sleep shorts. He didn't say anything.
"Shit," I muttered and moved behind the door, my head peering around it. "What's up?"
He held up a black plastic bag. "I was coming to see how you were doing and keep you company."
I swallowed. I wanted more than his company. It had been too long since I'd been with a person because I'd poured everything into my job to help my grandfather and Lone Star Heat attract business.
"That's sweet of—"
The sky rumbled loudly with thunder again. "Heard the watch turned into a warning," he stated.
"Really?" I was watching a movie channel and not a local one that would tell me about any emergency warnings, and nothing had come through on my cell phone.
"Yeah. They said something about five tornados."
"Five?" My eyes widened.
"I know, crazy. I thought I’d stay with you until it’s over."
I blinked. "Stay with me?"
He grinned, and my belly dipped again. "I don't want you to be alone."
"I'll be fine. I've been through several of these warnings and a few tornados."
He moved past me and into my room. "Sorry. I'm not taking no for an answer. I came with wine and snacks, and it would eat me alive, not knowing if you were safe."
I closed the door. "Really?"
"My mother raised a gentleman."
"Is that so?" I chuckled, but I already knew he was one. After all, the night before, he’d sat next to me by the pool to talk about my grandfather. Any other guy would have probably let me be, even knowing about my loss.
"Yep. So"—he held up the black bag—"sweet or salty first?"
"If someone was to find out…," I started to say, ignoring his question.
"No one is going to find out. My roommate thinks I'm talking to my mother on the phone. I do most nights." He took a bag of chips out of the black bag. "Plus, can't two friends stuff their faces after a win while they wait for five tornados?"
"We're friends now?" I snorted.
He took a candy bar out of the bag. "Sure, why not?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hide the fact that I wasn't wearing a bra. I also stayed by the door because I didn't want to encourage Hayden, no matter how I felt on the inside. I didn't want my first act of being an owner to be some sort of scandal with a player. "Because I own the team you play for."
"It's not like I'll get perks from being friends with you."
"I know. It just wouldn't look right."
Hayden held out the bag of chips and the candy bar in each hand. "I’m not going to tell anyone if that’s what you’re thinking. This can be our little secret."
"That sounds so dirty."
We stared at each other for several moments, and then he said, "Sweet or salty?" as he pressed the items in his hands forward for me to choose.
I finally stepped away from the door and reached for the bag of plain potato chips. "Salty, then sweet."
"Good decision."
"How did you even get this stuff? You don’t have a car."
"Uber."
"Oh, right." I set the bag on the credenza and then walked to the bathroom to put on my bra. "I'll just be a second."
"No worries. Can I pour you some wine?"
"I have a bottle already opened," I called out.
"Okay, cool." I heard the pop of a can, and when I exited the bathroom, Hayden was drinking a beer. "I didn't know what kind of chips you liked, so I went with plain." He sat at the end of the king-sized bed.
"No worries. I just got done with dinner. Did you eat?"
"Yeah, in the clubhouse before we left."
"Good." I switched the TV to a local channel, hoping to get an update on the tornados. Just because there were warnings for five of them didn't mean they would all touch down. "How many beers did you buy?"
"Just two. Do you want beer instead of wine?"
"No." I shook my head and reached for the wine bottle I had open. "I just don't want you to get drunk. You have a game tomorrow."
He smiled. "Two beers is my limit on nights before games."
"Are you just saying that because I'm the owner?"
Hayden chuckled.
"No. I honestly forget that you are until you remind me every two seconds."
I stared at him for a beat. "Ouch."
"Sorry, but can't we just be Austin and Hayden when we're together?"
"You mean for tonight only, right?" I poured the wine, waiting for his response. Instead, I felt his hot gaze on me. "What?" I asked, turning to look at him.
"Nothing." He took a sip of his beer. "Just for tonight."
"Okay." I took a sip of the sweet wine just as the outside tornado sirens started to go off.
Chapter Six
Hayden
This California boy is scared as fuck.
I wanted to stay with Austin to make sure she was okay if a tornado touched down, but honestly, I never thought one would. Despite all the tornado watches and warnings that I'd been through while playing for Lone Star Heat, none had ever touched down. It was always just a bad storm.
"Shit," Austin muttered.
"What do we do?" I asked.
"You've never been in one before?"
"No." I shook my head. "I'm from California. We only have earthquakes."
"Well, since we're in a motel, we should get in the bathtub."
I drew my head back. "The bathtub? Really?"
"Yep."
"Okay." I chugged the rest of my beer, and then we went into the bathroom, Austin leading the way. The small room had no windows, but I could hear the rain and wind outside. I looked down at the tub. "We're both going to fit?"
"We have to."
"Are you sure?"
"As sure as I am that Jack could have fit on the door with Rose."
I furrowed my brow. "What?"
"Titanic."
"The movie?"
"Yeah."
"Never seen it."
"What?" she breathed.
"I don't even think I was born when it came out," I stated.
"That makes me feel so old." Austin stepped into the tub.
I stepped in too. "You're not old."
"I mean, I was a kid when that movie came out, but at least I was born."
"Well, tell me what you mean."
We both sat in the tub. We had just enough room to sit side by side with an inch between us. We were both in shorts, but Austin's were much shorter than my basketball shorts. I wanted to inch closer and let my shorts ride up so I could feel her soft skin against mine. Instead, I kept the inch between us because she wanted to keep things professional. But I was being honest when I told her no one would find out. I wouldn't tell a soul.
I loved having a little secret friendship.
"You don't care if I spoil it for you?" Austin asked.
It sounded as though the wind was getting stronger. "No, I'm curious what you mean. Why were they on a door?"
"Actually, it was only Rose on the door. Jack was hanging on the edge while he stayed in the frozen water."
"You mean after the ship crashed?" I at least knew that much about the movie and the real ship.
She nodded. "Yeah, and it was a big door too. He could have easily fit on it with her."
"Wouldn't the weight of both of them sink it?"
"Actually, in 2012, the guys from that show Mythbusters proved that Jack could have fit and survived too if they would have used Rose's life jacket under the door to help with buoyancy to keep it afloat."
"Well, now I need to see the movie so I can know what you're talking about."
"You do." She smiled, and my gaze moved to her lips.
"We can watch it together," I suggested.
"Hayden—"
The light flickered, and the wind got stronger. "Are you sure we're safe in here?" I questioned.
"No, but we shouldn't be by windows, and we need to be the most interior we can. Plus, I always see the bathtubs left behind in the destruction."
"Okay. Tell me more about this movie."
"You really want me to spoil—"
The lights went out, leaving us in pitch darkness. All I could hear was the rain pounding, the wind howling, and the windows from the main room rattling. My heart beat fast in my chest, but I tried to keep playing it cool.
"We should lie down just in case," Austin suggested.
"Lay down?" There was no way we both could fit horizontally in the small tub.
"Either side by side if we can or one of us on top."
I swallowed, images of Austin on top of me as her chest pressed into mine flashing through my mind. The chest that had no bra covering it when I'd first knocked on the door. The chest I wanted to see with nothing covering it at all. "Okay," I agreed. "I'll cover you."
She paused for a moment before responding, "Okay."
You could hear our skin against the porcelain as we got into position, and just like I’d imagined while I’d showered that morning, I was on top of Austin. The only difference was, in my fantasy we were naked and in a bed. In reality, Austin was lying flat, and I was crouched on my knees and elbows on top of her. I could feel her breath against my cheek.
"How long do tornados last?" I inquired.
"A few minutes or so. They move fast."
Everything outside seemed to get louder and louder as the seconds ticked by. We were quiet as we rode out the storm. Since we were no longer talking about a movie I'd never seen, and I was on top of the hottest woman I'd ever laid eyes on, my body started to get the wrong idea.
"Hayden," Austin whispered.
I closed my eyes, willing my erection to go limp. "Yeah?"
"Did you honestly come here only because of the tornados?"
I swallowed. "No."
"Then, why did you?"
I paused for a moment. "Because I've been thinking about you non-stop since last night."
Another pause, and then she said, "I've been thinking about you too."
"Yeah?" I grinned.
"Yeah."
"Then, I'm going to fucking kiss you now."
Chapter Seven
Austin
Hayden didn't waste another second before his lips started to search for mine. I couldn't see him even though he was on top of me, and I felt as though we were two teenagers trying to kiss for the first time, our lips meeting everywhere except the other's lips.
Then finally they connected, both of us opening, our tongues not wasting any more time to meet. Everything I'd told him about not wanting to have a scandal on my hands went flying out the window. I didn't care that if someone were to find out that me and Hayden hooked up that it would be frowned upon. What I cared about was the guy I couldn't get out of my head since the night before was on top of me—and hard.
"Fuck, Austin," Hayden breathed, coming up for air as he rested his forehead against mine.
"No one—"
"I know."
He started kissing me again, and I swore his erection got harder. I moved my hips to feel the friction between us, all the sounds outside ceased to exist as our mouths moved in sync with our bodies. If a tornado were to rip the roof off, I wasn't sure I’d be able to stop. I wanted Hayden Wheeler.
I wanted him bad.
"Please tell me you have a condom?" I panted.
"Yeah, in my wallet. I put it next to the black bag."
"Think you can go get it?"
"You wanna fuck during a tornado?"
I shrugged and grinned. "If we die, might as well go out in style, right?"
Hayden chuckled as he hopped out of the tub. "Fuck yeah, we should." I listened, hearing him feel against the walls and then the rustling of the black bag. "Got it."
I started to take off my shorts, but then the lights came back on, stopping me. Hayden was in the doorway, his erection tenting his shorts. I swallowed. "I guess it’s over."
"Do you not wanna—"
I stood. "No, I want to."
"Good." He smiled and reached out his hand to help me out of the tub. As I grabbed it, he hoisted me, causing me to jump in the air, my legs going around his waist. "We’re just Austin and Hayden, remember?"
I nodded, and not wasting any m
ore time, I took his mouth again. I was too consumed by the way he was devouring my mouth to realize that he was walking. We fell onto the bed, Hayden on top of me. His hand slipped down my stomach and into my shorts and panties.
"Jesus," he muttered against my mouth.
His fingers found my clit, making me arch my back. It had been too long, and I needed the release. I needed to be worked into oblivion, and I needed it to be Hayden Wheeler who did it. If someone were to find out, I’d deal with it. I didn’t care any longer. I reached between us, stroking his cock through his shorts. Yeah, I definitely wanted him.
He pulled my T-shirt up. "This would have been easier if you would have left your bra off, baby."
"All of this would be easier if we were naked already," I countered.
Hayden didn’t waste any time as he rose and tore off his T-shirt one-handed by tugging on the back of his collar. My mouth started to water as I took off my shirt and got on my knees, reaching for him. He grinned as I ran my hands down his strong chest and six-pack abs. Fuck, he was gorgeous.
I dove in again with my mouth, this time going for his neck as I kissed my way down the side to his bare chest. I didn't stop there. I went lower, feeling the ripple of his stomach against my lips.
"Fuck," he groaned, sliding his shorts and boxers down. "I had this vision of you yesterday."
"Really?" I asked, continuing my ministrations but looking up to meet his eyes.
"Oh yeah," he confirmed.
I swallowed and sat on the edge of the bed in front of him. My gaze moved down to his cock, and again my mouth watered. "Is this what you thought about?" I questioned, wrapping my hand around the base of his shaft and then licking the tip.
"Hell, yeah."
"Or this?" I wondered and hollowed my cheeks before engulfing his length.
Hayden groaned again and grabbed the back of my head. He threaded his fingers into my long blonde hair, guiding me. "Both. I thought about both and then some."
"What else?" I asked, making a popping sound as his cock slid out of my mouth.
"I envisioned your legs wrapped around me as I fucked you."
LOVE IN LOCKDOWN: A Charity Anthology Page 26