The Sweet Spot (All About the Diamond #1)

by Naomi Springthorp

  Does she think I’m a gold digger trying to take advantage of her son? “I’m a travel agent. I run my own online travel business, specializing in beach destinations.”

  “At your age, you must be new in business. I bet it’s a challenge to cover expenses,” she says digging.

  “Actually, I’ve been in business for about ten years and consistently generate enough income to cover my expenses, as well as go on a trip or two each year and have my season ticket to the Seals in the lower field section,” I don’t know why I had to prove myself to her. It was all I could do not to tell her flat out “Look lady, I love your son and I don’t care if he’s a baseball player or if he even has a job or any money.” I should’ve stuck to the no Jack idea. Rick slides his arm around me and I know everything will be fine.

  “My dear, you don’t look old enough to have a business for ten years. Did you take it over from a parent or something?” she says trying to demean me or get something out of me, and she does.

  “I started my business when I was 25 and turned 35 earlier this year. I do better in business online because I don’t look my age. In person, clients don’t take me seriously.” As it came out of my mouth I could see Sam mouthing DOTM at me and realized I gave their Mom something to harp on. I’m seven years older than her baby. That probably makes me a cougar in her eyes.

  Rick rescues me, “I love that Sherry is a woman and not one of the whiny girls who have always hung around trying to get my attention. She’s even more beautiful than any of them, inside and out.” He pulls me closer to him and gives me a sweet peck on the lips, but doesn’t pull away. He holds his lips on mine, worshiping my lips softly for a few seconds. My body turns to jelly.

  Rick whispers in my ear, “I love you, my queen.” I know my face lights up and I can’t help it. I lean my head toward him and give him a hug.

  “Sam, what do you know about the karaoke they have here?” I ask anxiously needing something I can rule.

  “The KJ just started setting up. He has books with the songs he has available tonight and a sign-up sheet,” Sam says as she scopes out the guy setting up behind me. Sam grabs one of the books and brings it back to the table.

  We start flipping through the pages and Rick interrupts, “You should let me and Sam pick the songs for you, so you can get practice with songs you didn’t pick.” I see the questioning look from Sam and Rick continues, “My Sherry is in the final round of a karaoke competition. They’ve always chosen their own songs and have time to practice beforehand, but for the finals they’ll be given a song when they’re already on stage. No time to practice and she may not even know the song.”

  “I will know the song, as long as it’s not country,” I say. “Challenge accepted. Do your worst.” I push the book away and leave it to them. Hopefully, Rick will pick something in my wheelhouse—I’d like to blow out my nerves and impress his family, even though I know it doesn’t matter. It matters to me.

  Rick and Sam discuss the torture they’ll be putting me through amongst themselves and sign me up to sing. Sam signs up to sing and Mrs. Seno (whoa, weird) takes the book to find a song to sing as well.

  We order all the appetizers on the menu and snack on them throughout the evening. I’ve been hitting the songs out of the park and my confidence is up. My last song of the night and the intro to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” starts playing. Rick did this on purpose, he smiles at me and my insides turn to goo. I decide to show what I’ve got and feel it all the way through. Let his Mom and everybody else witness how I feel about him. I look to him with questioning eyes and he nods at me in approval. It’s an amazing release to put it all out there. To lay my heart out there bare for everyone to see it beat raw with my love. The words are so simple, tender and meaningful. I think about how he didn’t let go of my hand when I met him that first night at the Locale. I think about that first unexpected kiss in the corner of the booth. I think about kissing under the stars on the bleachers at the Embarcadero. I think about the way he hasn’t been able to keep his hands off of me since, and how I came here because he needed me. I think about how we found love and I look at my bracelet. At the end of the song, Rick is standing in front of me. He picks me up off the stage and holds me up over him, looking up at me and kissing me like he needs my lips on his to survive, not caring who is around us.

  He carries me back to the table and holds me on his lap with my arms around his neck. Focused on each other in our haze. “You’re amazing and I’m not just talking about your singing. That was probably the best I’ve heard you.” The emotion made a difference in the performance, in me.

  His parents sit there silently, in shock at our connection. Sam chimes in, “I’m staying in town tonight, so get my number from Rick and we can meet for coffee in the morning,” she says to me.

  “Bro, get a room before you combust. The heat off you two is insane. I’ll take care of the parental units.” She watches him and he makes no action. “Go. Now.”

  He picks me up over his shoulder and says goodnight, then turns around. “Nice meeting you all,” I say as he carries me away.

  He carries me into the elevator and pushes the button to take us to the eighth floor. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m trying not to stop the elevator,” he says as he distracts himself by smacking my ass. All of the sudden his phone lights up with texts and I read them over his shoulder:

  Text from Cross – Saw you in the lobby. Looks like you’ve got your hands full again. Let me know if you need help with that. She’s hot and spunky.

  Text from Skip – Good work getting your head on straight. Make sure you bring that girl to the game with you tomorrow and do whatever you did last night again. You’ll be in the lineup tomorrow. Don’t want to see that shit again in LA.

  Text from Houck – You let me know if you need help closing that deal. That’s a nice ass!

  Text from Martin – Fuck, dude! You’ve got it bad. Hey, is your sister here? I’d like to tap that.

  Text from Kranston – As a thank you for your help behind the plate, I’d like to offer my services in teaching you how to handle that woman. I know you’re still a virgin. Don’t worry, I won’t tell.

  Text from Rock – That’s a description of my dick, not just my name. You know where to find me if you can’t get it up.

  Text from Mason – I know I’m new, but is that the way we treat women on this team? I gotta get me one of those. Know any you can suggest?

  Text from Bravo – Bravo, baby, Bravo… way to make a scene in the lobby... caveman style. That’s going to be all over the internet.

  Text from Sam – Dad is handling Mom. He really enjoyed the evening. He’s relieved and happy you have someone. I am, too. I like her. This hot player Kris Martin just gave me his number. I think I might call and have some fun.

  Text from Dad – Was afraid I wouldn’t see you happy again, son. Do whatever you can to keep her. It doesn’t matter if it’s only been a week. When it’s right, it’s right. From what I saw, it looks right. She loves you. Do what’s right for you.

  “Nobody ever texts me. I don’t even remember giving the new guy my number. Now they decide to play with me and Sam is in on it,” he says as he walks from the elevator to our room.

  “Well, you managed to get to the room without stopping on the elevator. I’d say that’s a step in the right direction, but I kinda like the elevator stuff,” I mutter.

  “Fuck me. You like the elevator make out sessions?” he asks surprised.

  “Oh yeah, but not as much as the elevator sex. Best quick fuck ever,” tormenting him on purpose. He puts me down, standing facing him.

  “That stuff does it for me, but tonight can it just be you and me, let me love you…” He kisses my neck, sending tingles down my spine. I know better and can’t help myself, “One more thing, then I’ll stop… So, our first daughter should be named Elle because she was conceived in an elevator?”

  “I know you’re being funny, but that works for me. Also, Ell
e can never know why that’s her name. Kids don’t need to know their parents are elevator freaks,” he replies seriously. He picks me up and kisses me passionately, carrying me to the bed. He sets me down and lies down next me, pushing my hair out of my face, “I really do love you, I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this. I’ve been alone for so long. I didn’t think I’d trust anyone again. Now I know I didn’t love anyone until you.” He gazes into my eyes and kisses me softly, tenderly brushing his lips against mine, lightly sucking, and claiming me all the way to the depths of my soul. Running his fingers through my hair, wrapping his strong arms around me, and all I can focus on is having him inside me. I want him closer. I squirm out of my jeans while he’s kissing me and start to unbutton his, but he stops me and stops kissing me. He searches my eyes, finding my need and desire. He pushes his pants off and pulls his shirt off over his head. He wants me. He leans over me and kisses me, until I reach to stroke his hard length.

  “Please,” I say against his lips. “I need to have you and love you. Make love to me.” I must have said the right thing. He got harder. Kissing me more deeply. He slowly slides inside me until he can go no farther. My every nerve ending a frayed electrical wire. But he doesn’t move. He keeps kissing me and exploring me, while he’s buried inside me. I push the kiss further, forcing my tongue into his mouth and drive him to move inside me slowly as he moves his tongue deeper into my mouth. The kiss becomes uncontrolled and heavy, hard to breathe, our hearts beating hard against each other, I move to meet his slow strokes. He pulls away from my kiss, licking my lips, kissing my eyelids and moves to kiss by my ear.

  He whispers in my ear, “Baby, feel how deep inside you I am. That’s my love for you. Feel my heart beating hard against yours. That’s my heart trying to reach yours, so it can finally be whole. Feel my breath on your skin. That’s the heat you make inside me. Taste my lips. That’s your sweetness rubbing off on me. Feel how hard I am inside you. That’s the strength you give me. Listen to my voice, my words are only for you. I want to be closer to you, but I don’t know how to get any closer.”

  I reach for his hands and lace his fingers with mine, pulling his lips back to mine, rubbing my hips against his, driving him to need more, our hands together above my head, neither of us wanting to let go. The friction between our bodies growing slowly. The heat intensifying into hot sweaty bodies against each other.

  “I can’t help myself,” he says as he moves faster inside me. Pushing harder, pounding his love into me.

  “It’s okay, baby, it’s the intensity of our love,” I tell him on ragged breaths. He pulls me up with him, kissing me, sliding my naked body against his. Taking my words as permission to show me what he wants. “Whatever you want is right. Feel me wrapped around your love, my hands exploring you and holding on. My ragged breath telling you I’ve lost control. My trust allowing you to be in control of my body. It’s only us, baby. Nothing for anybody else. No judgment. No lies. Only Love. Only us together.” I push him back, so I’m on top of him. Riding him. He reaches up to squeeze my breasts and doesn’t object to the change. He’s pushing up into me while I come down on him, meeting each other at the best point. Working together to reach our climax and making noises I’ve never heard. The intensity grows as both of us get close. I can’t stop. I can’t help but move faster, plunging myself down on him. I need him. I need all of him. He cries out his release. I can’t stop my actions, I want more, I need more. He reaches for me and takes control, slamming into me until I explode with his name from my lips. He slows down, but keeps going until I’ve come down from my high. He pulls me down to him, laying me on his chest, and caressing my back while he holds me.

  “I love you, Sherry. I will love you as long as you will let me. I will take care of you as much as you will let me. I will love you more than any other man is capable. I promise. I’m the only one for you. I’ll even be a baseball player, but only for you—you make it okay.”

  I lie there silently on his chest, listening to his heartbeat for what seems like hours before I speak, “That sounds a lot like a proposal.”

  “It’s the promise before the proposal. If I had a ring, I’d probably propose to you right now. I don’t want to take any chances on losing you. Whatever I need to do to keep you, I’ll do it. You make me happy and I’m not losing my happiness.”

  “You don’t have to do anything, but be with me. I’m not rushing you or pushing you, and I’m not leaving you. I’m happy with you the way it is right this moment and I can’t wait to take the ride with you, travel to our destination together. I’m on the trip at your pace, when you’re ready. I do want two things.”

  “Anything for you, my queen.”

  “I want you to keep calling me Sherry Seno, I’ve thought about it and I like the way it sounds. And, I really do want you to move in with me, you should be where your home is and I’m your home, right?”

  “Absolutely, Mrs. Seno. When do you want me to move in?”

  “Mrs. Seno reminds me of your mother.”

  “No problem, my queen, Sherry Seno. You’ll be Mrs. Rick Seno.”

  “We can work on that when you’re moving in.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Thursday morning comes early. Mostly because I don’t want to be the reason Rick is late to the stadium today. I didn’t tie him up and lock the door to keep him from going yesterday, but I did let him break his rules about pregame sex. I definitely wasn’t complaining or stopping him. Honestly, I don’t think I ever will. The game is at 11:15 today and I had planned on going home when he left for the stadium, but that’s no longer an option. Skip told him to make sure I was at the game and that he did the same thing he did the day before. Plus, he got me a ticket for the game. So, maybe I can be a rule follower today, they sound like my kind of rules and I’m not one to turn down a baseball game. I’ll have to change my travel plans, but there’s time for that after he leaves for work.

  I roll toward my man, to snuggle into his neck and I’m greeted by his sweet kiss on my forehead. He rolls to his back and holds me near, with my head on his chest. May be my favorite place, solid just like the beat of his heart I feel when I lie on it. I run my fingers over his abs, tracing the outline of each of them, working my way down until he bumps my hand with his cock. Before I can touch him or make another move…

  “Come here, baby. I’ve got something for you.” He says as he pulls me over on top of him. His expression changes as he changes his plan. He props himself up against his pillow and pulls me close until he can suck at my breast, and he goes for it. Licking my nipple and sucking my breast into his mouth, while squeezing the other. Then switching just to drive me crazy. Somehow he manages to get a hand on my sensitive nub while he’s driving me insane and I’m a bundle of raw nerves, more sensitive to his touch than I’ve ever been. I feel his tip at my entrance and he makes a low groan when he finds my wet heat. He pushes in and his obvious pleasure is my undoing. The sexy expression on his face, eyes closing and automatically sucking harder—I’m done like never before.

  “Oh, Rick. Oh, baby. Oh my god! Rick!” I whimper uncontrollably.

  He flips us over, pushes in deep and hard. He bends down to go back for my breasts. I’m on sensory overload and he keeps going. I cry out again, louder than I intended. He releases my breast and asks, “Who am I? Tell me who I am, my queen.” Slamming into me and slamming the bed into the wall.

  “The king,” I say breathlessly.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  “The king! Oh! Rick!” I yell out uncontrollably.

  “Who’s king am I?” he demands roughly squeezing my breasts as he pushes into me deep.

  My incoherent brain finally understands where he’s going. “Oh, my king! You're my king! I love you, my king!” as stars burst before my eyes in the darkness.

  “That’s right, baby. Only your king. Grrrrrrr…” he growls as he follows me over the edge. Leaning down he searches my eyes and says, “I love you, baby. Always you. Only you, my q
ueen.” He kisses me softly, worshiping my lips.

  We hear applause from the room next door, “Alright already. You’re in the lineup today Porn King!”

  We laugh out loud together and he gives me a quick kiss, as he gets up and hits the shower. “I need to be early today to secure my spot. Your ticket for today’s game is on the nightstand. Also, what are your travel plans?”

  I walk into the bathroom to continue the conversation and enjoy the view of my super hot baseball player boyfriend naked in the shower. “I may need to leave the game early to catch my flight back to San Diego,” knowing he’s not going to like it and I don’t either.

  “How about you change your flight and go directly to LA?” he suggests.

  “My plan is to fly home to San Diego and drive to LA. I want to stop and visit my Mom.”

  “Fly to LA and I’ll rent you a car to drive home, so you can visit your Mom on Sunday after the game. Then you can stay the night with your Mom, or whatever you want. I know you can’t go to Pittsburgh with me. I don’t like it, but I know it. It will give us more time together in LA. I’ll even take you shopping. I know you want a new outfit for karaoke finals.”

  “Bribery!”

  “I’m not beyond bribery. It’s in my arsenal. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.” He says being demanding on purpose. “And, what I want is you with me.”

  “All you had to do was ask. You don’t need to bribe me. You’re all the bribery I need. I don’t even need you to rent me a car, I’ll take the rail.”

  “Is your Mom a baseball fan?” he asks.

  “Yea, but… she’s an LA fan,” I say in shame.