by Jade, Ella
As she thought about what it would be like to become one with him, he hitched her leg over his hip and kissed her neck. “You are one gorgeous woman.” While he kept his lips busy kissing every inch of her throat, jaw, and neck, he slipped his hand inside her panties. “I’m going to finger you now.”
She nodded even thought he wasn’t seeking her consent.
“Nice and slow, just like I promised.” He pushed two fingers inside her heat. “You’re so wet.”
“Pax...” she exhaled his name.
“I can get real dirty, sugar. I hope that’s okay.”
“Don’t hold back.” She nipped at his bottom lip, hoping he’d unleash his dirty side. “I want you to show me... Oh...” He swirled his fingers, delving deep before pulling out and doing it all over again.
“Move your hips with me. Pretend I’m fuckin’ you. Let me see how wild you can get.”
“I want you to fuck me,” she cried out. She’d never used those words before but all common sense seemed to fade into the background. All she could concentrate on was Pax. She kept her eyes open and listened to his rough voice.
“Soon, baby, real soon.” He kissed her as she rocked into his fingers. “I feel how tight you are. I can’t wait to get my cock inside you.”
His cock.
She wanted to touch him too.
“Pax, I want...” How could she ask him?
“Anything, I’ll give you anything.” He spoke against her lips. “Tell me what you want.”
“To touch you.” She moved her hand between them, down his rock hard abs and over his erection.
“Hell.” He thrust his hips into her.
Encouraged, she rubbed him through his sweatpants. He was huge. The more she explored him, the faster he worked her. The muscles in her stomach tightened as a cool layer of sweat covered her flesh. She shivered despite the fire that claimed her from the inside. Brushing her palm over his cock, she found the waistband of his pants. She wanted to feel him like he had her. Slipping her hand inside his sweats, she wrapped her fingers around his massive shaft. She’d only had experience with one other guy and he was nowhere near as magnificent as Pax.
“Baby,” he moaned. “If you do that, I’m gonna come all over your hand.”
“Then we’ll be even,” she whispered as she pumped him. “Don’t stop. I’m so close.”
“Hmm, I like when you’re vocal.” He trailed his thumb along her clit as he kept up a steady rhythm with his fingers. “Let go.”
She tightened her grip around his length, feeling him swell in her hand. The harder she pumped, the faster his fingers moved. “Oh... I...now...” She stretched out her legs, tensed her body, and climaxed, but all the while she managed to keep pleasing him. “Paxton...that was...”
“I’m with you, baby.” He slipped his hand between them and placed it over top of hers. “Sophie, sweetheart, I’m...” He covered the tip of his cock with his hand, but the warm spray of his release trickled down her wrist. His breath came out hard and ragged as he closed his eyes. “Damn,” he muttered.
She’d made Paxton Hughes, the starting pitcher of the Crusher, lose control. Maggie was never going to believe what she had done with such a hunk. The prudish music teacher had finally come into her own. Their little couch romp had her feeling bold.
“Remember when you asked me if I was planning on leaving with any guy that night in the bar?”
“Yeah.” He opened one eye and waited for her to respond.
“It wasn’t any guy I was there for.” She pressed her lips to his. “It was you.”
“Good,” he answered, with another kiss. “For the record, there was no way I was letting you leave with anyone other than me.”
Chapter 9
SOPHIA CAME HOME FROM a long but rewarding day of teaching. The more time she spent at the school the more she hoped they would be able to fund a music program. She enjoyed going to work every day with Maggie and her other colleagues, but she wanted to teach music on a full-time basis. She hoped it would be at Hemingway Academy.
When she placed her keys on the hook by the front door she noticed a package addressed to her. She picked it up and walked over to the couch with it. Slipping off her shoes, she plopped down and opened the box. There was a note on top of some flat tissue paper.
Sophie,
No one had called her that in years, but she liked when he did.
I’m hoping I’ll see you and your dad in the stands tomorrow night.
Pax
She separated the tissue paper and found two tickets for tomorrow night’s game. The seats were awesome. Right behind home plate. The perfect place to watch the pitcher. Under the tickets was a team jersey. When she pulled it from the package, it looked as if it was the right fit for her. She turned it over and saw Pax’s last name and number on the back. She’d wear it with pride. She missed him too.
THE GAME HAD STARTED out strong. How could it not? Pax was pitching.
Soph giggled to herself when he took the mound and tipped his hat to her. It was exciting that he could see her too.
“Don’t you make him lose focus,” her father said. “He has a job to do.”
“I’m not doing anything.” She shrugged. “He’s doing great.”
“He only has a few more pitches left in him. Don’t wave to him. You’ll make him lose the lead.”
“Papa, can you be quiet and enjoy these really cool seats?” In all the years they had been coming to the games, they never imagined they would sit so close to the plate.
“Want a cotton candy?” Her father was a traditionalist. Every time they went to a game, he bought her cotton candy.
“Sure. Pink, please.”
“What else would I get you?” He waved over the man selling the sugary candy. “One pink one, please.”
“Thanks for coming with me tonight.” She hugged him because she was glad to be sharing this experience with him. “Can you believe we’re sitting this close to the field?”
“I never thought I’d see the game up close and personal. I guess you dating the pitcher has its advantages.” He shook his head. “He treats you right?”
“Papa?”
Her father had always been on the protective side. Being so shy in high school, she’d never given him much reason to worry. Most of the guys she brought home were friends. She never stayed out past curfew, and even in college she didn’t go wild and drink and party. It wasn’t in her personality. She’d always been straight-laced, a good kid who did what she was supposed to do.
“I want to know.”
“We haven’t seen one another that often. He’s not around much if you haven’t noticed.”
“You like him.”
“I do.” Her cheeks burned when she thought about that night on his couch. She hoped there would be more of that.
“As long as you’re having a good time then that’s all that matters.”
“What? No lecture on how deceptive and manipulative men can be when they want something?”
“You’re an adult now. I can’t tell you who you can and can’t see. I still want you to be careful, but you deserve to be happy and have fun.” He pulled a piece of candy from her and popped it into his mouth. “This is all sugar!”
“You’ve been saying that my whole life, but you still manage to eat almost all of it.” She laughed. “Here.” She handed it to him. “Have at it.”
After the game, she and her dad were ushered into a holding room with some members of the press, players’ wives, and staff members. She felt out of place but Pax had invited them.
“Tough loss,” her father said to a local reporter.
“Their bullpen needs help,” the tall, thin man responded. “Hughes may be their ace but he can’t do it all on his own.”
“I don’t know.” Her dad winked at her before turning his attention back to the reporter. “Did you see that back-handed catch he made in the third inning? Not many pitchers could have done that.”
She roamed
the room, taking in the new faces that surrounded her. She watched as her father worked the place with his modest charm. The man could hold a conversation with anyone and usually did. He’d always been social, not at all shy and awkward like she was. She sometimes wished she had inherited his confidence when it came to social settings.
“Hey, beautiful.” Pax wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck.
“Nice game, cowboy.” She turned to face him. He’d showered and changed into a pair of faded blue jeans and a t-shirt that had the team name on it. He wore a matching baseball hat that had his number embroidered on the side. “I loved the seats.”
“I loved seeing your sparkling face.” He lifted her up and kissed her harder. “I’m going to need you to sit there during every game. You had a real calming effect on me.”
“I’ll come to as many home games as I can.”
“I’m hoping you’ll be able to join me on the road too.”
“I wish, but I have to work.”
“Just until the end of May.”
“I...well, I suppose.” Why was he asking her to travel with him?
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” He hugged her. “We can talk about it later. I wouldn’t expect you to travel all summer with me. It gets crazy, but sometimes it might be fun.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “We can talk about it.”
“Is your dad having a good time?” He nodded in her father’s direction. “He’s getting an autograph from Nic.”
“Oh!” Her stomach churned when she thought of her father pestering the team. “I told him not to embarrass you.”
“Don’t be silly. I asked Nic to go and make a fuss over him.” He took her hand. “Let’s go and see why he’s never asked me for an autograph.”
“Because you’re not Greek.” She giggled.
“I love when you laugh.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s adorable.”
“Hey, Pax,” a loud man called as he walked over to them. “Where you headed?”
“Kenny.” Pax stopped and waited for him to approach them.
Soph smiled at Pax’s friend as he made his way to them. She had heard so much about him. It was nice to finally put a face with a name. He was tall, a bit stockier than Pax, and had blond hair that fell above his green eyes.
“Ken, I want you to meet Sophia.” He let go of her hand. “Sophia, this is my good friend and right-hand man, Kenny Stanton.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” She extended her hand to formally introduce herself.
“No, no, sweetie.” He ignored her hand and pulled her into a hug. “This guy has told me all about you. I’ve been dying to meet you.” He had the same slow accent Pax possessed. It was obvious they came from the same place.
“Really?” she said as he let go of her. “I’ve heard much about you too.”
“Huh?” He grinned. “That can’t be good.”
“It’s fine.” Pax pulled her to his side, keeping his arm around her waist. “I didn’t want to scare her away.”
“Hmm.” He laughed. “I do have a reputation, but anything I’ve done he has done ten times worse.”
Images of the two models in bed with him flashed before her eyes. She’d promised herself she’d get over that. It was in his past, and he wasn’t Ryan. At least she hoped he wouldn’t string her along while he continued to screw every cheerleader.
Stop it!
“Kenny,” he said. “Shut up.”
“I’m teasing, man.” He held up his hands in defense. “Sophia would have had to have lived under a rock not to have heard about you and your wild ways.”
Soph picked up a strange vibe from Kenny. It was almost as if he didn’t want her anywhere near his friend. She didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with someone so important to the man she was dating, but this guy wasn’t making it very easy.
“I don’t care what Paxton did before he met me.” She wanted him to know Paxton’s past was staying in the past where it belonged. “I only care what he does now.”
“A feisty one?” He winked. “No wonder you’re so fond of her.”
“That’s one of the reasons.” Pax squeezed her against his side.
“That’s a nice jersey.” Kenny referred to the one Pax had send her. “You must be special.”
“It was a gift.”
“Nice.” Kenny stared at his friend. “Isn’t that interesting?”
“Not really.” It was obvious Pax tried to downplay whatever Kenny was getting at. “We’re on our way out of here.”
“You’re not heading to Bennet’s tonight?” Kenny asked as he squinted his eyes. “That’s a first.”
“I have other plans, but tell the guys great game for me. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, have a good time.” Kenny looked at Soph before looking back to Pax. “You have a photo shoot with the car dealer in the afternoon. Want me to pick you up?”
“Yeah, that would be cool.” Pax guided Sophia across the room. “See you then.”
“Bye, Sophia,” Kenny said as they walked away.
“Nice meeting you,” she called over her shoulder as Pax hurried them across the room. “Hey, what’s the rush?” She stopped walking and waited for an answer.
“No rush.” He acted as if it wasn’t weird with Kenny.
“It seemed like you didn’t want me to hang around your friend.”
“Kenny can be obnoxious, and I didn’t want him saying anything to offend you.”
“Why would he offend me?”
“I know my history with other girls could be a deal breaker between us. Remember what happened in the hot tub?”
“I freaked out.”
“A little.”
“I still feel stupid about that.” He’d been really cool about her blurting out his past experiences. “It was none of my business.”
“Don’t feel stupid. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I want to be honest with you.” He looked around. “This really isn’t the place to discuss this. I didn’t want Kenny teasing you or saying something inappropriate. He’s not used to me having a girlfriend.”
“A girlfriend?” Her stomached fluttered in excitement. Did he really mean that?
“I meant I’m not the type of guy who is seen with the same girl.” He looked down at his feet. “Until now. Whatever this is between us feels right. I want to go with it. I know I’m not the ideal boyfriend, but the thought of you seeing someone else drives me insane with jealously.”
Did he seriously think she was interested in seeing anyone else? “Are you trying to ask me something?”
“Kind of, but this isn’t the place.” He glanced around as the room began to fill with more players. “Let’s go say hello to your dad.”
She wanted to hear what else he had to say but she understood why he didn’t want to discuss their relationship in a crowded, loud room. A relationship? Is that what they were developing? She hoped so.
“I’m sure he’s going to tell you what you could have done to improve your game.”
“I’m prepared.”
“Thanks for being so great to him. He loves baseball, so this is really special for him.”
“I like your dad, and if I plan on seeing his daughter, I want to make sure he likes me.”
“He likes you. Trust me, he likes you.”
His mood changed within an instant. One second it was light and fluffy and the next he was more intense. “Come home with me tonight.”
“I have to take my dad home,” she said with regret, because she wanted to go home with him. They had more to talk about. “We drove together.”
“After.” He leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Plan to stay the night with me.”
Chapter 10
WHEN PAX OPENED HIS front door he was still wearing those sexy jeans he had put on after the game. His short, dark hair was getting a little longer on the top. Soph liked it.
“I didn’t expect you so soon,” he said. “Let
me take your bag.”
“Thank you.” She slipped her duffle off her shoulder and handed it to him. “I dropped my dad off, took a quick shower, and here I am.”
“Were you anxious to get back to me?”
“Maybe,” she teased.
“I see you took me up on my offer to spend the night.” He placed her bag at the foot of the stairs and pulled her into an embrace. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No.” She swallowed hard, feeling more nervous than she had on the way over. “I’m not thirsty.”
“Hungry?” He caressed her neck with the back of his fingers. “We could eat.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes when he trailed his hands across her breasts. The thin cotton material of her t-shirt did nothing to conceal her hardened nipples.
“I’m real hungry, sugar.” He placed a line of hot, open-mouthed kissed along her jaw. “For you.”
“I don’t want to wait anymore.” She tried to get the words out before she lost her nerve. “I want to be with you. I want you to...”
“Shh...” He covered her mouth with his as he picked her up and carried her over to the staircase. “I’m not used to waiting, but I will for you. If it’s not tonight, that’s okay. I want to be with you.”
“It’s too hard when you leave. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“You’re on my mind constantly.” He continued to walk up the steps. “Being on the road is much harder now that I know you’re here, but coming home is so much better .”
He pushed open the door to his master suite. A lamp by the bed illuminated the space. It was dimly lit but she could see the enormous king-sized bed in the center of the room. There was a large picture window along the far wall. The curtains were pulled back, allowing the moonlight to shine in.
Placing her on her feet by the foot of the bed, he freed her hair from the low ponytail she had pulled it into after her shower. He ran his fingers through it, untangling her long locks before draping it over her shoulders.