"I didn't know…when I wrote it," she mutters incoherently. "I thought you might've had your arms around her…like you're holding me now."
"Never," I reassure her, allowing my hands to explore further, gliding across the satin panel on the front side of her body, causing her to whimper and reach back with her hands to grab my hair.
She's completely stretched out along the front of me, and I use my hands to play her body to perfection, loving the feel of her writhing and sweaty against me. Gently, I lower her arms into a batting stance, my hands on top of hers. The dampness of her curls tickles my neck as I line her up and pretend to take a swing, guiding her through the motions, never letting her go.
We do it again and again. Her breasts heaving and spilling out of the top of her bra, my dick lodged firmly between her legs, enjoying the torment of taking her through the motions. My muscles are starting to glisten. My tats are covering her alabaster skin, swallowing her up, leaving her upper body a tantalizing shade of pink.
"Oh, Bruce," she calls out when I practically lift her off her feet, my biceps locked around her arms. She's fighting to get free, but I don't let go. Her struggle turns me on even more. "I need you inside me," she insists, her foot inching up my leg.
I rock with her, bending her back and thrusting my hips against her. When I release her arms, she drapes them around my neck, working her toned abdominal muscles that my fingers can't resist lingering on. She groans when I lift my arms, running my palms up her body and cupping her breasts, playing with her nipples through the lace of her bra.
"Bruce, please—" she begs, digging her fingernails into the back of my neck.
I lift her up, falling backward onto the bed with her on top of me. My fingers find the clasp of her bra, fiddling with it until it comes loose. Then I push the straps off her shoulders, freeing her from the lacy confines. But she doesn't wait for me to finish. Instead, she slides her thumbs through the elastic of her panties and yanks them off herself, now totally naked on top of me.
She gives me a devilish grin, sliding off me and working my boxers back and forth across my hips until she pries them from my body. We gaze at each other in all our glory, seeing our naked bodies for the first time and delighting in the discovery. She's so beautiful that I could cry. Everything about her is fuckin' perfect.
I quickly prop myself up and rummage through the bedside table, finding the pack of condoms I bought just for tonight, ripping open the wrapper with my teeth and sliding it on. She reclines on her side, watching everything I'm doing, her eyes taking in the sheer size of my arousal. She blinks, biting her bottom lip.
"What is it?" I ask, guiding her back over me.
"You're so big," she whispers breathily. "I don't know if I can—"
"We'll take it slow." I tilt upward to kiss her forehead. "Do you need me to do more to—"
"No, I'm ready. More than ready," she chuckles softly, her hair falling across my face. "If I don't have you soon, I'm gonna…" She doesn't finish. Instead, she positions herself where she needs to be and slowly slides herself down on top of me.
I hold on to her, my heart drumming in my chest, never imagining how good this would feel—having her take me in, her tightness welcoming me in little by little. She groans, her knees buckling alongside my hips. I grasp her waist, helping her guide me inside of her. Once she adjusts to my fullness, she starts riding me, up and down, bracing her hands on my shoulders, her hair draped across my chest, her backside slapping wildly against my thighs. Then suddenly, she throws back her head, and I feel her clench all around me. I run a hand between her breasts when she lets out a cry, lowering her to the bed and quickly switching positions so that I'm on top.
I know I'll never get tired of gazing upon the look I just brought to her face, and I intend to make it my life's mission to bring it about again and again for as long as I live. It's even better seeing it while I'm buried deep inside her, rocking my hips and watching her expression intensify with every move I make.
I take it easy, not wanting to be too rough, not sure how far I'm able to go with her yet. But she seems like she's right there with me, her eyes opening, filled with a yearning desire for me to join her on the other side. I rest my forearms on the bed when she lifts her pelvis to match my movements, following me with her eyes. With one final grunt, I feel my scalding warmth fill the latex as I pulsate inside her before collapsing on my side and drawing her back down on top of me.
"Are you okay?" I ask worriedly, holding her close.
"Oh yeah," she mumbles contentedly, tickling my chest hair with her sigh. "Better than okay."
I find the edge of the sheet and throw it over us. She snuggles up against me while I'm still inside her, and that's all it takes for me to stiffen again.
"Wow," she giggles, tracing the ridges of my face with her finger. "That didn't take long, did it?"
I flush under her lust-filled gaze. I didn't know that my body was going to react this way. "I can…slow it down," I stammer. "If you're not ready to go again."
"Ready?" she whispers. "I think you'd better find a permanent place for me on your schedule—all night, every night." She playfully nudges me with her hips, causing me to groan in ecstasy.
"Why did we wait so long to do this again?" I moan.
"I think you mentioned something about being a slow learner," she teases me. "But let me assure you, you're a natural."
"So I'm more than just an arm to you?" I ask, quirking an eyebrow as I start to move her up and down on top of me.
"Way more," she agrees, closing her eyes, reveling in what I'm doing to her.
"I love you, Hailey," I declare as we move together as one.
She cradles the side of my face, and I turn my head to kiss her palm, bending my legs and resting her back against my knees, eager to try a new position.
Because this is a game I'll never get tired of playing—as long as I can play it with her.
Epilogue
Jilly
"You put your passport somewhere safe, right?" I tease Hailey, asking her for about the hundredth time since we landed.
"Yes!" she says, getting exasperated with me for badgering her when all she wants to do is look out the window at the countryside rolling by.
"Just checking." I can't suppress a grin when she slaps me, knowing I'm doing it on purpose to drive her nuts.
"Bruce, you brought me all the way to Ireland. The least you can do is let me enjoy it," she taunts me playfully, sliding her arm through mine to draw me closer to her. "Since you still haven't told me why you brought me here."
The van that picked us up from the airport comes to a stop in a quaint, little village on the shores of a picturesque lake. Hailey claps her hands in delight, knowing that we've finally arrived at our destination after having flown out of LaGuardia late last night. It's been a long day of traveling, but looking at the excitement on her face and the breathtaking view before us makes it all worthwhile. Thank God I only have to hold on to this secret I've been keeping from her for just a little while longer.
Hailey gets out, glancing eagerly around at the shop windows lining the street. I instruct the driver to bring our bags to the bed and breakfast where we'll be staying, intending to take Hailey for a little sightseeing before we settle in for the night.
"Ready?" I hold out my arm, and she takes it, eager to get started.
It's two weeks before Christmas, and the wind blowing off the lake is downright frigid. We won't be able to stay out here that long, but I have something I need to show her before we head back—something I've wanted to show her for quite some time.
She raises the hood of her quilted jacket, tucking her oversized scarf inside before zipping it up to her chin. I follow her lead, taking the knit skullcap I have jammed in my coat pocket and stretching it over my head to stay warm and to disguise my appearance. Even though we're overseas and not many people in the UK follow American sports teams, it doesn't mean there still aren't Kings fans all over the world. At least I
'm not as recognizable as I would be wearing a baseball cap.
I find a bench along the lakefront and sit down, and Hailey quickly huddles right in next to me to keep warm. Her nose and cheeks are red from the cold, distracting me by how much I want to kiss her right now. She rests her head on my shoulder, and I can feel her teeth chattering. That's one major drawback about being a Major League Baseball player—I can't travel in the summer when it's warm and pleasant. At least not until I retire, which I hope is many, many years from now.
The Kings said that I could take most of December off—on the condition that I arrive at spring training early once January rolls around. So far, my rehab has been going off without a hitch. My throwing arm is getting stronger, and I've been sticking to a full cardiovascular regimen to keep the rest of my body in shape. I stayed in New York for most of the fall to be nearer to Hailey, but I know that, once the holiday season is over, I'm going to have to get my butt down to Florida. And I still haven't asked her if she plans on coming with me or not.
"Spill it, Gillette." She elbows me in the ribs. "Why are we here, freezing our asses off by a lake in Ireland?"
I smile, ducking my head. This is the moment I've been waiting for. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the crumpled piece of paper I've held on to for so long.
"Remember this?" I ask, handing it to her.
She unfolds it carefully, making sure the wind doesn't carry it away. I hear her gasp when she gets a good look at it, realizing what it is.
"Oh my God, Bruce! This is the copy of my family tree you asked me for back in high school. I can't believe you still have it!"
I look longingly at the jagged piece of notebook paper where Hailey scribbled the names of her parents, grandparents, and some of her great-grandparents as far as she was able to trace back. I wanted to look into her ancestry when I first got interested in genealogy during Mrs. Foster's history class at Loftus Central High. At the time, I wanted to research her various lines back as far as I could go. But then graduation crept up on me, not to mention all that stuff with Kurt, and I never got a chance to show her what I had found out. But I was glad that I'd held on to it because I was able to go deeper into her lineage as my skills increased and my contacts expanded, and where the trail led me, I never would've imagined.
"Yep," I reply, watching the light bulb go off in her head as she starts to figure out my game plan.
"Is that why you brought me to Ireland? Because this cute, little town is where my ancestors are from?" She turns to me, all aglow.
"I did." I chuckle when she gives me a bear hug so tight that it nearly cuts off my oxygen supply.
"Did you find out exactly where they lived? Were you able to find an address? Is their house still standing?" She riddles me with questions, her eyes shining up at me.
"I can do you one better." I pause to heighten the suspense. "It's where we're staying tonight."
"What?" she shrieks, jumping to her feet. "My family owns the B&B?"
"They did back in the nineteenth century," I explain as she grabs my hand and tries to hoist me up.
"Then let's go! What are we waiting for?" She drags me with her, heading back the way we came.
"But there's more." I hold back, and she spins around to face me.
"You're kidding!" she exclaims. "What else could there possibly be?"
"I'll tell you when we get there." I smile at her outpouring of joy, her enthusiasm contagious.
"Oh, Bruce, tell me now!" she begs, gripping my arm, and I'm grateful that I don't even wince because what would've hurt a few months ago feels normal now.
"Just a little longer. I promise." I try to placate her as we walk along the cobblestone streets. "It'll be worth the wait."
We near the center of the village, the Christmas lights festooned around the main thoroughfare already starting to come on. There's a festive atmosphere in the air for a Friday night as the workweek comes to an end. We're greeted with a lot of smiles as we walk through town, mostly because of the level of exuberance Hailey just can't contain. For the first time, I'm able to walk through a crowd without drawing unwanted attention to myself because of my size. Now, everyone's too enraptured with the gorgeous girl at my side.
When we reach the gilded sign for the B&B, Hailey examines it closely. "Horne," she reads aloud, running her gloved fingers over the hand-carved word. "Is that the name of my descendants?"
"Yep. The various owners kept it throughout the years, building on the reputation of the original innkeepers, knowing it'd be good for business," I explain while digging through my other pocket.
"That is simply amazing," she responds. "This must be where my mom gets her hospitality from."
"But there's more. I need you to read this." I fold the paper in half so she can't see the bottom. "That name there."
"Maguire," she murmurs, saying aloud the one I'm pointing at.
"Now look over there at the pub across the street." I rub my hands together, my fingers tingling in anticipation.
She raises her eyes to glance at it. "Maguire's," she whispers. "That pub is named Maguire's."
I reach over and touch her face. "Because the paper you're holding is my family tree, Hailey." I watch a look of comprehension dawn in her eyes. "Even if our ancestors never immigrated to America, there's a good chance we still would've grown up together."
A tear tumbles down her cheek. She's overwhelmed by the knowledge I just shared with her, the knowledge I've wanted to share with her since that night on the Staten Island ferry.
"You see, we were meant to be together, after all." I wipe away her tears with my thumb, feeling myself start to well up too.
"Like the seams on a baseball—always intertwined," she whispers, standing on her tiptoes and drawing me down to her.
"That's a good way of looking at it," I chuckle, bringing my lips closer to hers.
"What can I say?" Her warm breath tickles my face. "My home is where you are."
I rest my forehead against hers hardly believing I'm about to get everything I ever wanted. "So you'll come with me to—"
"Yes," she says, and I know she means so much more than just going with me to Florida in January. "I'll follow you anywhere…as long as I can bring my laptop," she giggles against my mouth.
"Deal," I whisper, claiming her lips with mine and silently thanking fate for ending up on our side.
Epilogue
Hailey
I still can't believe he keeps a pair of slippers next to the bed.
I smile to myself, propped on Jilly's back, working out the kinks, pounding my fists into his shoulders, and kneading out the tension.
We had one hell of a night last night and he's still a little sore. Nothing my magic fingers can't take care of, because I love pampering him and giving him a massage. He's still not a hundred percent, but he's getting there. There's no way I'm going to let our passionate nights hinder his recovery. I don't want him ever holding back when he's with me. I want all of Jilly all the time.
"This has got to be the largest bed I've ever been in," I remark, straddling his rear, the sheet tucked around his waist.
We're being good because we want to do some more sightseeing this morning. That's why I got up early to get dressed—so he could catch a few more zzz's. I'm getting all kinds of excited while gripping his muscles beneath my fingers, but I've already showered without him and I'm not about to let him talk me into another or we'll end up never leaving this room.
"Yeah. I told them I needed something that would be comfortable enough for me, being a big guy and all, but this is immense," he replies sluggishly, my prodding hands putting him to sleep.
"Don't go drifting off on me now." I pinch his butt cheek and he jerks beneath me. "I'm almost done."
"Do you have to be?" he asks slyly. "This is kinda nice."
"You like having me as your love slave, huh?" I let my lips trail over the scratch marks I clawed into his back last night, feeling his breathing become labored. "Having me at your b
eck and call, doing things that make you feel good."
"I think we're about even when it comes to that." He lifts his head, giving me a saucy look. "Because I sure didn't put those marks on my own back."
"So what are my duties, master?" I tease him to keep the role-playing going.
"You're to run my bath, feed me with your hands, dress me in the morning, and undress me at night," he says languidly.
"It seems like you've already given this a lot of thought." I bunch his taut skin in my hands before smoothing it out.
"You're not the only one with an active imagination." I watch the corner of his mouth turn into a smile. "Maybe I could write a foreword for one of your books someday. Set the stage. Work with you on fleshing out some of your ideas."
"You wanna write?" I tilt my head, gazing at him curiously.
"I think we've already proven we're great at collaborating, wouldn't you say?" His grin widens. "And I'm kinda miffed that you told my story without letting me give my input. Readers should know what I'd like to do to you."
"Is that right?" I chuckle. "So you wanna share your erotic thoughts about me with the masses?"
"Absolutely not!" he declares forcefully, flipping over and diving on top of me. "You're mine now and nobody else's."
I can tell that the sting of my relationship with Kurt still bothers him, and it probably always will. He wasn't my first, and I guess guys are like that. Even though I faked it every time with Kurt, it's still not enough for him to hear that. He doesn't want to share me with anyone.
"Bruce," I croon, kissing the tip of his nose. "I'd love to write something with you." My mind flits through all of the possibilities, but only one seems right. "How about we each tell our own version of what happens next?"
"Like continue our story?" His brown eyes light up at the idea.
"Exactly." I try to pretend that we're having a serious conversation even though he's hovering naked above me. "I'll tell my side. Then you tell yours."
Game On Page 23