She yelped.
He reached for the small lamp on the bedside table and turned it on.
She lay on his comforter, her torso supported by her elbows, her legs pressed together. If she separated them, he would easily see whatever she wore under her short skirt.
To answer her question, he said, “Stop asking me to fuck you because it’s not going to happen. Not tonight. Not tomorrow.” He climbed onto the bed and crawled slowly over her until he straddled her body. He grabbed her hands and pulled them over her head, causing her to fall onto her back.
Her hair spread out like a halo around her face. She breathed heavily when he flattened his palms against hers and pressed her hands into the mattress. When her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, he fought against a moan.
“Gonna need some rules here.”
“Rules?”
“Uh-huh. Starting with your mouth. Don’t beg me. If you continue to try to talk me into having sex with you, I’ll put you in the guest room and leave you alone.”
Her mouth opened, but she didn’t speak.
“If you let go of this incessant need to have my cock in you tonight, I’ll make you a deal.”
“A deal? What sort of deal? I’m not sure I’ll like your deal.”
“Hon, you’ll love my deal, because I’ll ensure you do.”
“Okay.” Just like that. It was as if she’d consented to whatever he intended to say without hearing it. She was precious.
He needed to remind himself of that often.
Her eyes were wide as saucers. Her mouth open. She was curious and aroused and sexy as hell. And it was going to kill him to tell her no, but he would do it anyway. He could do it. Make out with her. Explore her body. Make her come. Satisfy her. And stop right there. “I need to see you,” he blurted out, not specifically verbalizing his “deal.”
“You are seeing me…” Her last word came out slowly as it dawned on her what he meant. “Oh.”
He also needed to kiss her again. He eased down her body until he lay on top of her, holding himself off her with his elbows. Then he lowered his mouth to hers again. He would never get enough of kissing her. His body came alive every single time. He closed his eyes and took in her scent, the feel of her lips, the way she teased him with her tentative tongue.
She lifted her hips into his cock as a long moan escaped her lips.
He broke the kiss. “Stop squirming, hon. Please.”
She froze, obviously not realizing what she was doing. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “I will die tonight.”
“Please don’t.”
“Think you can leave your hands here if I release them?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Oh, how he loved her banter. He wouldn’t have taken that kind of sass from another woman in the past. A submissive would normally find herself over his knee with a pinkened ass for that sort of response. But Ava was simply being honest. No sass was intended. Besides, she had no idea how he felt about sass.
Yeah, he was going to have to rein in his normal reactions to women if he intended to keep this one.
Ava was as pure as a mountain stream. It was refreshing, but at the same time it made his dick harder than a mountain peak.
Too pure… Her eyes were wide again. She licked her lips. Her legs stiffened between his.
He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath and strength. “Ava…” He listened to her shallow breathing for a moment, giving himself an internal pep talk.
You have to stop. She’s not ready.
Ask her.
He opened his eyes. “Ava, I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.” She swallowed.
“Are you a virgin?”
She blinked her eyes several times, pursing her lips.
Fuck.
Fuck me.
He released her hands, swung one leg over her body, and scooted to sit on the edge of the bed. With another deep breath, he rubbed his eyes. A thousand thoughts went through his head in rapid succession.
Ava sat up next to him and eased toward his side. Her voice was small and hesitant when she spoke. “Please don’t tell me that bothers you.”
Oh, it bothers me. A lot. He was an ass for ignoring the possibility all evening. He most certainly could not take her virginity tonight. And all the pep talking he’d done to convince himself it was okay to do everything but flew out the window too.
Sex was much more than penetration. It was an entire package. And he would be a dick to take her where he wanted to go tonight. If he stripped her naked, it would be to ensure she was his for a lifetime. He could accomplish that without putting his cock in her pussy. Easily.
He could make her writhe with need against his sheets. He could taste every inch of her skin, kiss her until her brain cells shut down, suckle her nipples, clamp his lips down on her clit.
No. Penetration would be simply one tiny piece of the unsolved puzzle. It wouldn’t change the fact that she would know. She would know what it meant to feel the intensity of connection. She would know what it meant to be loved. She would know what it meant to submit to him.
And he couldn’t take that from her. Not tonight. It was too soon. Too fast. She was acting too rashly.
Oh, he wanted to. He wanted to slide a finger into her tight pussy and feel it clamp down on him. He wanted to suckle her little clit until she writhed beneath him and screamed out his name.
But was it fair to her?
No. Deep down, he knew it wasn’t. And he needed to stop this madness now. He needed to back up this potential train wreck.
Since when do you have such a conscience, big guy?
Since he realized she could mean more to him than a romp in the sheets. She was the whole package. The sort of woman a man kept. Not the type to be discarded.
The kicker was, it wasn’t himself he was worried about. He could practically commit his eternal devotion to her right that second. But could she? And how badly would she feel if she broke things off with him after giving him a piece of her soul?
If he was totally honest, how badly would it hurt him if she left him after he essentially claimed her?
The playing field wasn’t even. It wasn’t fair to her. Xavier had been around the block a few times. He could make an informed decision when it came to Ava. But Ava? She had no idea what she was getting into with him. And he wasn’t thinking about submission. That was only a fraction of her naiveté.
She had no idea what it was like to date someone who was surrounded by paparazzi. Someone who was committed to a job that sucked up eight months of the year almost entirely. Someone who couldn’t avoid the challenges that came with having more money than he knew what to do with.
Sure, in theory people thought they would give anything to have the kind of problems he had. But the reality was some people could be broken by the world he lived in.
Was Ava one of them?
It wouldn’t be fair to her to take her virginity when she had no idea what she was offering and what the consequences of her actions could be. She didn’t have enough information to make that decision tonight. She wouldn’t for weeks. He’d be a dick to knowingly take her purity so soon.
He tucked an arm around her middle and hauled her closer to his side. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m rushing you.”
“Uh, don’t I get to decide that?”
“Nope.” He slid off the bed and turned to face her, grabbing her soft pale thighs and tugging her to the edge of the mattress.
She kept her gaze down, fiddling with her fingers in her lap.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I’ve been an ass. Sorry.”
She said nothing.
He wanted to kick himself and go back about an hour in time. Or maybe six hours. Whatever it took to right this thing and eliminate the rift he saw in her gaze.
“I should go,” she whispered.
“No.” He shook his head. “You’re not driving home this late. It’s too far.�
��
“I’m an adult, Xavier. If I want to go, I can just leave.”
He nodded slowly. “True. I don’t mean to insinuate you can’t leave. But I don’t want you to. I have a guest room. Stay. Sleep here tonight. Drive back in the daylight.”
She looked hesitant, like she might refuse him. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she insisted. He supposed he’d let her go and worry about her for the entire two hours.
But she finally nodded. “Okay.” She slid around him and padded from the room.
By the time he ran his hands through his hair, tamped down his aching cock, and stepped into the hallway, she was back.
She held her bag in one hand. “I’m tired. Which room is your guest room?”
He stepped across the hallway and pushed open a door.
She passed by him without letting any of her skin touch his. She was pissed. Or embarrassed. A little of both probably.
He followed her into the room, flipping on the light. “Ava…”
She spun around and held up a hand. “Please. Don’t say anything else. I’m processing. Let me go to sleep.”
“Okay.” He nodded, though he couldn’t get his feet to turn and leave.
They stared at each other for a moment, and then he finally found a way to walk out the door, shutting it behind him.
He leaned against it for several minutes, wondering if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life. He could go back in and try to explain himself better. Or kiss her until she melted into him again. But he figured she really did need time to think. And his presence wasn’t conducive to that at all.
So he pushed off the door and headed for his own bedroom, knowing a shower and a hand job were on his agenda before anything else.
Chapter Five
Ava turned off the lights and lowered her butt to the edge of the bed. Her head was still spinning from the sudden change of events.
For the past six hours, she’d been attached to Xavier at the hip. He’d been doting and kind and amazing and perfect. What the hell happened to cause him to turn on the brakes suddenly?
She could only imagine he’d realized he just wasn’t that into her and shouldn’t sleep with her. In which case, she was glad he stopped.
But it didn’t hurt less.
Ava kicked off her shoes and slid under the covers without bothering to take off her dress or do anything else. She didn’t want to leave the room and risk running into him in the hallway. One evening without brushing her teeth or taking off her makeup wouldn’t kill her.
For a long time, she lay still, replaying the day in her mind. She closed her eyes and thought of dozens of intense moments between herself and Xavier. The way he smiled at her. The way he held her hands, often to restrain them.
She squirmed, her body recalling its response to his every move. She threw her arm over her eyes. “God.” She felt like a complete idiot. What was he thinking of her? Something forced him to stop suddenly and back pedal. What?
Obviously, he didn’t like learning she was a virgin. Was it a turn-off? She’d always assumed men found virginity sexy. Apparently not Xavier.
When she made the decision to come to Jupiter, she’d known exactly what she was getting into. She realized there was a good chance she would spend the night. And she expected she would undoubtedly have sex with the man. He wasn’t a kid. He was twenty-nine. He had experience.
She did not.
But surely he knew that? Or at least assumed it was a possibility.
After two hours of tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable, her bladder insisted a trip to the bathroom was inevitable. She grabbed her bag, tiptoed across the hall, and took care of all the things she should’ve done before going to bed.
Feeling much better, she made her way back across the hall, thankful that Xavier never came out of his room. It still took her two more hours to fall asleep, but when she did, she was dead to the world.
The sun was streaming in the room when she next opened her eyes. It took her a moment to orient with her surroundings and realize where she was. Then she groaned and buried her face in the pillow. After a few minutes, she glanced at the clock. It was later than she expected—nine thirty. She listened intently but heard nothing in the condo.
What time did Xavier usually head to the field to warm up? She wasn’t sure, but she finally eased from the bed, changed into her jeans and T-shirt, and stepped into the hall.
No sounds.
She was nearly relieved as she headed down the stairs. She really didn’t want to face Xavier this morning. She was surprised he left without waking her, but maybe he felt the same way about facing her.
A piece of paper sat on the island with a bottle of water on top of it, as if it needed the weight to ensure it didn’t blow away.
Ava, I had to get to the field. Didn’t want to wake you. Please help yourself to anything in the condo. If you want to come to the game, I’ll leave a ticket for you at will call. If you’d rather head home, please drive safely and text me when you get there. I moved your car this morning. It’s out front. Xavier
She set the note down and slid onto the stool, threading her fingers into her hair and setting her elbows on the counter. She should leave. Go back to Miami. Lick her wounds. Think. She needed distance. Time.
If you want to come to the game…
His words were carefully chosen. Not pressuring her either to stay or leave. He also gave no indication which way he swayed on the concept, either.
She would go home.
Just as she pushed herself off the bench and turned to head back upstairs to retrieve her bag, the doorbell rang.
She hesitated, glancing at the door but not moving. Should she answer it? It wouldn’t be for her. Probably a kid selling something or a solicitor of some sort. Whoever it was couldn’t be a friend of Xavier because they would know he was at the game.
When the doorbell rang again, she flinched. Persistent.
And then knocking.
As soon as she took a few steps, the knocking started again. Lord.
She decided to pad over to the door and look through the peephole.
A man stood on the stoop, and he looked shockingly like Xavier’s uncle. It wasn’t him, but could it be Xavier’s father?
She decided it would be best to find out. “Who is it?”
“Carlos Monreal. Xavier’s father.”
Yep. Good guess.
Still confused about his presence at the condo, she opened the door with a smile. “Hi. Xavier told me about you. I’m Ava Phillips. Do you want to come in?” She held the door wider and stepped back. Xavier hadn’t mentioned he was in the States. She was leery, however. She knew the two of them weren’t on the best of terms. That didn’t mean she would be rude to his father.
He took one step into the foyer, but stopped there. “I know who you are. I heard.” Was he glaring at her in anger? His eyes were narrowed. Yep. He wasn’t happy.
“Oh, right. We ate at your brother’s restaurant last night.” As if that answered everything. What was he doing at the condo when he knew his son was at the ballpark?
“I want you to break things off with my son.”
“What?” Her eyes widened, and she was glad to still have a hand on the door to have something to hold on to.
“You heard me. He’s at the top of his game. He doesn’t need some little groupie following him around and taking his mind off his job.”
“Sir, I…” she swallowed and then continued, “…I’m not a groupie. I barely understand the sport yet. We met through mutual friends.” My sister.
He leaned in farther. “I don’t care how you met. I want you to leave and let my son do his job. If he gets all wrapped up in some girl, he won’t be able to concentrate on what really matters. Do you want to ruin his career? Is that it?”
“No. Of course not.” What the hell was happening here? His family had been so kind yesterday. His father seemed like he came from another planet.
“He has r
esponsibilities. Obligations to his family. You’re in the way.”
She opened her mouth and then closed it. “I don’t think my relationship with Xavier is any of your business.” She needed to stiffen her spine. Just because he was Xavier’s father didn’t mean she should become spineless. She was a strong, independent woman. Not some baseball floozy.
He rolled his eyes. “I figured you would be resistant.” He pulled a folded paper out of his shirt pocket and held it out. “Here. Take this. Consider it compensation for your time. Make yourself gone. Don’t come back.”
She stared at what was obviously a check, blinking in shock. She did not reach for it. “Are you serious?” She lifted her gaze to his.
“Completely.” He shook the check closer to her.
“Compensation for my time? I’m not a hooker, Mr. Monreal. I’m simply dating your son.” Wasn’t she? After last night’s antics, she didn’t know what she was to Xavier, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to explain herself to this man at the door.
“Now you’re done dating my son. He doesn’t need some blanquita taking his eye off the ball.” He dropped the check on the floor in front of her and turned to leave. As he stepped outside, he grabbed the doorframe and twisted back around. “I suggest you take my advice. Deposit the check for your trouble and don’t come back.” Then he was gone.
Ava hardly had the strength to shut the door, but she didn’t want Carlos Monreal to think he’d gotten to her, so she eased it closed, locked it, and then slid to the floor.
A day and a half of stress caught up with her in an instant, and tears slid down her face. What the hell had just happened?
She heard a car start and take off. Swiping the tears off her face didn’t help. The next thing she knew, she was in a full-blown cry, sobbing loudly while letting her face sink to her knees.
The world had gone completely insane.
For half an hour, she sat there trying to pull herself together. She stared at the folded check on the floor for at least five more minutes before tentatively reaching out to pick it up. Curious to find out what this breakup of sorts was worth to Mr. Monreal, she unfolded it with shaky fingers.
Then she cried again. Whatever his father’s issue was with Ava, he meant business. He was not kidding around.
Catching Ava (Spring Training Book 3) Page 4